Early the next morning, Flender called everyone to the training ground. Yesterday the captain had already been decided, and what they needed to do today was determine the first edition of the starting lineup.
Without beating around the bush, Ling Yun handed the list directly over. Flender glanced at it and read aloud, "Ling Yun, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong, Oscar, Xiao Wu."
Seven people, exactly.
Without Tang San.
The training ground went quiet all at once, and Xiao Wu was the first to lose her composure. "Where is Third Brother? Why isn't there a Third Brother?"
Ling Yun glanced at her. "Because there are only seven starting spots. You call yourselves the Shrek Seven Devils, but that doesn't mean your seven names are carved onto the tournament roster. Missing even one counts as an official violation."
Tang San was calmer than Xiao Wu, asking only, "The reason?"
"Yesterday was the reason."
Ling Yun pointed at Dai Mubai and the others. "When Oscar was dragged away by me, you were judging the situation. When Rongrong was eliminated, you still knew how to adjust the formation. When Xiao Wu was in danger, you directly shifted a large amount of Blue Silver Grass toward her side."
"And later when Dai Mubai rushed into the mist, you clearly knew he needed support, yet you still stayed by Xiao Wu's side. You didn't lose on strength; you were the one who ranked your teammates in order of priority."
Tang San was silent for a moment. "That point yesterday was my misjudgment."
"As long as you admit it."
Ling Yun smiled. "The starting lineup is not an award for excellent students. Yesterday you made a mistake that could directly affect the entire team, so today you sit on the bench first. Any questions?"
Xiao Wu still wanted to speak, but Dai Mubai suddenly said, "Little San, regarding that part yesterday, I do have a bit of an opinion."
Everyone looked at him.
Dai Mubai crossed his arms, his tone not particularly heavy. "When I rushed into the mist, I thought you would follow. In the past when we played team battles, as long as I took charge of the front, your Blue Silver Grass would definitely connect from behind."
"Yet yesterday it didn't."
Tang San furrowed his brows slightly. "Xiao Wu was injured at the time."
"I know."
Dai Mubai nodded. "So I didn't blame you for saving her. Only, if the captain has to choose between a teammate and Xiao Wu every time, then the others will inevitably wonder-next time it's our turn, will you still choose her?"
As soon as these words came out, Tang San's expression changed noticeably.
Xiao Wu immediately said, "Boss Dai, Third Brother was only like that yesterday because I was already injured!"
"But I almost got hit by a Water Shuriken too."
Oscar suddenly chimed in, his tone still somewhat mischievous like usual, though the amusement wasn't strong. "When I was dragged away, your first reaction, Little San, was to reorganize the formation. That's very normal, and I don't have any objections."
"But later, as soon as Xiao Wu was targeted, the formation changed just like that. To be honest, when I sat on the sidelines yesterday, I really did wonder whether you'd be in such a rush if I were the one being hunted down."
The scene grew even quieter.
Ma Hongjun rubbed his nose. "I didn't think about that much. I just felt that yesterday I boiled water for half a day, only to find out in the end that I had no idea when Ling Yun even used me as bait."
"Still, Boss Dai's words make sense. The seven of us used to fight together, and whoever ran into trouble, the others would all step up. Yesterday later on... it really did feel like everything was revolving around Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu's complexion grew increasingly ugly. "What do you all mean? Are you blaming everything on Third Brother now?"
"Nobody is blaming him."
Zhu Zhuqing finally spoke up.
Her words were always very few, and because of that, all the more direct. "We're merely pointing out the problem."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Tang San. "Yesterday after Ling Yun said he was going to attack Xiao Wu, you changed the original arrangement twice in a row. The second time, even Dai Mubai's position was left vacant."
"This wasn't made up by Ling Yun; we all saw it."
Tang San did not refute.
Ning Rongrong spoke softly then. "Little San, you really do take good care of everyone usually, and we know that. But yesterday, Ling Yun's most formidable point wasn't the mist-it was that he discovered as long as anyone touched Xiao Wu, you would change your plan."
"What if this happens at the Soul Master Tournament and other teams find out?"
This single sentence was what truly made Tang San's expression sink.
