"I don't know if my choice was right or wrong," Flanders muttered to himself, staring at the empty doorway. He and Yu Xiaogang had once been as close as brothers, but now, he felt nothing of that youthful camaraderie. He remembered how, long ago, Yu Xiaogang had convinced him to give up on his love for Liu Erlong, paving the way for the two of them to be together. In the years that followed, Yu Xiaogang had disappeared, but Flanders had remained single, having long since let go of any feelings for Liu Erlong. But the man Yu Xiaogang had become today made him deeply regret the sacrifices he had made in the past.
Yu Xiaogang stormed out of the office, pulling Tang San along with him. Of course, he had no intention of actually leaving Shrek Academy. He had no other options left. He had used every ounce of his audacity to get Tang San enrolled; he wasn't about to throw it all away over a moment of anger.
According to Flanders, they needed to find Vice Dean Zhao Wuji to arrange for a dormitory. But after walking a few steps, Yu Xiaogang stopped. In his haste to leave, he hadn't even asked where Zhao Wuji's office was. While Shrek Academy wasn't huge, it wasn't exactly small either. He couldn't possibly drag Tang San from door to door, knocking on each one. That would seriously undermine his status as a "Grandmaster."
In Yu Xiaogang's mind, only Dean Flanders was nominally above him at this academy. Not even the Vice Dean, Zhao Wuji, was his superior. This was true even though he wasn't even a formal teacher here. Such was his self-confidence. Now it seemed the only option was to ask someone for directions. He looked around but found the grounds deserted. Not a single person was in sight. He realized the students must have been given the day off, which explained his earlier encounter with Huo Feng's group at the village entrance. This was going to be complicated.
Creak—!
Just then, the sound of a door opening caught his attention. He looked up to see an older figure walk out of a nearby wooden house. It was one of Shrek's teachers, Li Yusong.
"Tang San," Yu Xiaogang said, placing one hand behind his back in a commanding posture. "Go and ask that teacher where Vice Dean Zhao Wuji's office is." He had seen this teacher before, both in Flanders' office and on the playground, but they weren't acquainted. More importantly, Yu Xiaogang felt that asking for simple directions was beneath someone of his standing. It would be far more appropriate to have his disciple do it.
"Ah?" Tang San was stunned. He hadn't expected that after all this, his teacher wouldn't even know where to go. He had noticed the strange expression on Yu Xiaogang's face when he left the dean's room, and now he suspected something unpleasant had happened in his absence.
"Yes, Teacher," Tang San said, bowing respectfully. He turned and walked in the direction his teacher had indicated. But as he took his first step, he froze. Why is it him?!
The teacher Yu Xiaogang had pointed to was the same one who had been at the gate during the entrance exam. Not only had they argued, but Tang San still remembered the harsh words he had thrown at the man after being rejected. Things like, "A great hero is blind to the talent before him," and "Thirty years the river flows east, thirty years it flows west. You will regret this!"
Now he was supposed to walk up and ask for directions as if none of that had ever happened. He wasn't sure he could do it. Besides, this teacher would definitely remember him.
Tang San hesitated. But his teacher had given him an order, and he couldn't just refuse. That would be asking for trouble. "I'll just have to bite the bullet," he muttered to himself. He clenched his fists, quickened his pace, and walked forward.
At that moment, Li Yusong was using his Dragon-Patterned Staff to hang up some laundry. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a figure hurrying toward him.
"Hello, Teacher!"
By the time he turned around, Tang San was already standing in front of him, offering a simple bow.
Li Yusong looked up, and his brow furrowed as their eyes met. "It's you?" Of course, he remembered Tang San. He was deeply impressed by the memory of the student who had been rejected for his waste spirit, a memory only reinforced by Yu Xiaogang's later appearance. He glanced past the boy and saw the familiar one-armed figure standing not far away. He felt no fondness for either of them. The dean had been looking for this disciple, and now, judging by the situation, the boy had gotten into the academy through his connection to Yu Xiaogang.
A trace of disdain appeared on Li Yusong's face. He had no respect for Yu Xiaogang's title of "Grandmaster," and he especially looked down on those who used improper means to get into the academy.
"Yes, Teacher. We meet again," Tang San said, and an involuntary hint of pride crept into his expression. It was the look of a smug villain who had gotten his way. I'm back, his posture seemed to say. I successfully joined Shrek Academy. Looks like you were wrong about me, doesn't it?
He then offered another, hypocritical bow. "When I took the entrance exam, I was a bit emotional and may have said some inappropriate things. I hope you won't take it personally." He turned and gestured toward his teacher. "That's my master over there. I'm sure you've met." In the distance, Yu Xiaogang symbolically raised his one hand in a brief wave.
Li Yusong's expression grew even uglier. "What do you want?" he asked, his voice cold. He couldn't shake the feeling that this boy was trying to show off. His spirit is the useless Blue Silver Grass, and his first spirit ring is the lowest possible quality. He got into this academy through the back door. And now he's putting on this pretentious act?
Although Li Yusong looked down on them, he didn't show it openly. He still had to give the dean some face. As long as they didn't do anything to provoke him, he would simply ignore them.
Tang San was a little surprised. He didn't expect the old man to still have this attitude after seeing his teacher. He curled his lip and said, "Well, my teacher asked me to ask you where Vice President Zhao Wuji's office is."
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