Douluo Continent, my martial soul is a mushroom.

Chapter 37 Heart-to-Heart Talk (Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing, Tang San, Xiao Wu)

"What's your decision, Your Highness?"

Chi Ping's words carried an undisguised smile.

"Haha!" Dai Mubai scratched his head awkwardly. "I just didn't want to distance myself from everyone. How did you figure that out? I thought I was hiding it pretty well, and I hadn't contacted my family at all."

"You guessed it from your behavior after Zhu Qing entered the academy, didn't you?"

Zhu Zhuqing asked in confusion, "Me?"

Chi Ping nodded. "When Mu Bai and I enrolled, Mu Bai told me that his hometown was Xingluo City. He said he came to Shrek Academy to try his luck because he offended someone there and couldn't stay there anymore. I didn't suspect anything at the time, but Zhu Qing, your appearance made me realize something was wrong."

Chi Ping looked at Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing standing side by side. Judging from their clothing, one was white and the other was black; judging from their aura, one was yang and the other yin; their strength and speed were conflicting yet surprisingly harmonious.

"As I told you before, I used to be a master's assistant and have a certain understanding of most of the martial souls on the continent. I've long admired the Netherworld White Tiger martial soul fusion technique of the Star Luo Empire's royal family. Your auras complement each other, which most people might not be able to see, but I can sense it, and perhaps Xiao Ao can too."

"And you guys are so careless, you didn't even hide your names. One of you has the surname Dai, the other Zhu, one has the White Tiger Martial Soul, and the other has the Netherworld Cat Martial Soul. If you still can't tell the difference, I might as well quit the business."

"However, there's something I don't understand. Ever since Zhu Qing entered the academy, she's shown a strong hostility towards Mu Bai. Why is that? Mu Bai, have you wronged Zhu Qing? Or is it related to what you said about 'offending someone'?"

Dai Mubai smiled wryly: "Is this also the effect of intuition? Hirako, you're too perceptive."

He and Zhu Zhuqing exchanged a glance.

—Should I say something?

—Hirako is trustworthy.

Dai Mubai said, "Zhuqing, you go first."

Zhu Zhuqing began, "Mu Bai and I come from the Dai family, the royal family of the Star Luo Empire, and the Zhu family, a ducal family, respectively. Our two families have a very close relationship and a tradition of intermarriage. In our families, only the most outstanding individuals can become the future heirs. Neither Mu Bai nor I are the legitimate sons of our families. My older sister and Mu Bai's older brother were betrothed since childhood. The same is true for Mu Bai and me."

Dai Mubai continued, "To ensure that future family heirs are more outstanding, once the contenders are selected, they will be trained as enemies. The winner will inherit the family, while the loser will face eternal damnation. The best outcome is elimination, or the loss of their cultivation and imprisonment for life."

Chi Ping clicked his tongue and retorted, "It's a miracle that your family has survived to this day."

The two exchanged wry smiles, and Dai Mubai said, "Who says otherwise?"

Ikehira understood. "How big is the difference?"

Dai Mubai said, "My brother is six years older than me, and Zhuqing's sister is seven years older than her. Moreover, their talents are better than ours."

Zhu Zhuqing: "The family gave us time until we were 25. If we can't prove that we are better than them before then, we have no hope."

After saying this, Zhu Zhuqing glanced at Dai Mubai, "He left Xingluo City without saying a word, without replying to any messages. I always thought he was scared and deserted."

Dai Mubai didn't deny it. "Back then, I really felt hopeless, so I didn't want to stay in Xingluo City to wait for death. Originally, I planned to indulge myself before I died and enjoy my last days, until I met Pingzi. You're a food-type with only level five innate soul power, yet your soul power has increased faster than mine. You also cultivate so diligently. Being your classmate, I can't slack off at all!"

Chi Ping chuckled, "Are you going to blame me?"

Dai Mubai waved his hand, deeply moved, "How could that be? I'm so grateful to you. If it weren't for you, I truly wouldn't have seen any hope. Even my brother couldn't have achieved the Soul Master level at fifteen, increasing his Soul Power by four levels in a year!"

Zhu Zhuqing agreed, "Even my sister couldn't do that."

Under the soft moonlight, two pairs of dark eyes shone brightly. Their hands finally clasped together. Although their hearts may not be in the same place, they share the same direction.

—The knot in my heart has been untied!

Chi Ping felt a surge of satisfaction: "Do you know about the Continental Elite Tournament of Advanced Soul Master Academies?"

Dai Mubai and Chi Ping had lived, ate, studied, and trained together for three years. While they wouldn't say they knew each other inside and out, they were close friends. "Of course I know. It's the biggest competition in the Soul Master world. The winner will receive almost unparalleled honor. It's in two years. Are you planning to participate?"

Chi Ping nodded. "I plan to stay at the academy and form a team to win the championship. Do you want to stay?"

"certainly!"

"And me too."

……

"Brother Ping."

"Hey, do you even know which sect you belong to?"

