His brows were tightly furrowed, and his fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.
The door opened.
Dai Mubai walked in and recounted what had just happened.
Flender listened, then fell silent for a while.
"You're saying those people are going to report us to Spirit Hall?"
"Who knows? They were probably just saying it," Dai Mubai replied indifferently.
"Teacher Li is too cautious. They're just a few ordinary people. Does he think Spirit Hall will actually listen to them?"
Flender didn't respond. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers continuing to tap on the table.
"I know about this. Go back. Keep recruiting students," Flender said.
"But tell Teacher Li to be careful. He shouldn't get into another dispute with anyone."
Dai Mubai nodded and turned to leave.
Flender sat there, his fingers coming to a stop. He couldn't shake the vague sense that something was wrong.
Suotuo City.
A father and son stood by the roadside, surrounded by a crowd.
The father looked to be in his forties. He wore a dusty gray short jacket, his face full of grievance, and his voice was loud enough to carry down the whole street.
The boy was twelve or thirteen. He cowered behind his father, timidly peeking at the people around them before ducking back out of sight.
"You have no idea! That Shrek Academy is a scam!" The father's voice rose high and shrill, as if he were performing onstage.
"The academy's remote and run-down, built in some shabby village. There's a broken wooden sign at the entrance, with the writing done in a charred stick! We waited in line for ages and paid ten Gold Soul Coins to apply, only for them to brush us off with 'You don't meet the age requirement'!"
Someone nearby cut in.