As Yu Xiaogang coughed to get everyone's attention, he unknowingly triggered the keyword for Tang San's curse.
"Everyone, quiet down and listen to me."
The words had barely left his mouth when Tang San's eyes flashed with a sharp light. His Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track activated instantly, and he appeared directly in front of the still-coughing Yu Xiaogang. In one fluid motion, Tang San leaped up, straddled Yu Xiaogang's neck, and began trying to pull his clothes off while preparing to feed him a faceful of Blue Silver Grass.
"Tang San, what the hell are you doing?!" Yu Xiaogang shouted in a panic, his scholarly image completely forgotten.
"What the hell?"
That single phrase was like a lit match to a powder keg in Dai Mubai's mind. With a low growl, his White Tiger Spirit instantly possessed him, unleashing a violent aura that sent the fallen leaves swirling. He charged at Yu Xiaogang like a fierce tiger descending a mountain!
Yu Xiaogang had just managed to fend off Tang San when he felt a sharp, searing pain in the back of his neck. Golden stars exploded in his vision, and his body went limp, collapsing onto the thick layer of decaying leaves. Dai Mubai's spirit power-infused hand chop had knocked him completely unconscious.
When Oscar saw that familiar figure fall stiffly to the ground, eyes shut and unmoving, the part of his brain responsible for his 'Sleep Phobia' snapped.
"Ah!!!!"
Oscar let out a shriek a hundred times more piercing than any Spirit Beast's howl. "He's sleeping! He's sleeping in the forest! The Spirit Beasts are going to carry him away! It's so scary! Help—!!!" He clawed frantically at his hair, running around the clearing like a headless chicken, his fear reaching its absolute peak.
For the already jumpy Ma Hongjun, that shriek of pure terror was like a shock bomb detonating deep within his soul.
"Oh my god!!!"
Ma Hongjun was scared completely out of his wits, and his Evil Fire Phoenix Spirit went wild. A thin stream of Phoenix Fire Wire shot uncontrollably from his mouth, heading straight for the unconscious Yu Xiaogang on the ground! The scorching flames instantly ignited the dry leaves and the tattered remains of Yu Xiaogang's robe.
"Holy crap!!" came a muffled scream. "You're burning me to death!!!"
Even in a deep coma, the extreme pain of being set on fire caused Yu Xiaogang's primal instincts to take over, forcing out an earth-shattering scream and a national curse.
Dai Mubai, who had just released his Spirit Possession and was wondering why he'd just attacked his teacher, heard the profanity and instantly locked onto the keyword again. His eyes sharpened, the White Tiger phantom reappeared, and he lunged toward the smoking, barbecue-smelling source of the curse words. With another clean palm strike, Yu Xiaogang was silenced and knocked unconscious again.
Seeing Yu Xiaogang unconscious, Oscar began his terrified screaming. Oscar's screams startled Ma Hongjun, whose flames once again sprayed onto Yu Xiaogang's body. The pain made the unconscious Yu Xiaogang scream another curse. The curse triggered Dai Mubai. And so, the horrific cycle began again.
This time, before Yu Xiaogang could even get a full word out, Flender lunged forward and clamped his hand over his friend's mouth. He had figured it out. This was a horrifying, inescapable loop—a perpetual motion machine of torture!
Yu Xiaogang was charred black from head to toe, his hair and eyebrows singed into tight curls. A strong smell of barbecue hung in the air around him. At that moment, the Shrek trio—Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Ma Hongjun—seemed to snap out of it and looked simultaneously toward Ye Yin, a glimmer of understanding in their eyes.
Just then, Yu Xiaogang, smelling the burnt odor of his own body, let out a series of violent coughs.
Tang San, who had just finished fixing his clothes, heard the cough and his entire body went rigid. He stomped his foot, activating his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and flew through the air, landing squarely on Yu Xiaogang's chest. He immediately started trying to strip him again.
"Holy crap! Tang San, what are you doing?!" Yu Xiaogang shrieked.
Dai Mubai, who had been about to ask Ye Yin to remove the curse, felt his body move on its own. With practiced ease, he rushed forward, pushed Tang San aside, and cleanly knocked Yu Xiaogang unconscious. The loop had started all over again.
Flender slapped his forehead in despair. He looked pleadingly at Ye Yin. "Ye Yin, quickly help them remove the Mental Curse effect! Otherwise, I'm afraid the Grandmaster won't even make it to lunchtime."
Ye Yin was silent for a moment before replying, "It probably won't even take that long."
Flender stared, horrified.
Four white lights then flashed from behind Ye Yin, shooting out and landing on each of the four boys. Instantly, they returned to normal, looking around in a daze.
Liu Erlong watched the four return to normal, a puzzled look on her face. "Why didn't you need to touch them to remove the curse effect," she asked, "but you had to be close to us to remove yours?"
Ye Yin took in a sharp breath. He couldn't exactly say he just wanted an excuse to touch her, could he?
"Well… there's a difference between men and women," he stammered. "It's just how it is."
Liu Erlong didn't seem to overthink it and nodded, only partially understanding. That seemed plausible enough. After all, the girls also got additional side effects.
"Since your Mental Curse is so strong," she said, her curiosity piqued, "what kind of effect does your Mental Blessing have? Let me try it."
Ye Yin gave her a strange look. "Are you sure you want to try?"
Liu Erlong nodded without hesitation. "What's the big deal? I wouldn't dare try the negative one, but what's to fear from the positive one?"
"Are you really sure?" Ye Yin asked again.
"Hurry up," she urged impatiently.
"Fourth Spirit Ability, Mental Blessing!"
A white light shot from Ye Yin and landed on Liu Erlong.
"Mm-hmm~"
Before she could experience any kind of blessing, the familiar side effect hit her full force. Her legs went soft, her body trembled, and her chest heaved. Caught off guard, she almost collapsed, but Ye Yin quickly stepped forward and caught her from behind.
"Sister Erlong, are you alright?" he asked, his voice full of mock concern. "I did ask if you were sure, but you insisted and told me to hurry. I kept saying 'tonight, tonight,' but you were just too anxious to wait and had to have it right now."
"[Resentment from Liu Erlong +30!]"
"[Resentment from Yu Xiaogang +99!]"
"[Resentment from Flender +99!]"
"[Resentment from Xiao Wu +20!]"
"[Resentment from Ning Rongrong +15!]"
"[Resentment from Zhu Zhuqing +15!]"
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You can read advanced chapters here: patreon.com/GregariousLion