Flender Was Stunned: They'd Harassed Ning Fengzhi's Daughter?

Zhao Wuji scratched his stubbly chin, feeling a headache coming on.

These new students had only been here a day. They had beaten an older student half to death, a support-type fought harder than an assault-type, one was the daughter of a great sect, and two Soul Elders stood beside them to back them up.

"Enough! All of you, stop arguing!"

Zhao Wuji waved a large hand, forcing the situation under control.

"Ma Hongjun ran his mouth. He brought that beating on himself! Little Ao, help him over to get treated!"

Oscar hurriedly answered. Supporting the half-bald Ma Hongjun, whose hair had been burned away, he limped toward the dormitories.

Ma Hongjun kept his head down. He did not even dare make a threat.

Seeing that, Dai Mubai had nothing more to say. He turned and followed them.

Once the others were gone, Zhao Wuji looked at Lin Xuan, then at Ning Rongrong and Tang San standing nearby, and said gruffly:

"The Dean is waiting for you at the main training ground. Get yourselves ready and assemble there at once!"

With that, Zhao Wuji strode away, his face dark.

Only five people remained in the clearing.

Xiao Wu let go of Lin Xuan's arm and kicked a pebble on the ground.

"What a mood-killer. We had to run into that disgusting fat guy first thing in the morning."

Ning Rongrong came up beside Lin Xuan and gave his shoulder a playful pat.

"Hey, Lin Xuan, that fire you threw out was pretty impressive! What's the deal with that talisman? It can provide support and work as an attack soul skill? Are you hiding anything else?"

Lin Xuan shifted aside to avoid her hand. "Too much curiosity isn't a good thing, Miss Ning."

Ning Rongrong huffed and stamped her foot.

A few steps away, Zhu Zhuqing's gaze lingered on Lin Xuan for a moment. Then she turned toward the main training ground.

Tang San frowned. His disappointment in Shrek Academy kept growing.

Was this really all there was to the academy his teacher had recommended?

Was his teacher's reputation undeserved after all?

Lin Xuan saw Tang San frown and guessed how disappointed he was in Shrek Academy. Whatever the teachers were like, there were already serious problems with students like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun.

He walked over to Tang San and patted him on the shoulder.

"Little San, don't overthink it."

Lin Xuan slowed his steps, his voice steady.

"It doesn't matter what the academy is like or who we meet here. Remember, we're brothers. If this academy doesn't live up to its reputation, we'll leave together."

Tang San pulled himself together, and much of the gloom left his face. He nodded firmly.

"All right. We'll leave together."

Xiao Wu bounced between them, hooked her arm through Lin Xuan's right arm, and looked up with a grin.

"Don't forget me! Count me in. The three of us stick together, and if anyone causes trouble, we'll beat them up!"

Lin Xuan smiled and ruffled her hair.

"Sure. You're in."

Behind them, Ning Rongrong slowed down and watched the three walking shoulder to shoulder.

She had grown up in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, surrounded by either fawning outer disciples or sect elders with endless rules.

People her age either feared her status or tried every way they could to win her favor.

She had never known a friendship where people could entrust their backs to one another without a second thought.

"That must be nice..." Ning Rongrong murmured.

Her heart was full of envy.

Zhu Zhuqing walked on the other side, arms folded across her chest, without slowing down.

She had left the Star Luo Empire and traveled north alone to this rundown village in Heaven Dou territory. She had thought Dai Mubai might have made some progress. But his performance at the Battle Arena last night, followed by the smell of wine and perfume on him this morning, had extinguished her last shred of hope.

Zhu Zhuqing watched the three ahead of her and sighed inwardly.

She wanted to grow stronger and escape her predetermined fate. If she, too, had companions who supported one another so wholeheartedly, perhaps many things would not be so difficult.

Ning Rongrong hurried to catch up with Lin Xuan and Xiao Wu, tilting her head as she studied him.

