Chapter 65 – On Purpose or by Accident? Of Course It Was "Accidentally on Purpose"
After Su Tong finished her introduction, everyone still felt uneasy, but Beibei and the others had no choice but to accept the reality—this was all the reinforcement they were going to get.
At this point, Wang Yan could no longer hold back.
"Elder Xuan, it's easy for you to say that, but did you even watch today's match with the Sun Moon Team? Their reserve team—that boy called Huo Yuhao—he alone took down all seven members of Qianling Academy! Just a reserve member!"
"And we're still talking about fighting to the end? Shouldn't Shrek be considering a strategic retreat at this point?"
Elder Xuan's expression immediately darkened. He raised his hand, cutting Wang Yan off mid-sentence.
"Enough. I already said this—Wang Yan, you've been stripped of your position as team instructor. Don't spread fear here. I believe these kids will carry victory forward."
"As for you, you've lost your qualifications. Once we return to Shrek, I will report your actions to the Academy. Prepare yourself for punishment!"
"Hah! Hahaha!"
Wang Yan froze, utterly incredulous. 'Me? Punishment?'
'Why?'
'It was I who led Shrek safely through the elimination rounds. I devised the tactical arrangements for the next stages. What exactly did I do wrong?'
'It's you—you, this old fool—and Ma Xiaotao with her blind arrogance, that put the Academy in this position. And now you want to throw me out as the scapegoat?'
'Didn't you claim you would shoulder all the humiliation and setbacks yourself? What happened to that now? Empty words, nothing but farts!'
"Fine! Fine! I'll stay and watch—watch with my own eyes how you, Elder Xuan, plan to lead them to victory with this pathetic lineup!"
Slamming the door behind him, Wang Yan stormed out, teeth clenched so hard they nearly cracked. Even someone with his good temper could no longer endure.
Deep down, he understood the real reason: he had dared to question Shrek's so-called thousand years of glory, and earlier he had lost his cool, contradicting Ma Xiaotao. So now he was being used as the example—an easy target to silence dissent.
But so what? He already knew there was no going back for him at Shrek. Now he only had one thought left: to witness with his own eyes how this stubborn old fool, with so little reinforcement, intended to lead such a team to victory.
After Wang Yan's departure, Elder Xuan composed himself, his expression regaining solemnity.
"Enough. Adjust your states of mind and prepare for tomorrow's battle."
"Xiaotao, don't let Wang Yan's words get to you. The final results will prove who was right and who was wrong.
Now, come with me. I'll have Elder Zhuang treat you."
Ma Xiaotao's lips curled into a confident smile. Yes, the results would prove it—Wang Yan was wrong.
A mere instructor, what right did he have to dictate to her? She was a Soul Emperor. How could she possibly fear the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy?
---
Night, Star Luo City
With the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Tournament in full swing, the entire city glittered like a sea of lights. Joy, noise, and passion flooded every corner, as though the whole city had turned into a festival.
Starlight shimmered across the heavens like ink spilled over midnight silk. Thousands of lanterns lined the layered eaves of the city's rooftops, glowing warmly against red pillars etched with faint golden patterns, like dragons coiled around ancient trees.
"Yuhao, it's been forever since I last ate your barbecue. Make some for me, okay?"
On the lively street, Meng Hongchen clasped her hands behind her back, her tone carrying a trace of coquettishness as she looked at Huo Yuhao.
Xiao Hongchen covered his mouth, hiding a grin—but the gleam in his eyes betrayed his own anticipation.
"Sure. But you'll have to buy the soul beast meat yourselves. Pick whatever you want to eat."
Funny thing—ever since his one-versus-seven victory over the Qianling team earlier that day, Huo Yuhao had felt unusually relaxed.
Especially with tomorrow's match being Shrek versus Zheng Tian Academy. Under the 2-2-3 format, with Zheng Tian fielding three Soul Kings, he honestly couldn't imagine what kind of strategy Shrek could pull off.
Would Shrek really fall here? Of course not. Even if nothing else, the Star Luo side had surely noticed Shrek's strange situation by now and was manipulating things behind the scenes.
So yes, Shrek would win—but it wouldn't be an easy win. In fact, tomorrow's match might even force Shrek to expose every one of their hidden cards.
In such a situation, the wisest course was to concede strategically, hold back their strength, and wait for reinforcements—assuming, of course, that reinforcements were coming.
So what would Shrek choose? Concede, or stubbornly fight under the pressure of their students' pride?
Huo Yuhao shook his head, chuckling inwardly. Maybe he was overthinking it. After all, his countermeasures had long been prepared.
If Wang Yan—or anyone from Shrek—decided to expose tomorrow how they'd been "attacked by evil soul masters," wouldn't that just make things even more entertaining?
Picture it: the Sun Moon Imperial Academy publicly questioning the level of those so-called evil soul masters. Would Shrek, the academy famed for fairness and integrity, answer truthfully? Dodge around the truth? Or just lose their temper outright?
---
Later that night, near a lakeside not far from the Star Emperor Grand Hotel, the three had already set up their grill.
"This is how you prepare Soft Bone Rabbit meat. Listen carefully—it goes like this."
As Huo Yuhao worked with his blade, he swiftly skinned the rabbit.
"Here's my special little rhyme for you:
'Soft Bone Rabbit, white as snow,
Ears stand tall, the blood must flow.
Cut the artery, then the vein,
Only stillness shows no pain.
Skin it clean, chop it neat,
Brush with oil, spice, and leaf.'"
Meng Hongchen leaned on her hand, eyes shining with admiration as she watched Yuhao busy himself at the fire.
Xiao Hongchen, however, shivered at the morbid little chant, goosebumps rising on his arms.
Rabbits are so cute—how can you… How can you add cilantro to them?!
The aroma soon filled the air.
"It smells amazing, Yuhao!" Meng Hongchen ignored her brother's protest, grabbing a skewer of roasted rabbit meat and biting in happily.
Xiao Hongchen followed suit, gnawing at his share. He hadn't expected something as simple as rabbit meat to be turned into such a delicacy.
Unfair! As if being handsome and talented wasn't enough—he even cooks like a master?
After eating their fill, the three sprawled out on the lakeside grass, gazing up at the glittering stars above.
"Yuhao," Meng Hongchen turned to look at him, eyes soft, "don't you have a grudge against the White Tiger Duke? Why were you so calm when you saw Dai Huabin?"
"Calm?" Huo Yuhao raised a hand, letting the starlight stream through his fingers. A faint smile touched his lips. "Sometimes, barking a few harsh words doesn't solve anything.
The White Tiger Duke, his sons, his wife—honestly, they're all the same to me. In the end, they'll share one fate."
"To die—in despair and regret."
Dai Hao's end, whether by execution or by being left to rot in guilt and misery, was still undecided in Yuhao's mind. But Dai Huabin, Dai Yueheng, and the Duke's wife? Their deaths were already sealed.
And since the finals demanded every academy fight with full strength, what were a few casualties along the way?
Shrek had once killed Sun Moon students in the tournament without consequence. Now, with his teacher secretly protecting him and soul guidance explosives hidden all across Star Luo City, why should he hold back?
He had never cared about words—only actions, only results. That was the truest proof.
For Wang Dong, he would avenge. And for himself, he would see the White Tiger Duke's mansion erased from history.
Step one: remove his sons. Dai Yueheng was already crippled by the evil soul master attack, so Yuhao would begin with Dai Huabin—right in the middle of the tournament.
And if anyone asked? He could always shrug. Oops, I lost control. Was it on purpose or by accident? Of course, it was "accidentally on purpose."
---
(End of Chapter)