The Rain Kept Falling, the Atmosphere Was Less Than Harmonious, but the Labels Kept Getting Bigger

Just when public opinion was overwhelmingly in favor of the government, an unexpected turn of events occurred.

Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, and Oscar, the three who had been knocked unconscious by Ye Qing's side, slowly woke up at the most inopportune time.

Ma Hongjun was the first to open his eyes.

His face was so swollen it looked like a steamed bun.

One eye was so bruised it was barely a slit, and blood from his nose smeared half his face.

He looked exactly like a wounded soldier who had crawled out of Asura.

Through his blurred vision, he saw Flender's back.

His heart softened, and Ma Hongjun's tears flowed freely.

"Dean!!"

He scrambled over to her, stumbling and crawling.

He rubbed his knees against the wet flagstones, clung to Flender's leg with tears streaming down his face, and cried so loudly it was earth-shattering.

"Dean, you've finally arrived! Waaaaah—that bastard was too ruthless! He almost killed me, Dean!"

Flender froze.

You give me--

"Dean, you must do me justice!"

Ma Hongjun's wailing drowned out Flender's words, tears streaming down his face.

"Dean, kill that beast and avenge us!"

kill?

These words exploded in the crowd, no different from a Soul Cannon being thrown.

Flender's face turned a deep shade of liver at that moment.

Zhao Wuji's expression also changed drastically.

Ye Qing almost burst out laughing.

He had been planning how to push the topic of "Fallen Spirit Master" further, but it turned out there was no need for it at all.

Ma Hongjun, were you sent by God to help me?

"Did you hear me!"

A gruff voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

"Constantly talking about killing, what else can you be but Fallen Spirit Master?!"

"What that young hero said earlier is absolutely right, this kind of person is the dregs of Fallen Spirit Master!"

"First they harass innocent girls, then they shout about killing people. Good heavens, if no one does anything about this, what will become of them?"

The people's anger was instantly reignited, and burned even brighter than before.

The narrative of "Fallen Spirit Master" that Ye Qing had painstakingly laid out had been officially confirmed by Ma Hongjun.

Dai Mubai and Oscar regained consciousness almost simultaneously.

But they were both much smarter than Ma Hongjun.

As soon as Dai Mubai opened his eyes, he didn't rush to move.

He quickly gathered information from his surroundings using his still-functioning ears.

The curses of the common people, Flender's stiff back, and the figure exuding an aura of authority under an oil-paper umbrella not far away.

His heart skipped a beat.

Crown Prince?

Is the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire here?

This is terrible!

Dai Mubai instinctively wanted to rush over and cover Ma Hongjun's mouth.

Unfortunately, it was too late.

Oscar silently buried his face in his hands.

Oh no, Fatty has sold the entire academy this time.

Ma Hongjun was completely unaware.

He was overwhelmed by the torrent of insults, his face, swollen like a pig's head, filled with confusion.

He scratched the back of his head, looked around blankly, and muttered a line destined to be recorded in the Shrek Academy's dark history, "What's going on? Am I still not awake?"

"What right do these lowly peasants have to insult me?"

peasant?

Destroying civilians?

"What did he say? What did he call us?!"

He was referring to peasants and lowly commoners!

"Not only do they bully our girls, but they also look down on us ordinary people!"

"Your Highness! We beg Your Highness to punish this Fallen Spirit Master!"

A raging tide swept across the land.

If the public's anger was previously only a condemnation of Ma Hongjun's personal behavior...

The moment the phrase "a peasant who has fallen from grace" was uttered, the dignity of all the common people present was trampled underfoot.

This is no longer a one-person affair.

This is a class conflict!

The narrative framework that Ye Qing had painstakingly built was finally sealed by Ma Hongjun himself.

And it's welded shut.

Ye Qing silently gave Ma Hongjun a thumbs up in her heart.

Brother, with you here, I don't even need to work hard.

Flender's forehead was covered in cold sweat; he was now completely panicked.

Watching the building collapse floor by floor, while you stand at the bottom in a panic.

Harassing a respectable woman is the first step.

Opening one's mouth to shout for battle and slaughter is the second blow.

The third blow was the use of derogatory terms to refer to ordinary people.

After three cuts, Ma Hongjun was completely unable to clear his name.

If we let this living ancestor speak again, forget about Shrek's reputation; it's questionable whether the entire team can even leave Heaven Dou City alive.

