Chapter 130 Xuanzi kowtows: I am guilty!
The streets of Shrek City remained wide, but for Xuanzi and his dejected teammates, the road leading to the core area of the academy seemed unusually long.
As they ventured deeper into the area, the civilians and scattered free spirit masters along the streets gradually discovered the dejected group.
Xuanzi, who was already sensitive because of the defeat, could clearly feel that the gazes cast around him had lost some of the former fanatical awe, and were replaced by scrutiny, doubt, and undisguised disgust.
"Look, those people… they look like members of our Shrek team?" A laborer put down his goods, pointed to the group walking ahead with their heads down, and spoke hesitantly.
"It seems so. Isn't the one leading the group Elder Xuan?" The Soul Master next to him narrowed his eyes and then let out an extremely grating sneer. "However, the way they returned this time has completely disgraced Shrek Academy, which has accumulated ten thousand years of reputation."
"Huh? What exactly happened? Why are you saying that about Elder Xuan?"
"You still don't know? The results of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament are already out. Shrek Academy has broken its ten-thousand-year record of dominating the Soul Master Tournament. They lost to a team whose soul power level is far inferior to theirs. That's not all. What's even more ironic is that the key figure on the Heavenly Soul Team's side is none other than Liu Yuan, who was personally expelled from the academy by Xuanzi!"
"That's not all! I heard that Xuanzi made a bet with Du Busi at the city gate, and after losing, he personally kowtowed to Liu Yuan and Du Busi in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators, witnessed by the soul tool recording! The sound of his kowtowing could be heard even through the screen."
"Ugh—this is so embarrassing! A Super Douluo, doing something like this."
"Of course! After losing not only the championship but also our dignity, I'm sure the academy's higher-ups and elders are feeling extremely dissatisfied. When has Shrek ever suffered such humiliation?"
"I feel he'll be severely punished when he gets back."
The murmurs of the commoners and soul masters rose and fell like sharp carving knives, constantly scraping against Xuanzi's already numb nerves.
His face turned from deathly pale to ashen, and his fists, hidden beneath his tattered sleeves, clenched so tightly they cracked.
Given Xuanzi's usual temper, if anyone dared to discuss Shrek Academy's gains and losses in front of him, he would have slapped them down long ago.
But now he knows that his every move represents the last vestige of dignity for the academy, not to mention that most of the discussions are based on bloody facts.
He couldn't stoop to the level of these commoners, nor did he dare to cause trouble here. He could only quicken his pace and lead his team members away from the main road like stray dogs, and slip into the gates of Shrek Academy.
However, the moment Xuanzi stepped into the inner courtyard of the academy, an old yet authoritative voice exploded in his mind.
"Come to the Sea God Pavilion."
That was Moon's voice.
Without any extraneous emotional coloring, it instantly made Xuanzi break out in a cold sweat.
"Phew...it's finally here." Xuanzi muttered to himself, a sinister glint flashing in his previously unfocused eyes. "Whether I can turn this crisis around, one that could ruin my reputation, depends entirely on my next move. After all, Elder Mu is a sentimental person, and Shrek Academy is currently facing a talent shortage, so as long as I put on a good show..."
Without a moment's hesitation, Xuanzi first signaled Huo Yuhao, Ma Xiaotao, and the others to go back and heal their injuries. Then, he tidied his even more disheveled hair and, with a tragic expression that was almost like going to his death, walked alone towards the Sea God Pavilion under the Golden Tree.
When Xuanzi pushed open the heavy wooden door of the Sea God Pavilion, the atmosphere in the already dimly lit conference hall had become extremely tense.
The long conference table was filled with the elders of the Sea God Pavilion. Yan Shaozhe, Xian Lin'er, Cai Mei'er, Elder Song... these big shots with their renowned reputations in the Soul Master world all had grim faces at this moment, and countless scrutinizing and angry gazes locked onto Xuan Zi the moment he entered the room.
Meanwhile, Mu En, who was sitting in the main seat, had his eyes closed, and his silver hair looked unusually lonely in the dim light.
Xuanzi did not hesitate at all, and did not even wait for Mu En to speak.
Before anyone could speak, he suddenly made a dull thud on the heavy mahogany floor.
"Smack!"
Xuanzi knelt down on both knees, completely disregarding dignity, before Mu En and in the center of the group of elders.
This kneeling stunned Yan Shaozhe and the others who were prepared to hurl insults at him.
"Elder Xuan, what are you doing..." Xian Lin'er frowned, her voice icy.
Xuanzi didn't look up; his hoarse voice, hoarse from excessive anxiety, echoed in the hall, carrying an extremely strong sense of self-reproach:
"Elder Mu, esteemed elders, Xuanzi deserves to die!"
Xuanzi lowered his head, his hands braced on the cold ground, his body trembling slightly.
Instead of seeking any objective reasons as usual, or mentioning how strange his opponent was, he directly adopted the most extreme and sympathetic approach—taking all the blame.
"This time, leading the team to Xingluo City, we not only lost the glorious championship that the academy has inherited for thousands of years, but also, due to my momentary confusion and prejudice, brought shame to the academy's reputation in front of the whole continent."
"All of this is my fault, Xuanzi! It was my arrogance, my failure to protect my own, and my kneeling and kowtowing in Xingluo Square that tarnished Shrek Academy's reputation!"
Xuanzi suddenly raised his head, and a few cloudy tears actually welled up in his old eyes. He stared intently at Mu En and said in a resolute tone:
"Xuanzi knows that he has no face to face the Sea God Pavilion anymore, nor the face to hold the position of elder. Therefore, I am here today to plead that Elder Mu can strip me of all my power and take back my status as an elder of the Sea God Pavilion."
"From this day forward, strip me of all my privileges and make me merely a caretaker guarding the academy's gates, never to concern myself with any affairs of the Sea God Pavilion again. Only in this way can the criticism of Shrek Academy be quelled across the continent, and only in this way can we give those defeated children an explanation!"
Xuanzi's apology, which was almost a self-inflicted reproach, caused a slight commotion in the hall.
Many of the elders, who had initially been filled with anger, began to waver slightly upon seeing Xuanzi's miserable, disheveled, and completely unguarded appearance.
After all, Xuanzi had served the academy for a century, and his loyalty was beyond question.
However, Moon remained silent throughout the entire process.
Xuanzi lay prone on the ground, feeling the flow of the surrounding air, while his mind was frantically calculating.
He knew that Moon valued relationships the most, especially with comrades like him whom he had known for many years.
Moreover, Shrek Academy is currently facing a talent shortage and has no one available.
If he doesn't work for Shrek Academy, then Shrek Academy won't have many people they can use.
The reason he dared to do this was because he was betting that Mu En wouldn't actually cripple a level 98 Super Douluo at such a turbulent time for Shrek Academy.
As long as one can maintain their official status, there will always be room for maneuver in the future.
A long, deathly silence fell over the hall, with only Xuanzi's heavy breathing echoing throughout the Sea God Pavilion.
(End of chapter)