Chapter 48: Li Xiexian's indifference was more devastating than any sarcasm.

Even though they had never laid eyes on Sword Wine before, the moment they caught sight of the young man in white, Flender, Yu Xiaogang, and Liu Erlong all shared the exact same realization—this youth was Sword Wine.

As academy founders themselves, they had witnessed countless supremely talented and wildly idiosyncratic youths.

Although they currently stood as adversaries, they had to concede...

The carefree grace and effortless poise with which the white-clothed youth carried himself, as if guiding a gentle breeze with every gesture, was truly something they had never witnessed in all their lives.

Meanwhile, the wretched sight of the Golden Iron Triangle carrying a blood-stained bed was far too glaring on the street to be easily ignored.

Yu Feng lowered his voice and whispered to Li Zhexian,
"Idol, look over there..."
"That short-haired, rigid-faced guy is the teacher of the Shrek Seven Devils."
"Last time in Soto City, the Royal Team had a run-in with him."

Dugu Yan's pupils narrowed into elongated, date-pit shapes.
"What are they hauling that mangy fire-turkey around for?"

Xue Qinghe said indifferently,
"Probably seeking medical treatment."

Dugu Yan sneered,
"He injured Zhexian, and they still expect to find a healer in Heaven Dou City?"
"My grandfather cares about his status and disdains bullying the younger generation, but thinking they can make the Dugu family lift a finger is pure delusion."

Ye Lengleng's voice was brief and cold,
"My Ye family as well."

Xue Qinghe looked at Li Zhexian.
"Well?"
"Shall we go beat them while they're down?"

Li Zhexian smiled and shook his head.
"That would be far too dull."
"The night breeze is bustling tonight, and the people are bustling too."
"It's rare for everyone to be gathered like this; why let irrelevant fools ruin the mood?"
"Come on, let's go enjoy a night stroll through Heaven Dou."

He didn't even spare another glance in the direction of the Golden Iron Triangle.

Turning around of his own accord, he stepped gracefully into the distant night scenery.

Xue Qinghe smiled gently.

With a swift *snap*, she unfurled the folding fan in her hand and quickened her pace to follow.

This was precisely the Li Zhexian she knew.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng exchanged glances, faint smiles blooming across their two entirely contrasting yet stunning faces.

Walking by his side...

It was always so carefree and pleasant.

"Idol is really something... such a great opportunity... and he won't even go mock them a little... as if they'd dare to throw a punch..."
Yu Feng muttered under his breath.

OSluo raised a hand and slapped him lightly on the back of the head.
"You think Sword Wine is like you? This is what we call realm!"

Shishi brothers chimed in with honest, goofy smiles.
"That's right, that's right, this is Sword Wine's realm."
"Alright, alright, I suppose I'm the only vulgar one here, right? Hurry up and keep up, Idol and the others are already far ahead!"

Watching helplessly as those youths gradually drifted away...

The leading youth in white had initially only thrown a casual glance their way, before refusing to spare even half a look afterward.

In truth, the Golden Iron Triangle had already tensed their nerves, steeling themselves to endure face-to-face ridicule.

Yet only now did they realize that this thorough, utter disregard possessed far more destructive power than any sharp sarcasm.

"There's no need to go to the imperial palace anymore."
Liu Erlong's voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
"That youth dressed in pale yellow brocade is none other than the current Crown Prince, Xue Qinghe. We won't even make it past the palace gates."

Flender slumped dejectedly, his spine curving as he turned his head to gaze at Ma Hongjun, whose soul power aura was growing increasingly faint upon the bed. He rasped hoarsely,
"Is there truly no other way?"

Yu Xiaogang suddenly spoke,
"We go find that Sword Wine."
"As long as he is willing to speak a word, the imperial family, the Dugu family, and the Ye family will all step forward to save Ma Hongjun."

Flender's body trembled.
"Today, even if I have to toss away this old face of mine, I will secure a sliver of survival for Ma Hongjun."

