"Good, good!"
Watching Flender and Ma Hongjun struggle in deep water, Oscar clenched his jaw. He forced out an apology, his tone filled with guilt.
"We… went too far with our jokes. I apologize to both of you. I'm sorry—it was Fatty's lustful mouth that got out of control, and I didn't stop him. I swear it won't happen again."
"There won't be a 'next time'!" Xiao Wu snapped fiercely, her delicate face full of anger.
Subei's voice came softly, indifferent as ever.
"Oh, I thought Dean Flender just wanted to shield his disciples from punishment and make the Master step up to defend them. So, in the end, it was about a promise he didn't wish to keep?"
Hearing this, Liu Erlong froze for a moment before suddenly realizing the implication.
So that was what Northern Jiangsu meant. He hadn't summoned the twin dragons to torment Flender out of malice. No—that wasn't the point. The real issue was Flender's broken word.
The punishment laid earlier was clear: Ma Hongjun had to crawl around the Shenyan Hall three times. But Flender had stepped forward, trying to smooth things over, diminish the problem, and excuse his disciple—attempting to turn a serious matter into nothing. In the face of this broken promise, it was no wonder that Northern Jiangsu was dissatisfied.
With this explanation out in the open, Dai Mubai and the others could not deny it. They exchanged uneasy looks, realizing Flender had indeed tried to avoid consequences. For an ordinary scoundrel, breaking a promise was expected. But even a soul saint like Flender could be guilty of the same. And in Shrek's eyes, it was no longer surprising.
Yet—where others might tolerate or accept such behavior, Northern Jiangsu most certainly did not.
In Dai Mubai's heart, frustration and shame swelled. He cupped his hands respectfully, bowing.
"Once Fatty's wounds recover, he will fulfill his promise. Even if he bleeds for it, he will undertake the punishment."
When he raised his head, his gaze unconsciously fell on Zhu Zhuqing. For the disgraced prince of the Star Luo Empire, his life had never felt more oppressive. He had already been abandoned by destiny, stripped of his standing. In front of someone like Subei—who could suppress even a level 78 Soul Saint like Flender—what power did he have?
If Flender could not resist and was beaten into humiliation, what chance would he have? At most, a single strike would take his life. The weight of that realization suffocated him.
And the strangest part of all was that he did not even have it in him to hate Subei.
Moments ago, fire had stirred in his chest. Words of burning defiance nearly left his lips…
Something like "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—don't underestimate the poor youth!"
Or perhaps "What belongs to me, I will take back with my own hands one day!"
But when Dai Mubai thought of confronting Northern Jiangsu, the heat drained instantly. All that was left was weakness, despair, and a strange unwilling pity.
His head throbbed violently. Unless he could find someone—any sister, girl, or woman—to help him vent these crushing emotions, he thought he might explode from the contradictions eating at his heart.
Suddenly, Subei's voice rang across the air, light but commanding.
"Enough. Kiss, Kiss, stop now. It seems Dean Flender's cultivation is still far from sufficient."
The twin dragons obeyed instantly, fading back and returning behind Subei. With that single act, the entire oppressive atmosphere shifted. Behind his youthful figure, the two colossal soul beasts radiated solemn dignity—guardians that made him appear untouchable, otherworldly.
The image struck everyone present.
Handsome.
The thought burst into their minds unbidden. They had long believed that the height of a soul master's elegance lay in summoning one's martial soul and standing upon the vibrant glow of soul rings. But seeing Subei, untouched, standing with two ancient soul beasts as his guardians, they realized this—this—was something far greater.
Even for the seasoned Shrek men, the mark left upon them by Shenyan Hall was now permanent. From appearance, to the peerless miracle of an eleven-year-old standing at the peak of strength, to the unimaginable possession of multiple ten-thousand-year soul rings—Northern Jiangsu was forever stamped in their hearts.
Now that the dragons had retreated, Flender finally lost his remaining support and fell from midair. His black-feathered wings snapped closed as he tumbled, landing in a battered heap. By his side lay the half-dead Ma Hongjun, lips purple, his whole body trembling from cold.
