The Dean's Calculations

Morning.

A gilt-edged invitation lay on the breakfast table at Shrek Academy.

Flender placed the letter in the middle of the table. His glasses were polished to a shine.

The look on his face made Yuan Yu uneasy.

"Dean, promise me something first."

Flender looked up.

"Promise you what?"

"Tell me who you've sold this time."

Oscar nearly spat out his porridge.

Ma Hongjun slapped the table, laughing.

Flender's face darkened.

"What do you mean, 'sold'? This is a formal invitation from the Great Soul Arena."

He pushed the letter toward Yuan Yu.

Yuan Yu opened it and took a look.

Three days from now.

A consecutive-win challenge in the Soul King Division.

Myriad Phenomena would fight three matches in a row, alone.

The prize money would double with each win. If he won all three, Shrek Academy would receive an additional appearance fee.

After reading it, Yuan Yu passed the letter to Tang San.

"Dean, that last line was why you were smiling like that, wasn't it?"

Flender coughed.

"The academy needs to grow."

Zhao Wuji sat beside him, rubbing his face, which still hadn't fully healed.

"In plain language, we're short of money."

Flender shot him a look.

Zhao Wuji looked away.

Tang San finished reading the invitation and frowned.

"Three consecutive matches in the Soul King Division. The Spirit Arena wants to use Yuan Yu to draw a crowd."

Ning Rongrong read it too.

"The prize money gets pretty high if he wins all three. Aren't they afraid of losing money?"

Flender smiled.

"The one thing the Great Soul Arena doesn't fear is paying the strong. The stronger a fighter is, the bigger the audience, and the more they earn."

Yuan Yu rubbed his chin.

"Doesn't sound like a losing proposition."

"Of course it isn't."

Flender said, "Which is why I've already accepted on your behalf."

The table fell silent for a moment.

Yuan Yu stared at him.

"Dean, you really don't stand on ceremony with me."

Flender adjusted his glasses.

"You're a Shrek student. The academy can accept reasonable arrangements on your behalf."

"And the prize money?"

"The academy will hold it for now."

Yuan Yu set down his chopsticks.

"Teacher Zhao, when Senior Tang Hao was hitting you last night, did you hear him say that too?"

Zhao Wuji nearly choked on his porridge.

Flender's face darkened further.

Xiao Wu collapsed over the table laughing.

Dai Mubai lowered his head to hide his laughter.

"Enough joking around," Flender said irritably. "The Spirit Arena's manager will come by at noon to discuss the details. You'll be there."

At noon, the manager from the Soto Great Soul Arena arrived as promised.

He brought two attendants, and his manner was even more courteous than last time.

"Lord Myriad Phenomena, you've made quite a name for yourself in Suotuo City. If you agree to this three-match winning-streak challenge, the Great Soul Arena will give it the best promotion we can."

Yuan Yu sat in the courtyard, his Sun Wheel Blade resting against his chair.

"Explain the rules clearly."

The manager spread out a scroll.

"All three matches will be in the Soul King Division. The first opponent will be matched at random, the second will be a strong fighter of the same rank chosen by the Spirit Arena, and the third will be a challenger who volunteers to take the stage."

Tang San, standing nearby, glanced at Yuan Yu when he heard that.

The third match was where trouble was most likely.

Yuan Yu had caught it too.

"Can I concede?"

The manager froze.

Flender immediately looked at Yuan Yu.

"I'm asking about the rules," Yuan Yu said unhurriedly.

The manager smiled. "Of course. As long as you don't deliberately stall or damage the Dueling Platform, you're free to concede."

"Then I have one condition."

Yuan Yu looked at him.

"I won't throw a match."

The manager's smile faltered for a heartbeat.

Only a heartbeat.

But Yuan Yu saw it.

So did Tang San.

The manager quickly recovered his smile.

"You jest, Lord Myriad Phenomena. The Soto Great Soul Arena runs a legitimate business."

Zhao Wuji gave a snort from the side.

He could say whatever he liked.

Yuan Yu nodded.

"Good. If I win, I win for real. If I lose, I lose for real. Anyone who wants me to pretend to lose shouldn't bother asking."

The manager looked at the white-clad boy, his smile fading a little.

He had assumed a twelve-year-old boy would be easy to coax, however strong he was.

Clearly, this one wasn't.

He stood.

"Then we look forward to seeing you in three days, Lord Myriad Phenomena."

After the manager left, Ning Rongrong frowned.

