Admitting Fault? What Did We Do Wrong?

With the backing of Gold Soul Coins, the "massive renovation project" in Shrek's rear courtyard began with a thunderous roar.

In less than half a day, Ning Rongrong had thrown out several thousand Gold Soul Coins and hired Suotuo City's finest royal construction crew, who marched grandly into the village.

But renovating the dormitories would take at least a day or two, and with three idle days left before school started, Ning Rongrong did not want to spend another moment in this wretched place reeking of mud and chicken droppings.

"Ning Ze! Let's go stay in Suotuo City for two days! There isn't even a shop here to buy snacks from. I'm bored to death!"

She clung to Ning Ze's arm and shook it insistently.

After a brief thought, Ning Ze smiled and nodded.

"I want to go too!"

Xiao Wu's ears twitched as she eagerly raised her little hand, her big eyes sparkling.

After speaking, she instinctively turned to look at Tang San beside her, whose expression had stiffened somewhat, and blinked tentatively. "Third Brother, can we go into the city and have fun with Brother Ning Ze and the others?"

Tang San froze, thinking Xiao Wu was inviting him along.

But he subconsciously touched his purse, which was even emptier than his face—those few coins inside could not even buy a decent cup of juice.

If he shamelessly tagged along, what could he do besides watch Ning Ze spend money like water and make himself look poor by comparison?

"Cough... I won't go. School starts soon, so I'll stay at the academy to meditate and cultivate."

He forced out a reluctant smile and nodded stiffly.

"If you want to go... then go have a look around."

Zhu Zhuqing furrowed her brows slightly, hesitating over whether to join them.

Just then, Dai Mubai, believing the timing was right, approached with what he considered the manner of an affectionate young nobleman.

"Zhuqing, it's been so many years... would you like to talk alone?"

Hearing that overly familiar, frivolous voice, Zhu Zhuqing's face instantly darkened.

Talk?

What right did the man who had abandoned his fiancée and fled alone, then spent every day in Suotuo City surrounded by beauties and debauchery, have to ask her for a talk?

Compared to Ning Ze, who was considerate in every way and whose strength was unfathomable, the man before her was inferior to the bone.

Without even sparing him a glance from the corner of her eye, she strode over on her long legs to Ning Ze's side and spoke coldly.

"I'm going too."

Ning Rongrong's little mouth immediately puckered. Her happily anticipated world of two had been forcibly turned into a group of four, and the old vinegar jar in her heart began bubbling furiously.

Ning Ze chuckled and rubbed the top of her head.

"Alright, Rongrong. We came out to gain experience and make companions. It's more fun when everyone is together. Let's go. I'll cover all our expenses for the next few days."

The warmth of his palm washed away Ning Rongrong's little temper with sweetness. She gave an arrogant hum and linked arms with Ning Ze as they headed out.

The group of four left the academy amid laughter and chatter.

At the same time, Flender, who had just finished handling some personal business, was hurrying back through dust and wind.

He carried a handwritten letter from his longtime friend Yu Xiaogang in his robes. The letter said that Yu Xiaogang's prized disciple, Tang San, had arrived to enroll with an extremely talented classmate.

On top of hearing that this year's intake had included five exceptional little monsters in one go, Flender's entire horse-like face bloomed with delight.

But when he rushed back to the academy, eager to inspect this fresh blood, Dai Mubai poured a bucket of cold water over him.

"What did you say?! Other than Xiaogang's disciple Tang San, who's obediently staying at the academy, the other four all ran off to Suotuo City to eat, drink, and have fun?!"

Flender's triangular eyes widened. He adjusted the black-rimmed glasses on his nose, his beard trembling with anger.

"Outrageous! Absurd! They're so young, yet they already dare to slack off and become complacent just because they have a little talent!"

"As Soul Masters, instead of seizing every moment to meditate and cultivate diligently, they fill their heads with shopping and pleasure all day. What kind of conduct is that?!"

His face turned livid as he paced back and forth through the rear courtyard. When he saw the extravagant construction crew loudly tearing down walls and laying bricks, his rage erupted even further, and he immediately shouted.

