After making all the arrangements, Yun Ming went to the Jiman Hotel, another well-known establishment on this street, to open a room. He planned to stay the night and take some time to properly consider the matter of Shrek Academy.
Having arrived in Suotuo City only a day ago, Yun Ming had, through a series of coincidences, learned so much about the sordid state of Shrek Academy. He now truly doubted the authenticity of those fragmented memories in his mind; the difference was simply too vast! The fragments of Shrek Academy in Yun Ming's mind were grand and rich, while the reality of Shrek was beyond words!
However, in order to get to the bottom of everything as quickly as possible, Yun Ming still needed to continue using Shrek Academy as a catalyst for himself.
After his deliberations, Yun Ming began to sit cross-legged in meditation, carrying out his daily Soul Power cultivation.
Following these days of practice, Yun Ming's Soul Power finally reached the limit of his current level. As the saying goes, when a vessel is full, it overflows; his Soul Power broke through to level thirty-six.
While Yun Ming was able to think about the future and cultivate diligently, certain others were as anxious as ants on a hot pan.
At the same time, in a strange shop in the east of Suotuo City, the storefront was not large, but the sign hanging above it was quite unique.
The sign depicted a circular mark with several special symbols: a sword, a hammer, and a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon. These three symbols combined were exactly the mark found on the special tokens issued by Martial Soul Hall.
At this moment, a somewhat garbled roar suddenly erupted from inside the shop.
"Zhao Wuji, tell me exactly how much money you lost in that bet!!!"
Passersby outside the shop were startled by the sound.
Inside the shop, a man with a peculiar appearance was grabbing the collar of another brawny, bruised man and roaring in anger.
The man with the peculiar appearance had a chin that protruded slightly, wide cheekbones, a flat face, and a somewhat hooked nose. If one had to use an object to describe it, one could only say his face looked a bit like the sole of a shoe. He wore a pair of square, black-rimmed crystal glasses, and no matter how you looked at it, there was something strange about him. This man was Flender, the Dean of Shrek Academy.
As for the other brawny, bruised man, he was none other than Zhao Wuji, who had made the wager with Yun Ming earlier.
When Zhao Wuji left, he had been coated in the Tracking Powder that Yang Wutian had secretly sprinkled on him. He hadn't gone far from the Rose Hotel and had just found a tea shop to rest and soothe the pain of his injured spirit when Yang Wutian caught up to him and pulled a dirty trick.
Zhao Wuji had been hit point-blank with a handful of Soul Suppressing Powder by Yang Wutian. This left Zhao Wuji, who was already inferior to Yang Wutian in strength and severely weakened by his mental injury, with no ability to resist.
Right in front of the tea shop owner, Zhao Wuji was dragged into a small alley and subjected to a brutal beating! By the time Yang Wutian walked out of the alley, the iron rod in his hand had been bent out of shape!
At this moment, Flender, having regained a bit of his Reason, let go of Zhao Wuji's collar. Suppressing his rage, he stared at Zhao Wuji with cold, glinting eyes and spoke.
"Zhao Wuji, speak! What exactly happened?"
"How exactly did you end up owing this money?"
"And what is the deal with these injuries of yours?"
"If you can't give me a reasonable explanation, I will definitely make you pay dearly for this!!!"
Looking at Flender, who had turned dark over money, Zhao Wuji had no choice but to tell him everything from start to finish.
"This matter started when I was eating barbecue and drinking..."
Seeing the silent, piercing gaze of the Cat Eagle Flender, Zhao Wuji timidly chose to skip the preamble and pointed at the unconscious Dai Mubai, getting straight to the point.
"This whole thing was caused by that brat Dai Mubai..."
"..."
Afterward, Zhao Wuji recounted the entire process to Flender: from Dai Mubai molesting someone's friend and getting his leg broken, to him being called over to retrieve the boy, losing the bet to that youth, and finally being dragged into an alley and beaten by a peak Soul Saint whose Soul Power fluctuations were even stronger than Flender's. Flender's expression shifted from initial anger to surprise, and finally to horror, doing a complete one-hundred-eighty-degree turn.
Flender's current mood was one of disbelief. A Soul Elder injuring a Soul Saint head-on? If Zhao Wuji weren't sitting there looking like a pig's head, Flender would have thought Zhao Wuji was definitely lying to him.
Listening to Zhao Wuji's description of Yun Ming and looking at Zhao Wuji's miserable state, Flender could be certain that this was the Young Master of some major power or clan out for experience.
But a bodyguard at the peak of the Soul Saint realm who was also so underhanded—which family did he belong to? This was a bit dangerous!!!
After the shock, Flender's heart felt complicated.
