"Ahem, um, Long Yue."
Afraid that the Divine Realm Empire's people would question the morals of Shrek Academy's teachers and students, Zhao Wuji explained, "Our dean isn't that sort of person."
"I know. Only Ma Hongjun likes visiting brothels."
"-" Ma Hongjun.
Shao Xin suddenly said, "Long Yue, you said this afternoon that the dean's old friend is called Yu Xiaogang, and that he became a Deputy Envoy of the Divine Realm Empire and went to Heaven Dou City?"
"That's right." Long Yue nodded.
Shao Xin ventured uncertainly, "Could the dean have rushed off to Heaven Dou City to see his old friend?"
"Um, how did the dean find out?" Ma Hongjun asked, bewildered.
"This isn't exactly a secret." Shao Xin had his wits about him. "We've been staying out in the countryside and rarely go to Suotuo City, but Flender lives in the city and runs a shop. With people coming and going, he would naturally hear the news before us."
Long Yue deliberately frowned. "He went to see Yu Xiaogang without even telling any of you?"
"-" Everyone fell silent.
The way Long Yue put it made them feel that all these old companions who had joined forces to help him run the academy mattered less than Yu Xiaogang.
"That... must be what happened," Zhao Wuji said stiffly.
Encouraged by Long Yue's gaze, Oscar offered his own deduction. "After the dean left Suotuo City, someone broke into the shop to steal things, then set it on fire to burn away the evidence of their crime."
"Good, well said! I completely agree." Long Yue's heart jolted at the words "evidence of their crime," but he applauded enthusiastically. "As expected of the Food God."
Oscar was so pleased that his tail would have stuck straight up if he had one.