Tang San squinted and realized something was wrong.

"Brother Ping, you don't know my sect?"

Chi Ping shrugged. "How would I know? I just felt that your lineage was too complete, something a twelve-year-old boy like you could summarize. And your hidden weapons techniques were just too profound. So I guessed that you were the inheritor of that lineage. But judging from your reaction, I guessed correctly."

"So what's going on with you? What kind of ancient sect ruins did you dig up?"

Tang San was taken aback, not expecting Chi Ping to make such a guess.

He countered, "Couldn't it be that I encountered a reclusive master who taught me?"

"It's not impossible. But didn't I just verify that? You paused for a few seconds when I mentioned the thousand-year-old sects." Chi Ping rested his chin on his hand, looking at Tang San. "Currently, the seven major sects have the longest-standing lineage in the Soul Master world. These sects are characterized by their martial souls, which is clearly not the same as your lineage. So you shouldn't be from one of the seven major sects. When did your sect perish?"

Tang San was speechless, but he couldn't very well say that his sect was in another world. "I don't know either..."

Chi Ping's words stirred up Tang San's memories. As an orphan raised by the Tang Sect, he had a deep affection for the sect. It was just a pity that the two worlds were separated, and he didn't know when he would be able to return to the sect.

"You want to rebuild your sect, don't you?" Chi Ping suddenly said.

Tang San hesitated for a moment. Promoting the Tang Sect was his unwavering commitment; otherwise, he wouldn't have committed the heinous act of stealing the sect's supreme martial arts, ultimately leading to his death. The flawed process led to the correct outcome; punishment was warranted, but so was reward. Merits and demerits couldn't offset each other, but neither could one mistake overshadow another.

He nodded.

Chi Ping smiled, clasping his hands together. "Since you have this idea, I have a suggestion. Would you like to hear it?"

Chi Ping briefly explained the information about the Advanced Soul Master Tournament and his plan to use the competition to make Shrek Academy famous to Tang San. "If you want to rebuild your sect, you'll definitely need disciples, which requires prestige. The prestige of winning the Advanced Soul Master Academy Championship will be your first step. Are you interested?"

"I need to think about it." Tang San naturally wouldn't give an answer immediately.

Chi Ping wasn't surprised. "Give me a reply as soon as possible."

"Um."

……

Xiao Wu arrived very late, not reaching the riverbank until the moon was high in the sky.

She didn't say anything, just looked around with her head down, but never leaned towards Chi Ping.

"Little bunny, your friend hit me pretty hard! I almost couldn't catch my breath," Chi Ping said with a smile.

He was glad that Xiao Wu had actually come to find him, instead of leaving immediately after he discovered her true identity. Perhaps, from the moment Xiao Wu remained in the Star Dou Great Forest, she had already made up her mind that she wouldn't leave.

Therefore, Chi Ping took the initiative to speak, easing the awkward atmosphere and also hoping to dispel Xiao Wu's last doubts.

It seems the plan worked well; Xiao Wu's tension eased, and she said apologetically, "Er Ming didn't mean it..."

"Er Ming?" Chi Ping was somewhat surprised by the name Titan Ape. "It really doesn't match its appearance!"

"Are you doubting Sister Xiaowu's talent for naming things?!" Xiaowu said angrily.

Chi Ping smiled but didn't respond to Xiao Wu. He continued, "I once read a concept in the master's book called the reincarnation of a 100,000-year-old soul beast. Xiao Wu, you must be in this situation."

Xiao Wu stood there, stunned, seemingly not expecting Chi Ping to be so direct.

Chi Ping continued, "Don't worry about others noticing any flaws, because my intuition tells me you're human. I was able to discover your past because your behavior was riddled with inconsistencies. Also, don't worry about me killing people to steal soul rings or soul bones. I might be a bit special; your soul rings and soul bones hold no appeal for me. My intuition tells me my future lies in my martial soul, my blood and qi, and my soul power. Soul rings and soul bones are merely embellishments and useless. Even without those things, I can still reach the pinnacle!"

Chi Ping's eyes were calm, like the surface of a river under the moonlight, rushing forward in his own direction.

He will not change course, he will not stop.

Xiao Wu muttered, "That's hard to say..."

"Can I trust you?"

"It's up to you."

"Then... Brother Ping?"

"Um!"

Xiao Wu smiled.

Chi Ping is a good person, and even more so, an absolutely responsible person.

When he was the leader of the work-study students, he would care about everyone's cultivation and life. He wouldn't be meticulous in every aspect, but he would never miss anything. He would use the cultivation methods he had researched and his own Soul Master subsidies, simply because he was the leader of the work-study students.

This is also why Xiaowu would come to talk to Chiping.

The name "Brother Ping" was a promise made by Chi Ping. Xiao Wu knew that once Chi Ping made this promise, he would definitely keep it!

"Then I'll head back now, Ping-ge."

"Good night."

Good night, Ping-ge, you should get some rest too.

(End of this chapter)