CHAPTER 305: CHAPTER 305: THE MELANCHOLY ZHU ZHUQING

As Shui Yue’er walked off the stage, she was absolutely beaming with pride. Her fair chin was tilted so high it might as well have touched the sky.

This irked Shui Bing’er and the others to no end.

"It was just a problem with the Shrek Team. What’s it got to do with your precious Mr. Dan Heng? Yue’er, don’t use this as an excuse to show off!"

"Yeah! Even if the Shrek Team had shown up, we would’ve still beaten them!"

"..."

None of the girls were willing to let this victory be credited to Dan Heng.

Shui Yue’er huffed smugly.

"You girls know nothing! Mr. Dan Heng is incredibly powerful and amazing! I bet he stopped the Shrek Team with divine powers just to keep me from getting hurt! Otherwise, how could we have won so easily?"

She spoke with complete conviction.

In her mind, any win was thanks to Mr. Dan Heng.

If they lost? That just meant they were too dumb—even Dan Heng couldn’t save them...

Shui Bing’er shook her head slightly, too lazy to argue with her love-struck little sister.

Eventually, reality would slap her awake.

"Next, we’re heading to the finals in the Fontaine Empire. Yue’er, you can’t slack off. You need more drills with the team. No matter how strong you are, if you don’t cooperate, you won’t improve much."

Shui Bing’er reminded her.

"Got it, sis~!"

But as soon as she stepped off the platform, Shui Yue’er made a beeline for the Blue Tyrant Academy’s side.

All the girls shook their heads helplessly, wearing awkward expressions.

Xue Wu whispered to Shui Bing’er:

"We’re lucky Mr. Dan Heng is actually a decent guy. With how obsessed Yue’er is, if he asked her to be his concubine, she’d probably jump at the chance!"

Shui Bing’er’s expression changed. That was a very real possibility!If that really happened, their entire family would be thoroughly embarrassed!

Shui Yue’er first went to the VIP room to thank Dan Heng.

Then she ran back to her girlfriends, nose in the air, spouting the same lines: "All thanks to Mr. Dan Heng, we made it through so easily!"

The girls laughed at her. They thought she was completely boy-crazy.How could she credit a lucky break to Dan Heng?

After some teasing and laughter...

Zhu Zhuyun sighed and said:

"I just went to see Zhuqing. She’s really down right now. Told me to come back first. I don’t know what’s bothering her... I don’t think it’s just the inheritance from the God of Speed."

Meng Yiran frowned.

"Shouldn’t Mr. Dan Heng talk to her? Zhuqing respects him deeply. And besides, as her teacher, he should be looking after her!"

She couldn’t help but feel bad for Zhu Zhuqing.

Such an outstanding disciple—yet Dan Heng wasn’t treating her with the care she deserved.

She was only one step away from receiving a divine inheritance!

And yet her teacher... was indifferent!

Just watching this made her anxious.

"Enough with dragging Mr. Dan Heng into everything," Shui Yue’er snapped.

Meng Yiran snorted.

"I just think it’s unfair to Zhuqing. If it were me, I’d leave my sect and my clan just to get that god’s inheritance! We’re talking about a real god! And Zhuqing turned it down..."

Meng Yiran’s tone gradually turned sour.

Zhu Zhuyun gave a subtle nod. She also felt Zhu Zhuqing was being foolish.Couldn’t she tell what really mattered?

"You guys...?! You don’t understand anything!" Shui Yue’er jumped up, raising her voice.

"Understand what? Yue’er, your rose-colored glasses for Dan Heng are way too thick."

Meng Yiran couldn’t hold back.

That ticked Shui Yue’er off immediately, and the two started bickering.

Meng Yiran didn’t back down—she’d held resentment toward Dan Heng for a while, especially since Shui Yue’er had even argued with her over him.

Just a moment ago, they were giggling like besties. Now? Full-on fight.

Huo Wu stood with hands on her hips and sided with Shui Yue’er.

"Yue’er’s mostly right! Mr. Dan Heng is a great teacher!"

"A great teacher wouldn’t stop his disciple from accepting a god’s inheritance! Wouldn’t even notice she’s struggling?! Maybe that’s exactly why Zhuqing’s upset!"

Meng Yiran shot back two quick questions like arrows.

"..." Huo Wu knew she had a weak argument, but refused to admit defeat. She jumped in anyway—at this point, it was about pride.

Xiao Wu stood trembling. She was the quiet type—just here for the ride.She knew Dan Heng had divine-level power, but she herself hadn’t been fully accepted by Gu Yuena yet.

