A Fierce Slap in the Face! Ya Li Appears

"Zhen Hua's student? Are you worthy?"

Chen Xing had not intended to bother with her, but those words chilled his gaze.

Cai Yue'er was not finished.

She folded her arms and looked down her nose at Tang Wulin, then turned to Shen Yi.

"Shen Yi, I'll warn you once more. If you dare take them into the Inner Court today, I'll dismiss you from the Outer Court."

Shen Yi's face went pale, and his eyes reddened.

Tang Wulin clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked.

Chen Xing put a hand on his shoulder and stepped forward.

"Dean Cai."

Chen Xing raised his head.

"You keep calling me Zero Soul Power trash, saying I'm unworthy of being Master Zhen Hua's student or entering Shrek. Then let me ask you this: as dean of Shrek's Outer Court, are you worthy of speaking for all of Shrek?"

Cai Yue'er sneered.

"Trash like you dares question whether I'm worthy?"

Chen Xing nodded.

"Fine. Then today, I'll use Zero Soul Power to teach you some respect!"

As his words fell, he pressed a hand to his chest.

The next instant, a tearing roar sounded from the sky.

A crimson streak burst through the clouds and slammed down before Shrek Academy's gates, unleashing a terrifying shockwave.

Starfarer landed on one knee, its metal foot cracking the stone pavement.

Dust whipped up in the gale, setting everyone's robes flapping.

Cai Yue'er's expression finally changed.

"A Mecha? You dare attack someone at Shrek Academy?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?"

Chen Xing smiled.

He leaped straight into the cockpit.

The next instant, Starfarer's eyes lit with a red-gold glow.

"You!"

Cai Yue'er laughed in fury.

Soul rings rose one after another beneath her feet.

Purple, purple, purple, black, black, black, red, red, red!

Nine rings. A Super Douluo! Her Martial Soul was Silver Moon.

She struck at Starfarer with a Moon Palm.

Boom!

Yet when the palm strike hit Starfarer's chest, its armor stood firm, utterly unmoved.

Starfarer looked down at her.

"Dean Cai, did you skip breakfast?"

Cai Yue'er's face stiffened. She was about to unleash a stronger soul skill.

But in the next instant, Starfarer raised an arm and swept it sideways with a rush of wind.

It used neither beam cannon nor greatsword. It merely swatted her sideways with the flat of its blade.

Smack!!!

Cai Yue'er flew away like a kite with its string cut and crashed into a stone pillar beside the academy gates.

By the time she struggled to her feet, blood was running from her nose and her left eye was swelling fast.

"You... you dare!"

Starfarer took a step forward and struck again with the flat of its blade.

"That one was for Teacher Shen."

Smack!

The blow spun Cai Yue'er in place, and her right cheek swelled.

"This one's for my little brother."

Smack!

Cai Yue'er fell facedown. Half a tooth had come loose.

"And this one's for your foul mouth."

Smack!

Starfarer lowered its arm. Cai Yue'er was bruised and swollen, her hair in disarray. Nothing remained of her earlier air of superiority.

Shen Yi covered his mouth, stunned.

Tang Wulin swallowed and whispered.

"Brother, please don't beat her to death..."

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I'm only hitting her face."

"..."

Cai Yue'er lay on the ground, still trying to curse Chen Xing.

Just then, a gentle voice tinged with helplessness rang out.

"Both of you, stop."

A woman with long, dark-green hair hurried over. It was Ya Li.

She paused at the sight of Cai Yue'er's battered face, then sighed softly.

"Chen Xing, could you put the Mecha away first? This is the academy."

Chen Xing knew when to stop. He jumped from the cockpit, put Starfarer away, and bowed slightly.

"Dean Ya Li."

Ya Li went to Cai Yue'er first, examined her injuries, and asked gently.

"Does it hurt badly?"

Cai Yue'er held her face, aggrieved and furious.

"Dean Ya Li, he..."

"I know."

Ya Li patted her shoulder. "I'll come back and heal you in a moment. I saw what happened today. You were rude first. You should never have spoken that way to Master Zhen Hua's disciple."

Cai Yue'er was not satisfied.

"But look what he did to me!"

Ya Li looked at her, her voice still gentle.

"He went too far, and I'll speak to him about it. But if you hadn't used your Soul Power to intimidate them or your position to bar their way, things would never have reached this point. Yue'er, Shrek doesn't earn respect by trampling others."

Cai Yue'er opened her mouth, then slunk away without another word.

But Chen Xing caught the malice hidden in her eyes.

It was directed not only at him, but at Ya Li too.

Only then did Ya Li turn to Chen Xing and sigh.

"Chen Xing, fighting inside the academy is inappropriate. Still, Yue'er was in the wrong first, and I understand that you acted to protect yourself. But next time, please don't beat someone up so badly, all right?"

Chen Xing bowed slightly.

"As you say, Dean."

Ya Li smiled, her gaze warm.

"Master Zhen Hua's disciple is just as the rumors say. I agree to the cooperation. Come discuss the details with me later. Shen Yi, show them around for now. They may visit both the Inner and Outer Courts, but use your discretion."

Shen Yi quickly agreed.

Ya Li looked at Chen Xing once more and spoke gently.

"If anyone else gives you trouble, come to me. Shrek is not a place where people throw their weight around."

Chen Xing nodded.

Truthfully, Ya Li was thoughtful and kind. She really was a good person.

But that kindness did not suit the task of running Shrek.

Cai Yue'er today was proof enough.

Still.

She was one of the people Zhen Hua wanted to discuss cooperation with.

That connection might prove useful someday.

There was no need for him to press the matter.

Besides, he had already delivered his slaps.

What mattered most now was taking Tang Wulin to the Golden Ancient Tree.

He turned to look at Tang Wulin.

Tang Wulin was staring at him in confusion.

Chen Xing leaned closer and lowered his voice. "Wulin, follow my lead later."

Tang Wulin did not understand, but he nodded anyway.

Shen Yi led them into the academy.

Shrek Academy was vast, with Sea God Lake separating the Outer Court from the Inner Court.

Shen Yi introduced the sights as they walked, but Chen Xing's mind was entirely on the Golden Ancient Tree.

He needed a chance to take Tang Wulin away on their own.

"Teacher Shen," Chen Xing said suddenly, "could we take a look at the Inner Court?"

Shen Yi paused.

"The Inner Court usually isn't open to visitors, but Dean Ya Li said you could go."

"I'll take you there."

Chen Xing nodded and followed Shen Yi toward Sea God Lake.

As the three passed the Outer Court's Martial Arts Arena, someone suddenly stepped in front of them.

He was a young male teacher in his twenties, dressed in a faculty uniform and decent-looking enough.

But the displeasure in his eyes was plain.

"Teacher Zhou?"

Teacher Zhou?

Who was that?

Was there someone like him in the original story?