Tearing Off the Mask

Tearing Off the Mask

What else could Flender say after Ye Qingcang had put it that way?

When someone gave you face, you had better accept it.

Don't end up like Dugu Bo. Ye Qingcang clearly had the strength 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 by Ye Qingcang 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, who had wanted to speak, into silence. "The three conditions are reasonable. On behalf of every member of Shrek Academy, including the faculty and students, I accept them. Come to think of it, we were in the wrong for making things difficult for you. As the dean, I also bear considerable responsibility."

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

Even in Spirit Hall or the overseas island chains.

Everywhere under heaven, there was a rule acknowledged by all, as well as common sense: Titled Douluo could not be insulted; whoever insulted them would die!

Ye Qingcang had beaten Dugu Bo until he could not rise again. Even if Ye Qingcang was merely a level-forty Quasi Soul Grandmaster—after all, he had personally said he had yet to obtain his fourth soul ring—it did not stop everyone from regarding him as a Titled Douluo!

Using such despicable means to force an unparalleled genius comparable to a Titled Douluo to admit defeat... it would not have been excessive even if he had killed them. What were a few conditions by comparison?

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

Not only had Ye Qingcang taken a step back, but he had also helped them eliminate a future threat.

Even if it was only to give him face, Flender had to agree to those three conditions. It was courtesy returned in kind. Not to mention Liu Erlong's connection to him. Once he got settled, he could properly straighten Ma Hongjun out, then ask Liu Erlong to have Ye Qingcang guide Ma Hongjun. If their generation's relationship could be passed down to the next generation—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 one day, he could rest in peace.

Of course, that was only his fantasy.

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

Leaving everything else aside, just 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 deeply ashamed as a master. The phoenix's pride was common knowledge in the world of soul masters, just as dragons were inherently lustful. To gain a phoenix's recognition and successfully awaken one's ancestral bloodline, if one did not prove through actions that one would never go along with the filth, would never bow to anyone, and would never bow to anything, then why should a proud phoenix recognize a barnyard chicken with impure martial soul bloodline?

Venting was precisely a sign of submission!

Even having Ma Hongjun take cold baths whenever his evil fire erupted—even that lazy, opportunistic method—would have been better than finding girlfriends!

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!

That was indeed the case.

After seeing Ye Qingcang leave the Training Field with Violet, dragging Dugu Bo along like a dead dog toward the villa district near the forest behind it; after politely declining Liu Erlong, who forced a smile and insisted on showing them the way; after finding Blue Tyrant Academy's director of academic affairs and spending an entire afternoon getting settled under his guidance, Flender finally waited for Yu Xiaogang's pent-up outburst at the dinner table that night.

"Why did you agree to those three conditions?"

Yu Xiaogang's expression was as ugly as if a relative had died.

They had just ordered, the dishes had yet to arrive, and the bowls and chopsticks were still unopened as he stared coldly at the unruffled Flender.

Blue Tyrant Academy's procedures were very efficient.

By the time they arrived at their dormitories, all necessary items had already been prepared.

For teachers—faculty members—there were no mandatory clothing requirements, only that they dress cleanly, neatly, and appropriately. They received an identity badge engraved with their name and teaching title, which had to be pinned somewhere on their clothing during class, though the exact location was not specified. They also received a Tier 3 Soul Guidance Device, a Jade Seal Machine. There was nothing else.

As Blue Tyrant Academy put it, everything could be handled through the Jade Seal Machine.

For example, if someone wanted to eat, they did not need a meal card at the cafeteria. They only needed to take out the Jade Seal Machine and scan it. Once payment was confirmed, they could simply wait to collect their food.

It was extremely convenient.

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

First were the uniforms: gray or black shirts, white jackets, white leather shoes, and white straight-cut suit trousers. There were several tie colors to choose from. They received two sets each of summer uniforms and padded winter uniforms. The summer uniforms were unlined, while the winter uniforms had a layer of cashmere inside. Additional items were assigned according to the student's status.

For example, members of the Blue Tyrant Academy Demon Hunt Team received a platinum-colored trench coat, while Three Rankings Students had the right not to wear uniforms.

Second were the basic textbooks, weighing five or six jin.

If they wished to pursue further studies, the first and second floors of Blue Tyrant Academy's library were open to them unconditionally. Entering the third floor and above required academic credits.

Finally, there was a standard Jade Seal Machine.

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

The first grade was the lowest: a Tier 3 Soul Guidance Device.

The second grade offered the best value: a fifth-level Soul Tool.

The third grade was exceedingly rare: a Seventh Level Soul Tool.

The first Jade Seal Machine received by any faculty member or student was always a Tier 3 Soul Guidance Device. The latter two Soul Tools required authorization to purchase, and purchasing them also cost a large number of academic credits.

The reason the Shrek group was not eating at Blue Tyrant Academy's cafeteria was not because their Jade Seal Machines lacked credits. It was because Yu Xiaogang had something to say to Flender, and Flender knew Yu Xiaogang had something to say to him. That was why they had decided to eat at a restaurant outside.

Now, Yu Xiaogang finally had room to make trouble.

Naturally, he could not wait to question Flender.

As if he wanted to prove through this that he had done nothing wrong.

However, Flender knew Yu Xiaogang too well. Even if he did not know exactly what unpleasant words Yu Xiaogang would say, one look at his expression told him that Yu Xiaogang had been bottling up a bellyful of anger. Therefore, before choosing this well-reviewed restaurant, he had already prepared himself. He had also wanted to take 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 would also like to ask you, why shouldn't I have agreed to them?"

