Gangzi in Prison, a Forlorn Flender

After Qin Ming finished his introduction, Lin Chen looked at Flender's weathered face but didn't feel anything particularly special.

After all, aside from being a bit stingy, Flender was genuinely good to Tang San and the others, and his personality and character were generally uncontroversial, making him one of the few normal people in the Shrek Academy camp.

Thinking of this, Lin Chen smiled and nodded to Flender, saying, "I've long admired Dean Flender. I've heard Teacher Qin Ming mention Flender before."

"Your Shrek Academy's teaching philosophy is quite good, it's just that the students you recruit have some character flaws. I hope you can improve things after you go back, Dean."

Flender scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled, "Haha... Young friend Lin Chen is right. I will definitely discipline them more when I get back and make sure nothing like this happens again."

Qin Ming stood to the side, a smile on his face, "I heard about what happened yesterday. I believe those kids at Shrek aren't bad at heart, they're just too arrogant. Dean, you should keep an eye on them and make sure they don't keep fiddling with your ledgers all the time."

"After this incident, I believe Mu Bai and the others will understand the saying that there are always people more capable than themselves, and the sky is always higher than the heavens. If it weren't for young friend Lin Chen, they would really think they were invincible."

Following Qin Ming's words, Flender smiled and praised Lin Chen. Lin Chen smiled and nodded in response, exchanging pleasantries with Flender, preparing to hear Flender's true purpose in coming to see him.

After the three of them talked for more than ten minutes, Flender felt that the atmosphere was about right, so he changed the subject and his expression became slightly serious. "Young friend Lin Chen, I have a question, but I don't know if I should ask it."

"Please speak, Dean Flender," Lin Chen said with a smile and a nod.

Flender said in a deep voice, "I believe you know, young friend Lin Chen, that Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were once very close friends with me, so I would like to ask you about their current situation."

"So that's the problem after all." Lin Chen pursed his lips and calmly said, "Please rest assured, Dean Flender, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong should still be alive. They are currently imprisoned in the Heaven Dou City jail and are not in any danger."

When Flender heard that the two were still alive, he breathed a sigh of relief, after all, being alive was better than being dead.

Thinking of this, Flender spoke again, "Then is there any chance they can be released from prison?"

Lin Chen shook his head and said, "I'm sorry to disappoint Dean Flender, but it's simply impossible to release Yu Xiaogang and the others."

"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan dared to assassinate the late Emperor, committing the crime of extermination, and should have been executed along with their entire clan."

"It is only because of His Highness Qinghe's mercy that they have been spared. Being imprisoned is already a great favor; getting them out is practically impossible."

Flender's smile froze for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "I understand. As long as they're alive, that's all that matters. Thank you, young friend Lin Chen, for answering my question."

"I'm glad you understand, Dean Flender." Lin Chen nodded, then said nothing more, and greeted Qin Ming, "Teacher Qin Ming, if there's nothing else, I'll take Yan Yan and the others away."

Qin Ming smiled and nodded, saying, "Be careful on the road. If you need any help, feel free to come to me anytime."

"Thank you very much, Teacher Qin Ming." Lin Chen smiled and nodded, then stood up, called out to Dugu Yan and the other two who were chatting in the distance, and led them out of the lounge.

After Lin Chen and the others had gone far away, Flender gave a bitter smile, his heart filled with bitterness.

Seeing Flender's dejected appearance, Qin Ming felt a pang of pity and said, "Dean, are you thinking of Yu Xiaogang and the others?"

Flender sighed and said, "Yes, back in the day, the three of us traveled all over the country together and were known as the Golden Iron Triangle. Now, all I can do is watch them get locked up in jail, and there's nothing I can do about it."

Qin Ming patted Flender on the shoulder and comforted him, "At least they're still alive. As long as they're alive, there's still hope. Maybe they'll be released someday."

"If only that were true." Flender sighed, shook his head forlornly, and didn't say anything more about Yu Xiaogang and the other person.

He patted Qin Ming on the shoulder and forced a smile, saying, "Alright, you go ahead with your work, I'll head back now."

"Okay, then I'll see you off."

Qin Ming escorted Flender to the entrance of the Great Soul Arena, watching his figure disappear around the street corner before turning around and returning to the lounge.

After leaving the Great Soul Arena, Flender didn't go straight back to the Shrek Academy. Lin Chen's words lingered in his mind. Although he was filled with pain, he knew that this was the best outcome.

After all, if he were Qinghe the Great, he would never have let the family that assassinated the late emperor go. Not executing the entire family was already a great act of mercy.

But even though he understood, he still couldn't get over it. After all, Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong were locked up in prison, while he was surviving in the outside world.

On the other side, Lin Chen led Dugu Yan, Xiao Wu, Ye Lingling, and Dugu Bo from Suotuo City, heading south along the Official Road towards the Star Dou Great Forest.

As the carriage drove out of the city gate, Lin Chen lifted the curtain and glanced back. The outline of Suotuo City grew smaller and smaller in the twilight, eventually disappearing from sight.

Ye Lingling looked at Lin Chen's profile and whispered, "Was that Flender just now the dean of Shrek Academy?"

Lin Chen nodded and said, "Yes, he's a Soul Saint, he could easily join any academy as a teacher and enjoy wealth and luxury."

"Yet he still chose to open a run-down academy and live this frugal life, so even though Dai Mubai and the others aren't exactly great people, he's still quite admirable as the dean."

"Furthermore, Shrek Academy has produced students with good character, such as Teacher Qin Ming, who graduated from the Shrek Academy."

Ye Lingling said, "It's really hard to imagine that Teacher Qin Ming and that Ma Hongjun are students in the same college. How can there be such a big difference between them?"

Dugu Yan nodded in agreement. "The difference is indeed quite large. I don't know if it's because Teacher Qin Ming is too kind, or Ma Hongjun is too wicked."

While Dugu Yan and the others were chatting, Xiao Wu suddenly turned around and asked curiously, "Lin Chen, how far are we from the Star Dou Great Forest?"

"Ah... we're almost there," Lin Chen said with a smile. "It should take another two days of carriage travel to reach the outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest."

"We're almost there!" Xiao Wu perked up immediately and said excitedly, "I haven't been back to the Star Dou Great Forest in so long, I really miss it!"