Flender had only one thought in his mind: shut him up!

Now! Immediately! Right now!

"Smack!"

A crisp slap landed squarely on Ma Hongjun's face, which was already swollen beyond recognition.

The slap silenced the entire street's noise.

It was Flender who hit him.

Ma Hongjun was stunned by the beating.

"Dean?"

He covered his face, staring wide-eyed at Flender through the only slit he had left.

A wave of grievance washed over her. "Dean, why did you hit me... um!"

At Yu Xiaogang's signal, Tang San quickly moved to Ma Hongjun's side and behind, precisely covering his mouth with one hand.

At the same time, she leaned close to his ear and whispered something.

No one knows exactly what Tang San said.

But Ma Hongjun's eyes widened to their maximum size for a moment, then quickly shrank back.

He was completely frozen, as if he had been paralyzed by acupuncture points.

He finally realized just how serious a mess his words had been.

Tang San released his grip.

Ma Hongjun dared not utter a sound, and even his breathing became soft.

Flender took a deep breath.

The current situation is no longer about saving face, but about whether we can get out unscathed.

If this continues, Ma Hongjun will be labeled a Fallen Spirit Master, and the entire Shrek Academy will be dragged down with him.

Flender immediately turned to the Xue Qinghe.

Bow!

He bent his back so low, so low that he had never bent so deeply in his life.

"Your Highness"

Flender tried to keep his voice steady, but those who knew him well could hear the suppressed tremor.

"Hongjun was seriously injured and delirious just now. His outbursts were unintentional and not his true purpose."

"This conflict was all a misunderstanding."

"Shrek Academy is willing to apologize sincerely and offer compensation."

"After we return, Flender will definitely discipline the students strictly and ensure that nothing like this happens again."

When Flender said those words, he felt his mouth was full of the taste of blood.

Ye Qing beat his student so badly, yet he didn't pursue the matter further.

Because he dared not pursue the matter.

To bring up the matter at this point, which would be tantamount to bringing the topic back to Ma Hongjun.

Zhao Wuji stood behind Flender, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, and the veins on his temples throbbed.

But he didn't dare say a word more.

This was probably the darkest moment in the Shrek Academy's history.

From the moment Ma Hongjun woke up, there was no chance of turning the tide in this game.

Xue Qinghe nodded slightly.

Under the oil-paper umbrella, His Highness the Crown Prince's voice rang out unhurriedly, each word carrying just the right weight:

"What my young friend Ye Qing said just now is not without merit."

Flender's heart sank.

"Knights break the law with their martial arts, and Soul Master should set an example, rather than using their cultivation to lord it over ordinary people."

Xue Qinghe's gaze swept lightly over Flender, then fell upon Ma Hongjun, who was being held down by Tang San:

"I hope Dean Flender will return and properly educate his students."

"Don't let him embark on that lawless Fallen Spirit Master."

The words "Fallen Spirit Master" carried a completely different weight when uttered by the crown prince.

The people are expressing public outrage.

Ye Qing was referring to accusations.

But the crown prince was issuing a warning.

Although Ma Hongjun has not been formally declared a Fallen Spirit Master.

But once word gets out that the Crown Prince personally warned him against going down the path of Fallen Spirit Master, Ma Hongjun will never be able to easily shake off that label for the rest of his life.

Cold sweat trickled down Flender's forehead and cheeks.

"Yes, yes, yes... His Highness is right... Flender will remember this..."

He nodded repeatedly, bending even lower.

Flender dared not linger for even a second longer.

He hurriedly took out a bag of Gold Soul Coin from his pocket and respectfully handed it to Xiaohong Hong.

"This is compensation, please take it, young lady."

After saying that, he grabbed Ma Hongjun by the collar and shouted in a low voice, "Get out! Get out now!"

Zhao Wuji, his face ashen, helped up several injured students.

The Shrek Academy group awkwardly squeezed out of the crowd amidst the scornful, mocking, and contemptuous gazes of the surrounding people.

Someone spat.

Some people clapped and cheered.

A loud-voiced man chased after them, shouting, "Go back and discipline your Fallen Spirit Master disciple!"

Flender stumbled and nearly fell into a puddle.

But he didn't turn back, nor did he dare to.

The rain swallowed their disheveled figures.

Ye Qing stood there, watching the Shrek students flee in disarray, a slow smile creeping onto his lips.

Today's performance can be considered a successful conclusion.