Early the next morning, when Flender assembled the group, Dai Mubai had returned.
Or rather, he had never left at all. He had simply gone back to his dormitory that night and stayed there, and had been nowhere to be seen at breakfast.
Flender looked at Dai Mubai without much surprise, merely saying in an even tone, "Since you're back, attend your lessons properly according to our Shrek rules."
"Yes."
"We don't have many rules at Shrek Academy. Every day, you must spend four hours studying with any teacher of your choice. The rest of your time is your own, but you must win four matches at the Great Soul Arena every week. Singles or doubles are both fine. You don't even need to assemble here after today." With his hands behind his back, Flender addressed Dai Mubai alone.
"Mm, understood, Dean." Dai Mubai nodded, looking entirely respectful, without a trace of arrogance.
"That's all I have to tell you. Ask Hongjun and Xiao Ao about the smaller details." With that instruction, Flender prepared to leave.
After taking just two steps, he seemed to remember something and returned to add, "Oh, right. You can make Xiyue a target to surpass, but you mustn't treat her as an enemy. If you can build a good relationship with her, even with your royal background, it would still be a tremendous opportunity. Treasure it as you go."
With that, Flender spread the wings of his Martial Soul. With a powerful beat, he soon vanished into the horizon.
After a night of adjusting his mindset, Dai Mubai had also faced reality. Or rather, he had long since recognized that he was inferior to Leng Xiyue and her sister, but his longstanding royal pride had kept him from admitting it.
But facts were facts, and