Qin Ming's Dilemma

Before Yuan Yu and the others could head to the dispensary, Qin Ming went to see Flender.

Shrek was quiet at night.

Only one lamp burned in the courtyard.

Flender sat beneath it with a pot of tea before him. Zhao Wuji leaned nearby, arms folded, looking as though he had been waiting a while.

Qin Ming stood before the table and did not sit.

Flender glanced at him.

"Why are you standing? Does Heaven Dou Royal Academy make its students stand as punishment?"

Only then did Qin Ming sit down.

Zhao Wuji got straight to the point.

"Out with it. What else did Imperial Fighting come here for?"

"Dean, Teacher Zhao, I don't want to hide it from you."

Flender did not press him.

Qin Ming said, "Heaven Dou Royal Academy does want to meet Shrek's students."

Zhao Wuji gave a cold laugh.

"And after they meet them?"

"If they're a good fit, the academy hopes to invite Shrek's students to join them in the future."

The courtyard fell silent.

Steam rose from the teapot. Flender held his cup but did not drink.

Zhao Wuji's folded arms tightened.

Qin Ming hurried to say, "I never agreed to recruit them away."

"So you know that's what this is," Flender said evenly.

Qin Ming lowered his head.

"I do."

He had come from Shrek.

He knew the academy was run-down, the food was nothing special, Flender loved money, and Zhao Wuji was heavy-handed in training.

But he knew even better why he had made it this far.

Without Shrek, there would be no Qin Ming as he was today.

Heaven Dou Royal Academy had plentiful resources, many simulated cultivation environments, and plenty of Healing Soul Masters. It also had the backing of the Royal Family and the nobility. Of course Qin Ming wanted a better future for his juniors.

But he did not want to trample his old academy to give them one.

He took a folded calling card from his robes and set it at the edge of the table without pushing it forward.

Zhao Wuji glanced at it.

"What's that?"

"The academy's education committee asked me to bring this formal invitation," Qin Ming said.

Flender did not reach for it.

"I know this isn't the right time to bring it out," Qin Ming said quietly. "I just wanted you to know about it. We don't have to discuss it tonight."

Flender stared at the card.

After a moment, he set down his cup.

"Do you think they value Shrek, or these children at Shrek?"

Qin Ming pressed his lips together.

"Both."

Zhao Wuji scoffed.

"That's the polite answer. The blunt answer is they want the students. They don't give a damn about Shrek's shabby name."

Qin Ming did not argue.

Flender did not get angry either.

He knew it himself.

Shrek had enrolled only a handful of students over the years. Its principles were sound; the academy was simply too poor. No matter how good the teachers were, they could not keep making students endure life in dilapidated buildings.

But the thought of bowing his head and sending the children away still stuck in his throat.

The academy was not worth much.

But the sweat and scoldings poured into it over the years were.

"Qin Ming, where do you think Shrek falls short?"

It was not an easy question to answer.

"Tell the truth," Zhao Wuji said.

Qin Ming took a deep breath.

"Resources."

Flender gave a short laugh.

"What else?"

"Facilities, simulated environments, medicinal supplies, healing resources, connections."

Qin Ming's voice grew quieter toward the end.

"But Shrek lacks neither good teachers nor good students."

Zhao Wuji snorted. "At least you've still got a conscience."

Flender raised his cup and took a sip.

"We'll talk about this another time. First, we deal with tomorrow night's match."

Qin Ming nodded.

"I understand."

Outside the courtyard wall, Yuan Yu passed by with the Wine Gourd in his arms.

He had been on his way to find Tang San, but Qin Ming's words slowed his steps.

Ling Yuan stood on the roof and glanced down at him.

"Aren't you leaving?"

Yuan Yu looked up. "Ling Yuan, it's dark out. I'm taking my time."

Ling Yuan scoffed.

"You just don't want to miss the excitement."

From inside the courtyard, Flender called out.

"Come in."

Yuan Yu had no choice but to push open the door.

"Dean, I really didn't mean to eavesdrop."

"Then what did you mean to do?" Zhao Wuji asked.

"Walk past on purpose."

Qin Ming could not help laughing.

Yuan Yu set the Wine Gourd on the table.

"Since I heard it, let me say one thing."

"Go on."

"Heaven Dou Royal Academy has better resources. That's a fact. Shrek is poor. That's also a fact."

Flender's face darkened.

"You could have spared us that."

"The point is, there's no rush to decide where anyone goes. First, see who treats them as students and who treats them as bargaining chips."

Yuan Yu picked up the Wine Gourd and gave it a shake.

"If Shrek ever does go to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, it should go with its head held high. Not have its students picked over and taken away."

Flender looked at him.

"You do have a way with words."

"I grew up in Spirit City," Yuan Yu said. "I've seen people choose Soul Masters, and I've seen Soul Masters choose their own paths. A path only counts when you walk it yourself."

Qin Ming had assumed Yuan Yu would naturally take Spirit Hall's side.

But the boy had not used Spirit Hall to pressure anyone, nor had he cast Heaven Dou Royal Academy as the enemy.

However he put it, he kept coming back to one thing.

Don't treat people as bargaining chips.

Qin Ming understood.

That applied to Heaven Dou Royal Academy, and to those people at the Soto Great Soul Arena.

"The Imperial Fighting Team won't use dirty tricks against Shrek," Qin Ming said earnestly.

The Rosy Cloud Pattern glowed faintly.

Its cool touch was slight.

Qin Ming had not told them everything, but at least he had no intention of harming Shrek.

That was enough for tonight.

"Weren't you going to the dispensary?" Flender asked.

Yuan Yu blinked.

"You knew?"

"You passed my courtyard three times just now. Did you think I was blind?"

Zhao Wuji added something.

"And your footsteps got quieter each time."

Yuan Yu sighed.

"Shrek's teachers are hard to fool."

Qin Ming rose.

"Did something happen at the dispensary?"

"Someone tried to tamper with Tang San's medicine packet," Yuan Yu said. "We haven't caught them yet."

Qin Ming snapped upright.

"Someone from the Spirit Arena?"

"We'll know when we get there."

"Then I'm coming with you," Qin Ming said at once.

"You can't," Flender said.

Qin Ming froze.

"You lead the Imperial Fighting Team," Flender said. "If you go, this becomes an open clash between your team and the Spirit Arena. Tomorrow night's match hasn't happened yet. We can't let things fall apart now."

Qin Ming clenched a fist.

"Then what can I do?"

Yuan Yu picked up the Wine Gourd.

"Keep an eye on your students tomorrow night."

He paused.

"Inside the arena is yours. Outside is mine."

Qin Ming looked at the boy, so much younger than himself, and the last trace of his condescension vanished.

Yuan Yu usually acted carefree, but when it mattered, he saw things more clearly than anyone.

On the roof, Azure Luan said quietly, "He's putting himself in trouble again."

Ling Yuan folded her arms.

"When doesn't he?"

"Should we warn him that the trail from the Spirit Arena might lead to Heaven Dou?"

Ling Yuan glanced into the courtyard.

"No need. He can work that out. Say too much now, and we'll only make him hesitate."

Neither of them went down.

The Worship Hall had assigned them to protect Yuan Yu.

He still had to walk his own path.

Yuan Yu turned and left.

Tang San and Ning Rongrong were already waiting outside.

"How did it go?" Tang San asked.

"Qin Ming isn't the enemy," Yuan Yu said.

"Then who is?" Ning Rongrong asked.

"Let's go to the dispensary and find out."