Join Tang San and Get Xiao Wu

The first task issued by the system was for Meng Bei to become friends with Tang San. However, after he got involved with Xiao Wu, the task's difficulty skyrocketed from "easy" to "nightmare."

Clearly, according to the system's judgment, since Meng Bei had betrayed Tang San, their friendship would be nearly impossible to establish, thus escalating the task's difficulty.

But Meng Bei only had one thing to say: the system was still too naive.

Not only would betraying Tang San not hinder their friendship, but it could actually be leveraged to build it.

The current situation was similar. Meng Bei had nearly crippled the Master in a fit of anger, making forgiveness seem unattainable. From the system's perspective, earning the Master's forgiveness would require a tremendous price, hence the "nightmare" difficulty rating.

Yet Meng Bei had his own way of handling things.

With his head lowered, Meng Bei walked toward the Master's bedside. Everyone around him instinctively made way.

The Master looked at Meng Bei, whose expression seemed deeply regretful. He believed Meng Bei hadn't acted out of malice—young people often acted impulsively. Still, he wasn't about to forgive Meng Bei easily.

It wasn't just the injury; it was the disrespect.

If it had been Tang San in the same situation, the Master was confident Tang San would have kept his composure, listened, and sought his guidance rather than lashing out.

Thus, the Master intended to use this opportunity to discipline Meng Bei. He actually admired Meng Bei and saw similarities between them. Both possessed mutated martial spirits: Meng Bei's Snow Rabbit wasn't inherently superior to the Master's Luo San Pao.

The Master believed both of them had achieved their success through relentless hard work. Meng Bei's rise in strength through constant battles in the arena reminded him of his own obsessive studies of martial spirits. Perhaps it was this shared trait that had helped Meng Bei, with his innate rank-nine spirit power, become Shrek's top student.

Precisely because of this admiration, the Master wanted to bring Meng Bei under his control. Watching Meng Bei approach, the Master had already decided how to handle him.

As expected, Meng Bei reached the bedside, his head bowed.

"Master," he began, "you know… you're my idol."

The Master's eyes widened in surprise.

"I… your idol?"

Meng Bei raised his head, his azure eyes filled with sincerity.

"I've heard your story—a so-called 'failure,' born with only half a rank of innate spirit power. Many mock you as a fraud, a pretentious failure."

"But I don't see it that way. A failure with only half a rank of innate spirit power whose name spreads even to the far North? Isn't that proof of your greatness?"

The Master felt slightly moved.

Meng Bei continued, "I've studied your life. Born noble, yet brought low. Despite your circumstances, you didn't give up. You emerged anew, showcasing an indomitable spirit. I admire you. I admire the way you refuse mediocrity, even in the face of failure. Outwardly, you may be a failure, but spiritually, you're a giant!"

Hearing this, the Master was nearly moved to tears.

For the first time, he felt truly understood. Meng Bei's words touched him deeply, as if the young man saw into his very soul.

Even Flender, Tang San, and the others felt a newfound respect for Meng Bei. This unexpected display of vulnerability made them feel closer to him.

But Meng Bei's tone suddenly shifted, becoming sharp and accusatory.

"Yet I never expected my idol to be so arrogant and despicable!"

The Master's expression froze. The warmth in his eyes was replaced by disbelief. Flender and Tang San also glared at Meng Bei in anger.

Ignoring them, Meng Bei continued, his voice rising, "I know I'm not as gifted as the other Seven Monsters. Boss Dai, Fatty, Sister Zhuqing—they have top-tier martial spirits. Third Brother, Sister Xiao Wu, and Oscar—each of them has innate full spirit power. And Sister Rongrong… well, she's in a league of her own. Only I, with my rank-nine spirit power and my unknown mutated Snow Rabbit, am the least talented."

The group exchanged uneasy glances. They couldn't deny it, but Meng Bei's humility bordered on absurdity.

Meng Bei's emotions surged as he continued, "But that doesn't give you the right to look down on me!"

His piercing gaze locked onto the Master, who seemed momentarily stunned.

"Master, I don't think you respect me at all! Tell me—if it had been Boss Dai or Sister Zhuqing in my place, would you have dared to barge into their room like that?"

"I… I…" The Master was at a loss for words.

Meng Bei had chosen his examples perfectly. Dai Mubai, with his royal lineage and rank-37 strength, was the one person in the group the Master somewhat feared. And Zhu Zhuqing, being a woman, was someone he wouldn't dare barge in on, out of propriety.

Had it been anyone else, the Master might have confidently denied Meng Bei's accusation. But in this case, he hesitated.

"Little Bei, this is a misunderstanding—" the Master stammered, attempting to explain.

But his fumbling defense only made him appear guiltier.

Meng Bei seized the moment, cutting him off.

"Enough! It's my fault for being impulsive. I was only trying to protect Rongrong, but I hurt everyone in the process. I'll take responsibility and repay the academy's medical expenses."

Then, his tone hardened.

"But what about you, Master? Don't you think you've done anything wrong? Does being injured absolve you of your own mistakes?"

"Why did you barge into my room without permission? Why didn't you apologize when you saw what you did? Why didn't you turn around immediately?"

"I know why. It's because you don't respect me. You look down on someone with poor innate talent like me!"

"I…" The Master's lips trembled.

Meng Bei's accusations hit like a sledgehammer. The Master felt conflicted, unsure whether to defend himself or accept blame. A faint sense of shame crept into his heart.

Meng Bei coldly chuckled.

"If you don't respect me, then I see no reason to respect you."

With a resolute gaze, Meng Bei declared,

"Master, I will never forgive you for this!"

"From this day forward, I quit Shrek Academy!"

With that, he turned and walked away.

*[Ding! Side Quest Completed.]*

---

Advanced 30+ Chapters in Patreon

Link: www.pat reon.com/Sleepy_Hua