The Prince Who Ran Away

"You are a Prince, right? Or, to be exact, the prince of the Star Luo Empire" Sheng Jun inquired, his tone calm and probing as they gathered around the flickering flames of the campfire.

"A Prince?!" Ma Hongjun's eyes widened in surprise at the revelation, while Dai Mubai's expression remained unreadable as he absorbed the implications of Sheng Jun's words.

"How did you know?" Dai Mubai finally asked.

"It's simple" Sheng Jun replied casually, his gaze steady as he met Dai Mubai's eyes. "I've read many books, and one of them happens to be records of martial souls. The White Tiger is an Inherited Martial Soul of the Star Luo Royal family, and the fact that you've reached Level 27 at the age of twelve suggests that your background is not simple" Sheng Jun explained. Of course, he left out the fact that most of his confidence stemmed from the knowledge that Dai Mubai was protected by a Spirit Douluo, a privilege even nobles wouldn't have.

Dai Mubai nodded thoughtfully, acknowledging the truth in Sheng Jun's words.

"And considering the fact that you, as a Prince, have arrived in the Heaven Dou Empire without any escorts or a welcoming party, it can only mean that you've run away" Sheng Jun deduced, his voice calm. "I've read about the traditions of the Star Luo Empire. To ascend to the throne, the Emperor must eliminate all his siblings. Many see this as the act of creating a ruthless ruler, but I believe there's a deeper meaning to it"

Pausing for a moment, Sheng Jun's gaze hardened. "You probably felt you had no chance of winning and chose to flee, leaving behind everything, including your fiancée. She's likely facing your brother and his fiancée alone as we speak"

Dai Mubai's eyes widened in surprise at Sheng Jun's accurate assessment of his situation. He had thought he could escape his fate by coming to the Heaven Dou Empire, but he never expected someone to understand his situation so deeply.

"What!?" Ma Hongjun interjected, his voice rising with each word leaving his mouth "You ran away? And not only that, you left your fiancée behind!? What kind of Prince are you?" His tone was a mix of shock, disbelief and anger, unable to fathom how someone could make such a decision.

Dai Mubai's outburst reverberated through the air, his voice filled with anguish and frustration. "What do you know?!" he roared, his eyes blazing with intensity. "That bastard is much older than me! He has access to most of the resources, and he hoards them all for himself! I had no chance to win against him at all! How many times do you think I tried to win against him? I fought and fought and fought, and every time I was beaten and humiliated!" His words were punctuated by the raw emotion seeping through his voice, revealing the depths of his inner turmoil.

"So what!" Ma Hongjun shouted, his frustration boiling over. "That's the reason you gave up? Because you kept on losing!? Because he had an advantage!? That's the reason you left your fiancée to fight against them alone?!" His voice reverberated with disbelief and disappointment as he continued "My brother has taught me that we should only have one mate in our life, fight together, and die together till the very end! But you, not only ran away but you ran away alone! You two are already in a bad situation due to the age difference between you and your opponents, but now that one of you ran away, how can she fight back?" Ma Hongjun's voice rang out with disdain, his disappointment palpable in every word. The respect he had for Dai Mubai before was plummeting rapidly.

"I…." Dai Mubai's attempts to retort were halted by his own inner turmoil, leaving him shaken as he lost his voice.

As he continued, Ma Hongjun's gaze flickered with the intensity of a flame, reflecting the inner fire that burned within him. "So what if they are older?! So what if they are more powerful!" he exclaimed, his voice rising with each word. "As long as you stay strong and refuse to lose your spirit, you can continue to improve. If you can't win, then you should at least die trying"

His words hung in the air, heavy with meaning and purpose. The memory of his father's last words played over and over in his mind.

"Hongjun, calm down" Sheng Jun's voice resonated. But before another word could escape his lips, Dai Mubai rose to his feet, his movement swift and decisive.

"You are right" Dai Mubai declared, his voice carrying a newfound strength that echoed through the air. His eyes, once dull and distant, now sparkled with an unwavering resolve, reflecting the fire of determination burning within him.

"Thank you for waking me up" Dai Mubai continued, his words a testament to the impact of Ma Hongjun's words had on him. "I will go back right now and fight with her to the very end"

"And where do you think you are going?" Sheng Jun's voice sliced through the air, stopping Dai Mubai in his tracks. "It's already too late for you to go back now. Your fiancée is probably gone. Without protection, she would likely be assassinated. If she's lucky, she should still be alive, but that's unlikely. You've already managed to run away, so what's the use of going back now to fight alone and throw your life away? The least you could do right now is to grow stronger outside the watch and suppression from your older brother and avenge her death" he paused before continuing, addressing the figure who was likely listening to their conversation "Or what do you think, esteemed Spirit Douluo?"

