Wu Changkong followed Arthur into Shrek Academy, arriving at the gates of the inner courtyard.
Upon learning that his teacher lived within, he knelt right there.
After a long while, Shen Yi, who had gone to inform the teacher, returned with a pale face and a trembling voice. "The teacher doesn't wish to see you."
"I see." Wu Changkong remained kneeling, his expression calm.
"The teacher said you're to kneel right here."
These words brought Wu Changkong a flicker of relief. Better that the teacher was willing to be angry than to ignore him entirely. At least it meant he still had a chance.
"Thank you, Shen Yi." He straightened his chest.
"Senior brother, the teacher's mouth is hard but his heart is soft. The moment I mentioned you, he couldn't hide his joy. Let me go persuade him a little more. He'll surely forgive you." Shen Yi said.
Wu Changkong shook his head gently. "I have no right to ask the teacher for forgiveness. Tomorrow's evaluation for my few students, I'll leave that in your hands."
"Don't worry about it." Shen Yi nodded and turned to leave.
Time passed. Wu Changkong simply knelt there.
Students passed by now and then, and a light breeze drifted past. Gradually his mind settled, and he found himself recalling his own days as a student here.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out, making his heart lurch.
"Huh? What are you doing here?"
Arthur came strolling over. He deliberately circled the kneeling Wu Changkong twice, eyebrows raised high. "Teacher Wu, are you cosplaying a statue? Or did Shrek's evaluation start early, and the subject is 'whoever kneels longest scores highest'?"
Wu Changkong's head snapped up. Seeing Arthur, his eyes filled with shock, and he said in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"
Along with his astonishment, a sudden wave of embarrassment welled up inside him.
To be caught in a moment like this, right when he was pouring his heart out, by one of his brothers, that feeling was truly something.
"Nothing better to do, just came by to have a look around." Arthur spread his hands and stepped aside, revealing Ya Li standing behind him.
"Look, this is the tour guide I found."
Ya Li gave Wu Changkong a gentle nod, her voice mild. "You're... Wu Changkong? I remember you. It's been a long time."
Tour guide?
What kind of tour guide was this?!
Wu Changkong's pupils contracted slightly. He hadn't expected Arthur to have the Holy Spirit Sovereign personally accompanying him.
He was about to speak, but his cheeks inexplicably grew warm. His current state had been witnessed entirely by Arthur, and that stirred up a rare flicker of embarrassment in the man who was normally so cold and aloof.
"Holy Spirit Douluo." Wu Changkong pressed down the unease in his heart, forcing his voice to stay steady.
Seeing him looking outwardly composed but clearly flustered inside, Arthur leaned in close to his ear. "Teacher, who exactly are you apologizing to? Kneeling with such perfect form, want me to call the kids from Class Zero over to take notes?"
"Shut up." Wu Changkong shot him a glare, a warning flickering in his eyes.
Alright, enough teasing him.
Arthur turned to Ya Li. "Holy Spirit Douluo, my teacher kneeling here like this is making me lose a lot of face."
Just as Ya Li's brow furrowed slightly, about to speak,
Shen Yi, who had been secretly keeping watch over Wu Changkong the whole time, suddenly appeared. She bowed and explained, "Holy Spirit Douluo, the situation is like this..."
Hearing this, understanding flashed through Ya Li's eyes, and the look she gave Wu Changkong carried more warmth now. "So that's how it is. Zhuo Shi is a stubborn one, and you're just as hardheaded. To think you'd really kneel here like this."
Wu Changkong pressed his lips together and offered no explanation.
"Kneeling here forever isn't going to solve anything." Arthur activated the power of his Face Fruit. "Holy Spirit Douluo, give me some face here, help me persuade Senior Zhuo Shi."
Ya Li was amused by how blunt, and faintly childish, Arthur's plea for "face" sounded, and she let out a soft laugh. Her gaze turned toward the depths of the inner courtyard, her voice gentle. "Zhuo Shi, that's about enough, don't you think? If you truly wanted nothing to do with Wu Changkong, why make him kneel here all this time?"
