Tearing Off All Pretenses

Tearing Off All Pretenses

What else could he say when Ye Qingcang had put it that way?

Since someone had given you face, you'd better accept it.

Don't be like Dugu Bo, a cautionary example. Ye Qingcang clearly had the power to kill him and had politely given him three chances to leave, yet he still stubbornly stayed put. He even dared to attack Ye Qingcang, only to have every bone in his body dislocated in short order and be dragged away like a dead dog.

That was the consequence of refusing face when it was offered!

Compared to Dugu Bo's humiliating fate, Flender immediately found a sense of superiority!

The superiority of being respected!

He solemnly cupped his hands. His Soul Power-infused gaze intimidated Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others beside him into keeping their mouths shut. "The three conditions are perfectly reasonable. On behalf of every member of Shrek Academy, teachers and students alike, I accept them. Come to think of it, we were the ones in the wrong for putting you in such a difficult position. As the dean, I bear no small share of the blame and responsibility."

Whether in the Heaven Dou Empire or the Star Luo Empire.

Even in Spirit Hall, or on the overseas islands.

Everywhere under heaven recognized one rule, one piece of common sense: Titled Douluos must not be insulted. Those who insulted them would die!

Ye Qingcang had beaten Dugu Bo so thoroughly that he could not rise again. Even though Ye Qingcang was merely a level-forty Quasi Soul Ancestor, as he had personally said that he had yet to obtain his fourth soul ring, that did not stop everyone from treating him as a Titled Douluo!

Using such despicable means to force an unparalleled genius comparable to a Titled Douluo to concede... it would not have been excessive even if he had killed them all. What did a few conditions amount to?

Besides, with Dugu Bo captured, Xiao Wu was completely safe.

Not only had he taken a step back, but he had also resolved their worries for them.

Even if only to give him face, Flender had to agree to those three conditions. It was simple reciprocity. Not to mention Liu Erlong's connection to him. Once he was settled in, he could properly straighten out Ma Hongjun, then ask Liu Erlong to have Ye Qingcang give Ma Hongjun some guidance. If the relationship between their generation could be passed down to the next—if the bond between Ye Qingcang, Tang San, and Ma Hongjun could become as solid as theirs had once been—then even if he died someday, he would have no regrets.

Of course, that was only his fantasy.

There was still a long way to go before reaching that goal.

To say nothing else, take his disciple Ma Hongjun. Ye Qingcang's words had been harsh, but not a single one had been wrong. Thinking about it now, Flender was ashamed beyond measure as his master. A phoenix's pride was common knowledge in the Soul Master world, just as dragon nature was inherently lustful. If you wanted to earn a phoenix's recognition and successfully revert to your ancestral bloodline, why should a proud phoenix acknowledge you, a mongrel chicken with impure martial soul bloodline, unless you proved through your actions that you would never wallow in the mud, never submit to anyone, and never bow to anything?

Venting was precisely a sign of submission!

Even having Ma Hongjun take cold baths during an Evil Fire Outburst—a lazy, opportunistic method—would have been better than finding a girlfriend!

It was perfectly normal for Ye Qingcang to look down on Ma Hongjun!

And Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's side was even more troublesome!

As it turned out, that was indeed the case.

After seeing Ye Qingcang leave the training grounds with Violet, dragging Dugu Bo behind him like a dead dog toward the villa district near the forest beyond the grounds; after politely declining Liu Erlong's offer to lead the way despite her forced smile; after finding Blue Tyrant Academy's Dean of Studies and spending an entire afternoon getting settled under his guidance, Flender finally encountered Yu Xiaogang's pent-up outburst at the dinner table that evening.

"Why did you agree to those three conditions?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression was as ugly as if someone in his family had died.

They had just ordered, and before the food arrived or the bowls and chopsticks had even been unwrapped, he fixed Flender with a cold stare while Flender remained composed.

Blue Tyrant Academy's procedures were extremely efficient.

The moment they arrived at their dormitories, all necessary items had already been issued.

For teachers like them—that was, faculty—there were no compulsory requirements for clothing. They merely had to dress cleanly, neatly, and appropriately. Each received an identity badge engraved with their name and teaching title, which had to be worn on their clothes during class, though the exact placement was unrestricted. They also received a Rank Three Soul Tool Jade Seal Machine. That was all.

According to Blue Tyrant Academy, everything could be handled with a Jade Seal Machine.

For example, if you wanted to eat, you did not need a meal card at the cafeteria. You only needed to take out your Jade Seal Machine and scan it. Once payment was confirmed, you simply waited to collect your food.

