The next day — one day before the start of the Soul Master Tournament.
Dan Heng and Gu Yuena, each carrying a baby, arrived at Lanba Academy.
Both infants had their spiritual auras sealed by Dan Heng, so no one could detect their extraordinary nature.
But even without any trace of world will or life essence, their heavenly looks alone were enough to draw attention.
Having inherited the stunning appearance of their parents, even as babies, they already showed hints of dazzling future charm.
Dan Heng was holding Longlong, while Gu Yuena carried Bao'er.
Just as they arrived at the entrance, they were met with a crowd blocking the gate.
Noises erupted inside, and even farther out, a group of passersby had gathered to watch the drama unfold.
"Erlong! Come out! We just want an answer from you!"
Yu Xiaogang's voice rang out from the crowd.
Dan Heng slightly shook his head.What a troublesome guy. Doesn't bite, but definitely gets under your skin.
The academy guards could only form a human wall to block them, not daring to escalate.After all, they knew—you don't mess with Shrek's people.
"Make way!"
Gu Yuena shouted coldly, full of authority.
Now that she was the true Dean of Lanba Academy, no one dared disobey.
Immediately, the curious students scattered.
The figures of the Shrek group came into view.
It really was Flender and company.
Seeing Dan Heng and Gu Yuena, the expressions on the Shrek team's faces grew awkward.
Zhao Wuji even hid behind Flender, his burly frame shrunk like a frightened rabbit—he didn't even dare look Gu Yuena in the eyes.
"M-Mr. Dan Heng… You… you have kids now?" Flender scratched his head, his old face flushed red as he chuckled awkwardly.
Dan Heng nodded lightly. "Yes. And you all are here for…?"
"Well… We're… kind of short on money…" Flender admitted sheepishly.
Yu Xiaogang quickly pulled Flender aside and glared daggers at him.Couldn't he have said that more subtly? What a disgrace!
"We're here to demand our rightful compensation!" Yu Xiaogang declared confidently. "As former teachers—Soul Sages and Soul Emperors—we deserve more than measly salaries!"
The group immediately fell into awkward silence.Deep down, even they were cringing at themselves.
So shameful.
But Yu Xiaogang had insisted on coming, and they couldn't resist his rants—so here they were, swept along in the mess.
Flender tried to smooth things over. "This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Dan Heng. You don't need to get involved. Besides, we're on good terms with Erlong, it's just that…"
He scratched his head again, throwing a side-eye of blame at Yu Xiaogang.
"Right is right, wrong is wrong!" Yu Xiaogang said righteously. "Dan Heng, you two can stay as witnesses. I refuse to believe Erlong would sacrifice our friendship for a few coins!"
He clung to Flender's arm like a leech.
Flender's face twitched in embarrassment.
Dan Heng and Gu Yuena exchanged a glance, just about to politely refuse—
When suddenly, a powerful voice rang out:
"Can't even have peace for a day?! I just got back and you're already causing trouble?!"
Before the voice even faded, the academy gates slammed open.
A tall, fierce woman came storming out.
It was none other than Liu Erlong, not seen for over two years.Her skin was a bit darker, but she looked more energetic than ever.
Flender was stunned stupid, nearly drooling.
Even Yu Xiaogang's eyes flashed with a spark of regret—Why had he ignored Erlong back then?
If it were back then, and he'd tried to make a move on her, Erlong probably wouldn't have hesitated—she'd strip right down and bend over…
But now?
It was too late.
"Erlong, long time no see—"
Flender and Yu Xiaogang both stepped forward eagerly, arms wide open for a hug.
Liu Erlong smiled too—but as they approached, she raised both legs and kicked them to the ground!
Then, face instantly shifting to warmth:
"Teacher Gu! Mr. Dan Heng! It's been so long! I missed you so much!"
She burst into laughter and came up to them.
She was just about to give them a big hug when she noticed the babies in their arms.
She stopped dead in her tracks, stunned.
"Th-these are…?"
Gu Yuena smiled gently, her face radiant with happiness.
"Our children—twins."
Liu Erlong blinked, her eyes full of jealousy and longing.
She leaned in cautiously to look at the babies, afraid even her breath might disturb them.
"So cute…" she whispered.
"Do they have names yet?" she asked Gu Yuena.
"Not yet," Gu Yuena shook her head. "My husband is still thinking."
The truth was, Dan Heng had come up with over 10,000 names, only to reject every single one. He was driving himself crazy.
Nothing ever seemed good enough.
