No More Pretending, I'm Coming Clean!

"Come out, Fire Fox!"

He shoved away the two lackeys supporting him and staggered to his feet.

A fiery red surge of Soul Power spread from his right hand, then condensed into the phantom of a fiery red fox.

The next instant, the Fire Fox possessed him!

An attack-type Beast Martial Soul.

Seeing this, Huo Feng also released his Martial Soul Iron Sword.

White Soul Power wrapped around his entire right arm as he gripped the iron sword tightly.

"A bunch of work-study students, you really don't know your place!"

A sneer curled across the upperclassman's lips. The next instant, a white ring rose from beneath his feet.

"A Soul Ring!"

Huo Feng's heart jolted. Although he had never seen a Soul Ring before,

that white ring was undoubtedly one.

If he remembered correctly, a White Soul Ring was within the ten-year range, not yet reaching a hundred years.

This arrogant upperclassman only possessed a single White Soul Ring.

"This kid's in for it."

"Boss's Soul Power has already reached level twelve. One soul skill will beat that brat until he pisses himself!"

"Just wait for him to beg for mercy!"

"That little loli is pretty arrogant too. We'll have to teach her a good lesson later."

Some of the surrounding upperclassmen started boasting.

They instantly tossed aside the fact that their boss had just been beaten black and blue.

Huo Feng's expression turned serious as well.

His opponent had one more soul skill than he did. Even if it was only a White Soul Ring, he would still be difficult to deal with.

"Have a taste of my fist too!"

The upperclassman clenched his right hand into a fist. Intense flames wrapped around it as he stomped forward and threw a punch at Huo Feng! The latter leaped into the air, raised his sword with both hands, and slashed downward! "Clang—!"

The instant they collided, Huo Feng was forced back more than ten steps before he stopped.

A faint black scorch mark had been left on the blade.

His opponent, on the other hand, had also retreated ten steps.

He clenched his fist in pain.

The first time could still be blamed on a sneak attack.

But this time, even going all out, he had still gained no advantage.

As an upperclassman, he instantly became furious and embarrassed.

His lips twitched twice, and he was already starting to lose his mind. "First soul skill!"

"Great Fireball!"

A fist-sized fireball slowly condensed and grew larger, crimson flames crackling around it.

"That's enough. Stop!"

"This is the cafeteria, not a place for you to spar!"

Just then, an unwelcome voice suddenly rang out.

The soul skill that had only been half-released abruptly fizzled out and was withdrawn.

Because he saw who had spoken.

It was Yu Xiaogang.

Though this man called Master held no actual position in the academy, he was still the dean's friend.

None of these students dared to talk back to him.

"Master, I..."

The upperclassman was clearly upset that he had failed to regain his dignity.

But with Master here, he could only let the matter drop.

Huo Feng also withdrew his Martial Soul.

He had originally planned to find an opportunity to touch that upperclassman and then sacrifice him.

That would have ended the fight quickly.

Now that Yu Xiaogang had appeared, it saved him some trouble.

"Master."

Huo Feng offered the customary greeting.

Yu Xiaogang nodded, then looked around the crowd behind Huo Feng.

After only two breaths, he withdrew his gaze.

He had thought Tang San was among them.

Who would have thought Tang San was nowhere to be seen?

"Didn't Tang San come with you?"

Yu Xiaogang asked with great concern.

After all, Tang San was his beloved disciple.

"Tang San isn't feeling well. He's resting in the dormitory."

Huo Feng smiled, his tone calm.

A faint change appeared on Yu Xiaogang's stiff face.

"Alright, I understand."

Then he went straight to the stalls in the back, bought some food, packed it up, and left the cafeteria.

With Yu Xiaogang stopping them, those upperclassmen did not dare cause any more trouble.

At least not with their fists.

Their mouths, however, continued spewing insults.

Naturally, words like "poor bastards" and "paupers" were among them.

I'm rich, and I can afford fish and meat! "Brothers, this meal is on me today. Eat as much as you want!"

The upperclassman, who had been holding in a bellyful of anger, immediately felt much better when he saw the envious looks on Wang Sheng and the others' faces.

"What are you looking at? Can you even afford it?"

Great. Huo Feng sighed inwardly. He had not wanted to show off.

But there were always people provoking him.

No more pretending. I'm coming clean!

Under the gaze of both groups, Huo Feng walked alone toward the stall those upperclassmen had just visited.

The dishes here had to be ordered separately, and the prices were not cheap.

"Hey, kid, don't tell me you think work-study students as miserable as you can afford the food here?"

"Exactly. Look at how poor you are. Stop embarrassing yourselves!"

Wang Sheng and the others were getting anxious too.

They were afraid Huo Feng would be provoked by them into doing something irrational.

He immediately walked behind Huo Feng and said quietly, "Boss, there's no need to argue with these scum."

"We can just eat downstairs. My treat!"

Wang Sheng patted his chest and revealed an honest, simple smile.

"Go tell the brothers to find somewhere to sit. This meal is on me!"

Under the astonished gazes of Wang Sheng and the others, Huo Feng slowly pulled four Gold Soul Coins from his pocket and handed them to the stall owner.

Then he pointed at the upperclassmen. "We'll have the same dishes as them, but make every dish a large portion!"

"Wh-what?"

"Gold Soul Coins!"

"Four Gold Soul Coins!"

"B-Boss, am I seeing things?"

Wang Sheng's head buzzed.

How had Boss casually pulled four Gold Soul Coins out of his pocket?

That was equivalent to four hundred Copper Soul Coins! Not far away, the upperclassmen who had been waiting to watch the show were all dumbfounded.

They froze in their seats, staring at the small portions of food on their tables, utterly speechless.

The lead youth even spat out a mouthful of rice.

This meal was no small expense to him either.

He had only chosen to treat everyone in order to show off in front of these work-study students.

And he had only ordered small portions, yet that had already cost him three Gold Soul Coins.

Now Huo Feng had directly ordered the exact same meal, and in large portions at that.

How could he accept that?

Spit out food?

It was already good enough that he had not spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Right away!"

The owner accepted the Gold Soul Coins, and soon one large dish after another came out of the kitchen.

Huo Feng and his group gathered around two tables, eating with great enjoyment.

The expressions of the other group nearby grew uglier and uglier.

Anyone unaware of the situation would think they were eating shit rather than food.

Outside the student dormitory, Yu Xiaogang called Tang San out alone.

He first handed him some food, then said, "I've spoken with the academy. You don't need to attend class tomorrow. I'll take you to find a suitable Soul Ring."

"Oh, and when Huo Feng returns, remember to tell him that tomorrow you two will go together."