Su Xiaoqi thought that regardless of anything else, just looking at Yu Xiaogang's current worn-out and disheveled appearance was enough to irritate him.
Before he could get a good look at the man across the field, all eyes on the training ground shifted toward their group.
"Teachers, classmates, what's going on here?"
"And who the hell is this mummy? Does our academy even have someone like him?"
Su Xiaoqi stepped forward and looked at Dai Mubai, who was wrapped up like a mummy. He almost couldn't keep a straight face. "Miserable" didn't even begin to describe him.
What surprised Su Xiaoqi was that Flender didn't question them at all. Instead, he showed genuine concern. "It's good that you've all returned safely. I've already heard the situation from Tang San. You've all had a rough time... but as for Teacher Zhao..."
Su Xiaoqi followed up, "What about Teacher Zhao? Where is he? I still need to properly thank him."
"Teacher Zhao, he..." Flender's voice caught in his throat as he mentioned Zhao Wuji again. He let out a long sigh and relayed what he had heard from Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
"How could this happen?!"
Su Xiaoqi's expression shifted from shock to confusion, then to grief, before finally shouting, "Teacher Zhao! How could you die like that, and without even leaving behind a body? How am I supposed to honor your memory now?!"
Next, he moved beside Dai Mubai, crouched down, and comforted him, "Dai Mubai, we might've had our differences before, but don't worry. I've noted the grudge with Dai Weisi. You just focus on recovering."
"I'll have someone from back home give you some plastic surgery and even hook you up with a prosthetic. You'll be roaring like a tiger again in no time."
Ning Rongrong was completely stunned. She was starting to suspect that Su Xiaoqi might've been the one behind everything—his acting was that convincing.
"Wait a sec… wasn't I the one who fired the cannon?"
Realizing that, Ning Rongrong suddenly felt a bit "guilty." She tried to force a few tears out but failed. She turned to Dai Mubai and said, "Boss Dai, I didn't expect things to turn out like this. If you ever need anything, just say the word. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan will help however we can."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai and said calmly, "I won't hold the past against you. Focus on your recovery. I hope you'll attend when Xiaoqi and I get married."
"…Damn."
Hearing that, Su Xiaoqi's heart skipped a beat. Since when did Zhuqing get so savage? Just look—Dai Mubai coughed up blood from the shock.
"It's good to see you've all matured." Flender nodded with satisfaction. Then he turned to Ning Rongrong. "Rongrong, I need to ask you a few things."
What Flender wanted to know was how Ning Rongrong had managed to escape from Dai Weisi. Fully prepared, she pinned it all on the Titan Giant Ape.
According to her story, after Dai Weisi abducted her, they ran into the Titan Giant Ape. Dai Weisi tried to use her as bait to save himself. While escaping through the forest, she encountered Su Xiaoqi, who saved her.
Su Xiaoqi chimed in, "Dean Flender, that Titan Giant Ape is vile. If it hadn't shown up, none of this would've happened. Teacher Zhao wouldn't have had to die such a tragic death."
"I propose we swear an oath here and now: We won't rest until the Titan Giant Ape is dead!"
"I agree." Ning Rongrong was the first to raise her hand. Su Xiaoqi had already promised to let her fire the cannon again when the time came.
Meng Yiran followed closely. "I agree too. That beast killed my grandparents. I must have revenge."
Then Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun also voiced their support. Only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained silent.
Xiao Wu naturally wouldn't agree, and just as Tang San was about to speak, Yu Xiaogang suddenly shouted, "This is nonsense!"
Su Xiaoqi frowned and snapped, "Who the hell are you? What's it to you if we want to avenge Teacher Zhao?"
Tang San stepped forward, staring Su Xiaoqi down. "Mind your tone. This is my most respected teacher."
Su Xiaoqi let out a mocking laugh. "He's your teacher, so Teacher Zhao isn't? Do you think he'd be proud seeing how you pick favorites like this?"
"You—!" Enraged, Tang San opened his mouth to retort, but Yu Xiaogang raised a hand to stop him. "San, let me handle this myself."
Yu Xiaogang clasped his hands behind his back, raised his chin, and looked at Su Xiaoqi with arrogance. "So, you're Su Xiaoqi. I've heard about you. Let me ask—why didn't you stop Zhu Zhuqing from killing the Man-Faced Demon Spider?"
"Do you realize how important that spider was to Tang San? And yet, you all killed it out of personal resentment and wasted a rare spirit ring!"
His tone grew more intense as he turned his gaze on Meng Yiran. "And you—you even abandoned Tang San and Xiao Wu in the forest for the sake of an unrelated person. What if something had happened to them? Could you bear that responsibility?"
"Responsibility your ass, you damn idiot."
Su Xiaoqi hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to say something so absurd. He had planned to keep his cool, but screw that—time to go all in. No need to explain anything.
Tang San's eyes reddened with fury. "Su Xiaoqi! I told you to watch your tone. Apologize to my teacher right now, or don't blame me for turning on you!"
"Turn on me? Don't act like we're some long-lost friends. One more word out of your mouth, and you'll be stepping onto your own path to death."
Looking at Tang San's dumbfounded expression, Su Xiaoqi couldn't feel more satisfied. Using Tang San's own signature line against him—nothing felt better than that.
He couldn't care less if Tang Hao came looking for him. In fact, he'd welcome it. After three days of training in the Gravity Room, he was itching for a fight.
"Enough! Shut up—all of you!" Flender shouted, his patience worn thin. He felt utterly exhausted. Just as the Dai Mubai situation was cooling down, now this.
Still, he couldn't blame Su Xiaoqi too much. The boy just wanted justice for Zhao Wuji. But Yu Xiaogang—he had specifically invited him here to help guide these students. They were old friends, and Flender couldn't just disregard him.
Su Xiaoqi turned to Flender. "Dean, I won't say anything more. I brought Meng Yiran here today to see if she could join Shrek Academy. This is also what Rongrong and Zhuqing want."
It was a threat—plain and simple. Flender knew it. By mentioning Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong, Su Xiaoqi was making it clear: if he didn't agree, those two might leave.
Dai Mubai was already crippled. If those two left as well, Shrek Academy would be finished. And Yu Xiaogang had once told him that his ideal team had seven members.
With that in mind, Flender turned to Meng Yiran. "Go ahead and introduce yourself."
Meng Yiran stepped forward. "Meng Yiran, 16 years old, Level 31 Spirit Elder. Martial Soul: Snake Staff."
"Level 31 at age 16 is a bit low..." Flender wasn't too impressed with her spirit power level. Just as he hesitated, Yu Xiaogang spoke up.
"Let her join. Her spirit power may be a little low, but with my training, she'll be able to play a role in team battles."
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