Douluo Dalu 3: Legend of the White Fox

Leng Yaozhu and Xia Yi were both stunned. They hadn't expected Ya Li to use the phrase "plead for forgiveness."

"Ya Li, you're being too serious. Plead for forgiveness? For what? It wasn't your fault," Leng Yaozhu quickly responded.

With so many people at Shrek Academy, if every mistake required the distinguished Holy Spirit Douluo Ya Li to come and apologize, she'd be exhausted.

Even though Xia Yi was her "student," as long as Shrek Academy severely punished the culprit, a simple acknowledgment from Ya Li would have sufficed.

"Plead for forgiveness" was too heavy of a term.

As Leng Yaozhu saw it, in any large organization, there are bound to be a few bad apples. The same applies to the Spirit Transferring Pagoda. If every time someone from the Spirit Transferring Pagoda made a mistake she, as the Vice Tower Master, had to apologize, she might as well do nothing but apologize all day.

Normally, the standard procedure would be to punish the culprit, issue a public apology, and compensate the victim.

Why was an apology necessary?

"Your Grace, it's just..." Ya Li opened her lips to speak but hesitated.

Even though she had planned out what to say on the way here, now that she was actually facing Leng Yaozhu, she didn't know how to start.

She couldn't just bluntly say that Shrek Academy was planning to cover up for the culprit.

Seeing Ya Li's hesitation, Leng Yaozhu and Xia Yi instantly understood Shrek Academy's stance. Xia Yi also realized why Ya Li felt the need to "plead for forgiveness."

"It was his decision, wasn't it?" Leng Yaozhu asked in a deep voice.

Even without stating his name, Ya Li knew she was referring to Yun Ming.

Indeed, the only one in Shrek Academy who could persuade Ya Li to cover for the culprit was Yun Ming, the Sky-Supporting Douluo.

"Yes!" Ya Li nodded.

"What is he thinking?" Leng Yaozhu asked, her beautiful eyes reflecting a hint of disappointment.

Even though they were in different organizations, Yun Ming had always been a towering figure in her heart.

Handsome, powerful, determined, just, someone who wouldn't tolerate any... imperfections.

Because of this, she couldn't allow even a hint of a stain on Yun Ming's character.

"This situation is a bit special. It wasn't just an elder attacking a junior but also in such a despicable manner. If this were made public, he would be condemned by the entire soul master community. He dedicated his whole life to Shrek Academy, and Brother Ming couldn't bear to see his reputation ruined in his later years," Ya Li explained guiltily.

"His reputation ruined? Hah. Does Shrek Academy not even have the courage to face their actions? You're worried about his reputation, but my student almost lost his life today." Leng Yaozhu's emotions grew intense, likely because the towering image of Yun Ming she held for years suddenly shattered. In a cold voice, she continued, "By covering up for the culprit, are you suggesting that if Shrek Academy students are attacked during training in the Spirit Ascension Platform or Spirit Soul Tower, we at the Spirit Transferring Pagoda can also manipulate events behind the scenes and then cover up for our own?"

Ya Li's eyes narrowed as a powerful aura emanated from her. "Your Grace, I hope you're aware of your status and of what you're saying."

Ya Li was genuinely upset. Today, Shrek Academy was indeed at fault, but the other students were innocent. Yet Leng Yaozhu was using Shrek's students to threaten her.

Maybe Leng Yaozhu was just speaking in anger, and Ya Li trusted that she wouldn't actually do such a thing.

But she couldn't take that risk.

If Leng Yaozhu did act on her words, Shrek Academy's students would be in real danger.

"Heh, maybe you should reflect on who you are and what you're doing first?" Leng Yaozhu wasn't intimidated by Ya Li's aura.

Coldly, she retorted, "You think I'm being harsh? I believe I've been more than fair. I trusted you and Shrek Academy, which is why I didn't storm into your school demanding answers. But be honest—does your handling of this matter seem appropriate?"

Taking a deep breath, Leng Yaozhu continued, "Let's switch perspectives for a moment. If it was your student Na'er who was ambushed at the Spirit Transferring Pagoda, would you have stayed calm and waited for news like I did? Could you do that? You and Yun Ming would've already been at the Pagoda demanding justice, wouldn't you?"

"..." Ya Li opened her mouth but couldn't find any words.

Leng Yaozhu was right.

If Xia Yi were replaced by Na'er, and if someone from the Spirit Transferring Pagoda had secretly attacked her, Yun Ming and Ya Li would have stormed the Pagoda long ago, demanding justice.

"Holy Spirit Douluo, listen to me. If Shrek Academy doesn't give me a satisfactory answer today, I'll stand by my previous words. Otherwise, how can I face Xia Yi as his teacher?" Leng Yaozhu's anger flared. When she had watched Xia Yi being ambushed during the live broadcast, she had almost rushed to Shrek Academy herself.

The only reason she held back was because of Ya Li.

She had expected Ya Li and Yun Ming to give her a satisfactory explanation.

She hadn't expected Ya Li to say that Shrek Academy planned to cover up for the culprit.

"Yaozhu, calm down. I came here to discuss this with you, didn't I?" Knowing she was in the wrong, Ya Li could only swallow her pride in the face of Leng Yaozhu's cold demeanor.

"Fine. Since you're here to discuss, then tell me—how does Shrek Academy plan to handle this?" Leng Yaozhu huffed. As she turned around, she noticed Xia Yi and Mu Xi watching the argument with great interest, their chins resting on their hands.

It's not every day you get to see two of the continent's top beauties arguing.

It was quite a spectacle.

"Damn it. If he doesn't care, why am I even angry?" Leng Yaozhu felt a surge of frustration. She felt like a fool for getting so worked up in front of Xia Yi.

In a flash, she appeared beside Xia Yi. Before he realized it, her slender fingers had grabbed his ear, pulling him over to Ya Li. She snapped, "I'm done talking. You deal with him yourself."

"Ow, ow, that hurts...!" Xia Yi cried out in pain.

"You deserve it! Always causing trouble everywhere. You've got some nerve, even daring to embarrass Shrek Academy. Got ambushed, didn't you?" Leng Yaozhu scolded.

Ya Li's forehead broke out in three black lines.

You're teaching your student a lesson—fine.

But did you have to take another jab at Shrek Academy?

I'm still standing right here, you know.

"Shrek Academy is the number one academy in the world. I went there with a humble heart, seeking mutual exchange and learning. I didn't go to show off," Xia Yi said with a straight face.

"If I believed that, I wouldn't be Leng Yaozhu," she scoffed.

Ya Li was stunned.

Are they really teacher and student? There's no sense of authority or respect between them.

And when did the always graceful Leng Yaozhu start calling herself "old lady"?

Ya Li was thoroughly confused.

And why isn't Xia Yi angry? How does he still have the mood to joke around?

It seemed that Leng Yaozhu's anger vanished the moment she saw Xia Yi.

(End of Chapter)