"Xiao San, you were never much to look at, and now your face is injured too. What will you do if it scars and ruins your looks?"
"Who hurt you? How did they mess up your face so badly?"
At Shrek Academy, Tang San's face was covered in ointment as he wolfed down five or six of Oscar's sausages to heal his injuries.
When Master came over and saw Tang San's face, he drew a heavy breath, fury rising in his heart:
"We can't just swallow this loss, Flender, Teacher Zhao. We have to seek justice for Xiao San."
"That's right. Whoever dared lay such a heavy hand on a Shrek student, I'll beat him so badly even his grandmother won't recognize him."
Zhao Wuji slammed his massive fists together with a dull thud and said irritably.
Flender's expression was grave as well. He adjusted his glasses. "Xiao San, tell us. Who did this to you?"
"Teacher, Headmaster, Teacher Zhao, forget it. I was careless. I didn't dodge."
"There's no need to trouble you Teachers to avenge me. I can only blame myself for being inferior."
Tang San groggily opened his eyes and found the people of Shrek gathered around him, watching him with concern.
"Coward. You got beaten into this state and don't even dare say his name. What have you been learning from us for?" Zhao Wuji snapped.
"Could he really be that strong? Even if he's a powerful Soul Master, you have two Soul Sages backing you. What are you afraid of?"
"It would be one thing if Su Ran was the one provoking us. Are we supposed to fear anyone else in Suotuo City? I've been holding in enough anger lately. Helping you vent will let me blow off some steam too."
"Xiao San, thinking this way shows that you can reflect on yourself and strive for self-improvement. I'm very pleased.
But you're different from Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. I know your temperament. You generally wouldn't provoke trouble on your own; the other side must have started it. If we can't even protect our own students, does this academy have any reason to exist?"
"What do you think, Flender, Teacher Zhao?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender and Zhao Wuji.
Zhao Wuji and Flender nodded.
"Xiao Gang is right. If it was someone your age and you couldn't beat him alone, then call Mubai, Hongjun, and the others. If he wasn't your age, then he was bullying the young. We Teachers will uphold justice for you."
"This..."
Tang San wore a bitter expression. His Teachers' concern made him feel a little warmth, but he had gone to spy on Peach Blossom Spring Academy without permission. How could he bring himself to say it?
"Xiao Wu, you brought Xiao San back. You tell us. What exactly happened?"
Seeing that Tang San did not dare speak, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He turned to Xiao Wu and asked.
Xiao Wu seemed to be pondering something. Only when Yu Xiaogang barked at her did she snap out of it and haltingly reveal the truth:
"It was Teacher Su Ran from the academy next door..."
"What? Su Ran?!"
"This..."
As Xiao Wu recounted how Tang San had taken her to secretly watch Peach Blossom Spring Academy train, Zhao Wuji and Flender's expressions changed. Their imposing manner instantly deflated like wilted flowers.
Yu Xiaogang snorted. "Why is it Peach Blossom Spring Academy again? This Su Ran, as a Teacher, struck a student so heavily. He has gone too far."
"Flender, Zhao Wuji, what's wrong? The moment you heard it was Su Ran, you fell silent? Where is your backbone? Did Peach Blossom Spring Academy crush your spines? Where is your pride?"
Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender and Zhao Wuji. Seeing them remain silent, he became utterly furious.
"I'm telling you, Xiao San is my only disciple. I've raised him as if he were my own son. If you want to be turtles hiding in your shells and ignore this, I won't!"
"I'll go reason with them. I'd like to see just what kind of person this Su Ran is!"
Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly and strode out of Shrek Academy.
"Xiao Gang... don't..."
Flender and Zhao Wuji looked at each other.
Gangzi, use your head. You have no idea how formidable Su Ran is.
Even Soul Sages like us were pinned down and beaten by him. You're a Soul Grandmaster not even at rank thirty, emmm...
"Are you Su Ran? My name is Yu Xiaogang. People are used to calling me Master. I currently teach at Shrek, and I am also Tang San's Teacher. You should know why I've come."
