Everyone got nothing, so I have to show up personally

On the outskirts of the Star Dou Forest, Bei Bei and Tang Ya were hurrying back with faces full of sorrow, their footsteps as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

They had only just walked a short distance, not yet having recovered from the despair of their "total defeat."

"Rustle, rustle, rustle—"

The bushes ahead suddenly shook violently.

Immediately after.

A tall, burly figure darted out like a ghost, without any warning, and blocked their path.

It was a man dressed in a cyan robe with a resolute face, exuding a pressure that made one's heart palpitate.

It was none other than Da Ming!

Da Ming had originally been lurking nearby, waiting for that "idiot" Dean Qian to come out so he could pull a "dog-eat-dog" move and rob him of the money to ransom Er Ming.

After all, this was the only way to get money quickly at the moment.

However, he waited and waited, but he didn't see him; instead, he waited for the two people who had been by Dean Qian's side.

Da Ming was slightly stunned. His gaze swept around behind the two, his brows furrowed immediately, and a flash of surprise crossed his eyes.

"Hmm?"

"Only the two of you?"

"Where is that guy?"

Facing the suddenly appearing Da Ming, the hearts of Bei Bei and Tang Ya skipped a beat.

It's over!

It really is one misfortune after another!

They had just escaped the wolf's den, only to run straight into a tiger's lair!

Bei Bei thought to himself that things were looking bad; Dean Qian had just offended Da Ming and Er Ming, so this was clearly a case of him coming to cause trouble for them.

Bei Bei forcibly suppressed the fear in his heart, moved Tang Ya behind him without a trace, and took a deep breath, trying his best to look calm.

"Senior..."

Bei Bei gave a bitter smile, not intending to hide anything, as this was not something that could be hidden anyway.

"Dean Qian... he didn't make it out."

"He lost the wager, and now... he has also been locked in that academy's Confinement Room."

As he spoke, Bei Bei carefully observed Da Ming's expression, silently praying that Da Ming would not attack them.

Hearing this, Da Ming's brows furrowed even deeper, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.

"What?"

"He got locked up too?"

"He's that useless?"

Da Ming curled his lips, speechless.

He had been counting on shearing some wool off that fat sheep to scrape together enough ransom to get Er Ming out.

Now, the fat sheep was gone, so where was the money supposed to come from?

Without money, wouldn't Er Ming be stuck in there until the end of time?

No!

Absolutely not!

Da Ming's mind raced, and soon, his gaze fell back onto Bei Bei and Tang Ya.

Although he had no interest in bullying two juniors and even felt it was beneath him.

However...

Desperate times call for desperate measures!

For the sake of Er Ming, he couldn't care about such things anymore!

"Since he isn't here..."

Da Ming took a step forward, releasing a sliver of his aura. While it wasn't enough to crush them, it was enough to keep them from moving.

"Then you two will have to pay his debt instead."

"Hand over all the money you have on you."

"This is a robbery!"

Da Ming said it with righteous indignation.

"Huh?"

Bei Bei was completely stunned.

However, looking at Da Ming's "no money, no passage" stance, Bei Bei knew that a wise man does not fight when the odds are against him.

If anyone dared to say "no" at a time like this, they would likely be celebrating their death anniversary this time next year.

"O-okay... okay..."

"Senior, please don't be rash. Money is just an external possession; I'll give it to you, I'll give it right now!"

As Bei Bei spoke, he scrambled in a panic to fish Gold Soul Coins out of his storage Soul Tool.

Clatter, clatter—

A pile of glittering Gold Soul Coins was dumped onto the ground.

"Senior, this is all the savings I have on me."

"Do you think... we could be allowed to leave?"

Da Ming didn't waste any words; he swept his spiritual power across the pile, finishing the count in an instant.

"Six thousand Gold Soul Coins?"

Da Ming's eyes lit up slightly, and he looked at Bei Bei with a hint of surprise.

Who would have thought!

This kid looked perfectly ordinary, yet he was actually a secret little tycoon?

A regular student from Shrek Academy was carrying six thousand Gold Soul Coins on his person?

Were all the students at Shrek Academy this wealthy?

Da Ming couldn't help but feel a bit sour inside, lamenting that he was truly a pauper.

However, that bitterness was quickly washed away by joy.

Adding this to the meager funds he had scraped together earlier, these six thousand Gold Soul Coins were enough for him to find a decent place to live and then pay the fines to redeem Er Ming!

"Fine."

Da Ming waved his hand, and the Gold Soul Coins on the ground vanished instantly, tucked away into his own pockets.

Since the money was in hand, he couldn't be bothered to make things difficult for these two juniors.

"You may go."

Da Ming spoke, then his figure flickered and vanished into the depths of the woods, clearly in a rush to save Er Ming.

Watching Da Ming's retreating back, Bei Bei and Tang Ya exchanged a glance, both feeling the exhaustion of having narrowly escaped death.

"This... this is just too absurd..."

Tang Ya said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Don't say another word, Xiao Ya."

Bei Bei wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and took Tang Ya's hand.

"Let's go, quickly!"

"Before we run into any other trouble, we need to get back to the academy!"

"We must report this to Grand Ancestor immediately!"

The two dared not linger for even a second longer; they sprinted the entire way, using every ounce of strength they had until they finally reached Shrek Academy.

Shrek Academy, Outer Court.

Mu En was lying quietly on a recliner, eyes closed to rest his mind.

Although he appeared calm, his withered, thin hand was unconsciously tapping the armrest, revealing that his inner state was not as tranquil as his exterior suggested.

Just then.

"Grand Ancestor!"

Accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps, Bei Bei and Tang Ya rushed in, gasping for air.

Mu En slowly opened his eyes, his gaze immediately falling behind the two of them.

Empty.

There was no Yan Shaozhe, no Xuan Zi, and no Qian Duoduo who should have been bringing back good news.

There were only two disheveled, anxious children.

Mu En's heart skipped a beat, and a sense of foreboding instantly welled up in his mind.

"Only the two of you?"

Mu En's voice remained gentle, yet it carried a hint of heaviness.

"Where is Duoduo?"

"Where are Shaozhe and Xuan Zi?"

Bei Bei took a deep breath to steady his pounding heart, then lowered his head and spoke in a strained voice.

"Grand Ancestor..."

"Dean Qian... he also failed."

"He was unable to bring Elder Xuan and Dean Yan back either."

"And..."

Bei Bei gritted his teeth, forcing himself to speak the cruel truth.

"And, because he lost the wager, Dean Qian is now... also locked away in that academy's Confinement Room."

Upon hearing this, even with Mu En's composure, the corners of his eyes could not help but twitch slightly.

Locked up again?

And because of a wager?

This... this is simply the height of absurdity!

Counting the previous Xuan Zi and Yan Shaozhe, Shrek Academy now has three of its top powerhouses fallen into the hands of that obscure New Shrek Academy!

If this were to spread, Shrek Academy's ten-thousand-year reputation would likely be ruined in an instant!

Seeing Mu En's rather grim expression, Bei Bei did not want to say anything more, but some things had to be said.

"Grand Ancestor..."

"The people from that academy said... if you wish to see their dean, you must go there yourself."

"Very well, that is exactly what I intended to do."

Mu En spoke. Originally, due to the state of his body, it was inconvenient for him to move about, so he had intended to let his descendants handle the matter, but he had not expected...

Sigh...