Flender

Stepping out of the Rose Hotel, the sun was shining brightly.

Tang San held Xiao Wu's hand and strolled slowly along the main street of Suotuo City.

The street was bustling with people, and the shops on both sides were lined up one after another, with colorful signs that dazzled the eyes.

Xiao Wu was in a particularly good mood today, she was walking with a swagger.

The two strolled around, Xiao Wu bought more than a dozen dresses and jewelry, Tang San also bought several suitable outfits.

Spending money feels really great!

Tang San had several million Gold Soul Coins; with supplies in hand, he wasn't worried.

Xiao Wu was overjoyed, jumping and skipping around, her smile as bright as the sunshine.

The two continued walking forward.

After walking for a while, a shop appeared ahead. The shop was small, the facade was a bit old, and the lighting inside looked dim, which contrasted sharply with the brightly decorated shops around it.

Xiao Wu curiously peeked out, and Tang San followed Xiao Wu gaze.

There were no words on the shop sign, only a small iron badge embedded above the door frame, with a strange pattern engraved on it.

Tang San's heart stirred slightly, and he pulled Xiao Wu inside.

There was only one person in the shop, and no counter. The three walls were covered with old-looking items that didn't seem valuable at all.

The only person was sitting in a wooden recliner, his eyes closed, swaying with the chair and making a creaking sound.

Tang San carefully examined the man. He had a slightly protruding chin, wide cheekbones, a flat face, and a somewhat hooked nose. He wore a pair of black-rimmed crystal glasses.

Although the man's eyes were closed, his face had a cunning look, like an old fox feigning sleep.

Tang San quickly guessed the man's identity: Flender, the dean of the Shrek Academy.

Tang San didn't rush to greet him. He shifted his gaze from Flender and scanned the items on the wall.

Soon, Tang San's gaze fell on a piece of pale yellow Hair Crystal.

This should be the piece of rutilated Hair Crystal containing Dragon Whisker Needles that Tang San found in the shop in Flender in the original novel.

Although Tang San doesn't use Hidden Weapons, since these are valuable items, it wouldn't be bad to collect them; they might fetch a good price in the future.

"Boss, how much is this piece of Hair Crystal?" Tang San asked casually.

Without even opening his eyes, Flender swayed back and forth in the recliner, replying lazily, "One hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu was about to start cursing. One hundred Gold Soul Coins? For this piece of junk? Is it inlaid with gold or diamonds? Xiao Wu opened her mouth, ready to unleash her fury.

Tang San stopped Xiao Wu, signaling Xiao Wu to be quiet, then turned around and readily agreed, "Okay, here are one hundred Gold Soul Coins."

Tang San took out a small bag of Gold Soul Coins from the Oriental Pearl and placed it on the wooden table next to Flender.

Flender opened his eyes and glanced at Tang San.

When Flender's gaze fell on the belt around Tang San's waist, which was inlaid with twenty-four jade stones, he suddenly jumped up from the recliner.

"Are you Tang San?" Flender's voice rose several octaves, filled with barely suppressed excitement.

Tang San feigned confusion, tilting his head slightly and replying with a puzzled tone, "Yes, I am Tang San. And you are?"

Flender took a deep breath, his expression shifting from excitement to relief. "I am a good friend of your teacher, Flender, and also the headmaster of the Shrek Academy."

After a pause, Flender gave a mournful look, as if he had suffered some injustice. "You're finally here! Hurry up and get to Shrek Academy. Your teacher is bothering me every day. I'm so annoyed that I can only hide in this little shop."

Tang San was slightly taken aback, a puzzled expression on his face. "Dean Flender, hello. What's wrong with my teacher? Why is he bothering you every day?"

As far as Tang San knew, Flender, as the "Flying Corner" of the Golden Iron Triangle, was a long-time friend of Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong. The Golden Iron Triangle had a deep friendship, so Flender should have been happy that Yu Xiaogang came to join Flender.

Why does Flender sound like he's trying to avoid this situation?

"Uh... uh... because..." Flender stammered, unsure of what to say, his face flushed red, as if he had something difficult to say.

Tang San was puzzled and asked, "Dean Flender, are you alright?"

Flender took a deep breath, reached up and adjusted his black-rimmed glasses, using the gesture to hide the embarrassment on his face.

After calming himself down, Flender waved his hand, a hint of unease flashing in his eyes. "It's nothing, it's nothing. Tomorrow is the start of the school year at Shrek Academy. I hope you can register. Shrek Academy needs someone like you."

Tang San nodded and readily agreed, "Yes, Dean Flender, I'll definitely go tomorrow."

Tang San glanced at the Hair Crystal in his hand again, a slight smile curving his lips, "Dean, what about this Hair Crystal..."

Flender, seemingly afraid that Tang San would change his mind, gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words, "It's... yours."

"Flender, Dean Flander..." Tang San smiled and immediately put the Hair Crystal into his Soul Tool.

Tang San turned around, grabbed Xiao Wu who was still looking bewildered, and quickly walked out of the shop.

The two walked back along the street. Tang San thought to himself as he walked, and he also found it quite novel.

Legend has it that Flender is a stingy and miserly merchant, extremely cheap and frugal. Why is he so willing to give me a Plate Crystal today? Something worth 100 Gold Soul Coins, just given away like that? Is there something more troubling him than money?

Tang San thought for a while but couldn't come up with an answer. He shook his head and returned to the Rose Hotel with Xiao Wu.

Early the next morning, Tang San checked out of his room and headed towards the Shrek Academy, following the address he had found out.

The two walked side by side out of the city. After leaving the city gate, they walked south along the official road. The further they went, the fewer people there were, and the fewer houses there were on both sides of the road, until finally only a large expanse of farmland remained.

Looking around, there was only a field of golden wheat and a few low hills in the distance, but no sign of any high-level Soul Master Academy.

"Third Brother, are you sure Shrek Academy is this way?" Xiao Wu suddenly asked, her eyes full of doubt. "Why is it all desolate mountains and wilderness? It doesn't look like an academy at all."

Tang San sighed helplessly, "Probably, but I'm not sure. However, judging from the dean we met yesterday, Shrek Academy must be quite poor. Well, it's understandable that a poor academy is located in the countryside."

"Okay, I'll follow you wherever you go anyway." Xiao Wu tightened her grip on Tang San's arm, a sweet smile on her face.

The two chatted and laughed as they walked along the dirt road for another half an hour.

Finally, a village appeared ahead.

The village is small, with only a few dozen households. Most of the houses have mud walls and thatched roofs, and they look quite old.

At the village entrance stood a tattered wooden sign with the words "Shrek Academy" scrawled crookedly on it. Next to it was a drawing of a green monster's head.

Tang San and Xiao Wu stood side by side at the village entrance, gazing at the simple, almost shabby village, their expressions revealing their utter shock.

Tang San had expected Shrek to be run-down, but he hadn't imagined it would be this run-down. What kind of academy is this? Who designed this?

Xiao Wu's mouth gaped open, unable to close for a long time. "Third Brother, this... this is Shrek Academy?"

Tang San took a deep breath and nodded. "It should be."

Right now, in front of the Shrek Academy, or more precisely, next to the broken wooden sign at the village entrance, there was a group of people queuing up. They all looked like students preparing to register.

At the front table sat an elderly man in his sixties. He had gray hair, a thin face, and wore a faded gray robe.

Tang San guessed that this person should be Li Yusong, the admissions teacher of the Shrek Academy, Martial Soul Dragon Pattern Staff. He was a Soul Emperor level expert.