The Arrogant Ma Hongjun, Flender's Shock: After Twelve Years Apart, He Had Become This Terrifying?

It was noon.

"Perfect timing for lunch. Sit and rest for a while. Your father and I will go make food!"

Ma Min warmly greeted them and turned to head for the kitchen.

Huang Yan rolled up his sleeves and followed her.

"Mom, I'll help out."

"Help with what?"

Ma Min shoved Huang Yan back into the main hall, shot him a glare, and lowered her voice.

"Why are you so oblivious?

You finally brought a girl home, so spend more time with Bing'er!

Your father and I can handle the kitchen."

Huang Ran tied on an apron as well and cheerfully chimed in.

"Listen to your mother. Go keep the young lady company. Don't neglect her."

With that, the old couple ducked into the kitchen, and the sounds of washing vegetables and chopping meat soon followed.

Shui Bing'er sat on a wooden chair in the main hall, taking it all in.

As she watched their busy yet warm silhouettes in the kitchen, a trace of warmth flowed through her heart.

Huang Yan's parents were simple, kind, and so welcoming that no one could refuse them.

A thought suddenly surfaced in Shui Bing'er's mind.

If she really did follow Huang Yan in the future, having parents-in-law like them seemed... rather nice?

The moment that thought arose, even she was stunned.

At that moment, she had completely forgotten that she had chosen to leave with Huang Yan only because she had been left with no other choice.

Huang Yan walked over and sat in the chair beside Shui Bing'er, just about to speak.

But Shui Bing'er turned to him first. Curiosity gleamed in her beautiful eyes as she softly asked,

"Uncle and Auntie are both very nice... What were you like when you were little?"

Seeing that Shui Bing'er had taken the initiative to speak and that her attitude had softened considerably, a flicker of amusement passed through Huang Yan's eyes. He naturally welcomed the change.

"When I was little?"

Huang Yan leaned back in his chair and recalled the past in a relaxed tone.

"Before I was six, I was no different from the other children in the village. Every day, I just ran all over the mountains and fields.

That changed when my martial soul awakened at the age of six."

"At the time, I awakened twin top-tier martial souls, along with Innate Full Soul Power. The Spirit Hall deacon in charge of the awakening was scared senseless."

Shui Bing'er listened quietly, unable to resist asking,

"What happened afterward?

How did you become Elder Azure Luan's disciple?"

Huang Yan smiled, a hint of mockery flashing through his eyes.

"Not long after my martial soul awakened, Ma Hongjun's teacher from earlier—Flender of Shrek Academy—came to find me.

He saw that my martial soul carried Evil Fire and put on a lofty, patronizing act,

claiming that he was the only one on the entire continent who could solve the backlash of my Evil Fire and wanting to take me as his disciple."

"Of course, I ignored him and chose to join Spirit Hall.

A few days later, Spirit Hall's higher-ups received word.

My teacher personally came to Poultry Village. Not only did he help me completely suppress and control my Evil Fire, but he also accepted me as his direct disciple.

From then on, I followed my teacher to Spirit City and began true cultivation."

Shui Bing'er was engrossed in the story. As she watched the young man before her speak with ease, the resistance in her heart unknowingly faded even further.

The atmosphere in the main hall was warm, and they had just finished a lavish lunch.

Ma Min was organizing the dishes and chopsticks when a noisy set of footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.

"Teacher, this is the place!

That Huang Yan is inside!"

Ma Hongjun's arrogant voice rang out beyond the courtyard gate.

With a bang, the already half-open courtyard gate was roughly shoved aside.

Ma Hongjun followed behind a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed crystal glasses and bearing a somewhat shrewd expression as they swaggered in.

The man was none other than Flender, the dean of Shrek Academy.

In truth, while on the way here and listening to Ma Hongjun's embellished account, Flender had already remembered who Huang Yan was.

Twelve years ago, he had been that troublesome brat who rejected Flender's offer to become his disciple, only to turn around and join Spirit Hall.

As Flender walked, he muttered to himself,

"It's been twelve years. How has this brat cultivated in Spirit Hall?

His mutated Evil Fire isn't something just anyone can suppress.

Could Spirit Hall really have a way to help him control it?

Or perhaps... like Hongjun, he survived until now by venting his Evil Fire in those kinds of places?"

At that thought, Flender could not help feeling more confident.

No matter how powerful Spirit Hall was, it could not defy the nature of a martial soul.

With his hands clasped behind his back, Flender swept his gaze across everyone in the main hall before finally settling on Huang Yan, who sat in his chair watching him with a faint, mocking smile.

"Brat, it's been twelve years. You've grown so much."

Flender adjusted the glasses on his nose, his tone carrying a trace of condescension.

"Hongjun told me that not only did you bully him earlier, but you also arrogantly claimed that you didn't even respect me?"

Ma Hongjun hid behind Flender, poked his head out, and shouted,

"Huang Yan!

My teacher is a level seventy-eight Soul Saint!

Weren't you so arrogant just now?

Why aren't you saying anything now?

Hurry up and kneel to admit your mistake. Then bring out your parents' money and offer it to my teacher. Maybe he'll spare you this once!"

Huang Yan remained seated without any intention of standing. He merely lifted the teacup from the table, took a sip, and said calmly,

"Flender, twelve years have passed, yet your self-righteous, high-and-mighty manner hasn't changed at all."

Flender's expression darkened.

"Brat, haven't your elders taught you what it means to respect your teachers?

Even if you belong to Spirit Hall, you should show a Soul Saint like me the bare minimum of respect!"

"Respect?"

Huang Yan gave a derisive laugh and set down his teacup.

"A worthless teacher who can't even solve his disciple's martial soul defect and can only teach him to prey on women in brothels thinks he deserves my respect?"

"You insolent brat!"

Flender had been struck where it hurt. Anger flashed in his eyes as the pressure of a Soul Saint erupted, bearing down directly on Huang Yan.

"I'd like to see exactly what rules Spirit Hall has taught you all these years!"

Facing Flender's pressure, Huang Yan remained as steady as a mountain. He did not even raise an eyelid.

"You want to see?

Fine. Then I'll let you see clearly."

The instant his words fell, an incomparably terrifying dark-red flame burst forth from Huang Yan's body.

He did not release his martial soul, nor did he reveal any soul rings.

The mere aura of that flame, pure to the extreme, was like a heavy hammer that instantly shattered Flender's prideful Soul Saint pressure!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Flender's face changed drastically. Forced back three steps by that tyrannical rebounding force, he only barely steadied himself after crashing into the doorframe.

Flender stared fixedly at Huang Yan, his face full of disbelief.

"You... your Soul Power!

And the purity of those flames..."

Flender's voice was hoarse, as though he had seen a ghost.

"That's impossible!

How could Evil Fire be refined to such an extent?!"

After twelve years apart, Huang Yan had become this terrifying?

Ma Hongjun, hiding in the back, still had no idea what was happening. Seeing Flender retreat, he hurriedly shouted,

"Teacher, why are you wasting words on him?!

Teach him a lesson already! Let him see how formidable Shrek Academy is!"