Bonus Chapter. Enjoy!
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Although they had been eagerly awaiting the academy to send someone to rescue them.
However... when Mu En really appeared before them in a wheelchair, pushed by Bei Bei.
This anticipation turned into an indescribable nervousness, making them wish they could find a hole to crawl into.
Especially Yan Shaozhe.
As Mu En's direct disciple, and the current dean of the Shrek Academy's Spirit Department, whom Mu En had placed high hopes on and personally promoted, his feelings at this moment were more unbearable than being killed.
He was like a mischievous child who had caused trouble outside, been detained, and now needed his parents to personally come and bail him out.
"Teacher..."
Yan Shaozhe lowered his head, his hands nervously clutching the hem of his clothes, his voice small.
"Disciple... has let you down, Teacher."
"Disciple failed to accomplish what Teacher entrusted, not only failing to solve the problem but also... disgracing the academy."
Qian Duoduo, on the side, also had a bitter expression.
He bowed deeply to Mu En.
"Elder Mu, I was also wrong. I was too rash, too self-important."
"I failed Elder Mu's trust and the academy's nurturing."
However, not everyone was as repentant as these two.
Just as Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo were remorsefully reflecting.
Xuan Zi, standing furthest inside, presented a different picture.
He glanced at Mu En, his eyes somewhat evasive, but quickly averted his gaze to the wall beside him.
He did not apologize.
Nor did he show much guilt.
In Xuan Zi's logic, he had done nothing wrong.
He had merely come to teach a lesson to a Counterfeit Shrek Academy, nothing wrong at all, and... Mu En hadn't given him any specific instructions, unlike Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo, who were given tasks by Mu En but messed them up.
This was Xuan Zi's thinking.
As long as I don't admit I'm wrong, then I'm not wrong.
Mu En sat in his wheelchair, not speaking immediately.
He simply gazed at the three people before him, his eyes becoming incredibly complex.
Disappointment? Helplessness? Or... as expected?
"Alas..."
A long sigh gently drifted from Mu En's lips.
This sigh was like a heavy hammer, striking fiercely at the hearts of Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo, making them bury their heads even lower.
"Alright, stop standing around here."
Elder Lin on the side could no longer bear to watch.
She stepped forward, scolding them with a tone of disappointment.
"Since Elder Mu has come personally, he will naturally take you back."
"But!"
Elder Lin's tone changed, becoming stern:
"After you return, all of you reflect properly! Can you be a bit more steady in your actions from now on?"
"Do you know how much the academy will have to pay to redeem you and clean up your mess this time?"
"Negotiations haven't even begun yet, but it will definitely be a huge blow to us!"
"Yes, Elder Lin is right to reprimand us."
Yan Shaozhe and Qian Duoduo quickly nodded in agreement, not daring to breathe loudly.
However, at this very moment, an ill-timed, even somewhat jarring voice, suddenly rang out.
"What?!"
Xuan Zi suddenly turned his head, his eyes wide, looking indignantly at Elder Lin, then at Mu En.
"A price that would cripple Shrek Academy?"
"Why?"
"Why should we give anything to this Counterfeit Shrek Academy?"
"They captured us; they are in the wrong! They are disrespectful!"
"It's already good enough that we're not settling scores with them; we have to give them things? That's too cowardly!"
As Xuan Zi spoke these words, the air in the entire Confinement Room became much quieter.
Mu En was stunned.
His cloudy old eyes widened slightly, looking at Xuan Zi with some disbelief.
Although he knew Xuan Zi was reckless, even a bit of a scoundrel.
But...He never expected that in this situation where they were the fish on the chopping block.
Xuan Zi could still say such words?
Was he missing a screw in his head, or did he truly believe that "Shrek's Glory" was a death-exempting golden token?
Bei Bei, standing behind Mu En, closed his eyes helplessly and let out a deep sigh.
Indeed...It was still Xuan Zi.
Still the familiar recipe, the familiar taste.
At critical moments, he was always unreliable, always able to precisely step on a landmine and ruin an already eased situation.
"Heh."
Zhang Yang, who had been guarding the door, heard Xuan Zi's words and a cold sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth.
He slowly stepped forward, dangerous light flickering in his eyes:
"It seems you still haven't understood the situation."
"If you are unwilling to pay the price..."
"Then, you will not be able to walk out of this door."
"And, I can tell you clearly."
"The specific price must satisfy our Dean Lin Feng, otherwise, don't even think about leaving."
Zhang Yang's words were resolute, leaving no room for negotiation.
Logically, with words spoken to this extent, any normal person should know to restrain themselves.
But, who was Xuan Zi?
He was the Gluttonous Douluo! A man who had lived his entire life by the motto, "Those who dare not cause trouble are mediocre!"
Hearing Zhang Yang's threatening words, Xuan Zi's stubborn temper immediately flared up.
"Nonsense!"
"You want us to pay a price? You want that Lin Feng to be satisfied?"
