From Now On, I'll Cover You

Though Wang Dong did not understand, she obediently did as told and went outside with Huo Yuhao to run laps first.

After the two had left, Zhou Yi finally spoke. "Jiang Yuheng, I don't like beating around the bush. If I have something to say, I'll say it directly."

"Your talent as a Spirit Master is excellent. Without exaggeration, among this year's freshmen, you are absolutely at the very top."

"So naturally, my requirements for you will be higher as well. The other students have one hour to complete a hundred laps. You, however, must keep running until the dismissal bell rings."

"During that time, aside from Soul Tools, you may use any method you wish. Those are my requirements for your Freshman Assessment. Do you have any objections or questions?"

Jiang Yuheng shook his head. "I have no objections, Teacher Zhou."

"Very good. Go."

With that, Jiang Yuheng ran out of the teaching building and arrived at Shrek Square, joining the tail end of the running students.

When they saw him, quite a few students wore gloating expressions.

However, Jiang Yuheng had no time to care about that. Though Zhou Yi had not deliberately emphasized it when she spoke earlier, she had placed particular stress on the words "very top."

She was clearly telling him that he had to far surpass these students. Otherwise, he would not deserve the praise of being at the top.

So from the very start, Jiang Yuheng adjusted his Soul Power and quickened his pace.

Seeing him, Wang Dong, who had been leading everyone, moved closer.

"Why did that old hag Zhou keep you behind alone? She wasn't trying to make things difficult for you, was she?" Wang Dong asked.

Jiang Yuheng shook his head. "It doesn't count as making things difficult. She said my talent was good, so naturally my training had to be harder than everyone else's. That's why she told me to run until class ended."

After hearing that, Wang Dong immediately became indignant on his behalf. "That old hag Zhou—can't she tell you're injured? What if it pulls at your wound?"

Seeing the urgency and concern in Wang Dong's eyes, Jiang Yuheng felt warmth rise in his heart and answered with a smile, "I'll be fine. I'm the one Teacher Zhou called the very best. A little injury like this is nothing to me."

"Yeah, yeah. The only thing hard about you is that mouth of yours." Wang Dong rolled her eyes at him, clearly unconvinced by his claim to be the best.

Naturally, Jiang Yuheng caught the meaning behind her words and shot back, "Don't act unconvinced. I wonder who it was that lost to me a few days ago, then ended up needing me to save her?"

Wang Dong irritably slapped the spot near his injury. She did not use much force, but it was definitely enough to make Jiang Yuheng hurt for a while.

"Enough, let's not talk about that. Since you stood up for me in front of that perverted teacher earlier, This Lord won't hold today's matter against you. From now on, I'll look after you. Anyone who dares bully you will be picking a fight with This Lord!"

Jiang Yuheng smiled. Just as he was about to agree, he sensed something was off.

"Wait. You were the one who lost to me in our previous match. Logically speaking, shouldn't I be the one looking after you, Wang Dong?"

After hearing that, the speechless look on Wang Dong's face might as well have been written across it.

"And you have the nerve to call me stupid? Jiang Yuheng, I think you're the real idiot!"

With that, Wang Dong did not hesitate in the slightest before kicking Jiang Yuheng in the butt. Puffing out her cheeks in anger, she then took off running across Shrek Square at an astonishing speed.

To be fair, Wang Dong might have had a sharp tongue, but her cultivation really was extraordinary, and her physical fitness was extremely strong. The instant she accelerated, no one in Class One could keep up with her.

Jiang Yuheng got back up and rubbed his aching butt. "That hurt like hell. What did I say wrong? Why'd you kick me?"

Huo Yuhao could not bear to watch any longer. He slowly ran over to Jiang Yuheng's side. "Brother Yuheng, you can't blame Wang Dong for kicking you. You really just didn't get it."

"Huh? What do you mean?" Jiang Yuheng looked at him in confusion.

Huo Yuhao sighed softly and patiently explained, "Before you came, Wang Dong was already completely distracted. Then she heard that you had to run for an entire class, and she totally panicked."

"When she said she wanted to look after you, what she really meant was that she was worried about you."

Only after hearing Huo Yuhao's explanation did Jiang Yuheng finally realize it. "Damn, I never even thought of it that way!"

Not caring about how disheveled he looked, Jiang Yuheng immediately circulated the Soul Power in his body and accelerated. Before long, he caught up to Wang Dong, who was far ahead of everyone else.

Panting heavily, he said, "Sorry, Wang Dong. I... I really didn't know you were worried about me, so..."

"Who's worried about you? Stop being so full of yourself!"

Wang Dong turned her head away. Though her tone remained stubborn, the furtive glances she stole at him and her slowing pace had already revealed what she was thinking.

Looking at Wang Dong like this, the smile on Jiang Yuheng's lips never faded, and he felt an indescribable sense of happiness in his heart.

"Wang Dong, I knew you treated me the best."

This time, Wang Dong did not retort. She merely kept her face turned to the side, saying nothing and ignoring him.

But anyone paying close attention would have noticed that Wang Dong's face had long since turned bright red.

At that moment, Zhou Yi arrived beside Shrek Square and stood at the highest point, quietly watching the students run. Her gaze quickly swept over Jiang Yuheng and the other two. After a slight shift in her expression, her eyes returned to normal.

Time passed quickly. As the number of laps increased, the students gradually slowed down.

At this point, the differences in individual cultivation and physical fitness became fully apparent.

There were more than a dozen people running at the front, and none of them were slow. Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong were at the head of them. Though the two had slowed down, they had already completed a hundred laps long ago.

Because Wang Dong wanted to accompany Jiang Yuheng, she did not go rest like the others.

Huo Yuhao was behind Wang Dong. Once he had completed enough laps, he stopped to recover on the spot instead of staying with Jiang Yuheng.

The reason was simple. For some reason, Huo Yuhao always felt that there was a special feeling between Brother Yuheng and Wang Dong. He could not say exactly what it was, but his instincts told him that it was better not to go over and disturb them.

After Huo Yuhao came the main group of students. They maintained an even pace and did not seem to be struggling too much. At their speed, finishing within one hour would not be a problem at all.

"Speed up! Use my position as the finish line!" Zhou Yi shouted loudly at several students who were lagging behind.

The last few students also burst into a sprint. Luckily, they crossed the line just in time.

By then, aside from Jiang Yuheng and Wang Dong, who were still running, every student had completed one hundred laps within the allotted time and leaned loosely against the stone posts.

Zhou Yi turned expressionlessly toward the students, calmly calling out nine names and telling them to stand at the very front.

Though the nine students were puzzled, they obediently moved to the designated spot.

"You nine may go back, pack your things, and leave the academy. From this moment on, you are no longer students of Shrek Academy."

"Ah?!"

The nine students were stunned by Zhou Yi's words, while the rest of the students erupted in an uproar.

"Teacher, why?" Tailong stepped forward with an angry expression.

Among the students who had just finished the laps, he had been one of the first to complete them.