Scoundrels Among Us

In the darkness, Ghost Douluo's figure was hard to track, like a wandering spirit.

Only when he had deliberately stepped into the moonlight had Qin Yuan seen him clearly.

His figure flickered into a blur of shadow. When he appeared again, he stood before Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan was someone Bibi Dong valued. Given the talent and strength he had shown, Ghost Douluo respected him and put on none of the airs of a Titled Douluo.

"Mr. Qin, you really aren't one to take a loss. Those two put laxatives in the Imperial Fighting Team's late-night snack. The evidence is conclusive. How would you like them dealt with?"

Qin Yuan chuckled. "There's no need to ask me, Ghost Douluo. Handle it by the book."

"Since Heaven Dou Royal Academy hired me, I'll look after everyone on the Imperial Fighting Team. Anyone who trips me up while I'm on the job is my enemy."

Ghost Douluo said nothing more and gave a slight nod.

After a pause, he asked, "Will you have any free time after the Soul Master Tournament, Mr. Qin?"

"His Holiness the Pope has an important commission for you. I hope you won't refuse."

Ghost Douluo had followed Qin Yuan the entire time.

To be honest, Qin Yuan's movement technique had pleasantly surprised him.

Qin Yuan was only a Peak Spirit Emperor, yet with his movement technique, he had slipped out of Ghost Douluo's sight time and again in those tangled streets.

And Ghost Douluo was a Titled Douluo! Any movement technique that could shake him was not to be underestimated.

Qin Yuan replied casually, "I've said it before. As long as the price is right and I have no other commissions, I won't refuse."

"If you have nothing else to tell me, I'll head back. Once the Soul Master Tournament is over, I'll give His Holiness the Pope's commission serious consideration."

Ghost Douluo did not try to keep him.

Bibi Dong had sent him to sound Qin Yuan out about the commission. He had simply happened upon the two teachers drugging Teacher Jiang.

To do Qin Yuan a favor, he had watched from the shadows. He had not expected Qin Yuan to be so vigilant that he found the evidence before long.

The next day, the matches went ahead as usual.

Qin Yuan had barely taken his seat with the Imperial Fighting Team when the referee informed him of Gutang Team's punishment.

At first, the two teachers had stubbornly denied everything. Then Ghost Douluo produced the evidence and the Recording Soul Tool. Seeing that they could no longer talk their way out of it, they admitted to administering the drug.

As the Battle Teams arrived one after another, the day's matches officially began.

Before the first match, however, the referee announced the Organizing Committee's decision.

"An investigation found that Huang and Wang, two members of Gutang Academy's Battle Team, drugged Teacher Jiang of the Imperial Fighting Team last night, leaving him unable to supervise the preparation of their late-night snack. They then took the opportunity to lace it with a heavy dose of laxatives."

"According to their statements..."

"The Soul Master Tournament has always upheld the principles of fairness and impartiality. The teachers leading Gutang Academy's Battle Team resorted to any means necessary to win the match. Their conduct was egregious."

"The Organizing Committee has decided to strip them of their eligibility to compete and annul all their results in this year's tournament."

"Today's match between the Imperial Fighting Team and Gutang Team will proceed as scheduled."

With their opponents disqualified yet the match still on the schedule, victory had effectively been handed to the Imperial Fighting Team, along with a place in the Top Six.

The Organizing Committee had not banned Gutang Academy permanently. But with so many eyes on the Soul Master Tournament, any academy Battle Team caught pulling a stunt and punished in public would suffer a devastating loss of trust.

Even an established academy would inevitably struggle to recruit students under that cloud and could eventually go bankrupt. Gutang Academy had been founded only in the past two years and was still small. How could it withstand a punishment like this?

Had they not tried anything underhanded, even a loss to the Imperial Fighting Team would have left them with a respectable record. After the tournament, the Star Luo Imperial Family would have invested heavily in the academy's potential.

Unfortunately, the moment the punishment was announced, all of that turned to dust.

Gutang Academy's teachers and students wanted to flay Teachers Huang and Wang alive!

As soon as the decision was announced, every Battle Team from the Heaven Dou Empire turned to look at the Star Luo Empire's side.

Their looks seemed to say: People from the Star Luo Empire only know how to win with filthy tricks.

"Damn it, we've got scoundrels among us! Gutang Academy can go to hell. When I get back, I'll raze the place!" The leader of the Star Luo Empire's delegation was furious.

One rat dropping had turned the entire empire's teams into a laughingstock. Even cutting Gutang Academy to pieces would be too good for them!

The Star Luo Empire's teams could not help but be affected during the day's matches.

In the end, three teams from the Heaven Dou Empire advanced to the Top Six. Apart from the Spirit Hall Team, only two teams from the Star Luo Empire made it through, including the stronger Star Luo Team. The result left everyone's jaws on the floor.

The players faced tremendous pressure in the matches ahead, so the schedule eased. The organizers gave the members of each Battle Team some time to rest.

After the day's matches, three days remained before the Top Six would be narrowed to three. Each Battle Team had ample time to prepare.

There was no draw before the matches, of course. Opponents would only be drawn once the matches began.

None of the six Battle Teams knew whom they would face. Those three days were also a test of each Battle Team's depth and tactical preparation.

The Imperial Fighting Team had a strategy group of more than ten people behind it. Qin Yuan did not need to spend much effort on tactics.

Early the next morning, Qin Yuan went to the Spirit Hall Academy Team at Bibi Dong's invitation.

Barring any surprises, Bibi Dong's next commission would be for him to teach movement techniques to Hu Liena and her two companions.

To that end, Spirit Hall had used the break between matches to arrange a teaching position for Qin Yuan at Spirit Hall Academy ahead of time.

The man showing him around was Tian Chen, the academy's dean.

Qin Yuan had a remarkable grasp of Soul Master theory. In just over two months, he had also turned the disorganized Imperial Fighting Team into a top-tier powerhouse.

Abilities like his were highly sought after in academic circles.

Though Tian Chen was a renowned master of theory, he could not help wanting to look after such an outstanding young scholar.

Tian Chen granted Qin Yuan the benefits of a theoretical grandmaster at the Spirit Saint level.

It was only a difference of one rank, but the theoretical materials and cultivation resources available at the two levels were worlds apart, like heaven and earth.

Of course, Bibi Dong had little to do with his benefits.

Bibi Dong could be warm toward her subordinates, but she was harsh and sparing with rewards. She would not hand out lavish benefits without cause.

Getting anything out of her was no easy task.

With benefits beyond his rank at Spirit Hall Academy, Qin Yuan would have access to more resources, which would greatly help his future cultivation.

Qin Yuan had no plans for a long-term career in Soul Master theory. He was only stopping briefly in the field because he was about to accept the commission.

Still, he would not pass up a chance to learn something new.

With a solid theoretical foundation, he could find ways to deal with any trouble he encountered in his future cultivation.

There were currently no Titled Douluo with a Blade Martial Soul on the continent. Qin Yuan had no one's experience to draw on for the road ahead; he could only rely on himself.

Bibi Dong's commission suited him perfectly.

Hu Liena and her two companions would learn movement techniques, while he would gain more cultivation materials on Blade Martial Souls from Spirit Hall's archives. They would all have a bright future.