Flender

Biodata

Feature	Value
Name	Flender (弗兰德)
Alias(es)	Four-Eyed Owl 20
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Shrek Academy, outside Soto City 23 24
Occupation/Role	Headmaster; oversees admissions and delegates practical combat instruction 24 26
Soul Power	Rank 78 Soul Sage 24
Status	Alive; defending Shrek Academy against Spirit Hall’s arrest demands 50
First Appearance	Chapter 20, through his invitation letter; first appears in person in Chapter 23 20 23

Background / History

Shrek Academy and Chen Xuan’s Recruitment

Flender states that he has run Shrek Academy for twenty years and describes himself as a headmaster who “came from bandits.” His admissions philosophy is deliberately unconventional: Shrek accepts “monsters,” meaning talents that cannot be explained by common sense 24.

After receiving reports about Chen Xuan’s five-stone martial soul and unusual arsenal, Flender sends him an invitation to Shrek. When Chen Xuan withstands Li Yusong’s attack during registration, Flender emerges from a nearby tree and takes him aside for a personal assessment 20 23 24.

In his office, Flender probes the Flame Bow with his soul power. The attempt burns his palm and reveals that the weapon lacks the circulation pathways of a conventional martial soul. Despite this unexplained origin, he rejects Yu Xiaogang’s demand to exclude Chen Xuan. He allows Chen Xuan to proceed directly to the fourth entrance test, but insists that the final assessment under Zhao Wuji cannot be skipped 24 25.

The Free-Agent Dispute

Flender places practical combat instruction under Yu Xiaogang, initially telling the students that the Grandmaster’s orders carry his own authority. Nevertheless, he approves Chen Xuan’s request to fight as an independent “free agent,” outside Tang San’s control chain and without relying on teammates’ support abilities 26.

When Yu Xiaogang later asks to bar Chen Xuan from official team battles, Flender acknowledges the coordination risks but refuses. He considers Chen Xuan’s demonstrated strength sufficient reason to let him compete and explicitly accepts responsibility if the gamble fails 28.

Star Dou Great Forest

Flender announces the forest expedition after Oscar reaches rank thirty. When the Titan Giant Ape approaches, he orders an eastward retreat, grabs Yu Xiaogang, and pulls Oscar backward from danger. After Xiao Wu is taken, he rebukes Yu Xiaogang for reciting theories instead of addressing the emergency 29 30 31.

When Tang San flies after the ape, Flender pursues him while leaving Zhao Wuji to protect the remaining students. He later reaches Tang San during his dangerous soul-ring absorption and resists interrupting it because doing so would kill him 32 34 35.

Following the expedition, Flender gives the exhausted academy three days off and invites Zhao Wuji to drink with him to recover from the ordeal 37.

Tang San’s Mutation and Spirit Hall

Flender responds to Tang San’s mutated Blue Silver Grass with alarm, approaching ready to intervene. He also catches Yu Xiaogang when the Grandmaster nearly loses his footing during the confrontation over Tang San’s condition 42.

After the group returns from the Light-Shadow Altar, Flender faces Spirit Hall inquisitors at Shrek’s gates. He challenges their authority and demands evidence for their accusations against Tang San and Xiao Wu. The detector’s apparent confirmation of Xiao Wu’s hundred-thousand-year beast identity visibly shakes him; after the inquisitors withdraw, he collapses in relief 47 48.

During Spirit Hall’s subsequent arrest attempt, Flender refuses to surrender anyone without a warrant. Although he fears the institution’s retaliation more than the immediate opponents, he holds his ground. Once the students rally against the inquisitors, he expresses relief and pride in their support 50.

Appearance

• Face: Long, horse-like face with a sharply pointed chin and small, gleaming eyes 23.
• Glasses: Black-framed crystal glasses, which he frequently pushes up while assessing others 23 24 28.
• Clothing: Faded gray robe at his first in-person appearance 23.
• Other features: Chin stubble and yellow teeth 24 26.

Personality

Flender values demonstrated combat ability over theoretical conformity. He does not require Chen Xuan’s powers to fit the established martial soul system before recognizing his potential, and he treats unpredictability as something opponents may struggle to counter rather than solely as a liability 24 28.

His tolerance for unconventional talent does not eliminate institutional boundaries. He insists on the final entrance examination, reserves admissions decisions for himself, and initially gives Yu Xiaogang broad authority over training. His exceptions for Chen Xuan are deliberate decisions, not an abandonment of academy rules 24 26.

He has a blunt, mischievous manner: his recruitment letter insults Nuoding Academy, and he gleefully warns Chen Xuan that Zhao Wuji’s gambling losses have left him in a terrible mood. Among local people, he has a reputation as a miser; this is reported gossip rather than an established account of every financial decision he makes 20 21 24.

In emergencies, Flender prioritizes practical protection over argument. He divides responsibilities during Tang San’s pursuit of Xiao Wu and later stands against Spirit Hall despite understanding the danger to the entire academy 32 50.

Abilities & Skills

Soul Sage Power

• Possesses rank-seventy-eight soul power 24.
• Releases pressure strong enough to force Tang San backward into an office doorframe 24.
• Cracks a solid wooden desktop with a palm strike while stopping an escalating confrontation 24.
• Remains unable to overcome the Titan Giant Ape’s overwhelming threat during the forest encounter 31.

Flight

• Takes flight to pursue Tang San through the forest 32.
• Arrives at Tang San’s location carrying Yu Xiaogang 34.

Power Assessment

• Uses injected soul power to investigate a weapon’s structure and circulation pathways 24.
• Identifies the Flame Bow’s pure elemental energy as outside the conventional martial soul system 24.
• Cannot safely penetrate the bow’s energy: it rejects his soul power and burns his hand 24.

Equipment / Items

• Black-framed crystal glasses — His most recognizable accessory 23 24.
• Smoking pipe — Carries it during Tang San’s mutation crisis and his confrontations with Spirit Hall; points it at Yan Feng while demanding evidence 42 48 50.
• Academy ledgers — Personally calculates Shrek’s daily expenses 28.

Relationships

• Chen Xuan — Recruits and assesses him, protects his opportunity to enroll, and authorizes his independent combat role despite Yu Xiaogang’s objections 20 24 26 28.
• Yu Xiaogang — Longtime friend and former sworn brother; serves as Shrek’s honorary adviser and practical combat instructor. Flender challenges his exclusionary judgments but supports him during his crisis of confidence 20 24 26 31 42.
• Zhao Wuji — Vice headmaster and fellow protector of the students. They divide duties during the forest emergency and seek a drink together afterward 24 32 37.
• Tang San — Student whom he pursues into danger, watches through a potentially fatal absorption, and refuses to surrender to Spirit Hall without a warrant 32 35 50.
• Xiao Wu — Student whose abduction prompts emergency action. He later challenges Spirit Hall’s evidence and its grounds for treating her as a threat 31 48.

Notable Quotes

“What is a monster? Something that cannot be explained by common sense—that is a monster!” 24

“I'm gambling with my academy. If I win, Shrek produces a monster among monsters. If I lose, I'll own it.” 28

“No one from our academy is leaving without a warrant.” 50