Chapter 9: Pummeling the Turtle
"Senior Sister."
The black-haired youth's ferocity vanished instantly.
"Senior Sister."
Her gaze swept over the group, rippleless. Landing on a scholarly young man, the corner of her mouth lifted almost imperceptibly.
"You're causing trouble at my stall?!"
An Zhen's eyes locked onto the youth with a manifested turtle-shell Martial Soul.
Zhang Lexuan's gaze shifted to Xu Sanshi. Though emotionless, it alone made Xu Sanshi stammer: "Senior Sister, I—"
"He cut in line, forced a sale, and bullied our Yu Tong!" the lively girl interjected.
"I paid! He refused Nan Nan, so he refused me," Xu Sanshi retorted coldly.
"Yu Tong, Wang Dong—unhurt?"
An Zhen approached the girls, concern warming his voice.
"Fine," Wang Dong shook her head, eyes flashing. "He cut in, threw money, grabbed the milk tea. Yu Tong resisted—he bruised her wrist."
"Yu Tong."
An Zhen gently lifted the girl's sleeve. Red finger marks marred fair skin.
He hurt someone under my protection!
"What face does a turtle like you have?!"
Contempt iced the youth's voice.
No wonder he's unlovable—domineering, cutting lines, bullying juniors.
"Kid—" Xu Sanshi's threat died as he met Zhang Lexuan's gaze.
"Name your price."
"Apologize to my people, or we duel in the Combat Arena," An Zhen demanded, striking intent palpable.
Strike hard.
"!"
Fury surged through Xu Sanshi. Apologize before her? Impossible.
"You're pushing your luck?!"
Xu Sanshi turned to Zhang Lexuan. "Senior Sister, he challenged me! Punish me later—but Tang Ya attacked first with a hidden weapon!"
"You bullied my junior brother!" the scholarly youth countered.
"Quite the commotion?"
A hoarse voice cut through. A disheveled elder, chicken leg in teeth, ambled over.
"Alchemist."
Zhang Lexuan bowed.
"Alchemist!"
Students hastily followed suit.
An Zhen glanced at Wang Dong. "Prepare milk tea for Lord Gluttony. Explain."
"Huh? Oh!"
She snapped to attention—Titled Douluo! Legs weakened around them.
So the endorsement was real.
Xu Sanshi paled. He'd thought it a student scam.
The sequence was simple: Jiang Nannan wanted discounted milk tea. Huoyu Tong, unauthorized to haggle, refused. Xu Sanshi played white knight—threw coins, grabbed the drink. Huoyu Tong resisted; he bruised her wrist. Tang Ya intervened…
"Xu boy."
"Y-yes?"
The arrogant youth now quivered like a quail.
Lord Gluttony sipped milk tea after his chicken leg. "This began as your fault."
His dim eyes flicked to Huoyu Tong, shielded by An Zhen. "No Arena. Settle it here."
"Win: pay 1,000 gold soul coins. Lose: four Profound Water Pills and an apology."
"Alchemi—" Tang Ya protested—An Zhen's a freshman! Xu Sanshi's sixth-year!
"Deal!" An Zhen accepted instantly.
Tang Ya deflated. Is he insane?!
"Xu boy." The aged voice rumbled.
"I accept! Since you command, venerable elder!"
Even with the Dragon Whistling Thorn gone, crushing a freshman seemed easy.
"Clear space."
A wrinkled hand patted Xu Sanshi's shoulder. A golden thread, finer than hair, ejected—condensing into a pellet Lord Gluttony tossed to Tang Ya.
Xu Sanshi rejoiced!
Seeing An Zhen's faint smile, he sneered inwardly. You're finished, kid.
"He's finished!" Tang Ya despaired.
"Teacher Xiao Ya—is he strong?" Huoyu Tong fretted as Tang Ya applied ointment.
"Hate to admit it—Profound Black Turtle, mutated Martial Soul. Same rank as Bei Bei. Outer court's strongest defense."
"Without retrieving that Thorn, your friend had a sliver of hope. Now? None."
