"Want revenge?"
Lu Cheng, sizing up Huo Yuhao's swollen face and his suppressed, angry gaze with a smile, lightly patted the latter's shoulder.
"Then work hard to become stronger. In this world, only strength matters."
"Mm, Brother Cheng—I understand!" Huo Yuhao took a deep breath and nodded with a complex yet respectful gaze.
Lu Cheng nodded slightly and turned to leave.
Along the way, many spectating students unconsciously made way, watching that quite dashing and slender figure from behind until he departed. Only then did the crowd gradually erupt into chirping sounds of excitement or gossip.
"Yuhao, you actually know that person——" The teammate supporting him asked excitedly, his eyes filled with shock as he finally snapped out of it.
"Is Senior Lu Cheng…very famous?" The thin youth was somewhat taken aback. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that many surrounding students, who previously had indifferent or disdainful looks, now looked at him with a hint of warmth.
"More than just famous!!!" That student's face flushed red as he gestured wildly, but he was quickly interrupted by a charming female voice.
"Student Yuhao, do you know Senior Lu Cheng?" A beautiful girl with purple hair, wearing a light yellow school uniform and delicate leather boots, approached and blinked her eyes.
"Um, I guess so." The thin youth nodded blankly.
"Can you bring this letter to him? I'm willing to pay. One hundred thousand gold coins, how about it?!"
Excitement flickered in the purple-haired girl's eyes.
She carefully handed over an envelope that was clearly decorated with care. On it, the words "To be opened by Lu Cheng personally" were written in playful handwriting. Clearly, this wasn't a whim but a long-premeditated plan; she simply lacked the channel to deliver the letter.
"——" Huo Yuhao was dumbstruck.
A single letter for one hundred thousand gold coins?!
To him, this was nothing short of a collapse and reconstruction of his worldview. One must know that when his mother was at the Duke's Mansion, she made a living by sewing clothes, working herself to death just to scrape together seven or eight silver coins a month.
It was only at this moment that he truly realized just how terrifyingly popular the Lu Cheng he knew—who was always calm and indifferent—was at Shrek Academy.
And this beautiful girl, who could rank among the top in all his memories, actually showed a shy, maidenly posture with a blushing face when mentioning Lu Cheng.
"Sorry—" But Huo Yuhao still shook his head.
Watching the girl's disappointed gaze as she left, he also felt some emotion. How many girls' hearts must Brother Cheng have broken——
Inside the martial soul department dean's office.
"Enter."
"Dean Yan." Pushing the door open, Lu Cheng bowed slightly, his manners impeccable. After all, he truly had a favor to ask.
He had originally planned to find Zhang Lexuan, but that girl hadn't taken up a position yet. The title of the Sea Gods Pavilion's successor of the next generation was very empty with no real power, so he could only come to find Yan Shaozhe.
Yan Shaozhe didn't even look up, his pen reviewing a mountain of documents. But after that one word, there was no follow-up. Only the rustling sound of writing remained in the room.
Clearly, this was meant to be a show of authority. Before Yan Shaozhe spoke, he wanted you to maintain your bowing posture or even just stand there; only when he told you to sit could you sit.
What Shrek was best at was creating trouble, forcing you to beg them to solve it, and then using that to manipulate you. Under this set of PUA tactics, few could escape.
However, Lu Cheng didn't indulge him. He sat directly on the sofa, lazily pulled a book from the nearby bookshelf, and began reading with great interest.
Under the secret observation of his blood pupils, Yan Shaozhe's face clearly turned uglier, and his hand gripping the pen tightened slightly.
Clearly, he was very dissatisfied with Lu Cheng's daring to "provoke" his authority, but he didn't want to make his intentions clear for fear of scaring away this genius disciple.
"Oh, it's student Lu Cheng?"
After a long time, Yan Shaozhe finally pretended to be immersed in work and forgot about the matter, saying with a smile.
"There is Dragon Whisker Tea in the cabinet. If you want to drink, brew some yourself."
"Alright." Lu Cheng showed a smile.
He turned around, took a pinch of Dragon Whisker Tea, and brewed it in the teacup in front of him—
Yan Shaozhe:...
I was just being polite; you actually took it seriously!!
This stuff was extremely precious. A single ounce cost tens of thousands of gold coins. It was a "tribute" from the Heaven Soul Emperor, and even he was reluctant to drink it.
Watching Lu Cheng take a sip without the slightest heartache, Yan Shaozhe's face gradually turned red with anger. But he still took a deep breath, forcing himself not to lower himself to this brat's level; he would deal with him sooner or later.
"What is it that brings you to me this time?" Yan Shaozhe squeezed out a smile.
Regarding the matter of the twin spirits user Xiao Xiao being forced by her homeroom teacher Zhou Yi to attach a second soul ring. I seriously suspect that Teacher Zhou Yi has lost Shrek Academy's original intention of nurturing disciples and imparting knowledge and has treated New Class 1 as her private property. She is no longer qualified to continue serving as a homeroom teacher." Lu Cheng took a leisurely sip of tea and spoke calmly.
The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face gradually froze.
"This matter—I will consider it. You should head back first—"
"But now——" Lu Cheng frowned.
"The Academy will handle this matter." The smile on Yan Shaozhe's face vanished completely. He crossed his arms and looked at Lu Cheng quietly.
"Please leave."
This was his Martial Soul Department Academy; not just anyone was qualified to come and point fingers.
Twin spirits were indeed strong, and he would make appropriate adjustments, but Zhou Yi would not be punished. After all, she was, in a true sense, one of Shrek Academy's... own people.
Another three days passed in a flash.
The New Student Assessment was reaching its end.
The top ten rankings were about to be decided. Huo Yuhao stopped at 165th place. Being able to escape Shrek's elimination line was already considered good luck. Since only the top 64 could participate in the elimination rounds, he could only sit below the stage and cheer.
But Xiao Xiao was in a miserable state.
Zhou Yi's patience had been exhausted. Not only was her attitude towards her extremely poor, but she also insulted her in front of almost everyone.
With the finals being tomorrow, she still dragged her alone to the playground for extra training. The girl was wearing heavy armor, her small face flushed red from the sun, her strength long since drained, and dense beads of sweat oozed from her forehead.
Many onlookers watched from the side, some with pity, some with disdain. Only the girl herself was already dizzy, having reached the brink of physical collapse. How could she notice her surroundings—
"Run! As long as you're not dead, run like your life depends on it!"
Zhou Yi glared viciously at Xiao Xiao.
"Tomorrow is the end of the elimination rounds. Since you've already made it into the top five, you could clearly break into the top three. For New Class 1, for your team, yet you are always so selfish!"
"If you are willing, I will take you to the Star Dou Great Forest tonight to attach two soul rings to your second martial soul. If you aren't—then run until you die."
Notes:
ദ്ദി(˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧
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