I'm Here to Audit at Shrek Academy

For six years, Flender's Cat-Eagle spirit had circled above his head every single moment.

That feeling of being watched was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.

But now, that feeling was gone.

Flender wasn't there?

Ji Ye's brows furrowed slightly.

In the original story, when Ning Rongrong and Oscar went to run laps, didn't Flender monitor her the whole time while she snuck off to Soto City to eat, drink, and play?

Why wasn't he there?

He expanded his spiritual power once more, scanning the area meticulously.

Still nothing.

Ji Ye withdrew his perception, a guess forming vaguely in his mind.

Did the senior Lion hit him that hard?

Did he beat Flender so badly he couldn't get up?

Meanwhile.

Shrek Academy, Dean's lounge.

The room was small, containing only a bed, a table, and a chair.

Several bottles of medicine sat on the table, and the air was thick with the pungent scent of ointment.

A person lay on the bed.

Flender.

He was wrapped in bandages from head to toe, with only one eye exposed.

He looked like a mummy.

Zhao Wuji stood by the bed, holding a bowl of medicine, and let out a deep sigh.

"Dean, time for your medicine."

Flender's exposed eye rolled, and the bandages around his mouth shifted as he let out a muffled, indistinct sound.

"Put it... on the table."

Zhao Wuji set the bowl down, looked at Flender's state, and shook his head.

The beating from that Title Douluo had hit Flender hard.

Six broken ribs, fractured arms, torn leg ligaments—there wasn't a single patch of unbruised skin on him.

A Title Douluo's fists were heavy, and the fact that he hadn't been beaten to death on the spot was already a show of mercy.

Zhao Wuji walked out of the room and gently closed the door.

Standing at the entrance was a chubby boy, about twelve or thirteen years old, with a round face and small eyes.

Ma Hongjun.

"Teacher Zhao, the Dean, he..."

"He won't die," Zhao Wuji said.

"But he won't be getting out of bed anytime soon."

Ma Hongjun peeked through the crack in the door and shrank his neck back.

A Title Douluo—too terrifying.

It was fortunate he hadn't been at the academy that day.

Zhao Wuji looked at the students training in the courtyard.

Tang San, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu.

"Where are Ning Rongrong and Oscar? Haven't they returned yet?" Zhao Wuji asked.

Just as he finished speaking, hurried footsteps echoed from the academy gate.

Oscar ran in.

He was drenched in sweat, his clothes clinging to his back, his hands braced on his knees as he gasped for air.

Hah... hah...

Once he caught his breath, he looked up to find everyone staring at him, froze for a moment, and then scratched the back of his head.

"E-everyone is here?"

Zhao Wuji looked at him sternly, then glanced up at the sky.

The sun was already setting; he had told those two to run laps, and they had been at it for the entire afternoon?

"Where is Ning Rongrong?" Zhao Wuji's voice turned cold.

"Isn't she with you?"

Oscar's mouth opened and closed, his expression shifting from embarrassment to panic, then to guilt.

"She..."

"She what?"

"She..."

Oscar broke into a cold sweat, struggling for a long time without managing to squeeze out a complete sentence.

He couldn't exactly say that Ning Rongrong had run off to Soto City to eat, drink, and play after barely two laps, could he?

How would he ever be able to talk to Rongrong again if he did that?

Just as Oscar was wondering how to answer, a crisp female voice rang out from the academy gate.

"I'm not late, am I?"

Everyone turned to look at the sound.

Ning Rongrong stood at the gate, her cyan dress completely free of dust.

A smug smile played on her face, her chin tilted slightly upward.

She wore an expression that screamed, "The young lady has arrived, everyone get out of the way!"

But no one's gaze was on her.

Behind her.

Stood a person.

Gray cloth robes, black hair draped over his shoulders, a lean and upright figure.

His features were deep, his skin fair, his eyelashes long, and his nose bridge straight.

Standing there, doing nothing at all, he drew the attention of everyone in the courtyard.

Xiao Wu's mouth hung open, her eyes wide and round, staring fixedly at Ji Ye's face without blinking for a long time.

Zhu Zhuqing's gaze lingered on Ji Ye's face for three seconds at first, then quickly shifted away to look elsewhere.

But two seconds later, she quietly shifted it back.

A faint flush rose on her face.

Beside her, Dai Mubai felt a twinge of jealousy at Zhu Zhuqing's reaction.

He looked at Ji Ye with a hint of displeasure.

This guy!

Isn't he a bit too handsome!?

He, Dai Mubai, was considered a top-tier handsome man in the Star Luo Empire!

He then subconsciously touched his own chin to confirm that his jawline was still there.

The moment Zhao Wuji saw Ji Ye, his pupils contracted sharply.

Ji Ye!

Why is he back?

Images from a few days ago flashed through Zhao Wuji's mind.

That Title Douluo had descended from the sky, smashing fist after fist into Flender, every blow landing with flesh-tearing force, blood spraying everywhere.

He would never forget that scene for the rest of his life.

And that Crowned One had come specifically to vent Ji Ye's frustrations.

Zhao Wuji swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm, though his back was already starting to sweat.

Ji Ye noticed Zhao Wuji's gaze, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly as he spoke first.

"Long time no see, Teacher Zhao Wuji."

Zhao Wuji's Adam's apple bobbed up and down.

"Long... long time no see, Ji Ye."

He paused, trying hard to make his voice sound normal.

"What are you..."

Before he could finish, Ning Rongrong cut him off.

"Teacher Zhao, he wants to enroll in our academy!"

There was an irrepressible excitement in Ning Rongrong's voice.

"Hurry up and take him in!"

Zhao Wuji looked at her, then glanced at Ji Ye, his brows furrowing.

Enroll in Shrek Academy?

Flender had pestered Ji Ye for six years, trying every trick in the book—soft tactics and hard—yet he had never managed to drag this kid into Shrek Academy.

Now, the boy was delivering himself to their doorstep?

Zhao Wuji found it hard to believe.

"Are you really joining Shrek Academy?" he asked, probing.

Ji Ye shook his head slightly.

"No, I am here to study your academy's teaching methods."

He paused, considering his phrasing.

"Consider it a sort of... auditing."

Zhao Wuji fell silent.

Auditing.

Not joining.

In other words, this kid could leave at any moment.

Yet, he dared not refuse.

After all, the Dean was still bedridden at this very moment.

"Fine." Zhao Wuji nodded, his voice tinged with helplessness.

"If you are willing to come, Shrek Academy welcomes you."

Zhao Wuji looked toward Oscar.

"Oscar, take Ji Ye to find a dormitory."

Oscar froze for a moment, then nodded.

"Oh... alright."

He looked at Ji Ye's face, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but he held back.

"Follow me," Oscar said, his voice much lower than usual.

Ji Ye nodded and followed behind him.

He had never met Oscar before.

Back when Flender used to pester him, he had never once stepped foot through the gates of Shrek Academy.