Just as everyone was chatting happily, the sound of a loud dang-dang-dang bell rang outside.
Dai Mubai immediately stood up. "That's the headmaster's summons. Fatty, you take them straight to the main training grounds — I'll go get Zhuqing," he said, striding quickly out of the cafeteria.
Ma Hongjun watched him leave and muttered, "Boss Dai's acting different… I've never seen him care so much about a woman before."
Ning Rongrong chuckled. "And how old are you, talking about 'women' like you're grown?"
Sniffing, Ma Hongjun said proudly, "I might be young, but I've had women. Come on, the headmaster doesn't like people being late." At that, a slight shiver ran through him, as if he'd suffered the man's wrath before.
"Teacher Tang, we'll go ahead," the others said to Yun Chuan before hurrying off.
Yun Chuan only nodded, then went back to his breakfast. Though the food had seemed plain at first, once he took the time to savor it, even simple fare had its charm. In any case, he wouldn't be here for long.
By the time Tang San, Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Ma Hongjun reached the training field, a bleary-eyed Oscar was already there, gnawing on one of his own sausages.
His appearance had changed dramatically — most notably, the scruffy beard was gone.
Tang San almost didn't recognize him. Without the stubble, Oscar's face was transformed. He finally understood why Ma Hongjun had once said, out of jealousy, that both Dai Mubai and Oscar had "playboy faces."
Dai Mubai was certainly handsome, especially with his strikingly unique eyes, but in pure looks he still didn't match clean-shaven Oscar — with his peach-blossom eyes, deep features, jade-like complexion, and roguish smile, he looked every bit the dashing noble son.
Of course, no matter how handsome the noble, chewing on a sausage spoiled the image.
"Your beard?" Tang San pointed at Oscar's smooth face.
Oscar grinned, swallowed his mouthful, and said quietly, "We've got new beauties, don't we? Gotta clean up if I want to catch their eye. You don't have much experience in that department. Boss Dai clearly has his sights on the icy one, Xiao Wu's yours, Fatty's evil fire won't draw the girls in… so my target is Ning Rongrong. You won't compete with me, will you?"
Tang San rubbed his forehead. "May I ask how old you are?"
"Fourteen. Why?" Oscar asked without hesitation. "My dad already had me when he was fourteen."
Tang San suddenly felt that if one wanted to train mental fortitude, Shrek Academy might be the perfect place. Forget the teachers — the students were all oddballs. Even he had his Tang Sect hidden weapons from another world.
Before long, Dai Mubai returned with Zhu Zhuqing, the latter keeping her distance from him while his expression was decidedly sour.
Oscar smirked knowingly. "Looks like Boss Dai hit a wall again. Guess his legendary charm isn't working on her."
As they spoke, a middle-aged man approached from the far side of the field. He looked about fifty, well-built, with a distinctive face — chin slightly jutted, broad cheekbones, flat features, and a hawk-like nose.
If one had to liken his face to something, it would be the sole of a shoe. His eyes were closed, yet gave off a sly impression. He wore square black-rimmed spectacles that somehow made him look even more rigid.
"This is our esteemed principal," Oscar supplied. "Shrek Academy's founder: Four-Eyed Owl Flender. A rank seventy-eight Soul Sage — even stronger than Teacher Zhao. He has a flying-type beast spirit, which is rare among battle soul masters. Fatty here is his personal disciple."
Xiao Wu murmured, "Thank goodness, only seventy-eight. Still can't believe that 'Only monsters, no ordinary people' line came from him. Uncle Big Sausage, do we have any Soul Douluo at the academy?"
Oscar shook his head. "Please call me Oscar, the Sausage Specialist. You think Soul Douluos grow on trees? There aren't many on the whole continent — fewer than a hundred, all supported by the empires and kingdoms. As for Titled Douluo, the two empires together have maybe ten. Not exactly folks you bump into daily."
Xiao Wu seemed relieved. "Good."
Tang San glanced at her. "Xiao Wu, what is it?"
She shook her head. "Nothing."
Seeing she didn't want to say more, Tang San dropped it.
Flender stopped before the seven students. His raspy voice carried easily: "This year's looking good — four more little monsters for our ranks. I, Flender, headmaster of Shrek Academy, welcome you. Later, each of you give a hundred gold coins to Teacher Li in charge of finances. Mubai."
"Sir," Dai Mubai stepped up, deference and even admiration in his tone.
"Four new schoolmates," Flender said, "make sure you pass the rules along to them. Then everyone rest and recover to your best condition. Today's first lesson starts at night. Oscar, you and Ning Rongrong are the exception. You two, come with me."
Oscar's face fell, though he perked up slightly when Ning Rongrong stepped up beside him.
Flender waved the rest off. "The others, go relax. Be at your peak before dark. Don't say I didn't warn you — our lessons here are different. You might even face danger."
Zhu Zhuqing walked off without a word, Dai Mubai making no move to follow this time. Ma Hongjun slipped away the fastest, vanishing in moments.
Tang San lingered, curious to see how this headmaster taught.
Both Oscar and Ning Rongrong had support-type spirits — likely why they weren't needed for the evening class. Still, Tang San found it strange the main lesson was scheduled for nighttime.
If Tang San stayed, Xiao Wu stayed with him, quietly at his side.
Flender didn't mind and said to the two support-types, "Everyone has their own training method. With different spirits, your cultivation styles are very different. On this continent, no two spirits are exactly alike. So the academy won't teach you how to cultivate your spirit, but rather how to use it — how to survive in future battles, and better assist your comrades."
The words rang familiar to Tang San — his master had said much the same, though in far greater detail.
Oscar simply looked down — he'd clearly heard this before — but Ning Rongrong nodded earnestly.
"You two are both support-type soul masters," Flender continued. "One adds attributes; the other is food-type. Soul masters like you always need protection, whether on the battlefield or in daily life. Without it, survival is hard. Oscar, tell me: as a support-type, how do you best protect yourself on the battlefield?"
"Stay behind my allies," Oscar answered without hesitation. "Use any terrain or cover to avoid enemy attacks. Stay as far from danger as possible."
Flender nodded. "Correct — but you missed one thing. For a support-type, retreating is essential. A support master who can't run isn't a good one. And to run, you need stamina. Even with soul power giving you better physique than ordinary people, you'll face enemy battle soul masters. So you must train your endurance. Sometimes, one more step can mean the difference between life and death."
Oscar knew him too well. Hearing this lecture, he was already inwardly groaning. No way was he escaping this one.
Sure enough, Flender concluded, "Your lesson today is endurance training. Starting now, run twenty laps around the whole village. If you're not back before lunch, you skip the meal. You may use your spirits to help. Go. Oscar, lead the way."
"Yes," Ning Rongrong replied crisply, taking off at once. Oscar gave Tang San and the others a sorrowful look before trudging after her.
Shrek's village wasn't large, but Flender meant the whole village plus the farmlands around it. One loop was over three kilometers; twenty was a grueling distance even for battle-types at their level, and for support-types… pure torture.
As the two jogged off, Flender pointed at Tang San. "You — come with me."
Tang San nodded, waving off Xiao Wu when she moved to follow, then strode after the headmaster into the academy grounds.
(End of Chapter)