Miserable Ma Hongjun

Xiao Wu finally recognized that Flender was the peculiar shopkeeper she had seen in the store in Suotuo City that day.

She was surprised and, upon hearing Flender's question, involuntarily looked at Gu Yuena.

Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing also followed Xiao Wu's movements and looked at Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena remained calm and said, "This guy named Ma Hongjun saw the four of us, thought we were pretty, and insisted on having one of us be his girlfriend. He even said he wouldn't refuse if there were more. Of course, we refused. So Zhu Qing fought with him. After the fight, he leered at us with eyes that seemed like he wanted to devour us. Then the flames on him started to change color. After that, you all know what happened."

Gu Yuena narrated calmly, giving a detailed account.

"Is that true?" Flender looked at Ning Rongrong, Zhu Zhuqing, and Xiao Wu.

"Yes," Ning Rongrong said, and Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu nodded in agreement.

Flender fell into deep thought.

Ao Tian came to Gu Yuena's side and held her hand.

Earlier, he sensed the battle here in his own room. Ma Hongjun dared to provoke Gu Yuena, and his fate was bound to be miserable. That's why he didn't come over to help.

Tang San saw Ao Tian's hand holding Gu Yuena's, and finally gave up all hope. He smiled bitterly, knowing he couldn't bring himself to steal someone else's girlfriend.

Dai Mubai clenched his fists.

Oscar looked worriedly at the pond where white mist was rising. There was a faintly charred figure submerged, and intermittent screams could still be heard.

Zhao Wuji asked, "Flender, what's going on? How did Ma Hongjun's flames turn out like that?"

Flender's eyes narrowed, annoyed. "You ask me, who should I ask? This kid's martial soul was originally a mutated soul from a grass chicken. Who can explain mutated martial souls clearly?"

He was in a very bad mood. His disciple had caused such an incident. First, he harassed a female student, and then he nearly got himself burned to death by his own flames. His reputation had been completely tarnished.

Especially since Gu Yuena spoke out about it in front of so many people. The villagers who had originally admired and respected everyone from Shrek Academy now looked at them a bit differently.

The teacher in his sixties who had greeted them at the village entrance earlier said, "We're all aware of Ma Hongjun's martial soul's shortcomings. It's possible that his Evil Fire acted up and affected the flames of his own martial soul."

Flender shook his head. "It shouldn't be like this. I took him to Suotuo City. We only got back last night, and he should have vented out whatever needed to be vented."

"But look at those girls. Because of the nature of their own martial souls, that kid is a bit lustful to begin with. Do you think he could restrain himself?"

"Stop talking." Flender couldn't bear to stand here any longer and quickly stopped the teacher from continuing.

He sighed and said, "The only person in the world who can resolve this kid's martial soul problem is probably that person."

After speaking, he glanced at Tang San beside him.

Tang San's heart stirred, immediately thinking of his own teacher.

Back in that store in Suotuo City, he had suspected that Flender knew his teacher. Now, with Flender saying these things, it was definitely referring to his teacher.

When it came to researching martial souls, Tang San's teacher was already at the forefront of the Douluo Continent. Others might scorn it, but Tang San had unwavering faith in his teacher.

Especially in the research of mutated martial souls, the master had invested a great deal of time. Perhaps he really could solve Ma Hongjun's problem.

Soon, the water in the pond was about to reveal its bottom, and the black flames burning on Ma Hongjun's body finally extinguished.

The pond was filled with densely packed dead fish, their white bellies upturned. Ma Hongjun was among them, his entire body resembling a piece of black charcoal, still screaming in agony, his voice hoarse.

Flender released his martial soul, growing two wings on his back, and flew to the center of the pond to retrieve Ma Hongjun.

By this time, Ma Hongjun had turned into charcoal, pitch black all over, emanating the smell of burnt flesh. He was placed on the ground by Flender, sparing the girls from feeling too awkward since his clothes had long been burned away.

The healing teacher was already prepared, and the first recovery soul skill fell on Ma Hongjun.

Ma Hongjun's pain eased considerably, but he still groaned in agony.

Although Ning Rongrong despised Ma Hongjun, she couldn't help but avert her gaze. It was just too tragic.

Xiao Wu squeezed Gu Yuena's hand and said, "This is just too tragic."

Gu Yuena glanced at Xiao Wu and transmitted, "Don't worry, he won't die, but he'll have to get a new skin. People always have to pay the price for their foolish actions."

Ma Hongjun's piercing cries finally came to a halt. Flender took off his own coat and covered Ma Hongjun with it.

"How is he?" he asked.

The healing teacher said, "The situation is very grim. He has extensive burns all over his body, and there's not a single intact patch of skin left, especially in... it was almost completely burned into charcoal. Whether it can still be used in the future is uncertain."

Flender's heart sank. He asked, "So there's no hope for recovery?"

"The skin on his body can still be treated to some extent. With continuous treatment over a period of time, it can be restored. However, I'm not very confident about the severely burned area."

Flender looked at the location of Ma Hongjun's vital organ, lost in thought. Could it really be because of the Evil Fire that this problem occurred?

Dai Mubai and Oscar looked at Ma Hongjun with pity. If that area couldn't be healed, Ma Hongjun would only be able to live as a eunuch in the future.

For a twelve-year-old who was often tormented by the Evil Fire, becoming a eunuch would be an incredibly painful fate.

"Village Chief, you should first estimate the extent of the damage. Come find me later," Flender said.

With that, he carried Ma Hongjun and left.

Dai Mubai, Oscar, Zhao Wuji, and others hurriedly followed.

Tang San glanced at Ao Tian and the others, then followed suit.

Ao Tian ruffled Xiao Wu's head and asked, "Didn't you say you were going to have breakfast? How did you end up here?"

"I didn't know where the cafeteria was," Xiao Wu's cheeks turned red. She pointed at the smoke rising from the villagers' area and said, "I thought that was the cafeteria, so I came over."

"I know where the cafeteria is. Let's go together," Ao Tian said.

Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing all had the image of Ma Hongjun's pitiful state in their minds. His entire body was like charcoal, with red blood oozing from the cracks that burst open in his burnt skin...

Ning Rongrong couldn't hold it back and vomited. Zhu Zhuqing and Xiao Wu's faces suddenly turned ugly.

Xiao Wu quickly shook her head and said, "I don't have an appetite now."

Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong also shook their heads.

"Well then, you all go back to your rooms and rest. The Dean might have something to say later," Ao Tian said.

The four girls returned to their own rooms. Zhu Zhuqing began to cultivate, while Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong had nothing to do. So, Xiao Wu taught Ning Rongrong how to play Flying Chess, and also pulled Gu Yuena over to play together.