"Elder Xuan, hurry and send Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi back to the academy so Elder Zhuang can save them!"
Fortunately, there was still someone relatively rational here. Seeing that Xuan Zi did not know what he was hesitating over at a time like this, Wang Yan hurriedly reminded him.
He also realized that, in his anger earlier, he had done something far too reckless.
Now, all he could do was make amends. He could only hope Elder Xuan would not remember his insults afterward.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! Save them first, save them first!"
At Wang Yan's reminder, Xuan Zi finally came to his senses and found what he needed to do.
"Um... can you take my brother back too? His injuries are serious as well..."
At that moment, Zhu Lu spoke up.
Seeing Dai Yueheng covered in blood and on the brink of death, tears filled her face.
It was all because of her. If he had not been protecting her, Dai Yueheng would not have suffered such severe injuries.
How should one put it? The human heart was a complicated thing.
Complicated as it was, it could still be moved when it should be.
Although Zhu Lu still liked Dai Huabin in her heart, she had to admit that Dai Yueheng was better than Huabin. At the very least, Huabin would not have given so much to save her.
"He... his injuries weren't this severe before, were they?"
"What happened after I left?"
Only then did Xuan Zi notice Dai Yueheng. He clearly remembered that Dai Yueheng's aura had been weak before, but he had not sustained any truly fatal injuries.
Yet so little time had passed, and he was already hovering between life and death.
The moment he asked that question, the scene fell into a strange silence.
Everyone harbored grievances, but no one dared say anything.
They could have avoided so much harm. Yet because of Elder Xuan, after barely surviving the first ordeal, they had suffered a second round of injuries.
"Elder Xuan, don't ask so many questions. Take them back for treatment first. If we wait any longer, they really can't be saved!"
Seeing Xuan Zi still hesitating, Wang Yan could only suppress the helplessness in his heart and remind him again.
Only then did Xuan Zi react, hurriedly taking the three of them back to Shrek Academy.
The remaining group was also injured, and they all turned their gazes toward Wang Yan, their teacher.
In a situation like this, Wang Yan did not know what to do for a moment.
Just as he was about to force himself to make some arrangements, Ning Que spoke.
"Teacher Wang Yan, our group should return to the military encampment and rest first."
"Zhu Lu, with Dai Yueheng absent, I'll have to trouble you to communicate with the White Tiger Duke. Ask them to find healing-type Soul Masters from the army."
"As for Ma Xiaotao, nothing will happen to her with her strength. Once she calms down, she'll come find us."
"..."
Ning Que issued orders one after another, instantly earning everyone's approval.
"Good, good. We'll do as Ning Que says."
Seeing how methodically Ning Que had arranged everything, Wang Yan hurriedly voiced his agreement.
The group supported one another as they headed toward the White Tiger Duke Mansion's military encampment.
As for Yao Haoxuan's body, it had been buried beneath the rubble. They could only return to dig it out later.
Although Zhu Lu's face was still covered in tears, when she thought about how she would soon have to communicate with the people of the White Tiger Duke Mansion and help her senior classmates, she suddenly felt an enormous burden on her shoulders.
Vaguely, she seemed to understand why Dai Yueheng trained so desperately. He carried a heavy burden upon him.
For one fleeting moment, she actually felt that Dai Yueheng seemed rather good.
But she quickly smothered that thought.
At the military encampment, when they learned that the eldest young master's fiancée had brought Shrek students seeking aid, they immediately offered assistance.
Even the White Tiger Duke, Dai Hao, came personally.
"Uncle Dai... I..."
Upon seeing someone she knew, an elder who was practically family, Zhu Lu could no longer hold herself together. Through tears, she told Dai Hao everything that had happened.
"Lu'er, don't cry. That brat Yueheng did the right thing. If he failed to protect you, then even if he came back alive and kicking, I'd break both his legs."
After understanding the full story, Dai Hao immediately understood what his son had been planning.
Not only did he feel no resentment, he strongly approved.
This was exactly the outcome he wanted to see.
It was just that this fool had acted far too convincingly.
"Your Grace, I bear responsibility for this matter as well."
"Student Dai neglected himself because he was protecting me. If you have any resentment, please vent it on me."
Only after Zhu Lu had cried herself out did Zhao Long step forward.
Inside that cave, he had been the first to notice that something was wrong with the corpses. How could he have let down his guard?
Just as he was about to use Martial Soul Possession to protect himself, he noticed Dai Yueheng's actions and understood that Dai Yueheng wanted to win him over.
So, he simply played along.
The reason was simple. He needed a backer, one who could support him in going farther. Otherwise, even obtaining the Soul Rings he needed for future hunts would become a problem.
His Martial Soul was the Vajra Bear. His ancestor was Zhao Wuji from ten thousand years ago, one of Shrek Academy's founders.
By rights, he should have had a statue erected like the others and received the admiration of later generations.
Yet for some unknown reason, he had not only been denied that honor but had also been sidelined.
Although their lineage had continued uninterrupted over the years through reliance on Shrek Academy, they had never been valued.
Though he did not possess Innate Full Soul Power, he was still considered a genius. Yet no matter how hard he worked, he could never earn the attention of Shrek Academy's upper ranks.
He had only been selected as a reserve member of the Shrek Seven Devils this time because there had been no one else available to fill the position.
After realizing Dai Yueheng's intentions, Zhao Long immediately had an idea.
The other man wanted to recruit him, and he also wished to borrow the other man's power. Thus, they had formed a perfectly willing partnership.
"It's nothing. This was Yueheng's duty as vice-captain. How could I blame you?"
"Go treat your injuries first. Since you've come to your uncle's place, feel free to ask for anything you need."
The moment Dai Hao saw Zhao Long, he understood that this was a talented person his son was recruiting to build his own faction.
That was excellent!
Why had he never noticed that his eldest son possessed such methods and foresight before?
Afterward, Dai Hao went to visit and console the other students before finally arriving at Ning Que's tent.
He had long wanted to meet this heir of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.
Not only did he want to resolve their previous conflict, but he also wanted to use this opportunity to deepen cooperation with the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect.
If the White Tiger Duke Mansion wanted to reclaim the throne, it needed to form alliances with powerful forces.
Besides, their ancestors had shared a deep friendship. Were they not natural allies?
Before you continue