Flender was shocked when he saw the Spirit Rings beneath Sword Douluo's feet. He hadn't expected to have kicked an iron plate.
However, considering that his words hadn't been too provocative, his anxious heart gradually calmed down.
"Flender pays his respects to Your Excellency. May I inquire about your Title Douluo?" Flender retracted his Spirit Rings, his expression instantly turning respectful as he placed his hand over his chest and bowed.
"Sword," Sword Douluo replied with a faint smile. "Now that you know, come with me, or would you prefer to talk here?"
"Cough, Your Excellency Sword Douluo, is there still room for negotiation?" Flender's eyes widened, and his expression began to show panic.
He suddenly recalled the scene of Tang Hao beating up Zhao Wuji.
"It seems you prefer to talk here," Sword Douluo said with a playful expression, summoning the Seven Kill Sword with a wave of his hand. The sword transformed into a cold gleam, instantly appearing by his side, floating silently.
He had been holding back his anger, and now he felt that if he didn't vent it, his mind wouldn't be at ease.
"Your Excellency, these children are severely injured," Flender hesitated, glancing around, deciding to appeal for sympathy.
By now, some bold individuals had already made their way through the vines at both ends of the street, peering in this direction.
"Don't worry, Xiao Xun is quite measured in his actions. As long as that little fatty doesn't pull out the wooden spear, he won't die," Sword Douluo said as he slowly walked towards Flender. "Since you've finished speaking, it seems you prefer to talk here."
"No, Your Excellency, I can accompany you," Flender quickly waved his hands, realizing that he hadn't managed to evoke Sword Douluo's sympathy.
As more people took the lead, the number of onlookers daring to get closer increased. If he were to be publicly beaten by Sword Douluo here, how could he ever continue to operate in Suotuo City?
"Too late," Sword Douluo chuckled, taking a step forward and instantly appearing in front of Flender.
"Your Excellency, please don't hit the face!" Flender didn't dare to use his Soul Power to resist. Instead, he tensed his body and covered his head with his hands.
Facing a Titled Douluo, with his own cultivation as a Soul Saint, resistance would only result in a more severe beating. If he didn't fight back, perhaps the other party would still consider some face and leave some room.
Flender wished he could slap himself twice right now.
What was he thinking? How could he even consider bargaining with one of the top-ranked powerhouses among the Titled Douluo?
Just as Flender's thoughts were in chaos, Sword Douluo made his move.
Considering his demeanor, he didn't use his fists or feet but instead used the flat of his sword to deliver the blows.
Slap, slap, slap—
The continuous sounds resembled rhythmic, cheerful applause.
Sword Douluo walked around Flender as if strolling through a garden, occasionally lightly tapping down with his Seven Kill Sword.
From a distance, it looked quite elegant. Only Flender, crouching on the ground with his head covered, ruined the artistic scene.
Flender knew the principle that the louder one screamed, the more excited the other party would become. Facing Sword Douluo's strikes, he forced himself not to cry out.
At this moment, both the onlookers and Zhu Zhuqing were stunned.
After all, Flender was a Soul Saint, yet he appeared so weak in front of Sword Douluo, not even daring to resist.
"Tsk tsk, those who don't dare to cause trouble are mediocrities. Now, will you still cause trouble?" Li Xun crossed his arms, watching Flender's miserable state.
This outrageous statement was taught to the Shrek Seven Monsters by Flender. As a result, the few who received this phrase seemed to have obtained an imperial edict, causing trouble everywhere. As the teacher who imparted this lesson, Flender getting beaten up wasn't entirely unjust.
"Just now, you were merely taking the punishment on behalf of these disrespectful children," Sword Douluo said expressionlessly, looking at Flender. "As a teacher at an academy, you should also pay attention to the moral education of the children when instructing them."
Ma Hongjun and Dai Mubai, one flirted and the other resorted to violence, clearly showing Flender's failure as a teacher.
"Your Excellency is right, I will definitely strengthen the management of the students when I return," Flender said, lowering his hands and slowly standing up, gritting his teeth in pain. "I will make sure they remember this lesson."
Sword Douluo nodded and said no more, turning to walk towards Li Xun and the others.
Li Xun had already taught those kids a lesson and had also beaten up their elders, finally venting his anger.
Being beaten up in public like this, how could he continue to make a living in Suotuo City?
Watching Li Xun and the others chatting and laughing as they walked into the Cao's Inn, Flender lay on the ground, his facial expressions constantly changing, veins bulging on his neck, and his fists tightly clenched.
It took him a long while to calm down, then he turned to look at the four youngsters lying on the ground.
He then sighed deeply.
He asked for help from the people around, got a carriage, and carefully placed each of them inside. Despite the excruciating pain, Flender painfully climbed into the carriage.
His injuries were neither light nor severe.
Sword Douluo had been very measured in his actions, not harming his bones or tendons but ensuring he felt plenty of pain. Even with treatment from a Soul Master, the pain would likely not subside for two or three days.
The carriage moved towards Shrek Academy.
Flender looked at the four in the carriage, his expressions shifting constantly.
He arrived after the incident had ended and didn't know exactly what had happened. But he felt somewhat unjustly beaten.
"Among them, Ma Hongjun is the most severely injured; this trouble might have been caused by him." As his disciple, Flender naturally understood Ma Hongjun's character and behavior.
The two young girls beside Sword Douluo were graceful and exceptionally beautiful; it was likely that this child had flirted with them, causing displeasure.
Hence, this consequence.
Shrek Academy was located in a remote area, no different from a village. The carriage traveled all the way inside the academy before stopping.
Flender endured the pain and slowly got off the carriage, calling out to the surroundings, attracting Zhao Wuji, Yu Xiaogang, and a group of students.
"What happened?" Yu Xiaogang frowned upon seeing Tang San and the others in such a disheveled state.
"Ouch~ we ran into a tough opponent," Flender winced as he touched the painful area, his mouth twitching. "These kids offended the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and were taught a lesson by them."
"The leader over there was Sword Douluo. I didn't even know what was happening and got caught up in it."
Yu Xiaogang's forehead wrinkled into a deep frown as he slowly picked up Tang San. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School? Was there a child named Li Xun among them?"
"I only know Sword Douluo, I don't know the names of the three children," Flender slowly shook his head. "Why? Do you know them?"
"Three children?" Yu Xiaogang, who was carrying Tang San towards the infirmary, was startled and turned to look at Flender. "Is there a boy about the same age as Xiao San among them?"
"Yes."
"That child had a conflict with me and Xiao San before." Gently placing Tang San on the bed, Yu Xiaogang frowned even more deeply as he looked at the four of them lined up.
"Intentional retaliation?" Flender's eyes narrowed as he adjusted his glasses.
"I hope not. We'll know for sure once they wake up and we can ask them."
Soon, Ye Lingling was called in.
Among the four, Ma Hongjun had the most severe external injuries.
After treating the other three first, Ye Lingling quickly pulled out the numerous wooden spears from Ma Hongjun's buttocks. As blood spurted out, she hurried forward.
The Nine Heart Begonia slowly lit up.
A soft glow spread over Ma Hongjun's body.
"Damn, that hurts like hell!" Ma Hongjun let out a piercing scream.
The noise startled Tang San and the others back to consciousness.
"Xiao San, how are you feeling now?"
(End of Chapter)