First Meeting with Xiao Xiao, Dai Huabin's Struggle

Ten minutes before the afternoon bell, Freshman Class Nine's classroom was already packed with exactly one hundred students.

When Mu Jin briskly entered the classroom, the atmosphere in Freshman Class Nine immediately turned solemn, and the room fell silent.

The homeroom teacher swept her gaze around the room. Her Class Nine now had over 120 students—there had never been such a wonderful start!

"Very good. Everyone is here, so all of you, stand up. Assemble at the plaza."

No one dared slack off. The students quickly filed out of the classroom and followed Mu Jin in neat, silent formation all the way to Shrek Academy's plaza.

At Shrek Academy's plaza, quite a few Iron Chain Vests had already been piled on the ground. Sure enough, the next activity was Shrek Academy's traditional athletic event: the Weighted Run.

The other classes had already begun running around the plaza. Class Nine was not especially early, but what surprised Mu Jin was that Zhou Yi, that old hag, had not led her class down first today. Instead, she had chosen to teach in the classroom.

Coming back to herself, Mu Jin clapped her hands and announced loudly, "We'll begin with the most basic training."

"For students with different Martial Soul abilities, I'll use different methods to give you targeted physical training in the future. But running is the most basic form of physical training, and it can fully reflect your overall physical condition."

Mu Jin pointed at the Iron Chain Vests on the ground again. "One of these iron vests per person. Put them on, then start running laps around the plaza. Starting now, you'll keep running until the dismissal bell rings. You may use Soul Power, but not Soul Skills. Rankings will be determined by the number of laps completed."

"Qian Mu, Qian Fei, the two of you will compile a ranking chart for everyone in the class. Based on their differing physical data, they will receive targeted special training in the future."

Qian Mu gave an "Oh," while Qian Fei nodded. The difference in the sisters' attitudes was obvious, but was it strange for geniuses to be proud? She had the right to be proud. Mu Jin understood that and did not criticize Qian Mu.

Her training method was quite scientific. Based on the students' differing constitutions, she would arrange different kinds of targeted training in the future, ensuring that no harm came to their bodies.

And unlike that madwoman Zhou Yi, she would not casually expel a student just because they came in last during a running exercise.

"Begin." With a wave of her hand, Mu Jin announced the start of physical training.

The more than 120 students of Class Nine rushed to begin their laps. Mu Jin had just stepped into the track to supervise when her gaze froze, because she saw that Qian Mu seemed to be standing there blankly without moving.

"Qian Mu?" she called softly.

Qian Mu did not answer.

Mu Jin frowned slightly and called again, "Qian Mu!"

The latter finally moved. She first turned and gave Teacher Mu an apologetic smile, then joined the runners. She quickly caught up to the main group and ran shoulder to shoulder with her younger sister, Qian Fei.

"What was that girl spacing out over just now?" Mu Jin thought for a moment, following the direction Qian Mu had been looking in while she stood there dazed.

Freshman Class One's classroom.

Was she still holding a grudge against Zhou Yi?

At least, that was what Mu Jin believed. Thus, she added another trait to her understanding of Qian Mu: exceptionally vindictive.

As she ran, Qian Mu kept her eyes half-closed. Yet every time her feet touched the ground, she moved lightly and nimbly, showing no disadvantage whatsoever from her lack of vision.

"Mm... Soul Tool, tomorrow? Got it. Caitou, go take care of your work." Qian Mu's voice was very low, but a girl running beside her seemed to have caught something.

"Class Leader Qian Mu?"

Hearing the call by her ear, Qian Mu slowly opened her eyes and looked toward the girl on her right who had greeted her.

The little girl was not exceptionally beautiful, but she looked delicate and refined. With green hair and green eyes, she was very pleasing to look at. She was not tall and appeared quite petite.

Qian Mu thought for a moment and recalled her name. This girl was one of the twenty students who had transferred from Class One.

"So it's Xiao Xiao. Do you want your class leader to run with you?"

Xiao Xiao smiled and shook her head, a trace of concern showing on her face. "It's just that I heard Class Leader Qian Mu seeming to talk to yourself just now, saying things I couldn't understand."

She heard it?

A vicious glint lurked deep in the Herrscher of Erosion's eyes, but Qian Mu's tone remained calm. "Then, Xiao Xiao, did you hear clearly what I was saying?"

"No. I was just curious. Otherwise, I wouldn't have asked you, Class Leader."

Xiao Xiao had not noticed that vicious glint in the other girl's eyes.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh~ I'm not telling you." Qian Mu suddenly made a face, then sped up around the track.

Xiao Xiao stretched out a hand, the corner of her mouth twitching slightly. She wanted to say something, but held it back.

She had long heard that Freshman Class Nine's class leader was eccentric and mischievous. Today, she had truly seen it for herself.

Still, Xiao Xiao soon got over it. It was better than staying in Class One and getting scolded by that old crone, wasn't it?

Qian Fei ran behind her, keeping about ten meters away. She lowered her head and touched the faintly glowing purplish-red mark on the back of her left hand, then raised her head to watch Xiao Xiao and murmured softly, "Just a little Honkai Energy was enough to give me this kind of insight? Twin Martial Souls..."

Fallen Angel God, Qian Renxue, Loyalty: 30%

Ding ding ding...

Ten minutes later, the ringing dismissal bell marked the end of the running exercise. Qian Mu stopped running. With her strength, she would not have broken a sweat at all, but to avoid arousing suspicion, she put on a bit of an act.

Mu Jin clapped with great satisfaction. "Very good. Qian Mu completed a full thirty laps, exactly twice as many as the second-place finisher, Dai Huabin. You should learn more from your class leader."

Dai Huabin, who had taken second place, removed his iron vest and nodded silently. It would have been impossible to say he was not jealous.

A three-ring Soul Elder was inferior to a Soul Grandmaster. Aside from Soul Power, it seemed that Qian Mu had utterly outclassed him in every aspect.

Why are you always so outstanding? Where exactly did I lose to you?! Dai Huabin repeated the words over and over in his heart. Watching Qian Mu leave while holding her sister's hand, he clenched his fists.

All that could be said was that it was fortunate Qian Mu was not Huo Yuhao. She had not turned around to mock or provoke him with a few words, nor had she treated him as worth her attention.

Otherwise, given Dai Huabin's current temperament, it was hard to say whether Shrek City might see bloodshed on some dark and windy night.

Of course, if that really happened, no one could guarantee that Dai Huabin would not return the next morning with blue hair as well.

"Huabin..." A black-haired girl who had also removed her iron vest walked over, linked her arm through his, and looked at him with worry.

Glancing at the black-haired girl, Dai Huabin took a deep breath and finally calmed down. His voice was somewhat hoarse as he said, "Zhu Lu... Tell me, wouldn't it be great if Qian Mu were mine... if she were on our side?"

Zhu Lu handed him a bottle of water and advised, "Don't do anything foolish, Huabin. My intuition tells me that Class Leader Qian Mu's strength is unfathomable. We can only befriend her. We absolutely cannot become her enemies."

Dai Huabin took a huge gulp of water, wiped his lips, and said in a low voice, "Tonight, I'll find a way to contact my elder brother. At the very least, I need to find out exactly where Qian Mu and Qian Fei came from..."