As a hundred-thousand-year soul beast turned human, she wasn’t exactly "one of them."

"Stop arguing, everyone’s looking..." Xiao Wu tried to mediate, but her voice had no force.

Zhu Zhuyun pretended to play peacemaker but was secretly on Meng Yiran’s side.

Over at Blue Tyrant Academy, the male students were all wide-eyed.Beautiful girls arguing? This was pure gold.

Even the "least" attractive one was a stunner.

And Shui Yue’er? Basically had celebrity status.

"Enough! You little brats think you can cause trouble like this?!"

Suddenly, Liu Erlong arrived with a scowl. She smacked each girl on the head.

They clutched their heads, eyes tearing up from the pain.

Liu Erlong didn’t care about rank or status—she always hit first.

"If you’ve got time to argue, go train! What’s all this nonsense?" She barked again.

Meng Yiran and the others didn’t even dare argue.

Compared to Dan Heng’s mysterious calm, Liu Erlong was the real deal—academy head, Sea God inheritor, and now a titled Douluo.

Her authority was way more intimidating.

"Scram!"

She snapped.

The girls ran off immediately, not daring to stay for another scolding.

Liu Erlong, hands on hips, marched to the upstairs VIP room.

Inside—

Dan Heng and Gu Yuena were chatting about Zhu Zhuqing.

"...Husband, I’ll go check on Zhuqing. Girls are sensitive. Who knows what she’s overthinking."

Gu Yuena cradled their baby and smiled.

Dan Heng nodded.

"Thank you."

She kissed his cheek and said with a grin:

"We’re husband and wife—no need for thanks. Besides, Zhuqing is half my disciple too."

Just then, Liu Erlong walked in. The couple looked over.

Liu Erlong scratched her head awkwardly.

"Is this... a bad time?"

"Not at all. What’s up, Erlong?" Gu Yuena asked.

"Nothing much, just... sigh, I came to see you two."

Liu Erlong hesitated, looking a little dejected.

Dan Heng and Gu Yuena exchanged glances and sat back down.

They gestured for her to sit across from them. Liu Erlong blushed, poured herself a huge cup of tea, and downed it.

"It’s that bastard Yu Xiaogang again!"

"They made some kind of hidden weapons and signed a massive contract with the Grand Auction House, but..."

"Now they’re screwed. They’ve been detained by the auction house and couldn’t make it here. I was hoping you, Gu-jie, could reach out to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—maybe if a few major factions speak up, we can get them out..."

The more she talked, the lower her voice got.

Dan Heng raised an eyebrow, recalling how smug Yu Xiaogang had been the last time they met.

Buying books at the Heaven Dou Library like a big spender, dropping thousands of gold soul coins.

And now?

He rose up like a tower, threw grand banquets... and now that tower has crumbled.

The collapse happened way

too fast.

Dan Heng slightly shook his head—he didn’t feel any particular regret.

He wasn’t close to Yu Xiaogang, and with someone like that—arrogant the moment he tasted success—this downfall was only natural.

Wait, actually... it was kind of related to them.

The hidden weapon business... was run by his wife!

In other words, the reason Yu Xiaogang and the others got into trouble... was them.

Dan Heng glanced at Gu Yuena.

Gu Yuena narrowed her eyes, completely unaffected. She didn’t feel the slightest guilt, and said teasingly:

"What? Still not over Yu Xiaogang?"

Liu Erlong instantly exploded.

"No way in hell!!! That bastard is the stain of my life! If he wasn’t my uncle’s son, I’d have killed him already!"

She rambled emotionally, face flushed red with a mix of anger and shame.In the end, she let out a sigh.

"I’m doing this for Flender and the others. After all, we’ve known each other for decades. When I was taken to the Grand Auction House and saw Flender... his hair was completely white, like he’d aged decades in a flash. My heart just hurt..."

"Gu-jie, please help me? The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would definitely listen to you. If they step in, maybe the auction house will back off..."

Liu Erlong looked awkward. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan didn’t hold nearly the same sway among the nobility as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.

Besides, Yu Yuanzhen had already made it clear—he wouldn’t lift a finger to clean up Yu Xiaogang’s mess, let alone beg Ning Fengzhi for help.

Gu Yuena chuckled and flicked Liu Erlong’s forehead.

"You’re really overcomplicating things. Worrying makes you lose your head."

Liu Erlong blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"You, the Sea God’s inheritor—you don’t have enough face? Forget asking the Glazed Tile Clan. If you speak directly to the Grand Auction House, they’ll absolutely give you that respect."

Gu Yuena reminded her.

Liu Erlong froze for a moment, and finally realized—she wasn’t the same person she used to be.

