Xiao Wu saw those words, and her face turned as pale as paper.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast who had taken human form, she was especially sensitive to the way Soul Beasts were treated.
If Tang San really was the kind of person who treated Soul Beasts like blades of grass, yet still insisted on putting up a righteous front, then what did all those years she had spent by his side mean?
Qin Feng's messages kept coming, pounding on everyone's hearts like a rapid-fire barrage.
[Douluo People Don't Deceive Douluo People]: "And then there's the way he treats people."
"If someone so much as accidentally took an ordinary piece of iron from him, he could hold a grudge for the rest of his life. The moment he found an opening, he'd use a Hidden Weapon to take care of them, determined to kill them."
"But when he stole the finest Immortal Herbs from the Dugu Family and took over their Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well, he called it making the best use of everything and said one mustn't let Heaven's gifts go to waste!"
"He lets himself rob and kill, but won't allow anyone else to take even a needle or a thread from him."
"When he sees someone from Spirit Hall, he doesn't bother to learn the facts. He just decides they're evil heretics who must all be wiped out. Does he even look at those Hidden Weapons coated in deadly poison in his own hands and ask himself how any of them deserve to be called upright and aboveboard?"
"Someone so selfish and hypocritical, with a mouth full of benevolence and morality and a belly full of lechery—you actually think he's an honest man?"
The Chat Group fell completely silent.
Everyone was stunned by this relentless barrage.
Qian Renxue took a deep breath. A few more traces of sincere awe appeared in her eyes as she looked at Qin Feng.
"This Tang San is a complete and utter hypocrite!"
Qin Feng leaned back in his armchair, still looking perfectly relaxed.
"A hypocrite isn't frightening. What's frightening is that he truly thinks he's the most righteous person in the world. He treats everyone who obeys him as a tool and brands everyone who opposes him as evil."
Outside Sunset Forest.
Xiao Wu's hand suddenly went slack.
With a thud, the water jug hit the ground, and clear water mixed with mud splashed everywhere.
She lowered her head and looked at Tang San, unconscious and covered in purple bruises.
His usual gentle smiles and the vows of eternal love he had made to her kept replaying in her mind.
He thought it was only right to steal secret manuals.
He thought it was only right to seize other people's treasures.
And when it came to Soul Beasts, he wore two completely different faces.
Each offense struck her heart like a hammer weighing ten thousand jun.
Tears spun uncontrollably in her eyes.
So the Third Brother she had always depended on and trusted was actually such a double-standard monster, horrifying enough to make her scalp crawl.
At the foot of the mountain below Heaven Dou Royal Academy.
The night was dark, and a cold wind swept past the bare tree trunks, howling.
The group from Shrek Academy made their way down the winding mountain road. Every face was etched with humiliation and dejection.
At the head of the group, Flender trudged along with his head bowed, his eyes red.
The academy he had once been so proud of had fallen apart just like that. He had thought he could find the children a good place to go, only for them to be driven out like beggars.
In the middle of the group, Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun leaned on each other for support.
Their faces were frighteningly pale, and thick bandages covered their bodies. The slightest movement made them grimace in pain.
Tang San, walking behind them, was in no better shape.
Dugu Bo had just kicked him flying on the mountain. Though he had been lucky enough to survive, his internal organs were still churning.
The atmosphere among the group had grown unbearably oppressive.
"Damn it, those bastards from Heaven Dou Royal Academy!"
Dai Mubai couldn't swallow his anger. He stopped and cursed furiously.
His outburst aggravated the wound in his chest, and he immediately broke into a violent coughing fit, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Ma Hongjun chimed in, his eyes full of venom.
"Exactly! What kind of nobles are they? What's so impressive about using their power to bully us? One day, I'll roast every last one of them!"
Zhao Wuji irritably raked a hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh.
"Enough, enough. Keep it down, all of you. We don't even have a place to stay now. What good does all this pointless talk do?"
Yu Xiaogang stopped with his hands behind his back, his face stern.
Usually so self-important and aloof, he looked thoroughly disheveled now.
Still, he forced himself to maintain the air of a Grandmaster, cleared his throat, and spoke.
"Flender, there is always a way forward."
"I've thought it over carefully. Heaven Dou City has more than just this one advanced Soul Master academy."
"There's a place called Blue Tyrant Academy. It only takes in commoner Soul Masters, and it has an excellent reputation. With the talent of our children from Shrek, they'll certainly shine there."
Flender's eyes brightened a little when he heard this.
They really were at the end of their rope, and any place that would take them in was welcome. He immediately nodded in agreement.
Besides, they knew someone at Blue Tyrant Academy.
At the back of the group, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing deliberately kept their distance from the others.
Xiao Wu clutched the edge of her clothes, her palms slick with cold sweat.
She stared at the slender figure of Yu Xiaogang up ahead, then glanced at Tang San beside him, whose face was twisted with feigned grief and indignation.
The group owner's words from earlier kept echoing wildly in her mind.
The jarring disconnect made her feel as though she could hardly breathe.
Ning Rongrong noticed something was wrong with Xiao Wu and gently tugged at her sleeve.
"Xiao Wu, what's wrong? You look so pale."
Xiao Wu didn't answer. She only summoned the Chat Group's virtual screen with trembling hands.
Just then, the group owner's flashing nickname popped up with another new message.
[Douluo People Don't Deceive Douluo People]: "The people from Shrek should have been kicked out of Heaven Dou Royal Academy by now."
"If I'm not mistaken, Yu Xiaogang, the so-called Grandmaster, has already suggested taking them to Blue Tyrant Academy."
The moment this message appeared, the three girls at the back of the group all sucked in a sharp breath.
Zhu Zhuqing's clear eyes flew wide open, and she stopped in her tracks.
Ning Rongrong was so shocked she covered her little mouth, her heart pounding wildly.
Every word was right!
Not a single pointless detail—the events had unfolded exactly as the group owner had predicted!
Xiao Wu cupped the virtual screen in both hands, her breathing growing terribly fast.
She gritted her teeth and tapped out a message with flying fingers.
[Bunny Eats Radish]: "Y-How did you know? Do you have any proof?"
Heaven Dou City, the East Palace.
Qin Feng read Xiao Wu's message in the group and leaned back in his armchair with a scoff.
He set down his teacup, and with a thought, continued typing in the group.
[Douluo People Don't Deceive Douluo People]: "There's nothing wrong with going to Blue Tyrant Academy in itself. The problem is that Yu Xiaogang's real motive is disgusting."
"On the surface, he's pretending to look for a good place for his students. In reality, he already knows all about Blue Tyrant Academy."
"He isn't going there to study or teach. He's taking this band of defeated stragglers there to live off a woman. Even more disgusting, he intends to seize the academy she worked so hard to build!"
[Pope]: "Live off a woman? Seize the academy? Has that useless Yu Xiaogang really fallen so low?"