Tough Only with His Own (Please Follow, Please Vote)

At the end of the Player Tunnel, Ning Rongrong had been waiting for quite some time.

When she saw Ning Tianchen, she skipped over, grabbed his arm, and said sweetly, "Tianchen Gege, you were amazing."

Ning Tianchen gently stroked her forehead and asked softly, "You're still as mischievous as ever. By the way, how did your spirit fight with Zhu Qing go?"

Ning Rongrong puffed out her chest, looking proud. "Of course we wouldn't lose. Our opponents were just like the fools Tianchen Gege talked about—they couldn't take a beating at all. I'll let Zhu Qing..."

Though her description was vivid, in summary, their opponents had simply been too weak, and the match had been decided within a few moves.

The eight from Shrek Academy had been divided into four Two-on-Two Spirit Fight teams. Now, two teams had won. Of the remaining two, Tang San's team was unlikely to lose. The only team that might lose was Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's.

Before Ning Tianchen could think further, Ning Rongrong suddenly shouted, "Oscar, you coward who ran away at the last minute!"

Although he had won the match, there was little joy on Oscar's face. Like a child who had done something wrong, he lowered his head and walked up to Ning Tianchen, waiting to be scolded.

Ning Tianchen scraped Ning Rongrong's nose. "All right, Rongrong. I was the one who told Oscar to leave the arena early."

If Oscar had remained on the stage, he would only have been injured for nothing. Rather than suffer physically, it was better for him to leave early.

Only after hearing his explanation did Ning Rongrong let it go.

Oscar, however, excitedly threw his arms around Ning Tianchen and said emotionally, "Good brother, from now on, we're the closest brothers. If I have a bite to eat..."

Ning Tianchen's mouth twitched. Oscar's actions made it difficult not to let one's imagination run wild.

"Stop right there. I'm not down and out to that extent yet. And take your hands off me."

After the spirit fights ended, the eight of them gathered one after another in a Restroom at the Great Soul Arena at Flender's summons.

Tang San and Xiao Wu were excitedly reviewing their match. When they entered the room and saw everyone's expressions, Tang San smiled. "Looks like everyone won as well. Xiao Wu and I won too. Now only Boss Dai's team is left."

"Since you won, sit down and rest first. Once everyone is here, this Headmaster will personally review your matches," Flender said blandly from the corner.

He had secretly watched every spirit fight that night.

Tang San and Xiao Wu's Two-on-Two Spirit Fight had been fairly commendable, but they still fell somewhat short of Ning Tianchen.

"What's wrong with the Headmaster?" Xiao Wu walked over to Ning Rongrong's side and asked in a low voice.

Flender's tone had been calm just now, but there seemed to be a trace of anger hidden in his words.

All six of them had won their spirit fights, and none of them had resorted to tricks. Could his anger be directed at someone else?

Tang San looked around the Restroom but did not see Dai Mubai or Ma Hongjun.

Earlier, he had noticed that Dai Mubai was in an unusual state. Could he have accidentally killed his opponent during the spirit fight?

As Shrek Academy's eldest brother, Tang San instinctively refused to believe that Dai Mubai could have lost.

Not long after, the Restroom door was kicked open with a heavy bang.

Thinking someone had come to cause trouble, the Shrek students glared at the doorway with unfriendly expressions.

The newcomers were none other than Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who had returned from their spirit fight.

"Fatty, how many times have I told you not to follow behind me and get in my way? You just wouldn't listen!"

Dai Mubai looked somewhat disheveled, with several flame-burn marks on his body. His voice was filled with fury, as though he wanted to skin Ma Hongjun alive.

Ma Hongjun followed behind him in silence, not daring to talk back.

Flender abruptly rose to his feet, his expression extremely ugly. "Mubai, is this what this Headmaster taught you—to push responsibility onto your teammate after losing a spirit fight?"

In his heart, he had once considered how to arrange the eight Shrek students into teams.

What he had envisioned was Dai Mubai and Ning Tianchen as a team.

Even if they encountered a pair capable of using a Martial Soul Fusion Skill, so long as they coordinated properly, they would not have been able to force Ning Tianchen into such a situation.

The team assignments could be set aside for now, since he had never interfered with them.

But Ma Hongjun was his disciple, after all. Even if they had lost the spirit fight, it was not Dai Mubai's place to point fingers at him.

As if he had found backing, Ma Hongjun immediately ran behind Flender, though he still did not dare look Dai Mubai in the eye.

"Headmaster, ask him yourself what stupid thing Ma Hongjun did during the spirit fight!" Dai Mubai said furiously.

Their two opponents had both been level thirty-three Soul Elders.

Dai Mubai possessed level thirty-seven Soul Power and had been handling them with ease. But Ma Hongjun had refused to simply coast to victory and chose to attack on his own.

Unexpectedly, their opponents were wind-attribute soul masters. Ma Hongjun's First Spirit Ability, Phoenix Fire Wire, was blown back by a fierce gust, and the flames even scorched Dai Mubai.

Their excellent situation was ruined just like that.

With his body injured and his mindset affected, Dai Mubai repeatedly pressed forward recklessly in the following exchanges, resulting in their defeat.

If they had to say whose responsibility was greater, neither of them was much better than the other.

Ultimately, their coordination had been completely lacking, and they had not communicated directly during the spirit fight, which led to the major mistake.

Flender would not favor either side, but Dai Mubai's actions could influence the other students.

If Shrek students blamed their teammates and classmates whenever they lost a spirit fight in the future, how could he possibly lead this team?

"Mubai, is that the attitude you use when speaking to this Headmaster? When you lose a spirit fight, everyone bears responsibility. Instead of being like you, who only knows how to blame your classmates!" Flender said bitterly, disappointed that he had failed to meet expectations.

Ning Rongrong looked at him with disdain and leaned close to Ning Tianchen's ear. "Tianchen Gege, this Dai Mubai really is beyond saving."

Ning Tianchen shrugged.

Dai Mubai was a complicated person. He was proud because he possessed the White Tiger Martial Soul, yet inferior because of his status as a prince.

It was only after obtaining an Immortal Herb, when his strength surpassed Dai Weisi's, that the rest of his life began to go smoothly.

Without the Immortal Herb's help, he would probably only dare to hide in some gutter and tremble.

There was absolutely no need to win over someone like him, even if he was the Star Luo Royal Family's second legitimate son.

"Mubai, say less. The Headmaster is angry right now," Tang San reminded him for the sake of keeping the team united.

Dai Mubai was, on one hand, someone who dared to love and hate. On the other hand, he was also cautious and self-abasing.

Tang San possessed Hidden Weapons, and his strength had already surpassed Dai Mubai's. Naturally, Dai Mubai did not dare give Tang San any attitude.

With a cold snort, Dai Mubai stormed out the door.

"Mubai, if this Headmaster does not see you when I return to the academy, then starting tomorrow, you will no longer be a member of Shrek Academy!" Flender's tone was full of threat.

If students dared disrespect the Headmaster and such a precedent was set, would new students like Ning Tianchen still respect him as Headmaster?

In the end, Dai Mubai did not have the resolve to leave for good.

Though he was furious at Flender's "favoritism," after wandering around the city for several rounds, he still headed toward Shrek Academy.