It was extremely convenient.

Compared to faculty like them, students such as Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun received far more items.

First were the uniforms: gray or black shirts, white jackets, white leather shoes, and white straight-leg suit pants. The ties came in several colors to choose from. There were two sets each of regular and padded uniforms. The regular uniforms were unlined, while the padded ones had a layer of cashmere inside. Students received additional equipment according to their status.

For example, students of the Blue Tyrant Academy Demon Hunt Team received a white-and-gold windbreaker, while Three Rankings Students had the right not to wear uniforms.

Next came the basic textbooks, weighing five or six jin.

If they wished to pursue further studies, the first and second floors of the Blue Tyrant Academy library were open to them unconditionally. To enter the third floor and above, they needed to pay credits.

Finally, there was a standard Jade Seal Machine.

From what they had learned, Jade Seal Machines came in three tiers.

The first and lowest tier was a Rank Three Soul Tool.

The second offered the best value for money: a Rank Five Soul Tool.

The third was exceptionally rare: a Rank Seven Soul Tool.

The first Jade Seal Machine issued to any faculty member or student was always a Rank Three Soul Tool. The latter two kinds required authorization to purchase, and buying them also cost a large number of credits.

The Shrek group was not eating in Blue Tyrant Academy's cafeteria because they lacked credits on their Jade Seal Machines. Rather, Yu Xiaogang had things he wanted to say to Flender, and Flender knew Yu Xiaogang had things he wanted to say to him, so they chose to eat at a restaurant outside.

Now, Yu Xiaogang finally had room to make trouble.

Naturally, he could not wait to question Flender.

It seemed he wanted to prove himself right through this method.

However, Flender knew Yu Xiaogang too well. Even if he did not know what unpleasant words Yu Xiaogang would say, one look at his expression told him that Yu Xiaogang had been holding in a bellyful of anger. Thus, even before choosing this well-reviewed restaurant, he had prepared himself. He had also wanted to use this opportunity to lay everything out in the open.

Setting down his Jade Seal Machine, Flender straightened his back, his gaze gradually sharpening. "You ask why I agreed to those three conditions. I'd also like to ask you: why can't I agree to them?"

"Because those three conditions go against our original purpose in joining Blue Tyrant Academy..." Yu Xiaogang straightened his back as well. Zhao Wuji, Qin Ming, Ning Rongrong, Tang San, and the others, who had been examining and familiarizing themselves with their Jade Seal Machines, all sensed that something was wrong. Other than Shao Xin, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar, who had gone to the restroom, everyone turned their attention to the arguing Flender and Yu Xiaogang. "Flender, have you ever considered why we joined Blue Tyrant Academy?"

"Because of you!" With a single sentence, Flender pierced the thin paper Yu Xiaogang had used to cover his pride. He picked up his chopsticks and punctured the transparent plastic wrapping around the utensils, making a harsh sound. "Yu Xiaogang, get one thing straight: I never wanted to join Blue Tyrant Academy. I admit that I was the one who suggested going there, but after learning that Erlong was Blue Tyrant Academy's dean, I opposed it. Much of what came afterward was your own decision, including bringing Erlong here. Without knowing the full story, Erlong was used by you as a shield to shut that child Ye Qingcang up. Do you know how much estrangement that will create between mother and son?"

"Ye Qingcang is only an adopted son."

"Erlong is only Ye Qingcang's adoptive mother."

"There was already estrangement between them."

"My actions did not create that estrangement!"

Yu Xiaogang offered an argument that sounded reasonable but was actually nothing but twisted logic, then denied Flender's accusation. "As for your claim that I used Erlong, that is entirely your own interpretation. How was I supposed to know they were adoptive mother and son?"

"I don't want to argue about that!" Flender had had enough of Yu Xiaogang's evasions. "This is not about whether they are adoptive mother and son. Even if they were biological mother and son, what you did would still be wrong!"

"Whether it was wrong is not for you to decide!"

"I was thinking about the children's futures!"

"Believe it or not, I never intended to deliberately make things difficult for anyone!"

"Those were all just coincidences!"

Yu Xiaogang sneered. He used his chopsticks to puncture the transparent plastic wrapping as well, slammed them onto the table, and spoke passionately, as though he represented justice. "Flender, you should be thanking me. If I had not put aside my dignity to beg Erlong, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others would never have passed the assessment. What angers me is that you agreed to those three conditions. You are personally destroying their futures and ruining the results of my efforts!"

"Enough, Yu Xiaogang!"

