Early morning, the warm sunlight bathed the earth.
Xiao Wu and the others, already up, were making their way to the Shrek Academy cafeteria.
The three girls walked together,
followed by Dai Mubai and a short-haired fat man.
The fat man was about the same age as Tang San and the others, with short red hair and a leather jacket that made him look bulky.
His face was fleshy, with a wisp of mustache, and his lecherous little eyes made him look extremely lewd.
He was originally Shrek Academy's third student besides Dai Mubai and Oscar—Ma Hongjun.
His Beast Soul was the Evil Fire Phoenix, a level 27 Power Attack Type Battle Soul Master.
At this moment, he was in a bad state; his already large body was unnaturally swollen.
There was a bloody claw mark on his chest, several shoe prints on his clothes, some bruises on his face, and bloodstains around his nose.
He needed Dai Mubai to support him as he walked, looking as if he had been abused.
"Hmph! What kind of weirdos are in this academy!" Xiao Wu's displeased voice rang out.
"They're not short of scum and scoundrels," Zhu Zhuqing chimed in, her face frosty.
Just moments before, they had barely stepped outside when they encountered Ma Hongjun trying to force himself on Cuihua.
They tried to stop him, but were met with Ma Hongjun's foul language.
So the girls teamed up and gave him a good beating.
By the time Dai Mubai arrived to explain, the fat man was already collapsed on the ground.
After Dai Mubai's explanation, they learned that Ma Hongjun's martial soul had mutated.
But the three girls still felt uneasy.
They wondered how old he was when he started needing to regulate his internal fire.
Hearing the conversation between Dai Mubai and the fat man behind them, they felt disgusted.
"And there's a perverted guy too." Ning Rongrong, who was following closely behind Zhu Zhuqing, frowned as they entered the cafeteria.
Inside, Tang San and a white-haired man were already eating.
The white-haired man stared intently at Ning Rongrong, his peach blossom eyes gleaming with a lewd light.
"Xiao Wu! Are you alright?"
Tang San immediately stood up to greet her, his face still bearing bruises from late last night's awakening.
"I'm fine!"
Xiao Wu replied coldly, not glancing at him again, before joining Ning Rongrong and
the other two girls to get food. "Hehe... Uh... Brother Dai, what's this?" Tang San chuckled awkwardly, about to follow, when he suddenly noticed Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun entering.
"Tang San, come help me. Oscar! Hurry up and get some sausages, that fatso is about to collapse!"
Dai Mubai didn't answer Tang San immediately, instead calling him over to help help Ma Hongjun to a stool, while simultaneously shouting at Oscar.
"Damn! Fatty, what happened to you? You've gotten so much fatter again?"
Oscar looked at him in surprise, but his hands moved quickly, already producing two sausages, one large and one small.
"Little Oscar, are you itching for a beating?"
Ma Hongjun's face contorted, his voice muffled.
"Hehe, just kidding. By the way, who beat you up like this? Should Dai Laoda and I get revenge for you?!"
Oscar shoved a sausage into Ma Hongjun's mouth, asking about the source of his injuries.
"I can help too!"
After their conversation, Tang San realized that this fat guy was probably one of his classmates. Since
his classmate had been beaten up, Tang San naturally wanted to lend a hand.
Dai Mubai smiled wryly, about to explain, when a clear voice rang in their ears.
"What? You want revenge on the three of us?"
Xiao Wu, who was getting her food, turned around and looked at them, her beautiful eyebrows furrowed.
"Hmph! Come on then, I, Xiao Wu, have never been afraid of anyone!"
After saying that, she ignored them.
He quickly followed Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing, afraid of missing anything.
Noticing Xiao Wu's gaze fixed on him, Ma Hongjun shuddered. If Dai Mubai hadn't arrived in time, he would have been in serious trouble!
"Hey Fatty, were you hit by them? You didn't actually lay a hand on them, did you?" Oscar pointed in the direction of Xiao Wu and the other two, his face strange.
Ma Hongjun nodded quickly, still shaken.
"It was them."
"Hmm? Brother Dai, what happened?" Tang San frowned. With Xiao Wu involved, he dared not mention revenge again.
"It's all a misunderstanding, it's like this..." Dai Mubai explained to Oscar and Tang San, and also introduced the three senior students to Ma Hongjun.
"I see." Tang San looked at the three senior students with a strange expression.
Each of them had their own unique characteristics, and each was more eccentric than the last.
One had a handsome, roguish look and was known for his womanizing ways; another had a lewd soul curse and was covered in hair; and the third was consumed by lust and couldn't control his desires.
Truly, this was an academy that only accepted monsters!
Tang San's eyes brightened slightly, feeling no discomfort whatsoever, but rather as if he had found a sense of belonging.
After all, didn't he also possess the memories of his past life spanning several decades, along with hidden weapons and martial arts techniques?
