Zhao Wuji's Fury

"Mm."

Xiao Wu gave a soft response, rubbed her eyes, and the three of them headed to the playground together to assemble.

When everyone had gathered, they noticed one person was missing, and there was a middle-aged man standing beside Flender.

Tang San's eyes lit up instantly, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Teacher?"

The middle-aged man was none other than Tang San's teacher: Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. He smiled and nodded at Tang San, signaling for him to wait a moment.

"This is Xiao San's teacher?"

The group curiously sized up the middle-aged man. During their few days in the Star Dou Great Forest, they had heard Tang San mention his teacher, but they hadn't expected to see him the moment they returned.

Oscar looked around and teased, "Where's Huo Yuhao? Why isn't he here? Don't tell me he saw that I'm already a Soul Elder and is afraid of being surpassed, so he's too scared to show his face!"

Flender glared at Oscar with a grim expression and cleared his throat.

"There are two things to announce today. First, the man beside me, the renowned master of soul master theory, Yu Xiaogang, will be joining our academy as your teacher. From now on, all teachers at Shrek Academy will center their instruction around him."

Everyone was somewhat surprised, casting scrutinizing gazes at Grandmaster.

Tang San, on the other hand, was full of pleasant surprise and clenched his fists in excitement. Among everyone present, he was the only one who had studied under Grandmaster for a period of time, and he had full confidence in Grandmaster's teaching.

Grandmaster stepped forward, his tone cold and detached.

"Next, I will announce the second matter. Student Huo Yuhao has voluntarily left Shrek Academy for certain reasons. From this moment on, he is no longer your classmate."

Tang San's expression stiffened slightly.

"What!? What happened? Yuhao dropped out?"

The group looked at each other in confusion. Dai Mubai and the others then turned their eyes toward Zhu Zhuqing. She was the only one present who had remained at the academy with Huo Yuhao; if anything had happened, she would be the one who knew best.

Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and was just about to speak when a roar erupted.

"I don't believe it! That kid would never voluntarily drop out! And you, so-called Grandmaster! I don't care who you are—if you make a joke like that again, watch out, or I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Everyone turned toward the sound to see Zhao Wuji, veins bulging on his forehead and his face flushed red, striding toward them. Seeing this, Flender's expression darkened with annoyance.

"Old Zhao! Don't be impulsive!"

"Don't be impulsive!? You drove my precious student away and you're telling me not to be impulsive!? Flender, you've completely lost your mind! What on earth happened to make you do something like this!? Flender!!! Are you even fit to be a Dean anymore!?"

The deafening interrogation echoed through the sky. Looking at the red-eyed Zhao Wuji, Flender opened his mouth but couldn't utter a single word. He could only close his eyes, his entire body trembling slightly.

Grandmaster remained calm, lifting his eyes to stare at the burly man. "You must be Zhao Wuji?"

"That's me. Now tell me, where did my student go!?"

Zhao Wuji, seeing Grandmaster's indifferent expression, felt his rage boil over. He immediately released his aura, pressing down on him. The immense pressure forced Grandmaster to take several steps back, cold sweat beading on his back.

Grandmaster looked at the nearly crazed Zhao Wuji and realized he had been a bit too arrogant.

Glancing back to see that Flender was still keeping his eyes closed, showing no intention of helping him, he could only stubbornly retort.

"Yuhao withdrew voluntarily. If you are afraid of losing a genius student, there is no need. I believe that under my guidance, every student hereafter will be even more outstanding than Huo Yuhao."

Zhao Wuji was stunned by Grandmaster's words.

What kind of talk was that?

You can just give up on a student like that!?

How are you fit to be a teacher!?

"Fine, fine, fine! Very good indeed!!!"

Zhao Wuji laughed in his fury, his icy gaze fixed on Flender.

"Flender, is this your intention as well?"

"..." Flender didn't speak. He kept his eyes closed, his chest heaving violently, showing that he was far from calm, yet he still did nothing.

"Fine! You don't need Huo Yuhao, but I do!"

"From today on, I resign my position as a teacher at Shrek Academy. We have no further connection."

By the time he finished, Zhao Wuji's voice was no longer booming; it was as flat and lifeless as stagnant water.

Only then did Flender snap his eyes open, his rims reddening. "Old Zhao! Don't be like this..."