"Hey, Lin Xuan, I backed you up just now by bringing up the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Aren't you even going to thank me?"

Lin Xuan turned to her.

"Right. Thanks for today."

"That's all I get? Hmph! You really don't know how to be charming!"

Ning Rongrong gave a little huff.

"I did make that Teacher Zhao back down. Otherwise, that big bear would definitely have given you trouble."

Xiao Wu smiled at her.

"Rongrong, that's just how Lin Xuan is."

Ning Rongrong pursed her lips and said nothing more, though she grew even more curious about Lin Xuan.

Meanwhile, in the Dean's office at Shrek Academy.

Flender sat before a crude wooden desk, holding a gilt-edged letter.

A bag sat on the desk, full of heavy Gold Soul Coins.

Flender pushed up the square crystal glasses on his nose, his wrinkled face scrunching up.

The letter had been written personally by Ning Fengzhi, head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Its wording was exceedingly polite, asking only that his daughter be treated like everyone else. He had also enclosed a generous donation.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect really is loaded."

Flender hefted the money bag, his mood lifting.

Bang!

The wooden door was shoved open, and Zhao Wuji strode in with a dark expression.

"Flender, something's happened!"

Flender hastily stuffed the money bag into a drawer.

"Old Zhao, can't you knock before coming in? This is a fine mahogany door. Will you pay for it if you break it?"

Zhao Wuji pulled out a chair and sat down, answering irritably:

"Mahogany, my ass. It's just scrap wood we cut on Back Hill and nailed together! That kid Hongjun's been beaten to a pulp!"

Flender froze and jerked his head up.

"What happened? Did he offend a Soul Master he couldn't handle in Suotuo City?"

"Right here at our academy!"

Zhao Wuji wiped the sweat from his face.

"Those new students who arrived today did it. Ma Hongjun has several broken ribs, severe fractures in both arms, and burns all over. Without proper treatment from a Healing Soul Master, he'll be in bed for at least half a month."

Flender slammed the desk and shot to his feet.

"Outrageous! These new students attack one of their own on their first day? Do they think their Dean is just for show? Who did it? Didn't Dai Mubai stop them?"

Zhao Wuji spread his hands.

"As if Dai Mubai dared. It was mainly that girl Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan. Xiao Wu is a level thirty-three assault-type Soul Elder, and Lin Xuan is an even stronger level thirty-five Soul Elder."

Flender stared.

"Level thirty-five? At twelve?"

Zhao Wuji sighed and continued:

"And that's not all. That bastard Ma Hongjun was entirely to blame. He made lewd remarks to the female students on the road this morning and picked the wrong people to mess with."

Flender frowned.

"If he ran his mouth, a few words of warning would've been enough. Did they have to hit him that hard?"

"Let me finish."

Zhao Wuji sounded thoroughly exasperated.

"One of the girls he harassed is named Ning Rongrong. She's Ning Fengzhi's daughter—from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

A sheen of sweat appeared on Flender's forehead. He slowly sank back into his chair.

"That damned fool. He causes nothing but trouble!"

He rubbed his temples. His head felt ready to burst.

Among this year's five new students was Tang San, the disciple in whom his old friend Yu Xiaogang had placed such high hopes.

Xiao Wu and Lin Xuan were both terrifyingly gifted Soul Masters.

Another was the treasured daughter of the continent's strongest support sect.

And another came from the Zhu Family of the Star Luo Empire.

Was he recruiting students or inviting disaster?

"Forget it!"

Flender waved a hand and sighed helplessly.

"Hongjun's bad habit was bound to cause a disaster sooner or later. It's good for him to learn a lesson this time. Have Oscar make him a few extra recovery Big Sausages every day. As long as he doesn't die, he'll be fine."

Zhao Wuji nodded. Ma Hongjun really did need to learn his lesson.

Then Zhao Wuji asked:

"What about the main training ground?"

"Come on. It's time I met these little monsters."

Flender stood, straightened his gray robe, and walked out of the room.