Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

Shrek Academy.

Supporting the unconscious Dai Mubai back to Shrek Academy, Tang San and the others encountered an obviously grim-faced Flender at the school gate.

"Dean." Seeing Flender waiting at the entrance, as if he had been there for some time, the group, excluding the unconscious Dai Mubai, greeted him.

"Tang San, what happened to Hongjun and Mubai?" Seeing Tang San and Oscar supporting the unconscious Dai Mubai, Flender stepped forward quickly, his voice laced with cold anger.

Not long before, Flender had gone to check on the students of Shrek Academy. Upon entering the boys' dormitory, he found Ma Hongjun lying injured in bed. Learning that his beloved disciple had been beaten into such a state enraged him.

After calling for the food system spirit master, Shao Xin, and utilizing healing abilities at the spirit master level, Ma Hongjun's life was saved. However, it was saved in name only, as the outcome was hardly different from not saving him at all.

After leaving the boys' dormitory, Flender headed straight for the academy gate to wait for Tang San and the others. He knew the behavior of his disciples well and wanted to get to the bottom of the situation, intending to ask Tang San directly.

But now, the killing intent in his heart could no longer be expressed in words. Not only had someone harmed his disciple, but they had also injured other students from his academy. Outrageous!

"Dean, we..." Seeing Flender so furious, Tang San recounted the entire incident, including how Ma Hongjun was injured, their attempt to seek revenge with Dai Mubai, and how they ended up being beaten as well, fleeing back in defeat.

Hearing this, Flender glared at the unconscious Dai Mubai with a grim expression. He then turned angrily to Tang San and said, "Tang San, why didn't you inform the teachers or the dean when something like this happened? I've always told you that it's cowardly to avoid trouble, but that means challenging spirit masters of equal strength within the academy—not provoking trouble outside by harassing women."

"Mubai and Hongjun stirred up this trouble by flirting with women, so why did you all get involved?"

Seeing Flender's anger, the others dared not provoke him further and stood quietly, listening to his reprimand.

After a while, Flender sighed. Despite his anger, as a teacher, he couldn't let his disciples be beaten for nothing, especially when Ma Hongjun had been rendered helpless. Moreover, someone in Suotuo City had dared to harm Shrek Academy students. Flender had no intention of letting it go. Protective as ever, he had already decided on how to retaliate.

Killing them was out of the question, but teaching them a severe lesson, even to the point of accidentally crippling them, was certainly within the realm of possibility.

"Tang San, tell me, who was it that dared to harm you all so severely? I want to see who exactly they are," Flender said darkly.

Tang San pondered for a moment and then said, "Dean, they didn't reveal their names, but from what I observed, they should also be students from another academy. I did overhear one of their team leaders, a middle-aged man, call out a name: Cheng Xiao."

"Students from another academy?" Flender was momentarily stunned before continuing, "Do you know the name of their leader?"

Tang San shook his head. "No, but I sensed a strong fire attribute from him, so I assume his martial soul must be related to fire."

"A fire-related martial soul?" Flender thought for a moment. Based on his experience, he quickly made some guesses from Tang San's vague description, but he wasn't in a rush to confirm his thoughts. If it turned out to be who he suspected, then this beating might have been for nothing.

"Alright, I understand." Flender adjusted his glasses and said, "Take Mubai to Teacher Shao Xin for treatment. You still have the second phase of training tomorrow, arranged by the Grandmaster. Don't concern yourselves with this matter any further."

Tang San's expression flickered with uncertainty as he asked, "Dean, are we just going to let this go?"

"No, we won't just let it go." Flender patted Tang San's shoulder and said seriously, "Leave this to me. You all go get some rest."

After finishing, Flender walked away without looking back.

Watching him leave, Tang San was filled with frustration. This was the first time since leaving Nuoding Academy that he had been humiliated like this. Not only was he unable to avenge his brothers, but even Xiao Wu, his former classmate, left him deeply disappointed.

From the moment their leader called out the name, Tang San had already figured out who the other party was. Yes, it was that person from Nuoding Academy, the one who had never lost in their sparring sessions.

Only that person could possess such strength while also making Xiao Wu act in a way he had never seen before. Truthfully, Tang San was confused. Xiao Wu had refused to come to Shrek Academy with him, so why had she suddenly appeared at the academy gates a few months ago?