"Don't make yourself sound so righteous!"

"Thank you?"

"Can't you see where the problem lies?"

"You may seem to have helped Mubai, Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the other unqualified ones, but why don't you admit that you were also helping your disciple Tang San and yourself?"

"Blue Tyrant Academy's hiring requirement is Soul Masters above level forty. At level twenty-nine, you're the first unqualified person from the bottom!"

Flender was angry too.

Evasion was one thing, but now he was throwing mud at Flender?

Flender had rejected Yu Xiaogang's proposal back on Flower Path!

But Yu Xiaogang had refused to listen and insisted on bringing Erlong here!

Since he would not listen, why should the responsibility fall on Flender?

And he dared slam the table at Flender?

Flender slammed his palm onto the table with a bang.

It was even louder than Yu Xiaogang's.

He had originally intended to preserve some of Yu Xiaogang's dignity, but Yu Xiaogang was just like Dugu Bo, a shameless bastard who refused face when it was offered. "Don't think I don't know what filthy little scheme you're hiding in your heart. Don't use those three conditions as an excuse. You're just jealous of Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Arts!"

"You aren't jealous?"

"If you aren't jealous, why did you tacitly approve?"

"Take your Shrek Academy and leave, then!"

Since things had reached this point, Yu Xiaogang spoke without reservation, utterly unconcerned by the contemptuous looks from Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and the others. "You call what I'm hiding filthy business? If you have the guts, swear on your life that you have no interest in Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Arts!"

Flender was completely choked up.

It was like having a mouthful of chocolate-flavored shit stuffed down his throat.

Or perhaps shit-flavored chocolate.

He pointed at Yu Xiaogang several times but could not find anything to say in rebuttal.

Stellar Martial Arts, after three evolutions and paired with a domain, could let a Quasi Soul Ancestor defeat a Titled Douluo against the odds. Soul Guidance Technology, with its mastery of alchemy, could let a Soul Elder eliminate the Royal Fight Team in thirty seconds. It would be a lie to say he was not tempted.

"But that doesn't mean we should shamelessly cling to them!"

"What do you think those three conditions Ye Qingcang proposed were meant to guard against?"

"They were meant to guard against us!"

"They were meant to guard against people like you!"

"They don't want to teach Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Arts to someone like you!"

Whenever Liu Erlong was involved, Flender, the shrewd businessman, always had principles. Perhaps every man, when facing the white moonlight of his youth years later, wanted to show his best side. "A Titled Douluo has already shown you the consequences of being shameless. If you want to take responsibility for Mubai, Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others' futures, I have nothing to say. But I'm taking responsibility for their lives. Do you think those final two sentences from Ye Qingcang—that warning to leave Mubai and the others permanently injured—were merely empty words?"

"That only proves how despicable and shameless he is!"

"It only proves that he has no shame!"

"It has nothing to do with me!"

Yu Xiaogang argued until his face was red. "Besides, I can go beg Erlong. I refuse to believe that an adopted son would dare defy his adoptive mother!"

Those words not only made Flender laugh in anger, they even made Ning Rongrong, who had merely been watching the show, laugh in anger.

So you knew Ye Qingcang was an adopted son?

So you knew Liu Erlong was his adoptive mother?

Why had you not thought about that when you used Liu Erlong to force Ye Qingcang to concede?

"Who are you calling shameless?"

Ning Rongrong dared say what Flender did not.

And unlike Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others who had entered through the back door, although she too had received special treatment, hers had been secured by her senior brother Xue Qinghe. If Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu remained silent because they had benefited from Yu Xiaogang, then she, Ning Rongrong, stood firmly with the Crown Prince's Faction and Ye Qingcang.

She had ignored Yu Xiaogang before for the sake of the bigger picture.

But now that everything had been laid bare, and they clearly could not coexist, the Little Witch who had once dared point at Flender's nose and curse him was not someone to be trifled with. "In my opinion, only a shameless person could say something so shameless. First you suspected me, then you suspected the dean and the others. Yu Xiaogang, you think far too highly of yourself. You're nothing but trash who only knows how to bully people at home, trash whose Soul Power level is lower than mine. If you have any guts, stop arguing with the dean and argue with Ye Qingcang. I'll make a post on the forum right now and call Ye Qingcang over to confront you face-to-face. Let's see whether he kills you when he gets here. Even if he leaves you with one breath, Senior Brother will not mind letting a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster drown. What are you, to deserve sitting at the same table as me?"

Thanks to 20200404163613266 for the 100-point donation.

Another four thousand words... I'll definitely split it up tomorrow.