Flender's self-doubt

First came Shao Xin, followed closely by Zhao Wuji.

Even the only student, Oscar, would soon be moving into Dai Mubai's residence and room.

As for why he was the only student, that was naturally because Flender did not consider Dai Mubai a student of their Shrek Academy.

In Flender's eyes, Dai Mubai was just a privileged young heir who had come to enjoy life for a while and might leave any day.

There were two reasons Flender had tolerated him until now. First, he could not beat that overbearing Soul Douluo. Second, when Dai Mubai grew tired of the place and left someday, surely he could not simply tear down the villa he left behind.

It had only been a month, yet things were gradually slipping out of control.

"Could his target be Oscar?"

Flender quickly hit upon the crux of the matter.

A support-type Soul Master with Innate Full Soul Power was worth all this trouble to those major powers.

At that thought, Flender immediately went to find Shao Xin.

After all, Shao Xin was Oscar's teacher, so he held the initiative in this matter.

"Dean, I understand what you mean."

"But in everything you've said about this, I haven't heard any consideration for Xiao'ao."

"Yes, we old fellows can protect Xiao'ao for now, but can we offer him better options? Can we give him better theoretical guidance?"

"There's another very important point. If one day we leave, or die of old age, what will Xiao'ao face as a support-type Soul Master?"

"Have you thought about any of that?"

"Mubai hasn't asked Xiao'ao to do anything. He's just provided him with a dining hall where Soul Beast meat is cooked every day, so he can eat well."

"In the process, not only will Xiao'ao have a better Mimicry Cultivation Environment, he'll also get to share medicinal meals made from this precious Soul Beast meat with him, and he'll have a powerful Soul Master to shelter him in the future."

"When all is said and done, Xiao'ao is still a student of our Shrek Academy. What are you agonizing over?"

"It was one thing when we didn't have the means before. Now that we do, I don't understand why you would refuse."

"What's more, that boy Mubai doesn't treat Xiao'ao like a tool or a servant, but like a brother."

Faced with Flender's attempt to persuade him, Shao Xin not only refused to listen but instead angrily unleashed a tirade.

In truth, he had been bottling up some of these words for a long time and had wanted to say them long ago.

If only he had been a combat Soul Master with the ability to fight, he would have gone to the Soul Beast forest long ago to improve the academy's meals.

It hardly mattered for old men like them, but Xiao'ao was still just a child.

"Old Shao, calm down. That's not what I meant."

"I just want to make sure Dai Mubai really is what you say he is: a young man without too many schemes. After all, Xiao'ao is still young. If someone harboring ill intentions really does hoodwink him, it'll be too late for either of us to regret it."

"Others might not know, but don't you and I know the methods those nobles use?"

This was the first time Flender had ever seen the usually mild-mannered Shao Xin so angry.

For a moment, Flender wondered whether he really was wrong.

"That boy Mubai is indeed somewhat extravagant in his daily life, but there's nothing wrong with his character, and he has none of those nobles' vile traits."

"Boss Fu, this time, you really are overthinking things."

Only after hearing Flender say that did Shao Xin's anger subside a little.

"All right. As long as we're sure he has no ill intentions."

Flender knew he could not change anything on Shao Xin's end.

He left immediately afterward.

The reason Shao Xin was so adamant was naturally that Dai Mubai had dangled a grand promise before him.

That was to let Shao Xin teach and produce the continent's first food-type Titled Douluo.

Still unwilling to give up, Flender then went to find Zhao Wuji.

"Boss Fu, I think you're simply overthinking this."

"What sort of people are you and I? At our age, after everything we've been through, how could we possibly fail to notice if that boy Mubai really had ill intentions?"

"That Soul Douluo's actions were simple enough. He just wanted to intimidate us a little."

"I think you're just upset because you didn't manage to get something for free, and that's why you're prejudiced against Mubai."

"If you're unhappy about it, I'll talk to Mubai in a few days and see whether he can build you a dormitory too."

Zhao Wuji felt the same way and did not think Dai Mubai had done anything wrong.

Flender fell silent.

"Could it really be my problem?"

If one person had said this, he would not have thought much of it, but now several people were saying the same thing.

It immediately made him wonder whether he really was targeting Dai Mubai because he had failed to get something for free.

Dai Mubai paid no attention to any of this.

At that moment, he was training Oscar.

Yesterday, he had spent a full half day writing down the methods for making all the delicious dishes he remembered.

His purpose was to make Oscar his cook.

What could he say about Oscar as the Food God?

He was thoroughly unqualified. His cooking really did taste bad.

If Dai Mubai remembered correctly, even the Shrek Seven Devils had complained about this in the Divine Realm.

Instead, they often gathered with Rong Nianbing.

Naturally, his own cook had to be trained from childhood.

"Big brother, I've never seen this way of cooking before."

Oscar looked at the thick book in his hands. At only eight years old, he had no idea where to begin.

"The ingredients and seasonings are all ready. When you're just starting to learn, you don't need to do it yourself. Let Teacher Shao handle it."

"Remember, your most important task right now is cultivation. Cultivating in the dining hall, with the aroma of food filling the air, will let you improve yourself more effectively through a mimicry environment."

Dai Mubai casually made the arrangements.

Just as he had anticipated, Oscar was very clever.

But that cleverness was only relative to peers raised in the same environment.

Having never seen how vast this world was, he was not difficult to win over.

Delicious food and a luxurious life were enough.

What surprised Dai Mubai somewhat was that, for some reason, Oscar at this age actually had an ambition to improve that did not fit his character. He had even asked him whether support-type Soul Masters could fight.

Dai Mubai did not know that Oscar had undergone this change and developed this mindset because watching Black Panther fight not long ago had stirred a desire in his heart.

"Big brother, don't worry. I definitely won't disappoint you."

Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Oscar's gaze immediately grew resolute.

"Go on!"

As he watched Oscar leave, a smile appeared on Dai Mubai's face.

Only a month had passed, and Oscar had already been molded into his shape.