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"This must be the boy, Su Wen. He has the makings of a soul tool specialist," cooed a statuesque woman with a high ponytail and a crisp, professional air. Her eyes sparkled as she studied him.
"Hmph—what nonsense," scoffed a refined, middle-aged man with half-white hair and a scholarly aura. "This boy's Martial Soul commands beasts. What on earth does that have to do with your Soul Tool Department?"
In the grand council hall, only these two, along with their partners, remained standing. They were undoubtedly the deans, Yan Shaozhe and Xian Lin'er. Beside Xian Lin'er sat a portly man with sly, squinting eyes behind thick glasses; upon seeing Su Wen's gaze, he quickly forced a goofy grin. This was the Dean of Shrek's Soul Tool Department, Qian Duoduo. Next to Yan Shaozhe stood a gentle woman offering Su Wen a warm smile—the Vice Dean of the Martial Soul Department, Cai Meier.
The very mention of Cai Meier made Su Wen want to complain. The contrast between her and Xuanzi was stark. Both had led teams into the Star Dou Forest. Both had faced danger (in her case, the three evil soul masters of the Zhongli family), but the outcomes were worlds apart. Though her team had three overpowered 'hacks' (Huo, Qiu'er, and Dong'er), Cai Meier had nonetheless cared for the team with meticulous attention, like a mother hen protecting her chicks.
Frankly, for this mission, Su Wen would have preferred Cai Meier's steady guardianship over Xuanzi's chaos—even if her personal strength was only that of an ordinary Title Douluo. A present and reliable instructor versus an absent one—there was no comparison. Still, it showed that Shrek Academy was, on the whole, reliable… with the notable exception of a certain elder named Xuan. Truly, one need not fear the schemes of the Sun-Moon Empire, only the sudden whims of the chicken-leg-loving Grand Elder…
"All right, everyone, settle down."
Mu En's wheelchair, now a polished gold, was rolled to the head of the table. The frail elder straightened his stooped frame slightly.
"How Su Wen chooses his future path will be his own decision. That choice is still five or six years away. There's no need to rush."
"Yes, Elder Mu."
The two deans instantly quieted, though they continued to shoot "foolish" grins at Su Wen. Both knew the other's tactics: if they didn't start courting him now, in six years, the other side might have already won him over completely.
Mu En merely shook his head. Su Wen remained impassive. Let the deans compete for me, he thought. I'll just sit back and reap the benefits. Of course, he fully intended to join the Martial Soul Department. If this were the Sun-Moon Empire, he might hesitate, but Shrek's Soul Tool Department was a thousand miles behind its rival. Why would he go there to live on scraps? Even with Mu En's support, the department lacked the resources, teaching quality, and faculty to compete with its martial soul counterpart.
The Martial Soul Department had inherited ten thousand years of honor. Though somewhat bloated and with roots showing signs of decay, it was still overflowing with wealth. A single hair plucked from it was thicker than anything the Soul Tool Department could offer.
"Today's main agenda: one month ago, Xuanzi led an expedition to the Star Dou Forest and encountered a hundred-thousand-year soul beast…" Mu En's eyes sharpened like an eagle's, fixing his gaze on Xuanzi. The room's atmosphere tightened instantly. All the elders turned toward Xuanzi, their expressions a mix of resignation, pity, and frustration.
"Elder Mu, everyone," Xuanzi began, his head bowed so low his stoop deepened. "I wish to resign my positions as Vice Pavilion Master of the Sea God's Pavilion and Deputy Head of the Disciplinary Committee. I am a sinner to this academy. I do not deserve to be here…"
He stood and, under everyone's watch, pulled a polished badge from his pocket. He wiped it clean and placed it on the table.
"Elder Xuan, this isn't your fault!" Yan Shaozhe said earnestly, then quickly corrected himself when he realized there was no one else to blame. "Everyone has lapses in judgment. And thanks to Su Wen turning the tide, not a single student died. Elder Zhuang has assured us the wounded will make full recoveries with no impact on their future cultivation."
"Exactly, Elder Xuan," Xian Lin'er added, for once in complete agreement with Yan Shaozhe. "You are a pillar of this academy. If you leave, how would we defend against external threats? Though the mission was perilous, the outcome was good. We should be focusing on rewards, not punishment…" Both spoke sincerely. If Xuanzi left and something happened to Mu En, who would carry Shrek's banner? No one could.
Mu En spoke, his quiet voice carrying an unmistakable weight. "Xuanzi, are you throwing a tantrum? Quitting on me?"
"Elder Mu, you know that's not what I'm doing…" Xuanzi rasped.
"So you mean I've wronged you?" Mu En asked softly.
"No, I…" Xuanzi's voice cracked.
"Then get back to your seat and do your job!" Mu En suddenly thundered. "Act like a man and take some responsibility! You run at the first sign of trouble. Don't think that even in my weakened state, I can't still flog you like a spinning top!" He pounded the table. "Clean up your own mess."
He leaned in, his voice lowering. "And… you will properly thank Su Wen. This time, he saved you. If that boy hadn't stalled the Demon Tiger at the crucial moment, you would be making your final apology in blood."
"Yes, Elder Mu!" A pained smile stretched across Xuanzi's bitter face as he bowed deeply to Su Wen.
Su Wen simply smiled and nodded back. Heh, little old man, he thought privately, I'm holding this over you for the rest of your life…
Several elders cast curious glances at Su Wen, their expressions softening as if looking at their own descendant. Determined, courageous, and unflappable in a crisis—aren't these the qualities of a true leader? A heaven-sent Pavilion Master.
"Xuanzi, you erred and must be punished," Mu En declared. "For ten years, you are forbidden from leading any external expeditions. Your salary and stipends for the next decade are suspended. This will be used to compensate the students. The academy will supplement this fund to provide a ten-thousand-year soul bone for each severely wounded student and two million gold soul coins for each lightly injured one."
"And… because your gluttony nearly led to the annihilation of these children, you will be confined and starved for three months."
"What…?" Yan Shaozhe's eyes went wide. He hadn't expected Mu En to be this severe.
Even Su Wen was surprised. The fines and suspension were trifles for Xuanzi. But three months of starvation? That was true torment. The Gluttonous Divine Bull Martial Soul fueled Xuanzi's soul power through consumption. Depriving him of food was like forcing an addict through withdrawal. This was a punishment custom-built for his very soul.
"Very well…" Xuanzi said, a great weight seeming to lift from his shoulders as he exhaled. The sound was almost one of relief.
(End of Chapter)