Douluo Continent: I possess astonishing wisdom as I control energy!

Slowly exhaling a breath of stale air, Du Bu Si grabbed Xuan Zi, who was now barely recognizable as a human and resembled a dead dog, and said to Mu En's retreating figure:

"Moun, I'm taking him away. I'm taking him to kneel and kowtow to apologize to the families of the two deceased students and all the injured students."

"I'll return it to you in a few days after I'm done."

Moon, who had been silent all along, finally opened his eyes slowly, but did not turn around. He simply said, "People cannot die."

"Don't worry, you won't die."

Du Bu Si grinned, picked up Xuan Zi who looked like a dead dog, and stepped into the spatial ripples beside him, his figure disappearing instantly.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, only the heavy stench of blood and boundless silence remained.

After a long while, Moon slowly turned his wheelchair and faced the crowd again.

His cloudy eyes swept across the crowd, sharply scanning the faces of every surviving but still shaken elder present.

Then, he slowly began to speak:

"Now, I have something to announce."

Moon's voice was calm, as if he had carefully considered what he was about to say.

All eyes turned to him, but he looked at Zhang Lexuan, who stood quietly to the side, seemingly isolated from all the noise of the outside world.

"Le Xuan, come forward."

Zhang Lexuan paused, but then did as she was told and stepped forward to Mu En's side.

Moon's gaze swept across the room once more, and he spoke clearly, word by word:

"I hereby announce that Zhang Lexuan will become the prospective Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion."

He paused, his tone becoming resolute and brooking no argument:

"From today onwards, she will take over all my authority and be responsible for all affairs of the academy, large and small, until her cultivation reaches the level of a Title Douluo, at which point she will directly become the Pavilion Master of the Sea God Pavilion."

"Who agrees? Who disagrees?"

This time, everyone, including Zhang Lexuan herself, looked at the elderly man sitting in the wheelchair with disbelief.

At this moment, even the most oblivious beings realized that Shrek Academy was about to be completely reshuffled.

……

……

"Moun is so decisive!"

Inside the Chamber of Commerce's headquarters, Kong Ming'an couldn't help but let out a sigh.

Mu En personally and severely injured Yan Shaozhe, both as punishment and to protect him from being killed by the arriving Du Busi. This also served to restore Mu En's authority.

Then, by having the poison-free spirit severely injure Xuanzi in front of everyone, he not only demonstrated his stance but also clearly showed everyone the strength of the "external enemy," thus using external threats to unite the internal forces.

As for those two elders, they were probably also the result of Mu En's hint to Poison Undying; they each had some issues, and having them eliminated by external enemies meant no one could say anything was wrong.

Finally, he personally pushed Zhang Lexuan to the forefront, completely confirming her identity as the future head of the Sea God Pavilion.

The 100,000-year soul ring from the Eclipse Moon Silver Wolf King perfectly matched Zhang Lexuan's attributes. Combined with the 100,000-year soul bone that had fallen from the sky, this further enhanced Zhang Lexuan's potential.

Once she reaches level 90, she can hunt down a 100,000-year-old soul beast. At that time, with two 100,000-year-old soul rings and two 100,000-year-old soul bones, it will only be a matter of time before Zhang Lexuan breaks through to level 98.

Zhang Lexuan, with her unique qualities, is definitely more suitable than Xuanzi to be the next leader of Shrek Academy.

With little time left to live, Mu En will dedicate himself to nurturing Zhang Lexuan during these final moments.

Kong Ming'an's eyes showed a hint of anticipation.

Moon's plan is not bad; it's the best way out under these circumstances. The only problem is...

What was Zhang Lexuan thinking?

Chapter 114 Zhang Lexuan, Drunk, and the Rope of the Drowning Man

It was dusk in a tavern in Shrek City.

Compared to the hustle and bustle of the main road, this tavern, nestled deep in a quiet alley, is exceptionally peaceful.

Inside the tavern, there was none of the usual boisterous drinking games and loud conversations. Instead, there was only the dim light cast by the soul-guiding lamps, and the air filled with the aroma of alcohol and a faint scent of tobacco.

