Flender Comes Calling

After arranging everything, Yang Ming went to another well-known hotel on the street, the Jiman Hotel, and rented a room. He planned to stay the night first and then carefully consider the matter of Shrek Academy.

On his very first day in Suotuo City, Yang Ming had, by sheer coincidence, learned so much about Shrek Academy's ugly side. He was now genuinely beginning to doubt the authenticity of those fragmented memories in his mind. The difference was simply too great! The Shrek Academy in his memories was grand and flourishing, while the real Shrek Academy was beyond description!

However, in order to uncover the truth as quickly as possible, Yang Ming still needed to keep using Shrek Academy to stimulate his memories.

Having finished thinking things through, Yang Ming sat cross-legged and began meditating, carrying out his daily Soul Power cultivation.

After all these days of cultivation, Yang Ming's Soul Power had finally reached the limit of his current level. When water filled to the brim, it overflowed; his Soul Power broke through to level thirty-six.

However, while Yang Ming could calmly contemplate the future and cultivate properly, certain people were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.

At the same time, there was a strange shop in the eastern part of Suotuo City. Its storefront was not large, but the sign hanging above it was distinctly unusual.

A circular emblem was carved into the sign, bearing several special symbols: a sword, a hammer, and a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. Combined, the three symbols were precisely the insignia on the Spirit Hall Special Permit.

At that moment, a somewhat slurred roar suddenly rang out from within the shop.

"Zhao Wuji, how much money did you lose in that bet?!"

Pedestrians passing by the shop were all startled by the shout.

Inside the shop, a strange-looking man was furiously roaring as he grabbed the collar of another burly man whose face was bruised and swollen.

The strange-looking man had a slightly protruding chin, broad cheekbones, a flat face, and a hooked nose. If he had to be compared to something, then his face somewhat resembled the sole of a shoe. He wore square black-framed crystal glasses, making him look bizarre no matter how one looked at him. This man was Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy.

As for the other bruised and swollen, muscular brute, he was Zhao Wuji, who had previously made a bet with Yang Ming.

When Zhao Wuji left, he had been marked with Tracking Powder that Yang Wutian had secretly sprinkled on him. Not long after leaving the Rose Hotel, he found a Tea Shop to rest and soothe the pain from his damaged spirit, only for Yang Wutian to find him and pull a dirty trick.

Yang Wutian had scattered a handful of Soul Suppressing Powder directly onto Zhao Wuji, suppressing his Soul Power. Already weaker than Yang Wutian, and with his strength greatly diminished from his injured spirit, Zhao Wuji no longer had any ability to resist.

Right in front of the Tea Shop owner, Zhao Wuji was dragged into an alley and brutally beaten! By the time Yang Wutian emerged from the alley, the iron rod in his hand had been bent from the beating!

Having recovered a little of his rationality, Flender released Zhao Wuji's collar. Suppressing his fury, he fixed Zhao Wuji with a cold glare and said,

"Zhao Wuji, speak! What exactly happened?"

"How did you end up owing this money?"

"And what happened to your injuries?"

"If you can't give me a suitable explanation, I'll make sure you regret it!!!"

Looking at Flender, who had practically turned evil over money, Zhao Wuji could only recount everything from beginning to end.

"This matter started when I was eating barbecue and drinking..."

Seeing Cat Eagle Flender silently staring at him, Zhao Wuji wisely chose to skip the preamble. Pointing at Dai Mubai lying on the floor, he went straight to the point.

"This was caused by that brat Dai Mubai..."

"..."

Afterward, Zhao Wuji told Flender everything in full: how Dai Mubai had flirted with someone's friend and gotten his legs broken, how Zhao Wuji had been called over to collect him, how he had lost a bet to that youth, and finally how a peak Soul Saint with stronger Soul Power fluctuations than even Flender had dragged him into an alley and beaten him senseless. Flender's expression changed from anger to shock, then finally to terror, making a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.

Flender found it unbelievable. A Soul Elder had injured a Soul Saint head-on. If Zhao Wuji were not sitting there looking like a pig-headed mess, Flender would have thought Zhao Wuji was lying to him.

After hearing Zhao Wuji's description of Yang Ming and seeing Zhao Wuji's miserable state, Flender was certain that Yang Ming had to be a Young Master from some major power or great family who had come out to gain experience.

But a peak Soul Saint bodyguard who fought so dirty—what family was he from? This was a little dangerous!!!

After the shock faded, Flender's feelings became complicated.