"By the way, from now on you can call me Boss Dai, just like Fatty and the others! Calling me Brother Dai is too formal, so I'll call you Little San from now on, how about that?"
After explaining what had just happened, Dai Mubai did what a senior should do:
maintain good relationships with classmates!
"Yeah, of course, no problem!" Tang San nodded, indicating that he had no objections.
Afterwards, seeing that Fatty could move freely, the group dispersed and went to get their own food.
Shrek Academy's cafeteria only hired some villagers to cook, so the food wasn't very good, mainly focusing on large portions and fillings.
There was only one large rectangular table in the middle.
Seven people sat around the table, with the men and women spaced quite a distance apart.
Zhu Zhuqing sat between Ning Rongrong and Xiao Wu, who kept watching her every move.
As soon as she took a bite of something, the other two would immediately follow suit.
Zhu Zhuqing's face flushed red, and she lowered her head, unsure how to chew her food.
"Xiao Wu, why are you
two staring at me like that?" Unable to bear their stares any longer, Zhu Zhuqing frowned at Xiao Wu.
"It was Rongrong's idea. She said eating with you might help me grow faster."
Xiao Wu looked a little embarrassed.
"Rongrong!" Zhu Zhuqing turned to look at the mischievous girl.
"I can't help it! You won't share any tips with me."
Ning Rongrong pouted; she didn't want to do this either.
But what could she do when someone liked big things?!
"But, but I don't usually eat these things!"
Zhu Zhuqing looked at her resentfully. She had already told her that she was exceptionally gifted, but she just wouldn't believe her.
And she even came up with this terrible idea, making her uncomfortable with Xiao Wu!
"Ah? You should have said so earlier. This food is awful, not even as good as what I make myself! Humph!"
Ning Rongrong's face fell, and she threw down her chopsticks.
The food here was truly awful; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it coarse tea and plain rice.
"Rongrong, aren't you the young lady of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile
School? You can actually cook?" After a night of conversation, Xiaowu understood just how enormous the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School was. She
also learned just how noble Ning Rongrong's status was.
"Of course! I specially learned for Ye Qiu, hehe."
Ning Rongrong rested her elbows on the table, cupped her face in her hands, and smiled softly, her jade-like feet gently swinging.
"..."
Xiaowu and Zhu Zhuqing gave her a helpless, disapproving look.
They both snorted coldly and ignored her.
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The food on the plate, which wasn't very tasty to begin with, suddenly tasted sour and astringent.
"Wow, Boss Dai! What do you think they're talking about!" Ma Hongjun, who had mostly recovered, sneered at the girls across from him.
Their faces were flushed, making them even prettier, which made Ma Hongjun howl like a wolf.
"Ouch... Boss Dai, what are you doing?"
Dai Mubai shoved the fat guy next to him, his wicked eyes flashing with warning.
"Fatty! I advise you to behave yourself!"
"Damn it! Boss Dai, you've gone too far! Even if you're going to make a move, you should at least leave some for the brothers!"
Ma Hongjun's voice was filled with anger, and he didn't lower his voice.
"**, can you fucking keep your voice down!"
Dai Mubai elbowed him again, glancing towards Zhu Zhuqing and the others.
Sure enough, the smiles on Xiao Wu and the others' faces had vanished, and they were looking in their direction.
"Disgusting!"
Zhu Zhuqing cursed without restraint, her eyes filled with disgust and contempt.
Dai Mubai's face also turned ugly. He not only felt humiliated, but also felt that they had just been talking about a man he didn't know!
"Hehe. I didn't expect that even the self-proclaimed heartthrob Dai Mubai would be outdone! Fatty definitely has no chance!"
Hearing Oscar's voice from the side, Tang San looked at him strangely.
"Oscar, how do you know Ma Hongjun has no chance?"
"Tch, who can't see that Xiao Wu is yours? Dai Mubai seems to be interested in that cold Zhu Zhuqing, and there's Ning Rongrong left. With that fat guy's looks, how could he possibly compete with me?"
"What nonsense are you talking about! When did Xiao Wu become mine!?" Tang San's expression changed, and he glanced at Xiao Wu's side. Seeing that they didn't make a move, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Damn it! Oscar, I think you're really asking for it?"
"I'm telling you, Fatty, you have to accept reality. I'm just more handsome than you!"
"You brat, humph!"
Ma Hongjun looked at Oscar angrily, but immediately deflated. What Oscar said was indeed true; his appearance was indeed not very pleasing.
If he had Dai Mubai and Oscar's sly faces, he'd definitely be more adept at playing games than Dai Mubai, who's always rushing around to three events a day!
"Boss Dai, why don't you tell us about the academy's rules?"
Tang San, noticing several sharp gazes directed at him, quickly changed the subject.
"Alright!" Dai Mubai composed himself and began explaining Shrek Academy's rules to Tang San and his new classmates.
"Actually, Shrek Academy doesn't have any particularly strict rules. The most important thing to note is that rape and kidnapping are forbidden, but fighting and gambling are encouraged, but in moderation!"
