Shrek's Three Freeloaders Got Scolded and Still Wanted to Stay as Dogs? Do They Have Some Special Trait?

Gu Qing withdrew his gaze, turned to the candidates below who had yet to disperse, and raised three fingers.

"Self Academy has three strict admission requirements. First, Soul Power must be above Rank 25."

"Second, you must possess at least one exceptional talent that distinguishes you from ordinary people: speed, strength, control, explosive power, support—any area is acceptable, but it must meet the standard."

"Third, admission requires passing a practical combat assessment, which I will personally administer. Those who qualify, step forward."

The crowd immediately stirred. Soul Power above Rank 25—this threshold alone eliminated more than ninety percent of the candidates present.

The twelve- and thirteen-year-old youths exchanged looks, their faces full of unwillingness, yet not one of them dared step forward.

Those who had come to apply to Shrek all considered themselves talented youths from various places, but there was a gulf that most could not cross between "decent" and "Rank 25."

Two figures stepped out from the crowd at the same time.

Zhu Zhuqing came to a halt, her back straight as a blade, her voice cool and concise. "Zhu Zhuqing, Rank 27 agility-attack Battle Soul Master. Specialty: speed."

Ning Rongrong followed right after her and took a deep breath. "Ning Rongrong, Rank 26 support-type Tool Soul Master. Specialty: comprehensive enhancement."

Gu Qing nodded. "Qualified. Stand beside Little San."

The area below fell quiet for a moment. The candidates looked at one another; the Rank 25 threshold was simply too high, and no one else dared come forward.

Just then, a commotion arose from the back of the crowd.

Dai Mubai pushed his way out. The footprints on his body had not even been brushed clean, his golden hair hung messily over his forehead, and his face was mottled with bruises, but his steps did not hesitate.

Ma Hongjun followed close behind him, his fat face piled with a fawning smile. Oscar walked last, his head lowered, not daring to look at Gu Qing.

Dai Mubai raised his head and looked at Gu Qing on the platform. His Adam's apple bobbed. "Dean Gu, the three of us also want to join Self Academy."

Gu Qing's gaze settled on Dai Mubai, but he said nothing.

Dai Mubai's scalp tingled under that stare, but he still forced himself to continue shamelessly.

"My Soul Power is Rank 37, far above the Rank 20 standard. My White Tiger martial soul is a top-tier beast martial soul, and few at the same rank can match my attack power."

"Ma Hongjun's Evil Fire Phoenix is also a top-tier beast martial soul, Rank 27. Oscar has Innate Full Soul Power with a food-type martial soul, Rank 25."

"The three of us meet your first and second requirements. As for the third practical combat assessment..."

"Stop." Gu Qing raised a hand and cut Dai Mubai off.

Dai Mubai's words caught in his throat, and the composure he had barely managed to force onto his face instantly froze.

Gu Qing swept his scrutinizing gaze over the three of them one by one. "You three do not meet my admission standards."

Dai Mubai's expression changed. "Why? Our Soul Power and talent both..."

"I said it already. Soul Power and specialties are only the first two requirements."

Gu Qing did not let Dai Mubai continue. "The third requirement is a practical assessment personally administered by me. What I assess is your mindset and will."

Gu Qing stepped forward and stopped in front of Dai Mubai.

"You fled the Star Luo Empire and came to Shrek. Was it to become stronger, or to save your own life? Your eldest brother was stronger than you, so you ran. You do not even know why you want strength. Why should I accept you?"

Dai Mubai opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.

Gu Qing turned to Ma Hongjun. "Whenever your evil fire flares up, you look for women. When you cannot suppress it, you go indulge yourself. Not once have you thought of enduring it through your own willpower. A phoenix is reborn through fire, yet you are unwilling to suffer even a little. What right do you have to seek nirvana?"

The fat on Ma Hongjun's face twitched. His lips moved several times, but in the end, he could not say a single word either.

Finally, Gu Qing looked at Oscar. "Innate Full Soul Power. A food-type martial soul. Your talent is no worse than anyone else's, yet from the day your martial soul awakened, you branded yourself as trash."