On one hand, Flender was excited. He desperately wanted to recruit Yang Ming, this unprecedented super genius, into Shrek Academy. Wasn't this exactly the kind of student Shrek Academy should recruit? Moreover, once Yang Ming joined, Shrek Academy would have both a source of funding and its next living advertisement. He would no longer need to rely on deception... no, on eloquence to get people to join Shrek Academy.

On the other hand, Flender was deeply troubled. Not only had Shrek Academy clashed severely with Yang Ming, damaging the academy's image in his eyes, but they also owed Yang Ming ten thousand Gold Soul Coins—a debt they could not refuse to repay.

He did have the money, but it was his hard-earned savings, accumulated bit by bit through bluffing and trickery! How could a miser like him bear to part with it?

As for Zhao Wuji's injuries, Flender had examined them. They were all superficial wounds. Though somewhat serious, none had damaged any vital areas.

However, Yang Wutian had actually left some subtle internal injuries in Zhao Wuji's body. As someone from a family of pharmacists, Yang Wutian understood the human body far better than the vast majority of Soul Masters on the continent.

Zhao Wuji did not feel anything now, but when he tried to break through and absorb a Spirit Ring in the future, he would understand just how vicious today's beating had been!

Consider it a lesson bought with money! Should they really go looking to settle the score? If they lost, they would either get beaten again or killed. If they won, someone even stronger from the other side would come knocking, and they would still either get beaten again or killed. In short, there was no good outcome!

Thinking of this, Flender glared resentfully at the unconscious Dai Mubai. If Dai Mubai had not already been injured, Flender would have wanted to give him another thorough beating himself.

Flender paced anxiously around the shop. He wanted to find a way to recruit Yang Ming into Shrek Academy without paying him... After thinking it over and over, Flender actually came up with a possible plan.

When Zhao Wuji saw a sly smile suddenly appear on Flender's face, he shuddered, then became slightly excited. If Flender was grinning that craftily, that kid was definitely about to be tricked. This was Zhao Wuji's faith in Flender's devious side.

The next day, early morning.

Jiman Hotel's rear courtyard.

Yang Ming began his daily Spear Art practice. He had not trained for long before he vaguely sensed a gaze upon him. Yet he did not stop. He had not finished his Spear Art exercises yet! Besides, he wanted to see what the person lurking in the shadows intended to do.

The person in the shadows was Flender, headmaster of Shrek Academy. He had gone to the Rose Hotel to find Yang Ming the previous night and learned that Yang Ming was staying at the Jiman Hotel. Not wanting to disturb him, he had waited until this morning to come.

Flender was observing Yang Ming, while Yang Wutian was observing Flender. Flender also knew he was being watched. Still, he had not come looking for trouble today, so let them watch!

Although Flender did not understand spears, he had seen much of the world and even had an old friend under him who practiced with a staff. The spear shadows Yang Ming wielded danced gracefully, poetic and picturesque. Their liveliness contained steadiness, exuding an incomparable charm. They were clearly no ordinary art!

After seeing Yang Ming's spear technique, Flender wanted him even more!

Half an hour later, Yang Ming finished his Spear Art exercises for the day. After calming the surging blood and energy within his body, he spoke.

"Come out. You've watched for so long. What do you want?"

Hearing Yang Ming's voice, Flender flashed forward and appeared before him.

"Young friend, at such a young age, you already possess such spear technique. Your future is limitless!"

Yang Ming showed no reaction to this strange-looking man's praise. He simply stared at Flender with an expression that clearly said, get to the point.

There was no other reason—it was merely familiar! Yang Ming had heard such words far too often to feel anything, and besides, this man's praise was rather mediocre!

Seeing Yang Ming remain so composed, Flender was not embarrassed and continued.

"I am Flender, the headmaster of Shrek Academy!"

Yang Ming was not surprised to hear Flender identify himself. In all of Suotuo City, Shrek Academy was the only group with whom he had a conflict. It was perfectly normal for someone from that academy to come looking for him. Yang Ming replied calmly.

"I am Yang Ming."

"So, are you here to compensate me, apologize, or both?"

The moment Yang Ming mentioned compensation, Flender's mouth twitched and his face was about to darken again. However, recalling why he had come today, Flender forced himself to maintain his expression.

Flender wore a "kind" smile. Yang Ming guessed he was trying to appear friendly, but his appearance made it come off as somewhat lecherous and cunning. He did not look like a good person at all. Flender said to Yang Ming,

"You come from a great Soul Master family, and at such a young age possess such cultivation and bearing. I imagine you do not care much for that compensation. How about we use this money for another bet instead?"

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