Conflicting Educational Philosophies

After the four finished eating and left the buffet restaurant, they saw a familiar figure seated at a table outside a restaurant not far away.

Xie Yue asked in confusion, "Wasn't Ning Rongrong still running laps? How did she end up in the city having a meal?"

Hu Liena chuckled softly. "The little princess of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect was hungry, so of course she came out to find something to eat."

Unlike the two of them, whose attention was fixed on Ning Rongrong, Huo Yuhao was looking toward a rooftop not far behind them.

Following Huo Yuhao's gaze, Tang Wulin turned and looked at the person standing on the roof. Seeing this, Flender immediately gave Huo Yuhao and Tang Wulin a slight nod, and the two returned the gesture with slight nods of their own.

That evening, everyone gathered once more at Shrek Square.

Flender questioned Oscar about whether he and Ning Rongrong had completed their lap-running task, only to receive Oscar's well-meaning lie in response.

As Flender and Ning Rongrong began arguing, Huo Yuhao, standing at the edge of the platform, suddenly interjected:

"Dean Flender, I understand that you want to cure the little witch of her princess syndrome, but I don't think using lap-running to pressure people is a reasonable educational method either."

Huo Yuhao's words offended both of them at once, and both immediately felt unconvinced.

Ning Rongrong shouted angrily, "I'm not a little witch!"

Flender raised an eyebrow. "This is Shrek Academy. My educational methods are the rules."

Huo Yuhao rubbed his forehead helplessly. He truly did not want to stay at this damn academy for even a moment longer.

He forced out a smile and said calmly, "Both of you, calm down first. Hear me out."

Huo Yuhao first turned his gaze toward Ning Rongrong. "There's nothing wrong with a little princess having princess syndrome, but this isn't your Household. Other people won't indulge you."

"I know you want to stay at Shrek Academy and make a group of good friends. But if you're too willful, no one will like you. So I think you should rein in that little temper of yours."

Oscar nodded along and said, "Rongrong, what I like is the obedient, adorable version of you when we first met, not the little witch who throws tantrums whenever things don't go her way."

Ning Rongrong clenched her fists, and her anger still lingered. But as she carefully considered and reflected on Huo Yuhao's and Oscar's words, she eventually calmed down. In order to become true friends with everyone, she gradually began restraining her temper.

Everyone saw her nod slightly. "All right. I'll slowly change."

Seeing that Ning Rongrong's matter had been settled, Huo Yuhao turned his gaze toward Flender.

"Dean Flender, don't forget that the little princess has companions to protect her too. She doesn't necessarily need to run laps to improve her physical condition, does she? I believe actual combat is what improves their combat ability."

Flender gave a cold laugh. "She'll definitely be the first one targeted on the battlefield. What if the others are too busy to look after her safety? Improving her physical condition through running laps is the proper way."

Huo Yuhao shook his head. "If that's how you see it, then what use is improving physical condition? If a Titled Douluo wants to kill you, will having better physical condition make you impossible to kill?"

Flender was immediately left speechless by Huo Yuhao's question.

Huo Yuhao's gaze was cool and clear. "Only through actual combat can one improve combat instincts and fighting ability. Accumulating real combat experience is what enhances one's ability to adapt."

Flender's face twitched. "If that's the case, then tonight, I'll have the children engage in actual combat at the Great Soul Arena."

He then looked at Ning Rongrong. "I'd like to see whether adaptability is more important, or physical condition."

Huo Yuhao smiled, secretly laughing to himself.

Of course clinging to a powerful ally is more important. Without protagonist plot armor, wouldn't you still end up as cannon fodder even after training your physical condition? You might as well just latch onto the protagonist. That's far more practical.

On the way there, Flender explained the Great Soul Arena's origins and purpose to everyone. Dai Mubai introduced the tournament format and structure.

Meanwhile, Huo Yuhao arranged everyone into teams for the two-versus-two matches:

Moon Fox Duo—Xie Yue, Hu Liena;

Seven Treasures Spirit Cat Duo—Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing;

Sausage White Tiger Duo—Oscar, Dai Mubai.

Xie Yue, Hu Liena, and Zhu Zhuqing each first participated in an individual match. After easily crushing their opponents, they began their team battles.

Xie Yue and Hu Liena felt no pressure even when facing a five-ring Soul King duo. They used only two moves—Charm and Moon Blade—to easily defeat their opponents.

From the spectator stands, Flender watched Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing work together and secretly shook his head. Ning Rongrong really did find herself a good teammate.

Then another thought struck him. These little monsters may each have their flaws, but their character is ultimately good. With a team like this, helping one another and cooperating so seamlessly, all the effort I've spent building and running Shrek Academy in this life has not been in vain.

Suddenly, a staff member shouted nearby, "Who placed bets on the Moon Fox Duo, Seven Treasures Spirit Cat Duo, and Sausage White Tiger Duo? You can come collect your winnings now!"

Flender's eyes immediately gleamed. "Mine, mine! They're all mine! I placed those bets!"

Looking at his betting rewards from the individual and team matches, Flender could not stop the corners of his mouth from rising.

I'm rich!

Not far away, Huo Yuhao lightly waved the folding fan in his hand. Seeing Flender's money-grubbing expression, he shook his head helplessly.

"It's only human nature. It can't be helped."

Tang Wulin, standing beside Huo Yuhao, curled his lip. "A profiteer's true nature really is being obsessed with money."

After everyone finished their matches, they left the Soto Great Soul Arena together. Standing at the entrance, Ma Hongjun raised an eyebrow and said to Dai Mubai:

"Boss Dai, are we going to that place together today too?"

Dai Mubai glanced at Zhu Zhuqing. "I'm not going to that kind of place."

Ma Hongjun looked disdainful. "Oh? Have you changed your ways? Now that's rare."

"Boring."

Zhu Zhuqing rolled her eyes and immediately turned to leave.

Dai Mubai hurried after her. "Zhuqing, it's not what you think."

Hu Liena covered her mouth and laughed. "Rongrong, let's head back to the dorm too."

Ning Rongrong nodded and left with Hu Liena.

Xie Yue looked at Oscar. "Stop staring. Let's go too."

Only then did Oscar reluctantly tear his gaze away from Ning Rongrong and return to the academy dormitory with Xie Yue.

Ma Hongjun went by himself to the place he and Dai Mubai often visited for fun.

Tang Wulin looked in the direction Ma Hongjun had gone, his face filled with confusion. "What exactly is that place he was talking about?"

Huo Yuhao coughed lightly. "Well... how should I put this..."

He leaned close to Tang Wulin's ear and quietly explained exactly what kind of place Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai often went to.

Tang Wulin's eyes widened like brass bells. "The people at Shrek Academy really are capable of anything."

Huo Yuhao smiled and took Tang Wulin's hand. "Let's head back and sleep too. We still have to go to the Star Dou Great Forest tomorrow."

Tang Wulin immediately understood. "Oscar is about to break through, right?"

Huo Yuhao nodded and returned to Shrek Academy with Tang Wulin.