Xuan Zi pointed at Zhang Yang's nose, his face full of righteous indignation.
"Get this straight!"
"Whose name is this academy of yours under? It's Shrek!"
"The name Shrek is the glory our ancestors fought for ten thousand years ago!"
"For us to allow your pirated academy to use the name Shrek Academy is already an immense blessing!"
"Not only are you not grateful, but you're also trying to make us pay a price in return?"
"How is that possible?!"
The more Xuan Zi spoke, the more agitated he became, as if he stood on the moral high ground, radiating a glow of "righteousness."
"…"
At this moment even Elder Lin, who had initially been a bit distressed about the money, felt her old face flush and could barely listen anymore.
Saying such words in this situation, in front of them...Wasn't this just asking for death?
Indeed.
Bei Xin, who had been standing behind Mu En without speaking, couldn't help but let out a light laugh upon hearing Xuan Zi's "remarks."
"Heh."
"It seems..."
Bei Xin slowly raised his eyelids, his gaze passing over Mu En and landing coldly on Xuan Zi:
"Your Shrek Academy has no intention of negotiating, does it?"
"That's not it."
Mu En spoke to explain, looking at Bei Xin and Zhang Yang to appease them.
"Brother Bei Xin, please calm your anger."
"This is just Xuan Zi's momentary fit of pique, not to be taken seriously."
"We came with sincerity; we absolutely have no intention of not negotiating!"
After speaking, Mu En suddenly turned his head and stared at Xuan Zi with a stern gaze.
Facing Mu En's gaze of deterrence, Xuan Zi, although he slightly reined in his tone, did not shut up.
Instead, as if he suddenly thought of something, a greedy glint flashed in his eyes.
"Elder Mu, don't stop me, I have a sense of propriety."
"If..."
"If you truly want our Shrek Academy to give you resources, it's not impossible."
"After all, our Shrek has a grand enterprise; it's nothing to bestow a little upon you."
"But!"
Xuan Zi revealed his true intentions, his eyes burning as he stared at Zhang Yang.
"In exchange you must hand over the method to increase the Spirit Ring's age limit!"
As soon as these words were uttered.
The entire room was shocked.
Even Elder Lin's eyes widened, looking at Xuan Zi as if he were a madman.
What was he saying?
The method to increase the Spirit Ring's age limit?
They didn't know about such a method, but to be able to increase the age limit of a Spirit Ring, that would definitely be an incredibly precious method. And he just opened his mouth and demanded they hand it over? And with a condescending tone?
"Don't pretend to be foolish!"
Seeing everyone's reaction, Xuan Zi thought they didn't believe him and immediately shouted loudly.
"I heard it that day!"
"That guy named Zhuo Shi who fight Yan Shaozhe and Zhang Yang, their First Spirit Ring was a thousand-year one!"
"Normal people absolutely cannot withstand a thousand-year First Spirit Ring!"
"Your academy must possess some secret method that can increase the Spirit Ring's age limit!"
"This secret method can only be truly developed and benefit the entire continent if it is in the hands of our true Shrek Academy!"
"Your pirated academy holding onto such a secret method is a waste; it's better to hand it over to us. We can consider it your 'certificate of allegiance' for returning to the orthodox path!"
"…"
Mu En closed his eyes in despair.
It's over.
Completely over.
This wasn't just shameless; this was outright robbery!
Trying to snatch someone else's core secret on their own territory?
How big-hearted must one be to do such a thing?
Even Bei Bei was utterly bewildered at this moment.
He looked at Xuan Zi, with only one thought in his mind:
How did this Xuan Zi become the Gluttonous Douluo? How did he even survive until today?
At this very moment.
"Whoosh—"
A sudden, urgent whooshing sound came from outside the Confinement Room.
"Who?!"
Before Xuan Zi could react, he only felt a blur before his eyes.
A figure in a black and white long dress rushed in like a ghost, appearing in front of Xuan Zi.
It was an old woman.
Her silver hair flew wildly, and her eyes were as sharp as knives.
It was none other than Long Yeyue, who had just been summoned by Lin Feng!
She wasted no words.
Facing Xuan Zi, who was still daydreaming, she directly raised her right hand, then fiercely swung it down!
"Slap—!!!!"
Xuan Zi, completely unprepared, was sent flying by this slap!
"Pfft—"
Xuan Zi spun three times in the air, heavily impacted the metal wall, and then slid down like a dead dog.
As he opened his mouth.
More than a dozen blood-stained teeth, mixed with fresh blood, clattered to the floor.
Xuan Zi clutched the side of his face, which had instantly swollen into a pig's head, looking at the old woman who had suddenly appeared, his mind buzzing, completely dazed from the beating.
Long Yeyue slowly retracted her palm, looking down at Xuan Zi on the ground, her eyes full of disgust and disdain.
She spoke coldly:
"What you just said..."
"Say it again?"
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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.