"Grandmaster, do you have any thoughts to summarize today's Spirit Arena matches?"
Flender's tone was perfectly normal, even respectful. He'd given Yu Xiaogang face by using his title, leaving the man with no room to find fault.
Hearing the question, Yu Xiaogang stiffly straightened his back. He was cursing Flender internally, but he forced a polite smile onto his face. He and Tang San still needed to stay at Shrek Academy, after all. He had to maintain some semblance of dignity.
Yu Xiaogang cupped his chin with his left hand and furrowed his brow, pretending to ponder the question deeply. In reality, his mind was racing, trying to figure out how to answer.
Today's performance at the Soto Spirit Arena had been good for Shrek Academy as a whole. The glaring exception was his own disciple, Tang San. He couldn't possibly ignore Tang San's feelings in front of everyone.
As he suspected, Tang San was a nervous wreck. Everyone present had witnessed his disastrous performance firsthand. They were all just politely ignoring it, giving him a final shred of dignity. The last thing he needed was for his own teacher to analyze his failure in front of the team. If that happened, he'd have nowhere left to hide his face.
After a moment, Yu Xiaogang slowly lowered his hand as if he had come to a conclusion. He walked to the front of the students and began, his voice carefully measured. "Overall, the Shrek Team's matches in the Spirit Arena today were very well-fought. Everyone deserves praise."
He paused, then added, "The Dean has already shared a great deal. As for more detailed arrangements, those will naturally be handled by him."
With that, Yu Xiaogang returned to his original spot. His words were a masterclass in saying nothing at all. It was generic praise, carefully crafted to avoid any real substance. He hadn't singled out Huo Feng for his incredible feat, but he also hadn't mentioned Tang San's failure.
This alone was enough for Tang San to let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Flender nodded, a little surprised. Although Yu Xiaogang's expression was still sour, he had at least handled the situation with a degree of tact.
Thinking this, Flender decided to give his final summary. "Our Shrek Team performed exceptionally today, and I, the Vice-Dean, and the Grandmaster are all very satisfied."
The first half of the sentence was fine, but when Flender included the "Grandmaster," Yu Xiaogang's face immediately darkened again.
Can't you people stop dragging me into this? he thought bitterly. Do I look satisfied? My own disciple not only lost his match but did so in the most humiliating way possible. I'm lucky I haven't coughed up blood.
Of course, he kept these thoughts to himself, his expression settling into a deep scowl.
Flender noticed the subtle change in Yu Xiaogang's face and his lips curled into a meaningful smile, as if to say, Oh, just you wait. The best is yet to come.
The students all nodded, and Flender continued. "While there were many high points, there were also areas where your teamwork wasn't quite there yet. But this was your first team battle, and you were up against the Berserker Team! They're a team of Spirit Elders, all above rank 35, with a seven-win streak and a perfectly coordinated lineup."
"Your opponents were outstanding for their rank. The Spider Female Soul Master's control, Kuang Xi's defense, and the support from their auxiliary Spirit Master were all top-notch. And yet, even with imperfect teamwork, you still achieved victory."
"Of course," Flender admitted, "the final win had a lot to do with Huo Feng. But the rest of you shouldn't sell yourselves short. That victory wouldn't have been possible without the pressure the six of you applied beforehand. You all did well!"
Flender made a point to praise each of them. "Dai Mubai's powerful offense, Ma Hongjun's ability to break through defenses, Xiao Wu's talent for seizing opportunities, Zhu Zhuqing's incredible speed, and the indispensable support from Oscar and Ning Rongrong—all of these were key to the Shrek Team's victory!"
He had now praised all seven members of the starting team. In his heart, he knew perfectly well that the victory belonged almost entirely to Huo Feng. If any other Spirit Elder had been in his place, they would have lost. But in front of the team, a small white lie was necessary to boost the confidence of the others.
Huo Feng, for his part, didn't seem to care one way or the other. He simply maintained his usual calm expression.
To Tang San's immense relief, Flender seemed to have no intention of evaluating his performance at all. He let out another shaky breath. The ordeal was finally over.
Flender finished with one last piece of advice. "I want you all to grow quickly, but never by forcing it. What you accomplished today has already exceeded my expectations and even given me a surprise." As he spoke, he gave a glance so quick in Huo Feng's direction that even Huo Feng himself didn't notice.
The surprise, of course, was Huo Feng. The talent and strength the boy was displaying could only be described as monstrous.
Hearing Flender's words, the members of the Shrek Team all smiled. Flender's speech worked like a charm. He had expertly validated their efforts and soothed their pride, leaving everyone feeling motivated and appreciated.
Everyone, that is, except for Yu Xiaogang and Tang San. But that wasn't Flender's fault. They had failed to seize their own opportunities and had only caused trouble. Flender felt he had already shown them more than enough consideration for one day.
"To celebrate today's fantastic start," Flender announced, his eyes twinkling, "I've decided to temporarily cancel tomorrow's Spirit Arena matches. Everyone can have the day off to rest!"
"Whooo!"
"Long live the Dean!"
Dai Mubai and Ma Hongjun, who were always the first to get excited, let out a loud cheer. A day off in Soto City? That meant they could finally go out and properly relax. The two of them had plenty of ideas for how to do that.
The others were just as happy, but Tang San and Yu Xiaogang just looked bewildered.
What? A day off?
Tang San's heart sank. His teacher had signed a contract with the Spirit Arena. He was required to participate in matches for seven consecutive days. Missing a day would be a breach of contract. Already injured, Tang San felt a fresh wave of despair wash over him.
"And one more thing," Flender said loudly over the cheers. "After a discussion between myself, Vice-Dean Zhao Wuji, and the Grandmaster, we've decided that the three of us will be treating everyone to dinner tonight to celebrate!"
Yu Xiaogang's mind went completely blank.
What? he thought, his face a mask of pure confusion. When did I ever agree to that?
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