The moat water rippled with a deep, secluded blue glow.

Some sightseers bent down to scoop up the moonlight reflected in the water, their fingertips just grazing the surface before scattering the golden-red ripples stirred up by the koi fish.

Li Zhexian and his companions each carried a newly purchased silk-gauze lantern as they leisurely stepped onto the Golden Water Bridge.

The night breeze brought the sounds of flutes and strings, mixed with the sweet fragrance of unknown flowering trees.

Someone muttered an amusing remark, setting off hearty laughter among the group. Even Ye Lengleng, who was normally delicate and aloof, wore a faint, gentle smile at the corners of her lips.

However, uninvited guests always manage to intrude.

The Golden Iron Triangle, carrying the blood-stained bed, blocked their path ahead.

Yu Feng and OSLuo's expressions darkened as they stepped forward, eyebrows raised in a stern rebuke,
"It's already merciful of us not to seek trouble with you, and yet you still want more?"

In their words, there was not a shred of respect due to seniors in the soul master world.

After all, this gathering consisted of the younger generation of the Ye family, the Dugu family, and even the imperial family.

If the Golden Iron Triangle dared to make a move here, the Shrek Academy would never find another foothold anywhere.

The Golden Iron Triangle ignored their sharp retorts, instead looking past them straight toward Li Zhexian.

"Sword Wine..."
Flender clenched his fists, his voice raspy,
"There was originally no deep grudge or enmity between you and Ma Hongjun."
"He merely offended you with his words; to land him in this state is already an excessive punishment!"
"Qin Ming and Zhao Wuji certainly acted wrongly, but now their fates are unknown, while you... remain completely unharmed..."

"Huh?"

Li Zhexian chuckled upon hearing this.
"According to Dean Flender's logic..."
"I deserved to be incinerated by Ma Hongjun's evil desires, or die at the hands of Zhao Wuji, and that would have been entirely right?"

What kind of absurd logic was this?

Only when victims were genuinely destroyed did they deserve the title of "victim"?

No wonder Shrek could teach those warped-value "monsters."

The roots were already crooked.

Xue Qinghe's warm smile gradually faded, and the folding fan stopped in her hand.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng's gazes turned frosty.

Yu Feng and OSLuo openly sneered,
"Ha, is that really something an academy dean could spout?"
"Are all the students of Shrek Academy beasts like Ma Hongjun?"

As a seventy-eighth-rank soul sage powerhouse, Flender could no longer remember how many years it had been since he suffered such humiliation.

Especially coming from juniors.

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his surging anger.
"I am not here to argue right from wrong."
"Sword Wine, I will ask you this one thing..."
"What must we do for you to let the Ye family, the Dugu family, and the imperial family step in and save my student Ma Hongjun's life?"

Hearing this, Li Zhexian raised an eyebrow.
"Do I really carry that much weight?"
"Am I able to order these three families around?"

He looked toward Xue Qinghe.

The crown prince smiled playfully, gently shaking the folding fan in his hand.

He then looked at Dugu Yan and Ye Lengleng.

The two maidens pressed the corners of their lips together, their smiles even more radiant than the night flowers blooming by the bridge.

"Dean Flender, please turn back."

Li Zhexian turned around leisurely, casting his gaze toward the shimmering river below the bridge. Inside the cabin of a painted pleasure boat in the distance, hazy figures moved, casting enchanting reflections.

"Ma Hongjun brought this fate upon himself; he reaped what he sowed."
"I might as well make it clear: scum like him, I cripple on sight every single time."
"If you dare to disturb my peace again..."
"Who knows, I might actually do as you say and 'command the three families,' asking Senior Poison Douluo to put an end to you all."
"Do you believe me or not?"

Staring at Li Zhexian's retreating back, Flender's knuckles turned white.

Liu Erlong pressed her lips together and sighed,
"Let's go."

Meanwhile, Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, locking his gaze directly onto Li Zhexian's back...