Just as Yun Ming turned to leave, Flender finally recalled the greatest advantage of Shrek Academy. He flashed in front of Yun Ming, blocking his path, and shouted hoarsely.
"And there's more! My Shrek Academy has other merits. We have the best teaching staff—three Soul Saints and two Soul Emperors! Aside from Martial Soul Hall Academy and the two great imperial academies, what other school has a stronger faculty than Shrek?"
Originally, Yun Ming hadn't intended to say anything more, but hearing Flender bring this up made his inner fire flare up. Yun Ming's expression took a sharp turn for the worse, looking quite unpleasant. He spoke in an icy tone.
"Three Soul Saints, two Soul Emperors?"
"So what?"
"Your teaching ability is abysmal. Out of sixty-two students, only fourteen graduated. You even managed to get seven students killed while hunting for Spirit Rings under five thousand years. What use are you teachers?!!"
The final sentence was almost a roar from Yun Ming.
Deep love leads to harsh criticism. In his past life, Yun Ming had sacrificed his life for Shrek, and seeing the state of Shrek now, his anger was understandable.
When Flender heard Yun Ming expose the greatest pain in his heart—those seven students who died during spirit hunts—he completely collapsed. His feet stumbled back involuntarily, his blood surged, and his face turned crimson in an instant. Finally, he spat out a mouthful of blood and fell to the ground.
"Dean!"
"Flender!" x4
"Dean!" x4
"."
Seeing Flender so enraged that he vomited blood, Oscar, Ma Hongjun, and the four teachers—including Zhao Wuji, who had run over after hearing Flender's earlier shouting—rushed forward to check on his condition.
Those teachers felt a mix of confusion, anger, and guilt when they saw Yun Ming, whose clothes were stained with blood and whose eyes were filled with disappointment.
They had heard the final words Yun Ming spoke. The confusion stemmed from not knowing why Yun Ming seemed to care so much about Shrek when he hadn't even joined; the anger was due to their long-standing friendship with Flender and the academy; the guilt was for those seven students—a pain that belonged not just to Flender, but to them as well.
After venting his inner rage, Yun Ming began to struggle to restore his usual composure, though his heart remained turbulent and unsettled. He hadn't intended to be so harsh at first, but his temper had flared. Now that the words were out, it was better to have laid everything bare.
Yun Ming let out a long, heavy breath and said one last thing to the distraught Flender.
"Dean Flender, as an educator, one should nurture with responsibility and wisdom. Otherwise, your so-called Ambition of the Swan will only harm others and yourself."
With that, Yun Ming turned and left Shrek Academy, heading toward Suotuo City.
Hearing Yun Ming's final warning, Flender stared blankly at the sky, reflecting on the events of the past years. He thought of the sixty-two students Shrek Academy had accepted; excluding those seven, only two had ever returned to visit them.
A total of fourteen students had graduated. Although the claim about a Martial Soul Hall elder was false, there were indeed those who had attained high positions in kingdoms and empires. Yet, those few—let alone providing financial support to the academy—had never even returned to visit.
Had those students been taught poorly, their character corrupted, or had they simply adopted the same mindset as Yun Ming after seeing the outside world? Regardless of the case, wasn't it a grave dereliction of duty on the part of them, the teachers?!!
Thinking of this, Flender suddenly pushed aside Ma Hongjun and Zhao Wuji, who were supporting him. He stood up and walked forward, beginning to laugh maniacally. As he laughed, he wept. The shrewdness and craftiness on his long face faded away, leaving only sorrow and self-mockery.
"Hahahaha."
"As an educator, nurture with responsibility and wisdom?"
"Nurture with responsibility, nurture with wisdom!!!"
"Toil and toil, all for nothing! Strive and strive, all in vain!"
"Ambition of the Swan, harming others and oneself!"
"Ambition of the Swan, it truly harms others and myself!!!"
"Flender, oh Flender!"
"You pride yourself on being aloof and as cunning as a fox, yet in the end, you haven't seen things as clearly as a twelve-year-old child!"
