After the brief introduction, Liu Yuan also sat down beside them.
But Bei Bei looked at the pack on Liu Yuan's back with some confusion and asked: "Liu Yuan, seriously, why are you alone in the Star Dou Great Forest?"
Hearing this question, the smile on Liu Yuan's face faded slightly. He shrugged and said in a nonchalant tone: "I was expelled."
"What?!" Bei Bei and Tang Ya cried out in unison, their expressions instantly shifting from surprise to shock and disbelief.
"What happened?!" Tang Ya was the first to rush forward, asking urgently, "With your talent and strength, how could you possibly be expelled?"
Bei Bei's face also darkened, his gaze sharp as he looked at Liu Yuan, waiting for his explanation.
Liu Yuan casually picked up a twig and poked at the campfire, his tone as flat as if he were talking about a trivial matter that had nothing to do with him: "It's no big deal. A few days ago, Xuan Zi looked for me, wanting me to join the Shrek Supervisory Group."
"Supervision Team? Isn't that a good thing?" Tang Ya was puzzled.
"A good thing?" Liu Yuan sneered and shook his head. "I did not agree and refused him. Then, half a day later, the disciplinary notice came down. The reason was'seeking quick success in cultivation, repeatedly consuming Medicinal Pills, disrupting the academy's cultivation atmosphere, and improper conduct'."
He looked up at Bei Bei and Tang Ya, a mocking curve touching the corners of his mouth: "Heh... if you want to condemn someone, you can always find a pretext."
"Bastard!" Tang Ya's pretty face turned red with anger, her beautiful eyes filled with fury. "This is clearly abusing public office for a private grudge! How could Elder Xuan do this!"
"Outrageous!" Bei Bei was even more furious, a sharp Aura rising from him. He clenched his fists and said in a heavy voice: "No! This matter absolutely cannot be left like this!"
"Liu Yuan, don't worry. I'll go back to the academy right now and tell my Progenitor Xuan everything exactly as it happened! He is the most just and will surely clear your name!"
However, facing his two friends' righteous indignation, Liu Yuan only calmly shook his head: "Forget it, Bei Bei, Xiaoya, I appreciate your kindness. But, I already do not want to go back."
"Why?" Bei Bei was puzzled. "This clearly is not your fault!"
"Because I'm disappointed." Liu Yuan looked at the flickering flames, his eyes deep. "I always thought Shrek was a place that spoke through strength and talent."
"But now it seems it's no different from those mundane forces outside; it cannot tolerate even a hint of a defiant voice. An academy like this is not worth staying at."
Bei Bei and Tang Ya wanted to persuade him further, but seeing Liu Yuan's determined and cold gaze, they knew his mind was made up, and all their words of persuasion were stuck in their throats.
The two looked at each other, both feeling helpless and regretful.
In the silence, Huo Yuhao, who had been listening quietly, could not help but speak up. He looked at Liu Yuan with clear and serious eyes and said: "But... Big Brother Liu Yuan, this time, it's clearly Shrek and Xuan Zi who are in the wrong!"
Hearing this, Liu Yuan gave him a somewhat surprised look, then smiled freely: "Who told them the academy belongs to them? They are the continent's number one academy, and he is a level ninety-eight Super Douluo. The rules are naturally set by them; they can do whatever they want."
At this point, he changed the subject and looked at Huo Yuhao with interest: "Little Brother Yuhao, for the sake of those words, I'll give you a piece of advice."
"If you encounter similar things in the future, do not fear so-called power; the most important thing is to hold onto your own heart."
"For example, if one day Shrek also makes things difficult for you for no reason, trying to force you to do things you do not want to do, what then?" Liu Yuan paused and smiled: "Then you just leave too! The world is vast; where can't one Cultivate? Why hang yourself from a single tree."
"Don't teach the kid bad things!" Tang Ya and Bei Bei said in unison, glaring at Liu Yuan. Shrek was still sacred in their hearts.
Liu Yuan smiled indifferently: "Just advice. Whether he listens or not is up to him."
Huo Yuhao pressed his lips together tightly, recording Liu Yuan's words in his heart word for word, and then nodded heavily: "Big Brother Liu Yuan, I'll remember."
Seeing this, Bei Bei and Tang Ya could only sigh helplessly.
The heavy topic was moved past, and the atmosphere became a bit awkward for a moment.
Huo Yuhao hurriedly handed over the grilled fish, breaking the silence: "Big Brother Liu Yuan, you guys eat the fish first. Quickly, try my cooking."
Good food is the best consolation.
The four of them sat around the campfire, eating the fragrant grilled fish, and the atmosphere gradually relaxed.
After eating and drinking their fill, Liu Yuan stood up, brushed the dust off his clothes, and thanked the three: "Thank you for the hospitality. I enjoyed this meal very much."
"All good things must come to an end; I'll take my leave now."
"Leaving so soon?" Tang Ya was a bit reluctant to see him go.
"Yeah, I plan to travel around for a while to broaden my horizons." Liu Yuan did not elaborate on his destination.
Bei Bei also stood up and said solemnly: "Liu Yuan, take care. If you change your mind, come back to Shrek and find us anytime."
Liu Yuan nodded with a smile, preparing to turn and leave.
But just then, a sudden change occurred!
"Roar—!!!"
An extremely violent and loud roar suddenly came from deep within the dense forest not far away!
Accompanied by the "crackling" sound of trees being snapped by brute force, a massive black shadow carrying frantic killing intent lunged toward their position like a bolt of lightning!
It was surprisingly another Wind Baboon!
Only its physique was a full size larger than the previous one, with muscles knotted like rocks and eyes as red as blood. The spirit power fluctuations emanating from its body had surprisingly reached the level of five or six thousand years of cultivation!
And its eyes, filled with madness and hatred, were locked tightly onto Liu Yuan and the others!