Qin Ming Is Back

Early the next morning, someone arrived at the gates of Shrek Academy.

He wore simple, close-fitting clothes, their cuffs neatly gathered. The morning wind blew in from outside Suotuo City as he stood before the battered wooden sign for a long while.

The words "Shrek Academy" were crooked, and a corner of the sign was missing.

But the visitor studied it intently.

Flender stopped when he came out of the courtyard.

Zhao Wuji followed him out. He froze for a moment, then broke into a grin.

"Qin Ming?"

The visitor turned and bowed.

"Dean. Teacher Zhao."

Flender pushed up his glasses, holding back a smile.

"It's been a few years. You've grown into yourself."

Qin Ming smiled. "You haven't changed, Teacher."

Zhao Wuji strode over and slapped him on the shoulder.

Qin Ming's shoulder dipped and his body swayed, but he quickly steadied himself.

Zhao Wuji nodded in approval.

"Not bad. Heaven Dou Royal Academy hasn't made you soft."

Qin Ming gave a wry smile.

"Teacher Zhao, you're still as direct with your compliments."

The commotion drew the others out into the courtyard.

Ma Hongjun came out yawning, his hair a mess from sleep. Oscar still had half a sausage in his mouth. At the sight of a stranger, he promptly hid it behind his back.

Xiao Wu and Tang San came out together.

Ning Rongrong spotted the insignia Qin Ming wore and raised an eyebrow.

Zhu Zhuqing stood beside her without a word, studying Qin Ming's gait and stance first.

Yuan Yu came out last.

White clothes, a Sun Wheel Blade, and a Wine Gourd at his waist.

He walked slowly, as if he had just woken up, but his eyes were perfectly alert.

Qin Ming's gaze lingered on him.

"You're Yuan Yu?"

Yuan Yu raised a hand in greeting.

"If you mean the twelve-year-old Soul King from Spirit City, that should be me."

Ma Hongjun muttered from the side, "He really makes you want to hit him when he talks like that."

Oscar said, "But he's earned the right."

Flender glanced at them, and both immediately shut up.

Qin Ming had heard the name Myriad Phenomena before coming here.

Twelve years old. Level fifty-five Soul King.

Three straight wins in the Soul King Division of the Soto Great Soul Arena.

A Sun Wheel Blade and five God-given Spirit Rings.

When that news reached Heaven Dou Royal Academy, many people's first reaction was disbelief. Qin Ming had found it hard to believe too, but he knew Flender. Flender loved to boast, yet he would not make something like this up.

Now that the boy stood before him, most of Qin Ming's doubts faded.

The boy smiled casually, but his Soul Power was steady.

Too steady for a twelve-year-old.

Qin Ming asked Flender, "Dean, is he a student here too?"

A hint of pride appeared on Flender's face.

"He is now."

Qin Ming sighed softly.

"Shrek is still Shrek."

Zhao Wuji laughed. "Hear that? Your senior is praising you."

Ma Hongjun's head shot up.

"Our senior?"

Qin Ming nodded.

"I used to be a Shrek student too."

Everyone took another look at him.

Shrek Academy might be run-down, but someone who had come out of this place had become a teacher at Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Ma Hongjun perked up at once.

"Senior, did you live in dorms like these too?"

Qin Ming glanced at the row of dilapidated rooms in the courtyard, and his smile faded a little.

"They were worse back then. The roof leaked, and the Dean said it was to train our reflexes."

Oscar muttered, "That sounds like the Dean."

Flender's expression did not change.

"Enough nonsense. If it trained you, it was a good reason."

Qin Ming looked at the younger students and saw something of his old self in them.

The place was still small, and the tables and chairs were still worn.

But not one of the Shrek students standing here looked ready to bow their head to anyone.

He had been the same back then.

Yuan Yu leaned against the doorframe and touched his Wine Gourd.

"Senior Qin, you never stole the Dean's money back then, did you?"

Flender's gaze bore down on him from behind his glasses.

Qin Ming hurriedly said, "No."

Zhao Wuji laughed beside him.

"He was much better behaved than you."

Yuan Yu sighed.

"Then he missed out on a lot of childhood fun."

