The day after Tang Hao attacked Spirit Hall, the news spread like wildfire across the Douluo Continent.
Opinions about Tang Hao were divided, with people voicing both praise and criticism.
Within the Clear Sky Clan, however, the criticism was unanimous.
"He's brought nothing but disgrace to the sect!"
"All this for a soul beast? He's defied the clan, attacked Spirit Hall, and made us a target for ridicule!"
Though the Clear Sky Clan had long sealed its gates, this incident spurred widespread gossip. Their reputation as the once-greatest sect had been irreparably tarnished.
Flender let out a heavy sigh.
"What a pity for Xiao San… Xiao Gang, are you sure we should still go to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy?"
Grandmaster frowned. "Are you questioning my decision?"
"No! Absolutely not!" Flender quickly clarified, his words dripping with survival instinct. Then he added, "It's just that… I can't shake a sense of unease."
"Unease?" Grandmaster asked, narrowing his eyes. "What are you uneasy about? Could it be the Emperor Team?"
Flender's awkward grin revealed he had hit the mark. He nodded.
"What else could it be? You've seen our kids—they're all proud and headstrong. After losing to the Emperor Team, tensions are bound to explode when we merge with the academy. It's going to be chaos!"
Though he would no longer be Shrek Academy's principal after the merger, Flender still deeply cared about the seven students.
"The others don't concern me much, but Ye Hao… we must keep an eye on him," Grandmaster said grimly.
Flender perked up. "Ye Hao? You're saying… Xiao San?"
He glanced at Tang San as he spoke.
Grandmaster nodded.
"There's unresolved hatred between Xiao San and Ye Hao. While they were both students at Nuoding Academy, their paths diverged sharply. I'm not worried about most things, but this grudge… If, by chance, Xiao San beats Ye Hao one day, we—"
Before Grandmaster could finish, Flender waved dismissively and chuckled.
"If that happens, we'll already be senior teachers at Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. With my strength, if I don't end up as their third-in-command, I'll feel like I've let myself down!"
"By then, it'd just take a word from us, and Ye Hao… Well, you get my drift."
Seeing this, Grandmaster couldn't help but smile.
At a secluded table, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing sat together in relative quiet, their conversation unheard by the others.
"I can't wait to get to Heaven Dou City!" Ning Rongrong said impatiently.
"And then?" Zhu Zhuqing asked calmly.
"Then I'll go home! Quit the academy! I've had enough of Shrek—let whoever wants to stay, stay. Zhuqing, let's leave together!" Ning Rongrong proposed.
Zhu Zhuqing's expression wavered. She glanced at Dai Mubai, her heart heavy with frustration. "I'll… think about it."
"Zhuqing, be honest—can you really stay here? Don't forget what Principal Flender said when we joined: No one can graduate before reaching Level 40 by the age of 20."
Ning Rongrong sneered.
"Level 40 before 20? That's just Flender's excuse to keep us here. What, he thinks he can stop me from leaving? If he dares, I'll have Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone deal with him. Let's see what he does then!"
"Think about it. What does Shrek Academy even offer? No training facilities, no decent food or accommodations, and they expect us to endure high-intensity training on empty stomachs. If we didn't have strong constitutions, we'd have collapsed by now. And let's not forget the people here—stay long enough, and it's bound to lower your IQ."
Zhu Zhuqing said nothing. Ning Rongrong's complaints were hard to refute.
Wasn't this the same academy that claimed graduates would receive noble titles?
Looking at the group around her, especially Ma Hongjun, who kept stealing lecherous glances her way, Zhu Zhuqing felt a wave of disgust. Rising from her seat, she strode over to him.
Everyone watched in confusion as Zhu Zhuqing stopped before Ma Hongjun.
SLAP!
The sharp crack of her hand across his face left the room in stunned silence.
Without another word, Zhu Zhuqing turned to Ning Rongrong, who nodded knowingly. Together, they left the inn.
For a moment, Ma Hongjun sat frozen, his cheek reddening. Then, fury overtook him. Ignoring Dai Mubai's attempts to hold him back, he charged outside, shouting after Zhu Zhuqing.
"Don't push your luck, Zhu Zhuqing! I was being nice by even looking at you. If it weren't for Dai Mubai, I'd have—"
Before he could finish, Dai Mubai slapped him hard across the face.
"Enough!" Dai Mubai growled, caught between loyalty to his friend and his title as Zhu Zhuqing's fiancé. Watching her retreating figure, he sighed deeply.
"Boss Dai, she's not worth it," Tang San said, approaching.
"Exactly! Fatty just looked at her a little—what's the big deal?" Xiao Wu added, her tone biting.
Dai Mubai shook his head. "You don't understand…"
Dragging the dazed Ma Hongjun, he returned to the inn.
Outside, Zhu Zhuqing suddenly stopped.
"Rongrong, let's go," she said firmly.
"Go? Where?" Ning Rongrong asked, puzzled.
"Away from the academy," Zhu Zhuqing replied coldly.
Ning Rongrong's face lit up. "Finally! Let's head for Heaven Dou City. I know a shortcut. We can rent a carriage and reach the city in two or three days. We'll go to my place first and plan from there."
"Okay." Zhu Zhuqing nodded, and the two left the town, beginning their journey back to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Back at the inn, Flender's fury reached a boiling point when he heard the news. Grandmaster's face was scrunched up in frustration.
"What?! Rongrong and Zhuqing left? Who gave them the nerve?" Flender roared.
Looking at his bruised disciple, he felt his anger surge even higher.
"Dai Mubai, go bring them back immediately! Today, I'm going to teach them a lesson they won't forget!"