Birds of a Feather

"Enough. Have you embarrassed yourself enough?"

Flender glared at Ma Hongjun, leaving the latter somewhat bewildered.

Was this really his teacher?

It wasn't just Ma Hongjun. Dai Mubai and the others also looked at Flender in confusion.

This was so unlike him.

Flender offered no explanation. Instead, he looked at Xiao Wu and Tang San.

"You're Tang San and Xiao Wu, right?"

In a remote backwater like this, the only people capable of showing such strength...

Flender could only think of the two geniuses Yu Xiaogang had mentioned in his letter.

That was also why his attitude had suddenly changed.

He didn't want such a trivial matter to make the two of them hold a grudge against him.

At Flender's words, Dai Mubai and the others immediately understood. So these were the two Innate Full Soul Power geniuses Dean Flender had mentioned.

Tang San and Xiao Wu instantly grew wary and discreetly took a few steps back.

"Who are you?"

Tang San stared at him intently, dangerous light flickering in his eyes.

Flender smiled faintly.

"My name is Flender. I'm a friend of your teacher's, and I came here at his invitation."

Tang San couldn't help but freeze at that.

His teacher's friend?

At this, a trace of disdain appeared on Xiao Wu's face.

No wonder he's Grandmaster's friend.

That useless Grandmaster taught a disciple who repaid kindness with betrayal.

And his friend...

He ignored his junior's harassment of a girl in broad daylight, and even when a fight broke out, he did nothing. But the moment his junior got the short end of the stick, he jumped out to bully someone younger.

Utterly shameless.

If they'd just watched that lecher get beaten up, Xiao Wu might have thought a little better of them.

They really were birds of a feather.

"Ahem... well..."

Ma Hongjun had just started to say something when Xiao Wu turned and walked away.

"Uh!"

Ma Hongjun stood rooted to the spot, mortified, wishing the ground would open up and swallow him.

"Xiao Wu..."

Tang San called out, but Xiao Wu showed no sign of stopping.

He wanted to go after her, but he couldn't just leave his teacher's friend unattended.

For a moment, he was caught between two impossible choices.

Dai Mubai watched Xiao Wu's retreating figure, looking thoughtful.

A girl with Innate Full Soul Power was hard to find.

And someone with Innate Full Soul Power could become a Title Douluo without much trouble, as long as she didn't slack off.

If he could win her over, then the throne might not be beyond his reach.

The ambition that had long lain dormant in Dai Mubai suddenly surged back to life.

He glanced at Tang San.

The other boy also had Innate Full Soul Power, but his appearance was truly nothing to write home about.

Dai Mubai was absolutely confident he could steal Xiao Wu away from Tang San.

He was very good at dealing with women, after all.

Flender and the others looked awkward.

Who could've guessed that the two people they'd happened to run into were the geniuses in Yu Xiaogang's letter?

What a mess.

Their first impression was ruined. It would be hard to rebuild it now.

"Come on. I'll take you to see our teacher."

Tang San reluctantly tore his gaze away and said glumly.

The others could tell he was clearly upset, but since they knew the trouble had started because of them, they didn't dare ask.

Just as Tang San was about to lead everyone into the academy,

a nightmare of a voice suddenly exploded beside his ear.

"Everyone, please wait!"

Tang San couldn't help shivering, his teeth clenched tight.

Seeing his reaction, the others grew curious and turned around.

A handsome young man in ornate black robes was walking toward them.

Flender and the others were even more puzzled when they saw him.

The boy looked about Tang San's age. How had he managed to scare Tang San like that?

Tang San turned around and glared at Lin Chen as he approached, gritting his teeth.

He said nothing, only staring at Lin Chen with a dark expression.

He looked as if he wanted to tear Lin Chen apart and devour him whole.

[Disaster Curse Tang San, bystander success, obtained two levels of Soul Power.]

Responses didn't have to be verbal. Actions counted too.

So the moment everyone turned around, Disaster Curse had already been completed.

Seeing the system notification, Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

Well, now. This time, he'd actually gotten two levels of Soul Power.

That had never happened before.

Lin Chen suppressed his delight and studied Flender and the others.

A bespectacled middle-aged man, a short, burly man, a blond noble, a red-haired fatso, and a scruffy fellow with a full beard despite his young age.

Every one of them had a striking appearance.

If he wasn't mistaken, these had to be Flender and the others from Shrek.

What were they doing in Nuoding City?

After a quick glance around, Lin Chen's eyes settled on Tang San.

"Are these people your friends?"

Tang San noticed Lin Chen seemed to have glanced at the space between his brows.

That made him tense up instantly.

"Is there a problem?"

Lin Chen deliberately let a trace of pity show, walked over, and patted him on the shoulder.

"Stay safe!"

With that, he offered no explanation and walked straight past Tang San.

Tang San stood frozen in place.

Flender and the others were utterly baffled, unable to make heads or tails of it.

Oscar looked at Tang San.

"What's going on?"

His question finally brought Tang San back to his senses.

"Lin Chen, wait!"

Tang San didn't have time to bother with Flender and the others. He called out and hurried after Lin Chen.

Flender and the others exchanged glances, all looking bewildered.

"Let's go."

Flender dropped the word and hurried after them.

They'd find out what was going on if they watched.

Tang San caught up with Lin Chen.

"Lin Chen, explain yourself! What exactly is going on?"

He looked anxious.

Lin Chen often said he was about to be struck by misfortune, but he'd never acted like this before.

That left Tang San with no choice but to wonder.

The crisis he was about to face might be far worse than any before.

A crisis worse than anything he'd faced before could kill him if he made one wrong move.

How could he not be afraid? How could he not be anxious?

Lin Chen stopped and glanced at Flender and the others, who had caught up.

"Have you run into some kind of trouble lately?"

After breaking through the recent disasters, Tang San had always acted as if nothing had happened.

Lin Chen had already been curious about that.

Now Gangzi had invited Flender over as well, which only made him more curious.

Why had Yu Xiaogang invited Flender?

Lin Chen could think of only one possibility.

They had encountered an enemy they couldn't handle.

And yet that enemy hadn't injured or killed them.

Someone who neither injured nor killed them, yet could still break through a disaster—that was just too strange.

"Uh..."

Tang San was at a loss for words. How could he tell an outsider about something like this?

What would become of his and his teacher's reputations?

Seeing this, Lin Chen spread his hands, looking helpless.

"If you're unwilling to tell me, there's nothing I can do. I'm not omnipotent, after all."

With that, he turned and walked away.

This time, Tang San didn't call after him or chase him.

Some things simply couldn't be said.

Even if he knew he'd die for keeping silent, he would never tell anyone.

He might as well die rather than let it get out.

Flender and the others had listened to their conversation, yet hadn't understood a thing.

"Wait, what's going on?"

Zhao Wuji's curiosity had been piqued, but he couldn't get any answers. He was practically frantic.