Yu Xiaogang set down his teacup and stared at the unmistakable blond hair, then glanced at the hefty figure beside it.
Only then did he manage to recognize them.
"Oscar? Dai Mubai?"
Yu Xiaogang shot to his feet, his face full of shock and confusion.
"How did you end up looking like this?"
At the Grandmaster's question, the resentment in Dai Mubai's eyes deepened.
He dropped to his knees with a thud and began spinning a tearful tale.
"Grandmaster, Education Committee members!"
"We three brothers were getting familiar with the Academy when we heard someone insulting the Royal Academy."
"He said the Academy was nothing but a dump for trash, and that the Education Committee members were all useless."
"As members of the Royal Academy, we couldn't stand it, so we went over to reason with him. But he used his superior Soul Power to beat us!"
He spoke with such righteous indignation that he turned black into white.
The three members of the Education Committee heard this and were so angry their beards bristled. They flew into a rage on the spot.
What?
Someone dared to act so arrogantly on the grounds of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy!
"Outrageous!"
Meng Shenji slammed his palm down on the table. The fine redwood tea table cracked from the impact.
"Since that person isn't a student of the Royal Academy, then it must all be his fault!"
"He dares come to our Academy to run amok, and even dares lay hands on people! Does he think we three old bones are just for show?"
Yu Xiaogang was also deeply shocked, and then came boundless fury.
The Shrek Monsters he had brought up had finally transformed from pheasants into phoenixes and made it to Heaven Dou City.
Who dared bully his students like this?
This was practically shitting on Yu Xiaogang's head!
"Three Education Committee members, we absolutely can't let this matter go." Yu Xiaogang's face was stern, his attitude firm.
"Our Shrek students can't suffer this kind of grievance for nothing. We have to find that person and demand an explanation!"
Meng Shenji nodded repeatedly, voicing his full support.
After sending people to make inquiries, they soon learned that the young man who had beaten them had just been summoned by Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
At this news, the three Education Committee members snorted coldly, not backing down in the slightest.
They stormed off with Yu Xiaogang and the Shrek group, heading straight for the Crown Prince's East Palace.
Since the Crown Prince had summoned the man, they could have His Highness join them and teach the arrogant brat a proper lesson.
At the back of the group, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and the others exchanged glances.
They secretly congratulated themselves, already beginning to feel relieved.
With three Soul Douluo-level Education Committee members personally backing them, no matter how strong that brat was, he'd be in for a world of hurt today!
Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, and the other girls followed at the end of the group, filled with curiosity.
Who was so domineering that he dared act so recklessly at the Heaven Dou Royal Academy, beating Dai Mubai and the others until they looked like this?
Meanwhile, at a secluded retreat in the back hills of the Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
Dugu Yan ran through the bamboo grove and returned to the courtyard where her grandfather, Dugu Bo, lived.
The moment she entered the courtyard, she pouted in grievance, her eyes faintly reddening.
"Grandpa!"
Dugu Yan rushed forward and threw her arms around Dugu Bo, who was busy fiddling with medicinal herbs.
A faint blush still lingered on her fair cheeks.
She recounted in detail what had happened earlier on the tree-lined path at the Academy.
She especially emphasized how she had almost been harassed by a few hooligans who called themselves Shrek.
When Dugu Bo heard this, his beard and hair bristled. His eyes widened, and he flew into a rage on the spot.
"Who would dare?"
"They even dare lay a hand on my precious granddaughter? They must be tired of living!"
Old Poison had always been fiercely protective of his own. Green poison gas began seeping uncontrollably from his body, and a large patch of flowers and grass withered instantly.
Dugu Yan hurriedly tugged at Dugu Bo's sleeve and gave it a gentle shake.
Her voice softened, taking on a tender, coquettish note.
"Grandpa, don't be angry yet. Someone came to my rescue later."
Qin Feng's handsome, composed face appeared in her mind, along with the domineering way he had sent those two flying with a single blow.
Dugu Yan's cheeks reddened further. She lowered her head and stared at her toes.
Her bashful, girlish demeanor left Dugu Bo utterly bewildered.
The old man had lived long enough to recognize the lovestruck look on his granddaughter's face.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
"Who was the young man who saved you?"
Dugu Yan gently tugged at Dugu Bo's arm and turned on the charm.
"Grandpa, I don't know his name either. He didn't look like someone from the Academy."
"Could you look into his background for me? He hurt those hooligans to save me, and I'm worried they'll gang up on him."
Dugu Bo looked at his granddaughter and sighed, completely at a loss.
How was this worry that he might get bullied? She had clearly fallen head over heels for the man and didn't want him to suffer the slightest grievance.
His own fresh, tender cabbage had probably fallen for that mysterious young man.
Still, Dugu Bo was curious too.
Who had the guts to bully his precious granddaughter?
And who was this blond brat who had managed to win his granddaughter's heart so quickly with just one move?
"All right, all right. Stop shaking me. You're going to rattle all the bones out of my body."
Dugu Bo affectionately patted Dugu Yan's hair.
"Grandpa will go find out who this young man is and see what makes him so charming."
The Heaven Dou Empire, the Crown Prince's East Palace.
Qin Feng followed a servant through the magnificent hall at an easy, unhurried pace.
As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Xue Qinghe, dressed in a splendid brocade robe, standing before a broad writing desk.
When Xue Qinghe, who was Qian Renxue in disguise, turned around and looked at Qin Feng, a dazzling light flashed through her eyes.
The young man before her was almost too handsome.
He stood straight as a pine, and even his casual posture carried an indescribable air of distinction.
What startled her even more was the faint, irresistible allure that seemed to emanate from Qin Feng.
A resonance from deep within her bloodline made the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul inside her want to draw close to him.
Remembering the words her grandfather, Qian Daoliu, had specifically emphasized in his letter, Qian Renxue's heartbeat quickened despite herself.
Even the face she wore as a man flushed an unnatural red.
"You're Qin Feng?"
Qian Renxue gave a light cough, hiding the turmoil inside her and trying to keep her voice steady and authoritative.
Qin Feng looked at Xue Qinghe's masculine face and bashful expression.
"Ahem!"
Qin Feng waved his hand, pulled out a chair without so much as asking, and sat down with one leg crossed over the other.
"Miss Qian, can't we talk with you looking like yourself?"
"You've got a man's face on, but you're making that kind of expression. Honestly, it's a little nauseating to look at."