"He didn't seem very happy."

Yuan Yu picked up his tea.

"That's only natural."

Tang San picked up the scroll again and read through it once more.

"The third match goes to a volunteer challenger. That's the loosest rule."

Dai Mubai leaned in to look.

"So anyone who wants to can get up there?"

"As long as the Spirit Arena agrees."

Tang San put down the scroll.

"We can make guesses about the first two matches. The third is anyone's guess."

Xiao Wu frowned.

"What if they find someone especially strong?"

Yuan Yu pointed at himself.

"I'm especially strong too."

Xiao Wu rolled her eyes at him.

"Aren't you modest."

"Modesty won't stop a blade."

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment, then said, "There are nobles and merchant guilds behind the Spirit Arena. If you keep winning, people will definitely bet on you. Once enough money is at stake, someone won't want you to win."

She paused, surprised at herself.

A few days ago, she probably wouldn't have volunteered a warning like that.

Flender glanced at her.

"She's right."

Ning Rongrong lifted her chin.

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has business interests too."

Oscar murmured, "The little princess knows a lot."

Ning Rongrong looked his way.

Oscar immediately lowered his head and drank his porridge.

Oscar asked, "Aren't you afraid they'll arrange a powerful opponent?"

"Of course I am."

Yuan Yu took a sip of tea.

"That's why we need to train for the next three days."

Ma Hongjun perked up.

"Train what?"

Yuan Yu looked at Flender.

"Dean, didn't you say I was too quick to cover everyone's gaps?"

A glint appeared in Flender's eyes.

Yuan Yu said, "For the next three days of team training, I'll be half a step slower drawing my blade."

Xiao Wu's expression changed.

"You're going to watch us get beaten up on purpose?"

"Not on purpose," Yuan Yu said earnestly.

Xiao Wu had just breathed a sigh of relief.

Then Yuan Yu added,

"I've planned it."

Xiao Wu raised her foot to kick him.

Tang San caught her, though there was laughter in his eyes.

Training began that afternoon.

Zhao Wuji served as their sparring partner.

He didn't use his full strength, relying on Soul Power and footwork to keep tearing gaps in their formation.

Before, Yuan Yu would have filled those gaps at once.

This time, he stood behind them, gripping his blade without moving.

Xiao Wu charged too far ahead, and a palm strike from Zhao Wuji sent her stumbling back three steps.

Zhu Zhuqing cut in too deep and nearly got caught by Zhao Wuji's backhand.

Ning Rongrong was half a beat late with her support, and Dai Mubai took a solid hit.

For a while, it was chaos.

Yuan Yu's fingers went to his hilt several times, only to pull away.

Zhao Wuji noticed and smiled.

"Hold back."

Yuan Yu sighed.

"Teacher Zhao, now I know what it feels like to watch your teammates get beaten up."

"Remember it," Zhao Wuji said. "They need to remember this too."

By the end of training, everyone was exhausted.

Xiao Wu sat on the ground, rubbing her arm.

"You really weren't going to save me back there."

Yuan Yu crouched in front of her and offered her a bottle of medicine.

"You really did charge too far ahead."

Xiao Wu huffed, but took it anyway.

Ning Rongrong looked at her hands.

She had been too slow twice today.

Each time, a teammate had taken an extra hit.

That taught her more than ten lectures from Flender ever could.

Zhao Wuji had clipped Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, too.

The injury wasn't serious.

But she glanced down at it and said nothing.

Ning Rongrong walked over and handed her a clean cloth.

Zhu Zhuqing took it.

"Thank you."

Ning Rongrong shook her head.

"I'll be faster next time."

Zhu Zhuqing looked at her.

"So will I."

Neither said anything more.

Yuan Yu sat nearby, watching them. He tapped a finger against his scabbard.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern did not light up.

But he remembered.

This was good, too.

They didn't need to keep thanking each other. They just needed to stand a little firmer next time.

That evening, in the VIP seating of Suotuo City's Great Soul Arena.

A middle-aged man in black sat in the shadows and listened to the manager's report.

"He said he wouldn't throw a match?"

The manager lowered his voice. "Yes."

The man in black smiled.

"A young man with a temper. Good."

He tossed a betting chip onto the table.

"On his first night, he must lose one match."

The manager's expression shifted.

"Spirit Hall is backing him."

The man in black looked up.

"This is Suotuo City."

"On the Dueling Platform, blades and swords have no eyes."