Douluo Dalu 2: You are an Evil Soul Master, but also a good person ?

"You're courting death!"

[T/N: He said the line]

Yan Shaozhe was furious.

Shrek Academy had always prided itself as the guardian of peace across the continent. Every year, it dispatched inner-court disciples to eradicate evil soul masters, earning widespread acclaim.

And now, a mere young girl dared to call them evil soul masters!

How dare she!

An even more terrifying pressure descended.

Tang Ya felt as if she had been struck by a heavy hammer. Her body sank violently, yet even as blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, she trembled as she struggled to lift her head.

"The Tang Sect and Shrek Academy once originated from the same place. The Tang Sect's decline in recent years is due to our own incompetence—there's no one to blame. But when we were on the brink of destruction, and even after we fell, you stood by indifferently. I was foolish to come here seeking your help… but!"

Tang Ya's expression turned resolute.

"Looking down on the Tang Sect and looking down on me—I could endure that! But when you saw my talent, you tried to use it as leverage to force me into joining Shrek Academy… what is the meaning of that?!"

"Is this the righteous Shrek Academy you boast about?!"

"You want to die? I'll grant your wish!"

Yan Shaozhe's face was cold.

In the next moment—

His palm slowly pressed downward.

A massive hand, formed from condensed soul power, also began to descend.

"Heh…"

Tang Ya could no longer lift her head.

Yet, she could clearly see a spectral hand forming around her, slowly expanding.

The oppressive force of the soul power made her feel death creeping in.

Her eyes gradually closed.

A trail of blood-tears slid down her face.

She thought of her father's words, of how he had once described Shrek Academy—the sacred land all soul masters across the continent aspired to, grand and magnificent, where countless predecessors had left behind their glorious legacies…

She seemed to see the look in her father's eyes, filled with longing and hope.

"Father… your daughter has failed you…"

Tang Ya whispered in her heart, awaiting the arrival of death.

Bei bei's expression was conflicted.

Although he had only met this girl once, it felt like love at first sight—he had fallen for her in an instant. This feeling even surpassed what he had once felt for his senior sister…

With that thought, his body flickered, and he appeared in front of Tang Ya.

"Dean Yan, Tang Ya, she—"

"Shut up!"

Yan Shaozhe shot Bei bei a cold glare.

He had long noticed something was off about this kid, but falling for someone at first sight?

And this was supposed to be Elder Mu's great-grandson?

Poor Lexuan…

"Are you insane?!" Bei bei's companions quickly dragged him back.

Challenging Dean Yan under such circumstances…

"Sigh."

Bei Bei turned his head away, his eyes full of bitterness.

Just as the enormous palm was about to crush Tang Ya into a pool of blood, a rough voice rang out, laughing heartily.

"Yan Shaozhe, after all these years, you've really fallen—raising your hand against a little girl?"

At the same time—

The massive soul power hand shattered into countless glowing fragments.

"It's you?!!"

Yan Shaozhe's expression changed drastically.

The others only saw dark crows sweep across the ground.

Tang Ya's figure was enveloped by the flock of crows and slowly disappeared into the sky.

A figure, clad in a black robe, emerged, standing high in the air opposite Yan Shaozhe.

"Scorpion Tiger Douluo—Zhang Peng!"

Yan Shaozhe's expression turned grave.

"And the Black Crow… Two enforcers appearing at the same time? Your Holy Spirit Cult is making quite the move."

His eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of mockery in his voice.

"But for a bunch of rats who can only skulk in the shadows, do you really dare to cause trouble at Shrek Academy? Isn't that a little too arrogant?"

"Listen to yourself—how is this causing trouble? I've always respected Elder Mu."

A hoarse voice came from within the black robe, tinged with amusement.

"But if you want to kill our Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess, I naturally cannot stand idly by."

"So it's true… Tang Ya is the Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess!"

Yan Shaozhe gritted his teeth.

He should have just killed her immediately!

Tang Ya's talent was, at the very least, equal to Xiao Tao's.

And in the unrestricted environment of the Holy Spirit Cult, her power would only grow more terrifying.

Now that she had escaped, under the cult's tight protection, there might not be another opportunity…

"Heh, Yan Shaozhe, don't bother stalling for time. This is merely a soul beast projection of mine—my true body is already thousands of miles away."

Zhang Peng's voice carried a hint of ridicule.

"Also, I must say, what our Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess just said—it suits you perfectly, hypocrite!"

"The entire Shrek Academy—if there's anyone worth respecting, it's Elder Mu. But unfortunately, he's already gone. As for the rest of you? Every single one of you is a hypocrite, young and old alike!"

"Hahahahaha…"

As his words fell, the black-robed figure flickered and gradually dissipated into the air.

Only an eerie silence remained.

"Bei Bei!"

Yan Shaozhe clenched his jaw and shot Bei Bei a cold glare.

But to his surprise, Bei Bei actually looked… relieved. As if he was happy Tang Ya had been rescued.

Yan Shaozhe's eye twitched violently.

Lovesick fool—utterly useless!

If not for the fact that this boy was Elder Mu's great-grandson, he would have smacked him to death on the spot.

If it weren't for his interference…

"No one is to speak of today's events!"

Yan Shaozhe calmed himself and sternly ordered the others.

Fortunately, today was not a holiday.

Most of the students were in class.

Only a handful of people had witnessed this…

"Understood!"

The gathered disciples responded, still shaken.

No one had expected that behind the Tang Sect lurked the Holy Spirit Cult.

Everyone knew how infamous that organization was.

"Enough, carry on as usual."

Yan Shaozhe waved his hand before vanishing into the sky.

He needed to find Elder Mu immediately and discuss the matter.

The Holy Spirit Cult's Saintess… Her future potential was immeasurable. And now that the cult had dared to appear right at Shrek Academy's doorstep, did that mean… they no longer intended to hide?

…

"Poof!"

A black crow fluttered twice before dissolving into mist.

Xu Cheng stood silently atop a mountain peak.

He extended his right hand, where a crumpled piece of paper had just materialized from the dissipating crow.

Unfolding it, he quickly read the message.

A smirk formed at the corner of his mouth.

He shook his head with amusement.

"It worked."

With a gentle squeeze of his hand, the paper turned into tiny scraps that scattered into the wind.

Originally, his plan was for Tang Ya to infiltrate Shrek Academy, slowly uncovering its darkness through a series of events. But now…

Well, this worked too.

And as for Bei Bei…

Xu Cheng chuckled.

When pure love turns into blind devotion, it becomes worthless.

You can't move a goddess with your affection alone, and I certainly won't give you the chance to try…

"Brother, you seem really happy?"

A lively voice sounded from behind.

Nana had silently approached, her delicate face full of curiosity.

"Cough, cough… The plan went smoothly."

Xu Cheng laughed.

"Oh? Then when are we heading to the front lines?"

Nana didn't care about Tang Ya.

She was more concerned about something else—meeting his family.

Because to Xu Cheng, his mother's servant—whom he had not seen in years and only communicated with through letters—was the only relative he had left in the world…

"After she arrives. But first… she needs an even stronger dose of reality."

Xu Cheng murmured.

(End of Chapter)