Chapter 179: I Won't Be a Traitor!
The day's matches concluded, and all the teams returned to their respective hotels or academies.
Outside the arena gates, members of the Three Elements teams and their principals had been waiting for some time.
Feng Changlin stepped forward with a smile and said, "Our four academies are the closest brother academies. Principal Ke, why don't we gather and discuss our strategies for the upcoming duels?"
The preliminaries were a round-robin tournament, meaning the four teams would face each other at some point.
The so-called discussion was aimed at avoiding extreme infighting.
In the event of an internal match, one side could choose to avoid conflict or mutually agree on tactical boundaries to prevent exposing their trump cards.
In the original timeline, the Three Elements academies might not have considered this.
But now, with all of them aligned under the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, their unity had grown stronger.
"Alright. Then let the Seven Treasures team host tonight. Let's discuss things properly among our groups."
Ke Jie waved his hand generously and led everyone to the Seven Treasures Mall, where they booked out an entire restaurant.
During dinner, Feng Changlin provided a detailed summary based on the opponents they had observed that day.
"There are only five spots available for advancing in the preliminaries. Aside from our four teams, Thunder Academy, Shrek Academy, and Elephant Armor Academy are all strong contenders."
Although the Shrek team was arrogant, no one denied their strength.
Among the four teams, the Godwind Academy team was the weakest.
Their advancement pressure was immense. If they couldn't defeat at least two of the three remaining teams, their chances of advancing would be slim.
Of course, even if the Godwind team failed to advance, Feng Xiaotian, representing the Feng family, would still be around, so they wouldn't be completely eliminated.
"Old Feng, it depends on how the matchups play out later. If luck is on our side, I have a way to ensure the Divine Wind team advances," Ke Jie chuckled.
Feng Changlin didn't take it seriously, thinking it was just meant to console him, so he responded casually.
During the banquet, Feng Xiaotian sat next to Huo Wu.
After the inter-academy exchange tournament, the two had officially confirmed their relationship.
Seeing Huo Wu ignoring him, Huo Wushuang remarked bitterly, "Sigh, once you have a husband, you forget your own brother."
---
The matches for the four teams the next day were all scheduled for the afternoon, so dinner went on late into the night.
Aside from the captains, vice-captains, and teachers who stayed behind to discuss match arrangements, the rest of the team members gradually returned to the hotel.
Oscar was the first to leave. On his way back to the hotel, he ran into Dai Mubai.
Having already decided to leave Shrek Academy, he felt there was no longer any connection between them.
Without greeting him, he walked past.
"Xiao Ao, wait," Dai Mubai called out to him.
"Dai Mubai, what do you want?"
Oscar hadn't been walking alongside the battle soul masters of his former team.
Under the pressure of Dai Mubai's imposing presence, he didn't dare offend him.
Dai Mubai laughed loudly and placed his right hand on Oscar's shoulder. "Calling me by my name feels distant, doesn't it? Just call me Big Brother Dai—we were classmates after all."
Oscar forced a laugh and shook his head. "I'm no longer a member of Shrek Academy, so we can't really consider ourselves—"
Dai Mubai extended a finger and waved it side to side. "No, no, no, we can still be classmates. Yesterday, you saw the strength of the Shrek Seven Devils. Why don't you come back?"
"You left Shrek Academy because Ning Tianchen influenced you—everyone knows that, and no one blames you. If you return, we'll still be classmates, still brothers who've shared life-and-death moments."
Oscar understood clearly.
They wanted him to betray the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect and the Seven Treasures Academy.
Whether or not he could rejoin the Shrek Seven Devils was another matter entirely.
He had been nurtured wholeheartedly by the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, which had invested countless resources in him. If he betrayed them, he would inevitably face endless pursuit and assassination.
Moreover, Oscar wasn't an ungrateful person.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had treated him well, and he was determined to repay their kindness.
"Big Brother Dai, this will be the last time I call you that. Whether the Shrek Academy team is strong or not has nothing to do with me. A good horse doesn't eat grass it's already passed over. From the moment I decided to leave, I never considered going back."
"The Seven Treasures Academy has treated me well, and Tianchen and the others have been kind to me too. I can't possibly betray them at this critical juncture. You should go. Let's pretend we never met today."
Upon hearing this, Dai Mubai's expression darkened, veins bulging on his forehead as he roared, "Oscar, don't force me to get angry! I'm trying to reason with you nicely—is this how you respond?"
"If it weren't for Shrek Academy's teachers, would you even be where you are today?"
Oscar's expression remained unchanged, showing no sign of backing down. "While I was at Shrek Academy, I paid tuition every semester. And after joining, I only hunted for my third soul ring under the guidance of the teachers."
"Hunting for the third soul ring was largely thanks to Tianchen's efforts. It was also because of his attentiveness that we avoided being hassled by Elder Serpent Grandmother."
"I don't know why you view Tianchen this way, but I can tell you clearly: only when I'm with him do I feel like I'm truly living as a human being."
"While at Shrek Academy, just because I was an auxiliary-type soul master, you and Ma Hongjun bossed me around. Whenever I didn't meet your expectations, you'd beat me up, calling it 'teaching me a lesson.' Hmph, to put it bluntly, whoever had the strongest fists thought they were right!"
"That's enough about the past—I don't want to talk about it anymore. We have no connection now. See you on the battlefield!"
Dai Mubai's anger burned within him.
Zhu Zhuqing rejecting him was one thing—but now, even his former punching bag dared to defy him. Did the Evil-Eyed White Tiger have no sense of pride?
Chen Huayu, who had been following behind Oscar, noticed the situation ahead and immediately rushed forward to warn, "Dai Pervert Tiger, you'd better scram!"
By his side were Huang Wu and Bao Zhen.
If it came to blows, Dai Mubai wouldn't stand a chance.
Even if it escalated to the tournament organizing committee, he wouldn't have the upper hand.
With a cold snort, Dai Mubai stormed off, no longer persisting.
Chen Huayu hurried forward and checked on Oscar. "Xiao Ao, are you hurt? We're brothers—if Dai Mubai bullied you just now, I'll avenge you. Even if I can't handle him, there's always Boss!"
Tears welled up in Oscar's eyes.
This fatty Chen Huayu was worlds apart from Ma Hongjun.
Ever since the team was formed, Chen Huayu had always gotten along well with him and had never bullied him like Ma Hongjun did.
"I'm fine. Let's head back to the hotel first," Oscar waved dismissively.
Chen Huayu slung his arm around Oscar's shoulders, his face filled with indignation. "Damn Dai Mubai, how dare he bully us! When we face the Shrek Academy team in the next matches, just watch—I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget."
---
Having failed to bring Oscar back, Dai Mubai was furious but not discouraged.
Oscar was only a secondary target—Zhu Zhuqing was the top priority.
------------------------------------------------------
Thank you to our new Patrons: AbsoluteZero, Oprea Andrei George, Sakuya, HADES, Diogo Frazão, Unknown, Jared Toussaint and zFuriaMz! Your support means the world to me <3 We are up to 'Chapter 265: Leaving the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, the Team is Named "Shadow Guards"' on Patreon!
There's something for free patrons too! Free Patrons receive 1 chapter in advance :)
Support my writing journey: patreon.com/EphemeralShadow
40+ Chapters Ahead Guaranteed.