Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his face so gloomy it seemed like water could drip from it. He felt an unbearable frustration in his heart and regretted not kicking out this troublemaker from Shrek Academy earlier.
Chen Xuan's smile seemed utterly disgusting in Yu Xiaogang's eyes, full of hypocrisy. He finally understood that the other person was deliberately making things difficult for him, publicly humiliating him in front of so many people with malicious intent.
"Chen Xuan, shut your mouth! Let me come down and spar with you!" Liu Erlong, standing nearby, couldn't hold back any longer. Seeing her man being targeted again and again ignited her fury, and she wanted nothing more than to beat up this little brat.
Just as she was about to climb over the railing, a commanding voice echoed through the air.
"Silence! Silence!" The Snowy Night Emperor stepped forward, visibly displeased, and said sternly, "This is the Heaven Dou competition arena, a place for contestants to compete. Do you think this is a joke?"
At the same time, the Golden Knights swiftly moved into action. A dozen armored soldiers surrounded the Shrek group.
The emperor's authoritative voice forced Liu Erlong to calm down, retreating to the Shrek rest area.
Flender remained silent the entire time, standing in the back and quietly observing.
The Snowy Night Emperor let out a cold snort and stepped forward to mediate. "Shrek Academy's leading teacher, I ask you again: are you sure you want to substitute your team member?"
"Your Majesty, Chen Xuan is already exhausted. Shrek Academy is sure about making a substitution," Yu Xiaogang replied, neither humble nor arrogant.
The Snowy Night Emperor's brows furrowed tighter. He felt increasingly irritated by this man's obstinance. Despite his royal intervention, Yu Xiaogang remained stubborn.
He then turned to look at the stage. "Chen Xuan, do you still have the strength to continue fighting?"
Chen Xuan was initially stunned but then clasped his hands in a respectful gesture and truthfully replied, "Your Majesty, I can still fight."
The Snowy Night Emperor nodded with satisfaction, but then his face darkened as he stared sharply at Yu Xiaogang. As the ruler of a nation, it was beneath him to meddle in such trivial matters, but this man's stubbornness left no room for negotiation.
"Your Majesty, a gentleman's word is his bond. Since the decision has been made, Shrek must follow through," Yu Xiaogang said resolutely.
The Snowy Night Emperor's expression shifted from anger to bemusement, as if he couldn't believe he was dealing with such a foolishly obstinate teacher.
Chen Xuan now understood that Yu Xiaogang was determined to replace him, and not even the intervention of the emperor could change that.
"The master is our teacher, and he's always thinking about what's best for Shrek. I'll step down." Chen Xuan waved his hand and simply walked off the stage.
"You… sigh!" The Snowy Night Emperor wanted to say something but ultimately sighed in resignation.
Seeing Chen Xuan step down, Yu Xiaogang's previously tense expression finally softened, and a smirk appeared at the corner of his mouth, signaling his satisfaction.
"Seems like that young man has a conflict with Shrek's leading teacher," someone commented with a mocking smile.
"I imagine Chen Xuan doesn't have much loyalty to Shrek, which works in our favor," a nobleman added.
Originally, he had been concerned about how to recruit this talented youth. The higher the talent, the more eccentric the personality. Now, Yu Xiaogang's behavior had unwittingly done him a favor.
The wronged and bullied are often the most eager for recognition and, therefore, the easiest to recruit.
Many nobles and aristocrats had already devised plans. If they helped Chen Xuan regain his dignity, he would surely be grateful and more inclined to join their factions.
The nobility and high-ranking officials were delighted, and the other academies and leading teachers were happy to witness such absurdity.
They even encouraged Yu Xiaogang to make more such moves, hoping he would eventually dismiss Tang San and Dai Mubai as well.
"We really ought to thank that teacher for eliminating a major threat ahead of time," said a soul saint from Thunder Academy with a sarcastic smile.
Yu Tianxin smiled faintly. "That guy named Chen Xuan probably won't appear in the competition again, so we've got one less strong opponent."
Though it was a bold guess, everyone at Thunder Academy believed this to be the case. They weren't children, and after some thought, they had already pieced together the situation at Shrek Academy.
It was nothing more than a case of a teacher holding a grudge against a student, driven by selfish desires, abusing his authority, and repeatedly targeting that student.
After Chen Xuan left the stage, Ma Hongjun was supposed to be the next in line according to the competition roster. After all, the chubby guy had been clamoring to compete. However, Yu Xiaogang changed the plan at the last minute, sending Dai Mubai to fight against the Heaven Water Academy in the final match.
Flender remained silent throughout, watching the entire process without a single word.
The Shrek students shook their heads in disappointment. They were well aware of the conflict between Chen Xuan and the master, but it was beneath an elder to hold a grudge against a student, which only made the teacher appear petty.
Normally, it was obvious that the master harbored ill will toward Chen Xuan, but no one said anything, believing that it was just a form of "tough love."
However, this time, in the face of something as significant as Chen Xuan's personal honor, which was also tied to Shrek Academy's glory, Yu Xiaogang had gone to such ridiculous lengths.
Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuyun, and Zhu Zhuqing felt disheartened and disappointed in their academy. When had their beloved Shrek Academy become so unfamiliar? Did it still remember its original purpose?
Ma Hongjun, who was usually loud and boisterous, now remained silent, lost in deep thought.
Of course, Tang San and Tailong were exceptions. The two had long regarded Yu Xiaogang as a mentor and father figure, someone they worshiped.
Especially Tang San, who had always deeply respected his elders. In his eyes, teachers always had the students' best interests at heart, and even if they were wrong, it was only because the students failed to understand them.
"Chen, you're tired. Go back and rest. Take a few days off. Little San and the others will handle the rest of the matches," Yu Xiaogang said calmly, his hands behind his back.
Chen Xuan felt a sense of helplessness. After being sidelined for over a month, he had finally gotten the chance to compete, only to be benched again.
The repeated suppression and targeting were becoming unbearable. Chen Xuan had been patient, but now, he realized he had to fight back.
"Master, you're getting old, and your legs aren't as steady as they used to be. It's best to stay indoors more. One day, you might fall, and the rest of your life will be spent in a wheelchair," Chen Xuan said calmly, his words full of hidden meaning.
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. Was this a threat?
Before the master could respond, Tang San walked over, his face grim, and glared at Chen Xuan. "Chen Xuan, you've been disrespectful to the teacher time and again. Apologize immediately, or I won't be so polite."
"Idiot."
Chen Xuan had only two words for such a person.
Then, using the Flying Thunder God technique, he vanished in an instant, reappearing outside the competition arena.
Tang San's pupils contracted in shock. How could he move so fast? Even his Purple Demon Eye couldn't track him.
"Yu Xiaogang, enjoy your remaining time," Chen Xuan glanced back at the arena before turning away to set his plans in motion.
Even if he couldn't take Yu Xiaogang down, he would make sure the master paid dearly.
READ 30 CHAPTERS AHEAD OF EVERYONE FOR ONLY $7!
LINK: patr eon.com/SenatusPopulus