Leaving Shrek

Yu Xiaogang and Ye Xuan talked for quite some time. After Ye Xuan had asked about the things troubling him, Yu Xiaogang left.

After Yu Xiaogang had gone, Ye Xuan's expression turned solemn.

His dislike of me seems to stem from my battle with Tang Hao. He idolizes Tang Hao too much—even unwilling to accept that a young man like me could fight Tang Hao to a draw, Ye Xuan mused.

Yu Xiaogang had hidden too much from him. It was no longer possible for Ye Xuan to learn more about Martial Souls from him.

If he wanted to learn about Martial Souls, he would have to find another source.

Thinking of this, Ye Xuan wondered if it was time for him to consider leaving.

Yu Xiaogang went to find Tang San and asked him what had happened during their trip to the Star Dou Great Forest.

He also told Tang San about matters concerning the Soul Bone.

After hearing everything, Yu Xiaogang asked gravely, "Xiao San, how did that Ye Xuan end up here?"

"Him?" Tang San hadn't expected his teacher to ask him about Ye Xuan.

He gathered his thoughts, then recounted everything he knew to Yu Xiaogang.

After listening, Yu Xiaogang furrowed his brows. "So he met Zhu Zhuqing along the way and came here with her. Xiao San, do you think he's really a young man?"

Tang San shook his head, his expression grave. "I don't think so, but he's simply too strange to figure out. And now Xiao Wu seems to have taken quite a liking to him. I'm a little worried."

"It seems we can't let him stay here much longer," Yu Xiaogang said, each word deliberate.

"Teacher, you can't." Tang San hurriedly stopped him, then continued, "Ye Xuan is too powerful. If we offend him, it'll be far too dangerous for us."

Tang San had seen Ye Xuan fight the Titan Giant Ape. Although he hadn't seen how the battle ended, the Titan Giant Ape had indeed fled afterward. Ye Xuan's strength spoke for itself.

"Getting him to leave doesn't necessarily mean we have to offend him. Don't worry. I'll find a way," Yu Xiaogang said.

Hearing that, Tang San was delighted.

He hurriedly asked, "Teacher, you're not leaving this time?"

"Mm. From now on, I'll stay at Shrek Academy and teach you all." Yu Xiaogang nodded.

That night.

Ye Xuan went to Flender's study, bringing all the books he had borrowed earlier. He returned them to Flender and said, "Dean Flender, these are the books I borrowed before. I'm returning them to you now."

Ye Xuan placed the books on the desk. Flender stared at him in surprise and asked, "Young Master Ye, you've finished reading them?"

"Yes, I have." Ye Xuan nodded, then added, "I'll be leaving tomorrow. I hope I haven't caused any trouble for you during my time at Shrek Academy."

"Young Master Ye is leaving? Is there something our Shrek Academy has done wrong?" Flender asked cautiously.

"No." Ye Xuan shook his head and turned to leave.

After Ye Xuan left, Flender couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, but he couldn't figure out what it was.

The next day.

Before leaving, Ye Xuan went to where Zhu Zhuqing and the others had gathered to prepare for training.

"Zhuqing, come over. There's something I'd like to discuss with you in private," Ye Xuan said.

"All right, Brother Ye." Zhu Zhuqing didn't know what it was about, but she happily followed him.

Flender was about to introduce Yu Xiaogang to the students. Seeing that Ye Xuan needed to speak with Zhu Zhuqing, he paused the introduction and decided to continue after she returned.

The two of them went off to one side. Zhu Zhuqing asked curiously, "Brother Ye, what did you want to tell me?"

"I'm leaving Shrek Academy. You should study hard here. If anything happens, come find me at Spirit Hall," Ye Xuan said.

"Leaving? Brother Ye, why are you leaving?" Zhu Zhuqing asked, puzzled.

"I came here to learn more about Martial Souls. Now that I've learned most of what I need to know, it's only natural for me to leave. Spirit Hall should have plenty of research on Martial Souls, so I'm planning to go there," Ye Xuan said.

A conflicted look came over Zhu Zhuqing's face. She thought it over for a moment, then finally mustered her courage and said to Ye Xuan, "Brother Ye, I want to leave with you. Could you take me along?"

"Leave with me? I won't be able to teach you if you come with me," Ye Xuan reminded her.

"I can keep learning on my own," Zhu Zhuqing said firmly.

Ye Xuan looked at her and sensed a resolve in her unlike anything he had ever felt before.

"All right, then. I'll take you to tell Dean Flender."

Zhu Zhuqing had found the courage to do this. If he couldn't find it in himself to accept her courage, then he wouldn't deserve to challenge this world's underlying logic.

"Thank you, Brother Ye." As soon as Zhu Zhuqing saw that Ye Xuan had agreed, her face lit up with joy.

Ye Xuan led Zhu Zhuqing back to Flender and the others. He said to Flender, "Dean Flender, I'd like to take Zhuqing with me. Would that be all right?"

"No," Yu Xiaogang cut in before Flender could finish speaking.

"Hm?" Flender's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to react so strongly.

It made Flender wonder whether there was more to Ye Xuan's departure than met the eye.

Ye Xuan glanced at Yu Xiaogang. At that one look, Yu Xiaogang felt as though a sword had instantly pressed against his throat.

Flender sensed the tension and hurriedly interrupted. "Xiaogang, don't rush. Young Master Ye, why is that?"

Before Ye Xuan could speak, Zhu Zhuqing spoke up. "Dean, I'm the one who wants to leave with Brother Ye."

"Dean Flender, if Zhuqing wants to leave, there's no point in forcing her to stay. Don't you agree?" Ye Xuan said.

"If Zhuqing wants to leave of her own accord, there's no need for us to force her to stay. But she is still a student of Shrek Academy, so we'll keep her enrolled. That way, she'll still be considered a student of Shrek Academy in the future. What do you think, Young Master Ye?" Flender suggested.

"Zhuqing, what do you think?" Ye Xuan asked, looking at her.

Flender's words were clearly meant to show goodwill to Ye Xuan and his group. He hoped that Zhuqing's status at the academy would help maintain their relationship with Ye Xuan.

"As long as I can leave with Brother Ye, I don't mind staying enrolled," Zhu Zhuqing said.

She didn't care about such things in the first place. What mattered to her was going with Ye Xuan and getting away from Dai Mubai.

She didn't care much about anything else.

"Then it's settled. Zhuqing, go pack your things. We're leaving," Ye Xuan said.

"All right, Brother Ye." Zhu Zhuqing answered and quickly left.

After Zhu Zhuqing had gone, Ning Rongrong asked curiously, "Brother Ye, where are you going?"

At her words, Flender's heart tightened. He was truly afraid Ning Rongrong's next words would be that she wanted to go with Ye Xuan.

He had seen the potential of both Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong.

If such outstanding students all left Shrek Academy, it would be an enormous loss for the academy.