"Click—"
Accompanied by a heavy sound of metal friction, the doors of the confinement room slowly slid open to both sides.
Yan Shaozhe, Er Ming, and Xuan Zi raised their heads almost simultaneously, their gazes snapping toward the doorway.
Their eyes all held a hint of eager anticipation.
"Are they here?"
Yan Shaozhe felt a surge of joy in his heart.
In his view, this was surely because Bei Bei had passed the message back, and the Academy had sent someone to negotiate.
After all, given Shrek Academy's foundation and prestige, even this mysterious "knock-off" academy would have to show them some respect, right?
Ransoming people didn't sound very good, but as long as they could get out, everything was negotiable.
Xuan Zi, beside him, was thinking the same thing."Hmph, these guys are finally being sensible, knowing to fear Shrek Academy..."
Xuan Zi muttered to himself, already fantasizing about having a big meal of chicken legs first to make up for the mental anguish of the past few days.
Meanwhile, Er Ming was happily thinking that Da Ming must have snatched money from that fool Qian Duoduo and was planning to ransom him out.
However, the next second they clearly saw the figure walking through the door, everyone froze.
Zhang Yang walked in expressionlessly, dragging a quite disheveled Qian Duoduo with him.
"Behave yourself."
Zhang Yang spoke coldly, then skillfully pulled out a silver metal collar and, with a "click," snapped it around Qian Duoduo's neck.
It was a specially made Spirit Tool designed to restrict spirit power.
Following that, "Bang—!"
Zhang Yang tossed him aside casually, like throwing away trash, into an empty cell nearby.
Then he turned around, closed the door, and locked it, the movements smooth and practiced.
It wasn't until the series of metallic locking sounds rang out that Yan Shaozhe snapped back to his senses.
His eyes widened as he looked at Qian Duoduo lying on the ground and cried out,
"Old Qian?!"
"How is it you?!"
"How... how did you end up in here too?!"
Yan Shaozhe simply couldn't believe his eyes.
Just a moment ago, he was fantasizing about Qian Duoduo coming to ransom them, but in the blink of an eye, how did the ransomer get locked up as a hostage?
And...He looked a bit too miserable, didn't he?
"Cough, cough..."
Qian Duoduo struggled to roll over, clutching his chest which was still throbbing with pain.
Looking at the shocked Yan Shaozhe in the neighboring cell, he gave a bitter smile that looked worse than crying.
"Shao Zhe..."
"This... it's a long story..."
Before Qian Duoduo could finish, Er Ming in the private cell next door suddenly burst into a loud roar of laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"You have your day too!"
"Aren't you very rich? Aren't you very arrogant?"
"How did you still end up in here? Hahahaha!"
Er Ming laughed with pure schadenfreude, pointing at Qian Duoduo, nearly laughing until tears came out.
But, ss he laughed, Er Ming's laughter suddenly stopped abruptly.
Wait...Qian Duoduo was in?
Then... what about him?
The original plan was to rob Qian Duoduo's money, but now that Qian Duoduo was locked up, how could Da Ming rob him?
Wouldn't that mean he...Also had no money to get out?
"I'm finished..."
Er Ming slumped onto the ground, his face instantly shifting from schadenfreude to a bitter scowl.
Qian Duoduo ignored Er Ming's mockery; his mind was entirely focused on how to salvage some dignity.
Facing Yan Shaozhe's questioning gaze, Qian Duoduo's eyes flickered as he said evasively, "Sigh, don't mention it."
"I was ambushed. I was careless and didn't dodge."
He couldn't exactly tell the truth—tell Yan Shaozhe that he, a dignified Level 94 Titled Douluo equipped with powerful Spirit Tools, was one-shotted by a Level 92 Titled Douluo, could he?
How would he show his face at Shrek Academy in the future? Did he even want his dignity anymore?
"Ambushed?"
Yan Shaozhe frowned, seemingly considering the credibility of these words. Just then, Xuan Zi, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up, his voice booming and filled with indignation.
"I knew it, the people in this fake place have no martial ethics!"
As Xuan Zi spoke, he smoothed his messy hair and recalled in a deep tone: "When I first came to visit this school, with the principle of harmony being precious, I wanted to talk reason with them."
"And the result?"
"These guys didn't listen to a word I said and actually sent five Super Douluo to gang up on me!"
Xuan Zi held up five fingers, waving them in front of Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo, boasting without a hint of shame:
"Although I was brave and invincible, defeating three of them on the spot,"
"However..."
"Two fists are no match for four hands."
"In the end, it was because my spirit power was exhausted that I was forced to concede defeat."
Hearing this, Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo exchanged a glance, both involuntarily showing expressions of deep respect.
"As expected of Elder Xuan!"
"Fighting five and taking down three!"
"This record is simply terrifying!"
Qian Duoduo nodded repeatedly, as if he had found a kindred spirit, echoing,
"Yes, yes, Elder Xuan is absolutely right!"
"These people just love to outnumber others and launch sneak attacks!"
"I also fell for their tricks due to a momentary lapse in vigilance!"
Only Yan Shaozhe sighed silently in his heart.
Compared to Elder Xuan's 'fighting five and taking down three,' his defeat at the hands of that person named Zhuo Shi—and in a one-on-one fight at that—was really nothing to brag about.
But...
"Old Qian." Yan Shaozhe seemed to suddenly remember something, his expression becoming tense as he asked in a low voice:
"Did the Teacher send you here this time?"
"To negotiate with this academy and get us released?"
Upon hearing this, Qian Duoduo's face stiffened, but he still nodded reluctantly.
"Yes... Elder Mu gave those instructions."
Hearing this confirmed answer, Yan Shaozhe's face instantly turned pale.
It's over. Everything is over.
"Since even you've been brought in, what are we going to do?"
Yan Shaozhe's voice was trembling slightly.
He originally thought Qian Duoduo was here to put out the fire, but now not only had he failed to save them, he had gotten himself caught as well.
Now, who else could come to save them?Qian Duoduo also looked bitter, but he forced himself to cheer up and comforted,
"Don't panic, don't panic."
"Although I'm in here, Bei Bei and Tang Ya are still outside."
"They must have seen all of this and know the severity of the situation."
"Surely... they will go back and inform Elder Mu."
At the mention of "Elder Mu," Xuan Zi, who had been acting very calm, suddenly had his eyes light up.
"Elder Mu is coming?"
"That's good, that's very good!"
Xuan Zi smacked his lips, looking at his surroundings with a look of disdain."This dump doesn't even provide chicken legs, only cold buns and cold water."
"It's simply inhumane!"
"When Elder Mu arrives, I'll definitely have him teach these arrogant fools a good lesson!"
Seeing Xuan Zi's indifferent and even slightly expectant look, cold sweat began to pour down the backs of Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo.
A lesson? They were in no mood to think about teaching anyone a lesson right now!Their minds were filled with how to explain this series of "feeding" behaviors when Elder Mu arrived!
When Elder Mu let them come, he had repeatedly warned them not to be impulsive, to be steady, and to handle things well.
And the result? One, two, three—they were all locked up!
It was like the Calabash Brothers trying to save their grandfather—delivering themselves one by one in a neat row!
If Elder Mu found out about this...Even if Elder Mu had the best temper, he'd probably be driven to his wit's end with anger, right?
"Sigh..."
This time...They had truly lost face on a massive scale!
-----------------------------------------------------A/N:
5 Power Stones = 1 Extra Chapter
I hope all of you are enjoying this story so far. I would appreciate some Power Stones if you can spare any. Thank you.