Chapter 35: Bullying with Numbers, Forcing Me to Turn and Join the Spirit Hall?

Chapter 35: Ganging Up on Me? Forcing Me to Turn and Join the Spirit Hall?

Just as Tang San was preparing to strike again, Flender’s voice rang out. He moved at top speed, positioning himself between Xu Yan and Tang San. Tang San immediately held back, while Xu Yan withdrew his spirit power and stood quietly.

The rest of the group arrived. When Yu Xiaogang saw the building reduced to rubble, his face darkened. He then noticed Dai Mubai, Ma Hongjun, and Oscar nearby, all bruised and battered. Many looked at Xu Yan with disbelief. Xiao Wu stood stunned, while the others rushed forward to help the three injured men up.

"What are you doing? Are you rebelling?" Yu Xiaogang shouted, furious at the seven students.

Tang San quickly interjected, "Teacher, Huo Yuhao injured the three of them. His methods were ruthless."

Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang looked at Xu Yan and asked, "Yuhao, why did you strike with such heavy hands?"

Zhao Wuji and Liu Erlong also turned their gazes toward Xu Yan. Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing looked on with concern as they attended to the battered Oscar and Dai Mubai.

Jiang Zhu spoke up timidly, "Um... may I say something?"

"I didn't ask you," Yu Xiaogang barked angrily. Jiang Zhu’s frail body trembled in fear.

Seeing Jiang Zhu on the verge of tears, Xu Yan immediately snapped, "Why are you yelling at her?"

Tang San, seeing Xu Yan’s disrespect toward Yu Xiaogang, called out, "Huo Yuhao—"

"What? Want to fight again?"

"Is this how Shrek Academy bullies people?" Xu Yan sneered. "One after another, relying on your numbers to pick on me because I’m alone here with no one to lean on, right?"

Liu Erlong and Flender were left speechless by this accusation. Xiao Wu watched from the sidelines as Xu Yan stood there alone, as if pitted against the entire world. Especially since Xu Yan stood in the shadows, while all of them were bathed in the light.

"I came here as a guest. You said you wanted to test me, so I accepted. After the test, you said I should join Shrek Academy, so I agreed. After all, I’m alone, with no one to rely on; it doesn't matter where I stay."

"But is it really necessary to bully me like this? Isn't that going a bit too far?"

The scene fell into a deathly silence. Tang San’s heart tightened; when he arrived, he had only seen Xu Yan beating Ma Hongjun and had attacked without thinking.

At this moment, Jiang Zhu hurriedly stepped to Xu Yan’s side, pointing at Oscar and Ma Hongjun as she said, "I know what happened. They were the ones who intentionally provoked Yuhao."

Ma Hongjun and Oscar lowered their heads in silence, humiliated. They had wanted to teach Xu Yan a lesson, only to be taken down by him single-handedly. Even "Boss Dai" had been beaten into such a sorry state. How could a Food-system Spirit Master possess such terrifying combat power? It made no sense!

"Hmph! One by one, you bully me for not having parents to love me. Well, I won't be polite either. If you want to sanction me with such excuses, I will never submit. Even if I am smashed to pieces, I will fight you to the death. In this world, I will show no mercy to anyone who tries to hurt, humiliate, or bully me!"

"I am ready to kill anyone in this world!"

Xu Yan stared at the group with chilling eyes, thinking to himself that his performance was quite impressive. Surely, these people were intimidated by his formidable aura. Damn, out of the Shrek Seven Devils, beating three of them into swollen pig-heads—it felt so good! If they had arrived any later, that scoundrel Tang San would have been beaten too. Even if he brought out his Clear Sky Hammer, Xu Yan still had his Golden Cudgel held in reserve.

Hearing Xu Yan’s words, Yu Xiaogang turned his gaze toward Tang San and the others. Tang San seemed to realize he was in the wrong; after all, his side had struck first.

"Why are you all silent? Feeling guilty? You tried to bully me with numbers and ended up looking like pigs instead. Isn't that embarrassing?" Xu Yan scoffed with biting sarcasm.

"Yuhao, please, stop," Jiang Zhu whispered, tugging at his sleeve.

"It’s alright, Jiang Zhu. The Grandmaster dared to yell at you earlier; I’ll stand up for you."

Xu Yan shouted directly, "If you don't apologize to Sister Jiang Zhu, I will quit Shrek Academy right now. Tomorrow, I will head to Spirit City and join the Spirit Hall. From this day forward, I will oppose Shrek at every turn. Don't worry, I won't do anything extreme; I’ll just make sure to be an eyesore to you all."

Flender’s heart sank at the thought. If this kid joined the Spirit Hall, those people would surely treat him like a treasure. If he left with such deep resentment toward Shrek, it would certainly become a major problem.

Liu Erlong stepped forward quickly, "Yuhao, don't be impulsive. Let’s discuss this calmly."

"Exactly, Yuhao. Since it’s all a misunderstanding, let’s clear it up. We’re all family; let’s not act like mortal enemies," Flender said with a forced smile.

Zhao Wuji added, "Yuhao, don't worry. I will strictly punish these brats and get justice for you. Please, don't be rash."

Seeing Flender, Liu Erlong, and Zhao Wuji step up, Xu Yan realized they were terrified of him joining the Spirit Hall. He thought to himself, *You fools, you never imagined that I am already part of the Spirit Hall.*

Regardless of whether his threat was genuine, he had single-handedly beaten three of the Shrek Seven Devils. While it was one against three, being beaten to such a state was truly humiliating. Such a thing had never happened to the "Seven Devils" before. Moreover, Xu Yan didn't appear to be the type to abuse power—a sentiment Zhao Wuji sensed after their brief exchange. Sometimes, one's first impression is everything.

"Yuhao, it seems I misjudged you. Rest assured, I will deal with these boys strictly," Yu Xiaogang said helplessly, never expecting the usually steady Tang San to be so impulsive.

"Regardless, I can no longer stay at Shrek. I’d likely be sabotaged behind my back. I have nothing to lose, so I don't care, but if I get angry, the consequences will be beyond my control."

"Then what will it take to satisfy you?" Yu Xiaogang asked, thinking he must not let this boy join the Spirit Hall. They wouldn't force him to stay at Shrek like the Spirit Hall would, but the Spirit Hall possessed over half the continent's powerful spirit masters and unfathomable resources. Neither Yu Xiaogang nor Flender could afford to let Xu Yan slip through their fingers.

"How? First, you must apologize to Jiang Zhu. Second, the four men of your Shrek Academy must bow one hundred and eighty degrees to me and offer a formal apology."