Oscar looked at Yun Ming, who was extending an invitation to him, with complex emotions. Yun Ming was the first person in many years who hadn't mocked him and had instead truly recognized his worth, but Yun Ming was also the direct catalyst for the dissolution of Shrek Academy. He was now at a loss as to how to interact with Yun Ming, nor did he know if he should accept the invitation.
Flender, standing to the side, saw that Oscar hadn't refused immediately this time and roughly understood the internal conflict he was facing.
Flender also believed that joining Yun Ming's family could be a very good choice for Oscar, so he decided to give him a nudge.
"Oscar, the dissolution of the academy was a decision I made after deep consideration. I don't blame anyone, so follow your own heart and choose the path that suits you best!"
Hearing the Dean speak, Oscar looked toward him. Flender continued.
"Currently, there are many factions you could join, but they all have their own issues."
"As for the Upper Three Sects, the Clear Sky Sect has retired from the world, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no shortage of Support System soul masters, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect is not friendly to soul masters from outside their clan!"
"The Two Great Empires and Martial Soul Hall, while they would value you, are filled with intense internal strife. With your lazy nature, you aren't suited to join them!"
Oscar was somewhat surprised; he had assumed Flender would hate Yun Ming, so he hadn't expected him to say this. Since all the major powers stronger than Yun Ming's family had been ruled out by Flender, his preference was obvious.
Even Yang Wutian, standing nearby, couldn't help but look at Flender with newfound respect. Although his abilities were indeed lacking, his heart for his students truly showed the qualities of a teacher.
Oscar glanced at Yun Ming and Yang Wutian, then looked back at Flender and said in a low voice.
"Dean, can I really not stay with you?"
Flender looked at the pitiful-looking Oscar before him, as if seeing the moment he had first taken him in all those years ago. Even though he felt reluctant to let go, he said firmly.
"No!"
Hearing Flender's clear refusal, Oscar finally gave up. He bowed to Flender and shouted.
"Thank you, Dean, for your years of upbringing and guidance. Oscar will never forget it!!!"
After saying "I accept" to Yun Ming, he turned and left the Great Training Field.
Seeing that everyone had left, Flender finally spoke to Yun Ming.
"Little Friend Yun, I won the bet! We are even!"
Then, he also left.
Yun Ming watched Flender's retreating back, enduring the headache that had flared up again as his memories returned following the dissolution of Shrek Academy, and replied in a low voice.
"Let's call it a win-win!"
Their bet was that if Yun Ming's time spent in class exceeded half of the total course time, Flender would win. Since Yun Ming had attended one class at Shrek, spent the time berating the Dean, and effectively destroyed the academy, his attendance rate was one hundred percent. However, trading a few tens of thousands of Gold Soul Coins to gain Oscar for the Breaking Clan meant Yun Ming had made a massive profit.
Moreover, after this week of entanglement with Shrek, combined with the large fragments of memory brought on by the academy's dissolution, most of Yun Ming's memories from his previous life had unknowingly returned, including those regarding Shrek Academy. These memories were somewhat fragmented, with many feeling as if a crucial half were missing, preventing Yun Ming from fully piecing together the logic, but the truth was not far from being revealed!
Afterward, Flender activated his Spirit Avatar and traveled through the night with Ma Hongjun to enroll him at the Blazing Academy in Blazing City.
To ensure Ma Hongjun could cultivate properly without being affected by the side effects of his spirit, he even took out his own life savings to buy a pair of beautiful "personal" maids for him. Although Flender's savings hadn't gone to Yun Ming in the end, it was hard to say what he thought about spending them this way.
However, the final result was satisfying. The Vice Dean of Blazing Academy personally received Flender and his disciple. Not only did he promise to cultivate Ma Hongjun according to the highest standards, but he also indicated that they would find a way to resolve the defects of his spirit.
The Blazing side was very happy to accept Ma Hongjun. Not to mention that Ma Hongjun had a high-level Soul Saint as a master, just the fact that his Evil Fire Phoenix was considered a top-tier spirit across the entire Douluo Continent, combined with his twenty-seventh level of Soul Power at age twelve, made him a welcome addition. Even if the spirit had a special defect, since they already brought their own solution—which was just a matter of arranging a separate dormitory for Ma Hongjun—what did that matter?
Just like that, through Flender's high-speed operations, it took only two days for Ma Hongjun to travel from Suotuo City, thousands of miles away, to Blazing City and successfully enroll in the Blazing Academy.
