As Tang San made his heartfelt plea, he knelt before Sheng Jun, his sincerity evident in every word. "Sheng Jun, please accept me as your brother" he began, his voice unwavering despite the emotions swirling within him. "Your cultivation technique is too precious, and I cannot repay you right now as I lack wealth or background. But I promise you that in the future, if you ask anything of me, I will try my best to fulfill it, even if it costs me my life. If anyone dares to harm you, they will have to step over my dead body"
Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun looked stunned by the unexpected display of loyalty and devotion. However, Sheng Jun quickly recovered from his surprise and reached out to help Tang San to his feet. "Formalities are unnecessary between brothers" he said warmly. "This is just a minor issue, so you don't need to worry about it in the future"
Although Tang San wanted to argue that the Heavenly Dao Sutra was far from minor, he couldn't help but be moved by Sheng Jun's kind smile. With a nod, he accepted Sheng Jun's words.
"Hahaha! Since you're my brother's little brother, you're also my little brother now. You can call me Second Brother or Brother Hongjun from now on" Ma Hongjun laughed heartily, his cheerful nature breaking through the tension of the moment as he affectionately patted Tang San on the shoulder.
Tang San nodded gratefully, feeling a sense of warmth and belonging wash over him. But his determination to repay Sheng Jun's kindness remained unwavering. With a determined expression, he reached into his wrist and retrieved a small object.
"Brother Jun, this is the most precious thing I have right now" Tang San explained, holding out the item to Sheng Jun. "It's called the Silent Sleeve Dart, a hidden weapon that can be fired from your sleeve to strike at your enemies. I know it can't compare to the Heavenly Dao Sutra, but please still accept it, or my heart won't be at peace"
Sheng Jun initially wanted to refuse the gift, but Tang San's insistence left him with no choice. Reluctantly, he accepted the Silent Sleeve Dart, expressing his gratitude to Tang San.
Turning his head towards Ma Hongjun, whose eyes were beaming with excitement as he looked at Tang San, Tang San couldn't help but scratch his head in embarrassment. "Brother Hongjun, please understand" he began apologetically. "This is the only one I have right now"
As he saw Ma Hongjun's disappointed expression, Tang San's heart softened. "Brother Hongjun, I promise you that I will get another one for you in the future" Tang San said earnestly. Ma Hongjun's disappointment melted away at Tang San's words, replaced by a warm smile as he patted Tang San on the back.
As the three children chatted happily amongst themselves, Flender couldn't shake the concern weighing on his mind. Finally, unable to contain his worries any longer, he turned to Xiaogang with a furrowed brow.
"Xiaogang, do you plan to go back to your family?" Flender asked tentatively, his tone laced with concern.
Xiaogang's expression tightened at the question, his gaze flickering with a mix of emotions. "I'm not going back" he replied, his voice firm with resolve.
Flender sighed inwardly, realizing the depth of Xiaogang's determination to distance himself from his past. "You can't avoid them forever, Xiaogang" he said gently, his tone tinged with sadness. "They are your family, after all. And besides, how long do you want to keep her waiting-" Flender's words were abruptly cut short as Xiaogang interjected.
"Let's not talk about it" Xiaogang said firmly, his eyes flashing with a hint of pain. Flender fell silent, respecting his friend's wishes but feeling a pang of sadness and jealousy wash over him.
Sensing the tension in the air, Flender shifted the conversation to a lighter topic. "Do you want to go back to Shrek Academy with me?" he asked, hoping to lighten the mood. "With your help, I'm sure we will be able to train these little monsters more efficiently"
Xiaogang shook his head slowly. "I still have something I must do" he replied "I will go there when the time is right"
Flender nodded understandingly, sensing that there were things Xiaogang needed to resolve before he could fully commit to returning to Shrek Academy.
...
As Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun gazed upon the impressive facade of the elementary spirit master school, their astonishment grew tenfold. They had expected it to be formidable, but they hadn't anticipated such a sight even at its lowest level. The realization that this was merely the elementary school left them both speechless.
