So It Was You, You Money-Grubbing Crook

"Hmm... let's go take a look first."

"The Teacher must have a reason for asking me to come here."

Tang San thought for a moment, then stepped forward to join the queue.

Xiao Wu shrugged and followed along, somewhat helplessly.

At this time, there were probably around a hundred people ahead of them in line to register.

However, as time went on, not a single one of the hundreds of applicants met the admission requirements.

Soon, it was Tang San's turn to register.

Sitting at the registration desk, he lazily tapped the small wooden box in front of him. "Registration fee: ten Gold Soul Coin."

Tang San took out ten Gold Soul Coin and put them into the wooden box.

What is your Martial Soul?

The old man asked somewhat lazily.

"Blue Silver Grass."

Tang San revealed his Martial Soul without any hesitation.

"No!"

Please leave.

The old man gently waved his hand.

"My Teacher recommended me to come here..."

Tang San was interrupted halfway through his sentence.

"Regardless of who recommended it."

"Rules are rules, please leave!"

The old man waved his hand again.

"Mistress, I already told you not to waste your time, but you didn't believe me."

Xiao Wu stepped forward, reached out her hand towards the small wooden box, and prepared to take back the registration fee.

Snap

The old man patted Xiao Wu's arm, the sound crisp and clear.

"Registration fees are non-refundable once paid!"

The old man raised his eyes and glanced at Xiao Wu.

"Hiss~"

"Ouch~"

Xiao Wu shook her hand, looking at the old man angrily. "Hey, do you guys have any sense of reason? No matter which academy you're in, you can get a refund for the registration fee if you don't enroll. Why can't you get a refund here?"

Tang San also looked at the old man with dissatisfaction.

Well, what he was unhappy about wasn't that the old man wouldn't refund the registration fee, but that the old man had actually hit Xiao Wu.

"Our rule at the Shrek Academy is that registration fees are non-refundable."

"And didn't we see the Wooden Sign there?"

"We do not accept people whose Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass."

The old man pointed to a Wooden Sign not far away and waved to Tang San, signaling them to leave quickly and not cause trouble.

"Refund our registration fee."

Xiao Wu took a step forward.

The old man rose from his seat, and a long staff-shaped Martial Soul appeared in his hand, with six Spirit Ring— one white, one yellow, three purple, and one black—emerging beneath his feet.

He slammed the long staff in his hand into the ground, unleashing the full force of his Spirit Emperor aura.

Registration fees are non-refundable!

"Next!"

Under the old man's imposing aura, Xiao Wu and Tang San involuntarily took a few steps back.

Xiao Wu's anger grew even stronger.

What happened?

Flender's voice came from behind.

Tang San and Xiao Wu followed the sound, and when they saw who it was, Xiao Wu pointed at Flender: "It's you, you greedy, money-grubbing businessman who's always trying to steal from people in their coffins!"

Upon hearing this, Flender glanced at Xiao Wu, said nothing, and walked straight to the old man to inquire about what had just happened.

After listening to the old man's story, Flender looked at the Twenty-Four Bridge Moonlight Night pendant on Tang San's waist, his eyes filled with memories, but then he revealed a bitter smile.

The Soul Tool that Tang San wore originally belonged to Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang, who was the Wisdom Horn of the Golden Iron Triangle, was a very close brother to Flender.

How has your Teacher been doing these past few years?

Flender asked softly.

"The Teacher is very good."

Tang San's tone was somewhat unfriendly, and his gaze was quietly fixed on the old man behind Flender.

"Okay, you can go back now."

"After your Teacher arrives in Suotuo City, I have something to discuss with him. Given my relationship with your Teacher, enrolling you in school should have been a simple matter of a word, but I can't enroll you now. I have my own difficulties."

Flender's gaze fell on the Wooden Sign beside him.

Things feel like they're getting more difficult.

As Yu Xiaogang's disciple, Tang San should have been allowed to enroll in the school by any means necessary.

But now, he dares not and cannot agree.

Suotuo City is Bai Wanwan's Fief, and Shrek Academy is Fief within it. The agreement made with Bai Wanwan is marked by Wooden Sign plaque placed not far away.

Allowing Tang San to enroll would break the original agreement, and the consequences, whether or not they could be borne, are all unknown.

"Hey, you swindler!"

"Refund our registration fee."

Xiao Wu glared at Flender with hostility.

"No registration fee will be mentioned; this is an inviolable rule."

Flender replied without hesitation.

Yes, I have a good relationship with Yu Xiaogang, but the registration fee is absolutely non-refundable.

Even a tiny mosquito is still meat.

What Shrek Academy lacks most is money.

"You..."

Xiao Wu pointed at Flender, about to say something, when Tang San stopped her.

"Xiao Wu, let's go first."

After calming Xiao Wu down, Tang San took Xiao Wu away.

In the shadows.

The person, shrouded in a black robe, silently watched in the direction of Tang San and Xiao Wu. Then, in a few flashes, he disappeared from the spot, as if he had never been there at all.

Flender watched Tang San leave in silence, sighed, and walked into the Shrek Academy toward his office.

I arrived at the office door.

He turned the office doorknob, and with a click, the door opened. But Flender did not enter; instead, he quietly watched the person sitting directly in front of him, shrouded in a black robe.

"Flender, could you do me a favor?"

A somewhat hoarse voice came from the office.

The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in the Black-robed Figure's hand, with nine Spirit Ring flashing continuously: two yellow, two purple, four black, and one red.

Gazing at the blood-red Spirit Ring, Flender strode into the office and closed the door again.

After a while.

In the office, Flender stood in front of the open window, silently watching the direction the Black-robed Figure had left.

"Headache."

"This is a real headache. If possible, I don't want to offend either side. I hope you can resolve this matter."

Flender muttered to himself.

Suotuo City.

Inside a noodle shop.

Bai Wanwan lowered her head and ate the plain noodles in front of her.

"Um, didn't you have something to take care of?"

"But these past few days, it seems like we've been spending all our time shopping."

Zhu Zhuqing picked up her chopsticks, looked at the bowl of noodles in front of her, and seemed a little embarrassed.

Well, these past few days, whether it's meals or accommodation, everything has been paid for by Bai Wanwan, which makes her feel a little embarrassed.

"Hmm~"

"No rush, it's not time yet."

"Let's eat first, the noodles won't taste good if they get cold."

Bai Wanwan lowered her head and ate her noodles calmly.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing thought for a moment, nodded to Bai Wanwan, and then lowered her head to taste the noodles in front of her.