Douluo Continent: Reborn as Yuhao, they all have ulterior motives.

Chapter 87 Awakening

After hesitating for a moment, Yan Shaozhe, who knew nothing, couldn't help but smile bitterly with a sense of bewilderment.

"Teacher, I don't quite understand."

Moon wasn't annoyed; he simply calmly retorted, "You should know about evil spirit masters, right?"

Seeing Yan Shaozhe nod, Mu En continued.

"Whether it's for the sake of stealing treasures or for hatred, normal people usually consider the pros and cons when they kill. Even a crazed evil spirit master will not choose to kill when the cost of killing outweighs the benefits."

Yan Shaozhe nodded again, indicating his agreement.

But then, Moon's next words made him feel a chill creep up from the bottom of his heart and spread rapidly to his limbs.

"But he will."

These three simple words struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer, causing them to tremble involuntarily.

Moon said softly, "I saw an unimaginable obsession in that child's eyes. On the surface, he seemed submissive and friendly to everyone, but the emotions hidden in his eyes were completely different."

"If the other party doesn't take death seriously, and treats killing as casually as cutting grass, then killing is just killing."

"But when someone who understands the meaning of death and knows the preciousness of life begins to pick up a butcher's knife and start a massacre, then on the scales in his heart, the weight of the act that prompts him to kill probably exceeds his long-held principles and nature."

"Even if faced with the cries and pleas of millions, even hundreds of millions, even if he knows he might regret it afterward, he will not put down the butcher's knife, because he knows what he wants and will do it without hesitation."

"He won't resort to violence for personal gain, which also means that once he takes up arms because someone crosses his bottom line, he won't stop because of simple pros and cons. Once he's set his mind on something, he'll do anything, even if it means slaughtering millions of people."

Yan Shaozhe opened his mouth, but didn't know what to say.

After hesitating for a long time, he cautiously began, "Teacher, should we...?"

"Everything should remain the same."

"……what?"

Yan Shaozhe raised his head and looked at Mu En with a somewhat incredulous expression.

So you're saying there's someone in the academy who might become a great demon in the future, and then you just ignore it?

Shouldn't we Shrek knights punish evil and promote good, becoming the nemesis of evil and partners of justice?

Seeing Yan Shaozhe's stunned expression, Mu En laughed.

"What's wrong?"

"Just because someone might bring destruction to the world in the future, should we kill a boy who is not even twelve years old? And who can be sure whether the world will be better or worse after the turmoil?"

At this point, Moon's cloudy eyes sharpened, and he asked, enunciating each word clearly.

"Shao Zhe, when did you become like this? And when did Shrek Academy become like this?"

Upon hearing Mu En's slightly questioning words, Yan Shaozhe seemed to finally realize that there was something wrong with his somewhat morbid thoughts, and he was immediately startled and broke out in a cold sweat.

"Our Shrek Academy is just an academy, a place to train Soul Masters. For ten thousand years since its establishment, the so-called honor of being the number one academy on the continent has made everyone, including myself, arrogant and condescending. This is a terrible thing."

"Why do you think Shrek Academy helped the Douluo Three Kingdoms fight against the Sun Moon Empire thousands of years ago? Was it for the sake of so-called civilians? Was it to stop the war?"

"Neither."

"It's not for so-called justice, nor for so-called resistance against invasion, but simply because the current situation of conflict between the various parties is the same as the situation faced by the Spirit Hall ten thousand years ago, which is more suitable for Shrek Academy to be independent, nothing more."

Ten thousand years ago, the Star Luo Empire's military power crushed the Heaven Dou Empire at that time, but it never launched a war. Wasn't that because the Spirit Hall was interfering?

If the Star Luo Empire is allowed to unify the continent, how will their Spirit Hall survive?

Shrek Academy is not much smaller than the Spirit Hall was back then, and the situation it faces is very similar to that of the Spirit Hall.

Not only the Sun Moon Empire, but even the Douluo Three Kingdoms have reservations about Shrek Academy. If the continent is unified, who can guarantee that Shrek Academy won't be the next target?

"He proclaims himself the guardian of this continent, stopping wars between various factions and judging the wicked..."

At this point, Moon paused, his voice calm yet complex.

"But in the end, we are just human beings."

"We have never done the right thing; we are just selfish wretches who try to hold onto this illusory glory as long as possible."

He glanced at the people present, sighed softly, and continued speaking.

"I am already a dying man, with at most a dozen years left to live. But both you and Xuanzi have fatal flaws in their character, making it difficult for them to shoulder heavy responsibilities."