"Young man, I advise you to behave yourself."
At Peach Blossom Spring Academy, beneath a Peach Blossom Tree in the Outer Court, Yu Xiaogang sat upright beside a stone table, staring intently at the elegant young man in white across from him.
The man sat amid endlessly drifting peach blossoms, as though he had merged with them. He seemed otherworldly, transcending the mundane, like no ordinary person.
What surprised Yu Xiaogang even more was that this Teacher, whom even Flender and Zhao Wuji somewhat feared, really was a young man.
"This should be the first time Master and I have met. Peach Blossom Spring Academy did indeed have some past grievances with Shrek. Has Master come to reopen old accounts?"
Su Ran casually poured two cups of tea and, with the manners of a good host, pushed one of them toward Yu Xiaogang.
"Reopen old accounts? Heh. I, Yu Xiaogang, have never been one to hold grudges, but neither will I tolerate my disciple suffering a loss."
Yu Xiaogang did not drink the tea. Instead, he spoke coldly.
Su Ran took a sip of tea and said lightly, "What a coincidence. Neither will I."
"You too? Good, very good. Since we both want justice for our disciples, then we shall settle this by the rules of the Soul Master World."
Yu Xiaogang rose to his feet, looking down at Su Ran from above as he snorted coldly.
"The rules of Soul Masters? Does Master wish to challenge me to Single Combat?"
To be honest, Su Ran nearly sprayed out his tea when he heard that.
A Soul Sage fighting a Soul Grandmaster—I'd dare to fight, but no one else would dare watch.
"Single Combat? Single Combat cannot demonstrate a Teacher's true standard. What I want to compare is our teaching and our students."
Yu Xiaogang stared intently at Su Ran as he spoke.
"As a Teacher, you should know that individual strength is not true strength. The strength of a team is true strength."
"In my capacity as a Shrek Teacher, I challenge you. One month from now, the Shrek Team and Peach Blossom Spring Academy will hold a Soul Master team match at the Great Soul Arena in Suotuo City. If Shrek Academy wins, Peach Blossom Spring Academy will disappear. All your students will join Shrek Academy and submit to our supervision, and you will compensate Shrek with ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."
"And vice versa. Shrek will disappear and compensate Peach Blossom Spring Academy with ten thousand Gold Soul Coins."
A gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of peach blossoms slowly drifted over.
Su Ran was stunned for a moment. He had not expected Yu Xiaogang to challenge him.
And the stakes were quite substantial—the survival of their academies was being wagered.
"Are you sure you want to gamble?"
"I should remind you that two students from Shrek Academy have both lost to my disciples. You are not at an advantage."
Su Ran said lightly.
"I already said that Single Combat cannot represent the strength of team battle. I have confidence in my teaching and my students."
"As for you, your disciples have defeated our students before, yet you're still hesitating. Are you afraid? If you are, then forget it. Peach Blossom Spring Academy is nothing special."
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, flicking his sleeve as he spoke disdainfully.
"Since you put it that way, refusing your challenge would make it seem as if I were afraid of Shrek."
Su Ran smiled faintly.
"Peach Blossom Spring Academy accepts this challenge."
"Xiao Gang, that was reckless—far too reckless! How could you challenge him? Isn't that jumping into a pit of fire?"
"Reckless! Too reckless!"
The moment Yu Xiaogang stepped out of Peach Blossom Spring Academy, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others, who had been eavesdropping outside, immediately surrounded him.
Ma Hongjun, Oscar, Dai Mubai, and the others were uncertain too. They clearly lacked confidence.
Xiao Wu, however, looked back at Su Ran's retreating figure inside Peach Blossom Spring Academy. She felt an urge to rush over and question him, but would he tell her the truth?
Xiao Wu fell into thought and touched her white bellyband, feeling a strange warmth.
If they lost, they would give the academy to the other side?
Could the students join the other side's academy too?
Mm...
Hehe (￣y▽￣)~ covering her mouth as she giggled
"Su Ran, I'll definitely find out whether you're really him and see what you look like beneath that mask!"
"Just wait."
Before you continue