"What are you scared of, you coward!" Gong Cheng's furious shout rang out again, full of bitter disappointment.
But Wei Feng was still stuck in place, not daring to make the slightest move.
Deep down, he had a feeling—there was absolutely no way he'd dodge this shot!
Du Yu's eyes told him that!
The next second, the students next to Du Yu, including Li Mengnan, all stepped back, the Fire Attribute Demon Breath released by the Demon Soldier spreading farther and farther, and the wild grass on the barren ground was catching fire.
In the distance, Gong Cheng kept pushing: "I wanted a squad leader with backbone, and this is what you show me?"
Du Yu pinched the bowstring, lightly rubbing it with his fingers, secretly adjusting the placement of the arrow's tail, and the pitch-black Black Wood Bow, round as the moon moments ago, gradually became more oval.
Obviously, Du Yu was easing off the tension.
He was very obviously holding back; he didn't seem to want to shoot this Fire Arrow too fast or too far?
But Wei Feng didn't notice any of that, because in his world, all that was left were Du Yu's dazzling eyes.
"Buzz!"
That was the sound of the taut black bowstring snapping into place!
Wei Feng's face changed, and he instinctively threw a hand over his head, scrambling to dive to the side.
The students all kept backing away, clearing out space around Wei Feng.
Meanwhile, Du Yu did something that every archery instructor had strictly forbidden: a dry fire.
First Form of the God Yu Archery Technique: Frightened Bird?
Strictly speaking, it wasn't exactly a dry fire.
Even though the Fire Arrow was still pinched between Du Yu's fingers, the Fire Attribute Demon Breath that followed still burst out, and in the wave of heat, a shockwave actually rippled through the air?
The heatwave suddenly spreading outward even pushed Du Yu himself half a step back.
Damn~ Fire Resistance Ring?
So there's even this kind of trick, that's a neat little move.
"Du Yu, what are you doing?" Gong Cheng barked sternly.
Swish~
With the Black Wood Bow no longer serving as a medium, the Fire Arrow Du Yu was pinching silently dispersed. He looked at Gong Cheng and said, "There are too many classmates around. I was worried about friendly fire."
Gong Cheng: "Worried about friendly fire, why not just aim at the sky and shoot? Is that how your school teaches you the basics?"
Du Yu tilted his head slightly, gesturing in Wei Feng's direction. "I'm worried that while I could spare him, he might not spare me."
Over there, Wei Feng was still lying on the ground, cold sweat streaming down his forehead, looking properly shaken.
The feeling of doing a lap around the Ghost Gate was one this rookie Demon Tamer had never experienced.
In martial arts classes at school, you always had safety measures, sparring just for practice—when did it ever get this real, this life-or-death?
Listening to Du Yu's explanation, even Gong Cheng couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
The little head-tilt gesture was just like the one Gong Cheng had made at the bus door yesterday—totally imitated, right down to the attitude.
Although Gong Cheng found it odd, he really respected Du Yu's philosophy.
If you don't want to hurt others, that's your business—you can't expect your opponent to appreciate your kindness!
No one could guarantee if, while Du Yu aimed away, Wei Feng wouldn't seize the chance to attack, or just chuck a knife his way.
So this shot absolutely should've stayed trained on Wei Feng's face, no mercy and no hesitation.
"Hmm." Gong Cheng rubbed his chin for the first time, and that deep, stern voice took on a hint of sarcasm. "Not bad, Squad Leader Du?"
Hearing Gong Cheng's teasing, Du Yu tensed up and quickly stepped back.
He had never volunteered to be squad leader: when others put their names forward, he'd just huddled quietly in the crowd, waiting to take someone out at the last minute.
But damn that Gong Cheng, using that title again and tossing Du Yu back into the eye of the storm.
"Enough, look at you acting like a wimp!" Gong Cheng scolded Du Yu, his tyrannical streak on full display. "Squad Leader's still Du Yu. Fall in!"
