"Huh? Why are all the teachers from Shrek Academy here?"
Su Xiaoqi looked at the arriving teachers with curiosity. It seemed that due to yesterday's incident, the story had already begun to shift subtly.
At this moment, Zhu Zhuqing no longer minded that Su Xiaoqi had spoken ill of her behind her back. She quietly stood beside him.
Flandre, who was walking toward them, suddenly fixed his gaze on Su Xiaoqi and Zhu Zhuqing. A playful glint flickered in his eyes.
Su Xiaoqi noticed Flandre's stare and sneered inwardly, "So it's really aimed at us. Let's see what tricks you've got."
Flandre and the group of teachers behind him stopped before all the students. Flandre then said some welcoming words and introduced all the teachers to the new students. Afterwards, he ordered everyone except Zhu Zhuqing to pay a tuition fee of one hundred gold soul coins.
Up to this point, everything followed the original story fairly closely. But then Flandre's tone suddenly changed.
"Yesterday, Teacher Zhao took it upon himself to impose unreasonable tests on the new students. I have already severely reprimanded him for this."
"However, Shrek Academy is a Monster Academy, and its teaching methods differ from those of ordinary schools. Next, the four of you freshmen will freely form teams of two to conduct actual combat training so all the senior students and teachers can see your current abilities."
"Of course, combat has rules. You cannot endanger your opponent's life, but you may use any fighting method. If any dangerous situations occur, the teachers will intervene immediately."
"The team that loses will have to run fifty laps around the village using soul power. You have ten minutes to prepare."
As soon as Flandre finished speaking, Tang San and Xiao Wu immediately paired up, while Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong naturally formed the other team.
"So they were waiting for us here. Seems like yesterday's event embarrassed them, and now they want to regain face through Tang San and Xiao Wu."
"Judging by everyone else's expressions, it looks like everyone except those three already knew about this beforehand."
Su Xiaoqi chuckled coldly to himself. He had to admit Flandre's scheme was clever. Under normal circumstances, Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong's team had no chance against Tang San and Xiao Wu.
If Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong lost, the other side could take the chance to reprimand them and at the same time send a warning to Su Xiaoqi — a reminder that here at Shrek Academy, the dean was in charge.
Unfortunately for Flandre, he never expected Zhu Zhuqing to have changed so much. With Ning Rongrong's assistance, a one-on-two fight was no longer impossible.
Ning Rongrong wasn't a fool either. She immediately realized Flandre's intention. Just as she was about to speak, Su Xiaoqi firmly pulled her aside.
Ning Rongrong angrily said, "Su Xiaoqi, isn't it obvious they want to bully me and Zhuqing? Can't you see that?"
"Enough, stop talking for now." Su Xiaoqi replied gruffly, then looked at Zhu Zhuqing. "How do you feel? Confident?"
Zhu Zhuqing nodded. "If it were yesterday's me, I'd have no chance, but now I'll definitely teach them a lesson."
Su Xiaoqi smiled. "Confidence is good, but watch out for hidden weapons."
Ning Rongrong hurriedly asked, "What are you two talking about in code? We're all in the same boat here. Can you just be straightforward?"
Su Xiaoqi looked at her and said, "Ning Rongrong, you probably already see that of the four of us, only the three of us didn't know about this. Now I have only one question for you: are you willing to team up and play with us from now on?"
"But think it through. If you choose to join us, similar things will keep happening to you. But Zhuqing and I will protect you, and I even have ways to help you live outside the academy."
Ning Rongrong replied without hesitation, "After yesterday, I never planned to play with them anyway. From when I returned yesterday until now, I've been alone — everyone else can vouch for that. If it weren't for you two joining Shrek Academy, I wouldn't want to stay here at all."
"If they dare mess with me, I'll have Sword Grandpa and Bone Grandpa tear this broken academy apart."
Su Xiaoqi nodded. "Alright, we'll talk specifics after we win this battle."
"Zhuqing, tell her your current soul power level."
Su Xiaoqi wasn't afraid to reveal the soul bones or the Moonstep technique. Unless Flandre had lost his mind, he wouldn't dare to lay a hand on Zhu Zhuqing.
As for Tang Hao, Su Xiaoqi didn't know if he was still hiding somewhere spying, but as long as Tang San and Xiao Wu's lives weren't endangered, he likely wouldn't interfere.
Of course, Su Xiaoqi recruiting Ning Rongrong was also a safety measure. No matter how reckless Tang Hao was, he wouldn't dare offend the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan.
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Ning Rongrong and said, "Let me reintroduce myself — Zhu Zhuqing, level 30 Great Soul Master."
"What!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed in surprise. Yesterday, Zhu Zhuqing was only level 27 — she had seen it with her own eyes and wasn't mistaken.
To level up three stages in one night was unheard of.
Su Xiaoqi said impatiently, "Don't freak out so much. After you assist Zhuqing, just forfeit and watch the show quietly."
"Okay." Ning Rongrong nodded numbly. She knew this wasn't the time to ask questions. After all, the three of them were in the same boat, and there would be plenty of time to sort things out later.
Su Xiaoqi then gave Zhu Zhuqing a few instructions, telling her to give those people a good lesson.
The ten minutes of preparation flew by quickly. During this time, Flandre and the others had drawn a circle on the playground as the match arena.
The rules were simple: anyone who stepped outside the circle or voluntarily gave up would be eliminated. Flandre would act as referee.
"Everyone unrelated to the match, please leave the competition area."
After seeing everything ready, Flandre began clearing the area. Everyone else stepped outside the circle except Su Xiaoqi, who still stood still in the center.
Flandre frowned at this and just as he was about to speak, Su Xiaoqi cut him off.
"Dean Flandre, how about a bet?"
"If Zhuqing loses the upcoming match, she will live inside Shrek Academy starting today, and I will never set foot in the academy again."
"But if Zhuqing wins by some chance, I want Ning Rongrong to temporarily live outside with us. After all, they get along pretty well."
Hearing the bet, Flandre's brows furrowed even tighter. He couldn't believe Su Xiaoqi didn't see the purpose of his move today. With Zhu Zhuqing's strength, even with the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Tower's help, she stood no chance against Tang San and Xiao Wu, let alone Tang San being the disciple of that person.
Su Xiaoqi smiled and continued, "What's wrong? Dean Flandre, afraid of losing to me? If so, why not just cancel this match and save yourself the embarrassment?"
"Though it was not my intention, since you insist on betting, I will accept."
Flandre had only intended to put Su Xiaoqi in his place, but unexpectedly, Su Xiaoqi became even more brazen. As dean, shouldn't he care about his dignity? More importantly, he couldn't see any possibility that Tang San would lose.