Shrek's Internal Strife

Returning to Shrek, Dai Mubai and the others were in a foul mood. Not only had they failed to secure the 100,000 Gold Soul Coin prize, but they had also been utterly humiliated by a one-on-seven beatdown.

Ma Hongjun muttered, "What kind of monster is that kid? A ten-thousand-year third soul ring—I've never even heard of such a thing."

Oscar sighed. "100,000 Gold Soul Coin, just like that, gone. We were supposed to use that money to improve our meals."

Dai Mubai rested his chin on his hand, silent. His right hand was still wrapped in bandages; even now, the sheer power of that punch made his heart tremble.

Zhu Zhuqing went straight to her room and locked the door. She lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, her mind in complete disarray.

She kept replaying today's duel in her head.

Why was there such a massive gap between Dai Mubai and that Meng Zhang Divine Lord, despite both being at level thirty-seven?

Dai Mubai was an assault-type soul master with the White Tiger martial soul and an optimal two-yellow, one-purple soul ring configuration.

Yet, in front of that man, he had been as fragile as paper.

She recalled the term Xuan Qing had used while berating Yu Xiaogang—plagiarizing martial soul theory.

Could it be that Yu Xiaogang's martial soul theories were truly stolen?

If so, had their training all this time been completely useless?

A thought suddenly sprouted in Zhu Zhuqing's mind.

Could that Meng Zhang Divine Lord help her become stronger? She needed power—she needed to grow strong enough to master her own destiny.

It must be said that while Zhu Zhuqing was "all chest and no brains" during this period, she was not yet the mere accessory she would become in the later stages of the original story.

Xiao Wu kept watch at the academy gate, waiting for Tang San and the others to return until late into the night.

Finally, a few figures appeared in the distance, leaning on each other and limping forward. It was Tang San, Yu Xiaogang, Flender, and Zhao Wuji.

The four of them were in a miserable state.

Yu Xiaogang's face was bruised and swollen, his eyes narrowed into slits, making it difficult for him to see.

Tang San's head was covered in lumps, swollen until he looked like a Buddha statue.

Flender's glasses were shattered, and his clothes were torn to shreds.

Zhao Wuji was the sturdiest, but he had taken the most hits and was covered in injuries.

Xiao Wu hurried over. "Third Brother, are you alright? How did you end up like this?"

Tang San gritted his teeth and shook his head, unable to speak.

He had suffered the greatest humiliation of his life today, being struck over the head with brick after brick, kicked into a pile of people, and then surrounded and stomped on by a mob.

Yu Xiaogang rasped, "No one is allowed to speak of today's events! Do you hear me?"

His voice was slurred because he didn't know which kind soul had kicked his front teeth out, causing him to lisp.

Xiao Wu muttered under her breath upon hearing this.

"It seems we don't even need to spread it? The entire Suotuo City already knows!"

Flender sighed. "Alright, Xiao Wu, say no more. Let's go find Shao Xin for healing."

When they arrived at Shao Xin's room, he was startled by the sight of the four of them.

"What happened to you? Were you surrounded by soul beasts?"

Zhao Wuji sat down with a thud, wincing in pain. "Don't ask. Just hurry up and make some sugar beans; it's killing me."

Shao Xin quickly produced the sugar beans and handed a few to each of them. The beans melted upon contact with their tongues, turning into a warm current that began to treat their wounds.

Zhao Wuji glared viciously at Yu Xiaogang.

He felt he was the most wronged victim of today's beating. He had no deep friendship with Yu Xiaogang; they were merely colleagues.

This entire mess had been incited by Yu Xiaogang, who had lost his composure and spoken recklessly after being provoked by a child, drawing the ire of the crowd.

If it weren't for him and Flender, Yu Xiaogang would have been torn to pieces.

"Watch your mouth in the future. If it weren't for Flender and me today, you would have been skinned alive by that mob."

This was effectively a falling out. Flender wanted to defend Yu Xiaogang, but Zhao Wuji didn't give him the chance.

"If this kind of garbage happens again, handle it yourself and don't drag me into it. I don't want to get myself killed over such nonsense."

Yu Xiaogang's face turned ash-gray, but he dared not retort.

Tang San ate his sugar beans in silence, his eyes dark and gloomy. Today was the most shameful day of his two lifetimes.

