Mu En's Fantasy?! Yan Shaozhe, Get Out Here Yourself!

"Yan Shaozhe, you may soon have another junior disciple," Xuan Zi said suddenly as he flew ahead.

Yan Shaozhe jerked his head up, surprise and suspicion flashing in his eyes.

"Xuan Zi, you mean... that boy?"

Xuan Zi nodded.

"Mu En discussed the idea with me when the child first entered Shrek. Now it looks all but certain."

Yan Shaozhe fell silent, his face so conflicted he looked as uncomfortable as if he had eaten shit.

"But... the path Teacher follows doesn't really suit him, does it?"

Xuan Zi gave a derisive laugh and shook his head. "Ten thousand years ago, did Yu Xiaogang, teacher of a god, suit Sea God Tang San?"

Yan Shaozhe had no answer.

Mu En's calculation was simple. Ten thousand years ago, his ancestor Yu Xiaogang had contributed next to nothing of substance, yet benefited enormously from being known as the "Sea God's teacher."

With that precedent before him, how could Mu En not be tempted? Besides, becoming his disciple was hardly a bad bargain.

Most importantly, apart from his personality, Tang Qi was remarkably like Tang San! He might even surpass him.

If they could tie Tang Qi to the great ship that was Shrek, even the minimum payoff was obvious. The potential upside was staggering.

In moments, the two arrived at the Sea God Pavilion.

Mu En had been waiting for them.

He sat in a custom-made chair. Warm sunlight spilled through the window lattice onto his face, making his half-closed eyes look exceptionally serene.

"Mu En." Xuan Zi dipped his head in greeting.

"Teacher!" Yan Shaozhe bowed with Ma Xiaotao in his arms.

Mu En slowly opened his eyes. His gaze settled on Ma Xiaotao's deathly pale face, but his expression did not change, as though he had expected this.

"Yan Shaozhe, take the child to Xiao Zhuang first," Mu En said softly.

As though granted a reprieve, Yan Shaozhe hurriedly thanked him and left with Ma Xiaotao.

Only after Yan Shaozhe was gone did Mu En look away. "Xuan Zi, tell me what happened."

Xuan Zi nodded and recounted everything in detail.

At the end, he paused, then said gravely, "That child seems to have some prejudice against Shrek."

Mu En was silent for a moment before giving a soft laugh. "And he has reason to."

Understanding colored his voice. "He simply hasn't been steeped in Shrek's spirit yet. Young people come to understand in time. He'll become part of the Shrek family."

From Xuan Zi's account, Mu En knew he would probably have to adjust his plans for Tang Qi.

But the thought of his troublesome disciple gave him a headache.

Shortsighted and unfit for any great responsibility.

If forced to choose between Shrek and his disciple, Mu En would choose Shrek without hesitation. That went without saying.

Tang Qi was a talent seen once in ten thousand years, gifted beyond even Tang San. If Shrek could not make use of him, it would be the greatest regret of the past ten millennia.

So Mu En decided that, once Yan Shaozhe returned, he would order him to handle the matter in the Outer Court personally. He would apologize where an apology was due and compensate where compensation was due. He had to make the right gesture and be sincere.

More than that, a grander idea quietly took shape in the depths of Mu En's mind.

Perhaps, within his lifetime, he could assemble a new "First-Generation Shrek Seven Devils."

The original seven from ten thousand years ago had been more than Shrek's most glorious emblem. They had symbolized the academy's unity.

Forging another such team would give the increasingly aged academy a powerful shot in the arm.

He began choosing candidates in his mind.

The Inner Court had Dai Yueheng. In the Outer Court, there was even a pair who could already perform the Hell White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Skill.

The White Tiger and Hell Spirit Cat would correspond perfectly to Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing.

Which one would be Dai Mubai? That was for the youngsters to sort out. So what if the Martial Soul Fusion Skill had already taken shape? It could still be taken.

Oscar? Anyone would do.

Tang San? Tang Qi was the only choice for the heart of the seven.

Xiao Wu? The Outer Court happened to have a Soft Bone Rabbit Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power. She had even been sent by the Clear Sky Sect too. Wasn't that a match made in heaven?!

Ning Rongrong? Wasn't there a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Soul Elder among this year's new students?

As for Ma Hongjun, Ma Xiaotao could take his place.

The "grudge" between Ma Xiaotao and Tang Qi could also serve as a test for Tang Qi.

He wanted to see whether the boy would be as petty and narrow-minded as Yan Shaozhe.

Or as broad-minded as Mu En himself, willing to employ anyone of talent.

Would Tang Qi object? No one cared—or rather, no one thought he would.

As Mu En indulged in his vision, footsteps approached. Yan Shaozhe had settled Ma Xiaotao and returned.

"Teacher."

Mu En glanced at him, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Yan Shaozhe, go to the Outer Court. I don't need to teach you how to handle what happened today, do I?"

Yan Shaozhe went rigid, his mouth twitching. He could only lower his head. "Yes, Teacher. I understand."

Yan Shaozhe had thoroughly "understood" what his teacher meant.

He had intended to give Tang Qi some face, but when he learned Tang Qi had missed the entire afternoon's classes, his anger flared again.

The brat had beaten his disciple and was now putting on airs with him?!

Give every student in Class Nine a Soul Ascension Pill? Hah. He was not about to part with that many.

Yan Shaozhe gathered the Class Nine students. First came an impassioned speech about Shrek's glory and their responsibilities. Then he hinted that word of today's events getting out would do neither the academy nor them any good.

Those moves really did cow a few of them.

Next, he picked through most of those who remained and selected the students from ordinary backgrounds who were unlikely to make waves. Each received a Soul Ascension Pill as hush money.

For those from major sects, like Ning Tian, Yan Shaozhe gritted his teeth and spent a little more. He gave them not only a Soul Ascension Pill but a Mystic Water Pill as well.

What? You didn't want one?

Well, all the better.

As long as most people kept quiet, one or two stubborn holdouts could hardly stir up a storm.

Yan Shaozhe had been dean of Shrek's Martial Soul Department for years. When he set out to settle something, he settled it.

Would the other powers object? Some would, but not many—unless they no longer wanted a place in the Douluo Three Kingdoms.

As for Huo Yutong and Xiao Xiao, who were clearly close to Tang Qi, there was no need to compensate them.

Placate Tang Qi, and everything else would fall into place.

Mu Jin was even easier to deal with. She was a Shrek teacher, after all. A few empty promises would suffice.

As for Tang Qi himself?

Yan Shaozhe already had a plan.

Tomorrow, he would sit down with the boy and help him understand Shrek's glory and what it meant to make sacrifices.

By the time he finished, it was deep into the night.

In an inconspicuous Tavern in Shrek City...

The thought of going back gave Yan Shaozhe a headache, so he let his Soul Power loose and drank his fill.

"So what if he's like Tang San?" A sneer twisted his face. "Even Tang San would have to respect his teachers and elders once he came to Shrek! When Teacher formally takes him as a disciple, I'll show him how a senior disciple brings his junior into line."

Yan Shaozhe smacked his lips. "Jade won't become a fine vessel unless it's carved."

The words had barely left his mouth when—

"Yan Shaozhe!"

A voice as mighty as a mountain exploded in his mind.

Yan Shaozhe froze.

"Get out here yourself."

The voice rang out again, like a great bell beneath the blazing sun.

In an instant, Yan Shaozhe was stone-cold sober.

His gaze sharpened. He flashed out of the Tavern and stared into the distance.

"Hiding your head and showing your tail!" Yan Shaozhe snorted. His Bright Phoenix Martial Soul spread behind him, and he vanished into the night sky.