Hearing Dai Mubai's words, Ning Rongrong and the other two girls rolled their eyes.
There seemed to be quite a few lewd people here .
"What about the course schedule?"
"We have ample teaching staff, and there are only a few students like us, so there's no fixed schedule. It's adjusted according to individual circumstances!"
Oscar chimed in, addressing Tang San's question.
"I see." Tang San nodded, quite satisfied with this approach.
This way, they could tailor the teaching to each student's individual needs!
No wonder it's a school highly praised by the master!
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
A heavy bell rang out from outside.
"That's the assembly call! Let's go! Follow me." Hearing the bell, Dai Mubai immediately stood up and led everyone towards the large playground.
Xiao Wu and the others followed immediately.
On the playground stood a burly middle-aged man, around fifty years old.
He had a long face, a protruding chin, and a hooked nose—a typical long, narrow face. He
wore a pair of rigid square-framed glasses, and even with his eyes closed, he still looked somewhat cunning.
The group stood side-by-side in front of him.
"Hehe. I didn't expect Shrek Academy to be able to recruit four students this time. Let me introduce you, I am your Dean Flander, Beast Soul Cat-Owl, Level 78 Soul Saint! On behalf of Shrek, I welcome you all!"
Flander chuckled twice, opened his eyes, and paced back and forth, introducing himself. His hoarse voice was magnetic.
He seemed quite satisfied with their surprised expressions.
Seeing Ning Rongrong's nonchalant expression, Dai Mubai paused, a shrewd glint in his eyes.
"The first lesson today is paying tuition! It's not expensive, just one hundred gold coins a year! Mubai, collect their tuition fees and give them to Teacher Li!"
"Yes, Dean!" Dai Mubai replied respectfully, clearly trusting Flander.
Flander nodded, but a faint muttering came from someone nearby.
"Hmph! What kind of class is this?" Ning Rongrong rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath.
One hundred gold coins was nothing to her.
"After paying, Ning Rongrong and Oscar stay! The rest of you can leave and get yourself ready; we have a tough battle tonight!"
Oscar's face fell as Flander pointed at him, but thankfully, his crush had also been called back.
This was a rare opportunity to be alone!
Ma Hongjun spoke briefly with Flander, took a money pouch from him, and hurriedly ran off.
His pent-up anger needed immediate attention.
Xiao Wu and the other two girls exchanged a few words with Ning Rongrong before also leaving.
Dai Mubai watched Zhu Zhuqing's retreating figure, his expression uncertain, but decided to deliver the money first before going to find her.
Only Tang San remained standing in place; Grandmaster had something for him to pass on to Flander.
Flander didn't care about Tang San standing to the side, since he wasn't doing anything shameful.
Looking at Ning Rongrong and Oscar before him, he, with his eloquence and having received some of Yu Xiaogang's inheritance, began a long-winded discourse.
"Everyone on the continent has a different martial soul. What the academy will teach you is not how to cultivate, but how to better use your martial soul, how to better unleash its abilities..."
"Support-type soul masters..."
In the end, Ning Rongrong and Oscar still underwent the physical training of running twenty laps around the village.
Watching their departing figures, Flander's lips curled into a cunning smile.
As an academy that only accepted monsters,
it was never short of arrogant and unruly students. Having been the dean for so many years, he had considerable experience in disciplining these troublemakers. He tempered them
with difficult tasks, pressured them with collective punishment,
humiliated them by shattering their pride, and hurt them by isolating them; he
comforted them with the care of their classmates and bound them with team spirit.
This was merely the first step in getting Ning Rongrong to let go of her pride and fully integrate into the group.
His smile vanished, and Flander turned his gaze to Tang San.
"Tang San, is there something you need?"
"Dean, my teacher instructed me to give you this letter if I successfully pass the entrance exam!"
Tang San retrieved the letter from within the Twenty-Four Bridges Under the Moonlit Night and presented it with both hands.
"Hmph! Still so stubborn!" Flander snorted coldly, took the letter, and immediately began to read it, a look of delight gradually spreading across his face.
"Haha. Xiao Gang is actually coming to Shrek Academy too! Finally, he's not hiding from me anymore?"
"Teacher's coming to Shrek too!?"
Tang San's voice was filled with surprise.
"That's right!"
"Great!"
"Alright, you should go and rest properly first. Don't get injured tonight!" Flander put the letter in his hand into his soul tool and waved Tang San away.
"Okay! Then Tang San won't bother you anymore!"
Although he was puzzled about what kind of training they would be doing that night, Tang San still left as instructed.
Watching Tang San's retreating figure, Flander's eyes were filled with relief and complex emotions.
If it weren't for this disciple giving him hope of proving himself, he probably would have been confined to some remote corner of the continent for the rest of his life!
"Third Sister... you trampled Xiao Gang into the dust for over ten years back then."