At this moment, after hearing Mu En's furious words, Yan Shaozhe did not dare interject even a single sentence.
He stood with his hands at his sides, even deliberately lightening his breathing.
Based on his understanding of Mu En, he knew that Mu En was currently seething with rage. That pressure was like a volcano on the verge of eruption, so oppressive it made one feel suffocated. To speak up at a time like this—even to plead half a word on Xuan Zi's behalf—would be asking to draw fire, or worse, to be treated as an accomplice.
After a long while, Mu En's rapid breathing finally eased somewhat.
However, the anger in his eyes had not dissipated. It had only sunk deeper.
"Shao Zhe."
Mu En's voice was cold as iron.
"Contact them immediately. Give that fool Xuan Zi a thorough dressing-down for me!"
"Tell him that the tournament has only just begun. Don't let him think he's invincible just because he won a single match! In the upcoming battles, tell him to tuck his tail between his legs and behave himself!"
"If he dares to command recklessly like a brainless brute again, or casually expose trump cards just for the sake of that pitiful bit of face, I absolutely will not go easy on him when he returns!"
Yan Shaozhe's heart trembled. He hurriedly bowed.
"Yes! Teacher! This disciple will take care of it immediately!"
…
Soon, following Mu En's instructions, Yan Shaozhe used a special communication spirit tool to record the reprimand word for word and transmitted it to the Shrek outpost stationed in Star Luo City.
Star Luo Grand Hotel.
Inside the Shrek Team's exclusive meeting room, the atmosphere had originally been lively.
Xuan Zi sat there with his legs crossed, his face glowing as he ate and drank with the team members.
Just then, a middle-aged man in Shrek Academy robes hurried inside.
He was the intelligence officer stationed in Star Luo City, specifically responsible for communications. In his hands was a spirit tool resembling a recording stone, and his expression was tense and awkward.
"Elder Xuan…"
The middle-aged man stepped up to Xuan Zi, glanced hesitantly at the surrounding students, and whispered,
"A message has arrived from the academy. It's… an urgent dispatch personally sent by Elder Mu and Dean Yan."
"Oh?"
Xuan Zi raised an eyebrow. Not only did he show no intention of avoiding others, he even waved his hand casually.
"Elder Mu must be sending praise for our brilliant performance yesterday, right? Or perhaps that boy Shaozhe has something else he wants to ask this old man about?"
He glanced at the spirit tool, disdain flashing in his eyes.
"I'm not accustomed to using this kind of junk, nor do I deign to use it."
Despite his immense strength, Xuan Zi was extremely conservative and instinctively repulsed by spirit tools. Making him fiddle with such devices like some 'inferior person' was, in his eyes, an insult to his status.
"Since it's from Elder Mu, it must be words of encouragement."
Xuan Zi spoke loudly, as if afraid others wouldn't hear.
"Just play it directly! Let everyone hear how Elder Mu praises us! Let the children enjoy it too!"
"This…"
The middle-aged man's face stiffened. Cold sweat instantly broke out on his forehead.
He knew exactly what the message contained.
If it were played publicly, where would Elder Xuan's face go? What would it do to the team's morale?
"Elder Xuan, this… this might not be very appropriate," he tried one last time, desperately signaling with his eyes. "How about we… listen to it in private…"
"What's inappropriate about it?!"
Xuan Zi's face darkened as he cut him off.
"We of Shrek always act openly and uprightly! Elder Mu's teachings are meant to spur everyone on—what's there to hide?"
"If I tell you to play it, then play it! Why all this dawdling?!"
Seeing Xuan Zi grow angry, the middle-aged man had no choice left.
He could only sigh inwardly: Elder Xuan, Elder Xuan… you insisted on this yourself. If you lose face in a moment, don't blame me…
"Yes…"
With a heavy heart, the man activated the spirit tool.
The next instant, Yan Shaozhe's solemn voice—carrying traces of Mu En's fury—resounded clearly throughout the entire meeting room.
"Elder Xuan, this is an order from Elder Mu!"
"Regarding your command in the first round of the knockout matches, Elder Mu expresses—extreme dissatisfaction!"
The moment these words rang out, the smiles on the faces of the Shrek Team members, who had been expecting praise, instantly froze.
Xuan Zi's hand, which had been holding a wine gourd, stiffened in midair.
But it wasn't over yet.
The voice continued mercilessly:
"Elder Mu's exact words: Has your heart been blinded by lard? That was a competition, not a place for you to spread your tail feathers and show off! Against a mere weak team, you actually went all out, exposing Dai Yueheng's and Ma Xiaotao's core Spirit Skills for everyone to see? Is your brain filled with mush?!"
"Stupid! Simply too stupid!"
"You think that was showing power? You were stripping off Shrek's underwear and putting it on display for everyone!"
Dead silence.
The entire meeting room fell into an oppressive stillness.
Everyone stared at the spirit tool in disbelief, then secretly glanced at Xuan Zi—whose face had already turned the color of pig liver.
No one had expected that Elder Mu would not only refrain from praising him, but instead curse Xuan Zi so thoroughly.
Yet the most explosive part was still to come.
"Additionally, regarding the matter of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy's captain, Liu Yuan…"
"After Elder Mu learned that this person was the student you forcibly expelled back then for refusing to join the Supervisory Group, his fury reached an even greater level!"
"Elder Mu's exact words: Xuan Zi, you are truly blind! A peerless genius who could become the Sun Moon Team's captain in just one semester was actually forced by you to become an enemy! You are nothing less than a sinner of Shrek for all ages!"
"Elder Mu further stated that after this tournament ends, you are to immediately return to the Sea God's Pavilion! If you fail to give him a satisfactory explanation, prepare to enter the confinement room for ten years of reflection! At that point, no one will be able to save you!"
The voice cut off abruptly.
The spirit tool dimmed.
But the suffocating atmosphere lingered for a long time.
Xuan Zi sat there as if struck by lightning.
His face alternated between red and pale. The wine gourd in his hand creaked as he clenched it tightly, wishing he could crawl into a crack in the ground.
Too humiliating.
This was simply too humiliating!
He—the Gluttonous Douluo, vice-captain of the Shrek Supervisory Group—had been scolded like a grandson by Elder Mu in front of all these juniors!
Especially when his gaze unintentionally swept toward Huo Yuhao.
He clearly remembered that before the match, Huo Yuhao had cautiously advised him not to expose too much.
And what had he said then?
He had called it "groundless worry" and even mocked Huo Yuhao in public.
Now…
Mu En's words were like loud slaps, striking his old face again and again, burning with pain.
At this moment, Xuan Zi felt as though he were sitting on pins and needles, thorns at his back, a bone lodged in his throat.
But did he dare to lose his temper?
He did not.
That was Mu En. The Dragon God Douluo.
Even if he were given ten times the courage, he would never dare disobey him.
At last, in the suffocating silence, Xuan Zi took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the shame and humiliation in his heart, and squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth:
"…Understood."
He glanced at the middle-aged man, who was trembling with fear, and said hoarsely,
"Reply to Shaozhe and Elder Mu…"
"Say that Xuan Zi understands."
"For the upcoming matches… I will be careful.
-------------Author---------------
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