On one hand, Flender was excited. He desperately wanted to recruit Yun Ming, this once-in-a-generation super genius, into Shrek Academy. Wasn't such a genius exactly the kind of student Shrek Academy should be recruiting? Furthermore, once he took in Yun Ming, Shrek Academy would have a source of funding and a new living signboard; he wouldn't have to rely on tricking... no, relying on his eloquence to get people to join Shrek Academy.
On the other hand, Flender was distressed. Not only had their Shrek Academy had a violent conflict with Yun Ming, damaging the academy's image in his heart, but Shrek Academy also owed Yun Ming a debt of ten thousand Gold Soul Coins—the kind of debt that couldn't be avoided.
Although he had the money, this was the hard-earned cash he had saved up by swindling and tricking people bit by bit! How could a stingy miser like him bear to part with it!
As for Zhao Wuji's injuries, he had checked them; they were all flesh wounds. Although they were a bit severe, they hadn't damaged any vital organs.
However, in reality, Yang Wutian had left some imperceptible internal injuries in Zhao Wuji's body. As a member of a pharmaceutical family, Yang Wutian's understanding of the human body was far superior to the vast majority of Soul Masters on the continent.
Zhao Wuji didn't feel it now, but later, when he tried to break through his realm and absorb a Spirit Ring, he would realize just how ruthless today's beating had been!
Consider it a lesson learned! Otherwise, go back to settle the score? If he lost, he'd just get beaten again or killed. If he won, he'd have someone even stronger from the other side coming to his door, and he'd get beaten again or killed. In short, there was no good outcome!
Thinking of this, Flender glared at the unconscious Dai Mubai with frustration. If it weren't for the fact that the boy was already injured, he would have liked to give Dai Mubai a good thrashing himself.
Flender paced the shop anxiously. He wanted to find a way to recruit Yun Ming into Shrek without having to pay the money... After thinking it over, Flender actually came up with a possible plan.
Seeing a cunning smile suddenly appear on Flender's face, Zhao Wuji shivered all over and then felt a bit excited. If Flender could smile so cunningly, that kid was definitely going to be scammed. This was Zhao Wuji's trust in Flender's cunning side.
The next day, early morning.
Jiman Hotel backyard.
Yun Ming began his daily Spear Art practice. However, he hadn't been practicing for long before he felt a faint gaze watching him. He didn't stop, though; his spear practice wasn't finished yet! Besides, he wanted to see what the person in the shadows was trying to do.
The person in the shadows was none other than the Dean of Shrek Academy, Flender. He had gone to the Rose Hotel to look for people last night and heard that Yun Ming was staying at the Jiman Hotel. To avoid disturbing Yun Ming, he had delayed his visit until this morning.
Flender was observing Yun Ming, while he himself was being watched by Yang Wutian, and Flender was well aware of being watched. However, he hadn't come to cause trouble today, so he let them watch!
Although Flender didn't understand the spear, he was a man of the world and even had a buddy under his command who practiced with the staff. The dancing spear shadows of Yun Ming were like poetry and painting, revealing a sense of steadiness amidst their agility, exuding an unparalleled charm that clearly didn't belong to the mundane world!
Seeing this display of spear technique from Yun Ming, Flender became even more 'hungry' for him!
Half an hour later, Yun Ming finished his daily spear practice. After calming the surging blood in his body, he spoke up.
"Come out! You've been watching for quite a while, is there something you need?"
Hearing Yun Ming's voice, Flender flashed forward and appeared right in front of him.
"Young friend, to possess such spear techniques at such a tender age, your future is truly limitless!"
Upon hearing this strange-looking man praise him, Yun Ming showed no reaction, merely staring at Flender with a look that suggested he should just get to the point.
Nothing more to it! It was just familiar! Yun Ming had heard these words far too often to feel anything, and besides, this guy's praise was quite mediocre!
Seeing Yun Ming so composed, Flender didn't feel awkward and continued speaking.
"I am Flender, the Dean of Shrek Academy!"
Hearing Flender introduce himself, Yun Ming was not surprised. He had some history with this academy here in Suotuo City, so it was only natural for someone from the school to come looking for him. Yun Ming replied in a flat tone.
"I am Yun Ming."
"So, are you here to pay for the damages, offer an apology, or both?"
Hearing Yun Ming immediately bring up money, Flender's mouth twitched, and his face threatened to darken, but remembering the purpose of his visit, he forced himself to maintain his expression.
Flender wore a 'kind' smile—though Yun Ming guessed he was trying to appear friendly, his features made him look a bit lecherous and cunning, not like a good person at all. Flender said to Yun Ming:
"You come from a prominent Soul Master family, and at such a young age, you already possess such cultivation and poise; I imagine you don't care about that compensation. How about we use that money to make a wager instead?"
ps: Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader