In Douluo Continent, I am the mastermind behind the scenes.

Cai Yue'er was truly at her wit's end.

She is nominally the Dean of the School of Foreign Languages ​​and wields considerable power within the school, but this does not mean that the school is her personal fiefdom.

If we don't agree to Zheng Yiran's request, and she really kneels to death in front of the statue of the original Shrek Seven Devils, how will Shrek Academy explain this to the Bilin Snake family?

But... she didn't understand why Zheng Yiran insisted on seeing Ya Li when it was just infighting between students. Was there some hidden reason behind it?

Cai Yue'er took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing her restless heart. It was best for her not to get involved in this matter. If something irreparable happened involving the Bilin Snake Clan, the Sea God Pavilion might very well hand her over to appease their anger…

About fifteen minutes later, Ya Li, wearing her ever-present emerald green long dress, walked into the Dean of the Foreign Languages ​​Department's office. Looking at the Foreign Languages ​​Department staff, led by Cai Yue'er, she said expressionlessly, "You may all leave now. I will handle this matter."

"Yes, Vice Pavilion Master."

After everyone else had left the office, Ya Li slumped into her office chair, looked at the two women in front of her, and said with a smile, "You two little ones, tell me, what trouble have you run into?"

Zheng Yiran said with a solemn expression, "Your Holiness, we are the true victims."

"Oh? You're the real victims? But that little guy named Huo Yuhao's injuries are quite serious."

Although the words were meant to be a question, when they came out of Yali's mouth... there was no sense of questioning at all.

Zheng Yiran asked, "Your Holiness, may I ask... if Xiaoya and I had initiated this conflict, given Huo Yuhao's cultivation level as a fourth-ring Soul Master, is it possible that we wouldn't have suffered even the slightest injury?"

Upon hearing this, Ya Li subconsciously frowned. Soul Masters are all combative, especially the younger generation of genius Soul Masters, who have the competitive spirit ingrained in their bones. Of course, there are always exceptions. There are also "cowardly" Soul Masters who never fight back or talk back, and who always try to reason. But based on Huo Yuhao's experience in Donghai City, he is not a cowardly Soul Master at all.

Yali made a gesture, signaling Zheng Yiran to continue.

Without further hesitation, Zheng Yiran quickly recounted the entire experience of the three of them on the black market.

As the young lady of a large Soul Master family, Zheng Yiran mastered the art of speaking. She first explained the contradictions, then recounted the events, piquing the interest of the law enforcers. This way, they wouldn't be so dismissive of the seemingly insignificant incident that they wouldn't seriously analyze the clues.

After listening to Zheng Yiran's account, Ya Li did not make a judgment based on subjective assumptions. Instead, she took out her soul communication device and ordered her direct subordinates to go to the stall in the black market to verify the truth of Zheng Yiran's words.

"That stall owner... is dead."

As a cold female voice rang out, Zheng Yiran and Ning Peiya felt a chill run down their spines; this was the last thing they wanted to see happen.

Zheng Yiran couldn't help but ask, "Your Holy Spirit, may I ask... how did that stall owner die?"

"Based on the evidence left at the scene, he was probably scared to death."

Ya Li sighed and said, "Based on my years of law enforcement experience, the possibility of you committing the crime is very small. It is unlikely that two little girls could scare a Soul King-level Soul Master to death. But there are always exceptions. It is meaningless for me to believe it alone. You need to provide direct or indirect evidence to prove your innocence."

"In this situation, if Huo Yuhao wakes up and insists that you started it, you won't be able to clear your name even if you have eight hundred mouths."

"In that case... then let's search my soul, Zheng Yiran's soul. At worst, I'll trade my life for hers!"

Zheng Yiran gritted her teeth. Soul searching was out of the question, but she couldn't let her momentum falter.

Just then, Cai Yue'er suddenly pushed open the office door and walked in. She went to the desk, cupped her hands towards Ya Li's seat, and said, "Vice Pavilion Master, Huo Yuhao has woken up. He said... it has nothing to do with Zheng Yiran and Ning Peiya. It was all because he was momentarily bewitched..."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Yiran and Ning Peiya's expressions changed instantly, both unable to understand... what Huo Yuhao was really up to.

……

The scene shifts to the infirmary outside Shrek Academy.

Ya Li sat on a stool, while Cai Yue'er served her with a small notebook.

"Huo Yuhao, there are some things I need to confirm with you. I hope you can answer truthfully."

Yali said expressionlessly, "Excuse me... is the stall owner's death related to you?"

Not a single mistake, not a single poem, not a single post, not a single piece of content, not a single look!

"What, what? The stall owner is dead?" A look of horror immediately appeared on Huo Yuhao's face. "Your Majesty, I, Huo Yuhao, come from humble beginnings. The assets I possess now are all earned through forging missions. How could I possibly be qualified to compete with the young lady of the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Clan for resources? Even if I wanted to turn the tables on her, Your Majesty might not believe me."

Yali: "..."

No matter what, Ya Li has experienced life and death, and she doesn't believe a single word of Huo Yuhao's nonsense. In fact... a black market stall owner is dead, but a hundred One-Word Battle Armor Masters combined are not worth as much as Huo Yuhao alone.

"Let's put that stall owner's matter aside for now. The cause of death is too bizarre. A Soul King-level One-Word Battle Armor Master was scared to death. I don't think a little kid like you could do that."

Ya Li didn't want to dwell on the matter any longer, so she quickly changed the subject, "There are some things I shouldn't ask, but since it concerns the safety of the students, I have to ask... What exactly is the resource you two are fighting over? What level of resource could possibly make you harbor such malicious intent?"

"It should be a divine artifact," Huo Yuhao said with a somewhat uncertain tone.

Cai Yue'er said with a mocking expression, "God, divine artifact? Heh, don't joke around, how would a little kid like you know what a divine artifact is?"

"Perhaps I'm mistaken." Huo Yuhao shook his head and said thoughtfully, "I just felt an indescribable feeling about that long sword. Well... how should I put it? It's like there's a voice in the dark reminding me that I must get my hands on that long sword no matter what means I have to use."

"Your Holy Spirit, and... Dean, I admit that my actions this time were biased. Whatever punishment the academy may impose on me, I will have no complaints."

As he spoke, Huo Yuhao disregarded his injuries and hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply towards Ya Li's position.