Most of the guests here enjoy a drink alone, or chat quietly with just a few close friends, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

In the innermost part of the pub, in an inconspicuous corner booth, Zhang Lexuan leaned against the sofa alone.

She seemed to have been there for quite some time; several empty wine bottles were scattered on the table in front of her, indicating she had drunk quite a bit.

She wore a well-tailored dark dress that accentuated her tall, slender, and curvaceous figure.

A pair of long, slender legs, encased in smooth black stockings, were casually crossed, gleaming softly in the dim lighting of the booth.

She tilted her head slightly back, leaning against the sofa cushions, her cheeks flushed an unnatural red, her eyes unfocused and slightly lost in thought.

At this moment, her eyes seemed to have lost the clarity and sharpness she usually possessed as the senior disciple of the inner courtyard, leaving only a softness and disorientation soaked in alcohol.

A few strands of her dark hair clung to her slightly damp forehead, and her collar was slightly open due to the heat of the alcohol, revealing her fair neck and delicate collarbone. She exuded a fatal attraction—a mixture of decadence and allure—that of a mature woman who had let down her guard.

At one moment, the shadows, unnoticed by anyone, twisted slightly, and a figure silently appeared beside her.

It is Kong Ming'an.

He looked at the empty wine bottles scattered haphazardly on the table, and at Zhang Lexuan, who was still unconsciously swirling the amber-colored liquor in her glass, and fell silent for a moment.

Unless it's a special type of alcoholic beverage made with unique ingredients, most alcoholic beverages generally don't have much effect on Soul Masters.

With just a little soul power, the effects of alcohol could be dispelled, and Zhang Lexuan's current state clearly indicates that she wanted to get drunk.

Seemingly sensing his arrival, Zhang Lexuan's hazy gaze slowly focused and landed on him.

Then, a somewhat unsteady smile spread across her lips, carrying a strong smell of alcohol, and her tone revealed a certain certainty that she had expected this all along:

"You are indeed here."

"You're drunk," Kong Ming'an reminded him.

"I'm not drunk"

Zhang Lexuan propped herself up slightly and shook her head vigorously, trying to appear sober. However, her body swayed slightly, and she almost lost her balance.

Drunk people always say they're not drunk.

Kong Ming'an couldn't help but mutter a few complaints in his heart, but he didn't stand idly by. He stepped forward slightly, sat down beside Zhang Lexuan, and gently supported her swaying body.

Zhang Lexuan, however, turned her head, glanced at him, and then pushed her glass, which was still more than half full, towards him, her eyes filled with a provocative, hazy look.

"Drink?"

Kong Ming'an raised an eyebrow.

"What?" Zhang Lexuan chuckled, her voice slightly hoarse with a hint of drunkenness. "You can't drink?"

"I'm an adult."

Kong Ming'an replied, knowing that one shouldn't try to reason with a drunk person; it's best to go along with them, otherwise things will get complicated.

With a calm gaze, he reached out and took the glass of wine.

He tilted the glass slightly, the wine flowing in. He took a small sip, the spicy yet sweet liquid sliding down his throat. Then he put the glass down.

In his previous life, he often helped his junior brothers and sisters who were good at causing trouble but not at taking responsibility by drinking alcohol on their behalf; his alcohol tolerance was decent.

But in this life, he is preoccupied with many matters, and given his status, there is naturally no issue of social obligations. So today is actually the first time in this life.

Zhang Lexuan stared intently at Kong Ming'an, her gaze following his every move, from his lips as he sipped his drink, to his Adam's apple, and finally to the casually open gap in his collar.

Her eyes flickered slightly, but were quickly swallowed by a deeper darkness.

After a moment of silence, she suddenly spoke, her voice soft yet carrying a strange stubbornness:

"Was all of this arranged by you?"

Kong Ming'an shook his head and said frankly:

"No, I only left a mark on you after the last match."

"If your life is threatened, this mark will be triggered, allowing me to sense and locate your position and finally take action."