"Stop! All of you, stop right now! Shrek's school motto is hardship and perseverance. What is this wasteful, extravagant nonsense?! Get out! Get out of the academy immediately!"

Without another word, Flender forcibly drove the entire construction crew away.

Dai Mubai and Tang San exchanged a glance, each hiding an indescribable trace of delight in his eyes.

Oscar, who had come over to watch the commotion, chewed on pickled vegetables and muttered sarcastically.

"Serves them right! We're all classmates, so why do they get luxurious suites while us older students have to live in shabby mud houses?"

"They had money to renovate, but they didn't think to renovate our dormitories too. Otherwise, I might have put in a good word for them just now."

Ma Hongjun nodded repeatedly and spat viciously.

"Exactly! So what if they have money? Didn't they still come to Shrek? In the end, don't they still have to live in the same drafty straw huts as me?"

Even after driving away the construction crew, the fire in Flender's heart had not subsided.

He snorted with a gloomy expression.

He immediately decided that once those four ignorant brats returned, he would teach them a profound lesson and make them understand who truly called the shots at Shrek.

Two days passed in a flash.

Over those two days, the one who had enjoyed herself the most and had her entire understanding of life thoroughly overturned was undoubtedly Xiao Wu.

When she had followed Tang San before, his pockets had been thinner than paper. Xiao Wu had even believed that all humans across the continent lived in such poverty.

Not until these past two days with Ning Ze—staying in top-tier suites, eating exquisite delicacies, wearing fine clothes, and seeing him buy without hesitation any expensive jewelry or desserts she looked at for more than a moment.

Looking at Ning Ze, refined as jade, generous with his money, and attentive in every detail, the pink in Xiao Wu's eyes nearly turned into little hearts as her fondness for him soared wildly.

The icy defenses around Zhu Zhuqing's heart had also quietly melted by more than half under his meticulous care.

But when the four of them returned to Shrek's rear courtyard still wanting more, the sight before them made their expressions darken.

Broken bricks and shattered tiles littered the construction site. The construction crew was long gone, and the dormitories remained dilapidated yellow-mud straw houses.

After asking around, they learned that Flender had driven the crew away as soon as work began.

"Why?!"

Ning Rongrong's young miss temper exploded instantly. She planted her hands on her hips and stomped her feet.

"I spent Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect money, not a single copper coin from his academy! Which academy rule says students aren't allowed to use their free time as they please before school starts?! What right does he have to drive away my people?!"

At that moment, Dai Mubai hurried over, putting on the act of a good person as he advised them with feigned concern.

"The dean has a terrible temper. When he heard that you went off enjoying yourselves without permission, he flew into a rage! When he comes later, soften your attitude and take the initiative to admit your mistake. Maybe this will blow over..."

Tang San also added calmly in agreement.

"That's right. Respecting one's teachers is a student's duty. The dean only wants to temper your character. Lowering your heads and admitting your mistake isn't shameful."

"Admit our mistake? What did we do wrong?"

Ning Ze narrowed his eyes, his expression indifferent.

"Before classes officially begin, we reasonably used our own time and money. We didn't violate any academy rules, so why should we admit fault?"

"What a sharp-tongued brat! You made a mistake and still dare to spout such nonsense here?!"

With a cold shout, Flender strode into the courtyard with his hands clasped behind his back.

Boom—!

The terrifying pressure of a rank seventy-eight Battle Soul Saint crashed down like mountains and seas, making the broken stones on the ground tremble and rattle.

The three girls' expressions changed drastically, but before that overwhelming aura could press onto their shoulders, Ning Ze gave a cold snort. Rather than retreating, he stepped forward, standing tall and straight as a pine.

The Soul Power of the God of Love quietly circulated within him. A sacred halo rippled soundlessly outward, and by himself, he forcibly withstood Flender's Soul Saint pressure.

Behind him, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, and Ning Rongrong felt the pressure on themselves sharply lessen. Their eyes, fixed on Ning Ze's broad back, shone with wonder.