The others, though disgruntled, dared not object in the face of black-faced Gong Cheng.
"Du Yu!"
"Here!"
"What are you, useless? I tell you to form up, you don't even know how to organize the team?"
"Uh…" Forced into it, Du Yu called out in a hurry, "Assemble, assemble! Eight per row, line yourselves up by height!"
"Eight per row, three rows—aren't you clever, Squad Leader Du."
Du Yu grumbled inside. What, is this arrangement a problem now? Resigned, he changed his tune: "Six per row, four rows!"
Gong Cheng: "Count me in, how about you make it a perfect 5 by 5 square?"
Du Yu: "..."
Is this teacher my ex-girlfriend reincarnated? Why is he so picky?
No, wait, I didn't even have a girlfriend in my past life.
All my teachers used to say, once you get to college, you can date whoever you want. Bullshit, they were all liars!
With my luck, I'll barely live to make it to the big exam, probably can't even last through summer break…
"Du Yu!"
"Here!"
This time Gong Cheng was properly pissed, his deep voice jumping to high notes: "I'm lecturing you and you're spacing out? I told you to organize the team!"
Du Yu: "Two rows, twelve per row! Move it, people!"
Finally, Gong Cheng didn't say anything—looks like Du Yu finally got it "right."
Gong Cheng walked over to Du Yu. "You're lacking a bit of backbone, but you'll work on that. Back in line."
"Yes, sir." Du Yu hurried to the open spot at the head of the first row. At 179cm, he still felt dwarfed by the 190cm-tall guy next to him, which was annoying.
"First row, squat down." Gong Cheng, hands behind his back, said in a low voice, "Since you've all passed the Demon Spirit Academy's test, that means you're all Demon Tamer Prentices now.
Anyone want to tell me the ranks of Demon Tamers?"
"Demon Tamer Prentice, Demon Tamer Journeyman, Demon Tamer, Great Demon Tamer, Demon Taming General, Demon Taming Emperor, Demon Taming Saint."
The students all vied to answer, eager to show off in front of the teacher.
Gong Cheng: "At the Demon Tamer Prentice stage, what can you do?"
"Temper the body, externalize Demon Breath, super strong physique. Learn the Demon Disciple Contract!"
"Heh, super strong physique, huh? You say that with a straight face? At most, you're only a little better than regular people." Gong Cheng said with biting sarcasm. "And the rankings for Demon Beasts?"
"Mortal Level, Earth Level, Heavenly Level, Spirit Level, Demon General Level, Demon Emperor Level, Demon Saint Level!"
Gong Cheng nodded. "Both humans and Demon Beasts are split into seven levels. Every time you reach a new level, you can learn the contract for that rank and get a Demon Pet of that level.
The lowest-level Demon Disciple Contract lets you and your Demon Pet create a faint spiritual link.
But that link is weak—nowhere near enough for actual mind-to-mind communication. It only means you can kind of sense each other's mood… Du Yu."
"Here!"
"Come over."
Du Yu, confused, stepped forward.
Gong Cheng used Du Yu as a human model, pointing at the Forehead Acupoint: "Now, focus your mind, gather your Elemental Demon Breath between your eyebrows—Forehead Acupoint!"
Instructor Gong's demonstration had plenty of fangirls swooning.
Finally, a legit excuse to stare properly—Du Yu's dashing brows and especially his bright eyes were just too good to pass up...
Gong Cheng's explanation was exactly like Little Fen Yang's from yesterday: Forehead—Philtrum—Danzhong—Sea of Qi, all in a line. Simple enough, but definitely not easy.
The others didn't have Little Fen Yang to guide them—these rookies had to rely on their own focus to handle their wild Demon Breath, and it really wasn't easy.
But Du Yu spotted a few students who looked totally relaxed. Clearly they'd already learned the Demon Disciple Contract at home yesterday?
After carefully teaching the cultivation method, Gong Cheng barked, "Everyone—you have to master it today!
