Dugu Bo was still too softhearted.
But that worked out perfectly.
These scumbags couldn't be allowed to die so easily. The protagonist group needed to be kept together, stripped of their Martial Souls, and packed off to the Slaughter City.
"If you still don't come out, are you planning to just watch him die?"
As soon as Dugu Bo finished speaking, a golden owl-shaped phantom came flying swiftly from the horizon.
The newcomer was incredibly fast, though still far slower than Dugu Bo.
The seven Soul Rings beneath him revealed that he was a Soul Saint. To possess speed comparable to a Titled Douluo at the Soul Saint level was enough to astonish anyone.
The newcomer was none other than the academy's dean, Four-Eyed Cat Owl Flender.
"I beg you, Poison Douluo, please show mercy!"
"I never thought a coward like you would recognize me, old man."
Dugu Bo reined in his aura and gave a cold snort.
"One of the former Golden Iron Triangle, Flying Horn Flender, hiding away in the countryside and making a living by swindling registration fees from civilian Soul Masters. Is someone like you even worthy of being called a Soul Master?"
"You're right to reprimand me, senior."
Flender's heart pounded under the immense pressure. In just a few seconds, cold sweat had already soaked his back.
He didn't dare speak carelessly. All he could do was force an ugly smile and humbly placate him.
At the same time, he couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Dugu Bo, you've always been a loner. Why are you suddenly meddling in other people's business?
Or had someone at his Shrek Academy offended Dugu Bo?
What terrible luck.
"Since you know you were wrong, I won't make things difficult for you."
Dugu Bo raised a hand and pointed at the Shrek Academy sign.
"Smash that sign of yours. From now on, Shrek Academy will be renamed Swindler Academy."
"What...?"
Flender's eyes trembled.
Shrek Academy was his life's work. To make him smash its sign himself was... like making him kill his own child.
"What, you're unwilling? That's easy enough to settle. Take three of my attacks. If you're still standing afterward, I'll leave. If you aren't—or if you die... choose for yourself."
"This..." Flender's lips quivered. This was far too much to ask of him.
He was only a lowly Soul Saint. Taking three attacks from a Titled Douluo was utterly impossible. Even if he somehow survived, he would be crippled for the rest of his life. He might as well be dead.
He was a clever man. He would never gamble with his life for so-called dignity or pride.
Dugu Bo couldn't keep an eye on him forever. As long as he managed to bluff Dugu Bo into leaving, everything would be fine.
"Oscar, take down the sign and smash it."
Having thought it all through, Flender spoke with a conflicted expression, his heart aching.
"Oscar, smash the sign."
"But... Dean."
"Do as I say."
Flender practically roared.
"Heh, Flender. I thought you were a clever man who understood the difference between a Soul Saint and a Titled Douluo."
Dugu Bo sneered at Flender and slapped him without hesitation.
"Smack!" A crisp slap rang out.
With the physical strength of a Titled Douluo, Dugu Bo sent Flender tumbling to the ground without a chance to resist. Blood poured from his mouth, his right cheek swelled up, and several teeth shot out like bullets, punching through the trunks of several giant trees.
"Dean!"
Oscar cried out in anguish, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks.
Dugu Bo merely glanced at him, and the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor's chilling aura completely enveloped him.
A bone-deep chill swept over Oscar. It was as if he'd lost control of his body. With a thud, he collapsed to the ground and retched in terror.
"I said you had to smash it yourself."
"F-Fine..."
Flender could barely speak. He fought through the pain and staggered to his feet, but a wave of dizziness hit him, and he fell helplessly to the ground again.
He soon realized why.
His glasses had been knocked away. He groped around on the ground like a blind man for quite a while before finally putting on the glasses, now reduced to a single lens and completely shattered.
"Senior, I found my glasses. I'll do it—I'll do it right away."
Flender took down the sign he'd made himself and, under Dugu Bo's coercion, smiled as he smashed it to pieces.
Then he put up a brand-new sign and carved the words "Swindler Academy" into it.
"C-Could that really be a legendary Titled Douluo?"
Tang San's mind was shaken.
He'd only stolen a quick glance at Dugu Bo, yet that chilly aura had already latched onto him, making his spine grow cold against his will.
"I never thought the academy recommended by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang would be a swindler academy..."
Wang Dong'er looked at Xiao Wu, whose face and lips had gone pale, and sighed helplessly. She leaned close and spoke softly.
"Sister Xiao Wu, you don't look too well. Are you really worried that Poison Douluo will hurt us?"
"You don't need to worry about that. He and I go way back."
Xiao Wu stared at Wang Dong'er in disbelief, her face growing even paler.
Wang Dong'er was close with this Poison Douluo... If her identity were accidentally exposed, she'd be captured at worst. But if Dugu Bo revealed her true identity to Wang Dong'er... the thought would leave her utterly suffocated, even more miserable than losing her life.
"R-Really?"
Xiao Wu tried asking. What if Wang Dong'er was bold enough to cozy up to a Titled Douluo?
Sigh.
She lamented inwardly, feeling completely out of her depth.
Wang Dong'er wasn't stupid, after all.
"Of course." Wang Dong'er nodded. "Poison Douluo is also Senior Dugu Yan's grandfather."
It was over. This time, it was truly over.
"Could Dugu Yan go tell Dugu Bo about me, her love rival...?"
Xiao Wu felt even more despairing. Beads of sweat kept appearing on her forehead, and the white fabric beneath her was soaked nearly transparent. Her shoes were like containers brimming with liquid... Bah, sweat.
Looking at Wang Dong'er's bright, sunny smile, Xiao Wu couldn't shake the feeling that Wang Dong'er knew she was a Soul Beast and had been using the Titled Douluo to frighten her all along.
Wang Dong'er was sighing inwardly too.
When would Xiao Wu finally be able to relax?
The Lovesick Heartbreak Red had fused with her perfectly, so there was no need to worry about her identity being exposed.
When would Xiao Wu finally come clean with her?
"Shrek is a swindler academy, Sister Xiao Wu. Come back to Heaven Dou City with me."
Wang Dong'er spoke with a serious expression.
"I won't feel at ease with you staying here. Come back to Heaven Dou City with me."
Tang San pricked up his ears and listened silently.
"This... This..."
Xiao Wu was torn.
She looked at the heartfelt sincerity in Wang Dong'er's eyes, conflicted, but finally made up her mind.
"Fine..."
"If you want me to stay with you, then I'll go with you."
"What about me?" Tang San couldn't hold back any longer. He stepped in front of them and asked, "Xiao Wu, didn't we agree to study at Shrek Academy? How can you suddenly change your mind?"
Before you continue