"I was unaware of the attack you were subjected to beforehand, but if you're referring to the subsequent appearance of the Poison Undying, then that was indeed my arrangement."

This is true.

His strategy towards Zhang Lexuan was more about going with the flow, like a casual move in a game of chess. Whether it would be useful or not, it was always good to make the move first.

Moreover, he has far too many important things to do, and he cannot focus too much energy on one person.

Zhang Lexuan stared intently into his eyes for a few seconds, seemingly trying to discern the truthfulness of his words. Then, she pursed her lips and slowly lowered her gaze.

The alcohol, mixed with the despair, grief, and disillusionment that had been building up for days, overwhelmed her last defenses like a burst dam.

She had completely given up on Shrek.

She couldn't understand why the Shrek in her heart, who symbolized light, justice, and warmth, was so filthy inside.

What did all her past persistence and sacrifices amount to? What was the point of even enduring the infamy to carry out the so-called trial?

After her family was wiped out, leaving her the only survivor, she was like a drowning person. The beautiful image she once held of Shrek Academy and the sense of belonging she once had were the only lifeline she clung to, the only thing she could rely on to survive.

And now, that rope is snapping before her very eyes.

She drowned again.

The faith she held dear completely collapsed, leaving behind a vast and cold void that brought an indescribable suffocation, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.

She needed to fill this void, she needed a new, solid rope that could hold her firmly, or bind her tightly, and not easily abandon her again.

Zhang Lexuan lowered her eyes, gripping the cold wine glass tightly, her fingertips turning white from the force.

At one moment, she suddenly turned around, her dark eyes staring straight at Kong Ming'an, and then the next moment...

She leaned towards him.

A soft, voluptuous body, carrying the scent of wine and a faint fragrance, leaned against him, her hands gripping the boy's shirt tightly, as if a drowning person had grasped a lifeline.

Kong Ming could clearly feel the softness and warmth of the body in his arms, as well as the slight, almost imperceptible trembling.

His gaze shifted slightly, and he lowered his eyes.

Zhang Lexuan tilted her head back, her eyes, hazy with intoxication, filled with a tentative gaze and a barely perceptible yet irrepressible longing. Her voice trembled slightly.

"You want me, right?"

Chapter 115 A Kiss, and the Incompetent Hyotei 20

Kongming settled in for a while.

There was no way around it; a strange intuition told him that Zhang Lexuan seemed very strange right now, especially her tone of voice. It made him feel inexplicably odd.

He didn't push her away, nor did he avoid her. Kong Ming'an simply patted her hand, which was tightly gripping his clothes, to loosen her grip slightly so she wouldn't tear them. He didn't want to be unable to explain this to Hyotei later.

He then frankly admitted:

"I want to control you. I want to use you to gradually take control of Shrek Academy."

"Compared to eliminating it directly, I prefer to transform Shrek into a stable talent development base to provide me with talent."

"Is that so?" Zhang Lexuan murmured softly, but then pressed on, her voice even softer, "Then why me?"

"Part of it is because your talent and ability are sufficient for the task, and the other part..." Kong Ming'an paused slightly, looking down at Zhang Lexuan.

"It's because of your 'Moon' martial spirit and the Sun and Moon bloodline flowing through your body that is the same as mine. Although our blood ties have crossed five generations, you are still considered my elder sister. Choosing someone else is not as good as choosing you."

"So, I need you."

She naturally omitted the indifferent words that followed, leaving only the last four words of the boy's speech echoing in her mind.

The hand that had loosened its grip on the boy's clothes tightened again, as if it had grasped a lifeline. A complex, indescribable light flashed in her eyes.

Deep within that light, however, floated a faint, almost morbidly serene, sense of belonging that even the young man hadn't noticed.

Zhang Lexuan narrowed her hazy, intoxicated eyes, and a faint, yet sickly, smile curled at the corners of her lips.

Do you need me now?

She looked at him, repeating herself as if making a final confirmation, her tone carrying an unusual solemnity.