"That's wonderful… I really envy you, Teacher Gu…" Liu Erlong's eyes turned red with emotion.
She had been fine coming back—but now, she suddenly wanted to run back to Sea God Island.
"Let's take care of this mess first," Gu Yuena said, deflecting the topic.
Of course she knew—Erlong wasn't jealous of the kids.
She was jealous that she and Dan Heng had kids.
Liu Erlong snapped out of it, wiped away her tears, and turned around.
Facing Yu Xiaogang and the others again, her face went icy cold, completely switching gears.
The pressure she exuded—the aura of a Titled Douluo—was impossible to hide.
And even among Titled Douluo, she was no pushover!
"E-Erlong, y-you became a Titled Douluo?!" Flender stammered.
"Flender!" she snapped. "Wasn't it YOU who suggested converting your salaries into tuition fees for Shrek students?!"
Flender immediately lowered his head, red-faced.
Yu Xiaogang, however, refused to back down.
"That was the plan, yes. But things changed. We were kicked out! Now that you're back, we can return too. While you were gone, we were bullied…"
Liu Erlong let out a cold laugh.
"Bullied? Yu Xiaogang! I know exactly the kind of crap you pulled! If I'd been there, I'd have broken your legs and thrown you all out! Ungrateful dogs!"
She lashed out without mercy, finger pointed right at Yu Xiaogang's nose.
He froze, completely stunned.Wait… why is she going so hard on me??
The other Shrek members all shut their mouths tight, not daring to speak. They felt guilty too.
"You dare show up asking for money? Have you no shame?! You ungrateful wretches!"
"Fine, let's settle this clearly! Flender—when you all messed up your perfume business, who bailed you out with mountains of gold soul coins?! Did you EVER pay me back?!"
Flender covered his face with his sleeve, too embarrassed to speak.
"Stop, Erlong, I'll just go…" he muttered.
But Liu Erlong grabbed him and snorted coldly.
"Leave now? Too late! All of you are staying right here and explaining yourselves!"
"And Yu Xiaogang—don't forget! That giant scandal we had was your fault for spouting nonsense! After all these years, you've learned nothing!"
"Even gods are descending now, and you haven't leveled up even once?! Who was it back then that said there are no useless Martial Souls, only useless Soul Masters, huh? And now you have the gall to show up here? You're the best at bouncing around making noise!"
Liu Erlong didn't give a damn about grace or composure at this point.She jabbed her finger right into Yu Xiaogang's nose and unleashed a brutal verbal beatdown.
Mixed into her rage was another emotion—Her own resentment at how madly in love she used to be with him.
Seriously, what the hell was wrong with me back then, falling for this guy?
Yu Xiaogang's face turned red.
He was being scolded so fiercely he couldn't even open his mouth. The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.
But he had no grounds to fight back.
Because objectively speaking…He really was useless.
He stepped back a few paces, casting a pleading glance at Flender, silently begging for help.
But Flender quickly lowered his head—
He was having a hard enough time keeping himself out of trouble. No way was he going to draw Liu Erlong's fire.
"Let me make this clear right now!"
"The dean of Lanba Academy is Teacher Gu—Gu Yuena, not me! I don't have the authority to overrule any of her decisions!"
Liu Erlong stepped next to Gu Yuena and spoke firmly, making sure everyone present heard her.
Even the bystanders watching the drama unfold were shocked.
What? Lanba Academy changed deans?
Yu Xiaogang finally found a chance to talk back.He stuck out his neck and tried to maintain a shred of dignity as he shouted:
"Liu Erlong! If this is how you want to cut ties, fine! I accept! We from Shrek will settle this on the battlefield—with our strength! We'll wipe away today's humiliation in the tournament!"
After saying his piece, he grabbed Flender's arm, ready to flee the scene.
No way was he going to let Erlong pin him down.
But Flender didn't move. He looked at Yu Xiaogang with disbelief and protested:
"Wait—I never agreed to sever ties with Erlong! Yu Xiaogang, what nonsense are you spouting now?!"
Yu Xiaogang whispered under his breath:
"I said we Shrek—not you Flender. Just come with me, or else—"
"Or else what?" Liu Erlong snapped. "Yu Xiaogang, you really think you're somebody, huh? You think Shrek's future has anything to do with you?"
She latched onto him again with another verbal barrage.
Yu Xiaogang's face went from red to pale—Then suddenly, he coughed up a mouthful of blood!
The blood froze into ice crystals before even hitting the ground.
