Douluo: Two brothers in douluo

Soto City wasn't far from Shrek Academy.

The sun hung high in the sky, its blazing rays baking the bustling streets. Vendors shouted energetically, their voices ringing out above the crowds:

"Sugar-coated hawthorns! Fresh sugar-coated hawthorns!"

"Grilled fish! Hot and fresh Ho Family Grilled Fish!"

"Deep-fried Kun legs! Only two and a half years raised!"

Dai Mubai walked hand in hand with Zhu Zhuqing, her head lowered as a rosy blush spread across her delicate face.

"Shouldn't we… head back and train?" Zhu Zhuqing asked softly. She was enjoying this outing more than she'd care to admit, but their future battles loomed too close for them to waste time like this.

Dai Mubai stopped in his tracks and domineeringly reached out to ruffle Zhu Zhuqing's hair. "Training requires balance. It's okay to relax a little sometimes."

"Besides," Dai Mubai continued, exuding confidence from head to toe, "I've got everything covered!"

That overwhelming self-assurance left Zhu Zhuqing stunned, her thoughts momentarily blank as she unconsciously nodded.

But just then, an unexpected voice shattered the calm atmosphere.

"Well, well… Aren't you two in quite the mood!"

The pair turned to see Ning Rongrong standing nearby, wearing a light blue dress and sweating under the sun, her face filled with frustration.

Ning Rongrong was furious!

She and Oscar—that little sausage man—had been ordered by Flender to run twenty laps around Shrek Academy's grounds! Twenty laps! Was that even possible?!

While she and Oscar were suffering under the scorching sun, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were here, holding hands and acting all lovey-dovey. The comparison stung even more.

They were all students of Shrek Academy, so why were some people running laps while others were off enjoying themselves? Where's the fairness in that?!

That frustration was what drove Ning Rongrong to vent her irritation on the two of them.

What happened next completely caught Ning Rongrong off guard.

Dai Mubai simply grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's hand and walked away, muttering as he went, "Zhuqing, ignore her. I've heard a thing or two while staying in Heaven Dou Empire these years."

"That little princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is called Ning Rongrong. She's a spoiled little witch. Her favorite pastime? Playing pranks on people!"

"Plenty of her sect's followers have suffered because of her, but she always gets away with it thanks to Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and her father, Ning Fengzhi, who dotes on her endlessly…"

Ning Rongrong: Can you say that any louder?!

Meanwhile, the members of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect who were secretly protecting Ning Rongrong were sweating bullets.

They hadn't expected Ning Rongrong's reputation to be so well-known… and honestly, everything Dai Mubai said was completely true.

Zhu Zhuqing glanced back at Ning Rongrong instinctively, recalling how Ning Rongrong had kept encouraging her to argue with Dai Mubai on the first night.

Understanding dawned in her eyes as she turned to Dai Mubai, nodded seriously, and said, "Mm. Got it."

To Zhu Zhuqing, this gentle and seemingly well-mannered Ning Rongrong turned out to be nothing but trouble.

Would Dai Mubai lie to her? No way—he was far too sincere to lie!

Ning Rongrong's face darkened. She hadn't expected her true nature to be exposed so soon!

Forget keeping up appearances!

When she looked up again, Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing were already far away, disappearing into the crowd.

This made Ning Rongrong even angrier. She stomped her foot and gritted her teeth. "Damn you, Dai Mubai! Damn you, Zhu Zhuqing! Just wait—I'll tear you two apart!"

Time passed, and as night fell, the students gathered on Shrek Academy's training grounds.

Flender stood there, his face dark as he glared at Ning Rongrong.

This little witch… On the very first day of school, she had already broken his rules.

"Oscar, did you complete the task I assigned you today?" Flender asked, his gaze lingering pointedly on Ning Rongrong.

With his Four-Eyed Cat Owl martial spirit, Flender's night vision was impeccable. He could clearly see the smug look on Ning Rongrong's face.

If it weren't for her identity—or the letter from Ning Fengzhi—Flender wouldn't have let her step foot into his Shrek Academy.

Oscar hesitated, glancing nervously at Ning Rongrong before biting the bullet and responding, "Yes, Headmaster! We finished!"

"I wasn't asking about you—I was asking about both of you!"

"…We finished! Ning Rongrong and I both ran the twenty laps…"

Watching this scene, Dai Mubai smirked faintly. He knew Flender was establishing his authority. There was no way the pampered Ning Rongrong had run all twenty laps.

Even Oscar, who regularly trained, had nearly collapsed after completing them. As for Ning Rongrong? Impossible.

Flender's task had been deliberately impossible—a classic method of putting unruly students in their place.

Honestly, Ning Rongrong was something else. Why would the pampered princess of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect willingly come to a run-down place like Shrek Academy to suffer?

Flender suddenly grinned coldly. "Very good. Oscar, you clearly have a strong team spirit. I'm sealing your spirit power—now go run another twenty laps."

"…Yes!" Oscar answered with tears in his eyes. He knew Flender had seen through the lie and this was his punishment.

Without another word, Oscar trudged off to start his second round of twenty laps.

"Ning Rongrong, do you have anything to say for yourself?"

"Twenty laps are impossible! I'm too tired and too hungry…" Ning Rongrong tried to find an excuse, but Flender didn't give her the chance.

"So you abandoned Oscar, wandered into Soto City, ran into Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing—who ignored you—and then proceeded to eat and drink to your heart's content before returning to threaten Oscar into lying for you!"

"You were following me?!"

"It's my duty as headmaster to ensure the safety of my students when they leave the academy."

"Do you have anything else to say, Ning Rongrong?"

Flender's gaze turned sharp, his eyes drilling into Ning Rongrong like twin beams of fire.

Ning Rongrong glanced at Flender, then at Dai Mubai and the others. She knew she'd been exposed—what was the point of hiding it now?

"Hmph! I'm not going to follow your orders. What can you do about it, Flender? You're just a mere Soul Saint…"

(End of Chapter)