"Boss… sorry for causing trouble. But I really couldn't hold it in anymore."
After leaving the venue, Xie Xie lowered his voice."I just can't stand them. Why should we be the ones apologizing first? And that Yu Longheng was obviously targeting us. Ye Xinglan was just being used without even realizing it."
Yu Longheng clearly wanted to save face, but because of his status and age, he couldn't say it outright. So he chose to show it through action. Ye Xinglan had simply given him the perfect excuse.
As for whether the other side would actually agree to the match… Xie Xie felt they probably would, but he wasn't completely sure.
"It's fine." Huo Yuhao shook his head. "Let's go inform Teacher Luo."
"Na'er, I didn't expect you to be so sharp too."
On the girls' side, Xu Xiaoyan looked at Gu Yuena with admiration."With just one sentence, you broke her composure."
Gu Yuena replied calmly, "Stay around him long enough, and you'll pick up a thing or two. I was just annoyed and went along with it."
What was wrong with Yuhao's pastries?She liked them very much.
"But they have a Battle Armor Master… and three strong Spirit Ancestors…"
Xu Xiaoyan hesitated. "Won't we just drag you and Yuhao down?"
A five-versus-five match was completely different from sparring against Teacher Wu. Maybe Teacher Wu, at the Soul King level, could handle all of Shrek alone, but for them, even winning one-on-one would be difficult.
The age gap was real, and Shrek's students were far from weak. It would be hard for them to contribute much.
"Didn't Teacher Luo say we only step in when you face opponents you truly can't handle?" Gu Yuena said lightly. "Just treat this as one of those situations. As for whether Yuhao and I can win… you don't need to worry."
She exchanged a glance with Huo Yuhao walking ahead, her tone relaxed.
Meanwhile, inside a meeting room, the Shrek students stood in silence.
At the front, their supervising teacher, Shen Yi, looked at them with sharp eyes, her voice heavy.
"In the short time I was away, this is what you managed to stir up?"
She had only gone to coordinate with the organizers briefly. When she returned, she learned her students had already clashed with Class Zero. After hearing the full story, she was at a loss for words.
Instead of immediately addressing the instigators, she turned to Yu Longheng. His face instantly turned pale.
"Longheng, what were you thinking? As the team leader, why didn't you stop this?"
After a brief silence, Yu Longheng replied in a low voice, "Because they insulted the academy's honor."
Shen Yi frowned slightly. Her fingers tapped lightly on the desk. The crisp sound echoed through the silent room, pressing heavily on everyone's nerves.
After a moment, she spoke calmly,"Answer me honestly. Were you acting for the academy's honor… or for yourself?"
Yu Longheng clenched his fists. He opened his mouth, but no words came out.
Seeing this, Shen Yi shifted her gaze to Ye Xinglan."And you?"
"For the academy's honor!" Ye Xinglan replied firmly, though her face was pale.
Shen Yi took a slow breath and looked away.
"The matter has already spread among the spectators. Since you tied it to the academy's honor, there's no turning back now."
It was too late to contain the situation.
If the Tianhai Alliance wanted, they could easily spin the narrative. Shrek's overwhelming display had already embarrassed them. Now, a challenge from another academy would give them the perfect opportunity to shift public opinion—from humiliation to "a brave and honorable defeat."
And more importantly… the Eastsea Academy students were not weak. This could turn into a highly anticipated match.
Thinking of Huo Yuhao, Shen Yi sighed inwardly.
"Since you've made this about the academy's honor, then you must uphold that honor with your strength."
Her gaze sharpened.
"Yu Longheng and Ye Xinglan bear primary responsibility. If you lose, you will be barred from entering the inner courtyard. You may even be expelled."
Both of their expressions changed drastically.
One sought the inner courtyard. The other cherished her place at the academy. These consequences struck at their very core.
But soon, they steadied themselves.
Individually, they believed no one in the Tianhai Alliance could match them. And in a team battle, their coordination far surpassed ordinary academies.
Their earlier victory hadn't been Yu Longheng's effort alone.
Ye Xinglan pressed her lips together, glancing at her teammates.
Her earlier proposal had been impulsive. Now she wasn't sure everyone would agree.
Seeing the distance between her and Yu Longheng, Ning Yue stepped forward first.
"I'll go with you."
Consider it settling an old debt.
Xu Lizhi hesitated. The conflict had started because of him, yet Xinglan was bearing the consequences.
Just as the group was uncertain, Shen Yi's communicator rang.
She answered, spoke briefly, then stood up, her expression serious.
"The match against Eastsea Academy will take place in one day," she said flatly."And it will be… seven versus seven."
Just as she expected, the Tianhai Alliance had seized the opportunity.
At the same time, Luo Yanglu spoke to his students after ending a call.
"There's still a gap between you and Shrek's students. That match isn't your stage."
Xie Xie scratched his nose. "I think I could at least handle a support role…"
He didn't dislike Xu Lizhi. In fact, the guy was pretty decent. But if they met in battle…
He'd just knock him off early to spare him from facing Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena.
"If you get the chance, go ahead and try," Luo Yanglu said with a faint smile.
Then he looked at Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, his expression turning serious.
"In a sense, this is two against seven. Are you confident?"
He had watched them grow step by step. Naturally, he wanted to see them shine.
For Xie Xie and the others, winning the five-person team event was enough. But for Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena, he had never found a proper stage worthy of them.
Now, that opportunity had arrived.
And he would not let it slip.
Huo Yuhao and Gu Yuena simply nodded.
***
Dive deeper into the story with 30+ advance chapters, available now on Patreon!
patreon.com/CNBLUE
If you're enjoying the novel, please consider leaving a review. Your support is crucial and helps the story grow immensely. Thank you!