Blue Tyrant Academy-Why Should It Take Shrek's Name?

Ling Yun stared at the newly made wooden sign for several seconds. His fairly good mood faded at once.

The academy teachers looked embarrassed too.

One of them held the sign and explained, "The dean had it made a couple of days ago. She said that once Dean Flender and the others settled in, we'd replace the academy's old sign."

Only then did Liu Erlong remember.

The Golden Iron Triangle had reunited a few days ago, and in her excitement, she had indeed agreed to hand Blue Tyrant Academy over to Flender and rename it Shrek. Then Ling Yun had sparred with Tang San, followed by the incident with Dugu Bo, so the sign had never been put up.

Now Ling Yun was back, and the sign had arrived at the worst possible moment.

Liu Erlong glanced at him. She already knew what the brat was about to do.

Sure enough, Ling Yun walked over and tapped the sign.

"Nice workmanship."

The teachers had just breathed a sigh of relief when he continued, "Find a storeroom and put it away."

Flender immediately looked awkward.

Yu Xiaogang frowned. "Ling Yun, Erlong has already made this decision. Since she's handed the academy over to Flender, changing its name is only natural. You don't need to keep making an issue of it."

Ling Yun turned to him. "Let me ask you something. Who founded Blue Tyrant Academy?"

Yu Xiaogang answered at once. "Erlong, of course."

"Then who hired its teachers? Who taught its students? Who's kept this academy standing all these years?"

Yu Xiaogang did not answer immediately.

Ling Yun did not wait. He gestured around them. "Yes, my teacher founded the academy. But Blue Tyrant didn't become what it is today because she spent every hour of every day laying bricks by herself. Hundreds of students and dozens of teachers have been here for years. The Shrek people arrived, and on their first day, the dean changed. Fine by me. Changes to how the academy is run? Fine by me too."

At that, he tapped the sign again.

"But changing the name outright? On what grounds?"

The Blue Tyrant teachers nearby had been reluctant to get involved, but their expressions visibly changed at those words.

Of course they respected Liu Erlong. But they had also used the name Blue Tyrant Academy for years.

To have the entire academy suddenly renamed Shrek just because a few old friends of the dean had arrived—if they claimed they had no feelings about it, they would be lying.

Yu Xiaogang said gravely, "The dean is ultimately responsible for the academy. Erlong chose to hand it over to Flender. That was her decision."

"Which is why I didn't object to changing deans."

Ling Yun's answer came without hesitation. "But has Grandmaster forgotten something? Blue Tyrant Academy isn't Teacher Erlong's private house. If she's happy today and gives Dean Flender her position, fine. If she's happy tomorrow, can she give away the enrollment records of hundreds of students too?"

At that, Flender looked even more embarrassed.

In truth, he had felt from the start that something about this was improper.

But Shrek Academy had just been forced to leave its old location, and Liu Erlong had offered of her own accord. He could not quite bear to give up the Shrek name, so he had not firmly refused.

Liu Erlong stood to one side with her arms folded. She did not interrupt.

Instead, she listened more and more intently.

When no one spoke, Ling Yun turned to the Shrek students.

"Dai Mubai, let me ask you something. Say you'd been running Shrek Academy for years. Then one day, people from some famous academy showed up. Their dean was friends with Dean Flender, and Flender got so happy he changed Shrek's name to theirs on the spot. Would you like that?"

Dai Mubai opened his mouth.

In the end, he told the truth. "Not really."

"There you go."

Ling Yun spread his hands. "If you wouldn't like it done to you, don't act like it's perfectly reasonable to do it to someone else."

Ma Hongjun had been about to say a few words in defense of the Shrek name, but he held his tongue.

Until now, they had only thought that Liu Erlong had offered to change the name, handing them a huge windfall.

But looking at it from the other side...

It really was a little like moving into someone else's house and changing the sign on the door while they were at it.

After a moment's silence, Tang San spoke too. "Teacher, I think Ling Yun has a point this time. Changing the dean is a matter of administration, but the academy's name concerns every student and teacher. If everyone disagrees, it really shouldn't be changed by force."

Yu Xiaogang turned to look at Tang San.

Now it was Ling Yun's turn to be surprised.

"Not bad, Little San."

Tang San gave him a flat look. "I'm just judging the matter on its merits."

"Good. You're making progress."

Tang San could not be bothered to respond.

After a moment's silence, Yu Xiaogang did not insist. "If most of the academy's teachers and students truly don't want the name changed, then their wishes should be respected."

Ling Yun smiled at that.

"Then it's simple."

He turned straight to the Blue Tyrant teachers. "Sorry for the trouble, but could you let everyone know this afternoon? Anyone who wants the name changed to Shrek can raise a hand. Anyone who doesn't needn't be afraid—just say so. We'll go by the numbers."

With that proposal on the table, Flender had nothing left to say.

If it came to a vote...

Anyone could guess the result with their eyes closed.

How many people had Shrek brought, even counting every last one?

And how many students did Blue Tyrant Academy have?

Liu Erlong finally let out a laugh. "No need to vote."

Everyone turned to her.

Liu Erlong walked over to the wooden sign reading "Shrek Academy" and studied it for a moment before waving a hand. "Ling Yun's right. I thought too little about this before. The academy will remain Blue Tyrant, and Boss Fu will still be its dean. The Shrek people can teach and live here from now on, and the existing teachers will stay where they are."

Flender pushed up his glasses helplessly. "Erlong, you're making my new post as dean feel a bit like I've married into your family."

Ling Yun immediately chimed in. "Look on the bright side, Dean Flender. At least she hasn't made you change your surname."

The teachers nearby burst out laughing. Flender's face darkened further, while Liu Erlong laughed so hard her shoulders shook.

Even Tang San turned his head away, plainly holding back a laugh.

With the matter settled, Yu Xiaogang did not argue further. But the look he gave Ling Yun was somewhat complicated.

The child Nuoding Academy had expelled seven years ago had not only surpassed everyone's expectations in cultivation. His word carried far more weight at Blue Tyrant Academy than Yu Xiaogang had imagined.

Ling Yun did not think he had done anything remarkable. The academy's name was safe, and half of that old score could be set aside for now. As for the other half, he glanced at Yu Xiaogang. There would be plenty of chances later.

Just as everyone was about to disperse, Flender called out to Liu Erlong and Ling Yun.

"One more thing."

He took a file from inside his coat.

"Registration for the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament is about to open. Blue Tyrant Academy already has a place in it. Now that our two sides have joined together, we need to decide on the team ahead of time."

Ling Yun took the file and looked it over. The Shrek Seven Devils, Blue Tyrant's Advanced Class, and himself—a Level 40 Soul Ancestor who had just obtained a ten-thousand-year fourth ring. There were clearly too many of them.

Liu Erlong looked at Flender. "What are you suggesting?"

Flender pushed up his glasses. "An academy can only enter one main team. We need to decide who makes the team and who captains it."

Ling Yun slowly raised his head. Not far away, Dai Mubai was already looking his way. This time, it would not be as simple as replacing a sign.