After Spirit Hall's carriage disappeared at the end of the official road in the southern outskirts of Suotuo City, Shrek's entrance remained quiet for quite a while.
Flender stood in the doorway, watching the dust raised along the dirt road gradually settle before slowly turning back into the academy.
Zhao Wuji followed behind him. The two entered the office, closed the door, and spoke in low voices for nearly half an hour before emerging.
Nothing unusual showed on their faces when they came out. Flender merely arranged for the afternoon training to proceed as usual, his tone steady.
Everyone on the training ground had already returned to their routines.
Ma Hongjun was sparring with Wang Hao, flames crashing against a turtle shell with loud bangs.
Oscar sat on the stone steps seasoning Recovery Sausages while Ning Rongrong stood beside him and said disdainfully, "You put in too much sugar."
Dai Mubai practiced his punches against a wooden post alone, every strike carrying solid force.
Yun Tian and Tang San sparred in an open space at the edge of the training ground.
Tang San's Blue Silver Grass had condensed into threadlike strands, carving several sharp paths through the air as it tried to entangle Yun Tian's right arm.
Yun Tian dodged twice. When he was caught the third time, he exerted a little force and broke free. Then the two stopped to catch their breath.
"Brother Yun," Tang San said, retracting his Blue Silver Grass and lowering his voice to an extremely low murmur, "did you notice anything about that Shen Yi?"
"He looked at Xiao Wu for half a breath longer than he looked at anyone else," Yun Tian replied in the same hushed voice.
"Though he did not say anything when he left, that pause was not right. Xiao