That Meng Zhang Divine Lord... he would remember this. One day, he would make him pay the price.

Meanwhile, Xuan Qing remained in a deep slumber. He had been asleep for three full days, immovable as a mountain.

Ning Fengzhi and his group had come more than ten times, only to be blocked at the door by Zi Ji every single time.

The reason was always the same: The Young Master is still sleeping; he is not receiving guests.

By the eleventh visit, Ning Fengzhi was growing anxious; he suspected that Xuan Qing was deliberately hiding to avoid seeing them.

Zi Ji, annoyed beyond measure, simply took that hideous Nuomask from Xuan Qing's ring and tossed it to them.

"See this? For the past year and ten months, all those things were done by the young master: hanging city lords, exposing evidence, and taking embezzled funds to return them to the people."

"If you think the young master is intentionally avoiding you, then I have nothing more to say, but he is truly just sleeping."

After saying this, Zi Ji turned around, returned to her room, and shut the door, leaving the group staring at the Nuomask in their hands, looking at each other in dismay.

Ning Fengzhi picked up the Nuomask and examined it closely; the mask was ferocious, with a green face and fangs, yet the craftsmanship was quite crude.

He recalled the rumors from over the past year about a mysterious figure who specialized in killing corrupt officials and local tyrants, hanging them at their own gates with the evidence tied to their bodies.

If they had embezzled funds, he would take ten percent as a commission and return the rest in full, his methods clean and efficient, leaving absolutely no survivors.

So, it was him?

Ning Fengzhi took a deep breath and said to Xue Qinghe, "Qinghe, once we return, start cleaning up your subordinates. Anyone who isn't clean, deal with them all."

Gu Rong also remarked, "Though this kid is young, he is truly ruthless. I really cannot reconcile that devil who kills people and leaves evidence behind with a mere child."

Xue Qinghe now had a massive headache.

Whether in her capacity as the Heaven Dou Crown Prince or as the Young Mistress of Martial Soul Hall, her subordinates had to be clean.

Otherwise, Xuan Qing might actually kill her first.

For over a year, the number of slaves at the Heaven Dou Auction House had been cut in half; so this was the reason.

The Fallen Ones were dealt with by Martial Soul Hall, so there wasn't much information on that.

But for the nobles with titles in Heaven Dou, city lords, and military generals, as long as they were discovered, they would be hung at the city gates.

If they had embezzled, he would take ten percent as a commission and return the rest.

People from Martial Soul Hall, the two great empires, and the Upper Three Sects—it didn't matter; as long as they had committed crimes and gone unpunished, he treated everyone the same regardless of their status.

Dozens of nobles had already been hung, with the evidence being ironclad.

Qian Renxue shivered.

It was fortunate that Xuan Qing hadn't encountered any Title Douluo from Martial Soul Hall who were corrupt.

Even if he couldn't beat them, Demon Dragon Douluo would intervene, and within the entire Martial Soul Hall, there were no more than three people who could reliably defeat Zi Ji.

Those who could survive her were fewer than the fingers on one hand.

"Teacher, let's investigate thoroughly when we get back. At the very least, turn all those slaves into official servants. It's better to spend a little more money than to wait for him to come knocking at our door. This guy has absolutely no taboos; he really might do something like that."

Ning Rongrong had been listening quietly, but at this point, she couldn't help but ask, "Dad, what are you all talking about? What hanging city lords? What evidence?"

Xue Qinghe took a stack of intelligence reports from her storage ring and handed them to Ning Rongrong. "See for yourself. These are the files from the past year or so regarding that mysterious person."

Ning Rongrong took them and began to flip through.

The more she read, the paler her face became, and her hands began to tremble; the documents recorded dozens of major cases, each one more shocking than the last.

A city lord colluding with the auction house to trade slaves, hung at the city gate.

A noble forcibly seizing civilian farmland, his assets distributed to the people; a general withholding military pay, the funds returned in full.

The methods were ruthless, but... it was deeply satisfying to the people.

Ning Rongrong looked up toward the direction of Xuan Qing's room, her eyes complex.

That young man, who looked about the same age as her, had actually done so much, killed so many people, and saved so many others.

What kind of person... was he really?