"Hahahaha."
"."
Laughing, Flender activated his Martial Soul Avatar and soared into the sky, flying toward the distance. Seeing this, Zhao Wuji and the other teachers immediately channeled their Soul Power and gave chase.
Seeing this, Ma Hongjun hurriedly shouted.
"Teacher Zhao, take me with you!"
Zhao Wuji, remembering that Ma Hongjun was Flender's direct disciple, turned back, grabbed Ma Hongjun like a chick, and chased after Flender.
Oscar also called out.
"Me too."
But before Oscar could finish, he heard the voice of his teacher, Shao Xin.
"Oscar, stay and watch the place!"
Hearing this, although Oscar was worried, he had to obey his teacher's order.
When he saw Tang San, Ning Rongrong, and Xiao Wu looking on with faces full of doubt, Oscar sighed inwardly. He knew clearly that Shrek Academy would likely never return to what it once was.
Before, these issues at Shrek Academy hadn't been poked or exposed, so they could be passed off as Shrek being unconventional and unique. Now that Yun Ming had so directly revealed the worthlessness beneath Shrek's mysterious facade, even he, Oscar, couldn't turn a blind eye, let alone Tang San and the others who had just joined. Thinking of this, Oscar spoke to the silent trio.
"You have all seen what happened today. You should each have your own judgment regarding the problems existing in our academy."
"If you are still willing to trust the academy, stay. If not, you are free to leave!"
After saying this, Oscar also left the Great Training Field to go for a run. His mind was a mess, and he wanted to sweat it out and think.
Seeing Oscar leave, Ning Rongrong glanced at Tang San and Xiao Wu standing nearby before she, too, left the field. Finally, only Tang San and his sister Xiao Wu remained on the Great Training Field.
Xiao Wu turned her head to look at the skeptical Tang San and asked in a low voice.
"Third Brother, what should we do? Should we leave, or stay?"
Hearing Xiao Wu, Tang San snapped out of his doubts regarding Grandmaster's theories. He looked at Xiao Wu, who was asking for his opinion, and fell into a dilemma. Finally, Tang San patted Xiao Wu's head and spoke.
"Teacher said he would come to find us later, so let's stay at Shrek Academy for now and wait and see!"
After a series of internal struggles, Tang San ultimately chose to trust Yu Xiaogang.
His Twin Martial Souls, his First Soul Ring, and the dedication Yu Xiaogang had shown him over the years made Tang San believe that Yu Xiaogang had only refrained from arranging more martial soul training for him because of the poor conditions at Notting Academy and his own low Soul Power in previous years. Once Yu Xiaogang arrived, all of that would be arranged.
Seeing that Tang San had made his decision, Xiao Wu naturally had no objections. She then pestered Tang San to accompany her to Suotuo City to have some fun, and unable to refuse, Tang San had no choice but to go with her.
Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong, who was wandering around Shrek Academy, walked to a secluded spot and called out.
"Uncle Ying."
The next moment, a man in black suddenly appeared before Ning Rongrong and bowed.
"This subordinate greets the Young Miss!"
Ning Rongrong looked at the guard who had suddenly appeared and spoke.
"Rise!"
The man Ning Rongrong called 'Uncle Ying' was none other than the protector Ning Fengzhi had arranged for his precious daughter, a powerful Soul Saint.
Uncle Ying stood up and asked respectfully, "I wonder what instructions the Miss has?"
Thinking of that mysterious youth, Ning Rongrong commanded, "Go and investigate which faction that Yun Ming belongs to. That person is somewhat unusual!"
Hearing Ning Rongrong mention Yun Ming, Uncle Ying responded respectfully.
"Yes!"
Having given her orders, Ning Rongrong dismissed him. Uncle Ying turned into a phantom and vanished.
The place returned to silence once more.
Recalling everything that had just happened, a smile reappeared on Ning Rongrong's face. Her inner demoness nature resurfaced, and she whispered playfully.
"What will this Shrek Academy become in the future?"
"I'm a little curious!!!"
ps: Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader