Chapter 58

"Yes, this is the place," Qin Feng said to himself as he wandered around the back hills of the academy. After taking one last look, he turned and headed back.

By this time, the battle outside was nearing its conclusion. Xiao Wu had already been knocked out, and Tang San was now using various hidden weapons against Zhao Wuji. Qin Feng, seeing the scene, simply watched quietly from the side. He was saving his energy for what he had planned for Zhao Wuji later tonight.

"This kid's like a walking hedgehog!" Zhao Wuji shouted in frustration, using his techniques to deflect Tang San's attacks.

In Tang San's hand, a golden needle gleamed. Seizing an opportunity, he launched the needle toward Zhao Wuji, who barely had time to react.

"Impressive!" Dai Mubai muttered, his eyes wide in disbelief. If Tang San had used this against him the other day, he wasn't sure he'd even be able to stand right now. Zhao Wuji, the mighty "Immovable King," was struggling under Tang San's relentless attacks.

"You little hedgehog! I'll make sure you learn your lesson today!" Zhao Wuji roared, fury overtaking him. His body tensed as he activated his second soul skill, Vigorous Vajra palm. Something in Tang San's barrage of attacks had stung him deeply, and now his entire body ached. He was determined to put this kid in his place.

But just as Zhao Wuji was about to strike, Tang San suddenly produced a small black hammer and brought it crashing down on him.

"That tiny thing? What's it going to do?" Zhao Wuji scoffed, dismissing the hammer as smaller than a tool used for simple repairs. He barely flinched, thinking it wouldn't amount to much.

But the moment it struck him, a tremendous force hit his face. Zhao Wuji winced in pain as his face swelled up like a balloon. He could hardly believe it.

"It's time!" Dai Mubai's voice rang out.

Though still enraged, Zhao Wuji remembered his promise about the time limit, and despite his fury, he halted the fight. It was just a school exam, after all. There would be plenty of chances to settle this score later.

Seeing Zhao Wuji stop, Tang San also ceased his attacks. "Thank you, Teacher Zhao," he said, bowing respectfully.

Throughout the battle, Tang San had realized that Zhao Wuji hadn't been fighting at full strength. Anyone else would have been furious by now and fought back with everything they had, but Zhao Wuji had held back. Tang San knew it was because Xiao Wu had been hurt that he'd become so intense.

If this had been a real fight and not just a test, things might have ended very differently.

"It's no trouble," Zhao Wuji grumbled, clearly still bitter. He had intended to spar with a few kids, but instead, he'd ended up humiliated. How had the students become so powerful?

"Oscar! Get over here, your services are needed!" Dai Mubai called out toward the depths of the academy, relieved that the fight was over.

"Huh? My services?" A familiar voice responded as Oscar, looking scruffy as ever, hurried toward them, pushing a cart at an impressive speed.

"Oscar, give us some sausages," Dai Mubai said.

"Not this again," Qin Feng thought, unable to bear the sight. Despite his efforts to resist Oscar's signature sausages, something about the way Oscar moved drew him in like a magnet. Especially when Oscar produced the sausages with that banana-like grin—it almost made Qin Feng spit blood from laughter.

If a platform like social media existed in this world, Oscar would surely be hailed as a philosophical icon with millions of fans.

"No, I'm not eating that," Tang San said, his breathing heavy as he waved Oscar off. Oscar's antics were simply too much for him, and he couldn't bring himself to eat the sausage.

"Yes, Oscar's movements can be... distracting, but his sausages have excellent healing properties," Dai Mubai explained with a wry smile. Even he had been thrown off by Oscar at first, but over time, he had gotten used to it.

"No need, I'll take care of Teacher Zhao's wounds first," Tang San said. Walking up to Zhao Wuji, he began the delicate process of removing the dragon-beard needles he had embedded in Zhao Wuji's body.

Once the needles were out, Tang San let out a deep breath, feeling light-headed from the exertion.

Qin Feng stepped forward. He had been waiting for this moment.

After all the effort Tang San had put into the battle, he was utterly exhausted.

"That little hedgehog... Oscar, give me some sausages!" Zhao Wuji grunted, still nursing the pain from his injuries. He couldn't believe he'd been pushed this far by a group of kids. It was humiliating.

"Huh? Wait, is that a new student? Why does he look so old?" Oscar quipped as he handed over the sausages, his eyes still fixed on Zhao Wuji's swollen face.

"Do you want to be punished? I am Zhao Wuji!" Zhao Wuji snapped.

"O-oh! Teacher Zhao! I almost didn't recognize you," Oscar stammered, quickly backpedaling as he scratched the back of his head nervously. "Here are the sausages, one copper soul coin."

Oscar handed over the sausages to Zhao Wuji with a dexterous flick of his wrist. Meanwhile, Tang San's eyelids grew heavy, and he collapsed from exhaustion.

"Your name's Qin Feng, right?" Zhao Wuji asked as Qin Feng helped Tang San.

"Uh-huh," Qin Feng nodded.

"Be here tomorrow. Even though you've been exempted from admission, if you want to join Shrek Academy, you still have to pass my test. Don't get cocky just because you got a pass from Flander!" Zhao Wuji growled, still bitter from losing face.

"Oh..." Qin Feng smirked to himself. He didn't plan on waiting for tomorrow—tonight would be more than enough excitement.

"Mubai, find them a dorm room. Don't touch anything on the ground; it's poisoned. The little hedgehog can clean it up when he wakes up," Zhao Wuji instructed before limping back to his office.

"Man, I didn't even recognize Teacher Zhao at first," Oscar muttered after Zhao Wuji left.

"Teacher Zhao's in a mood today. He took on a bunch of freshmen," Oscar said, looking toward Dai Mubai, who remained silent.

"Maybe don't talk so loud next time. I'm sure he's still fuming and looking for someone to take it out on," Dai Mubai warned, shooting Oscar a glance.