No wonder Yu Yuanzhen didn’t have the clan step in.

He must’ve known she was capable of handling it.

"I... thank you, Gu-jie. I get it now. I’ll go right away."

With everything clear, Liu Erlong dashed out.

Gu Yuena turned and smiled at Dan Heng, winking.

"Shrek brought this on themselves. Don’t blame me."

Dan Heng gave a helpless smile.Was he the type to blame his wife for some outsiders’ mess?

"I’ll go check on Zhuqing now..."

Gu Yuena left the room too.

At the Grand Auction House

Liu Erlong arrived in a rush. After giving her name, she was quickly escorted to where the Shrek members were being held.

Thanks to Liu Erlong’s status, Flender and the others weren’t treated harshly.

But the psychological blow was crushing.

Flender looked like a man who had aged decades in a single night—hunched over, his once shoulder-length hair now stark white. He sat in deep despair.

The others looked as if their spirits had been drained.

At that moment, it felt like Shrek Academy’s hopes had truly died.

All those efforts and dreams... had turned to dust.

Yu Xiaogang stood by the window, hands behind his back, still pretending to be composed.

He showed no guilt—only resentment that someone had stolen his hidden weapon business.

Creak...

The door opened.

The auction house owner entered with Liu Erlong.

"Dean Liu, welcome. Since you’ve spoken, how could we possibly keep pursuing this matter?"

"The penalty clause was unreasonable to begin with..."

The auction house boss was all politeness.

Liu Erlong gave an embarrassed smile. She knew she didn’t exactly have the moral high ground.

The Shrek crew all looked over, hope shining in their eyes.

Flender, however, kept his head down—he couldn’t even look at Liu Erlong.

Ever since arriving in Heaven Dou City, he had thrown himself into building up Shrek Academy. He had even dreamed of overtaking Blue Tyrant Academy.

But after all those ups and downs, he still needed Liu Erlong to bail them out.The bitterness was hard to put into words.

Yu Xiaogang quickly came forward, visibly moved.

"Erlong, you’re really going to help us with the debt?!"

Liu Erlong gave him a weary glance.The more she looked, the more she regretted her past.

How could I have ever liked a man like this...

The auction house boss continued:

"We’ve always admired Dean Liu. Since you’ve spoken, we can consider this matter resolved—so long as Shrek hands over all its financial and land assets."

"How does that sound?"

His tone remained respectful. All the nobles behind the auction house were in agreement:

Even if they lost some money, it was worth currying favor with Liu Erlong.

Even the books that Shrek had purchased? They were willing to let that go—what they really wanted was the land.

Because all they wanted... was to leave a good impression with Liu Erlong.

"Then... thank you very much..."

Liu Erlong replied awkwardly.She knew she now owed them a big favor.

Suddenly, Yu Xiaogang spoke up:

"I have a proposal. Why not continue supporting us? The auction house could be our official backer, a sponsor—"

"Shut up!!!"

Flender suddenly roared. He shot up from his seat and stormed over, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Yu Xiaogang.

Yu Xiaogang flinched.

"Flender, you... what are you doing?!"

SMACK!!

A loud slap echoed through the room.

Yu Xiaogang’s head snapped to the side. A clear, red handprint bloomed across his cheek.

He stood there in stunned silence, as if his soul had left his body.

"Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?!"

Flender shouted, shoving Yu Xiaogang to the ground and storming out of the room.

"Flender...!"

Everyone was shocked.

No one went to check on Yu Xiaogang—except Tang San.

Meanwhile, in the woods of Blue Tyrant Academy—

Gu Yuena found Zhu Zhuqing violently "attacking" a centuries-old tree.

A murderous red aura surrounded Zhu Zhuqing—it was killing intent.

All the rage and bloodlust she had built up in the Slaughter City was finally erupting.

Punch after punch slammed into the tree trunk. Her hands, like cat claws, shredded bark and sent wood chips flying.

Gu Yuena approached and placed a hand on Zhu Zhuqing’s shoulder, sighing.

"You silly girl. When you’re struggling like this, why don’t you talk to your teacher—or to me?"

Zhu Zhuqing whipped around, her eyes blood-red.

When she saw Gu Yuena, she immediately shut her eyes. Tears the size of beans streamed down her cheeks.

She backed away a few steps, voice trembling.

"Master’s wife... my killing aura... it might affect Bao’er..."

Gu Yuena smiled and patted her head.

"Stop overthinking. Bao’er is our child—she’s not that fragile. But you... you can’t let the killing aura keep consuming you anymore..."

(End of Chapter)