462. Embarassment

The family of three made their way home.

Qian Renji lowered his head in silence, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Jue~ Why aren’t you saying anything? Are you unhappy?"

Qian Renxue walked beside him, holding scepter with a teasing expression.

"No, I’m not unhappy."

Qian Renjue responded with an awkward smile.

"Hmph!"

Bibi Dong let out a soft snort, adjusting her grip on her beloved son. Her smile was gentle, but her words carried a playful tone.

"Mom is willing to carry you; I doubt you’d dare to be unhappy!"

"I-I’m really not unhappy."

Qian Renjue, caught between laughter and tears, wrapped his arms around her neck and replied awkwardly, "It’s just... a little strange."

"How about Mom puts me down, and I carry you home instead?"

Before Bibi Dong could respond, Qian Renxue reached out and pinched Qian Renjue’s stiff cheeks, feigning seriousness as she reported:

"Mom, I think Jue is being ungrateful!"

"I’m not! Sister, how could you say that? I would never be ungrateful to Mom!"

Qian Renjue immediately denied it.

"Then why does it seem like you’re so reluctant for Mom to carry you?"

Qian Renxue asked with a sly smile.

"I’m not a kid anymore. If someone sees me like this... it’s so embarrassing."

Qian Renjue mumbled, avoiding eye contact with those around them.

"Pfft, hahaha!"

Qian Renxue couldn’t hold back her laughter, her cheeks slightly flushed.

She thought to herself that if she were being carried by Bibi Dong, she would likely feel the same way.

Bibi Dong rolled her eyes and chided, "What’s the big deal?"

"Mom is much older than you, yet didn’t I let you carry me before?"

"No matter when, you’ll always be my children."

"..."

Qian Renjue opened his mouth but couldn’t find the words to refute.

Leaning against Bibi Dong’s shoulder, a memory surfaced—he had said the same thing to Qian Xunji.

No matter how old he got, he was still his child.

"That’s right, that’s right! Mom is absolutely right!"

Qian Renxue patted Qian Renjue’s back and nodded in agreement.

"Got it."

Qian Renjue shot Qian Renxue an exasperated look.

They had agreed earlier that he would carry Mom home, but now things had turned out like this.

Qian Renxue smugly winked at Qian Renjue.

Bibi Dong nodded gently.

"Good. Since you understand, Renji, get down. Mom will carry Xiao Xue now."

"What?!"

Qian Renxue’s breath hitched.

"Alright, sure!"

Qian Renjue was momentarily stunned but then cheerfully agreed.

However, just as Bibi Dong was about to squat down, her movements paused, and she glanced back with a meaningful look.

"Jue, why do you seem so happy about this?"

"Huh? I-I’m happy for Sister... haha."

Qian Renjue laughed dryly, trying to explain.

"Hmph! You ungrateful boy. I carry you, and you don’t even thank me."

Bibi Dong said with mock irritation.

"Thank you, Mom!"

Qian Renjue quickly leaned in and expressed his gratitude near her ear.

"That’s more like it."

Bibi Dong’s expression softened as she gently set Qian Renjue down and turned to Qian Renxue.

Half-squatting, she looked back with a smile and said, "Xiao Xue, come on. Mom will carry you home."

"Alright~"

Qian Renxue bit her lip lightly, her cheeks flushed, and handed her scepter to Qian Renjue with a huff.

She then stood behind Bibi Dong, blushing as she climbed onto her back.

"Thank you, Mom~"

"This is what moms are supposed to do."

Bibi Dong smiled tenderly as she stood up and began walking toward home.

"Jue, keep up!"

"Got it, Mom."

Qian Renji twitched his lips in amusement.

When it’s Sister, it’s suddenly the right thing to do. Truly capricious.

Shaking his head with a wry smile, Qian Renjue quickened his pace to follow.


Lying on Bibi Dong’s back, Qian Renxue realized it wasn’t as embarrassing as she had imagined.

Instead, it felt as though she was making up for a regret from the past.

Bibi Dong, on the other hand, sighed with emotion.

Her daughter had truly grown up, even surpassing her as a mother in some ways.

Qian Renjue watched the harmonious scene between mother and daughter, scratching his head.

Compared to them, his behavior seemed overly sentimental.

Suddenly, there was a hum!

A vibration came from the ring on his thumb.

Raising an eyebrow, Qian Renjue heard Zhu Zhuqing’s sweet and lively voice:
"Teacher! Zhuqing has found that person."

"And also the eldest daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, just as you instructed."

Qian Renjue smiled, calming his thoughts, and spoke softly:
"Very good, well done. Notify me when you head toward Star Dou Forest."

"Got it, Zhuqing understands."

"I’ll come to see you when the time comes."

"Mm-hmm! Zhuqing will be waiting!"

Zhu Zhuqing’s excitement was evident; her breathing was uneven, as if she had just finished a battle. Her voice quickly faded away.


---

Shrek Academy.

After eating Oscar’s big sausage, Tang San felt slightly recovered.

Zhao Wuji, unwilling to lose face, didn’t stay long.

Under Dai Mubai’s orders, Oscar led Tang San to his dormitory.

Before leaving, Tang San’s gaze remained fixed on Zhu Zhuqing, who was crouching on the training ground.

He watched her until she disappeared from view.

Zhu Zhuqing crouched there, holding hidden weapons in her hands, leaning over a trench.

The trench emitted faint vibrations from six wings, causing her cheeks to flush.

Hearing Qian Renjue’s voice, a radiant smile appeared on her usually cold face.

A playful laugh suddenly rang out beside her.

"Zhuqing, why don’t I help you?"

Ning Rongrong ran up to Zhu Zhuqing with a grin, helping her gather the hidden weapons.

"Wait... they’re poisonous!"

Zhu Zhuqing quickly turned her head to stop her.

But when she saw the jade-like quality of Ning Rongrong’s hands, she froze.

"Hehe, it’s fine."

Ning Rongrong’s expression was proud.

These techniques, including Mysterious Jade Hands, had also been taught to her by her Brother Holy Son.

"..."

Zhu Zhuqing gave Ning Rongrong a deep look and softly said, "Thank you."

"You’re welcome."

Ning Rongrong replied casually, quickly grabbing more hidden weapons.

"Can I help too?"

Xiao Wu looked at the two girls eagerly.

She felt that these two seemed to have some connection to the Holy Son, their abilities unusually refined.

They were far from ordinary, especially compared to the boys.

"Xiao Wu, you should rest. There’s not much left."

Zhu Zhuqing shook her head, unaware that Xiao Wu had been pretending to be injured earlier.

"Alright."

Xiao Wu glanced at their hands with curiosity.

They could even use Tang San’s techniques?

Dai Mubai slowly walked over, glancing at Zhu Zhuqing’s profile.

With a puzzled tone, he asked, "Where did you learn all of this?"

"My teacher taught me."

Zhu Zhuqing answered plainly without looking at him, refusing to elaborate.

Dai Mubai frowned.

"Finish up quickly. Once you’re done, I’ll take you all to the dorms."

Teacher?

Ning Rongrong’s eyes sparkled with curiosity and cunning.

If the Holy Son was Zhuqing’s teacher...

Did that make her the teacher’s wife?!

"Haha..."

The thought alone made Ning Rongrong laugh out loud.

Zhu Zhuqing gave her a strange glance but didn’t say anything.

Before long, Dai Mubai led Xiao Wu and the others to their respective dorms.

After the intense battle, Zhu Zhuqing didn’t bother tidying her bed. Instead, she sat cross-legged to meditate and cultivate.

"Tomorrow, I’ll check on their dorms," she thought to herself.


---

Under the night sky.

Shadows flickered across Shrek Academy, and a sinister voice whispered:

"Zhao Wuji~"