Settling Accounts with Ma Xiaotao

"Old man, I've felt your sincerity, but this matter can't be brushed aside so easily!"

Mu En frowned at those words.

"An apology alone indeed isn't enough to show sincerity. I can make the decision to offer some compensation. If there are any resources you need, name them as soon as possible. So long as Shrek Academy can obtain them, we certainly won't be stingy!"

A promise made in Shrek Academy's name was enough to tempt any faction on the continent.

Even some of the attendants present who were utterly loyal to the Sun-Moon Imperial Family felt that Mu En had shown ample sincerity.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, Xu Tianming shook his head.

"Old man, this isn't merely Shrek Academy's business. I don't need to spell out this guy's identity, do I? If he were just some ordinary person without any background, letting the matter end here would be fine. But he happens to be an heir of the White Tiger Duke's Estate in the Star Luo Empire! He committed such an act in the capital of my Sun Moon Empire. Old man, can you guarantee that the Star Luo Empire didn't authorize this from behind the scenes?"

Mu En dearly wanted to give that guarantee.

But the words reached his lips before he swallowed them back down.

That was because the matter had already escalated into a dispute between nations. Whenever Shrek Academy encountered similar situations in the past, it had always stayed aloof and kept itself apart from worldly affairs.

After all, Shrek Academy had always maintained a neutral stance. Rashly involving itself in disputes between nations would only bring endless trouble upon the academy, betraying the original purpose behind its founding.

Seeing Mu En's dilemma, Xu Tianming continued.

"Since you can't guarantee it, then this guy will remain detained in the Sun Moon Empire for now. When the Star Luo Empire gives the Sun Moon Empire a satisfactory explanation, that's when he'll be released."

Mu En felt utterly stifled at that moment.

With his strength, if he wanted to forcibly take Dai Yueheng, Zhang Lexuan, and Xu Tianming away, no one present could stop him.

But he was not alone.

For Shrek Academy's sake, he could only remain rational.

"Fine. Then we'll wait for people from the Star Luo Empire to come... However, I hope you can treat him a little better during this time, considering that the compensation I offered is fairly generous. How about it?"

Xu Tianming had already vented his anger, so there was no harm in agreeing to Mu En's request.

"Easy enough, easy enough."

Just as Xu Tianming signaled Zhang Lexuan to lead the man away, Mu En, believing that the matter had finally been settled, had only just breathed a sigh of relief.

Seeing this, Xu Tianming grinned.

"Old man, don't tell me you thought we were done talking?"

"There's more?"

"Of course... But there's only one final matter left. So long as you can give me a satisfactory explanation for this final matter as well, we can happily discuss everything else."

Mu En had already settled the first two troublesome matters, so he naturally did not mind dealing with one last issue. He promptly nodded.

"Go on, brat. I'm listening."

Xu Tianming pointed at Ma Xiaotao, who remained unconscious beside Mu En.

"This final matter concerns this student beside you!"

Mu En's brows furrowed tightly once more.

By the time he arrived at the prince's estate, the battle between Ma Xiaotao and Xu Tianming had nearly reached its conclusion. He had no idea what had led to it all. He had originally assumed it was merely a spar between youngsters, but there was clearly more to the matter.

"Xiaotao needs to remain asleep and can't wake up right now. Do you still have a recording soul tool?"

Mu En's words made it clear that he would only acknowledge real footage and would not believe one-sided claims.

Xu Tianming had indeed arranged a recording soul tool in the prince's estate beforehand. However, the battle with Ma Xiaotao had been too intense, and it had accidentally been damaged. Repairing it would take at least two or three days.

Still, it did not matter even without the recording soul tool. Xu Tianming had another card to play.

"The recording tool is broken and can't be used for now, but I have a way to wake this woman and keep her conscious for the time being—long enough for her to explain everything clearly. Old man, do you dare let me try?"

It was a typical provocation, but Mu En did not take it seriously.

"Why wouldn't I? No one in this world has yet been born who can play petty tricks right in front of me without my noticing. Go ahead and try. If there's a problem, I'll naturally intervene to stop you."

Once Mu En nodded, Xu Tianming wasted no words. He immediately approached Ma Xiaotao and placed a hand upon her chest, while also communicating with Mavuika within his spiritual sea.

"Now! Mavuika, how long can your power keep her awake again?"

"As long as you want. But if you want her to remain awake for a long time, my power will need to be continuously expended until the evil fire in her body has been completely purified by my power."

"There's no need for that. Keeping her awake for around a quarter of an hour will be enough. As for what happens afterward, that will depend on Shrek Academy's performance."

Hearing Xu Tianming's request, Mavuika immediately nodded in understanding. She then directly released her power through Xu Tianming's arm, pouring it into Ma Xiaotao's body.

Seeing this, Mu En subconsciously narrowed his eyes and pondered in secret.

What kind of power is this? It feels both destructively violent and infused with an indescribable sacred aura...

Before Mu En could figure out what this power was, Ma Xiaotao, who had been unconscious, opened her eyes. She stared at the blurry scene before her in confusion.

"Wasn't I... controlled by the evil fire?"

"Elder Mu... Right, I saw Elder Mu earlier!"

"He seemed to say that once I woke up, everything would get better..."

Seeing her like this, Xu Tianming simply interrupted her daze.

"Stop spacing out. My power can't keep you awake for long. Before you lose control again, take this chance to tell the old man exactly why you infiltrated the prince's estate. And why did you suddenly try to assassinate me?"

At the sound of his voice, an inexplicable rage immediately surged in Ma Xiaotao's heart. But before she could explode, Mu En's timely voice suppressed her.

"Xiaotao, listen to him first. Tell us the entire sequence of events, and don't leave out a single word!"

No matter how hot-tempered Ma Xiaotao was, she absolutely did not dare throw a tantrum before Mu En.

Thus, after hearing Mu En's command, she instantly switched into an obedient girl and fully explained why she had infiltrated the prince's estate.

Hearing that Ma Xiaotao had come to rescue Dai Yueheng, Mu En breathed a sigh of relief. If that was the only reason, then the matter would be easy to resolve.

But Xu Tianming let out a cold laugh.

"Heh, what a convenient way of glossing over the important parts! You only explained why you infiltrated the place. Why don't you explain how you were able to get in? Those maids who disappeared from my prince's estate a few days ago—where did you take them?"