Chapter 213: Shrek's Teachers Are Unreliable
"Mm."
Furina nodded, her gaze sweeping across the three faces. Her tone was calm but serious. "I'll just be leaving the academy for a while. There are some personal matters I need to take care of. You all just focus on studying and training well here at the academy."
Her expression turned solemn. "Also, I inquired with Dean Yan Shaozhe. After you've become Shrek reserve team members, you'll likely end up dealing with evil soul masters alongside the main team. When that time comes, you absolutely must be careful."
"For example—" She extended her index finger, her tone growing heavier. "Remember to deal with any corpses in the surrounding area as soon as possible. This is to prevent the opponent from having a Corpse Control or Necromancy-type soul skill that turns the corpses into your enemies. That would be big trouble."
"I heard all this from Ye Guyi." Furina used Ye Guyi as a convenient cover. "When dealing with evil soul masters, you have to be cautious, and then cautious again."
She knew Huo Yuhao and the others were all aware of Ye Guyi's situation.
An angel-type martial soul grew stronger by killing evil soul masters, so she often went out to hunt them. She was highly experienced in this area and had the most authority to speak on it.
Wang Dong, however, waved a hand dismissively, looking unconcerned. "Oh, it'll be fine. There'll definitely be a teacher following us then, right? Or some senior student from a higher grade. They can't possibly send us out to hunt evil soul masters completely unprepared and all alone, right?"
Xiao Xiao chimed in agreement. "Yeah, with a teacher from Shrek there, there shouldn't be any problem, right?"
She calculated in her mind: they were already the reserve team; the academy certainly wouldn't fail to send people to protect them from the shadows. Besides, Huo Yuhao's unique first soul skill had such powerful support capabilities—they'd be able to react in time no matter what danger they encountered.
Wang Dong's strength was only at Soul Elder, but her martial soul was the Goddess of Light Butterfly, a light-attributed martial soul that naturally countered evil soul masters.
Add to that Huo Yuhao and Wang Dong's martial soul fusion technique, and as long as they didn't run into an overly powerful evil soul master, the advantage was clearly theirs no matter how you looked at it.
Furina watched their unconcerned expressions and couldn't help but roll her eyes.
If it were any other academy, any other set of teachers, she wouldn't have said much more. But this was Shrek! Aside from Elder Mu, she truly didn't have a shred of confidence in the others, especially Xuanzi, and Yan Shaozhe.
"Have you all already forgotten that time the Inner Court senior went on a rampage?" Furina's voice abruptly rose. "Her teacher was a Titled Douluo! And there were other teachers present. None of them managed to stop her. Do you still think other teachers can be relied on?"
The three froze.
Furina continued, "Also, when Elder Xuan was speaking with you all, I was listening nearby. Didn't he also say himself that there were times when Inner Court students got separated from their teachers and suffered heavy losses? Don't you remember?"
She stared at the three of them, enunciating each word. "Every sign points to the fact that Shrek's teachers... are unreliable."
The air fell silent for a moment.
With Furina's reminder, Huo Yuhao and the others came to the realization: she was absolutely right. Shrek's track record in this area was indeed not very reassuring.
If they ever ran into a dangerous situation, relying solely on the teachers... probably wouldn't be too wise. It was better to rely on themselves—more dependable.
Wang Dong scratched his head and, after a moment of thought, spoke. "That's a fair point. But... does dealing with corpses and the like really reduce the danger?"
"Just a precaution," Furina shrugged. "Caution is the parent of safety. And when I set out, I'll also prepare some cakes from my fifth and seventh soul skills for you. If there are senior students with you, you can share some with them too."
She looked at the three, her tone softening. "When the time comes, you'll have to rely on yourselves to be careful."
She would say what needed to be said, and do what needed to be done. As for the final outcome, that would depend on Huo Yuhao and the others' own fortunes, and whether that old man Elder Xuan would change his ways.
But as for Elder Xuan, Furina truly had no confidence in her heart.
If that drunken old man really wanted to change, he would have done so long ago, right after that incident happened back then, instead of turning into what he was now.
Huo Yuhao nodded seriously. He had always had absolute faith in Furina's words, because he knew that when Furina said these things, there was certainly deeper meaning behind them, never just idle talk.