Flender quickly pressed his spirit power into Fatty, nourishing and stabilizing his disciple's body. But even as he did, the weight of his injuries pressed down—claw marks, deep burns, scars etched across him. His clothes were in tatters. It was clear he had been overwhelmed.
And though one reason was his dispersal of power to protect Ma Hongjun, he knew the truth deep inside: even at his best, he had been no match for Northern Jiangsu.
Suddenly, Subei's aura flared again, sharp as a blade. His domineering voice resounded:
"I hope you never forget this lesson. In other places, I don't care what your opinion of women is. But here—in my Shenyan Hall—I will never permit disrespect or filth toward any of them!"
The searing edge in his gaze lingered… then subsided. Calm once more, he dismissed them.
"Go. Do not come back to Shenyan Hall again. This place does not belong to you. From today on, our ties are cut."
"Men, see them off."
At his command, twelve women clad in gold appeared like shadows, surrounding Shrek's group. Their aura surged as one, pressing down in unified force. They lined themselves in such a way that only one path out remained.
The air was suffocating with solemnity as their captain stepped forward.
"Please, everyone…"
The words were polite, but the message was clear: this was expulsion, not hospitality.
"Farewell," Flender muttered, voice low and bitter. Without delay he lifted the dying Ma Hongjun into his arms and hurried off, not daring to waste another heartbeat.
"Finally, those annoying ghosts are gone!"
Xiao Wu jumped into the air like a cheerful rabbit, her eyes sparkling with relief. She landed before Subei and began listing names with exaggerated glee.
"A shameless thief, a gloomy narcissist with creepy eyes, that disgusting lusty Fatty, and a cross-dressing uncle… ugh! Just looking at them made me sick. Hmph, but looking at Brother washes my eyes clean again!"
With that, she tilted her head sweetly, puckered her lips with a playful smooch, and planted a kiss on Subei's cheek. A red mark bloomed instantly.
To be more accurate—it was a quick peck, not a deep kiss.
"You little imp…"
Liu Erlong looked on, torn between exasperation and amusement. "Boss Fu, these students keep getting stranger and stranger. They really do need harsh lessons. None of them are reliable."
"But still," she added after a breath, "Flender has been my friend for many years. I'll go after them and explain properly, just to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding."
"There's no misunderstanding," Subei replied coolly. "If they cannot accept it, then so be it. They joked about Xiao Wu. If Flender ever dared say he wanted to gamble your life in marriage, I would beat him just the same."
At those words, Liu Erlong's gaze softened. A tender smile blossomed, and her voice grew warm.
"As long as I have Xiaobei, I am satisfied."
She turned and ran after Flender's group, calling out brightly along the way.
"Don't worry! Godmother has no intention of marrying anyone else. I will stay by Xiaobei's side all my life!"
Seeing this, Zhu Zhuqing's chest loosened. She whispered quietly to herself, How precious… to have a mother who genuinely cares for her child forever. Her heart ached as memories of her own family rose. In contrast, the people who should have protected her—her own blood—saw her only as a tool, a piece of value to be bartered. No happiness, no warmth, no freedom could ever exist there.
She realized now. Even in the families that seemed harmonious on the surface, layers upon layers of cold calculation and hidden purposes festered underneath.
From the corner of her eye, Xiao Wu suddenly tilted her head and frowned.
"Huh? Why are you still here?"
Everyone turned. Squatting in the corner, Zhang Yi was chewing carefully on a sweet orange, juice dripping from his lips. It was clear he had prepared well, savoring every bite.
Smiling awkwardly, Zhang Yi cupped his hands.
"Madam, I'm not actually part of Shrek Academy. We never really had close ties. Those people… shameless beyond measure. I'm different. I worship His Highness, admire Eldest Miss, and respect Taotao. And besides, since my young lady has already joined Shenyan Hall, I…"
"You also want to stay here?" Xiao Wu asked curiously, eyeing him up and down with her hands on her hips.
Although she hadn't been called "Madam Temple Lord" in some time, hearing it again made her secretly pleased. It wasn't a bad title at all.
