"Why are you saying that too?
We're teammates at Shrek!"
"So what if we're teammates?
We've only known each other for a few days!"
Ning Rongrong pouted and shot back, unapologetic:
"Besides, Oscar and that guy were the ones running their mouths and picking a fight with him.
This handsome guy was just sitting there minding his own business. Why should he have to put up with their attitude?
Now they've kicked an iron plate and gotten beaten up. They brought it on themselves!"
With that, Ning Rongrong turned to Huang Yan, her voice instantly turning sweet and playful as she called out:
"Hey, handsome!
You're doing great!
I've been sick of that lecherous tiger for ages. Go ahead and teach him a lesson. I'll back you up!"
Hearing Ning Rongrong's "outrageous" words, Tang San's face darkened completely.
"Rongrong!
Zhu Zhuqing!
You've disappointed me!"
Suppressing his anger, Tang San shouted reproachfully:
"Since we're all students at Shrek Academy, we should stand together and face outsiders as one!
How can you kick someone when they're down at a time like this?"
"Don't try to use the academy's rules to pressure me!"
Ning Rongrong glared back without yielding, crossing her arms and snorting:
"Tang San, if you want to talk about brotherly loyalty, that's your business!
If you want to get yourself killed, go ahead. Don't drag us into it!
I'm not about to die alongside two idiots!"
Oscar, standing nearby, heard such heartless words from the girl he loved.
His heart shattered with an audible crack, and he stared at her in disbelief:
"Rongrong... y-you're actually taking an outsider's side?
I just... I just wanted to impress you..."
"Shut up!"
Ning Rongrong cut Oscar off with a look of disgust:
"You call that doing it for me?
That was you overestimating yourself!
You didn't even think about what you were capable of before starting trouble. Now you've kicked an iron plate and suddenly you're scared?"
"You... you all..."
Tang San trembled with rage. He turned to look at Dai Mubai, who was still in midair and nearly beaten unconscious, a vicious glint flashing in his eyes.
His hands had already, without a sound, reached for the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist.
"What's this?
Finished arguing among yourselves?"
Just then, Huang Yan's voice rang out with a hint of mockery.
He casually waved a hand, and the giant golden flaming hand vanished in an instant.
"Bang!"
Dai Mubai hit the ground like a sack of worthless garbage and passed out completely.
His face was so swollen that it was impossible to recognize.
"Boss Dai!"
Tang San and Xiao Wu cried out in shock.
Huang Yan didn't even glance at Dai Mubai on the ground. His icy gaze slowly shifted.
It landed on Oscar, who was hiding behind the others, and the corner of his mouth curled into a dangerous smile:
"I seem to remember you were shouting pretty loudly just now.
How come you're only capable of cowering behind a woman and trembling now?"
Under Huang Yan's fixed gaze,
Oscar felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his scalp. He frantically waved his hands, his voice breaking into a whimper:
"I... I wasn't!
Big brother! Sir!
I was wrong. I won't do it again!"
"Too late."
Huang Yan spat out two cold words, and another dazzling golden divine flame danced at his fingertip.
"Stop!"
Tang San abruptly stepped forward and stood in front of Oscar. His hands were hidden beneath his sleeves as he stared coldly at Huang Yan:
"Sir, spare a man when you can!
You've already gravely injured Mu Bai.
If you keep pushing us, then even if I have to stake my life, I'll make you pay!"
"Stake your life?"
Huang Yan seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. His mocking gaze swept over Tang San's hands:
"With those bits of scrap metal hidden up your sleeves, the ones you don't want anyone to see?
Go on, try it. Let's see whether you can fire your Hidden Weapons faster, or I can burn you to ashes faster."
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply, and a storm surged in his heart.
"You... how did you know?"
He was certain he'd concealed his technique extremely well.
Even the teachers at the academy couldn't possibly see through his trump card at a glance without ever having watched him use it!
"You really think such a petty little trick could fool everyone?"
Huang Yan scoffed, his eyes full of disdain:
"Go ahead and try."
Tang San gritted his teeth as cold sweat ran down his forehead.
He didn't dare take the risk!
Xiao Wu had been injured just from being knocked back from a distance. That golden flame was unquestionably terrifying.
If they fought for real, they might all be left here today!
"What exactly do you want?"
Tang San took a deep breath, forcing down the fury and murderous intent in his heart. His voice was hoarse as he said:
"Oscar is only an auxiliary-type Soul Master. Though his words were out of line, he doesn't deserve to die!"
"Are you trying to tell me what to do?"
Huang Yan's gaze turned icy in an instant.
The golden divine flame dancing at his fingertip transformed into a dazzling streak of light and shot straight past Tang San's cheek.
"Fsssh—!"
Tang San didn't even have time to dodge. He only felt an unbearable heat against his cheek.
A few charred strands of hair drifted down.
"Ah—!"
Oscar, hiding behind Tang San, suddenly let out a shrill, pig-like squeal.
The golden streak of light had shot straight into his mouth.
"My mouth... ugh... it's so hot!
Water!
I need water!"
Oscar clutched his mouth and rolled frantically on the ground.
His lips and tongue blistered black before their very eyes.
A strange fragrance wafted from Oscar's mouth.
It had been cooked through!
Oscar was in so much pain that tears streamed down his face. He couldn't even get a complete sentence out.
Tang San stood frozen in place, his back completely soaked with cold sweat.
Too fast!
His Purple Demon Eye, which he had always been so proud of, hadn't even fully caught the path of Huang Yan's attack!
Huang Yan looked down at Oscar, who was rolling on the ground, his voice indifferent:
"If you can't keep that mouth under control, then you don't need it.
Take this as a lesson. If there's a next time, I'll burn your head to ashes."
With that, Huang Yan shot Tang San a cold glance:
"Take those two useless fools and get out of my sight.
Don't provoke me again. Otherwise, I won't mind making your so-called Shrek Academy disappear from the continent entirely."
(Note: There's no way things will end here. I'm adding an extra chapter today. The next chapter will keep the beatdown going!)
Tang San clenched his fists in humiliation, his nails digging deep into his palms and drawing thin trickles of blood.
But he could only hold it in and grit his teeth as he said:
"Xiao Wu, give me a hand. Let's get them out of here!"
As Tang San and Xiao Wu awkwardly went to help the unconscious Dai Mubai and Oscar, who was rolling on the ground,
Ning Rongrong walked right up to Huang Yan without the slightest hesitation.
"Hey, handsome!"
Ning Rongrong clasped her hands behind her back. Not only was she not the least bit afraid, her eyes were shining as she looked at Huang Yan:
"What's your name?
I'm Ning Rongrong!
That move of yours was so cool. How about we become friends?"
Zhu Zhuqing, standing nearby, hadn't stepped forward as eagerly as Ning Rongrong had.
But she remained where she was, quietly watching Huang Yan with a gaze that held curiosity and an unusual glimmer.
(Note: Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing aren't proper heroines, so they can be used as outlets to blow off some steam.
Later, I'll use this to scheme for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's resources, and beat up Dai Mubai and Oscar along the way.
Don't worry, I won't make nice with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Xiao Wu will be killed later too!)
Before you continue