Flender took Fu Wen out of the academy and headed into the village.
Shrek Academy was built in a village outside Suotuo City. The land was rented from the villagers, and they were also hired to help with the cleaning and repairs.
Flender had been behind on those payments for a long time.
"Old Wang, come here!"
Flender stood at the village entrance and called to a middle-aged man working in the fields.
The man looked up, saw Flender, put down his hoe, and walked over.
"Dean Flender, what is it?"
"Here's the rent and labor fees I owe you. Take a look and see if it's enough."
Flender handed him a bag of Gold Soul Coins.
The man took it and opened it. He froze.
"Th-this much?"
"Three months' worth, all paid off at once."
Flender said.
The man's eyes immediately reddened.
"Dean Flender, you... you're too kind."
"Enough talk. Take it."
Flender patted him on the shoulder, then turned and left.
After that, Flender went from house to house, paying off everything he owed.
Every household was both shocked and delighted to receive the money.
Some even had tears in their eyes.
Watching their expressions, Flender felt a tangle of emotions.
The villagers all had it hard.
He'd owed them for so long that he'd always felt guilty.
But now, the debts were settled.
Fu Wen followed behind, watching his father go from house to house to repay the money. He couldn't quite put into words how he felt.
His stingy old man wasn't stingy at all.
He was just poor.
Too poor to help it.
Now that he had money, the first thing he thought of wasn't treating himself, but paying off his debts.
A man like that deserved respect.
By the time he'd paid the last household, it was already noon.
Flender took Fu Wen back to the academy and sat down on a stone bench by the training ground, letting out a long breath.
"Finally, it's all settled."
He murmured.
Fu Wen sat beside him and looked at him.
"Dad, you'll have even more money someday."
"Of course."
Flender nudged his glasses up, the corners of his mouth lifting.
"Once my son becomes a Titled Douluo, what won't I have?"
Fu Wen rolled his eyes. "So you're planning to cash in on me?"
"Obviously. You're my son. If I don't cash in on you, who will?"
Flender burst out laughing.
Fu Wen laughed too.
The sunlight bathed them both in warmth.
In the distance, Oscar was sweating buckets as he trained on the field.
Zhao Wuji stood beside him, giving pointers and barking at him from time to time.
Shao Xin was busy in the kitchen, smoke curling up from the chimney.
Li Yusong sat beneath a tree reading, while Lu Qibin practiced his control techniques nearby.
Everything was peaceful.
But Fu Wen knew this peace wouldn't last long.
More challenges awaited him in the future.
Still, that was for later.
For now, he just wanted to eat well and train hard.
"Come on, let's go eat."
Flender stood up and brushed the dust off himself.
"Shao Xin made braised pork today. Eat plenty—you're still growing."
"Okay."
Fu Wen smiled and followed him.
After eating his fill, Fu Wen leaned back in his chair, rubbing his stomach with a satisfied look.
Shao Xin's braised pork was incredible: rich but not greasy, so tender it melted in his mouth. Fu Wen had polished off three bowls of rice in one go.
Oscar was even more impressive. He'd finished four bowls and was now sprawled in his chair, burping.
"Uncle Shao, your cooking keeps getting better."
Oscar gave a feeble thumbs-up.
"Less talk. Get up and walk it off. Don't just lie there."
Shao Xin smacked Oscar on the back of the head.
Oscar reluctantly stood and began pacing around the room.
Flender sat off to one side with his legs crossed, a toothpick in his mouth and a blissful look on his face.
The wages had been paid, the debts settled, and his son was going places. Life couldn't get much sweeter.
Li Yusong put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth, and looked at Fu Wen.
"Fu Wen, are you free this afternoon?"
"Yes, Teacher Li."
Fu Wen shook his head.
"Good. Come with me to the training ground."
Li Yusong stood up. "I'll spar with you myself and see what you can do."
At that, everyone in the room looked over.
Zhao Wuji's eyes lit up. "Old Li, are you serious?"
"Of course."
Li Yusong nudged his glasses up. "Innate Full Soul Power, Martial Soul Mutation, a First Soul Ring over four hundred years old..."
"It sounds impressive, but we won't know how strong you are in a real fight until we test it."
"Fair point."
Zhao Wuji nodded and looked at Fu Wen. "Kid, are you up for it?"
Fu Wen stood, smiling faintly. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Good!"
Li Yusong nodded in approval. "Don't worry, I won't take advantage of you."
"I'll only use my first Soul Skill, and I'll suppress my Soul Power to level thirteen, the same as yours."
"If you can touch me, you win."
Fu Wen raised an eyebrow. "Touch you and I win?"
"That's right."
Li Yusong nodded.
"Then you'd better watch out, Teacher Li."
Fu Wen's lips curled up.
Li Yusong paused, then laughed.
"Interesting."
Oscar came over and patted Fu Wen on the shoulder. "Xiao Wen, good luck! Show Teacher Li what you can do!"
"Don't embarrass yourself."
Flender sat in his chair, seemingly unconcerned, but his ears were already perked up.
Shao Xin and Lu Qibin also put aside what they were doing, ready to watch the show.
Zhao Wuji was already heading outside. "Come on, let's go to the training ground. I'll referee."
The whole group streamed out toward the training ground.
The sun shone brightly over the training ground.
Fu Wen and Li Yusong stood facing each other, ten paces apart.
Zhao Wuji stood between them and raised a hand.
"You both know the rules, right?"
"We do."
They nodded at the same time.
"Good."
Zhao Wuji lowered his hand. "Begin!"
The instant the words left his mouth, Fu Wen's eyes changed.
His pupils turned golden and slit-shaped, cold and sharp, carrying the oppressive force of something primordial.
Divine Crocodile possession!
His body visibly grew a few centimeters taller. His muscles swelled, and faint bronze patterns appeared across his skin.
A fierce aura rolled off him, like an ancient Ferocious Beast that had just crawled out of a swamp.
Oscar stepped back several paces and swallowed. "That aura... it's terrifying."
Flender narrowed his eyes without a word, but the curve of his mouth gave away how pleased he was.
Li Yusong felt a jolt in his heart, too.
He'd seen plenty of Power Attack System Martial Souls, but none had ever made him feel this kind of pressure at the first-ring stage.
"As expected of a Mutated Martial Soul."
Li Yusong drew a deep breath and released his Martial Soul as well.
Out came the Dragon Pattern Staff!
A long staff appeared.
A dragon pattern ran along it.
A white Soul Ring rose from beneath his feet.
He used only his first Soul Ring and suppressed his Soul Power to level thirteen.
"Come on."
Li Yusong took his opening stance.
Fu Wen didn't hold back. He pushed off the ground and shot forward like a cannonball.
He was incredibly fast!
The ten paces between them vanished in the blink of an eye.
Fu Wen threw a punch straight at Li Yusong's face.
The punch whistled through the air with a rush of wind.
Li Yusong sidestepped and dodged with ease.
But Fu Wen's attack didn't stop.
The instant one punch missed, the next followed.
Left fist, right fist, knee strike, elbow strike...
Before you continue