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Chapter 146: The Great Elder Falls, Ma Hongjun Exposed as a Scourge
🕑 Added 2025-09-25 04:30:45 +0000 UTC“Bullshit! You’re still clinging to the same ideas you had back when Bing’er was Rank 20. At your age, that’s pathetic.”
The voice thundered in from outside before the man himself appeared. Everyone turned as Shui Wuliang strode into the hall with Shui Bing’er at his side, his expression stormy.
“Cousin!”
The clan leader, Shui Wuqing, immediately rose to his feet as though he’d just been rescued. His tone was unusually respectful.
This was no surprise—by rights, the clan leader’s position should have been Wuliang’s. But his innate spirit power had been too low, his cultivation talent insufficient. Even now he was only a Rank 57 Spirit King. Because of that, Wuqing had inherited the title. Wuqing might be the clan’s strongest Spirit Emperor, but with little prestige among the elders, he had been forced to let the Elder Council, led by the Great Elder, handle the clan’s affairs.
Now Wuliang glared at the Great Elder still lounging arrogantly in his seat.
“I respected you as an elder, so I called you Uncle Bai. Without that respect, you’re nothing to me. How dare you make decisions about Bing’er’s future on your own? You’re shortsighted and corrupt. The Great Elder should safeguard the family’s interests, but you’re unfit for that seat.”
“Watch your tongue, Wuliang. Do you know who you’re talking to? I have the authority to cast you out of the clan right now!”
The Great Elder’s face darkened as he snapped back. How could a failed candidate for clan leader—a mere Spirit King—dare to try to strip him of his title?
Wuliang scoffed. From his storage ring, he drew a carved black-iron token etched with the Shui character.
“Is this token enough to strip you of your position?”
Gasps erupted from the hall.
“That… that’s the old clan head’s personal token! It’s equal to the clan leader’s command.”
“Wasn’t that buried with him? How is it in your hands?”
But they quickly remembered: Wuliang was the old clan head’s only son, deeply respected among the younger generation. He had only surrendered the position because of his weaker cultivation.
The Great Elder broke into a sweat, panic setting in. He slumped back into his chair.
“No, I’ve worked for this family for forty years. You’re just a Spirit King—you can’t dismiss me, you can’t!”
Wuliang sneered and tossed a ledger onto the floor.
“Did you think I spent all those years in Vast Sea City managing the family’s businesses because my spirit power was too low? I’ve been gathering evidence. You and a few others have been lining your pockets with clan wealth. Every crime is laid out clearly in this book.
“I kept silent out of respect for your years of service. But today you’ve crossed the line, endangering the family’s future. Losing your position is already merciful.”
Several elders snatched up the scattered pages. The more they read, the angrier they became.
Seeing his corruption exposed, the Great Elder made a desperate move. He lunged toward Shui Bing’er, planning to seize her as a hostage. With her in his grip, he could escape. And with his Rank 62 Spirit Emperor strength, he could easily find refuge in Spirit Hall.
But before he could reach her, a figure intercepted him. A single heavy punch sent him crashing back.
As he staggered, Shui Wuqing pressed the Iceheart Sword against his throat.
“You dare try to kill Bing’er? You greedy wretch deserve death. Guards! Take him away. Tomorrow, his head will be on display.”
“You kill me and my brothers will bury the entire Shui clan with me!” the Great Elder roared, struggling against his captors.
“Relax,” Wuliang said coldly. “They’ve already been dealt with. Tomorrow, you’ll all take the same road. Go apologize to the old clan head in the afterlife.”
“No, no, you can’t kill me! I’ve bled and sweat for this family. Without me, the Shui clan will collapse!”
Fear consumed him as he begged for mercy. But it was useless. His fate was sealed, like livestock led to slaughter. Around the hall, the elders exchanged uneasy glances. Relief mixed with a deep, gnawing fear.
Off to the side, Tang San and the others finally processed what they had just witnessed.
Flender quickly judged that this was no time to continue negotiations. He was about to lead Tang San and Xiao Wu away when Yu Xiaogang suddenly stopped him.
“Wait, Flender. This might still turn to our advantage.”
The Grandmaster’s confidence in Shrek Academy was unshakable. Their performance in the current Spirit Master Tournament spoke for itself, and Tang San, as the wielder of twin spirits, carried the backing of the Clear Sky Clan—the number one sect in the world.
With that name behind them, a small clan like the Shui family could be handled easily.
“Clan Leader Shui Wuqing,” Yu Xiaogang said, “since marriage is no longer possible, perhaps your family could do us a small favor instead?”
Wuqing glanced at Wuliang, then nodded.
“Of course. What do you need?”
Yu Xiaogang pushed Ma Hongjun forward.
“This student of mine is gifted, but his spirit has problems. From time to time, his evil fire flares out of control. I have an unusual request: could Bing’er help him suppress it?”
“This…”
Wuqing hesitated. The issue did sound similar to the cold poison Bing’er had struggled with in her youth. Helping Ma Hongjun could build goodwill for the family. But such a thing depended entirely on Bing’er’s willingness.
“I refuse.”
Bing’er’s firm voice cut through the hall.
Before Wuqing could ask why, Yu Xiaogang pressed urgently,
“Why not? If we can solve his problem, Hongjun will surely repay the Shui family’s kindness. And Shrek Academy will also stand by your side.”
“I don’t care if he has the Fire Phoenix spirit,” Bing’er shot back. “I’ve heard the stories. Every time he tries to deal with his evil fire, at least one girl his age gets hurt. And he’s not even good-looking. Absolutely not.”
