The Humble Asura's Pupil

Several senior students sat at the registration desk. Seeing Huo Yuhao's humble appearance, they all sneered disdainfully.

After the term began, they would have to make a choice: either earn admission to the Inner Court through their abilities, or graduate and return home to find work.

Yet at such a crucial time, instead of focusing on cultivation, they had voluntarily come to the entrance to recruit students.

Among a group like this, there were either loafers who had eaten their fill and were simply waiting to graduate, or weaklings who loved to join in the excitement.

Who knew how they had even entered the continent's number-one academy? Sitting at the entrance to recruit students—weren't they tarnishing the school's image?

When several of them saw Ye Chen approach, they were momentarily stunned by his Twin Pupils, but quickly resumed their arrogant expressions.

Ye Chen could not even be bothered to deal with them. If they were not about to graduate, he might have gone straight to Yan Shaozhe and had them expelled.

For a group of loafers with no ambition whatsoever, Ye Chen believed that as long as he spoke up, Yan Shaozhe would throw them out without mercy!

Although Ye Chen had not officially enrolled yet, he had built up quite a reputation in the Inner Court over the years.

Any veteran Inner Court student who had spent several years at the academy knew that Ye Chen was the son of Qian Duoduo, the dean of the Soul Tool Department. Not to mention, he also had an extremely protective mother, Xian Lin'er.

With the favor of the Sea God's Pavilion elders as well, Ye Chen was practically the academy's Young Master.

Rumor had it that Ye Chen possessed astonishing talent and an exceptionally powerful martial soul, yet no one had ever truly seen it.

Thus, Ye Chen gained another layer of mystery.

But that was only in the Inner Court. In the Outer Court, there were truly very few people who knew him.

"What happened?"

Ye Chen walked up to the table, straightened Huo Yuhao, who had been bowing and begging, then turned to ask the Outer Court teacher.

"This piece of trash clearly has no strength, yet he wants to enter our academy. Didn't he bother to find out what kind of place this is? Shrek isn't somewhere any stray cat or dog can enter!"

Before the teacher in charge of recruitment could speak, a handsome student cut in first.

His tone was extremely arrogant. He looked like a fine young man, but who would have thought he was a beast in human clothing?

"That's right. The academy's admissions have indeed become far too lax. Even stray cats and dogs like you can get in!" Ye Chen shot back with the other man's own words.

He forcibly suppressed the urge to teach this fellow a lesson. His voice was somewhat hoarse with anger.

This was the entrance to Shrek Academy. If academy students openly fought each other here, it would absolutely disgrace the academy.

Had they been inside the academy, even if he could not win, Ye Chen would still have acted without hesitation.

Huo Yuhao recognized the boy before him as the older brother he had encountered in the Star Dou Forest the day before.

Ever since that well-dressed-looking student had begun mocking him, he had kept his fists clenched tight, humiliation surging in his heart.

Ye Chen glanced back at Huo Yuhao and gave him a reassuring look, but he could not help sighing inwardly.

Huo Yuhao was still far too humble. There was not the slightest trace in him now of the domineering presence he would possess years later, when Asura's Pupil swept across the continent.

"What, are you planning to stand up for him?" The student from before was not angered by Ye Chen's words. Instead, he looked at him with a half-smile, his eyes carrying a hint of threat.

After all, he had spent so many years at Shrek Academy. His mental fortitude was still decent.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya had already moved to the side. Tang Ya was too angry to hold back her words, but Bei Bei stopped her.

At a time like this, the fewer people involved, the better. After all, it concerned the academy's dignity and honor.

"Shut up! The academy assigned you to recruit students here, and this is how you ruin its reputation?" the teacher in charge shouted furiously.

What he despised most were these students who were about to graduate.

They were from the same class, bottom-ranked underachievers. Yet even underachievers who had spent five years at Shrek Academy possessed considerable strength.

Usually, he could overlook them acting arrogant and domineering toward weaker junior students. But now, right in front of him, a teacher, they dared to openly mock students who had come to register. It was truly more than he could tolerate.

