The heroes by Sea God Lake were furious. Some took the lead in confronting Yan Shaozhe, while more and more people stood up in protest.
"Hua Huo, put Huo Yuhao down. I'll take him to the infirmary to treat his injuries."
Wang Dong hadn't lost her composure.
Though anger burned inside her, her greatest concern was Huo Yuhao's condition.
This guy had clearly bullied her, forcing her to acknowledge him as her boss. Yet, seeing him injured and unconscious, she couldn't help but worry.
And now, watching Hua Huo cradle him in her arms, her distress only grew.
Hua Huo's lips curled slightly. She glanced at Huo Yuhao in her arms, then at the anxious Wang Dong, a trace of mockery flashing in her eyes.
Before she could speak, Ning Tian and Wu Feng stepped forward.
"Class monitor, it's not appropriate for you to hold the deputy class monitor like this. He's seriously injured, he needs medical attention first."
"Let me and Wu Feng take him to the infirmary. You should stay here and handle the situation, class monitor."
Hua Huo's eye twitched as she stared at the "little black-haired" boy in her arms, speechless.
Her right hand subtly pinched the soft flesh at Huo Yuhao's waist and twisted.
"Cough…"
Huo Yuhao, who had just regained consciousness, spat out another mouthful of blood before passing out again.
Seeing this, Wang Dong and Ning Tian panicked even more.
Huo Yuhao couldn't be allowed to come to harm!
Hua Huo: "…"
Fine. So that's how we're playing, huh?
Huo Yuhao's face remained still, but inwardly, he sighed in resignation.
Hua Huo's sudden "attack" had caught him off guard, leaving him no choice but to cough up more blood to maintain his act.
After a brief pause, Hua Huo shook her head silently, only tightening her embrace around Huo Yuhao.
Her expression was pitiful, like a little girl clinging desperately to her favorite toy.
"Hua Huo, we can't delay any longer! Huo Yuhao is vomiting blood again!"
"Yes, class monitor! Please, let us take the deputy class monitor!"
Hua Huo said nothing, only holding Huo Yuhao even tighter.
Wang Dong, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng: "..."
At that moment, two elderly figures emerged from the crowd.
Without hesitation, one immediately released his martial soul, the Tree of Life!
Nine soul rings materialized, confirming his status as a Titled Douluo.
This was none other than Life Douluo, Elder Zhuang, a powerhouse at Rank 95!
His Tree of Life was a rare, large-scale healing-type martial soul with extraordinary restorative abilities.
Had Huo Yuhao not been injured, his intervention wouldn't have been necessary.
With a wave of his hand, Elder Zhuang summoned his martial soul's true form and activated his ninth soul skill, initiating a full-scale healing!
"Child, bring Yuhao here so he can recover faster," Elder Zhuang said gently to Hua Huo.
The Tree of Life's power was immense, within moments, Class 9's injuries were healed. Even Mu Jin, who had collapsed earlier, awoke with a start.
The moment she regained consciousness, she screamed in panic:
"Students, run! I'll hold off this Evil Soul Emperor!"
Elder Zhuang, Elder Lin, and Yan Shaozhe's eyes twitched in unison.
This Mu Jin… such a dedicated teacher, yet she can't even distinguish friend from foe!
But what could they say? She had fought desperately, even if she was no match for Ma Xiaotao.
"Teacher, it's alright now," a student reassured her.
Mu Jin scanned the scene and finally grasped the situation.
Dean Yan is here… and a Titled Douluo too…
Ma Xiaotao must have been subdued.
Seeing her students unharmed, she exhaled in relief, until her gaze landed on Hua Huo cradling Huo Yuhao.
Her breath hitched.
"What happened to Huo Yuhao?!"
"Teacher, the deputy monitor used a secret technique to save us, and then, "
As the student recounted the events, Mu Jin's entire body trembled. Flames of fury blazed in her eyes as she glared at Yan Shaozhe!
If he doesn't give a proper explanation today, I'm leaving Shrek Academy for good!
Losing her best student would hurt more than Zhou Yi stealing Fan Yu from her!
"Yan Shaozhe! If you don't answer for this today, I'll expose you for shielding an Evil Soul Master!"
Yan Shaozhe: "…"
He was in the wrong, so he chose silence.
Elder Lin sighed and stepped in.
"Teacher, please remain calm. We will provide a satisfactory answer, but first, Huo Yuhao's treatment cannot wait."
Mu Jin nodded stiffly. Though she didn't recognize the elderly woman, the way Yan Shaozhe instantly straightened up spoke volumes.
This has to be a Sea God Pavilion elder.
Under Elder Zhuang's healing, Class Nine's students now brimmed with vitality, not a scratch remained.
As for Huo Yuhao? No external injuries existed because Ma Xiaotao's attacks had never touched him. His condition stemmed solely from the "backlash."
Only when beads of sweat dotted Old Zhuang's forehead did Huo Yuhao finally stir.
"Hiss, "
He inhaled sharply through his teeth, murmuring, "This soul skill… the backlash is too severe."
As if remembering something urgent, he pushed himself out of Hua Huo's embrace and leveled a frosty glare at Yan Shaozhe, yet remained silent.
"I've mended your wounds, young man, but spiritual and blood depletion require your own recovery," Elder Zhuang said, retracting his martial soul with a weary swipe at his brow.
Had this boy not woken, the consequences would've been dire!
Even a critically injured Titled Douluo would've roused faster. Huo Yuhao's prolonged unconsciousness hinted at dual-layered damage, body and mind.
Of course, this was mere speculation. Never did Elder Zhuang suspect acting.
After all, no one can wake a man pretending to sleep.
And Huo Yuhao? He'd been the perfect sleeper.
With a final nod, Elder Zhuang vanished. His role here ended; the aftermath fell to Elder Lin.
She'd come solely for Huo Yuhao; the others, including Mu Jin, were incidental beneficiaries.
As silence reclaimed the space, all eyes locked onto Yan Shaozhe and the lingering elder.
The old woman, now composed, spoke first:
"Students, this incident undeniably stems from the academy's oversight… and Dean Yan's failure to act."
A collective exhale loosened the crowd's tension, all except Yan Shaozhe, whose face drained of color.
Elder Lin's wording confirmed it: Elder Mu En herself had sanctioned this reprimand.
Even his mentor deemed him negligent.
Yet how could he, as Dean, monitor an Inner Court disciple like Ma Xiaotao around the clock?
This was unjust!
But reality cared little for fairness. No excuse could undo what happened.
He had to bear the blame.
"Xiaotao…" Yan Shaozhe whispered, fists clenching. "Look what you've dragged your teacher into."