While Feng Xinglie was pondering the meaning of life, the students from Canghui Academy who had started the trouble came over. They knocked a server down, sending food flying everywhere. Tang San used Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to catch the food, while Dai Mubai, who had endured more than enough, charged straight at them and started a fight. The student clearly hadn't expected them to attack outright. Caught completely off guard, he took a punch to the face and went flying, smashing into two tables before losing consciousness.
"Oh dear, I'm terribly sorry. I didn't realize he was so useless. I hit him a little too hard."
Dai Mubai gave a cold laugh, swept his taunting gaze across everyone from Canghui Academy, then plopped back down on his stool and started eating a steamed bun.
"You insolent brat! How dare you hit him so hard? Teach them a lesson!"
Seeing his student lying on the ground, his life or death uncertain, the teacher leading the group, Ye Zhiqiu, flew into a rage. At his command, the remaining students immediately surrounded the members of Shrek Academy.
"A fight? I love fights!"
At the sight of this, Xiao Wu was so excited that her rabbit ears stood straight up. She was the first to leap out and block their path. Naturally, Tang San stood up as soon as she moved. With the two of them leading the way, the others also rolled up their sleeves, ready for a brawl. Only one person sang a different tune:
"What are you all getting up for? What does this have to do with you? Eat your food."
As Feng Xinglie spoke, he kept reaching for dishes with his chopsticks. Dai Mubai and the others froze, then turned to stare at him in confusion. Only Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate after hearing him. She simply sat back down and picked up her chopsticks.
"Feng Xinglie, what do you mean? This is our academy's business, the business of our whole team! You're a coward who's afraid of trouble, fine, don't help us. But why are you holding our companions back?"
Dai Mubai's number-one lackey, Ma Hongjun, immediately jumped in, standing on the moral high ground as he pointed at Feng Xinglie and gave him an earful.
"First, this mess came from you and Dai Mubai being rude and running your mouths. Second, they were wrong to cause trouble, but throwing a heavy punch right off the bat doesn't make you any better than them. Last, if you make trouble on your own, take responsibility for it yourself. Don't keep trying to make it everyone's problem and get other people to carry the burden for you."
When he finished, Feng Xinglie turned to Ning Rongrong.
"Rongrong, I know you've always wanted to make some real friends and truly fit in with everyone. But before that, you need to look around and think carefully. Is the team you're planning to join really worth your effort?"
Ning Rongrong froze. She looked at the furious members of Shrek Academy, then thought back to everything that had happened during the days they'd spent together, especially their long journey just now. Apart from Feng Xinglie and Zhu Zhuqing, not one of them had offered even the slightest help. Her expression immediately darkened.
"Hmph! Didn't you say that not daring to cause trouble makes you a mediocrity? Then go solve the trouble you caused and let me see! Don't even think about dragging me into it, Young Lady!"
Ning Rongrong sat back down as well, biting into her food as if taking out her anger on it. Now three of the eight-person group were seated.
"Rongrong... don't be like this."
"Mind your own business!"
Oscar had wanted to persuade his goddess, but she shot him such a vicious glare that he fell silent. For a moment, he didn't know whether to stand or sit, and just froze where he was.
"Heh, you haven't even started fighting, and you're already at each other's throats. Looks like you brats aren't much to speak of."
Seeing that they were about to start arguing, Ye Zhiqiu sneered.
"Senior, my two classmates have caused you trouble. As students of the same academy, I'm ashamed of them. You and your senior students were willing to step in and teach them a lesson, and I'm grateful you've helped them learn. But the friend lying on the ground is badly hurt. I have some Sugar Beans made by an auxiliary Soul Master. Let me help him recover first."
A clean break. Shrek Academy had made enemies, but Feng Xinglie had to distance himself from it. If he wanted to stand against the Protagonist Group in the future, every faction could be worth winning over. Even if he couldn't make a good impression now, he absolutely couldn't let them grow to hate him.
Feng Xinglie stood up and cupped his hands toward Ye Zhiqiu, offering a few polite words. He also made a point of disassociating himself from Dai Mubai and the others, then tossed over a small bottle of Sugar Beans made by Shao Xin. Ye Zhiqiu caught it and paused, looking Feng Xinglie up and down before speaking.
"Well, at least you've said a few sensible things... Forget it. Soul Masters fighting isn't anything serious. Those two brats were foul-mouthed, but our side did start the trouble, so it's his own fault for being weaker."
As he spoke, he stuffed a Sugar Bean into the unconscious student's mouth. Within a few breaths, the boy's pale face regained its color, and he slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that he was no longer in any danger, Ye Zhiqiu breathed a sigh of relief. He gave up on the meal and, ignoring his students' protests, hurriedly ushered them toward the door.
"Teacher! They bullied us so badly, and you're just going to let them off?"
Once they were far away, Ye Zhiqiu finally turned to address his dissatisfied students.
"You may not have noticed, but just now, a very faint pulse of Soul Power came from upstairs. Their teacher is powerful. He's not someone I can deal with. Since that boy offered us a way out, there's no need to bring humiliation upon ourselves."
He spoke while glancing back at the place where trouble had erupted, still shaken. At that moment, the owner of that hidden Soul Power also began walking slowly down the stairs.
"Teacher Zhao! He's the one who made trouble before the fight even started and brought shame on Shrek Academy!"
Zhao Wuji came over with a stern face. He ignored Ma Hongjun's shouting and spoke directly to Feng Xinglie.
"Your classmates were bullied, and this is how you handled it?"
"They brought this on themselves. Why should I get dragged into it?"
"Outrageous!"
Zhao Wuji suddenly raised his voice.
"You're a team! You're all students of Shrek Academy! I don't want this happening again. You must show that you stand together, or you'll bring shame on the academy!"
At this, Ning Rongrong stood up first and retorted defiantly.
"So what? You call it unity when they make trouble and we have to clean up after them?"
A wave of Soul Power pressure crashed over them. Zhao Wuji was a blunt man, unlike Flender, who could talk his way through anything. He had only one way of dealing with most problems. Seeing what was happening, Feng Xinglie hurriedly pulled Ning Rongrong, who was trembling under the pressure, behind him. Meanwhile, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun looked on with gloating smiles at the two people who had angered Zhao Wuji.
"A team is supposed to help one another. If you get into trouble in the future, won't you want your teammates to help you?"
"First, I wouldn't go looking for trouble like those two. Second, not just anyone qualifies to be my teammate. Or do you want your teammates to be a bunch of people who cause you trouble every day, Teacher Zhao?"
"Stop talking back to me!"
Zhao Wuji, who wasn't good with words, flew into a rage. He raised his hand and slapped toward Feng Xinglie.
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