"Little San, you weren't that handsome to begin with, and now your face is injured. What will you do if it leaves a scar and disfigures you?"
"Who on earth hurt you? To injure your face like this."
At Shrek Academy, Tang San's face was slathered in ointment. He had already downed five or six of Oscar's recovery sausages to heal.
When Grandmaster walked over and saw Tang San's face, he took a deep breath, his heart filled with indignation. "**We can't just let this go, Flender, Teacher Zhao. We must get justice for Little San."
"That's right! How dare they lay such a heavy hand on a student of our Shrek Academy! I'll beat that person so badly his own grandmother won't recognize him," Zhao Wuji growled, smashing his massive fists together with a grunt.
Flender's expression was also grave. He adjusted his glasses. "Little San, tell us. Who was so vicious as to do this to you?"
"Teacher, Dean, Teacher Zhao, let's just forget it. I was careless and didn't dodge," Tang San said, his eyes fluttering open groggily to see the concerned faces of the Shrek members around him. "It's better not to trouble the teachers with avenging me. I can only blame myself for not being skilled enough."
"Coward! To be beaten like this and not even dare to say his name! Have you learned nothing from us?" Zhao Wuji snapped.
"Is that person very strong? Even if he's a powerful Spirit Master, with the two of us Spirit Saints backing you, what are you afraid of?"
"It's one thing for Su Ran to be arrogant in front of us, but who else in Soto City do we have to fear? I've had enough of being pushed around lately. Getting some revenge for you would be a good way for me to blow off some steam myself."
"Little San, that you can think this way shows that you are capable of self-reflection and are constantly striving to improve. I am very pleased," Yu Xiaogang began. "However, you are not like Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun. I know your character; you don't usually go looking for trouble. The other party must have started it. If we can't even protect our own students, is there any reason for this academy to exist?"
"What do you think, Flender, Teacher Zhao?" Yu Xiaogang looked at them.
Zhao Wuji and Flender nodded in agreement. "Xiaogang is right. If it was someone your age, and you couldn't beat them alone, then you should have called Mubai and Hongjun to help. If it wasn't someone your age, then it was a case of the strong bullying the weak, and we teachers will seek justice for you."
"This..." Tang San's face was苦涩. His teachers' concern warmed his heart, but he had been the one to sneak over and spy on Taoyuan Academy. How could he bring himself to say it?
"Xiao Wu, you were the one who brought Little San back. You tell us, what happened?" Seeing Tang San's reluctance, Yu Xiaogang's face darkened, and he turned to Xiao Wu.
Xiao Wu seemed to be lost in thought. She was only startled back to reality when Yu Xiaogang barked at her. She stammered out the truth. "It was... Teacher Su Ran from the academy next door..."
"Huh? Su Ran?!"
"This..."
As Xiao Wu recounted the story of how Tang San had taken her to spy on Taoyuan Academy's training, the faces of Zhao Wuji and Flender changed. Their imposing auras instantly deflated, like wilted flowers.
Yu Xiaogang snorted. "Why is it Taoyuan Academy again? This Su Ran, as a teacher, to lay such a heavy hand on a student is going too far."
"Flender, Zhao Wuji, what's wrong? You go silent the moment you hear it's Su Ran? Where's your backbone? Has Taoyuan Academy broken your spines? Where's your pride?" Yu Xiaogang glared at them, his anger flaring at their silence.
"Let me tell you, Little San is my only disciple. I am raising him as my own son. If you want to be cowards and do nothing, fine! I will handle this!"
"I'm going to reason with him. I'd like to see for myself just what kind of great personage this Su Ran is!" Yu Xiaogang snorted coldly and strode toward the exit of Shrek Academy.
"Xiaogang... don't..."
Flender and Zhao Wuji exchanged a helpless glance. Our dear Gang, you have to be more careful. You have no idea how powerful this Su Ran is. We Spirit Saints were beaten down by him. You, a Spirit Grandmaster not even at rank 30, emmm...
"You are Su Ran? My name is Yu Xiaogang. People are used to calling me Grandmaster. I currently teach at Shrek and am also Tang San's teacher. You should know why I am here."
