Gangzi's turn

Everyone at Shrek Academy thought the matter would end once Dai Mubai apologized.

But since Ning Chuan had already offended Shrek today, he naturally did not mind offending them a little more thoroughly.

After all, Yu Xiaogang, who had ruined his reputation, had yet to feel so much as an itch.

So, after shifting his gaze away from Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Chuan looked at Xiao Wu.

Seeing this, Xiao Wu immediately said, "I won't join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect!"

Then she turned to Flender. "Dean, Ning Chuan came to see Rongrong. Let's not disturb the siblings' reunion!" All Xiao Wu wanted now was to get out of there quickly.

Ning Chuan could naturally guess Xiao Wu's concerns, but he knew perfectly well that Tang Hao would never let Sword Douluo come to the academy, so he continued, "There's plenty of time to catch up. There's no rush to do it right this moment."

Looking at Xiao Wu, he continued, "Miss Xiao Wu, even if you're unwilling to join us, I'd still like to offer you a warning. While you're at Shrek, do be careful of those two unsavory characters. Who knows when they might set their sights on you?"

"That's none of your concern!" Tang San immediately said.

Ning Chuan smiled at that. "Oh, I nearly forgot. Miss Xiao Wu calls you Brother San. It seems we both have younger sisters. Surely, of everyone here today, you should understand me best, Tang San!"

All Tang San could think about now was how Ning Chuan had stripped Shrek of all dignity, so he spoke without thinking. "You're merely relying on Senior Dragon Duke and the backing of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Without that backing, would you still dare act so recklessly?"

"Oh? So you think I'm using my influence to bully others?" Ning Chuan asked.

"Aren't you?" Tang San said.

"Ah!" Ning Chuan sighed and deliberately took a few steps back to stand beside Dragon Duke. Then he shook his head. "I thought you would understand me, Tang San, since you have a younger sister too. But now I see you're just a coward who bullies the weak and fears the strong. What a waste for Miss Xiao Wu to call you Brother San!"

Ning Chuan knew perfectly well that these words would enrage Tang San. He had retreated to Dragon Duke's side precisely to prevent Tang San from losing his mind and using hidden weapons on him.

Tang San's expression turned cold on the spot.

"Ning Chuan, don't think you can spout nonsense just because the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect stands behind you. Boss Dai and the others were in the wrong, and you caught them out, but you'd better not provoke me!" Tang San said.

Ning Chuan remained unconcerned. "I'm merely a little worried about Miss Xiao Wu. Why are you getting so worked up?"

"Let me ask you this: if I verbally insulted Miss Xiao Wu, what would you do?" Ning Chuan asked, looking at Tang San.

"Anyone who insults Xiao Wu, I will kill!" Tang San answered without hesitation.

"I see!" Ning Chuan murmured, then turned to Dai Mubai. "It seems I've been far too merciful to you."

Only then did Tang San realize that Ning Chuan had used him.

He immediately said, "Ning Chuan, stop sowing discord! Boss Dai has already apologized. Isn't it your turn to apologize to my teacher now?"

That was exactly what Ning Chuan had been waiting for. He looked straight at Yu Xiaogang. "Grandmaster, I'm truly sorry."

He deliberately paused before continuing, "Although you really are useless, I shouldn't have said it in front of so many people!"

The first half of Ning Chuan's statement made everyone at Shrek think they had finally recovered a little dignity, but the second half nearly made Yu Xiaogang pass out from rage.

Ning Chuan's words made everyone at Shrek glare at him furiously.

Dragon Duke and Snake Granny also felt that Ning Chuan had gone a little too far. After all, his attacks on the others had been backed by sound reasoning, but Yu Xiaogang had done nothing wrong from beginning to end.

Ning Rongrong also felt that Ning Chuan's words were very inappropriate. She tugged at the hem of his clothes and whispered, "Fifth Brother, how could you say that about Grandmaster?"

She knew perfectly well that Ning Chuan had been in the right earlier, leaving everyone at Shrek with no grounds to do anything to him. But now that he had mocked Yu Xiaogang without any justification, he had become the one in the wrong.

Ning Rongrong was not worried that everyone at Shrek would attack Ning Chuan, but after enduring his insults for so long, they would undoubtedly retaliate with their words without restraint.

"Heh, so this is the upbringing of a direct descendant of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! It certainly suits your reputation as a good-for-nothing!"

Just as Ning Rongrong had feared, Dai Mubai immediately seized the opportunity to fight back.

Ma Hongjun promptly joined in. "I finally understand why you came looking for trouble with us. Did seeing that we're all younger than you, yet far more talented, hit a sore spot?"

Tang San also sneered. "Ning Chuan, even if His Excellency Sword Douluo were here today, he would still have to listen to reason! You've publicly insulted my teacher twice. If you refuse to apologize, we at Shrek indeed wouldn't dare do anything to you, but we will make this matter public and let the soul master world judge it properly!"

Seeing the situation change, Dragon Duke immediately transmitted his voice to Ning Chuan. "Ning Chuan, that final taunt at Grandmaster was far too rash. If they really spread word of this, everything you did earlier, even when you were in the right, will inevitably be painted as you using Sword Douluo's power to bully Shrek because they have no Titled Douluo!"

Dragon Duke's concerns were by no means unfounded, but since Ning Chuan had dared to mock Yu Xiaogang, he had naturally made thorough preparations.

Although he could not claim he would utterly ruin Yu Xiaogang's reputation, using this opportunity to put him in his place would be no problem.

Once Tang San and the others had more or less said their piece, Ning Chuan spoke calmly. "We're both good-for-nothings! Why should I apologize to another good-for-nothing?"

Tang San immediately said, "A harmful martial soul mutation is ordained by heaven. Neither you nor Teacher can change it. But Teacher at least made an effort to cultivate. What about you? What have you done? You fear arduous cultivation and willingly wallow in depravity. How dare you compare yourself to Teacher?"

"Exactly. Grandmaster cannot defy heaven, but he has still achieved remarkable accomplishments in martial soul theory. You, on the other hand, are nothing but a pampered wastrel who craves pleasure!" Dai Mubai chimed in.

"Heh!" Ning Chuan laughed.

"You even have the nerve to laugh. Truly shameless!" Ma Hongjun said.

Seeing this, Ning Rongrong immediately wanted to plead for leniency and ask Yu Xiaogang to let the matter slide. But the moment she stepped forward, Ning Chuan pulled her back.

"Fifth Brother, you..." She was very worried about Ning Chuan, but when she saw his confident expression, she remembered that he had never been a rash person, even as a child.

"Don't worry. Your fifth brother will settle this perfectly!" Ning Chuan said softly, then turned to Tang San.

"You say he made an effort. That's right, he certainly did. He worked hard at wasting his family's resources and worked hard at proving himself useless. He really did put in quite an effort!" Ning Chuan said with undisguised contempt.

At those words, Yu Xiaogang could no longer sit still. But to maintain his persona, he suppressed his indignation and said to Ning Chuan, "You're right. I've worked hard for more than half my life without success, and in the end, I'm still useless. Forget it, San. Don't argue with Young Master Ning anymore. Let this matter end here!"

Yu Xiaogang appeared exceptionally magnanimous, but he knew perfectly well that after being berated by Ning Chuan for so long, Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others would never let things go now that they had finally found a chance to retaliate.

Just as Yu Xiaogang had expected, Tang San immediately looked at him and said, "Teacher, you're too kindhearted. If Ning Chuan doesn't apologize to you today, this matter won't end. We won't bully the weak, but one day, I will personally go to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and have a proper discussion with Sect Master Ning!"