"Originally, I was worried about the academy, but now that I think about it, everything I cared about was just a result of being blinded by this illusory honor. If things continue like this, Shrek Academy will eventually face annihilation because of this arrogance that has accumulated over nearly ten thousand years."

"I would rather the academy perish than accept illusory honors."

Yan Shaozhe and Xuanzi kept their heads down and didn't speak, it was unclear whether they had listened. After a long silence, Yan Shaozhe asked hesitantly.

"Teacher, what should we do from now on?"

"How do I do it?"

Moon raised an eyebrow: "Neither support nor oppose, just do our duty, nurture geniuses, and keep a low profile."

"The students go to school, we teach them cultivation, that's enough."

"From now on, let the people and teachers of the inner academy put away their arrogance. Especially in the upcoming Soul Master Competition, tell those few inner academy disciples who are participating that they can show their strength, but they should not bully others just because they have Shrek Academy backing them."

"And Xuanzi, you too, do you understand?"

Seeing that he hadn't said anything before being called out by name, Xuanzi's face stiffened, and he nodded sullenly.

"Understood, Elder Mu."

Seeing this, Mu En's gaze fell on Yan Shaozhe again: "As for your competition for the three geniuses, I will not interfere. Just like Xian Lin'er said, you two should rely on your own abilities. I will take this opportunity to further examine you two."

"."

Yan Shaozhe nodded somewhat awkwardly: "Yes, teacher."

"Well, if there's nothing else, you can leave now. Lexuan, you stay for a bit."

"Yes."

As the two left, the meeting room fell silent again. Zhang Lexuan, who had roughly guessed why Elder Mu had come to see her this time, raised her head and asked softly.

"Elder Mu, is there anything else?"

"Don't be nervous, it's about Huo Yuhao."

Moon smiled and said, "After all, you specially recruited him. What do you think of this kid? Tell me your opinion."

".I have no idea."

Zhang Lexuan paused for a moment, recalling her two encounters with that boy, and what happened after he came to Shrek Academy. The final image was of Huo Yuhao explaining his thoughts in class.

She couldn't offer an evaluation of Huo Yuhao.

"I just think he's special."

"……yes."

Upon hearing Zhang Lexuan's answer, Mu En was not angry at all; instead, he nodded with a sigh.

"He's so special; I felt that way the moment I first saw that kid."

After saying that, Moon seemed to remember something, and his tone became slightly amused.

"Since you returned from your mission in Tiandou City, you seem to be in a much better mood. Now that I think about it, it must be thanks to that child, right?"

Zhang Lexuan was taken aback and was about to speak when Mu En chuckled and raised his hand to press down on her, interrupting her.

"I didn't mean anything by it. I'm glad to see that you're in a better mood. Please let me finish."

".yes."

"It's been over a decade since you joined Shrek Academy, Le Xuan. I've seen all the contributions you've made to the academy over these years, and they far exceed what I did for you back then."

Moon gazed calmly at the silent girl, recalling the scene when he first met her, and couldn't help but sigh.

Time flies, and that little girl with the empty eyes from back then has grown up so much.

"You are a good child, and a smart child, but smart children are more sensitive than others, and they are also more prone to getting stuck on trivial matters. I know you have always kept the promise from back then in your heart, but that was just a momentary impulse on my part."

"If you only focus on the finish line, you'll miss out on so much of the scenery along the way. You're still young, and young people should be energetic. You shouldn't sacrifice your life for the sake of the academy."

Old Master Mu paused for a moment, then spoke solemnly.

"So from this moment on, you no longer need to abide by the original agreement."

Zhang Lexuan suddenly raised her head, looked at the kind-smiling old man in front of her, and her voice trembled.

"Old Master Mu."

"I hope that for you, the academy will never be a constraint."

At this point, Old Mu seemed to have thought of something funny, and the wrinkles on his face gathered together as he grinned.

"If you want to yearn for a monotonous, boring life, wait until you're two or three hundred years old like me, too old to move."

"."

Zhang Lexuan remained silent.

It wasn't until Elder Mu's words of enlightenment that she belatedly realized that what she had done was not simply repaying Huo Yuhao's life-saving grace.

Recalling her feelings when she spent time with Huo Yuhao, Zhang Lexuan blushed slightly.

Could it be that I really like a younger brother who is so much younger than me?

Wouldn't that be abnormal?

Thinking of this, she spoke with a somewhat embarrassed tone.

"Mr. Mu, I may need some time to think about it."

"Can."

Realizing that Zhang Lexuan was still somewhat confused, Mu En nodded and said with a light laugh.

"I hope that when you come to see me again, you will have found your own answer."

(End of this chapter)