Chapter 51: Argument

The others were already dumbfounded, never expecting that Ning Rongrong, as a Auxiliary-type Spirit Master, was actually the strongest among them.

Just at that moment, the stick of incense burned down completely!

"You've passed!" Zao Wou-ki said, looking at the burnt-out incense.

Yet even if they hadn't passed, he would have let them stay; after all, such monstrous little fellows had never been seen before!

"We've passed just like that?" The others had not yet recovered their senses.

Suddenly, a figure pushing a cart appeared, shouting aloud, "Sausage monopoly! Take a look, come and see, don't miss it as you pass by! Oscar-brand sausages, delicious and sweet, cheap and plentiful, only five copper coins each! Eating an Oscar-brand sausage guarantees you'll find the entrance exam much easier!"

The person pushing the cart wore a simple grey outfit, neat short hair, and a full beard, yet possessed a pair of large peach-blossom eyes that darted about, focusing specifically on young girls like Ning Rongrong.

Naturally, Ning Rongrong and the others could not escape his gaze. It was hard to believe that such a soft, feminine voice could come from the mouth of a man with such a rugged and bold appearance.

Sensing this gaze, Ning Rongrong and the others frowned in displeasure, while Zao Wou-ki shouted at the man, "Oscar, get a few sausages over here!"

"Coming right up, Teacher Zao!" Oscar pushed his cart over and handed Zao Wou-ki two sausages.

After eating them, Zao Wou-ki felt his body recover somewhat and looked at Ning Rongrong, saying, "Would you like one too? These are created by spirit power and can restore spirit power!"

Oscar looked at Ning Rongrong with brightened eyes and said, "Little sister, want a sausage? Lots of benefits, no cheating children or the elderly!"

"No thanks, uncle!" Ning Rongrong refused.

"What? You called me uncle?!" Hearing this, Oscar's expression instantly turned despairing.

"What's wrong?"

Ning Rongrong looked puzzled; the person in front of her had so much facial hair that he looked even older than the Sword Douluo.

"Haha, Oscar isn't an uncle, he's only fourteen years old this year!" Zao Wou-ki laughed heartily.

The group froze, casting their gazes over Oscar.

With that beard, no matter how one looked at it, he didn't resemble a teenager.

"Don't let Oscar's appearance fool you; he is a Food-type Spirit Master with innate full spirit power, and also a little monster!"

Zao Wou-ki was right; an innate full spirit power Food-type was indeed a monster. However, apart from Zhu Zhuqing, everyone else in the group also possessed innate full spirit power, so naturally, they didn't think much of it.

As for Zhu Zhuqing, her nature was already aloof, and having witnessed Ling Xian's methods, she didn't show much expression either.

Oscar tried to show off in front of them, but finding that none of them looked surprised, he could only smile awkwardly.

"Alright, since you've passed the test, go to the dormitories now! Follow me!" Zao Wou-ki said, turning and walking in a certain direction, with the group following behind.

When they saw the accommodations before them, the group could not help but be shocked.

These weren't accommodations at all; they were simply a few ordinary wooden huts that looked quite old.

"Are these the student dormitories?" Xiao Wu said in shock. They looked even worse than the Notting City Academy.

Ning Rongrong felt the same way. As the princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, she had never lived in such a rundown place.

Only Zhu Zhuqing was slightly better off; after all, she had spent a good while on the run from pursuers, so having any shelter at all was already acceptable.

Zao Wou-ki looked at their expressions and said somewhat awkwardly, "Please bear with it; the academy is currently having some financial difficulties, but once the headmaster secures investment, conditions will definitely improve!"

Xiao Wu took a deep breath. There was no help for it now; since they had already come, they just had to endure it!

The three girls went inside and chose their respective rooms, while Zao Wou-ki led Tang San toward the boys' dormitory to settle him in.

"Oscar, I'm warning you, you'd better not do anything inappropriate. Go warn Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun and tell them not to mess around. If you scare these students away, watch out, I'll break your bones!" Zao Wou-ki said as they walked, his terrifying expression and tone making Oscar nod repeatedly.

"Sigh, I hope nothing goes wrong!"

After scaring Oscar, Zao Wou-ki rubbed his temples, thinking about the temperaments of the others, and couldn't help but worry that they might do something inappropriate—after all, these were three young girls!

Oscar was slightly better; he was rather timid and easily frightened, but Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun were genuine risk factors.

Soon morning arrived, and early in the day, Zao Wou-ki's booming voice resounded outside the dormitories.

"Little monsters, time to wake up and go welcome the headmaster!"

Before long, Ning Rongrong and the others arrived at an open space. The girls gathered together, while Tang San stood alongside Oscar and a chubby little boy.

