Flender: Little San San

I didn't qualify?!

Hearing Li Yusong's words, Tang San let out a cold laugh as though he had heard some absurd joke.

He was so angry that he laughed instead.

I, Tang San, cultivate the Mysterious Heaven Skill, know the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, and forge iron all the time. How could I possibly fail to qualify?

Li Yusong was not angered by his cold laugh and said calmly,

"Yes, although it's clear that you have experience with long-term, high-intensity labor, such as blacksmithing or pulling carts, you have certain unhealthy habits. Those habits have affected your kidneys—"

"Stop! Don't say another word!"

Tang San stopped Li Yusong with a horrified expression. He had already guessed what Li Yusong wanted to say. If he actually said it aloud, wouldn't Tang San be humiliated beyond belief?

Besides, the matter of him being lovey-dovey with Dai Mubai was currently only circulating within a small circle. Most people who heard the rumors did not know him or even know his name. He did not want to embarrass himself at Shrek Academy. Otherwise, some gossip-seekers who came to watch the excitement might recognize him, and then he would truly become famous.

Tang San accepted the ten Gold Soul Coins Li Yusong handed him. His face alternated between green and white as he had no idea what to do next.

Just then, Li Yusong and Flender came to their senses at the same time. Especially Flender—when he thought of the several hundred Gold Soul Coins he had just handed out, his heart ached so badly he could barely breathe!

He had painstakingly earned that money through scamming and swindling!

Flender suppressed the urge to slap himself, looked at Tang San, and suddenly came up with an idea. Ignoring his heartache, he quickly said,

"Ahem, although that's what I said, it's not as though there's no room for a turnaround. How about this? After the assessment ends, come to my office. I'll arrange another test for you. If you pass, you can still enroll."

He wanted to fleece rejected applicants like Tang San to make up for the money he had just given away, while earning some extra on top.

I'm a genius!

The moment Flender thought this, an uncontrollable thought suddenly rose in his heart:

I earn money just to give it away. I want to do charity. I want to become the most generous man in all of Heaven Dou!

Flender looked at the line and called out loudly,

"Next! Hurry it up!"

At that moment, carriage after carriage raced over from all directions. Figures rapidly climbed down from the carriages—young men who had just come of age, old men past fifty, and middle-aged women still carrying vegetables in their hands.

"We're here to register!"

Flender said with a beaming smile,

"Register! Everyone can register!"

Tang San was overjoyed after hearing Flender's words. He thought that he really was the protagonist after all, and there was still a chance for him. So, he found a patch of shade beneath a tree and waited for the assessment to end.

Using the excuse of keeping Tang San company while waiting, Bai Yu also remained there. The moment the alteration effect on Flender ended, he would alter him again, determined to make Flender bleed heavily.

It was not until a heavily pregnant woman received ten Gold Soul Coins and left with a delighted smile that Flender touched his pocket. He immediately frowned and called Dai Mubai over.

"Dai Mubai, go to the Money House in Suotuo City and borrow money. Use Shrek Academy as collateral. Borrow as much as you can!"

Dai Mubai's mouth fell open, but no words came out.

"Dean, are we not going to live anymore?"

Flender snapped irritably,

"What are you afraid of? I can pay it back!"

Dai Mubai was dumbfounded. He had watched the whole thing for quite a while and still could not figure out why Flender was giving away money. He had even gone to ask Zhao Wuji about it. Zhao Wuji came over once, only to be cursed away by Flender.

Is he doing charity here?

But since Flender had given the order, Dai Mubai did not dare disobey. He could only start walking toward Suotuo City.

Suddenly, Bai Yu stopped him and asked,

"Senior, it's already dusk. Can we rest for the night first and continue the other assessments tomorrow?"

Dai Mubai hesitated before saying,

"Sure. The assessment time is already over. I'll tell the Dean."

"Thank you."

Having confirmed that Flender had given away all his savings, Bai Yu walked over to Tang San. Looking at the dusk on the horizon, he said,

"Little San, let's go. We'll stay in the village for a day and take the assessment tomorrow."

Xiao Wu did not want to stay here waiting for Tang San, so Bai Yu had sent her into the village to find lodging first.

Tang San nodded. He planned to go to Flender's office after dinner.

"Ah, now that Little San is gone, I don't want to stay in Nuoding City either. People there badmouth me every day, so I came to seek refuge with you, Flender."

In Flender's office, Yu Xiaogang looked at Flender expectantly.

He knew that Flender had saved up quite a bit of money over the years. Teaching at Shrek Academy surely paid better than teaching at Nuoding Academy!

Yet, faced with his expectant gaze, Flender merely puffed at his pipe absentmindedly without saying a word.

Yu Xiaogang could not help frowning as he asked,

"Flender, what happened?"

Flender still did not speak. His gaze was fixed on the floor, his pupils unfocused.

Just as Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth again, the office door was suddenly pushed open. Several shrewd-looking men walked in, unable to hide the amusement in their voices.

"Mr. Flender, the usury loan contract you signed to borrow money from us has been finalized. The money you borrowed has already been transferred to your card, and Shrek Academy now belongs to our Money House."

Yu Xiaogang instantly froze, turning to look at Flender. Flender remained silent like a statue.

At that moment, a Money House employee said with a smile,

"Dean Flender, don't be too upset. Our boss said that we only want ownership rights. Your position as Dean will still be yours, and you will still handle all affairs, large and small, at the academy."

Yu Xiaogang's mouth twitched. Wasn't an acting dean just an employee? What was Flender thinking? How could he mortgage Shrek Academy itself?

After a moment of silence, Flender said in a deep voice,

"I understand."

A little later, Tang San knocked on the door of Flender's office.

Flender opened the door. His beard and hair were a mess, the bags beneath his eyes swollen, as though he had aged thirty years in half a day. Tang San was so startled that he jumped!

"D-Dean, what happened to you?"

Flender said nothing and gestured for Tang San to come inside.

I can only extort whatever I can now, Flender thought sorrowfully.

He did not understand why he had given away money for charity, or why he had even had Dai Mubai use Shrek Academy as collateral to take out a usury loan. In any case, he now had a large sum of money on hand and could maintain the academy's expenses for the short term. But the key was that the academy was no longer his!

While Flender was steeped in sorrow, Tang San carefully spoke up.

"Dean, you asked me to come to your office tonight for an assessment. What is the content of the assessment?"

Flender gave Tang San a deep look and said in a hoarse voice,

"The content of the assessment? What do you think it would be?"

He intended to lay some groundwork so he could better trick Tang San into paying money.

Tang San actually began thinking about it seriously, and the office fell silent for a moment.

Meanwhile, Bai Yu was in a nearby room, watching the scene through his Fiery Golden Eyes.

As for not being able to hear their voices, narration kept flashing before his eyes. Through it, he could roughly understand the content of their conversation.

[Plot: Flender called Tang San into his office, intending to extort him.]

Bai Yu changed "extort" to—

Inside the office, Tang San gave several answers in a row, all of which Flender denied. Then Flender suddenly thought of his "heroic bearing" while giving away money during the day, of his years of savings being squandered, and of Shrek Academy being mortgaged. A nameless fire rose within him.

He subconsciously raised his head, only to see Tang San's earnest face as he thought, and the alluring expression between Tang San's brows. Flender could not help swallowing, suddenly wanting to vent the nameless fire in his heart.

At that moment, Tang San lowered his head and said sincerely,

"Dean, I don't know. Please tell me."

A wicked glint flashed through Flender's eyes. He raised the corners of his mouth beneath his beard and chuckled softly.

"Alright, Little San San. I'll tell you right now~"