Su Xiao Qi thought to himself: setting everything else aside, just looking at Yu Xiaogang's current droopy and defeated appearance, it really was quite pathetic.
Before he could take a closer look at the Yu Xiaogang in front of him, everyone standing on the playground turned their gaze toward them.
"Students, teachers, what's going on here?"
"And who's this mummy-looking guy? Do we have someone like that in our academy?"
Su Xiao Qi stepped forward and looked at Dai Mubai, who was wrapped like a mummy. He almost couldn't control his expression—"miserable" didn't even begin to describe it.
To Su Xiao Qi's surprise, Flandre didn't ask him anything but showed concern for their group instead.
"It's good that you all are back. I've already heard about everything from Tang San. You've worked hard this time, but Zhao Laoshi…"
Su Xiao Qi followed up quickly: "What happened to Zhao Laoshi? By the way, where is he? I still want to thank him properly."
"Zhao Laoshi…" Flandre choked on his words and sighed deeply, then recounted everything he had heard from Oscar and Ma Hongjun.
"How could this happen!"
Su Xiao Qi's face changed from shock to confusion, then grief, and finally he shouted, "Zhao Laoshi, how did you die? And why is there not even a single bone left? How am I supposed to pay respects to you now?"
He then walked over to Dai Mubai's side, squatted down, and comforted him.
"Dai Mubai, although we had some small conflicts before, don't worry. I've noted this grudge against Davis for you. You just focus on healing your injuries."
"I'll get people back home to help you fix your face, and then get you a prosthetic limb. I guarantee you'll rise up again like the 'Bear Wind'!"
Ning Rongrong beside them was dumbfounded. She even began suspecting if Su Xiao Qi was the one behind all this, because his acting was way too convincing.
"Wait, wasn't it me who fired the first shot?"
Ning Rongrong suddenly felt a bit guilty. After failing to squeeze out tears several times, she looked at Dai Mubai and said, "Big Brother Dai, I never expected things to turn out like this. If you ever need anything, just ask. Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will definitely support you."
Zhu Zhuqing looked at Dai Mubai calmly and said, "I don't want to argue about the past. Just focus on healing. When Xiao Qi and I get married, I hope you'll come."
"I'll be there," Dai Mubai replied.
Su Xiao Qi was shocked inside. Since when did Zhu Zhuqing become so cunning? Look at her, she made Dai Mubai angry enough to spit blood.
"I'm glad to see you all changed," Flandre nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Ning Rongrong and said, "Rongrong, I have some questions for you."
Flandre's questions were about how Ning Rongrong escaped from Davis. Ning Rongrong was well-prepared and shifted the blame to the Titan Ape.
After being taken by Davis, she met the Titan Ape, who caused Davis to use her as bait. While fleeing in the forest, she encountered Su Xiao Qi and was saved.
Su Xiao Qi then said, "Dean Flandre, that Titan Ape is truly despicable. If it hadn't appeared, none of the subsequent tragedies would have happened. Zhao Laoshi wouldn't have met such a cruel death."
"I propose we all swear here and now—until the Titan Ape is dead, we won't stop!"
"I agree," Ning Rongrong was the first to raise her hand. Su Xiao Qi had promised her she'd get to use a big cannon next time they fought the Titan Ape.
Meng Yiran quickly followed, "I agree too. My grandparents died by its hands. I want revenge."
Then Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun all agreed. Only Tang San and Xiao Wu remained silent.
Xiao Wu would definitely stay silent. Just as Tang San was about to speak and agree, Yu Xiaogang suddenly shouted, "You're all acting crazy!"
Su Xiao Qi shot a glare at Yu Xiaogang and retorted, "Who the hell are you? What business do you have with us wanting to avenge Zhao Laoshi?"
Tang San stepped forward and looked Yu Xiaogang straight in the eye: "Watch your attitude. This man is my most respected teacher."
Su Xiao Qi snorted and sneered, "He's your teacher? And Zhao Laoshi isn't? Aren't you afraid that your favoritism will hurt Zhao Laoshi's feelings?"
"You—" Tang San was about to retort but was stopped by Yu Xiaogang's hand.
"Xiao San, I'll talk to him myself."
Yu Xiaogang put his hands behind his back, arrogantly facing Su Xiao Qi.
"You're Su Xiao Qi, right? I know a bit about you. Let me ask, why didn't you stop Zhu Zhuqing from killing the Human-Faced Spider?"
"Do you know how important that spider was to Xiao San? Yet you killed it out of personal grudges, wasting a precious spirit ring."
Getting more passionate, Yu Xiaogang looked at Meng Yiran, "You even abandoned Tang San and Xiao Wu to that place. If anything had happened to them, could you take responsibility?"
"I don't give a damn about responsibility, you idiot!" Su Xiao Qi didn't expect Yu Xiaogang to say such things to him. Originally, he wanted to play along, but now he just decided to fight head-on without any explanation.
Tang San's eyes turned red as he shouted, "Su Xiao Qi, I've already warned you about your attitude. Apologize to my teacher right now or don't blame me for being ruthless."
"Ruthless? Don't act like we're best friends. Say another stupid word and you'll find a way to die here," Su Xiao Qi said with a grin.
Looking at Tang San's shocked dumbfounded face, Su Xiao Qi felt incredible satisfaction. Using Tang San's own words against him was the best feeling ever.
He didn't care now whether Tang Hao would come looking for him—he was even hoping Tang Hao would, since after three days in the Gravity Room, he was itching for a fight.
"Both of you shut up! Do you want Zhao Laoshi to rest in peace?" Flandre shouted. His heart was tired—just after Dai Mubai's issue was resolved, now it was Tang San's turn.
But this time, Flandre really couldn't blame Su Xiao Qi. He only wanted to avenge Zhao Wuji. Yu Xiaogang was his longtime friend and the teacher he had kept specifically to guide these students. He couldn't let him down.
Su Xiao Qi looked at Flandre and said, "Dean Flandre, I don't want to say more. I brought Meng Yiran here today hoping she could join Shrek Academy. That's also the idea of Rongrong and Zhuqing."
A clear threat. Flandre knew Su Xiao Qi purposely mentioned Zhuqing and Rongrong's names to remind him that if he didn't agree, those two might run away.
Dai Mubai was already out of commission. If these two left as well, Shrek Academy would be finished. Besides, Yu Xiaogang had told him before that the ideal team size in his mind was seven.
Thinking this through, Flandre looked at Meng Yiran and said, "You introduce yourself first."
Meng Yiran stepped forward and said, "Meng Yiran, sixteen years old, Spirit Master level 31, Martial Soul: Snake Staff."
"Sixteen and level 31 is a bit low," Flandre thought, feeling dissatisfied with her spirit power level. Just as he hesitated, Yu Xiaogang suddenly said,
"Let her join. Although her spirit level is a bit low, with my careful training, she can still be useful in team battles."