Dai Mubai's brow furrowed as his heart sank, his mind grappling with the weight of Sheng Jun's words. But before he could form a response, a new voice cut through the tension.

"You are right, young man" the figure spoke, stepping forward from the shadows. "Going back now wouldn't only be useless, but you might get your little fiancée killed"

Dai Mubai's eyes widened in astonishment as he recognized the figure stepping into the light. "Third Elder? What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice laced with disbelief. Then, as realization dawned upon him, a glimmer of hope ignited within his heart. "Wait, you said that she might get killed. Does that mean she's still alive?" he asked, his voice tinged with hope.

"I'm here to protect you silently until I deem you safe, according to the Emperor's orders," the Third Elder explained solemnly. "But I didn't expect this young man to expose me"

"Your little fiancée is still alive" the Elder confirmed. "But after you left, those of the Zhu family, who are on your brother's side, are on high alert. The only reason your fiancée is alive right now is because they thought that you gave up on fighting for the throne and ran away to live a life of waste somewhere" pausing briefly the Elder continued, his voice tinged with warning "But if you are going back now to find your fiancée, it means that you haven't given up yet. And they naturally won't let this opportunity go to eliminate your fiancée, in order to make your chance of winning even lower"

As the Third Elder continued, Dai Mubai's heart sank further. But he also felt an immense relief upon learning that his fiancée was still alive. The news ignited a fire of determination within him, and he turned to face Ma Hongjun and Sheng Jun with renewed resolve.

Filled with humility and determination, Dai Mubai asked "Shrek Academy, right? To be able to produce monsters like you... please accept me into the Academy as well. I want to, no, I must become stronger."

With a deep bow, Dai Mubai lowered himself, his previous pride as a prince cast aside in favor of a newfound humility and eagerness to grow.

"Hmph, why would we accept someone like you-" before Ma Hongjun could continue. Sheng Jun intervened, his tone firm yet welcoming. "Alright, as the future Dean of the Academy, I welcome you as the 4th student of Shrek Academy" Sheng Jun declared with a light smile gracing his lips.

Ma Hongjun opened his mouth to protest, but Sheng Jun raised a hand to silence him. "Hongjun" he began, his voice gentle yet resolute "the goal of our academy is to raise monsters. As long as they are talented, they are to be accepted. Besides, give him time to prove himself. I will ask the Teacher for permission to give you the authority to expel him on the spot, If he dares to fool around"

Ma Hongjun's reluctance was evident, but in the face of Sheng Jun words he could only nod reluctantly in agreement.

"I won't let you down!" Dai Mubai's declaration echoed through the air, his voice filled with determination and sincerity

Turning to the Third Elder, Dai Mubai's expression softened, a plea in his eyes. "Third Elder, can you protect her while I'm gone? Please" he requested, bowing deeply in a gesture of humility.

The Third Elder hesitated, his gaze troubled as he weighed the implications of Dai Mubai's request. "Your Highness, that would be a bit difficult" he admitted "I have already broken the rule of not taking sides by protecting you until now due to His Majesty's order. If I protect your fiancée as well, the other elders won't sit still"

Dai Mubai's heart was heavy, his disappointment was evident in his expression, but he accepted the Third Elder's explanation without protest. "Then can you pass the letter for her in my place?" Dai Mubai asked, his voice tinged with hope.

The Third Elder hesitated briefly before nodding in agreement. "This... if it's just a letter, it should be fine" he conceded, his tone uncertain but willing.

With a sense of gratitude, Dai Mubai swiftly penned his thoughts onto paper, pouring his heart into every word. Handing the letter to the Third Elder, he watched as the old man accepted it with a solemn nod.

"Then, Your Highness, I think my work here is done. I will need to go back now" the Third Elder stated, bowing deeply before taking his leave.

As the Spirit Douluo departed, Sheng Jun gestured to Ma Hongjun, signaling that it was time for them to resume their journey back to Shrek Academy as well. With a nod of understanding, Ma Hongjun moved to gather their belongings before spreading his wings and picking them up.

…

Under the shade of the tree, the little girl sat lost in thought, the gentle rustle of leaves and the scent of flowers are the only companion to her solitude. Suddenly, a figure materialized before her, leaving her startled as they handed her a letter before disappearing as swiftly as they came.

With trembling hands, the girl unfolded the letter, her heart sinking as she read the words penned within. Sadness engulfed her, tears welling up in her eyes as the reality of the letter's message washed over her.

"So you really left..." she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur, carrying the weight of her emotions.

As she wiped away her tears, a newfound resolve ignited within her. With determination etched upon her features, she whispered softly.

"Shrek Academy" she murmured, as her gaze fixed upon the horizon.