Fatal Backstab

"The traitor!"

Yun Ming out a low shout, about to lash out, when the study door was gently pushed open from the outside.

"What are you two arguing about in there? We can hear you from far away."

A gentle voice came from inside, and Ya Li walked in carrying an exquisite tea basket.

She glanced around the room, looking at Yun Ming upright and Yun Jingheng looking obedient, a deep suspicion flashing in her eyes.

The atmosphere... it has a strange, eerie feel to it.

"It's nothing, Mom!"

Yun Jingheng reacted quickly, immediately putting on a fawning smile and eagerly going to greet him, "Dad and I were discussing academic issues, about the dialectical relationship between the ecological balance of Shrek and the cultivation of Soul Master, right, Dad?"

Yun Ming's lips twitched, forcibly suppressing the anger that was about to spill from his mouth, and he coughed awkwardly. "Ahem... um, he was just talking nonsense."

Ya Li glanced at the two of them suspiciously, but didn't ask any further questions.

She walked over to the tea cabinet and rummaged through the tea leaves, saying, "Perfect timing, I recently bought some good tea. I'll brew you all a pot to cool you down. You're all so hot-tempered."

Watching Ya Li's busy figure, Yun Ming secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but felt a lingering fear in his heart.

If Ya Li finds out about this secret stash of money, the consequences will be unimaginable.

However, just then, a series of slightly heavy footsteps came from the doorway.

Is Brother Ming there?

Everyone turned around and saw Cai Yue'er walk in, one hand on the door frame and the other on her waist, her face pale.

Her left leg was clearly injured, and she walked with a limp, each step seeming to aggravate her wound, with fine beads of cold sweat appearing on her forehead.

"Yue'er? What brings you here?"

Ya Li quickly put down the tea leaves in her hand and rushed forward to support her. "Your injury hasn't fully healed yet, why aren't you resting?"

"Sister Ya Li, I'm fine."

Cai Yue'er forced a smile, her gaze passing over Ya Li and landing on Yun Ming. Her expression turned serious. "Brother Ming, I have something to discuss with you."

Upon seeing this, Yun Ming immediately suppressed the helplessness and mockery he had shown when facing his son, and regained the composure of the Sea God Pavilion Master.

He nodded slightly and gestured to the chair beside him. "Yue'er, sit down and talk first. Your injuries haven't healed yet, don't push yourself too hard."

With Ya Li's help, Cai Yue'er slowly sat down, took the hot tea Ya Li offered to warm her slightly cold hands, then took a deep breath and looked intently at Yun Ming: "Brother Ming, Sister Ya Li, I've come this time to apply to the Sea God Pavilion for a piece of land."

"Application location?"

Yun Ming raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Although the academy's land is large, as long as it's for the students, feel free to name any plot you want. But what do you need this plot for?"

"I want to build an Star-Gazing Platform."

Cai Yue'er spoke firmly, her eyes sparkling with anticipation for the future, "Facilities similar to the Tiandou Starry Sky Academy, news of Shen Yatou, and Xu Xiaoyan's Martial Soul being purified into Star Staff after passing through the Star Gazing Star-Gazing Platform."

"Our Shrek Academy has many exceptionally talented children, including some promising individuals with Star Attribute Martial Soul."

"If there were an Star-Gazing Platform that could draw upon the Stellar Power and aid in cultivation, it would be of immense benefit to their growth."

Upon hearing this, Yun Ming tapped his fingers lightly on the table, falling into a brief moment of contemplation.

Although Shrek Academy has a profound foundation, there is still room for improvement in its specialized training facilities for Martial Soul of specific attributes.

"That's a great idea. Where do you want it?"

Cai Yue'er didn't rush to speak, but instead looked at Yun Jingheng was just about to leave.

Yun Jingheng felt three gazes and paused in his tracks.

"Ahem... you guys talk, you guys talk, I'll excuse myself for a moment."

"Jing Heng, don't rush off."

Yun Jingheng slowly turned around to face his "homeroom teacher".

Cai Yue'er strategically drank water to soothe her throat.

"Location selection... do you have any suggestions?"

Yun Jingheng pointed to himself, "Me? I'm not a star-attribute being, what advice could I possibly have?"

"Your Martial Soul should be able to sense stellar attributes. Besides, I don't believe you wouldn't sense anything after skipping class 82 times."

Yun Jingheng's lips twitched.

It's over.

