The Great Explosion

"Tch, boring! With an attitude like that, you'll have a hard time finding a girlfriend!"

Ma Xiaotao sat across from Jiang Hao. Her red dress barely covered her knees, and her slender, pale calves rested on the stone table as she slowly pushed her chair back, swaying in the breeze.

A teasing look crossed Jiang Hao's face. "Did nobody chase after you in all six years at the academy? No wonder you're so pent up!"

Ma Xiaotao gave an indignant snort. Her face flushed bright red, and she threw a punch straight at Jiang Hao's face. "You dare make fun of me? You're asking for it!"

But Jiang Hao caught her fist firmly in his palm. The burning pain made him frown, and even the arm he kept behind his back went a little numb. This woman had no sense of restraint. If that punch had landed on his face, he might have ended up with one enormous black eye.

Ma Xiaotao, meanwhile, stared in surprise. She had not used her full strength, but that force was still far beyond what a six-year-old should have been able to withstand.

"Forget it. I won't hold it against you. Since you took care of me for two days, you can have this."

As though something amusing had occurred to her, Ma Xiaotao went on, "I'm entering the Inner Court this year. Once the new term starts, the academy will probably have more students around. You'd better not wander everywhere. Plenty of students in both courts come from noble families or families with distinguished service, and Vice Dean Qian won't always be there at just the right moment to protect you. Take this. If anyone tries to beat you up outside, show it to them and say you're under my protection."

When Ma Xiaotao turned away, a neatly folded Red Handkerchief lay on the stone table. A golden-red Phoenix had been embroidered on it, though rather badly.

If I hit him here, my teacher would definitely hold me responsible. Heh, with this, those Outer Court guys might just take revenge on him and teach him a proper lesson.

"Don't tell me this is some personal handkerchief you carry around as a token. I appreciate the thought, but you should take it back."

"What personal handkerchief? Do I look like I need one? I use this to wipe my sweat after Soul Fighting. Everyone I've beaten into submission should recognize it. Nothing could bring back their fear of me faster."

Ma Xiaotao laughed heartily, lost in the thrill of battle and daydreams of what might happen next. Then a cough made her body jerk. Wisps of gray vapor began to seep from her, and the cough shook two tears from her eyes.

"Something's come up. I have to go. I'll come see you when I get the chance."

With that, two pairs of fiery red wings spread behind Ma Xiaotao. She shot into the air and flew toward the far side of Sea God Lake.

The Evil Fire was flaring up. As her Soul Power and age increased, it would probably only get worse. Maybe this was the gentlest Ma Xiaotao I'd ever know. She wasn't bad company, either. If she weren't such a die-hard Shrek supporter, it would be a lot easier to accept.

As he pondered, the voices of many Clones sounded in his mind. "Boss, we're all ready." "Just give the word, and we'll start making trouble."

Good. Now that everyone was in position, it was time to unleash some real social violence on Shrek. Follow the original plan. Above all, work with Brother Tree.

Jiang Hao shut the small gate to his courtyard, pulled over a rocking chair, and lay back calmly on the second-floor stone terrace. He took a light sip of juice and watched the lake's rolling waves. "Then let's stir up a little panic."

He closed his eyes and took in the images sent by his many Clones. In the bustling streets of Shrek City, several unusual figures had caught the attention of everyone nearby.

"What are those children doing? Holding a funeral procession in Shrek City? Don't they know they need the City Lord's Manor's approval? And they're pushing a funeral cart down the street!"

The procession was made up of several Clones.

"Brother Tree, that Soul Skill of yours is incredible. What made you choose a Skin-Changing Monster for your First Soul Ring? It can even change people's faces."

One Clone wore white mourning clothes and a hemp rope around his waist. He pushed a handcart toward Shrek City's busiest Commercial Street. "What's wrong with that? Did you want to wear masks woven from Blue Silver Grass your whole life? The boss doesn't want us showing our faces because he's afraid we'll embarrass him."

