At the entrance of Shrek Academy, Yun Chuan turned around after bidding farewell to the students who had come to see him off. He smiled and said, "I'll see you off only up to here."
"Nagging Tang Teacher, are you really leaving?" Ning Rongrong looked at him with reluctance and hope.
"Yeah, please stay a bit longer, Teacher Tang," Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar also chimed in eagerly.
Yun Chuan shook his head, smiling, "All good things must come to an end. I've stayed here long enough."
It had been three days since their return from the Star Dou Forest. Initially, Yun Chuan came to Shrek just for fun and to meet the characters from the original story—and to teach Tang San a lesson. Now that his goal was achieved, it was time to leave. Staying here wouldn't improve his strength.
He glanced over the familiar faces who came to see him off: Headmaster Flender, Tang San, Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, Oscar, plus Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing. Xiao Wu didn't come, citing physical discomfort.
Yun Chuan knew why Xiao Wu stayed away—she feared that staying near him too long would reveal her true form. Lately, she had often avoided him and might even be thinking of escaping.
"Farewell, everyone," Yun Chuan said, bowing slightly before turning away freely and casually.
Everyone watched his departing figure with earnest reluctance. Flender felt the keenest loss—after all, even if Yun Chuan was only a teacher, having a Soul Douluo teacher greatly enhanced Shrek Academy's prestige and garnered respect for the school's name.
Because of this, Flender shamelessly begged Yun Chuan to stay and even offered generous rewards. But Yun Chuan laughed softly and declined.
"Wait, Teacher Tang." Ning Rongrong's voice suddenly called him back.
"Rongrong, what's the matter?" Yun Chuan stopped and looked back, puzzled by her hesitation and request.
"Teacher Tang, may I… see your true face?" Ning Rongrong took a deep breath, her expression a mix of tension and resolve. This stunned Yun Chuan, and even more so Tang San and the others—what did she mean? Wasn't his current face his real one?
Yun Chuan gazed steadily at the determined girl. After a pause, he said resignedly, "How did you see through it?"
The disguise mask Yun Chuan wore was an extremely rare ancient soul device. Even a Titled Douluo might not detect it. How had an under-rank Soul Elder girl like Ning Rongrong noticed?
"Tehee, just a girl's intuition~" Ning Rongrong giggled, enjoying her victory in coaxing the truth.
Indeed, ever since she first met Yun Chuan, something felt off—their dazzling, beautiful eyes looked out of place on such an ordinary face. She had suspected his current appearance was just a soul technique mask, and her probing confirmed it.
"So Teacher Tang's real face is a secret? What is he really like?" Ma Hongjun cried out, and Tang San and others nodded eagerly, curious beyond words.
"Oh, you…" Yun Chuan shook his head helplessly and turned to Ning Rongrong, "You want to see that badly?"
"Yes!" she nodded firmly, fearing that once he left, she might never see his true face again. Sometimes a woman's intuition was uncannily accurate — almost prophetic.
"All right then."
Having been a "two-dimensional wife" in a past life, Yun Chuan had no objection to this small request. However…
"You all, turn around please." Yun Chuan said with mock irritation to the curious Flender, Tang San, and others, who were staring directly at him with eager eyes.
"Huh? Teacher Tang, why?" Ma Hongjun shouted. Tang San and others echoed his confusion.
Of course, Yun Chuan thought sarcastically, they won't all just turn away eagerly. But the real reason was his own embarrassment—facing a crowd watching him remove his mask was strangely humiliating. The more people, the worse it felt. No idea why.
Outwardly, he explained, "Because my appearance isn't normal, I wear this mask. If you want to avoid nightmares tonight or lose your appetite, you'd better turn away."
With that, there was no more room for debate. Naturally, Flender, Tang San, and the others obediently faced away—though inside, they itched with curiosity about the face behind the mask.
Only Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stayed fixed, eyes wide with anticipation.
"You cat, won't you turn?" Yun Chuan teased Zhu Zhuqing. "Don't be afraid—I can soothe crying babies or haunt them awake all night!"
"I'm not scared," Zhu Zhuqing shook her head. For some reason, the teacher looked very familiar to her, as if she had met him before. She was certain she knew this Teacher Tang, so she wouldn't miss the chance to see his true face.
"Suit yourself."
With a helpless shrug, Yun Chuan placed his hands lightly on his face. A soft blur appeared—then a shimmering crystal mask slowly lifted.
With wide, curious eyes, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing stared intently as he gradually revealed his true visage…
(End of Chapter)