Xiao Hongchen snorted coldly and said to Jiang Qingtong,
"You may consider yourself a student of Shrek Academy, but that doesn't mean they see you as one of their own."
Jiang Shengyu nodded and added,
"Let's not even talk about the fact that a Titled Douluo was leading your group, and yet you all still ended up in such danger. After you were captured by that evil soul master, this esteemed senior didn't even try to save you first—he chose to evacuate his own Shrek students first."
At the mention of this, Meng Hongchen couldn't help but agree.
"Your brother's right! If we hadn't shown up, who knows if he would've ever gone to save you."
"So, Qingtong," Xiao Hongchen said, "now that you've run into us, come with us instead. There's always room for one more in the reserve team."
Watching the three pressuring Jiang Qingtong, Elder Xuan finally had enough. He released a slight pressure of soul power and said in a low voice,
"You three little brats—what nonsense are you spouting?"
He carefully directed his aura only at the three of them, thinking Qingtong wouldn't notice. But he didn't realize just how close she and Jiang Shengyu truly were.
Feeling Elder Xuan's pressure, Jiang Qingtong, her back turned to him, let a faint cold smile creep across her face.
Meng Hongchen furrowed her brows and hesitated when she caught sight of Qingtong's expression.
Xiao Hongchen narrowed his eyes and said coldly,
"Old man, shame on you! We were just telling Qingtong the truth, and you resort to Titled Douluo pressure to silence us?"
Jiang Shengyu followed up in a chilly tone,
"Such conduct brings shame to Shrek Academy's thousand-year reputation."
Though Xiao Hongchen had said more, Jiang Shengyu's single comment struck deeper.
Elder Xuan retracted his aura. When he noticed Qingtong glancing back at him—and the way Jiang Nannan, Xiao Xiao, and others were also watching—he gave a heavy harrumph and said,
"I merely reminded you not to talk nonsense! When did I ever say Qingtong isn't one of our own? The situation was urgent, and I had no choice but to escort the critically injured first! You children of the Sun Moon Empire are really skilled in twisting words."
"See?" Xiao Hongchen shrugged. "Didn't I say it? He doesn't consider us from the Sun Moon Empire as people."
"You little brat, shut your mouth!" Xuanzi snapped, glaring at him. "Say another word and I'll discipline you myself—as your teacher should have!"
Even if he did hold prejudice against the Sun Moon Empire, this was absolutely not the time to reveal it.
He had a hunch: this might be the best chance yet to fully win Qingtong's loyalty to Shrek.
Jiang Qingtong stepped in to smooth things over. She looked at the trio and said calmly,
"Xiao Hongchen, calm down. Elder Xuan is a member of Shrek's Sea God's Pavilion. Every decision he makes is surely well-considered."
Jiang Shengyu shook his head.
"I don't think so. The moment he learned we were from the Sun Moon Empire, the disdain was written all over his face. And not just him—they all showed it clearly."
Qingtong turned back toward Xuanzi, then said to her brother,
"That's because of the wrongs our empire committed in the past. It's only natural they feel that way."
"Wrongs? What wrongs?" Xiao Hongchen asked, voice rising in protest.
"The war between the Sun Moon Empire and the Three Nations of the original Douluo Continent, thousands of years ago—that was our fault," Jiang Qingtong replied seriously.
"Qingtong!"
Jiang Shengyu's tone deepened. His brows furrowed tightly as he said,
"That's absurd! You're a citizen of the Sun Moon Empire! That war—how was it our fault? We only lost, that's all!"
"But I'm a student of Shrek Academy now," Qingtong replied firmly. "As a student of Shrek, I should uphold a clear sense of right and wrong."
"Utter nonsense!"
Jiang Shengyu's expression turned grave. He looked to Elder Xuan and said coldly,
"Your Shrek Academy really knows how to twist hearts and minds. Even my sister's been brainwashed. I truly underestimated you people."
"Shrek acts with integrity," Xuanzi responded, his chin raised slightly as he looked down on Jiang Shengyu. "We would never stoop to such petty tricks. Frankly, your sister sees more clearly than you do."
"Qingtong, come back to the Sun Moon Empire with me," Jiang Shengyu said sternly.
Qingtong shook her head hard. "No! I'm not going back."
"Jiang Qingtong!" His voice rose in volume. "Do you understand what you're saying? You're a citizen of the Sun Moon Empire, and you say you won't return?"
She bit her lip and nodded. "That's right. I want to stay at Shrek Academy!"
Jiang Shengyu's face twisted in fury.
"This is your last chance!"
"I don't need it," Qingtong said quietly. "Please tell our teacher I'm sorry."
She turned to the trio and added,
"Of course, my identity as a Sun Moon Empire citizen won't change. But once peace returns to the continent, it's not like we'll never meet again."
Jiang Shengyu's laughter was filled with bitterness. He scoffed and said,
"Fine. Qingtong, since you've made your decision, I'll respect it. I'll tell the teacher to forget he ever had a student like you."
With that, he turned and began walking away. After a few steps, he glanced back at Gu Lingjun, Xiao Hongchen, and Meng Hongchen.
"Well? What are you waiting for? Let's go!"
Gu Lingjun withdrew her Silver Radiance Heavenly Ring and followed after him.
Xiao Hongchen and Meng Hongchen gave Jiang Qingtong one last look before turning and leaving.
Watching how readily Gu Lingjun obeyed Jiang Shengyu, Elder Xuan asked,
"Qingtong, is your brother very highly ranked in the Sun Moon Empire?"
If he were just a young prodigy, a senior like Gu Lingjun wouldn't defer to him so easily.
Jiang Qingtong nodded. "My brother is a marquis of the Sun Moon Empire—the Marquis of Tianyue."
"Marquis?!"
Gasps of surprise echoed behind them. The rank of marquis was high nobility—one step below a duke. For someone Jiang Shengyu's age to already be a marquis… was the Jiang clan an old noble family of the empire?
At the rear, He Caitou frowned deeply, combing through his memory. He was sure: there was no Jiang clan among the old noble houses of the Sun Moon Empire. That could only mean Jiang Shengyu's title hadn't been inherited—it had been granted by the emperor himself.
Elder Xuan watched their silhouettes disappear into the distance.
"No wonder he was so agitated," he muttered. "As a noble of the empire, it makes sense that he refuses to acknowledge their wrongdoing."
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