Conflict

The first lesson Flender had prepared for his students was indeed practical combat training at the Great Soul Arena. He and several teachers did not even enter the arena, instead drinking the cheapest tea at a roadside tea stall.

Under Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun's lead, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing entered the Great Soul Arena. After gaining a preliminary understanding of the rules, they each fought their first Soul Battle.

Flender truly deserved his reputation as an iron rooster. After collecting tuition from the students, he threw them into the Great Soul Arena for practical combat, and even made them pay their own registration fees. He was the very model of profiting without investment.

The food was poor, the lodging was poor, the cultivation environment was poor, and even the teaching consisted of throwing them into the Great Soul Arena. Running this academy was far too easy.

As evening approached and the sun slanted westward, all the Shrek Academy students—Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, Xiao Wu, and Zhu Zhuqing—headed back toward the academy.

The broad, fat Ma Hongjun followed beside Dai Mubai with a lewd grin, telling dirty jokes and letting out strange "hehehe" laughs from time to time.

Normally, Dai Mubai would have been quite interested in discussing such things with him, but today he wore a serious expression, his gaze fixed on the leather-clad, voluptuous girl walking ahead of them. It was Zhu Zhuqing.

Dai Mubai hesitated to speak. With the academy gates already close at hand, he knew he had to say something.

"Fatty, shut up!"

After first silencing Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai took several swift strides forward. As he caught up to Zhu Zhuqing, he said:

"Zhu Qing, don't listen to Fatty's nonsense. I'm not that kind of person..."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing sped up even more. Frost settled over her already cold face as she left behind a single word:

"Disgusting!"

Then her figure swiftly vanished into the distance. She was an agility-attack Spirit Master; if she truly wanted to leave, Dai Mubai could not catch her.

Watching Zhu Zhuqing's retreating figure, a flash of anger appeared on Dai Mubai's face. He had already restrained himself greatly. When they entered the city today, he had not even contacted that pair of twins from before, yet he had not been given even a chance to explain himself.

"Humph!"

Seeing Dai Mubai shut down, Ma Hongjun looked astonished. With Dai Mubai's handsome face, he had always been invincible with women.

He quickly caught up and, coming to Dai Mubai's side, consoled him:

"Dai the Elder, if she doesn't fancy you, there's no need to lose heart. There are plenty of women in Suotuo City for you to pick from!"

Dai Mubai did not refute him. What Ma Hongjun said was true. Over the past few years, Dai Mubai had charmed women of all ages. Whether wealthy, powerful ladies or innocent, lovely girls from respectable families, he only had to crook a finger to have as many as he wanted.

But at this moment, Dai Mubai shook his head and said:

"Fatty, you don't understand!"

Then he continued walking forward, his face dark as water.

Ma Hongjun scratched his head, unable to understand what was wrong with Dai Mubai. Being rejected should not have made him this furious.

A moment later, they also arrived before the academy gates.

Seeing them return, Ning Rongrong and Oscar, who had been waiting for a long time, both stood up. Ning Rongrong waved, her delicate face blooming into a sweet smile.

"You're all back..."

Ning Rongrong did not want to leave, or rather, she was unwilling to leave like this. She had her own pride as well. She could leave, but not in this manner.

Seeing the dark expression on Dai Mubai's face as he walked at the front, Ning Rongrong asked curiously:

"What happened? Did you lose your Soul Battle at the Great Soul Arena?"

Dai Mubai was in a foul mood. He glared at Ning Rongrong and said coldly:

"Ning Rongrong, stay out of my business!"

Ning Rongrong's pretty face instantly darkened, but she was clever and quickly figured out the reason. Her expression changed again as she teased him with a bright smile:

"I get it. Zhu Qing shot you down, didn't she? You thought she would obey you as soon as you crooked a finger, but she did not even pay you any attention!"

Then her words took on a note of indignation.

"Who do you think you are? Do all the women on the continent have to revolve around you? Back in Suotuo City, I saw everything. You had a pair of twins in your arms, and Young Master Dai was having such a wonderful time. You're so shameless yourself, yet you still expect her to pine for you? Pah, disgusting..."

Dai Mubai clenched both fists. Although Ning Rongrong had spoken the truth, he could not swallow this insult. His surging Soul Power erupted violently, his gaze turned sinister, and his face twisted savagely as he said viciously:

"Ning Rongrong, say one more word and I'll kill you. Others may fear you, but I don't. Even if I rape you first and kill you afterward, no one will be able to do anything to me!"

The terrifying Soul Power of a level thirty-seven Spirit Master was not something Ning Rongrong, who possessed only level twenty-six Soul Power and was a Support Spirit Master, could withstand.

Her body staggered backward repeatedly. Her footing slipped, and she fell directly to the ground. Her face was unsightly, her eyes filled with disbelief. Someone actually dared treat her like this.

Climbing to her feet, Ning Rongrong's eyes brimmed with killing intent. When had the little witch of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect ever suffered such a loss? Her gaze swept around before landing on Tang San and Xiao Wu.

"Tang San, I know you're very powerful and have a very special weapon. I'll support you; you help me kill him. However many Gold Soul Coins you want, I can give you that many. Do you dare?"

Tang San shook his head. He had gotten along quite well with Dai Mubai today, so he chose to stand with Dai Mubai and said to Ning Rongrong:

"Ning Rongrong, even if your birth is noble and you possess inexhaustible wealth, there will always be people who refuse to bow for money. You were the one who provoked Mubai with your words just now. You should apologize to him!"

Ning Rongrong looked stunned. She had not said a single lie, yet now she had to apologize for speaking the truth. What kind of logic was that? She had always been the one to act unreasonably, but now someone was being unreasonable in front of her.

Since Tang San would not help, she looked toward Ma Hongjun. Ma Hongjun crossed his arms and looked over with an amused expression. He said nothing, but his meaning was obvious: he would not go against Dai Mubai.

Still unwilling to give up, Ning Rongrong swept her gaze around. Only Oscar remained, but he was merely a Support Spirit Master. Moreover, when Ning Rongrong looked his way, Oscar turned his head aside, not daring to meet her eyes at all.

Not a single person would help her. Ning Rongrong felt wronged, unbearably wronged. Ever since she had run away from home, everything along her journey had long been secretly arranged for her. When had she ever suffered such a loss?

"You filthy bastard! With that foul mouth of yours, I ought to cut you down with a single sword!"

A voice filled with icy killing intent rang out.

Everyone was greatly shocked and turned toward the source of the voice.

Chen Yuan walked over from the distance. He used Soul Power as he moved. He did not appear to be moving very quickly, but in the blink of an eye, he had arrived before them.

His upright figure, handsome appearance, noble bearing, and intense, unfeigned killing intent immediately put everyone on guard.

The only one delighted was Ning Rongrong. It was as though she had gone from hell to heaven in an instant. She took one step forward, then went from a jog to a run, finally throwing herself directly into Chen Yuan's embrace as tears of grievance streamed down her face.

"Brother Chen Yuan, they're all bullying me..."

Chen Yuan stroked her head and comforted her:

"It's all right. I'm here."

At this moment, Dai Mubai warily looked at the suddenly appeared Chen Yuan, wanting to probe his background.

"Kid, who are you?"

Chen Yuan raised his head to look at Dai Mubai. He had come out to protect Ning Rongrong; if he did not do something now, it would be difficult to explain himself when he returned. His tone icy, he said:

"Rongrong, let go. Watch me stand up for you!"