"This impulsive fool…" Wang Dong bit her lip, eyes fixed on An Zhen's back.
"Alchemist, this is unfair."
Under shocked stares, the pink-blue-haired youth challenged the Super Douluo.
"Who told the boy to covet another's treasure?" The elder gnawed his chicken leg. "Besides—how do you know it's impulse, not confidence?"
"Xu Sanshi, Soul Elder, Profound Black Turtle. Boy—surrender now."
"An Zhen, Great Soul Master, World."
The youth stepped back under puzzled gazes, closed his eyes, then reopened them.
"Not attacking?"
"Heh." The cocky youth hadn't even manifested his Martial Soul. "Three free moves."
Soul power surged—yet no spirit rings appeared.
"Your left leg."
A bright yellow ring flared.
"Ah!"
A scream tore the air. The sixth-year senior collapsed, kneeing, face contorted.
"Kid!"
Profound Black Turtle Manifestation!
Muscles bulged; a fierce aura erupted.
Suddenly, Xu Sanshi felt wetness on his cheeks.
"Pfft—big turtle!" Wang Dong's laughter sparked chuckles around them.
"?" Xu Sanshi scowled. "My Martial Soul is Profound Black Turtle!"
It deserved respect!
"Xu Turtle! Your face!" Tang Ya crowed.
Pulling a mirror from his storage device, Xu Sanshi saw it—
"Turtle" etched on his left cheek. "King" on his right.
When?! I manifested!
"Xu Sanshi—ever been bullied?"
A cool voice cut through.
"Tricks and illusions!" Xu Sanshi scoffed.
"Is that so?"
An Zhen stepped forward leisurely.
"Could've stripped you, written filthier words. But I'm not that cruel—and ladies present."
The yellow ring flared again.
"Trickst—"
Xu Sanshi's roar choked.
Laughter died instantly.
"Cough! Cough!—"
Students gaped as the sixth-year senior knelt, vomiting mouthfuls of dirt—and a crushed milk tea cup.
First face-carving. Now dirt-stuffing. When?!
Is he truly just a Great Soul Master?
"What if it wasn't dirt? What if... filth?"
"Oh." An Zhen grinned mischievously. "Added the cup to prove I'm not limited to dirt."
"You wouldn't dare!" Xu Sanshi spat the last mud.
"Why not?!"
"Even if your father were emperor or Titled Douluo—you'd still eat filth on my command."
An Zhen stated it calmly.
The farce turned deadly serious. If the "outer court's strongest" suffered this... what hope had they?
"You gain strength, hear praise—suddenly think yourself above all."
"I'll make you— Ah!"
Xu Sanshi, lunging in ambush, crashed again—clutching his uninjured leg, howling.
"Your lineage, your power—greater than Lord Gluttony's? True greats don't bully the weak. Why does trash like you, with scraps of power, think you can?"
Shrek's entrance froze.
Countless eyes witnessed the unbelievable.
"I see. Wanted to impress your crush. But why bully someone mine?"
An Zhen gazed down at Xu Sanshi—broken, defeated—and ended his retribution.
"How does being bullied feel?"
"Jiang Nannan. Outer court's most beautiful. Commoner roots."
Xu Sanshi's head jerked up at her name.
"A commoner. Childhood likely hard. Ninety percent of commoners' suffering comes from nobles—like you. Bullied by nobles as a child. How could she love a young master's behavior?"
"You'll say you never bullied commoners. But when a lamb's mauled by wolves—doesn't it fear all fangs? Don't old wounds ache?"
"Arrogant. Line-cutting. Bullying juniors... how are you different?"
Having vented his fury, An Zhen felt satisfaction.
Silence.
The world held its breath.
A near-sob shattered the stillness.
"I... admit defeat."
The agonized youth pushed himself up. No physical pain, no mockery, pierced the sorrow engulfing him.
Through tear-blurred eyes, Xu Sanshi stared at his dirt-caked hands—truly feeling their filth for the first time.
Nan Nan... is this how you've always seen me?...
(End of Chapter)