Because this was no longer a matter of who won or lost yesterday.
It was a weakness.
A weakness that could be repeatedly exploited by others.
Ling Yun stood to the side, watching as the few members of Shrek produced a divergence for the first time because of Tang San's choices, and suddenly smiled. "Little San, you don't need me to say it now, do you?"
"In the past the seven of you had a good relationship, so naturally nobody fussed over many things. But having a good relationship doesn't mean others should forever yield their positions to you and Xiao Wu."
Xiao Wu couldn't help saying, "Third Brother has always been doing it for everyone!"
"I didn't say he hasn't done things for everyone."
Ling Yun looked at her. "Does that conflict with his favoritism yesterday?"
"Stop always using past merits to pay off yesterday's mistakes. At this rate, since Tang San has saved people a few times in the past, can he direct however he wants in future matches?"
Xiao Wu was choked into silence.
Ling Yun added another sentence. "You sure are quick to shield him. No wonder yesterday he preferred to let Dai Mubai charge ahead on his own just so he could stay by your side."
Dai Mubai did not speak.
Yet this time, he didn't smooth things over for Tang San either.
This kind of silence in itself was already somewhat different from the past.
Yu Xiaogang couldn't watch any longer and said in a deep voice, "Little San did indeed have a misjudgment yesterday, but a single mistake is not enough to negate the tacit understanding he has built up with the team in the past."
Ling Yun turned his gaze to him. "Grandmaster, how is it that you're always so good at picking words?"
"When Tang San makes a mistake, it's called a single misjudgment. When my Second Soul Ring exceeded the age limit, it was called a special circumstance; when my fourth soul ring was ten thousand years, it was still called a special circumstance. Your whole life, whenever you run into something that doesn't meet expectations, do you just give it an acceptable name first?"
Yu Xiaogang's expression stiffened.
Ling Yun continued, "What we're discussing now is the starting lineup, not holding a memorial service for Tang San. He's just sitting out two games on the bench, yet coming from you, it makes it sound like his Martial Soul was crippled."
Flender lowered his head and rubbed his temples.
Ma Hongjun was already beginning to hold back his laughter.
"Grandmaster, a true team isn't one that forgets how to walk the moment Tang San leaves," Ling Yun said. "If you truly believe they can't fight without him, then what on earth have you been training all these years-the Shrek Seven Devils, or Tang San and his six cheat codes?"
As soon as these words came out, the expressions of Dai Mubai and the others shifted once more.
The two words "cheat codes" didn't sound very nice.
Yet during the latter half of yesterday, they truly had almost entirely moved along with Tang San's Blue Silver Grass.
Yu Xiaogang said in a deep voice, "You are deliberately stirring up discord in their relationship."
"What discord am I stirring up?"
Ling Yun spread his hands. "What happened yesterday cannot be faked; Dai Mubai being left unsupported was not something I decided for Tang San."
"If a single sentence were really enough to shatter the relationship of seven people, then don't call them life-and-death companions; fragile goods would be a much more fitting name."
Nobody answered.
Ling Yun looked at Tang San. "If you feel wronged, it's very simple. Sit on the bench and watch a match."
"This afternoon, I will lead these six people and Xiao Wu to play through a set of coordination anew. Without you, if they immediately fall into a complete mess, I'll personally write your name back into the starting lineup tomorrow."
Tang San asked, "And if they don't?"
"Then that proves one thing."
Ling Yun smiled. "Just because Shrek used to be accustomed to having you as the core doesn't mean you were naturally meant to sit in that position."
He pointed toward the substitute bench nearby.
"Little San, you said yesterday that I don't understand teams."
"Today it's your turn to sit below."
"See whether Dai Mubai is still Dai Mubai without you, whether Zhu Zhuqing can still run, and whether Ning Rongrong's Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda will fail to shine just because three characters like Tang San are missing."
The gazes of everyone in the arena landed on Tang San. This time, it was no longer just Ling Yun challenging him.
In the hearts of Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ning Rongrong, an answer was also faintly being sought.
Was the past coordination of the Shrek Seven Devils that of seven people, or was it just Tang San's?
Before you continue