At Heart of Fire Academy, under the cherry blossom tree in the outer courtyard, by a stone table, Yu Xiaogang sat upright, gazing intently at the elegant young man in white opposite him.
This person sat amidst the fluttering cherry blossoms, as if he had merged with them, ethereal and extraordinary, not a Mortal.
What surprised Yu Xiaogang even more was that this teacher, whom even Flender and Zhao Wuji somewhat feared, was indeed a young man.
"This should be my first meeting with Grandmaster. My Heart of Fire Academy did have some past grievances with your Shrek. Could it be that Grandmaster has come to settle old scores?"
Xin casually poured two cups of tea, one of which he courteously pushed towards Yu Xiaogang.
"Settle old scores? Heh heh, I, Yu Xiaogang, am never one to hold grudges, but I also won't tolerate my Disciple suffering a loss." Yu Xiaogang did not drink the tea but said coldly.
Xin took a sip of tea and said faintly, "Coincidentally, so am I."
"You too? Good, very good. Since we both want to seek justice for our Disciples, then let's resolve this according to the rules of the Spirit Master's world." Yu Xiaogang stood up, looking down at Xin, and snorted coldly.
"The rules of Spirit Masters? Does Grandmaster want to have a one-on-one duel with me?"
To be honest, when Xin heard this, he almost spat out his tea.
A Spirit Saint fighting a Spirit Grandmaster—I dare to fight, but others wouldn't dare to watch.
"One-on-one? A one-on-one cannot truly reflect a teacher's actual level. What I want to compete with you on is teaching and students." Yu Xiaogang looked at Xin intently and said.
"As a teacher, you should know that personal strength is not true strength; team strength is true strength."
"As a teacher of Shrek, I challenge you. One month from now, the Shrek Team and your Heart of Fire Academy will have a Spirit Master team duel at the Sotou City Great Soul Arena. If our Shrek Academy wins, your Heart of Fire Academy will disband, all students will join our Shrek Academy, subject to our discipline, and you will compensate Shrek with ten thousand gold coins."
"Conversely, if you win, Shrek will disband and compensate your Heart of Fire Academy with ten thousand gold coins."
A gentle breeze, carrying the scent of cherry blossoms, slowly wafted by.
Xin was stunned for a moment, not expecting Yu Xiaogang to challenge him.
And the stakes were quite high, using the academy's survival as the wager.
"Are you sure you want to bet?"
"I need to remind you, two of your Shrek Academy students have successively lost to my disciples; you do not have an advantage." Xin said faintly.
"I have already said that a one-on-one cannot represent the strength of a team battle. I have confidence in my teaching and my students."
"As for you, since your Disciples have won against our students before, yet you are still hesitating, are you perhaps afraid? If so, then let's just forget about it. Heart of Fire Academy is nothing special."
Yu Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back, flicking his sleeve, and said disdainfully.
"Since you've said all that, if I don't accept the challenge, it would seem as if I'm afraid of Shrek."
Xin smiled faintly: "Our Heart of Fire Academy accepts this challenge."
…
"Xiaogang, you were impulsive, truly impulsive. How could you dare to challenge him? Isn't that just jumping into a pit of fire?"
"Impulsive, too impulsive!"
As soon as Yu Xiaogang left Heart of Fire Academy, Flender, Zhao Wuji, and others who had been secretly listening outside gathered around him.
Ma Hongjun, Oscar, and Dai Mubai also felt uncertain, clearly lacking confidence.
Xiao Wu, however, looked back at Xin's retreating figure within Heart of Fire Academy, feeling an urge to rush over and ask him, but would he be honest?
Xiao Wu pondered, touching her white bellyband, feeling very warm:
If we lose, do we give the academy to the other party?
Can students also join the other academy?
Hmm…
Hehe (￣▽￣)~* covering her mouth and snickering
"Xin, I must find out if you are really him, and see what you look like beneath that mask!"
"Just you wait."