"Because those three conditions went 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 fiddling with and familiarizing themselves with their Jade Seal Machines, all sensed that something was wrong. Aside from 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 wanted to join Blue Tyrant Academy?"

"Because of you!" With one sentence, Flender pierced the paper Yu Xiaogang had used to cover his self-esteem. Picking up his chopsticks, he punctured the transparent plastic wrapping around the tableware, producing a grating 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 once I learned that Erlong was Blue Tyrant Academy's dean, I opposed it. Many of the things afterward were your own decisions, including bringing Erlong here. Without knowing the full circumstances, Erlong was used by you as a shield to shut Ye Qingcang up. Do you know how much of a rift that would create between mother and son?"

"Ye Qingcang is only an adopted son."

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

"There was already a rift between them."

"My actions did not create that rift!"

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

"I don't want to argue with you 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 was wrong!"

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

"I was considering the children's futures!"

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

"Those were all just coincidences!"

Yu Xiaogang sneered. He also punctured the transparent plastic wrapping with his chopsticks, slapped them onto the table, and spoke passionately, as though he represented justice. "Flender, you should be grateful to me. If I had not swallowed my pride and begged Erlong, Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others would never have passed the assessment. What angers me is that you actually agreed to those three conditions. You are personally destroying their futures and ruining the results of my efforts!"

"Enough, Yu Xiaogang!"

"Stop dressing yourself up in righteousness!"

"Grateful to you?"

"Can't you see whose fault this is?"

"You may seem to have helped Mubai, Zhu Qing, and Xiao Wu, who failed to qualify, but why not admit that you were also helping your disciple Tang San and yourself?"

"Blue Tyrant Academy's hiring requirement is soul masters with Soul Power Levels above forty. You are level twenty-nine. Counting downward, you are the first person who failed to qualify!"

Flender was furious too.

Evasion was one thing, but Yu Xiaogang was even trying to dump the blame on him?

He had rejected Yu Xiaogang's suggestion back on Flower Path!

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

Since Yu Xiaogang had not listened to him, why should the responsibility fall on him?

And Yu Xiaogang still dared to slam the table at him?

Flender slammed his hand on the table with a bang.

It was even louder than Yu Xiaogang's.

He had originally intended to save Yu Xiaogang some face, but Yu Xiaogang was just like Dugu Bo, a bastard who refused face when it was offered. "Don't think I don't know about that little scheme hidden in your heart. Stop using those three conditions as an excuse. You are just jealous of Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Path!"

"You aren't jealous?"

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

"Take your Shrek Academy and leave, then!"

Since things had reached this point, Yu Xiaogang no longer held anything back. He did not care at all about the contemptuous looks from Ning Rongrong, Xiao Wu, Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and the others. "You say what I have hidden in my heart is garbage. If you have the guts, swear on your life that you have no interest in Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Path!"

Flender was left speechless.

It was like having a mouthful of chocolate-flavored shit stuffed into his mouth.

Or perhaps a mouthful of shit-flavored chocolate.

He pointed at Yu Xiaogang several times, yet could not find a word to refute him.

Stellar Martial Path, after three ascensions and combined with a domain, allowed a Quasi Soul Grandmaster to defeat a Titled Douluo. Soul Guidance Technology, having mastered Alchemy, allowed a Soul Elder to eliminate the Royal Fight Team within thirty seconds. It would be a lie to say he was not tempted.

"But that doesn't mean you should shamelessly cling to him!"

"What do you think Ye Qingcang's three conditions were meant to guard against?"

"They were meant to guard against us!"

"To guard against people like you!"

"He is unwilling to teach Soul Guidance Technology and Stellar Martial Path to people like you!"

When it came to Liu Erlong, Flender, the shrewd merchant, had always been a man of principle. Perhaps every man, when facing the moonlight of his youth after so many years, wanted to show his best side. "A Titled Douluo has already shown you what happens to people without shame. If you want to take responsibility for Mubai, Zhu Qing, Xiao Wu, and the others' futures, I have nothing to say. But I am taking responsibility for their lives. Do you think Ye Qingcang's final two sentences—the ones that made Mubai and the others remain 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 his adopted son would dare defy Erlong, his adoptive mother!"

Those words not only made Flender laugh in anger, but even Ning Rongrong, merely watching the show, was angered into laughter.

You still knew Ye Qingcang was an adopted son?

You still knew Liu Erlong was his adoptive mother?

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

"Who are you calling shameless?"

Ning Rongrong dared to say what Flender did not.

Unlike Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Xiao Wu, and the others, who had gotten in through the back door, she had also entered through connections, but hers was special treatment 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 Party and Ye Qingcang.

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

Now that everything had been said openly and they clearly could not get along, this little witch who had once dared to point at Flender's nose and curse him was not about to hold back. "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 are nothing but a useless coward who only acts tough at home, a useless man whose Soul Power Level is lower than mine. If you have the guts, stop arguing with the dean and argue with Ye Qingcang instead. I'll make a forum post right now and call Ye Qingcang over to confront you face-to-face. Just see whether he kills you or not. Even if he leaves you with one breath, Senior Brother would not mind letting a level-twenty-nine Soul Grandmaster drown. What are you, that you think you deserve to sit at the same table and eat with me?"

Thanks to 20200404163613266 for the 100-point donation.

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