Yan Shaozhe, Look What You've Done!

Once all the students had returned, several Elders of the Sea God Pavilion came before Mu En and bowed with cupped fists.

Yan Shaozhe's expression was the most troubled—and the most entertaining. His face changed so rapidly he could have put a Sichuan opera performer to shame.

Yan Shaozhe was beside himself with excitement.

He already knew who had undergone a Martial Soul Second Awakening: Jiang Chen, Xiaotao's boyfriend. He had never expected Jiang Chen to actually pull it off. Now there was a way to resolve Xiaotao's Evil Fire.

But would Jiang Chen still accept Xiaotao?

And what had caused his Ice Phoenix Martial Soul to awaken fully?

Yan Shaozhe turned to Mu En and cupped his fists. "Mu En, this..."

Mu En raised a hand. His expression was grave as he said, "You all likely know what happened. There's no need for me to hide it. Jiang Chen's Martial Soul has indeed undergone a Second Awakening, and he now possesses Ultimate Ice. This is a momentous occasion for our academy."

"But there's a problem. Yan Shaozhe undoubtedly played a part in Jiang Chen's Second Awakening. Just look what you've done!"

"How am I supposed to explain this to Shrek's forebears? How am I supposed to face my teacher? To think I raised a disciple as shortsighted and narrow-minded as you, one who nearly destroyed ten thousand years of Shrek's legacy. You really are..."

By the end, anger had twisted Mu En's face. He smacked Yan Shaozhe hard on the head, as if he wanted to see what was inside it.

Everything had been going perfectly well until Yan Shaozhe ruined it. He was mud that no one could plaster onto a wall.

Mu En was so furious his lungs nearly burst. He almost ascended to the heavens on the spot.

The Elders all turned to Yan Shaozhe, wondering what he had done to make Mu En this angry.

And the fact that it involved Jiang Chen made it all the more intriguing.

"Yan Shaozhe, what have you done now?"

Among the Elders, Xian Lin'er, dean of the Soul Tool Department, drew her brows together and began questioning him.

She knew what Yan Shaozhe was like, but she had never expected him to cause trouble on this scale. It was clearly serious—perhaps even serious enough to threaten Shrek's ten-thousand-year legacy.

Elder Song asked, "Yan Shaozhe, if you've made a mistake, you need to own up to it. Stop dragging your feet. Tell us what happened, and we'll help you think of a solution. Mu En may calm down, too."

Elder Zhuang nodded. "A solution would be best."

Elder Lin asked, "So what exactly happened?"

Mu En clasped his hands behind his back and turned away from them. "Let him tell you himself. Let's hear what he's done."

Yan Shaozhe sighed softly.

Then he told the Elders everything about Xiaotao and Jiang Chen, including how he had urged Xiaotao to break up with him.

It had all happened only recently.

But Yan Shaozhe truly had not expected Jiang Chen's Martial Soul to undergo a Second Awakening.

The Elders had tried countless methods without success. Yet a few words from Xiaotao had somehow triggered his full awakening. Who would believe it?

After hearing Yan Shaozhe's explanation, the Elders all gave him a thumbs-up and praised him for a job well done.

What a splendid achievement!

Even those bastards from the Sun Moon Empire would not have done what Yan Shaozhe had done. He had even urged his disciple to humiliate Jiang Chen. Anyone in Jiang Chen's position would have found enlightenment on the spot.

Perhaps Ma Xiaotao's provocation was precisely what had triggered Jiang Chen's Martial Soul Second Awakening.

Mockery flickered across Xian Lin'er's face. "Yan Shaozhe, sometimes I think you really are an idiot. Your closed-door policies were bad enough, and I put up with you suppressing the Soul Tool Department. But you went after someone from your own Martial Soul Department? I'm impressed."

"Well, now Jiang Chen and Xiaotao have fallen out completely. Who's going to suppress your disciple's Evil Fire?"

"I mean it. You need to change that narrow-minded, shortsighted, vindictive, miserly nature of yours. Keep this up and you'll destroy Shrek Academy."

Elder Song sighed too. "Yan Shaozhe, you really were foolish."

Elder Lin said, "Leave the younger generation's affairs to them. You urged Xiaotao to break up with him, and now she has. Are you happy? Look what you've done with your own hands. You've dug your own grave."

In an instant, the Elders were all pointing fingers at Yan Shaozhe, like aunties at the village entrance lecturing a young man for living off his parents.

Yan Shaozhe was scolded like a misbehaving grandson and did not dare say a word.

Not one of them took his side. Every last one berated him.

But he had done it for Xiaotao and for the good of the academy. Who could have known Jiang Chen was this exceptional?

He had badly misjudged him this time.

Yan Shaozhe sighed. "If you're done scolding me, let's think about how to resolve this. We need to deal with Xiaotao's Evil Fire so the younger generation can take over when we step down."

Xian Lin'er turned to Mu En. "Is there still room to mend things?"

Mu En shook his head. "Judging by Jiang Chen's attitude, he truly intends to sever all ties with Xiaotao and never see her again."

"As the saying goes, whoever tied the bell must untie it. Yan Shaozhe will have to go to him and apologize in person."

"But let me say something unpleasant upfront. I was very close to Jiang Chen's parents. Even when you go to apologize, watch what you say. If Jiang Chen withdraws from Shrek, Yan Shaozhe, you might as well leave too."

"And from what I've seen, Jiang Chen and Ling Luochеn are very close. It will be extremely difficult for Xiaotao to get back together with him."

At that, Xian Lin'er and the others all turned to Yan Shaozhe again. Their meaning could not have been clearer.

The one who had made the mess had to clean it up.

Besides, Jiang Chen had someone else he was close to. Xiaotao had no advantage at all.

It would probably come to nothing, but the Elders still hoped Yan Shaozhe would try to salvage it, even if the chance was only one in ten thousand.

If he succeeded, Shrek Academy could one day have two more Super Douluos with Ultimate Attributes, allowing it to stand tall for another thousand years.

Yan Shaozhe drew a deep breath and made up his mind.

He would have to be the peacemaker.

For Xiaotao's happiness and the academy's future, what did it matter if he had to bow his head to a student?

Yan Shaozhe gave his word at once. "This happened because of me. As the person chiefly responsible, I won't shirk my duty like Xuan Zi. I'll speak with Jiang Chen."

"To resolve Xiaotao's Evil Fire and secure the academy's future, I can apologize to someone younger than me."

Mu En nodded with satisfaction.

This was the Yan Shaozhe he wanted to see, not the one who had acted almost like an Evil Soul Master.

Even if things could not be mended in the end, Mu En could put it down to Ma Xiaotao's ill fate rather than Yan Shaozhe being too proud to apologize.

Nearby, Xuan Zi paused with wine in one hand and a chicken leg in the other.

What? How had he gotten dragged into this?

His aged face flushed red with anger. "Yan Shaozhe, you can eat whatever you like, but you can't say whatever you like! I've always handled things reliably. When have I ever shirked responsibility? If you don't explain yourself today, you and I aren't finished!"

Yan Shaozhe's mouth twitched, but he said nothing.

He was not going to argue with the old man right now.

In any case, Xuan Zi bore an inescapable share of responsibility for the deaths of those inner-court disciples. Mu En had not blamed him in the end. Heaven itself must have opened its eyes.

When Yan Shaozhe remained silent, Xuan Zi grew even more agitated. "Explain yourself!"

"I won't. I misspoke," Yan Shaozhe said expressionlessly.

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Mu En hurriedly cut them off. "Behave, both of you! I'm not dead yet. You don't get to run wild at Shrek while I'm here."