"Skipping class? What do you mean by skipping class?" Ya Li frowned as she looked at them.

Cai Yue'er raised an eyebrow. "Yun Jingheng has skipped 82 classes in total this year, and his lateness and early departures are countless. Didn't Brother Ming tell you?"

Ya Li looked at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming subtly twitched his fingertips, quietly attempting to slide the assessment report, which stated "82 times skipped class," into the pile of insignificant scrap paper on the corner of the desk.

However, he was only halfway through his action when he keenly sensed a burning and meaningful gaze fixed on him.

His hands froze slightly, then he slowed down as if nothing had happened and slowly raised his head.

"I was just about to tell you."

As he spoke, he decisively handed over Yun Jingheng's assessment form.

Yun Jingheng bulged. "Old Deng! You sold me off so decisively?!"

Ya Li calmly reached out and took the "evidence" handed to her by Yun Ming. Her gaze lingered on it for a moment before she gently placed it on the coffee table beside her.

"Yue'er, Jing Heng... you've gone to so much trouble for him."

"No, no, Sister Ya Li, it's my duty."

She turned around, walked up to Yun Jingheng, and reached out to straighten his slightly disheveled collar. "Jing Heng, eighty-two times skipping class does sound like a lot, but Mom won't scold you."

Yun Jingheng had already prepared himself for a scolding, and even secretly circulated his Soul Power in preparation to "slide to his knees" and beg for mercy at any moment. However, upon hearing this, he was stunned and looked at Ya Li with a bewildered expression. "Mom... aren't you angry?"

"What's the point of getting angry? Will getting angry help you catch up on your missed lessons?"

Ya Li sighed softly, her gaze becoming deep and distant. "Jing Heng, you are the son of the Sea God Pavilion Master and a student of the Shrek Academy. This identity is both your glory and your shackles."

"I know that sometimes you feel tired, like everyone is watching you and it's suffocating, so you choose to escape, using 'field investigation' as an excuse to avoid those expectations and responsibilities."

Hmm... So it was because I was tired that I was running away?

Uh... yes, that's it, definitely not slacking off.

She paused, her voice soft yet each word precious. "But child, true freedom is never something you can escape."

"Your father paid a heavy price to protect Shrek and this continent, even sacrificing his own life to gain power."

"We don't expect you to become a pillar of strength like him, but at the very least, you must learn to take responsibility for your choices."

"Skipping class 82 times, you're not just escaping lessons, you're escaping opportunities for personal growth."

Don't do that again.

"Okay, Mom."

"Alright, let's put this matter behind us."

Ya Li patted him on the shoulder, interrupting him, "However, as punishment, and also as compensation, you will be involved in the entire process of selecting the site and constructing the Star-Gazing Platform this time."

"It's not just about completing the task, but also about making you understand that behind every seemingly easy 'privilege' lies a corresponding amount of hard work. Do you understand?"

"Okay." Yun Jingheng nodded heavily, his face full of obedience and remorse.

He turned and walked towards the door, but suddenly stopped, as if remembering something extremely important. He hesitated and turned back. "Oh, right, Mom, there's one more thing..."

Ya Li looked at him with amusement. "What is it now?"

Yun Jingheng raised an eyebrow at Yun Ming.

Yun Ming's hand holding the teacup stiffened.

"Didn't Mom recently take a fancy to a glass tea set? She just hasn't been able to bring herself to buy it yet."

"Actually... I hid some spare change behind the frame of that painting in the living room. Remember to get it later; consider it a small token of my son's filial piety, and use it to buy a tea set!"

You're selling me out, aren't you?! You're selling me out, aren't you?!

Ya Li was taken aback by his words, a warm feeling welling up inside her. She was about to reach out and pat her son's head to praise him for being sensible when Yun Jingheng added:

"Oh, right, Mom, since we're talking about hiding things... I remember once I saw Dad furtively burying a Soul Guidance Storage Ring under that tree in the yard. If you have any leftover teaware after you buy it, you can go dig it up and take a look. Maybe... hehe."

Yun Jingheng didn't dare finish his sentence. He winked at Ya Li, then slipped away in a flash, leaving behind only a relieved look on his back.

Ya Li's gentle smile froze instantly, then transformed into a meaningful, playful expression.

She slowly turned her head, her gaze passing over the coffee table and landing on Yun Ming was sitting upright and seemingly listening attentively to Cai Yue'er's opinion.