Ya Li's words carried real weight. Barely three breaths after she spoke, the trees deep in the inner courtyard stirred without wind, and a white-haired old man appeared.
"Holy Spirit Douluo certainly has time to spare, meddling in the affairs between me and my disciple." Zhuo Shi's tone was gruff, though there was no real anger behind it.
It was only because it was Ya Li. Had anyone else tried to interfere in the matter between him and Wu Changkong, he would have already blown up.
Ya Li smiled lightly. "I simply couldn't bear to watch you be so stubborn about it. It would be a shame if you really drove your disciple away."
Zhuo Shi was struck speechless for a moment. After a pause, he turned his gaze to Arthur, a trace of scrutiny entering his eyes. "You're Wu Changkong's student?"
In truth, he had recognized Arthur at first glance. After all, two and a half years ago the Sea God Pavilion had held a meeting specifically about him.
Whatever had happened two and a half years ago, whether it was that beam of light or Cai Yue'er's intervention afterward, it had made Arthur a well-known name among the upper echelons of every major organization.
"I suppose you could say that." Arthur shifted the subject smoothly. "Though you can just call me Dean."
"Dean?"
"That's right." Arthur lifted his chin, chest puffed out. "I'm the newly appointed Dean of the Outer Academy. So give me some face and let this whole thing go."
"You?!" Zhuo Shi looked genuinely confused. If this kid was the Dean, then what did that make him?
Ever since Cai Yue'er had stepped down, Zhuo Shi had become the new Dean of Shrek's Outer Academy.
He hadn't originally wanted the position, but back when Shen Yi returned and mentioned that Wu Changkong might come back, he had taken it up on his own initiative.
Zhuo Shi fixed his eyes on Arthur. "Dean of the Outer Academy? Boy, do you know who you're talking to?"
Soul Power surged unconsciously around him, his aged features darkening.
The terrifying pressure of a Titled Douluo bore down.
But.
Arthur was unaffected.
His expression didn't so much as flicker. He simply stepped back behind Ya Li. "Holy Spirit Douluo can vouch for this, can't you? You said I get the same standing as the Dean of the Outer Academy while I'm studying at Shrek, right?"
Seeing that Zhuo Shi's pressure had no effect on Arthur whatsoever, surprise flickered in Ya Li's eyes. It was only now that she realized she truly couldn't see through Arthur at all.
A moment later, she said to Zhuo Shi with certainty in her voice, "That's correct. During Arthur's time studying at the Academy, his standing is equal to that of the Dean of the Outer Academy. I'll personally guarantee this."
"How is it I never heard about this?" Zhuo Shi frowned. There had been no mention of this at that Sea God Pavilion meeting.
"Is there a problem?" Ya Li's gaze turned distant and cool.
This had been her own private decision, and one she had every authority to make.
If you have complaints, go take it up with my Yun Ming.
Zhuo Shi's Soul Power froze abruptly around him, his heart tightening under that distant, cool gaze.
A chill crept up his back, and he couldn't help glancing around nervously, dreading that Yun Ming, that shameless wife-guarding maniac, might suddenly pop out of nowhere.
Arthur poked his head out from behind Ya Li and grinned. "See? Give me some face, forgive Wu Changkong, and we can all go make dumplings together. Everyone happy."
Truth be told, Zhuo Shi had always valued Wu Changkong. It was just that his stubborn, prickly nature got in the way.
And now, here was a perfect excuse to climb down from the ledge he'd put himself on.
He gave a cold snort, then turned to look at Wu Changkong, his tone still gruff. "What are you standing around for? Get inside! Don't just linger here being an eyesore, letting outsiders laugh at Shrek!"
With that, he turned and walked back into the inner courtyard, his steps steady. The anger from before was gone, replaced instead by something that looked a lot like helpless resignation.
Wu Changkong looked deeply at Arthur, his gaze complicated, gratitude and helplessness both.