Although puzzled, Tang San didn't dare to ask, choosing instead to ponder in silence. However, no matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't figure out why Xiao Wu had ended up at Shrek Academy. The real reason, which he couldn't imagine, was that a certain relative of Xiao Wu had recognized her identity shortly after she entered Nuoding Academy, leading to the decision for her to come here.

"Rongrong, I'll take Dai Mubai for treatment. You two can go back and rest," Oscar said.

"I know, I know, you're more long-winded than my dad," Ning Rongrong responded with a glance.

Scratching his head awkwardly, Oscar said, "We're classmates, right? I was just reminding you."

Afterwards, Oscar and Tang San supported Dai Mubai as they headed to the teachers' dormitory.

Watching their backs as they left, Xiao Wu, now in a much better mood after seeing the one she had been longing for, took Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing's hands, heading toward the girls' dormitory, chatting and laughing along the way.

Back in the girls' dormitory, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong couldn't help but feel as if the lively and cheerful Xiao Wu was the real her, as if her previous silence and focus on training were just temporary.

Ning Rongrong was curious. Who exactly was the boy Xiao Wu had embraced in Suotuo City, and what kind of magic did he possess to change her personality so quickly? It was simply unimaginable.

In contrast, Zhu Zhuqing maintained her cold demeanor as usual, but a hint of envy flashed in her eyes when she looked at Xiao Wu. She had once fantasized about seeing the person she longed for, but when that moment came, she realized that her expectations for the future might have been too unrealistic.

Lost among fleeting romances, indulging himself, he never considered what fate might await her if she lost the competition for his favor.

He never thought of it. He only thought of himself. She had thought that after leaving Star Luo, he would work hard, train fiercely, and defy his so-called destiny. But when she finally saw him, she realized that everything she believed in was just self-deception.

"Xiao Wu, what's your relationship with that boy?" Ning Rongrong couldn't help but ask. She sat beside Xiao Wu, curious. "Why does it feel like you changed after seeing him?"

Xiao Wu playfully stuck out her tongue and smiled, "It's nothing, really. I just haven't seen him in a long time, so I got a bit excited."

Ning Rongrong frowned, pressing further, "So you've been apart for a long time? Were you close friends at a previous academy?"

"Yeah, a little more than friends," Xiao Wu replied, though she felt oddly uncomfortable at the term "friends."

"Cheng Xiao." Zhu Zhuqing suddenly spoke, her voice cool. "That boy's name is Cheng Xiao. I heard their leader call him that."

"Yes, his name is Cheng Xiao. Isn't it a beautiful name?" Xiao Wu's face flushed slightly as a smile spread across her face. Her eyes curved into crescent moons, and her expression was filled with happiness, as if she were introducing someone important to her friends.

"What the heck, Xiao Wu, don't tell me you like Cheng Xiao!" Ning Rongrong blurted out in surprise, seeing the joy on Xiao Wu's face.

Zhu Zhuqing nodded in agreement.

Xiao Wu was startled. Then, her face turned even redder as she stammered, "I... maybe... not... I don't know?"

Seeing Xiao Wu's flustered response, a mischievous glint appeared in Ning Rongrong's eyes as she said, "But it seems like Tang San likes you, Xiao Wu."

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing blinked, slightly surprised that Ning Rongrong would say something like that.

"What does that have to do with me?" Xiao Wu huffed. "Just because he likes me doesn't mean I have to like him. Rongrong, doesn't Oscar like you? Why don't you like him back?"

"Uh..." Ning Rongrong was at a loss for words. Xiao Wu had a point. Oscar did have feelings for her, but she never entertained the idea. After all, as the future head of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, she understood the family rules about marriage. Even if she had a boyfriend, he would never be a support-type spirit master, at least not for now.

There had never been a combat-type auxiliary spirit master in the history of the Douluo Continent, and her father, as well as her two grandfathers—Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo—would never allow her to recklessly choose an auxiliary-type spirit master as her partner.

Under the dark sky, with the silver moon hanging high, the gentle moonlight bathed the land in a faint silver glow. Tonight, some were destined to stay awake, while others enjoyed a deep, sweet sleep.