The chubby boy had short hair, small eyes, and fat bulging on his face. He had two small mustaches on his upper lip, apparently just grown after puberty, looking for all the world like a pair of rat whiskers.

At that moment, his eyes stared fixedly at Xiao Wu and the other girls, saliva almost dripping from his mouth.

Xiao Wu furrowed her brows, glared at the chubby boy, and said, "If you keep looking at us like that, I'll dig your eyes out and step on them like bubbles!"

"Ouch, the little sister has quite a fiery temper! Big brother loves your type! Come on, call me big brother and let me hear it!" The chubby boy completely disregarded the warning, instead smiling wretchedly.

Tang San felt a slight aversion toward the chubby boy in his heart, but thinking that they would be classmates in the future, he said nothing.

Yet Xiao Wu, who had been an older sister figure since childhood, how could she endure this!

Others had long since been stunned, never expecting Ning Rongrong to be the strongest among them.

Just at that moment, the incense burned out!

"You've passed!" Zao Wou-ki announced.

Yet even without passing, he would have kept them; such monsters were unprecedented!

"We've passed just like that?" The others remained dazed.

Suddenly, a cart-pushing figure appeared, crying out, "Sausage monopoly! Come look, don't miss out, Oscar-brand sausages, sweet, cheap, only five copper coins, guaranteed to help you pass!"

The simple grey-clothed, bearded man with large peach-blossom eyes scanned the girls, his soft feminine voice contrasting sharply with his rugged look.

Feeling his gaze, Ning Rongrong frowned, while Zao Wou-ki called out, "Oscar, get some sausages!"

"Right away, Teacher Zao!" Oscar handed over two sausages, which restored Zao Wou-ki's energy.

Zao Wou-ki offered one to Ning Rongrong, explaining they recovered spirit power.

Oscar approached Ning Rongrong, saying, "Little sister, want a sausage?"

"No thanks, uncle!" Ning Rongrong replied.

"What? You called me uncle?!" Oscar despaired.

"Why?" Ning Rongrong wondered, thinking him older than Sword Douluo.

"Haha, Oscar isn't an uncle, he's only fourteen!" Zao Wou-ki laughed.

They stared at his beard in disbelief.

"He's an innate full spirit power Food-type Spirit Master, another little monster!"

Aside from Zhu Zhuqing, they were all innate full spirits, so they weren't impressed.

Zhu Zhuqing, cold by nature and having seen Ling Xian's power, remained expressionless.

Oscar smiled awkwardly when he saw their lack of surprise.

"Come, let's head to the dorms!" Zao Wou-ki led the way.

They were shocked by the rundown wooden huts serving as dormitories.

"These are the dorms?" Xiao Wu was appalled.

Ning Rongrong, as a clan princess, had never seen such places.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't mind, having endured worse while hunted.

Zao Wou-ki apologized for the academy's tight finances.

Xiao Wu resigned herself to her fate.

The girls picked their rooms, and Zao Wou-ki settled Tang San in the boys' dorm.

Warning Oscar to keep Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun in check, Zao Wou-ki fretted over potential troubles.

The next morning, Zao Wou-ki hollered, "Wake up, little monsters, time to meet the headmaster!"

They gathered in an open area, where a chubby, rat-mustached boy leered at the girls.

Xiao Wu threatened him, but he only laughed lewdly.

Tang San stayed silent, but Xiao Wu snapped.

"You deserve a beating!" Xiao Wu kicked him flying.

"Ow!" The chubby boy cried out, protesting the blow.

Tang San and Oscar tried to smooth things over, mentioning Ma Hongjun's evil fires.

Xiao Wu suggested cutting off his source of trouble, terrifying Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

Dai Mubai arrived, recognized Xiao Wu from their previous clash, and tension flared.

Ma Hongjun tried to invite Dai Mubai out for some fun, unaware of Zhu Zhuqing's presence.

Hearing of Dai Mubai's debauchery, Zhu Zhuqing's eyes turned icy.

Dai Mubai hastily denied it upon seeing Zhu Zhuqing, angering Ma Hongjun, who then realized the truth.

Zhu Zhuqing, utterly disappointed by her fiancé's depravity, decided to leave.

Dai Mubai panicked, threatening her with their shared fate.

Zhu Zhuqing resolved to break ties, refusing to be dragged down.

Headmaster Fland and Zao Wou-ki arrived just then.

Fland introduced himself as the Seventy-sixth-level Spirit Saint, the Four-Eyed Owl.

Learning of the conflict, Fland tried to mediate, but Zhu Zhuqing insisted on leaving.

Dai Mubai lashed out, attacking her in desperation.

Zhu Zhuqing easily countered with her second spirit ability, slashing him across the face and body.

Fland stepped in to protect Dai Mubai, questioning her departure.

Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu grew disillusioned with Shrek Academy as well.