The three walked for a long time. Perhaps no one had dared cause trouble in Shrek City for so long that the Security Officers saw no need to hurry. By the time they arrived at their destination—the very center of Commercial Street—not one had appeared. The headquarters of Steam Bird News stood nearby. It was the perfect place to spread the story.

Now then. One! Two! Three! Let the show begin!

"Father! Mother!" "Your son has come to visit Big Brother for you!" "But he's dead! Just like that!"

Brother Tree poured his heart into the performance. One hand slapped the empty cart while the other beat his chest again and again. His opening cries, along with the sight of three boys in mourning clothes, drew every eye nearby. Even the reporters at Steam Bird News began excitedly gathering their cameras. It was just after two in the afternoon, and office workers were coming and going from the newspaper's headquarters. A commotion like this was bound to catch their attention.

The other Clones were not idle. Wrapped from head to toe in scarves, they spread out through the streets and alleys. At Jiang Hao's command, both groups began at once!

"Shrek Academy, give us back our big brother!" "Sea God Pavilion Elder Xuan Zi is unfit to be a teacher!" "He abandoned his students during Soul Hunting, leaving my brother's group to be killed by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! So many students died!" "Shrek, give us back our brother!" "You demons of Shrek Academy!"

One Clone screamed with heartrending anguish, his whole body convulsing. Then he tipped backward and collapsed.

Phase one complete: draw attention.

Another Clone, already prepared, caught the falling one. "Second Brother, you can't die! If you die of grief, how am I supposed to go on?"

As he reached out, the Scorpion Tail hidden in his palm stabbed the fallen Clone. The Clone rapidly turned purple, then foamed at the mouth. With a thud, he fell silent, as though he had already decided where he wanted to end up.

Dead! Poisoned!

Phase two: spread panic fast.

The onlookers had seen it all. The boy was as purple as an eggplant.

"Shrek Academy is this heartless? We're just children, yet they're poisoning us in secret! All so the truth can be buried in their vile soil?"

With that, he stabbed his own palm. Dutiful Son Number Two promptly foamed at the mouth and fell stiffly across his second brother!

"Second Brother! Third Brother! What a terrible way to die! You're gone, Mom and Dad were killed by Evil Soul Masters, and Shrek Academy got Big Brother killed too. I'm only six years old. What am I supposed to do?"

Dutiful Son Number Three hauled his two brothers onto the cart. He raised both hands and ranted at the crowd, repeating, "Xuan Zi of Shrek Academy got my big brother killed. We only came to ask for his body so we could give him a proper burial and let him rest in peace, but they sent someone to poison my brothers in secret. Is there any justice left under heaven? Is there any law? Go on, poison me too!"

Then he clutched his throat with a dramatic gasp. "Poison! The air is poisoned!" With that, he fell straight backward.

Step three: set off a storm of public outrage and clear a path to escape.

With all three dead, the place erupted. Someone in the crowd shouted, "Run! Shrek Academy is killing witnesses to silence them!"

The crowd scattered like startled birds and beasts. People were trampled in several places, and cries and curses rang out without end.

"Mommy? Mommy, where are you?" A little girl stood frozen as the rushing crowd shoved her about. A man in a trench coat swept past, tucked her into his arms, and vanished. A moment later, she appeared on a street corner with a bun stuffed in her mouth.

At the same time, countless flyers rained down across Shrek City's streets and alleys. Everywhere, they proclaimed: "Xuan Zi of Shrek Academy neglected his duty and left his students alone during Soul Hunting. Forced to face a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, eighteen died and four were seriously injured."

The City Defense Army soon arrived and began driving people off the streets while searching for the culprits. In a single day, the whole of Shrek City had been thrown into chaos, like chickens flying and dogs leaping.

By then, Jiang Hao had already left his residence. He stood quietly against a section of Shrek City's wall, feeling several Clones return to his body in successive groups. Satisfied, he left that dangerous place and headed toward Shrek Outer Court.