"You flatter everyone stronger than you, hoping they will give you a little sense of security. You have never dared look yourself in the eye, because even you look down on yourself."

Oscar's shoulders shook violently, and he lowered his head even further.

"Your problem is not insufficient Soul Power, nor is it a lack of talent."

Every word Gu Qing spoke pierced the hearts of the three like a nail.

"Your problem is that you have never thought clearly about why you want to become stronger. You have never pushed yourselves to the limit. You have never truly believed in yourselves. Your mindset is flawed and your will is weak. Self Academy does not accept people like that."

Dai Mubai stood where he was, his face alternating between red and white.

Every word Gu Qing said was something he had always avoided. It was not that Dai Mubai did not know his own problems; he had simply never dared face them.

Gu Qing turned around and walked back toward the platform.

"When the day comes that you understand why you want to become stronger, and understand what this power of yours is meant to be used for, come find me again."

"Then, the gates of Self Academy may reopen for you. But not today."

After saying that, Gu Qing did not look at them again. With his back to the three, he waved a hand, signaling that they could get lost.

Dai Mubai did not move. He stood in the middle of the training ground with his head lowered, his fists clenched until his knuckles turned white. The candidates' hushed discussions poured into his ears from every direction.

"Rejected."

"So what if he's a Star Luo prince?"

"He cannot even answer why he wants to become stronger."

"What a pitiful and laughable coward."

Every sentence lashed Dai Mubai like a whip. He wanted to turn and leave, but his feet were nailed to the ground, unable to move. Because he suddenly realized that once he walked out of these gates, he did not know where to go.

Go back to Star Luo?

Dai Mubai had never intended to return when he fled. Go to another academy?

With his talent, he could indeed enter any academy, but then what? Keep muddling through life? Keep hiding?

Dai Mubai did not want to run anymore, but he did not know what to do. The youth standing on the platform had left him nowhere to run, yet for the first time, with nowhere left to flee, he saw himself clearly.

Dai Mubai turned around and exchanged a glance with Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

There was no discussion in that look, only a shared understanding the three had reached at the same time: they could not leave!

If they left, they would truly have no chance. This man had trampled their dignity beneath his feet again and again, but every word he said was right.

Precisely because of that, he was the only one who could change them.

Dai Mubai took a step forward, and his knees struck the ground with a dull thud.

Ma Hongjun immediately followed, kneeling as well. Oscar hesitated for a moment before kneeling last. The three supported themselves with both hands on the ground, heads lowered, their shoulders trembling faintly.

The entire place fell deathly silent. Every candidate was stunned!

"Dean Gu."

Dai Mubai's voice was hoarse as he spoke tremblingly.

"I cannot refute a single word you said. I truly do not know why I want to become stronger. I truly have been running away. But... I do not want to run anymore."

"I beg you, please give me a chance. Any position will do, even as menial workers, as long as we can stay."

Ma Hongjun lowered his head, his voice muffled. "Dean Gu, I know you look down on me. In this life, Ma Hongjun knows nothing except chasing women, but I also want to learn how to control it."

"I do not want to die in brothels for the rest of my life. I am willing to be a menial worker too."

Oscar spoke last. "Dean Gu, you are the first person who ever told me, 'Your talent is no worse than anyone else's.' I... I want to learn, even if all I learn is how to stop flattering others."

"I am willing to be a menial worker too. Please take us in, Dean Gu."

Gu Qing turned around and looked down at the three people kneeling on the ground. His face showed little emotion, but internally, he rolled his eyes hard.

Holy shit!

I'd already said that much, and these three freeloaders not only didn't leave—they actually knelt down.

What kind of mentality is this? Are they addicted to being scolded?

Could they really want to turn over a new leaf?

That said, the three of them really were talented.

They had been publicly scolded like dogs, yet they were still kneeling and begging to be taken in. Their skin was thick enough to be unmatched in the entire Soul Master world.

Being able to bend and stretch to such an extent was, from another perspective, a kind of ability.

Gu Qing suppressed his speechlessness, his expression remaining calm. "Have you thought this through? Even if I do not let you become students? Even if you have to start from the very bottom?"