After the communication ended, Xuan Zi sat motionless in his chair.
The spirit tool in his hand still carried a faint warmth, but his eyes had already gone blank.
He was tempted.
Of course he was tempted.
Every word Yan Shaozhe had spoken earlier had hit right at his weak point.
Mu En's rage was like a blade hanging above his head—ready to fall at any moment.
If he could really bring that "little monster" Liu Yuan back, not only could the crisis be resolved, he might even turn disaster into merit.
But…
"Apologize… compensation… increase the offer tenfold…"
Xuan Zi muttered to himself repeatedly, the words circling in his mind.
A dignified Sea God's Pavilion elder, a Level 98 Super Douluo…
He actually had to bow his head to a junior he once dismissed without a second thought?
That face—it stung just thinking about it.
But when he thought of Mu En's terrifying fury, Xuan Zi quickly decided:
Face hurts, but skin hurts more.
"Forget it! As long as I can bring him back, what's a little old face!"
He slapped his thigh and stood up abruptly.
Then he began pacing back and forth, mentally rehearsing his apology.
"Liu Yuan… back then I misjudged you, I apologize…"
"No, too stiff."
"Liu Yuan! It was crowded during the day, my fault, I'll kneel to you!"
"…"
After a long struggle, he finally settled on a version that felt… usable.
Apology first.
Then compensation—ten times what was previously offered.
He didn't believe Liu Yuan wouldn't come back.
But suddenly—
Xuan Zi froze.
Wait.
When exactly was he supposed to go?
Surely not tomorrow, in front of the entire arena?
In front of all the academies?
In front of Jing Hongchen?
If he did that, he might as well retire from the Spirit Master world on the spot.
The thought alone made his scalp tingle.
"Impossible… absolutely impossible…"
He paced to the window, staring at the night sky over Star Luo City.
The city was still bright and lively, but most people had already fallen asleep.
Even the Star Emperor Grand Hotel had dimmed its lights.
Then—
A thought flashed through his mind.
His eyes suddenly lit up.
"That's it!"
"Now is the best opportunity!"
Middle of the night. Everyone asleep.
Liu Yuan must be alone in his room.
No witnesses. No interference. No embarrassment.
Even better—people's defenses are weakest when they're asleep.
Perfect timing for persuasion.
"Brilliant… truly a god-sent opportunity!"
As for the hotel rules?
Xuan Zi snorted.
Rules were for the weak.
He was a Level 98 Super Douluo. Who could stop him?
Without hesitation, he stuffed a chicken leg into his mouth for courage.
Then his figure blurred—
And vanished into the night.
---
The Star Emperor Grand Hotel was heavily guarded.
Soul tool surveillance covered every corridor, and patrol teams moved in shifts.
But to Xuan Zi, it was meaningless.
Like a shadow, he slipped through the corridors without sound.
His spiritual sense spread out, bypassing every guard and camera effortlessly.
Soon, he reached the top floor.
Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's residence.
"Here."
He stood before a carved wooden door.
This was Liu Yuan's room.
Xuan Zi straightened his collar, took a deep breath, and raised his hand—
Ready to knock.
Or forcibly break in.
But—
Just as his hand was about to touch the door—
"Buzz—"
A faint but chilling wave of spirit power suddenly spread behind him.
Xuan Zi's hair stood on end instantly.
Instinctively, he was about to turn and defend.
But before he could move—
A cold, mocking voice rang out beside his ear.
"So late at night, Elder Xuan… not sleeping, but standing at my Sun Moon team captain's door…"
"What exactly are you doing?"
"Sleepwalking?"
Xuan Zi froze.
Slowly, stiffly, he turned around.
At the end of the corridor stood a figure.
A chubby old man in a dark red robe, casually spinning two metal balls between his fingers.
His usual smiling face was gone.
Now it was ice-cold.
Jing Hongchen.
"M-Master Jing Hongchen?!" Xuan Zi's heart sank.
Cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
Why was he here?!
Why wasn't he asleep?!
Had he been waiting?
"Uh… that… I…" Xuan Zi stammered, his eyes darting.
He couldn't exactly say:
I came to poach your genius and apologize so he'll return to Shrek.
That would be suicide.
So he forced a laugh.
"I drank too much… I think I took a wrong turn…"
"Where… where is this? Strange…"
"Oh dear, wrong way, wrong way… I'll leave now…"
He turned to slip away immediately.
Run.
As long as he ran fast enough, embarrassment wouldn't catch him.
But—
"Wrong way?"
Jing Hongchen let out a cold laugh.
The metal balls in his hand stopped spinning.
A sharp clink echoed in the corridor.
"A dignified Sea God's Pavilion elder, a Level 98 Super Douluo… gets lost in a hotel?"
"And conveniently gets lost right at the door of my Sun Moon team captain?"
"Elder Xuan… do you think I'm three years old?"
His storage ring flashed.
A megaphone-like soul tool appeared.
"Security. Top floor. Someone attempting unauthorized contact with a participating student."
"Notify the tournament committee immediately."
Xuan Zi's expression changed instantly.
"You—Jing Hongchen! What are you doing?!"
"What am I doing?"
Jing Hongchen's eyes sharpened.
"Elder Xuan, tournament rules clearly state: no academy may intrude into another's residential area."
"And especially not make private contact with participating students."
"You sneaking around the captain's door at midnight…"
"I have reason to suspect malicious intent."
Spirit power surged.
Countless cold metal barrel-like weapons extended from beneath his robe, all aimed directly at Xuan Zi.
"You're not leaving."
"Not before the committee arrives."
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