"Young man, I advise you to watch yourself."
At Taoyuan Academy, under a peach tree in the outer courtyard, Yu Xiaogang sat at a stone table, his gaze fixed on the graceful, white-robed young man across from him. This person sat amidst the gently falling peach blossoms, seeming to merge with the scenery, otherworldly and transcendent, not like a mortal. What surprised Yu Xiaogang even more was that this teacher, whom even Flender and Zhao Wuji seemed to fear, was truly a young man.
"This should be our first meeting, Grandmaster. My Taoyuan Academy has indeed had some past conflicts with your Shrek. Could it be that Grandmaster is here to settle old scores?" Su Ran amiably poured two cups of tea, graciously pushing one in front of Yu Xiaogang.
"Settle old scores? Heh heh, I, Yu Xiaogang, have never been one to hold a grudge. But I will not tolerate my disciple being wronged," Yu Xiaogang said coldly, not touching the tea.
Su Ran took a sip of his own tea. "What a coincidence," he said lightly. "Neither will I."
"You too? Good, very good. Since we both wish to seek justice for our disciples, then we shall settle this according to the rules of the Spirit Master world." Yu Xiaogang stood up, looking down at Su Ran with a cold snort.
"The rules of Spirit Masters? Does Grandmaster wish to have a one-on-one duel with me?" To be honest, Su Ran almost spat out his tea when he heard this. A Spirit Saint fighting a Spirit Grandmaster? I would dare to fight, but others wouldn't even dare to watch.
"A duel? A duel cannot reflect a teacher's true level. What I want to compete with you on is teaching and students," Yu Xiaogang said, his eyes fixed on Su Ran.
"As a teacher, you should know that one's own strength is not true strength. The strength of the team is true strength."
"In my capacity as a teacher of Shrek, I challenge you. In one month's time, the Shrek team and your Taoyuan Academy will have a Spirit Master team battle in the Soto City Great Spirit Arena. If our Shrek Academy wins, your Taoyuan Academy will be dissolved, all your students will join our Shrek Academy under our authority, and you will pay Shrek ten thousand Gold Spirit Coins."
"The reverse is also true. If you win, Shrek will be dissolved and will pay your Taoyuan Academy ten thousand Gold Spirit Coins."
A gentle breeze, carrying the scent of peach blossoms, drifted by.
Su Ran was taken aback for a moment. He hadn't expected Yu Xiaogang to challenge him to a team battle. And the stakes were quite high, betting the very existence of their academies.
"Are you sure you want to make this bet?" Su Ran asked calmly. "I must remind you, two of your Shrek Academy's students have successively lost to my disciples. You are not at an advantage."
"I've already said, a one-on-one duel does not represent a team's strength. I have confidence in my teaching and my students," Yu Xiaogang stated. "On the other hand, you, whose disciples have defeated our students, are still hesitating. Are you afraid? If you are, then let's forget it. Taoyuan Academy, I see, is nothing special after all." Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, flicked his sleeves, and spoke with disdain.
"Since you've put it that way, if I don't accept, it will seem as if I'm afraid of Shrek," Su Ran said with a faint smile.
"This challenge, we at Taoyuan Academy accept."
"Xiaogang, you were impulsive, truly impulsive! How could you challenge him to a team battle? Isn't this just jumping into a fire pit?"
"Impulsive, too impulsive!"
The moment Yu Xiaogang stepped out of Taoyuan Academy, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and the others, who had been eavesdropping outside, crowded around him.
Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai also lacked confidence, their uncertainty plain to see.
Only Xiao Wu looked back at Su Ran's retreating figure inside Taoyuan Academy, feeling the urge to rush over and question him. But would he confess?
Xiao Wu was lost in thought, touching her white belly band, which felt very warm. If we lose, the academy gets handed over to them? And the students can join their academy? Mmm...
Hee hee (￣y▽￣)~* She covered her mouth, stifling a giggle.
Su Ran, I will find out if you are him. I will see what's under that mask! Just you wait.
(End of Chapter)