Xu Zihuang returned to the classroom of the new students' Class Nine just as the bell rang.
Ning Tian and Wu Feng also entered behind him, and everyone's expressions immediately grew subtle. Some of the more mischievous students even showed meaningful smiles.
But no one stirred up trouble again, because a middle-aged male teacher holding a lesson plan followed them onto the podium.
The middle-aged teacher placed both hands on the lectern and gave a genial laugh.
"My name is Wang Yan. From now on, I'll be your theory class teacher. No need to be so formal—my teaching style has always been to treat everyone as friends."
As he spoke, he found Xu Zihuang in the crowd.
Xu Zihuang couldn't be bothered to make Tuoba Yu move, so he simply had Tuoba Yu shift one seat inward and took the aisle seat himself.
Tuoba Yu was rather depressed about this. After all, right in front of him sat Ya Lu.
"This morning's class is on the identification of soul beast species. No need for extra words—let's begin. On the continent, soul beasts…"
Though Wang Yan seemed mild and friendly, he was still a teacher. None of the students dared slack off and quickly opened their textbooks.
How much attention they actually paid was another matter.
Many, relying on family background, didn't take such theoretical lessons very seriously.
Xu Zihuang rested his right wrist under his chin, his thoughts drifting. Since childhood, he had always had an exceptional memory, and with his Golden Eyes martial spirit's spiritual attribute, he had practically achieved photographic memory.
During his exile, the only way to pass the time had been reading such books. Their contents were already deeply imprinted in his mind.
He had always resisted wasting effort on meaningless repetition.
Through the open window, Xu Zihuang gazed thoughtfully at the distant silhouette of the Soul Tool Department's building.
"Should I reveal my identity to Brother He?"
Because of their fathers' close ties, he had spent most of his childhood in the Sun Moon Empire's imperial palace with his elder brother He Caitou.
They were only three years apart and had been very close as children.
But after so many years apart, Xu Zihuang hadn't decided how to face him.
He Caitou had hidden his hatred all these years in Shrek Academy—his temperament was beyond question. Their positions were the same. But Xu Zihuang, who had regained his past life's memories, knew that He Caitou had already lost himself in hatred. In the original story, when Huo Yuhao bombarded Mingdu, He Caitou's attitude had been one of open approval.
He didn't care about the lives of Sun Moon citizens—he only wanted revenge.
Xu Zihuang was not like him. Though he sought revenge and the throne, he had never forgotten his identity.
To protect the governed people was the duty and responsibility of royal descendants. This had been instilled in him by his father since childhood.
"Hu—" Xu Zihuang took a deep breath. After a moment's thought, he made his decision.
"Forget it. I'll find a chance to approach him first."
As he grew older, his appearance had changed significantly. As a child, he had resembled his father more, but as his features matured, they became closer to his mother's—softer in line, far removed from the look of Sun Moon imperial blood.
He didn't believe that after all these years, He Caitou would recognize him.
"Bang—"
A dull noise jolted Xu Zihuang from his thoughts. His textbook had slipped off the desk when his left elbow nudged it, and he instinctively bent to pick it up.
His shoulder-length black hair slid down, brushing against the slender, fair calves of Nanmen Yun'er, who sat in front of him.
Startled at first by the strange touch, Nanmen Yun'er was then struck by an intense, instinctive fear. She clamped her legs together, her pretty face flushing pink. Her long lashes trembled over her soft green eyes, and she let out an involuntary little gasp.
Unfortunately, at that very moment, Wang Yan happened to pause in his lecture. Her small sound stood out starkly in the classroom.
Everyone's gazes swung instantly to Xu Zihuang.
Lifting his head, Xu Zihuang saw Wang Yan's scrutinizing expression, noticed Nanmen Yun'er's reddened ears, and caught Tuoba Yu's, Ya Lu's, and the other students' odd looks. His body stiffened, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.
But having weathered storms since childhood, he calmly picked up the textbook and placed it back on his desk.
After a brief silence, Wang Yan's warm smile returned.
"Yu Tianhuang, why don't you answer this? What sub-species does the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear have?"
"Yes, Teacher Wang." Xu Zihuang knew Wang Yan was helping him out of an awkward spot. He rose and answered smoothly:
"The Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear has three sub-species. One inherits its terrifying attack power and is called the Dreadclaw Bear. One inherits its strong defense and is called the Darkgold Bear. The third is a mutation with crystalline ability, called the Crystal Bear."
At his explanation, surprise flickered in Wang Yan's eyes.
The first two were recorded in the textbooks, but the Crystal Bear was extremely rare on the continent, scarcely documented at all.
Even he had only learned of its connection to the Darkgold Dreadclaw Bear from ancient records in the Inner Court.
Nodding with satisfaction, he said:
"Very well said. Now, next we'll discuss an already extinct top-class serpent-type soul beast—the Serpent Queen, Medusa…"
Thus Wang Yan skillfully resolved the awkward moment.
After all, Xu Zihuang's earlier movement had been extremely indecent, like he had been peeking at Nanmen Yun'er.
Tuoba Yu nudged Xu Zihuang's leg with his knee, his eyes saying, No need to explain—I get it.
Joke aside, Tuoba Yu didn't truly believe Yu Tianhuang capable of such tasteless behavior.
Xu Zihuang ignored him and half-heartedly listened to the rest of the lecture.
He planned to explain himself to Nanmen Yun'er after class. Whether intentional or not, such a thing wasn't right toward a girl.
But Nanmen Yun'er herself was far from calm.
Her earlier shyness from the touch was only part of it. The real reason was that when Xu Zihuang's hair brushed her skin, her martial spirit had trembled as if encountering its nemesis, yearning to burst forth.
Her blood flowed faster, and an unknown dormant power within her seemed to stir awake.
"What on earth is happening?"
Her family's inherited Jadegreen Bluebird martial spirit was a high-grade one, but it had never before reacted like this. It was as if facing absolute suppression, fear seared into the very bloodline.
Yet in Ya Lu's eyes, Nanmen Yun'er's expression told quite another story.