Zhang Yi nodded eagerly, expectation flashing in his eyes.
But Xiao Wu decisively shook her head.
"No. Shenyan Hall does not allow men to live here. Sorry, you don't pass."
She circled him once, then turned toward Subei with a grin.
"Brother, what do you think? He's not particularly handsome, but not ugly either. And at least he talks nicely. Maybe you can do something with him?"
At that moment, the twin dragon soul beasts settled back into their hidden space, one of them whispering,
"We shall depart and await our master's next call."
As Su Bei dismissed them, he finally turned his full attention on Zhang Yi. Raising an eyebrow, he asked faintly,
"You just said you wanted jurisdiction over Shenyan Town?"
Subei reclined back casually in his seat, elegant and composed, his gaze unreadable yet piercing.
Zhang Yi nearly lost his breath. For a moment, he could only stare at the refined grace of Northern Jiangsu—half youth, half god—and gawk. Returning to his senses, he stammered quickly:
"Your Highness misunderstand! Zhang Yi does not dare make such a claim. I only said I wish to assist Your Highness in managing Shenyan Town, not to seize jurisdiction. Your Highness's words terrify me—I wouldn't dare think so highly of myself!"
Subei let out a soft hum through his nose, half-amused at the humility on display.
"Truth is, Shenyan Town wasn't ours to begin with. Outsiders gathered together and slowly built it themselves. Naturally, in the beginning, chaos was rampant. We had to step in. But honestly… I only wished for Shenyan Hall to remain prosperous, for us to live decently. Managing petty towns is hardly my interest.
"Still… Shenyan Town is close. If left unmanaged, disorder could easily spill into Shenyan Hall. So, tell me—what certainty do I have that you can govern well?"
At these words, Zhang Yi's blood surged with excitement. The opportunity had come.
He laid out his case clearly, in three parts:
Binding himself closely with Shenyan Hall by pulling Zhu Zhuqing into the equation, proving his loyalty, swearing to always place Subei's interests first.
Proposing strong administrative methods: house-building, price regulations, law enforcement, and the restriction of unruly entertainment, reshaping the chaotic landscape into order.
Ensuring Shenyan Hall's prestige through diplomacy, balancing between sects and the two empires, so that the temple's name would shine like a fairyland above mortal struggles.
By the end, his words were steady, his intent sincere.
Subei was faintly amused. Casting a glance at Zhu Zhuqing, he remarked,
"So… it was you who encouraged Qing'er to come to Shenyan Hall? Trying to use beauty as a stepping stone to political power? Tch. With your talent, inside the two empires, you'd be like a fish in water, rising faster and higher by the day. But our Shenyan Hall—we don't seek hegemony."
It was true. In Northern Jiangsu's heart, he never wished for endless battle, never hungered for conquest. What he desired was a quiet, peaceful life, surrounded by those he loved—Gu Yuena, Qian Renxue, Bibi Dong, Xiao Wu… and the others who filled his world.
"My lord is too beautiful for politics," Zhang Yi said with a strained smile, realizing he had been uncovered. "Compared to the ugly complexity of the empires, Shenyan Hall is a dreamland. Your Highness won't… drive me away on the suspicion of ulterior motives, right?"
His cheeks warmed with shame. In truth, he was just a scholar with modest insights. A small man. He had no grand stage, no peerless strength. If the gods blessed him with nothing else, perhaps just standing here, gazing at Northern Jiangsu with his own eyes, was already a treasure beyond reach.
"That depends not on me," Subei said with quiet gravity, tilting his head toward Zhu Zhuqing. "If she finds fault in you… you're gone."
At once, every gaze shifted to Zhu Zhuqing, whose face turned scarlet. A beauty trick? she thought. So he came to seduce Brother? Oh no, how embarrassing!
She hid her blush and bowed slightly.
"No. I… I don't mind."
Because, deep inside, she was thankful. Thankful that this man Zhang Yi had given her the chance to choose freely, to break away from her previous destiny. And grateful, above all, that she had met her temple's young master—a boy so impossibly strong, he changed everything she believed possible.
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