Douluo Dalu 1: The Tang Family Rebel

After taking a shower, tidying up his hygiene, and decisively burning last night's clothes to ashes before flushing them away to destroy all evidence, Yun Chuan finally exhaled in relief. He then retrieved fresh clothes, dressed up, and adjusted his appearance. Refreshed, he was ready for the day.

Today was the official enrollment day for Shrek Academy.

Yun Chuan had already arranged with Flender to serve as the examiner for the final test, evaluating the incoming students. Thus, he needed to set off for Shrek Academy promptly.

Leaving the Rose Hotel, he turned to glance at the place that had "claimed" his first dream-related embarrassment. Recalling the dream he had the previous night, his emotions were complicated. Shaking his head, he began his journey south toward his destination, Shrek Academy, located outside the city.

Leaving through the southern gate of Soto City, he walked along a road flanked by vast farmland. As the "grain capital" of Barak Kingdom, Soto's reputation was well-earned.

Apart from the farmlands, however, no academy-like structures were visible anywhere nearby. If he hadn't been here before with Flender and read the original story, he would never have guessed where Shrek Academy was located.

Soon, two familiar figures appeared ahead of him.

Tang San was carrying Xiao Wu on his back, walking slowly. The two of them looked every bit like a loving couple, and even from a distance, Yun Chuan could almost taste the "dog food" being thrown at him as a single man.

"Hmph… Daring to show off your affection and scatter dog food in front of me, a bachelor! Tang San, you've got guts! Just wait—I'll make sure to give you special attention later!" Yun Chuan's eyebrow twitched, but he kept his expression neutral as he quickened his pace and called out, "Hey, you two up ahead, are you heading to Shrek Academy to enroll?"

[T/N: Bro is acting like an average Transmigrator from "This Tang San is different" Fic]

Hearing the voice, Tang San stopped and turned. Seeing a white-clad youth with black hair approaching briskly, he froze. Recalling how brutally Dai Mubai had been beaten yesterday, he instinctively wanted to avoid any involvement with this person.

Yet Yun Chuan, exuding a friendly demeanor, walked up to them, keeping pace and chatting naturally. "What a coincidence—I'm also heading to Shrek Academy. Let's travel together."

Although Tang San inwardly wanted to refuse, the pressure Yun Chuan exerted made him stay silent. He simply continued walking with Xiao Wu on his back. Even Xiao Wu, usually lively and outgoing, was unusually quiet, allowing herself to be carried.

Seeing their unwillingness to engage, Yun Chuan didn't mind and continued walking alongside them with a smile, thinking to himself, I'll deal with you both later.

After a while...

"Ge, look, there's a small village ahead!" Xiao Wu pointed into the distance.

Following her finger, Tang San saw a small village about a mile away. Thanks to his Purple Demon Eyes, he could clearly discern the village's layout—no more than a hundred households. It was even smaller than Holy Spirit Village, surrounded by a wooden fence, seemingly for protection against wild beasts.

At the village entrance, a crowd had gathered. Something seemed to be happening.

Tang San smiled, "Let's go ask. Maybe the villagers know where Shrek Academy is. A soul master academy should be quite famous."

"No need to ask. That's Shrek Academy up ahead," Yun Chuan said casually upon hearing their conversation.

"What? You're saying that small village is Shrek Academy?" Xiao Wu asked skeptically. "Are you joking?" Even Tang San frowned slightly, showing his doubts.

Yun Chuan shrugged indifferently. "Don't believe me? Go see for yourselves. You'll find out soon enough."

"Fine, let's go!" Xiao Wu snorted softly, patting Tang San's shoulder. "Ge, speed up!"

Am I her mount now?

Tang San chuckled wryly but quickened his pace.

Soon, the three arrived near the village. Tang San and Xiao Wu immediately sensed something unusual. The entrance was crowded with people, most of whom were teenagers around their age, accompanied by their parents.

At the village gate was a desk with an elderly man sitting behind it. What shocked Tang San and Xiao Wu most was the shabby sign hanging above the wooden archway. On the weathered plaque were five simple characters: Shrek Academy.

In front of the characters was a green humanoid figure, seemingly a mascot. Its cartoonish appearance added a quirky charm. The old man behind the desk also wore a badge featuring the same green mascot, likely the academy emblem.

Yun Chuan recognized the elder as one of Shrek's teachers, a Soul Emperor-level expert.

Though Shrek Academy had its flaws, its faculty was undeniably strong. Unfortunately, excellent instructors alone couldn't guarantee success. Training required ample resources, and without them, no amount of good teaching would yield results. Without Tang San's luck and destiny in the original story, Shrek Academy would have closed long ago.

"No way," Xiao Wu muttered, staring at the sign in disbelief. Looking back at Tang San, they both felt stunned. Even Nuoding Junior Academy was far superior in size and facilities. This "academy" looked more like an ordinary village, with its wooden archway smaller than a third of Nuoding Academy's gates. Could this really be a soul master academy?

"Ge, could the master have been mistaken? This doesn't look like an academy at all. Could it be a scam?" Xiao Wu couldn't help but complain. Glancing at Yun Chuan's smug expression, she begrudgingly acknowledged he had been right.

Tang San smiled wryly. "Since we're here, let's check it out."

Ahead of them were about a hundred applicants. Many wore frowns, their disappointment evident.

One boy's mother said, "Are you kidding me? This is the so-called soul master academy that guarantees its graduates become viscounts of the empire?"

His father hesitated. "The Spirit Hall recommended it. Surely it can't be wrong... But this place does seem a bit shabby."

The boy interjected, "Dad, I don't want to study here. It's too embarrassing. Let's go to Soto Intermediate Academy instead. At least I'm considered a genius there."

His father frowned. "Since we're here, let's wait and see. Maybe this is a test, and the real academy isn't here."

Similar conversations echoed through the crowd, most filled with disappointment and doubt.

Meanwhile, at the registration desk, the old man seemed disinterested. His attire was plain, resembling that of an ordinary villager—less spirited even than Old Jack from Holy Spirit Village.

A boy stepped forward to register. The elder said lazily, "Registration fee: ten gold coins. Put it in the box."

The boy's father hurriedly paid, placing the coins in a simple wooden box.

"Show me your hand."

The boy extended his hand, and the elder felt it briefly before shaking his head. "Your age doesn't qualify. You're disqualified."

The boy looked at his father helplessly. His father smiled apologetically. "Teacher, my son just turned thirteen. Couldn't you make an exception?"

The elder replied impatiently, "Don't hold up the line. Our academy only accepts children under thirteen. Over thirteen, we don't take. You can leave now."

The father asked angrily, "What about our registration fee?"

"Non-refundable," the elder replied indifferently.

Enraged, the father shouted, "This is a scam! Refund our fee, or we won't leave. If I had known this so-called Shrek Academy was so run-down, I wouldn't have come!"

The elder glanced at him coolly. "Mubai, someone wants their fee back. Handle it."

A figure suddenly sprang up nearby. "Want your money back? Sure—beat me, and I'll return every coin."

It was Dai Mubai. Unlike his haggard appearance from before, he looked much better now, his aura fierce as he activated his spirit power. Three rings—two yellow and one purple—emerged as his evil eyes glinted coldly.

Yun Chuan shook his head, watching. Seriously? Scaring ordinary people? Is bullying the weak that satisfying?