Outside Soto City, in a patch of wild grass.
The Shrek group finally stopped. They collapsed to the ground as if exhausted, their chests heaving violently, gasping for breath.
Tang San, Xiao Wu, Zhu Zhuqing, Ning Rongrong... all were drenched in sweat, and even Oscar, usually the most composed, was panting like an ox.
Dai Mubai wiped the sweat from his face, looked at Flender, and asked in a deep voice, "Dean, where are we running to? Are we going back to the Academy?"
Hearing this, Flender's face was slightly gloomy, the veins on his forehead subtly bulging. After a moment of thought, he shook his head and said, "Since they've already found their way to Soto City, then the Academy definitely isn't safe. Mubai, we can't go back to the Academy."
"Who exactly are 'they'?" Dai Mubai was stunned, his brows furrowed, and he asked in confusion.
"Dean, doesn't our Academy have a Titled Douluo-level senior who joined the Spirit Hall and became an Elder? Then why should we be afraid of enemies coming to our door?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's gaze once again fell uniformly on Flender.
Flender's body visibly stiffened, his old face flushed red again, his eyes darting evasively. The sweat on his forehead seemed even more profuse than when he was fleeing just now.
"Yu Xiaogang, I'll screw you!"
"You idiot, I really don't know how Second Dragon Girl ever fell for you."
He cursed angrily in his heart again.
How could the Academy have a Spirit Hall Elder? How could there be a Titled Douluo-level senior?
This was completely just a gimmick he had created when he first founded Shrek Academy, in order to recruit more people. Now, with Master flaunting it everywhere, and others catching onto the loopholes, it was truly as awkward as could be!
Just then, Master slowly stepped forward. His expression was slightly solemn. He reached out and gently waved his hand at Dai Mubai, then said seriously, "Mubai, Flender and I have some things we need to discuss privately. You can ask any questions you have later."
Dai Mubai was stunned by these words, then nodded and stepped aside.
"Xiaogang, what do we do next? The people from the Spirit Hall have already found their way to Soto City. Shrek Academy... I feel like we can't go back." Flender spoke in a deep voice.
A hint of irritation flickered between Master's brows. He said, "Indeed, I truly didn't expect the people from the Spirit Hall to find us so quickly."
As he spoke, his tone suddenly deepened, and he said coldly:
"I think, Little San's identity being exposed was due to an internal traitor in the Academy."
Hearing this, Flender's expression changed slightly, and he turned his gaze to Ning Rongrong, who was not far away. He couldn't help but whisper, "Xiaogang, are you saying..."
"Besides her, who else could it be? It's just that we don't have concrete evidence yet. If it weren't for the fact that she is the Sect Master's daughter of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, I would expel her from the Academy right now." Master's expression turned cold, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he said through gritted teeth.
Flender sighed in his heart after hearing this, his face also darkened a few shades, and he said in a deep voice, "Xiaogang, from the current situation, I'm afraid we can only go to Heaven Dou City."
"Go to Heaven Dou City for what?"
Master was slightly stunned, his brows furrowed, and he asked in confusion.
Flender took a deep breath and slowly began to speak:
"Now that the people from the Spirit Hall have come to our door, we can't stay in Soto City anymore. Where else can we go? Of course, we go to Heaven Dou City. After all, Er—"
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he suddenly stopped, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, then he changed the subject:
"Xiaogang, on the way here, I already discussed it with Qin Ming. I want the children to join Heaven Dou Royal Academy. What do you think?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Master's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes suddenly became sharp, and he almost blurted out, angrily rebuking, "No!"
"These children, I have painstakingly cultivated them! Their growth, their future, all depend on me alone. If you let them join Heaven Dou Royal Academy now, wouldn't that be preparing a wedding dress for someone else? Absolutely not!"
Flender heard this, reached out and gently pressed Master's shoulder, his tone softening, with a hint of helplessness and persuasion:
"Xiaogang, don't be so agitated. Think about it carefully, we can't return to Shrek Academy now, and besides going to Heaven Dou City, where else can we go?"
"Moreover, even if we could go back, Shrek Academy's finances are very tight. You know better than anyone that the Little freaks often don't even get enough to eat, let alone providing them with a good mimetic Cultivate environment."
At this point, he sighed, his gaze slightly shifting to the Shrek Seven Devils gathered together not far away, a hint of pity flashing in his eyes.
"Furthermore, if we keep staying at Shrek Academy, we won't even be eligible to participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament two years from now."
Master's chest heaved violently. After a moment of silence, he waved his hand again, refusing:
"No! Absolutely not!"
"Little San is my direct Disciple, and I will not allow anyone to interfere with his teaching!"
"He is my hope for proving my Martial Soul theory! If he must join Heaven Dou Royal Academy, you take the others! But Little San must stay!"
As soon as Master's words fell, a crisp slapping sound suddenly rang out.
"Slap!"
Flender suddenly delivered a slap, forcefully turning Master's face to one side, and a fiery red palm print slowly emerged.
The next second, he abruptly grabbed Master by the collar of his shirt, pulling him up entirely.
"Yu Xiaogang!" Flender roared, "Don't be so selfish, alright?! If the Shrek Seven Devils are missing one person, can they still be called the Seven Devils?!"
Master's breathing suddenly hitched, a hint of shock and anger in his eyes, yet under Flender's glare, it seemed somewhat hurried.
"You always want to prove yourself, always want to get rid of the title of a good-for-nothing!"
"But have you ever thought, if Little San can't even participate in the Continental Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, what will you use to prove your Martial Soul theory?!"
Flender's roar grew louder and louder, carrying long-suppressed resentment and disappointment.
"Do you want to live your whole life with the title of a good-for-nothing?!"
"I really don't know how Second Dragon Girl ever fell for you!"
That slap he just delivered carried a bit of personal grudge.
After all, just a moment ago, it was Master's reckless boasting that made him lose face completely!
"I, I..." Master was speechless by Flender's barrage of questions. He stared at the latter, but the anger from earlier had gradually disappeared, slowly turning into dejection, making him look like a deflated ball.
Seeing this, Qin Ming, Zhao Wuji, and Tang San immediately rushed over.
They forcibly separated Flender and Master.
The scene became somewhat chaotic for a moment. The surrounding Shrek Seven Devils and the members of the Royal Fight Team were also stunned by this sudden argument.
"Dean, what's going on? Why are you arguing with Master?"
Qin Ming frowned, walked quickly between the two, and spoke anxiously.
Flender didn't respond, just let out a cold snort, turned his back to Master, his eyes showing a hint of helplessness and anger.
Staring at Tang San in front of him, Master was silent for a moment, then his gaze gradually softened. He spoke in a low voice, "Alright, Flender, I agree. But there's one condition: even if Little San joins Heaven Dou Royal Academy, he can only be taught by me alone."