Chapter 42: A Certain Foolish Author
Due to Zhou Yi being pounded straight into the ICU by Lin Yun, the first day's classes for Class One among the ten first-year classes ended just like that—abruptly and casually.
Under Lin Yun's lead, Class One took turns giving brief self-introductions, got to know each other a little, and then disbanded for the day.
In the days that followed, not only did over a thousand new students frequently hear the title "Strongest Freshman King," but even the upperclassmen began to widely circulate Lin Yun's name.
As for Jiang Nannan, who had received Lin Yun during enrollment—someone leaked the info, and by the time it spread around, the story had turned into: she was the person closest to Lin Yun at Shrek Academy.
And then…
Xu Sanshi snapped.
"Damn it! Bei Bei, don't stop me—I'm going to challenge that freshman to a duel!" Xu Sanshi shouted, eyes red with fury as he struggled madly.
On the side, Bei Bei had one arm locked around Xu Sanshi's neck while using his other hand to hold his forehead in exasperation.
"Sanshi, give it up. You don't need to fight a battle you have no chance of winning!" Bei Bei said, face full of sorrow.
"No chance of winning? I don't understand what you're saying!" Xu Sanshi clenched his fists, his eyes bloodshot. "Bei Bei, you know how I feel about Nannan. Anyone who wants to take her from me will have to step over my corpse first!"
"But Lin Yun has an ultimate martial soul. His first three spirit rings are purple, purple, black!" Bei Bei sighed, releasing the chokehold.
Now freed, Xu Sanshi no longer felt the same impulse. He collapsed weakly onto the bed, his face filled with despair.
"Bei Bei… my whole life has been lived on thin ice…" As he recalled the mistakes of his youth—his pride, his caution, his fear of offending the woman he admired—Xu Sanshi couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"Tell me… can I ever make it to the other side?"
Bei Bei's mouth twitched hard. He really couldn't keep up the act any longer.
"Seriously, Sanshi—you're not a bad guy. Sure, you act like a clown sometimes, but everyone can see how sincere you are toward Nannan. So why won't she accept you?"
He gave Xu Sanshi a once-over, visibly confused. "Did something happen between you two?"
Still deep in emo-mode, Xu Sanshi shuddered at Bei Bei's question and immediately shook his head. "No, I can't say it. If I do, Nannan will kill me!"
"Then I can't help you. You're on your own." Bei Bei shrugged. "Anyway, don't take the rumors too seriously. I'm in the same class as Nannan, and since term started, I haven't seen her meet that freshman even once. It's probably just hearsay."
"I've got to go—Xiao Ya's helping my junior set up a barbecue stall tonight. I'll check in with them."
With a wave, Bei Bei left the dormitory.
Only Xu Sanshi remained, sitting on his bed with a tangled expression, clearly still struggling.
Of course I know Bei Bei's right, he thought.
What he feared was that—rumors, when spread long enough—could become reality!
"No. Nannan can only be mine. I have to do something!" Xu Sanshi's gaze firmed. He stood abruptly and left the dormitory as well.
Meanwhile, with Zhou Yi having taken a couple of punches from Lin Yun, the past few days of classes were taught by a gentle substitute teacher. As a result, Huo Yuhao didn't go set up his food stall on day one as he had originally planned. Instead, he obediently attended classes.
Mainly because—after what happened on the first day—he had no mind for grilling fish. Only once things settled down did he start considering it again.
But he really had no choice!
He barely had any money to begin with, and for the past few days, he had only been able to afford the cheapest meals in the cafeteria. Even so, his wallet was now completely empty. If he didn't start earning money soon, he might actually starve.
After meeting with Tang Ya, the sect master of the Tang Sect, she too felt a bit embarrassed.
She and Bei Bei had only helped Huo Yuhao pay the registration fee. They hadn't given any thought to how he'd actually survive in the academy.
It really did feel like a pyramid scheme…
With a touch of guilt, Tang Ya quickly helped Huo Yuhao get everything sorted out. All that was left was for him to show his skills tonight at the night market.
As for Lin Yun...
"Bing'er, have you found him yet?" Lin Yun sat by the window, propping his chin with one hand while gently stroking a jade-green scorpion resting on his leg.
"Reporting to you, master, the Ten Thousand Beast King said it'll still take some time," said Bingdi. "That man loafs around all day, has no fixed residence, and barely any close friends. Tracking him down is quite difficult."
"Mhm, I understand. No rush. As long as you can bring me that guy who writes under the pen name Qingye, that's all I need." A peculiar smile rose on Lin Yun's lips.
Entertainment was scarce on the Douluo Continent, but storybooks and novels still existed. One such writer, using the pen name Qingye, had caught Lin Yun's eye. He saw great potential in this fool.
Just reading one of Qingye's novels had nearly made Lin Yun lose control and order Bingdi—currently in her little girl form—to punish the author on the spot.
The writing was absurdly lewd! Some pages even had hand-drawn illustrations, which made the immersion all too real.
And Lin Yun needed just this kind of talent—for the spiritual torment he had planned for Zhou Yi.
"Ke ke ke ke… Shrek, prepare to receive the grand gift I've prepared for you!" A ghostly, sinister laugh echoed in the room, frightening a black cat outside the window into trembling violently.
Bingdi instantly curled up into a tight ball, her bright yellow crystal eyes filled with terror as she stared at Lin Yun.
As expected of master… even his laughter was this oppressive!
"Come, we're idle anyway—let's go find something tasty to eat." Lin Yun stood up, stretched lazily, and Bingdi obediently crawled into his clothes, hiding herself snugly.
As one of the most talked-about freshmen, Lin Yun couldn't go anywhere without being swarmed by people. It annoyed him endlessly. Even in the cafeteria, he couldn't eat in peace, with all the stares following him.
And since he hadn't eaten to his heart's content earlier, hunger soon returned.
"Isn't Huo-hanger selling grilled fish today? Might as well check it out and try this supposedly legendary grilled fish from the original story." Lin Yun muttered internally.
Leisurely slipping out through Shrek's rear gate, he arrived at the famed snack street said to exist across all worlds—a gathering place of many small vendors.
Most of the vendors here were Shrek students struggling financially, just like Huo Yuhao, making a little money to support themselves. Prices weren't too high and stayed within reason. The bustling crowd made it so few people even noticed Lin Yun's presence.
He ate to his heart's content.
And finally, after devouring a freshly grilled skewer, he spotted a familiar figure.
It's you—Grilled Fish Huo!
[End of Chapter]
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