Turning to Flender with a questioning glance, Sheng Jun couldn't help but wonder about the disparity between the two academies. While he and Ma Hongjun cherished the current Shrek Academy, as it reminded them of their hometown, Sheng Jun couldn't shake the nagging comparison between the two institutions. He was worried about his younger brothers, fearing that they might not receive the same level of education and support.
Sensing Sheng Jun's silent inquiry, Flender smiled embarrassingly, understanding the unspoken concern in his student's eyes. With a heavy sigh, he explained the financial struggles faced by their academy, admitting with embarrassment that they were not supported by the Empire.
As Sheng Jun nodded thoughtfully, a determined glint shone in his eyes. He realized the importance of financial support for the academy and felt a sense of responsibility as Flender's successor. With determination burning in his heart, he resolved to find ways to make more money in the future and support the academy's growth and development.
Drawing upon the wealth of knowledge stored in his subconscious, Sheng Jun saw endless opportunities to capitalize on his unique knowledge and experiences. He understood that he was not just a normal student; he was the future leader of the academy, entrusted with the task of ensuring its prosperity and success.
With this newfound sense of purpose, Sheng Jun began to formulate plans to leverage his skills to generate income for the academy. Whether through entrepreneurial ventures, strategic investments, or innovative fundraising initiatives, he was determined to do whatever it took to secure the academy's future.
...
After a talk with the dean of Nuoding Academy, they are now officially the guest students of Nuoding Academy. Upon learning that Xiaogang was here, Flender requested that they study at Nuoding Academy for a year before returning to Shrek Academy.
As Sheng Jun and the others explored Nuoding Academy, Xiaogang insisted on showing them around, despite Sheng Jun's initial reluctance. However, Xiaogang's persistence won out, and they found themselves following him through the halls of the academy.
As they walked, their attention was suddenly drawn to a commotion up ahead. Tang San was being dragged along by a young girl with a rosy face and long brown hair styled into a distinctive scorpion braid that hung past her buttocks. Her energy was infectious as she chattered excitedly, pulling Tang San along with undeniable enthusiasm.
Xiaogang's demeanor shifted subtly at the sight of the young girl. His expression froze momentarily at the panel before his eyes, a faint tremor running through him before he quickly regained his composure.
As Ma Hongjun ran towards Tang San and the girl, followed closely by Sheng Jun and the others, they quickly caught up to the scene unfolding before them. It appeared that a confrontation was brewing between the boss of the working students, who is none other than the spirited girl in front of them, and the boss of the entire school, who also happened to be the leader of the noble faction. They were preparing to settle their dispute in a fight behind the school to determine who would hold the title of school boss.
Tang San swiftly introduced Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun to the girl beside him. She turned to greet them with a friendly smile, introducing herself "Hello, Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun" she said cheerfully, her demeanor both welcoming and confident. "You're new students, right? My name is Xiao Wu, Dancing Wu. You can also call me Big Sister Wu"
Sheng Jun and Ma Hongjun exchanged glances, surprised by Xiao Wu's casual and friendly demeanor. However, they quickly shook their heads in denial. "Actually, we're just guest students here" Sheng Jun explained politely.
...
As Xiao Wu and the boy know as Boss Xiao faced each other on the grassy field, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. Boss Xiao proposed a plan for a series of one-on-one duels, with each side sending ten representatives to compete. Before Tang San and Wang Shen could voice their objections, as it wasn't fair for working students since they are generally weaker but Xiao Wu decisively agreed to the proposal, her voice cutting through the tension.
The boy from the noble faction snorted, his arrogance evident. 'This girl is so stupid, she might be powerful, but once we wear her out, she's no threat' he thought to himself, a smirk playing on his lips. 'I don't mind keeping a pet rabbit hahaha'
With a flick of his hand, the boy signaled for one of his lackeys to step forward, eager to assert his dominance and settle the score. However, Xiao Wu was ready to take on the challenge herself. Before she could make her move, Wang Shen insisted on going first, claiming that he had an unresolved grudge with the opponent.