"Impossible, absolutely impossible!"
Dai Mubai shook his head frantically and waved his hands repeatedly.
"Don't I know Fatty's level? Xiao San was able to beat Teacher Zhao like that—how could she not be able to beat Fatty?"
"Those elusive hidden weapons and the poisonous Blue Silver Grass... I have to say, he's the strongest genius I've ever seen."
"If I hadn't understood the situation, I might've been taken down by those hidden weapons too."
"Yeah, even though Fatty has decent talent, he's definitely no match for Xiao San."
Oscar nodded in agreement.
It's not because he was jealous that Fatty had suddenly become more handsome than him—it's just that, after spending so many years together, he knew Fatty's strength all too well.
He really wasn't jealous of his handsomeness or his temperament.
Really.
"Yes, Xiao Wu, you must have seen it wrong. We've all seen how powerful your third brother is. There probably isn't anyone his age who could be his opponent, right?"
Ning Rongrong blinked her large eyes and looked at the confused red-haired boy with a bit of surprise.
Zhu Zhuqing didn't say anything, but the expression on her cold and beautiful face was a little subtle.
But compared to everyone else's doubts, she believed it a little more.
"Well, if you lose, you lose. There's nothing to say. Anyway, you'll win back later, right, third brother?"
Xiao Wu forced a smile and tried to grab Tang San's hand—but he shook her off.
His face was gloomy as he stared at Ma Hongjun.
Asshole!!
That bastard must be really pleased with himself right now.
Humiliating me in front of so many people—feels great, doesn't it?!
Wait until my Zhuge Magic Crossbow is finished. I'll make sure you get what's coming to you!!
Tang San completely ignored the surprised looks from the others, glared at Ma Hongjun hatefully, and turned to leave.
Ma Hongjun: ? ? ?
Totally baffling.
He shrugged and continued looking at the system panel in his mind.
"Third brother..."
Xiao Wu's pretty face turned pale, her outstretched hand frozen in the air, and a faint pain throbbed in her heart.
What's going on?
Why did her gentle, humble third brother become like this?
"There's something off about that kid. Did the fat guy provoke him?"
Dai Mubai crossed his arms and frowned at Tang San's departing figure.
"No, even though Fatty likes to run his mouth, he wouldn't offend someone like that."
Oscar raised an eyebrow, narrowing his eyes slightly.
"It looks like our new student isn't someone easy to get along with."
Just now, he noticed the look Tang San gave Fatty—and that was more than simple dislike.
It was deep. So deep that even Oscar was a little taken aback.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't understand why Tang San hated Fatty that much.
"No, it's not that. That guy named Hongjun didn't do anything. I don't know what's wrong with third brother today."
Xiao Wu wiped the corners of her eyes and bowed slightly to everyone. "Anyway, I apologize on behalf of my third brother."
"No, no, we don't mind."
Ning Rongrong quickly helped her up, glared at Tang San's back, and snorted, "Stinky men really are no good. Don't you think so, Qingqing?"
As if not used to the girl's intimate tone, Zhu Zhuqing's face turned a bit red, but she still nodded in agreement.
Though honestly, I think that guy seems pretty normal...
She glanced stealthily at the red-haired boy.
"Xiao Wu, Qingqing, let's go have some fun. Ignore those stinky guys."
Saying that, Ning Rongrong raised her chin proudly and dragged Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu off the training ground.
Before leaving, she gave Dai Mubai and Oscar a fierce glare.
The two of them: Wait, what?! This has nothing to do with us!!
Besides, why not scold the fat guy? Isn't he a man too?!
"Why did they leave?"
Ma Hongjun walked over and looked at Dai Mubai and Oscar curiously. He had vaguely heard they were talking about him.
But the next moment he looked up, the three girls were already gone.
As for Tang San's glare, he didn't take it seriously. What, was he going to glare him to death?
He hoped "King Tang" would keep acting outside the original plot—it might help him rack up more evolution points.
After tasting the sweetness of martial soul evolution, Ma Hongjun was eager for more.
"None of your business, Fatty. But hey, you've got a good opportunity to win back your brothers' approval. Want to try?"
When Dai Mubai saw that strange yet oddly familiar handsome face, he wanted to curse. But suddenly, an idea hit him. He threw an arm around Ma Hongjun's shoulder and spoke warmly.
While talking, he winked at Oscar.
Oscar immediately understood and latched onto the other shoulder. "As long as you help your brothers, I swear I'll never call you fat again!"
"I'm not fat anyway."
"Don't make your brothers beg you!!" x2
Ma Hongjun expressionlessly shoved them away and started walking toward his room.
He still wanted to work on his system—no time for something that was clearly shady.
Besides, hadn't they used this trick before?
The next second, his legs froze mid-step.
Because the two were literally hugging his legs.
"Hongjun!!!"
Dai Mubai let out a long, dramatic howl.
"Brother, it's so hard!!"
Oscar burst into fake tears.
"You have to help us!!!"
They wailed together.
It was such a heartbreaking scene that anyone hearing it would tear up.
If you didn't know better, you'd think Ma Hongjun had broken their hearts.
"Okay, okay, fine. This is the last time. Quit the drama."
Ma Hongjun was speechless, but he really couldn't beat these two clowns.
If he didn't agree, they'd probably follow him all the way back to the dorm.
"Thank you, Brother Hongjun!!"
"Thank you, thank you!!"
The two of them instantly bounced up from the ground like nothing had happened and looked at Ma Hongjun with deep gratitude.
"Alright, spill it. What's going on?"
Ma Hongjun rubbed his temples. "If it's something too troublesome, I'm not doing it."
"Don't worry, it's no big deal. Just hear me out. Here's the thing—those three girls..."
After Dai Mubai's over-the-top story and Oscar's solemn promise, Ma Hongjun nodded thoughtfully, then looked at them suspiciously.
"Are you sure they asked for this?"
"Yes, absolutely true!"
"I swear on my character!"
Seeing how serious they looked, Ma Hongjun nodded dubiously.
"Alright then. I'll go first."
Soto City, huh? Just as well—he wanted to check out this so-called novice village.
No doubt, Soto City was where Shrek's bizarre rise began.
"Boss Dai, isn't it kinda bad that we tricked Fatty like this?"
Oscar shrank his neck as he watched the boy walk away.
"Those girls might kill him, right?"
Just thinking about what they told Ma Hongjun to do made his heart tremble.
"What are you scared of? That guy's so popular with women—they won't do anything harsh to him."
Dai Mubai crossed his arms and sniffed disdainfully.
"Perfect—this puts him back on the same starting line as us. That's fair competition."
"Eh~ Boss Dai, you're so despicable. I like it. That's what you do when a brother betrays you!"
"Hehe, you're not so bad yourself."
"But Boss Dai."
"Hm?"
"Are you really not just doing this to get Fatty away from that guy Tang San today?"
"Of course not. I'm just jealous of the fat guy's good looks."
"Hmph, me too."
"By the way, aren't we forgetting something?"
"Illusion."
The blond boy and the bearded one chatted and laughed, arms around each other, walking farther and farther away.
After who knows how long, Flander arrived confidently at the training ground and announced:
"Little monsters, it looks like you've all gotten to know each other. Hmm?"
Looking at the completely empty training ground, Flander fell into silence.
A moment later, an angry roar shook the field—
"Where the hell did everyone go?!"