As for why Flender was in such a rush, besides the fact that the enrollment period for Blazing Academy was coming to an end, perhaps he subconsciously didn't want Grandmaster Yu to have the chance to ruin his disciple! After all, most of Flender's knowledge about soul masters, aside from some personal insights, came from Grandmaster Yu, and... after being left speechless by Yun Ming's arguments, it was better not to gamble his own disciple's future on Grandmaster Yu's theories!
Three days later, Yun Ming saw the travel-worn Flender again, only this time, the little fatty Ma Hongjun was gone.
It wasn't just Ma Hongjun who had left; Ning Rongrong had also departed. After three days of unremitting effort, Miss Ning had come up empty-handed. It made her start to doubt whether her Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was losing its touch or if she herself lacked personal charm. In the end, filled with resentment, she left the academy and returned to Heaven Dou City.
Yun Ming should have left as well, but Oscar wanted to bid a final farewell to Flender before departing, which had delayed them until now.
After tidying up, Flender and Shao Xin saw Yun Ming and Oscar to the academy gate. Oscar bid farewell to Flender and Shao Xin.
"Dean, Teacher, I'm leaving!"
Shao Xin patted Oscar on the shoulder and advised him.
"Little Oscar, you have immense talent. Don't be so lazy in the future; you must cultivate diligently! Do you hear me?!!"
Flender also said to Oscar with a sense of melancholy.
"Little Oscar, take care of yourself in the future!"
Hearing the advice from the Dean and his teacher, Oscar replied with reddened eyes.
"I will!"
Flender then said to Yun Ming.
"Little Friend Yun, I leave Little Oscar in your care from now on!"
Yun Ming looked at Flender's solemn expression and replied earnestly.
"That goes without saying, please rest assured, Dean Flender!"
Flender nodded and finally said.
"Go!"
Yun Ming, Oscar, and Yang Wutian boarded the carriage and headed out of Shrek Academy.
Watching the three of them move into the distance until they became black specks and finally disappeared, Flender let out a sigh of relief. His students had all been arranged, and he had already prepared the path for Tang San and the others, waiting only for Yu Xiaogang to arrive. Flender could now prepare to do what he needed to do.
Flender then walked toward the teachers' living quarters at Shrek to gather the remaining three old friends.
Looking at the four old brothers who had been with him for over twenty years, Flender sighed and said.
"I know everyone is reluctant to leave the academy, and I am too. But the academy can no longer continue, and I cannot gamble with the students' futures just to satisfy my own wishful thinking!"
Hearing Flender say this, the others felt a tightness in their chests. They could not blame him; after all, the students' futures were just as important to them. Zhao Wuji spoke up with a look of regret.
"We understand, Flender!"
"It's just... twenty years!!!"
The others remained silent, but Flender saw the same reluctance and sorrow on their faces. There was nothing Flender could say to comfort them; such sorrow could only be healed by time. Flender then revealed his plans.
"Beyond the fact that the academy can no longer be sustained, I am dissolving it because I want to make amends for the regrets I left behind."
"I want to see how the students are doing, how they are living, and visit the families of those seven children to see if I can offer some compensation!"
At this point, Flender took out a letter and handed it to Zhao Wuji, saying.
"Old Zhao, you have stayed with me at Shrek Academy for twenty years; it is time to think about yourselves!"
"This letter of recommendation is meant to be..."
Before Flender could finish, he was interrupted by Zhao Wuji.
"Alright, Flender, there is no need to tell us these things!"
"If we wanted power and wealth, we would have followed that little girl from the Ning Family long ago! Wouldn't that be better than these measly scraps of yours?!!"
"Besides, I also want to see how those little brats from back then are doing now!!!"
After Zhao Wuji spoke, the others chimed in as well.
"That's right! Flender, let's go see them together!"
"Now that you mention it, I'm actually quite curious about how that kid Qin Ming is doing."
"..."
Watching Zhao Wuji, Li Yusong, and the others start to chatter and discuss, Flender suddenly felt as if something had gotten into his eyes, but the feeling was actually quite nice. He used his Soul Power to crush the envelope in his hand, then made the final decision.
"Good! Then we shall all go together!!!"
ps: The Shrek arc has officially concluded. The next arc features Yun Ming and Ya Li, and Yun Ming's memories will fully awaken!!!
Rather than having Flender and the others cause some insignificant trouble for Yun Ming, it is better to let them atone for their past mistakes!
Seeking monthly tickets and recommendations.
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Translated by: randomtranslator.com
Proofread by: DaoistReader