Tang San paused, his gaze flickering as a similar suspicion rose in his heart, just as it had in Flender's.
Father... must be nearby!
These two seniors must have sensed Father's presence. They're giving him face, which is why they haven't made a move.
At that thought, Tang San felt a strange, complicated sense of security toward the father whose image had already crumbled in his eyes.
Tang San continued:
"Shrek Academy may be a humble place, but Dean Flender and the teachers here teach everyone without discrimination and devote themselves wholeheartedly to their students.
"If the two seniors are merely curious and want to watch the academy's trials, you're naturally welcome.
"But... if you're talking about enrolling, I'm afraid, as the dean said, it really would be beneath you."
With those words, Tang San made the academy's position clear while subtly invoking the possible presence of Tang Hao as an invisible threat. It was a flawless response.
Yet his tone carried a faint air of conceit, which sat poorly with Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena.
Gu Yuena's gaze toward Tang San turned a little colder.
Tang Hao had made Ah Yin sacrifice herself for her, then planted the seed left behind after her sacrifice in such a damp cave.
It was hard to imagine a more miserable fate.
And a few years ago, he had already started treating Xiao Wu as Tang San's future Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone.
And now Tang San was getting conceited?
Did he think they were too wary of Tang Hao to lay a hand on him?
A flash of killing intent passed through Gu Yuena's eyes.
Gu Yuan had taken in both Flender's attempt to brush them off and Tang San's little scheme. The amusement in his golden eyes deepened.
"Beneath us?"
Gu Yuan gave a soft laugh, as if he'd just heard something amusing.
"You don't get to decide whether it's beneath us."
Gu Yuan released Gu Yuena's hand and stepped forward. His gaze swept over Zhao Wuji, then Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others, who were braced for a fight, before settling back on Flender.
"Since we came, we didn't plan on leaving empty-handed."
Gu Yuan's tone remained easygoing, but there was no room for argument in his words.
"We're quite interested in this academy.
"As for whether it can accommodate us..."
A knowing curve tugged at Gu Yuan's lips.
"We'll have to try to find out, won't we?
"Or is Shrek Academy's 'we only accept monsters' just a joke, because you're too afraid to accept a challenge?"
Were they dead set on enrolling?
Or did they have some other motive?
Were they trying to humiliate them?!
Flender's expression grew even grimmer. This was unlikely to end well.
Flender nervously swallowed. Fine beads of cold sweat had already formed on his forehead.
Flender had been about to say more, but he could feel the golden-eyed young man's patience running out.
Flender took a deep breath and forced himself to stay calm as he asked:
"Sir... what sort of challenge do you have in mind?
"A contest of Soul Skills, or..."
Gu Yuan was just about to state the "rules of the game"—ones that would make all of Shrek Academy lose face—when a clear, resolute voice cut in ahead of him.
"Please, seniors, stop making things difficult for Dean Flender!"
Tang San stepped forward and stood in front of Flender.
He held his head high and looked directly at Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena, wearing the kind of expression unique to young people: a blend of righteousness and conceit.
Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena's brief silence, along with their remark that they were "merely curious," had confirmed Tang San's suspicions.
They really were wary of Father!
If so, he should stand up to defend the academy's dignity—and, while he was at it, make these two "seniors" back off.
"Shrek Academy may be small, but our teachers' kindness to us is heavier than a mountain. I, Tang San, will never let anyone run amok here!"
Tang San's righteous declaration rang across the entire little plaza.
"The two seniors are far stronger than us. We know we're no match.
"But this is no place for you to linger. I hope you'll leave now."
Then Tang San shifted his tone, letting a warning creep into it. His gaze sharpened.
"Otherwise, my father may be watching from the shadows right now.
"I don't think he'd want to see his friends make things difficult for a group of children and teachers, would he?"
At those words, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and the others looked at Tang San with instant admiration.
Under such terrifying pressure, Xiao San had still dared to stand up to them—and had even invoked the Clear Sky Douluo to intimidate them!
But Flender and Zhao Wuji's hearts sank. They thought:
This is bad!
Why did that kid have to push things to the point of no return?!
The strangest reaction, however, came from Gu Yuan and Gu Yuena.
The moment Tang San finished speaking, the last trace of amusement in Gu Yuena's beautiful violet eyes vanished, replaced by a bone-deep cold that seemed to freeze the world.
An invisible yet almost tangible killing intent surged out like a tide, making the surrounding air feel as if it had suddenly dropped by more than ten degrees!
Tang Hao?
The man who had killed Ah Yin and schemed against Xiao Wu?
And now his son dared to use his name to threaten her and Xiao Yuan?
How ironic! How... suicidal!
Just as Gu Yuena was about to lose control of her killing intent, a warm hand closed around her cool fingers.
Gu Yuan stopped her.
Gu Yuan looked at Tang San, who wore the expression of someone who thought he'd seen through everything and that they'd better know their place. He paused, then... laughed.
It wasn't a soft chuckle or a cold laugh. It was an utterly genuine laugh, as if he'd just heard the most absurd, ridiculous joke in the world.
He laughed long and hard.
"Haha... hahahahaha!"
His clear, resonant laughter sent a wave of dread and unease through the people of Shrek. None of them had ever felt anything like it.
The conceit and resolve on Tang San's face began to crack, bit by bit, beneath Gu Yuan's unrestrained laughter.
"W-what are you laughing at?" Tang San asked, putting on a brave front.
Gu Yuan finally stopped laughing. He wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, then regarded Tang San with playful golden eyes and asked leisurely:
"Your father? The shadows? His friends?"
With each word, Gu Yuan took another step forward. The invisible pressure made Tang San retreat without thinking.
"Tang San, are you talking about... Tang Hao?"
Gu Yuan tilted his head, his face filled with innocent curiosity, and asked:
"Which Tang Hao?
"Oh... I remember. The one on the Sky Screen—the 'Clear Sky Douluo' who forced his wife to her death for a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, and had already plotted out his son's future Soul Rings?"
"You said he's hiding in the shadows?"
Gu Yuan glanced around as if searching for someone, his smile growing wider.
"Then that's wonderful!
"Tell him to come out!
"I'll stand right here and wait for him. I'd like to see how this disgraced 'strongman,' hunted by the Spirit Hall like a stray dog, plans to make his 'friend' show me some respect!"
Before you continue