New Loli Sister, Shrek's Next Seven Devils

Mo Canglei nodded in appreciation of his intellect before explaining. "Not quite. She is indeed my granddaughter, but she is also the daughter of a spy from the Luo Clan. I had spent years trying to hide this, but I am afraid others already know. They will not spare a Luo Clansman, child or not."

Xin Qing understood exactly how extreme blood feuds could be from his past life and nodded. "So you sent Yu'er with the gem not to get yourself healed but to find a new guardian for her to flee with, right?"

Mo Canglei smiled affably, "Indeed." This smile was different than normal, having the feeling of being completely released from one's burdens. He was a good grandfather to be so concerned for Mo Yu'er.

Now understanding the current situation to a large degree, Xin Qing plainly put forth his condition. "I'll do it for the gem."

Hearing this, Mo Canglei was not angered but actually relieved. In his wisdom, he knew that no person did things without benefit, and would have been skeptical if Xin Qing said he would do it for free. He agreed as he called Yu'er back into the room.

Now, it was Xin Qing's turn to leave. Standing outside the small stone hut, Xin Qing pieced everything together. With so much death between the descendants of celestials, it was only natural for a high level blood gem to form. Xin Qing truly admired his own luck.

He was later surprised when Yu'er walked out a short while after with puffy red-eyes but a determined expression. Smiling, Xin Qing understood why he liked her so much as she greatly resembled a younger him.

Promptly, Yu'er greeted Xin Qing again as 'brother' but this time, for real. Without any further talk, Xin Qing led her away, understanding that it was best to never look back. The sooner they left, the easier it would be on her.

And so, they traversed the mist once more, back to Shrek.

Over the long walk back, Yu'er was no longer as dispirited. After all, it was not like her grandfather was dying, only very weakened.

Hence, she was giddily riding on Xin Qing's shoulders on the way back. Xin Qing himself did not have any arbitrary expression towards this. Instead, he had a curious look.

'Am I forgetting something? For some reason, I feel as if this is a very important date?' Not one to dwell, Xin Qing had brushed off this returning thought until arriving at the gates of Shrek.

What surprised him was that the space was abnormally empty, and only a handful of figures could be seen.

Standing next to the gate was one of these figures, and a very familiar figure at that.

Waving towards Xin Qing, he was the guard and the very first person Xin Qing had met since his reincarnation.

"Student Qing," he said very uncomfortably, "I have orders to let you know that the exam for Shrek's next generation of the seven devils is underway. You should hurry as to not miss it."

Mo Yu'er had a wonderful expression on her face as even she had heard of the Seven Devils of Shrek despite her clan's reclusiveness.

On the other hand, Xin Qing had the unhurried smile he always had. "My thanks," as he walked towards the school arena.

Xin Qing was slightly saddened by this, but understood the power of status in deterring others from being overfriendly. In his mind, he did not like to put up airs but simply came off that way due to being in a position of power for so long.

Mo Yu'er seemed to silently notice this and reminded Xin Qing, "Brother can become one of the Seven Devils of Shrek? Really cool!"

Xin Qing understood her thoughts and appreciated the sentiment as he walked through the doors of Shrek's arena.

Thankfully, it seemed as if he had not missed much of the event, as two sides were formed but not yet fighting.

On one side, there was Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, Xiao Xiao, and some seniors while on the other, was Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.

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Xuan Zi was really unhappy with this disciple of his. For many days, he had reminded Xin Qing that this very important tournament to determine the next generation of the Shrek's Seven Devils cannot be missed even if he was to play hooky the rest of the year.

After all, where was his, Xuan Zi's, face if his own hand-picked student could not get into the Seven Devils of Shrek when he himself was the Guard Captain of the Seven Devils?

He could already hear the mocking laughter in the back of his head.

Of course, in truth, no one would dare to mock Xuan Zi for his master was even more incredible, but this did not stop these thoughts from emerging.

Luckily, it seemed that Xin Qing had arrived just in the nick of time. Although, he was strangely carrying a little girl over his shoulders, Xuan Zi could not care less for it right now.

Sporting a mean look at his disciple, Xin Qing only gave him a bright smile in return.

About to curse this sorry brat out, it seemed that Xin Qing did understand the meaning behind his look as he gave a small apologetic glance before stepping inside the circle for what made a weird image.

Before Xin Qing's arrival, there were already two sides. Xuan ZI figured that Xin Qing would simply take one of the sides as strength in numbers was a good tactic, nonetheless.

Instead, Xin Qing had done the unthinkable. He had created his own side. Drawing a line in the arena's sandy floor, his devious smile was fully representative of his thoughts as he gestured lightly with his finger.

Surprisingly, this small gesture had an effect of its own, as many recognized this beckoning action to be the same one he performed in the entrance exam. The same entrance exam which became the stopping grounds of this very devil, the Sword Sadist Xin.

Feeling both humiliated and inexplicably frightened, Dai Huabin led the charge against Xin Qing in a moment of impulse. This could likely have been attributed to his own feelings of guilt and the fear of being found out for hiring assassins against Xin Qing during the earlier Treasure Appreciation Ball.

Seeing the blond-headed tiger child step forward, Xin Qing had uttered his first sentence in all this time standing before them. A light tone, he said, "You first, huh? Good, I've been meaning to settle this anyway. Step forward, little kitten."

At this time, Xin Qing had put down Mo Yu'er and placed the familiar, beaten straw-hat upon his head.

In that moment, it was not Dai Huabin alone but rather everyone in the arena, who had felt a sudden weight drop upon their shoulders as they turned to face a single mischievous youth.