Otherwise you'll stand right here! No food, no sleep!"
Gong Cheng paced back and forth in front of the students, his booming voice nearly shaking their eardrums: "Starting today, you'd better stay on your toes!
Demon Pets grow quickly—if your contract rank falls below theirs, they might tear up the contract any time, leave you, or even attack you."
Gong Cheng's tone was deadly serious, and the students were silent as a graveyard.
A trace of a cold smile crossed Gong Cheng's face: "Sooner or later, you'll probably face that situation. After all, you only awakened at your age—your talent's only so-so.
That's why emotional bonds are especially important.
The most important factor in stopping your Demon Pet from breaking the contract, abandoning or attacking you, is your bond."
Gong Cheng looked at the students, eyes closed and trying to focus, and said distinctly, "A Demon Pet is never our slave. They're our partners.
Remember this. One day, these words might save your life… Du Yu!"
"Here!" Du Yu snapped his eyes open and looked at Gong Cheng.
"What're you pretending for?"
Du Yu: "..."
"At least make it look convincing if you're going to fake it! Where's your Demon Pet?"
"Uh." Du Yu looked over at long-legged Little Mengnan, third spot in the second row.
Li Mengnan finally caught on, instinctively patted her pockets and then found the sleepy, dazed Little Fire Fox by her collar.
Her cheeks flushed. She stepped forward and handed over the Little Fire Fox.
Gong Cheng's face darkened even more: "What, Squad Leader Du? You even brought a little assistant with you?"
Little?
That's straight-up nonsense! Didn't you see how comfy that Little Fire Fox was?
Du Yu grumbled inside but stepped forward to collect his pet.
Gong Cheng looked at the lively, pitiful-eyed Little Fire Fox in Du Yu's hands and asked, "Contract's already signed?"
"Yes, Instructor Gong."
"Anyone else have family teach them at home, or figured it out online? Step forward!"
Instanly, two guys and two girls stepped out.
Funny thing was, this was almost the same group as had vied for squad leader earlier, except a girl replaced Wei Feng's spot.
The girl had a soft aura and bright eyes. Her deep red ribbon tied her hair simply, and her long ponytail draped around her neck, flowing down the front.
She carried an exquisitely-made crimson Hunting Bow—a far cry from the bargain bows handed out by the Demon Spirit Academy.
Probably some rich heiress here slumming it for the vibes.
"Yip~"
Du Yu jumped, quickly grabbing the Little Fire Fox in case it tried to stake out a new territory.
"All the rooms on the west side of the first floor are your dorms—some for two, some for four. Go grab your luggage from the bus, then pick your dorm." Gong Cheng spoke extra loudly, goading the kids still struggling to master their contracts.
Gong Cheng's style was always this straightforward and brutal. Fairness? Never heard of it. It was all about strength.
"After you finish picking dorms, meet me at the northeast corner of the field."
Du Yu and the others traded looks, dared not object, and went running toward the school bus.
"Yip~" On the way, the Little Fire Fox kept squirming, its fuzzy little head forcing through Du Yu's fingers, those golden-brown fox eyes gazing longingly at the girl with the red Hunting Bow.
The girl's voice was just as soft as she looked: "She has beautiful eyes—that means she's a girl, right?"
"Uh… yeah." Through the contract, Du Yu could sense the Little Fire Fox's inner thoughts, so he just shoved it back in his pocket.
The girl couldn't help but grumble internally: Stingy?
She glanced at Du Yu's face and teased him, "You've got a pair of beautiful eyes too—goes perfectly with your Fire Attribute. That's pretty rare."
She was honestly curious how Du Yu was going to shove his own eyes into his pocket too.
"Uh…" Du Yu scratched his head awkwardly. Beautiful wasn't exactly a word he'd use for himself.
As he scratched his head with one hand, he lost hold of his pocket, and the Little Fire Fox let out a happy squeal and dashed straight for its new home, its new bed…
Didn't even look back.