What if the Air Suddenly Turns Heavy

"Elder Xuan, hurry and take Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi back to the academy! Get Elder Zhuang to save them!"

Fortunately, there was someone relatively rational present. Seeing that Elder Xuan was caught in a moment of hesitation, Wang Yan hurriedly spoke up to remind him.

He also realized that, in his previous fit of rage, he had acted far too recklessly.

Now, he could only hope to make amends, praying that Elder Xuan would not remember the insults he had hurled earlier.

"Right! Right! Right! Save them first, save them first!"

Following Wang Yan's reminder, Xuan Zi finally regained his focus and identified the task at hand.

"That... could you please take Big Brother back as well? His injuries are also extremely severe..."

At that moment, Zhu Lu spoke up.

She looked at Dai Yueheng, who was soaked in blood and teetering on the brink of death, her face streaming with tears.

Everything was her fault. If it hadn't been to protect her, Dai Yueheng would never have been so gravely wounded.

How should one describe the human heart?

Complex as it was, the capacity for being moved remained.

Although Zhu Lu still harbored feelings for Dai Huabin in her heart, she had to admit that Dai Yueheng was better than Huabin—at least Huabin would never have sacrificed so much to save her.

"He... his injuries weren't this severe just a moment ago, were they?"

"What happened after I left?"

Only then did Xuan Zi notice Dai Huabin. He clearly remembered that while Dai Huabin's aura had been sluggish before, he had not been suffering from anything life-threatening.

How much time had passed, yet he was already hovering between life and death?

As soon as this question was asked, the scene fell into an eerie silence.

Everyone present harbored resentment, yet no one dared to speak.

They could have avoided so many injuries, but because of Elder Xuan, they had been subjected to secondary trauma just after narrowly escaping death.

"Elder Xuan, don't ask so many questions. Take them back for treatment first; if you wait any longer, it will truly be too late!"

Watching Xuan Zi still hesitating there, Wang Yan had to suppress his own helplessness and speak up once more.

Only then did Xuan Zi snap out of it, hurriedly carrying the three of them back toward Shrek Academy.

The remaining group members, all nursing their own injuries, turned their gazes toward Wang Yan, their teacher.

In the current situation, Wang Yan had no idea what to do next.

Just as he was preparing to steel himself and make some arrangements, Ning Que spoke up.

"Teacher Wang Yan, our group should return to the garrison to rest for now."

"Zhu Lu, since Dai Yueheng is absent, I will have to trouble you to communicate with the White Tiger Duke and have them bring over the healing-type soul masters from the army."

"As for Ma Xiaotao, with her strength, no accidents will occur. Once her emotions stabilize, she will come to find us."

"..."

Ning Que issued his orders one by one, instantly gaining everyone's approval.

"Good, good, let's do as Ning Que says."

Seeing how organized and capable Ning Que was, Wang Yan hurriedly expressed his support and agreement.

The group, leaning on one another for support, headed toward the location of the White Tiger Duke Mansion's garrison.

As for Yao Haoxuan's body, it remained buried beneath the pile of stones; they would have to wait until later to retrieve it.

Although tears were still streaming down her face, the thought of having to communicate with the people from the White Tiger Duke Mansion to help these seniors made Zhu Lu feel the weight of her responsibilities.

Vaguely, she seemed to understand why Dai Yueheng had worked so hard to cultivate; he carried heavy burdens upon his shoulders.

For a fleeting moment, she actually thought that Dai Yueheng was quite a decent person.

But she quickly stifled that thought.

At the military encampment, upon learning that the eldest young master's fiancée had arrived with Shrek students seeking aid, they provided assistance immediately.

Even the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, arrived in person.

"Uncle Dai... I..."

Seeing someone who was practically family, a senior elder, Zhu Lu could no longer hold it together. She wept as she told Dai Hao everything that had happened.

"Don't cry, Lu'er. That brat Yueheng did the right thing. If he hadn't protected you well, even if he came back hopping and jumping, I would have broken his legs myself."

After understanding the sequence of events, Dai Hao immediately grasped what his son had been planning.

He felt no resentment; on the contrary, he was very much in agreement.

This result was exactly what he had hoped to see.

Though, he wondered, why did that fool have to act so convincingly?

"Lord Duke, I am also responsible for this."

"Dai student was only protecting me, which is why he didn't take care of himself. If you have any anger, please feel free to vent it on me."

Zhao Long saw that Zhu Lu had finished crying, so he finally stepped forward.

He had been the first to notice the abnormal existence of the corpses inside that cavern; how could he not have taken precautions?

Just as he was preparing to activate Martial Soul Possession to protect himself, he sensed Dai Yueheng's actions and realized that Dai Yueheng wanted to recruit him.

Consequently, he decided to play along with the ruse.

The reason for doing so was simple: he needed a backer, a backer capable of supporting him to go further, otherwise even obtaining the soul rings required for his subsequent hunts would become a problem.

His martial soul was the Vajra Bear, and his ancestor was the Zhao Wuji of ten thousand years ago, who could once be considered one of the founders of Shrek Academy.

He should have had a statue erected like the others, to be admired by future generations.

Yet, for some unknown reason, not only did he fail to receive such an honor, but he was also marginalized.

Although they had relied on Shrek Academy over the years and their lineage had never been broken, they remained figures who were not held in high regard.

Even though he did not possess Innate Full Soul Power, he was still considered a genius, yet no matter how hard he tried, he could never gain the attention of Shrek Academy's upper echelon.

The only reason he was able to join the Shrek Seven Devils as a substitute this time was because there was no one else available to fill the spot at the last minute, so they had pulled him out.

Upon sensing Dai Yueheng's intentions, Zhao Long immediately had an idea.

The other party wanted to recruit him, and he was also interested in utilizing the other party's power, resulting in a collaboration where both sides were willing.

"It is of no consequence. This is merely the duty of Yueheng as the vice-captain; how could I blame you?"

"Go and treat your wounds first. Since you have come to your uncle's place, feel free to speak up if you have any needs."

Seeing Zhao Long, Dai Hao immediately realized that this was a genius his son was recruiting to build his own faction.

This was excellent!

Why hadn't he noticed before that his eldest son possessed such methods and foresight?

Afterward, Dai Hao went to comfort the other students, finally arriving at the tent where Ning Que was located.

He had long wanted to meet this heir to the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

It was not just to resolve the previous conflict, but also to use this opportunity to further cooperation with the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.

If their White Tiger Duke Mansion wanted to reclaim the throne, did they not need to form alliances with powerful forces?

Moreover, their ancestors had shared a profound friendship; were they not natural allies?