Liu Erlong casually sidestepped, clapped her hands, and snorted:
"What a pathetic waste. Somebody get this trash out of here already!"
Yu Xiaogang collapsed, motionless on the ground, like he'd died.
It wasn't clear if he actually passed out from rage, or was just faking it.
Either way, one of his arms had flopped behind his back unnaturally.
"Erlong… w-we'll just take our leave now. We'll catch up with you another time. Don't listen to that clown Yu Xiaogang—we were all fooled by him. Honestly, we regret it so much now…"
Flender hurriedly scooped up Yu Xiaogang, slung him under his arm, and bolted.
The rest of the group covered their faces and ran, ashamed beyond belief.
This day's humiliation—They were already wondering if it might become the darkest moment of their lives.
Even if Shrek Academy became famous in the future, this scandal would haunt them.
Liu Erlong just watched them leave coldly, expressionless.
"That was impressive, Dean Liu," Gu Yuena smiled.
Liu Erlong's stern face immediately softened. She replied awkwardly:
"Come on, I already said… you're the dean now. I'm just your vice dean…"
"No, we're both deans," Gu Yuena said calmly. "Honestly, I'm just here to enjoy the Soul Master Tournament. No need to take it too seriously."
After all, if she wanted authority, she already had it—She was the Empress of the Fontain Empire. What was some soul master academy to her?
Liu Erlong's eyes lit up as she looked at the baby in Gu Yuena's arms.
"Sister Gu… can I hold the baby?"
Gu Yuena handed little Bao'er over with a gentle smile.
Meanwhile, Dan Heng had already quietly slipped away—he wanted no part in this soap opera.
The next day arrived—
It was finally time for the Soul Master Tournament.
The Great Soul Arena was packed to the brim.
Nobles and tycoons from Heaven Dou City and surrounding regions had come to watch the spectacle.
This was the biggest event in all of Douluo Continent!
Naturally, Dan Heng's whole family came to watch, including the two babies.
Dan Heng wasn't a fan of crowds, but he had no choice.
As he looked at bright-eyed, energetic Longlong in his arms, he felt a silent pang of worry.
He had seen Gu Yuena's "Growth Plan" for Longlong…
It was almost thicker than a dictionary.
"Let's go check in on Zhuqing. Husband, you personally picked her spirit rings and even gave her a trump card. I wonder if anyone can actually force her to use it," Gu Yuena said with a laugh.
Dan Heng shook his head slightly as the whole family made their way to the Lanba Academy section of the audience seating.
"Because of the Sea God's Tower, even I'm not sure…"
Aside from the trump card Dan Heng gave her, Zhu Zhuqing was now the youngest Soul King and the owner of the Killing God Domain.
In terms of individual strength, no one on the field could beat her.
But this was team combat, and even she couldn't guarantee a 1v7.
(Though honestly, the rest of the Lanba Battle Team were being underrated here.)
Soon, they arrived at their seats.
Coincidentally, Flender and the Shrek Battle Team showed up as well.
Flender looked embarrassed and said weakly:
"Dean Gu, do you… do you happen to have any extra seats? The Heaven Dou Empire didn't allocate us a section…"
Shrek Academy was still relatively unknown, so they weren't given much attention.
And the venue was so packed, they couldn't even buy tickets!
Gu Yuena glanced at them coldly and replied:
"No."
"O-okay then…" Flender muttered awkwardly.
Liu Erlong smiled sweetly:
"Flender, you all can help with security. Just patrol the area. If you find open seats, you can sit."
"..."
Flender forced a smile. He didn't dare piss Liu Erlong off again.
Meanwhile, the two battle teams finally exchanged words.
"See you in the finals. We'll crush you!" Dai Mubai declared to Zhu Zhuqing.
She didn't even acknowledge him—her eyes shifted away like she'd seen something filthy.
Dai Mubai nearly blew a fuse.
"Just wait. There'll be a surprise waiting for you!"
Tang San placed a hand on Dai Mubai's shoulder and addressed the Lanba Team:
"Soon, we'll be unveiling something you've never seen before—our public debut. Don't miss it."
"Originally, we were going to gift it to both academies when we merged. But it's a shame… you rejected my teacher."
He sneered arrogantly, chin lifted high.
Then he led the Shrek Team away, leaving behind a sense of mysterious tension.
Dai Mubai was still fuming, eyes glued to Zhu Zhuqing—
Until he suddenly realized everyone else had left.
"Wait for me!!!" he shouted, scrambling to catch up.
(End of Chapter)