They spotted Dugu Yan. Dugu Yan, who had thrown herself into her grandfather's arms, naturally spotted them too. The moment her gaze landed on Tang San, her expression visibly changed. She wrapped her arms around Dugu Bo's neck and whispered something in his ear.
When Qin Ming had returned earlier, he'd given them a detailed account of the Shrek Seven Devils' ages to spur the Royal Battle Team into training harder. Dugu Yan had asked for a thorough description of Tang San's appearance. She'd come here specifically to see which arrogant fellow had defeated her back then — only to run into her grandfather instead. Among the Shrek Seven Devils present, Tang San might look ordinary, but his build and his eyes were unmistakable. She recognized him at a single glance.
By the time Dugu Bo raised his head again, the group from Shrek Academy had already exited the Committee Hall. His gaze lingered on Tang San's retreating back for a moment, his lips moving faintly as though he were saying something to Dugu Yan. A hint of amusement surfaced on Dugu Yan's face, and she nestled cozily into Dugu Bo's embrace.
"Three Committee Members. I'm sorry, but I believe I'll be leaving the academy as well."
The speaker was Qin Ming. By now his face was flushed with grief and indignation. His teachers had been humiliated, and he lacked the strength to erase that shame — what a bitter thing to endure. Regardless, he could not bring himself to stay a moment longer. No matter how generous the treatment here, it could never compare in his heart to where it all began: Shrek Academy.
All three Committee Members were startled, and even Prince Xuexing was taken aback. Qin Ming's standing at the Royal Academy was actually far higher than Flandre and the others knew — one could say he ranked just below the three Committee Members themselves. After all, he was among the youngest people ever documented by Spirit Hall to reach level sixty. He was unquestionably a rare talent. The three Committee Members had long been certain that before he turned sixty, Qin Ming would become yet another Titled Douluo.
The emergence of a Titled Douluo was significant not only for a single academy — it mattered greatly to the entire Tian Dou Empire.
At this moment, Prince Xuexing finally felt a stirring of regret, his brow furrowing. But now was hardly the time to say anything — wouldn't that amount to slapping his own face?
Meng Shenji hurriedly stepped forward to block Qin Ming's path. "Teacher Qin, this won't do. Let us discuss this matter carefully before any decisions are made. As for today's incident, we will certainly petition His Majesty and ask him to deliver justice."
Qin Ming shook his head, a look of steely resolve already in his eyes. He spoke evenly, "This is the Tian Dou Royal Academy. It belongs to the imperial family. Since the imperial family despises us people from Shrek Academy, what face does Qin Ming have to remain? I appreciate the three Committee Members' kind intentions. When I first came here, I arrived alone and empty-handed. Today I leave the same way. Please take care of yourselves, Committee Members. I will always remember the kindness you've shown me over the years, and I will repay it one day. Farewell."
He gave the three Committee Members no chance to press their case further. Surging his Soul Power, his figure flickered, and he was already out of the Committee Hall,追ing after the retreating steps of the Shrek group.
Meng Shenji stamped his foot and roared at Prince Xuexing, "Your Highness, you fool! Do you have any idea what caliber of people just walked out of here? You, you, you—" He had promised the Shrek Academy group not to reveal that Tang San possessed an external Spirit Bone. Now, with anger surging through him, the Soul Power fluctuations around his body grew erratic.
Prince Xuexing replied with cool indifference, "What's done is done. Further words are pointless. If the three of you wish to bring your complaints before His Majesty, I have nothing to say. Farewell." With that, he turned and walked out, taking Xue Beng with him — but he did not beckon to Dugu Bo.
Dugu Bo showed no particular hurry to leave. He glanced at the three Committee Members and said, "A bunch of Soul Masters who haven't even reached level eighty — what's the point of begging them to stay? You three really have gotten old."
Meng Shenji snapped back furiously, "What do you know? True, not one of them has reached level eighty, but do you have any idea how much potential they hold? Perhaps in a few decades, several Titled Douluos will emerge from among those who just left. What Prince Xuexing did today is pushing the empire toward the abyss. Do you really think an incident like this won't breed resentment?"
Dugu Bo gave a cold snort. "What's that got to do with me? Yan Yan, Grandpa's leaving now. You study hard and stay out of trouble."
Prince Xuexing walked out of the Committee Hall with Xue Beng. As they strode forward, his expression darkened noticeably. "Xue Beng, you've caused your uncle quite a bit of trouble this time. Those three old fogeys aren't going to let this go easily."
Xue Beng answered with an ingratiating smile, "Uncle, I really can't thank you enough for today. You saw for yourself how arrogant those Shrek Academy people were. If you'd let them stay in the academy, they'd have caused trouble sooner or later."
Prince Xuexing said flatly, "Forget it. What's done is done. Remember this: if your father the Emperor asks, you tell him they struck first. If not for the need to weaken your eldest brother's strength, do you think I would have offended so many Soul Masters so easily? You need to work hard, Xue Beng. Otherwise, when the time comes to contest the throne, even if your uncle wants to help you, I'm afraid I won't be able to. Those three Committee Members carry great weight in your father's estimation. What a pity — they belong to your eldest brother's camp."
What had seemed like a farce was in fact layered with deep implications. How could Prince Xuexing possibly be a man driven by mere impulse?