Moreover, as an academy teacher, he recognized the Twin-Pupils boy.

If they provoked him, let alone a few students, even he as their teacher might be implicated.

This recruitment teacher usually appeared mild and amiable, but his sudden outburst startled these students, who only bullied the weak and feared the strong. They all fell silent.

In the end, it was Bei Bei, the refined gentleman, who dissolved the awkward atmosphere.

"Teacher, please handle Little Brother Huo's enrollment. Use our Tang Sect quota."

Bei Bei, who had been observing from the side with Ye Chen, exchanged a smile with him. He handed a token to the teacher and spoke gently.

It would not cost them anything, so they might as well help this little brother who had left a good impression on them.

Besides, the Tang Sect was currently short on disciples, and he intended to recruit Huo Yuhao into the Tang Sect.

He did not know how talented Huo Yuhao was. What he valued was his character.

If someone's character was lacking, then no matter how gifted they were, he would not think highly of them.

The recruitment teacher froze. It really was a Tang Sect token.

Every year, the Tang Sect received one Shrek Academy admission quota, allowing someone to bypass the assessment and enroll directly.

"Tell me your basic information. Once it's registered, you can enroll directly."

As long as the token was genuine, it was not his concern who used the quota.

He had originally felt regretful that he could not help Huo Yuhao. Now that there was a Tang Sect quota, he was immediately happy for this determined young man.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya looked at the boy who had treated them to grilled fish and smiled warmly.

"What are you standing there for? Hurry up and register!" Seeing Huo Yuhao standing there dumbfounded, Ye Chen directly pulled him over to the Soul Tool desk, speaking with a hint of exasperation.

Huo Yuhao felt himself being tugged by a powerful force. He was still dazed, but his position had already changed.

I never thought the quota I dreamed of would come so easily. He laughed at himself inwardly, then obediently gave his information.

Although he did not want to owe anyone a favor, he truly yearned to enter Shrek Academy.

A favor could be repaid, but once an opportunity was gone, it was truly gone!

This was not a place to cause trouble. Once Huo Yuhao's information had been registered, Ye Chen slung an arm around his shoulders and led him straight through the academy gates.

After Ye Chen's group of four left, the teacher in charge of recruitment looked at the student who had deliberately stirred up trouble with pity in his eyes.

That student probably still did not understand what kind of existence he had provoked.

The moment he entered Shrek Academy, Huo Yuhao was captivated by its beautiful surroundings.

His gaze lingered among the carefully pruned plants, and he felt that a bright future lay before him.

"If anyone bullies you in the academy from now on, come find me. Don't be embarrassed. From now on, you're under my protection, got it?" Ye Chen said bluntly as he walked across the square with an arm around Huo Yuhao's shoulders.

Bei Bei and Tang Ya followed behind them, whispering to each other about something unknown.

Hearing Ye Chen's words, Huo Yuhao's heart warmed.

"I'll remember, Brother Chen." That "Brother Chen" had nothing to do with age or any other factor. It came from the bottom of Huo Yuhao's heart.

Ever since childhood, he had lived in a cold environment. When had he ever experienced such warmth?

They had met over a few grilled fish and had only known each other for one day, yet the three of them had helped him so much.

Then he thought of the cold White Tiger Duke's Mansion, and a thin mist of tears rose in Huo Yuhao's deep-blue eyes.

He could sense that all three of them had extraordinary backgrounds.

Though this might have been a trivial matter in their eyes, to him, it was an act of grace akin to being given a new life!

He was someone who distinguished gratitude from grudges. He remembered every kindness others showed him.

Once he had the ability in the future, he would repay them tenfold!

With that thought, Huo Yuhao lightly touched his eyes, then raised his own hand and placed it over Ye Chen's shoulder as they walked toward his bright future.

From this day onward, Asura's Pupil would no longer be humble.

Sorry, everyone. I woke up a little late. I'll post the remaining four chapters later today. The new book has only just started, and I really don't have much saved up.