"Alright. When the time comes, I'll definitely be cautious and careful, and strive to ensure no accidents happen."
Xiao Xiao also patted her chest and said with a bubbly laugh, "Mm-hmm, don't worry, we'll definitely be careful! After all, I don't want to die young."
"Hahaha!" Wang Dong was amused by her.
The corner of Furina's mouth also lifted slightly. Then, as if recalling something, she said, "Oh right, do you still remember that senior who attacked us last time?"
Xiao Xiao blinked. "I remember. What about her? Haven't seen her since that time."
Wang Dong immediately became alert. "Don't tell me she's coming to seek revenge on you?"
Furina couldn't help but laugh out loud. "What an interesting thing to say! She's not coming to seek revenge on me. On the contrary, she wants to acknowledge me as her adoptive mother."
"Huh?" Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao exclaimed in unison, their faces full of confusion.
Wang Dong was the first to jump out and express disbelief. "How is that possible?! For real? You're not just bragging again, are you? Even though you've broken through to the Soul Sage level now, she's still a senior, older than you, and with a better figure than you. Why would she acknowledge you as her adoptive mother?"
As he spoke, he even glanced seriously at Furina's... well, admittedly slightly lacking chest area.
Furina's forehead veins bulged, her fists clenched with an audible crack. "You really have no tact! I'd love to give you a punch!"
Wang Dong grinned slyly and took a step back. "See, just speaking the truth. Don't get mad."
Inwardly, though, he was secretly delighted: Haha, I still have room to develop! As long as Furina stays just like this, wait until the day I reveal my girl identity—Huo Yuhao will definitely be utterly smitten by me!
Xiao Xiao covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, her eyes curving into crescent moons.
Furina took a deep breath, deciding to be the bigger person and not stoop to the level of a little brat like Wang Dong.
"Alright, I'll be the bigger person and not stoop to your level." She calmed her emotions. "That senior is called Ma Xiaotao. She's a descendant of Ma Hongjun, one of the original Shrek Seven Devils. Her martial soul is the Evil Fire Phoenix. Because the evil fire was never fully eradicated, she often loses control and goes on rampages."
"At the same time, she is also one of the current Shrek Seven Devils." Furina continued. "I used my ultimate water to help suppress her evil fire. During the time I'm away, if she needs another suppression session, I'll entrust it to Huo Yuhao, using your second martial soul."
She looked at Huo Yuhao. "I've already promised her I'd help purify her once a week. If my time away ends up being rather long, I'll leave it to you."
Huo Yuhao nodded, understanding Furina's intent. Ultimate water could suppress Ma Xiaotao's evil fire, so the ultimate ice of his second martial soul, the Ice Jade Emperor Scorpion, could do the same.
"No problem."
Wang Dong, however, furrowed his brow. "That crazy woman? She's also one of the Shrek Seven Devils?"
Xiao Xiao said, "But her strength is at the Soul Emperor level. To reach Soul Emperor so young, she's indeed qualified."
"Well, that's true..." Wang Dong muttered, then abruptly seemed to think of something and whipped her head around to stare at Huo Yuhao, her gaze growing exceptionally sharp. "Huo Yuhao, when you're helping suppress her evil fire, don't you dare get charmed by her!"
Her tone was as stern as a commanding order.
Huo Yuhao froze, completely at a loss as to why Wang Dong was suddenly so worked up. Clearly, even Furina hadn't said anything. Why was Wang Dong even more agitated about this than Furina?
Furina watched silently from the side, inwardly chuckling: Oh my, oh my. Is this falling for Huo Yuhao? Or is Tang San's giant hand starting to exert its influence? Eh, same thing either way. He'll definitely still think it's his own thought anyway.
Wang Dong, seeing Huo Yuhao's lack of reaction, stepped closer and pointed right at his nose. "Did you hear me?!"
Huo Yuhao nodded dumbly. "G-got it."
Xiao Xiao covered her mouth giggling on the side, her eyes darting back and forth between the two.
Furina cleared her throat lightly, breaking the subtle atmosphere. "Alright, alright. After I'm gone, look out for each other. Remember the things I've said. Don't get careless."