Dai Mubai's Worries

As evening approached, the members of the Emperor team gathered at the Great Spirit Arena in Suotuo City.

Under Qin Ming's guidance, they arrived at a private room to watch the spirit fights.

Suddenly, Zong noticed a familiar figure—Zhu Zhuqing. She was facing a control-type spirit master whose level was two ranks higher than hers, making the battle difficult for her. Although she struggled, Zhu Zhuqing managed to leverage her spirit rings to secure a hard-earned victory, though she sustained minor injuries.

Zong felt distressed seeing this, as Zhu Zhuqing was his "little kitty" after all. Nearby, Xiao Wu also recognized Zhu Zhuqing and, noticing Zong's worried expression, coldly snorted and stomped on his foot.

"Stop standing around like an idiot," Xiao Wu pouted. "Go bring your little girlfriend over to Lingling for treatment! You look so worried."

Zong was momentarily stunned but then overjoyed. It seemed Xiao Wu wasn't as hostile toward Zhu Zhuqing after what had happened earlier in the day.

"Thanks, Xiao Wu," Zong said, patting her on the head. Amid her embarrassed protests, Zong used his teleportation skill to leave the room.

Meanwhile, in the spectator area where Shrek Academy sat, Dai Mubai's eyes were glued to Zhu Zhuqing. "Zhuqing..." he muttered.

Lately, he hadn't been feeling great. Ever since the Shrek freshmen's first spirit fight, Zhu Zhuqing had seemed like a different person overnight. She smiled more often, wasn't as cold, and got along well with her classmates. Even when facing Dai Mubai, she no longer seemed so distant.

While these changes should have made Dai Mubai happy, they left him feeling uncomfortable. He found it hard to express, but it felt like there was an invisible distance growing between them. 

Before, even though Zhu Zhuqing was cold to him, Dai Mubai had believed he held a special place in her heart. Now, she treated him no differently than she treated Oscar or Tang San, as if they were mere friends or strangers.

Lost in thought, Dai Mubai stared blankly, deep in contemplation.

Seeing his best friend spacing out, Ma Hongjun nudged him and casually asked, "Boss Dai, what's up?"

Startled from his thoughts, Dai Mubai snapped back to reality, but his mood was heavy. "Nothing."

"Look, Boss Dai! Zhuqing won, but she looks hurt. Go help her," Ma Hongjun pointed out.

Dai Mubai's eyes brightened. "Thanks, Fatty!" He then called out to Oscar, "Little Ao, make two recovery sausages. Zhuqing's hurt, I'll go help her first."

Oscar grinned mischievously. "Don't worry, Boss Dai." As Dai Mubai rushed toward Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar and Ma Hongjun exchanged knowing looks and laughed.

Dai Mubai spotted Zhu Zhuqing from several meters away. To his delight, she seemed to smile and wave at him. His heart leaped with joy. "She must be happy I came to get her!" he thought. "Look at that affectionate smile, it's the first time I've seen her like this. I really have to thank Fatty for this!"

Just as he raised his hand to wave back, a scene unfolded that filled him with both shock and anger.

A young man with long blue-silver hair stepped out from a corner and greeted Zhu Zhuqing. Judging by her smile, they were chatting happily.

Dai Mubai recognized the boy—it was Tang San's "good friend" from before.

"They must've just run into each other... just a coincidence," Dai Mubai told himself.

But in the blink of an eye, both Zong and Zhu Zhuqing had vanished from sight.

After searching to no avail, Dai Mubai returned to the spectator area, dejected.

Ma Hongjun teased him with a grin, "Boss Dai, what took so long? Where's Zhuqing? Don't tell me you found a prettier girl and forgot about her!"

Oscar added, "Yeah, Boss Dai, you can't have it both ways. Zhuqing was hurt, and you didn't help her? Come on, take these recovery sausages."

As Oscar handed him the sausages, Dai Mubai, already in a bad mood, finally snapped. He angrily swatted Oscar's hand away. "Get lost!"

Dai Mubai's outburst left everyone in shock. Meng Yiran, one of the new members of Shrek, couldn't stand it anymore. "That's too much! Oscar was only trying to help." Having learned more about the group's dynamics from Tang San and Ning Rongrong, she felt that a man like Dai Mubai, who flirted with everyone, didn't deserve someone as pure as Zhu Zhuqing.

"Exactly," Ning Rongrong chimed in, seizing the opportunity to take a jab at Dai Mubai.

Dai Mubai glared at Meng Yiran and Ning Rongrong. Though the group had grown closer after their trip to the Star Dou Forest, the bond wasn't as tight as it would be in the original story. He couldn't very well admit to everyone that Zhu Zhuqing had left with someone else. That would tarnish his reputation as the "Evil-Eyed White Tiger."

"Mind your own business," Dai Mubai growled. "Don't get involved in things that don't concern you."

Just as Meng Yiran and Ning Rongrong were about to retort, they were pulled back by Tang San and Oscar.

At that moment, an announcement came over the arena speakers.

"Spirit Fight 138: 'Evil-Eyed White Tiger' versus 'Uchiha Zong.' Both participants, please head to Spirit Arena 7."

Back in the Emperor team's private room.

Under Ye Lingling's powerful healing abilities, Zhu Zhuqing's injuries were quickly healed.

Zhu Zhuqing, Zong, and Xiao Wu sat together on a long sofa, with Zong in the middle and the two girls on either side. Their eyes met in silent rivalry, creating a tense atmosphere that left Zong caught in the middle, unsure of what to do.

The members of the Emperor team watched with mixed expressions.

Osler and Yufeng looked on enviously, practically gnashing their teeth. The Shi brothers gave Zong a thumbs-up, thoroughly impressed.

Meanwhile, Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan sat together, watching the trio with amused expressions. Dugu Yan muttered, "Serves him right, that playboy."

Even the usually stoic Ye Lingling, standing in the corner dressed in black with her face partially veiled, seemed slightly moved by the situation.

Just as Zong felt the tension rise to a breaking point, the arena's loudspeaker announced his upcoming match. A servant arrived to notify him as well.

Zong smiled, clearly relieved. "Oh? The Evil-Eyed White Tiger? This should be interesting."

Zhu Zhuqing glanced at him, her eyes full of warning. "Be careful, Dai Mubai is strong, and his White Tiger spirit is powerful despite being a rank lower than yours."

"Hmph! Last time he got beaten like a stray dog! With Zong's strength, he'll take him down in no time," Xiao Wu huffed, still upset over Zhu Zhuqing's earlier injury.

Zong smiled and patted both of their heads. "Don't worry, I'll take it seriously."

Of course, how seriously depended on Dai Mubai's strength.

"I'll come with you," Zhu Zhuqing added. "I need to head back to the Shrek section anyway." She didn't say it, but she wanted to be nearby in case Zong got hurt.

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