Zhao Wuji looked at Yu Xiaogang, then back at Flender, and let out a scoff. "You will regret this."

He then strode away toward the academy gates.

The students stood dumbfounded, watching everything unfold. The development of events was beyond anything they could have imagined.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu gritted her teeth and was about to follow Zhao Wuji when Zhu Zhuqing suddenly grabbed her hand. Turning to look, she saw Zhu Zhuqing staring straight ahead, her head moving almost imperceptibly from side to side, her lips forming the shape of the name "Huo Yuhao."

Xiao Wu's eyes brightened slightly, and she nodded, calming down.

The others opened their mouths, not knowing what to say. So much had happened all at once that they didn't even know where to begin asking.

They never expected that in the time it took to visit the Star Dou Great Forest, one of their classmates would have already left them.

Grandmaster watched the direction in which Zhao Wuji had departed, a cold sneer forming in his heart.

I will regret this? You have no idea how formidable Tang San's background is. What can a mere Soul Elder, no matter how strong, possibly amount to? Can he compare to a Title Douluo?

With the resources of Shrek Academy at his disposal this time, under his dedicated cultivation, he would certainly be able to help Tang San surpass Huo Yuhao!

Grandmaster then nodded toward the seven students standing before him.

"I have already introduced myself. Although you currently have a significant gap compared to Huo Yuhao, please believe that under my guidance, your strength will rapidly catch up to his, and even surpass him! Tang San is my disciple; I believe you all witnessed his strength in the Star Dou Great Forest."

The group exchanged glances. Instead of the ecstatic joy Grandmaster had anticipated, they nodded with a lack of interest and turned to size up Tang San, who stood among them.

Their gazes were meaningful—This is your teacher?

Tang San's strength was indeed decent, but compared to Huo Yuhao, it was completely insufficient. They couldn't fathom what gave Grandmaster the confidence to say such things.

Even Tang San felt his face burning. He feared his teacher didn't know that Huo Yuhao could take on Teacher Zhao in a one-on-one fight. Upon their first meeting, he had already presented an image of arrogance and conceit to everyone.

Grandmaster was somewhat stunned by their lukewarm reaction, his face darkening a few shades.

"It seems you still don't believe me, but that's fine. You will see the results soon enough."

Ning Rongrong frowned, feeling that something was wrong. Was the matter regarding Huo Yuhao just going to be brushed aside so lightly?

She reached out to touch the iron plate hidden in her clothes. Ning Rongrong felt as though words were stuck in her throat, yet she didn't know what to say. Indescribable emotions filled her heart.

Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu stared coldly at the inactive Flender and the middle-aged man who called himself Grandmaster, the one who kept inciting them to exclude Huo Yuhao.

"Truly... ugly."

Late at night.

A knock sounded at Zhu Zhuqing's door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Zhu Zhuqing looked up to see Xiao Wu.

As soon as she closed the door, Xiao Wu asked impatiently, "Zhuqing, do you know something?"

Zhu Zhuqing nodded slightly.

"Huo Yuhao told me that when you came to me for the first time, I should give you this envelope and stop you from dropping out. When you came to me a second time, I was to tell you the truth. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to keep it from you."

Xiao Wu's eyes instantly lit up. "So you were acting the whole time? You really fooled me! You scared me to death."

Xiao Wu patted her chest and let out a long sigh.

Zhu Zhuqing produced an envelope and handed it to Xiao Wu. "This is what he really wanted to say to you. Don't worry, I didn't peek."

Xiao Wu took it with a grin. "It's fine, it's fine, I trust you."

She then lowered her head, shifting her attention to the letter.

"Xiao Wu, forgive me for leaving without saying goodbye. A powerful Title Douluo has set their sights on you. To prevent our relationship from becoming too close and threatening the Dean, I had no choice but to withdraw from Shrek Academy. Do not blame the Dean. There are a few things I must remind you of: do not drop out of the academy, you are being watched, and do not reveal that you know the full story. You can relay anything to me through Zhu Zhuqing."

"I am going to obtain greater power. The next time we meet, no one will be able to hurt you. Remember to cultivate hard; if you don't meet my requirements, there will be a punishment! Oh, and burn this letter after you finish reading it."