The others could not help laughing.

Qin Ming laughed too.

After that exchange, the awkwardness of meeting for the first time eased considerably.

Flender did not leave them talking at the gate. He led Qin Ming into the courtyard.

Tea had been set out on a wooden table.

Qin Ming got straight to the point and explained the Imperial Fighting Team's plans for this visit to Suotuo City.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy had sent the Imperial Fighting Team out to gain experience. Meanwhile, Myriad Phenomena and Shrek had stirred up plenty of excitement at the Soto Great Soul Arena. With both sides in town, the Spirit Arena wanted to arrange an exhibition match.

Flender listened, tapping a finger against the tabletop.

"Is it only the Spirit Arena that wants this?"

Qin Ming did not answer right away.

Yuan Yu was looking down, toying with his teacup. The Rosy Cloud Pattern on his Sun Wheel Blade flickered faintly.

There was something Qin Ming had not said.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern sensed no malice.

Qin Ming set down his teacup. "Dean, I came to visit, but I also wanted to explain the rules in advance. The Imperial Fighting Team wants an exhibition match against Shrek."

Zhao Wuji asked, "An exhibition match?"

"It won't count toward anyone's arena record. Both sides will agree on the rules beforehand, and the aim won't be to inflict serious injuries. The Imperial Fighting Team wants to see what Shrek can do, and Shrek can take a look at Heaven Dou Royal Academy's team."

Xiao Wu folded her arms.

"After all that, you still want to fight."

Qin Ming smiled.

"Between Soul Masters, some things become clearest after a fight."

Dai Mubai stepped forward.

"We're in."

Tang San did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Can Yuan Yu participate?"

Qin Ming looked at Yuan Yu.

"Under the rules of this exhibition match, that wouldn't be appropriate."

If a level fifty-five Soul King took the stage, the seven Soul Elders opposite him might as well not bother fighting. Proud as the Imperial Fighting Team was, they had not come to be scattered by a single slash.

Yuan Yu waved a hand.

"I won't steal your stage."

Xiao Wu looked at him.

"Easy for you to say."

Yuan Yu grinned. "I'll watch you get beaten from the sidelines."

Xiao Wu kicked at him.

Yuan Yu stepped back with practiced ease, without even making the teacup wobble.

Watching the two of them, one dodging and the other chasing, Qin Ming relaxed a little.

Before coming, he had worried that Yuan Yu might not fit in at Shrek.

From the look of things, the boy had settled in better than he had expected.

Flender asked, "When?"

"Tomorrow night," Qin Ming said. "But the Imperial Fighting Team will arrive at the Soto Great Soul Arena tomorrow. The two sides can meet beforehand."

Yu Xiaogang was not there, so Flender looked to Tang San.

"It would be better to get to know our opponents in advance," Tang San said.

Qin Ming said, "Yu Tianheng heard you were in Suotuo City. He's eager to meet you."

Yuan Yu picked up his teacup.

"Meeting him is fine. Fighting him is another matter."

"He won't do anything reckless."

Qin Ming paused.

"But he's from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

People of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were not inclined to bow their heads.

Yu Tianheng, in particular, had already become captain of the Imperial Fighting Team at his age. Hearing that a twelve-year-old Soul King had appeared among his generation, it would have been strange if he did not want to test him.

Flender stood.

"We can have an exhibition match. We'll negotiate the rules ourselves. Shrek is poor, but we don't sell out our students."

Qin Ming stood as well and bowed solemnly.

"I understand."

As he straightened, he glanced at Yuan Yu again.

A level fifty-five Soul King sat at an old wooden table without the slightest air of superiority, even trading barbs with Ma Hongjun and Oscar.

But Qin Ming did not dare treat him as an ordinary boy.

Spirit Hall had let him leave, Flender had taken him in, and even Zhao Wuji had asked no further questions. That carried weight.

Tomorrow night's exhibition match would probably be more than a chance for two teams to size each other up.

Yuan Yu looked toward Suotuo City.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly again.

Qin Ming was back.

The Imperial Fighting Team was here too.

And the hand behind Mr. Xu would likely reach out soon.