The ancient forest was shrouded in darkness. The afternoon sun never made it through the layers upon layers of leaves.
Xian Wu and the others walked through the gloomy woods. Their side-by-side formation gradually turned into a single-file line.
Xian Wu led, Zhu Jun Xiang followed, Nie Li came third, and the "bravest" of them all, Lu Piao, brought up the rear.
He was only brave around women.
"Xian Wu, that's enough. Don't go any farther," Lu Piao said, hiding behind Nie Li and clutching his clothes.
If they ran into a ferocious demon beast like the spotted tiger, they might not even have time to fire a signal flare before they were done for.
Xian Wu shrugged. He hadn't expected Lu Piao to be such a coward.
According to the signboard, the area they were in was called the New Apprentice Zone, where Bronze One Star demon beasts lived.
Zhu Jun Xiang had said that Bronze One Star demon beasts were the weakest in the Trial Grounds.
Unity was strength. Even without the Demon Left Hand, the four of them might still be able to hunt one down if they worked together.
Besides, if the guards had let them in, ordinary demon beasts probably weren't a threat to them.
As long as they didn't go looking for trouble by venturing too deep, they'd be safe with signal flares on hand.
After thinking it over, Xian Wu stopped. "Forget it. There's nothing much to see here anyway. Let's go back!"
Thinking it over, it really would be hard to make a move with a few deadweights in tow. He'd explore by himself another day.
The others immediately breathed a sigh of relief. If they went any farther, their hearts would probably be pounding right out of their chests.
They pushed open the side door and left the Trial Grounds.
The side door opened outward. It had a handle on the inside but none on the outside.
That made it very difficult to open from the outside. They could only enter through the main gate.
But with the Demon Left Hand, he could make a doggy door in the wall and get in whenever he wanted, without using the main gate.
After stopping by the bathhouse Lu Piao had been dreaming about, they all headed home.
"Xian Wu, Vice Dean Ye Sheng wants you to stop by his office when you get back."
As soon as he returned to the dorm, Zhang Ming gave Xian Wu some unwelcome news.
"Vice Dean Ye Sheng?" Xian Wu rubbed his chin. "Did he say what he wanted?"
Lu Piao had warned him that Vice Dean Ye Sheng was investigating who had caused trouble in the cafeteria. Could this be about that?
If it was, that wasn't good.
Just the incident with the girls' skirts would be enough to get him expelled.
"Vice Dean Ye Sheng didn't come by. The chubby kid next door told me. You'll have to ask him for the details." Zhang Ming lay on his bed under the covers, staring with wide eyes as he answered lazily.
He guessed Vice Dean Ye Sheng might be calling Xian Wu in over the cafeteria fight.
But he couldn't exactly say that out loud. After all, Xian Wu had stood up for them when they were being bullied.
If it had been him facing those menacing upperclassmen, he wouldn't have dared to fight back—or even utter a peep.
Xian Wu could be pretty perverted sometimes, but when it came to loyalty, he seemed like a good guy.
Xian Wu thought it over for a while. Instead of going next door to confirm with the chubby kid, he set off straight for the vice dean's office.
The Academy's offices were near the south gate, a long way from the dormitories. It took more than ten minutes to walk there.
Whatever came, he'd deal with it.
He had only stepped in to protect his classmates, so even if he was punished, he had an explanation.
"Knock, knock, knock..." Xian Wu arrived outside the vice dean's office, anxious and uneasy, and nervously knocked on the door.
His left hand could crush the heavens, the earth, and even thin air—but it couldn't overcome the authority of a teacher.
He couldn't help feeling nervous in front of one.
"Come in!"
Xian Wu pushed open the door. The first thing he saw was an old man with white hair and a goatee, dressed in a loose white robe.
Ye Sheng set his Ram Horn Pen in its stand and scrutinized the young man before him with hawk-sharp eyes.
Strong brows, bright eyes, a handsome face, and a fine appearance.
He'd look even better if he didn't hunch over and wear such a guilty, shifty expression.
"You're the new student Xian Wu who likes wearing a cloak?" Ye Sheng's voice was soft, yet full of authority.
Xian Wu replied respectfully, "That's right, sir. I'm Xian Wu."
"I've heard so much about you. Your reputation precedes you," Ye Sheng said teasingly.
He'd pulled his pants down in front of the gifted Xiao Ning'er and beaten upperclassmen in the cafeteria. Was there anything he didn't dare do?
Sacred Orchid Academy wasn't above the law. Every evil deed would be brought to justice.
Xian Wu could tell Ye Sheng didn't mean it as a compliment. He hurriedly waved his hands. "You're too kind, you're too kind. May I ask what the vice dean has summoned me for? Is it because my family is poor, and you want to give me some financial aid or something?"
"Keep dreaming!" Ye Sheng had meant to give the boy a scolding, but his shamelessness amused him instead.
Fighting back a smile, Ye Sheng cleared his throat and asked sternly, "Were you the one who got into a fight in the cafeteria at noon?"
"I was!" Xian Wu admitted without hesitation.
He'd thought the boy would deny it outright. Instead, he'd admitted it. He certainly didn't play by the rules.
Ye Sheng couldn't quite figure him out.
"But I had a reason for fighting," Xian Wu added, changing tack.
"Those upperclassmen threw food at people. I could let it go when they splashed it on my classmates, but they were wasting food. I couldn't let that go!"
"So you beat them up?" Ye Sheng thought to himself. That's certainly an unusual reason to fight.
"That's right!" Xian Wu stood up straight and spoke loudly. "I've told you why. You can beat me or punish me as you see fit."
"Why do you care so much about food?" Ye Sheng asked with a smile. There had to be a special reason.
Without batting an eye, Xian Wu replied, "I'm an orphan. I grew up never knowing if I'd have food the next day. A few times, I nearly starved to death on the streets."
"That's why food matters so much to me. I hate seeing people waste it."
"An orphan?" Ye Sheng was surprised. "Then where did you get the more than three thousand Demon Spirit Coins you paid for tuition?"
"I worked at the garbage processing plant in the north of the city. I worked from dawn to dusk, scrimping and saving until I'd put it together one coin at a time." Xian Wu answered honestly. He wasn't lying.
To become a Spirit Master and gain the ability to protect himself against demon beasts with magical powers, all that effort was worth it.
Xian Wu's words moved Ye Sheng, making his nose sting.
Born into the Wind Snow Family, he'd always enjoyed fine food and clothing and held a position of authority. He'd never personally experienced the hardships of ordinary people.
Xian Wu's words had opened his eyes, and Ye Sheng couldn't help feeling ashamed.
Xian Wu was unfortunate, but also lucky.
Of all the orphaned children in City of Brilliance with no place to call home, how many had the chance to study at Sacred Orchid Academy like him?
Ye Sheng lifted his teacup and took a sip. After a moment's thought, he said, "Even if you had a reason, you did disrupt order in the cafeteria."
"You'll be spared the death penalty, but you can't escape punishment. I'll let you stay at Sacred Orchid Academy, but you'll have to work in the cafeteria for one hundred Demon Spirit Coins a month. Are you willing?"
What? Xian Wu didn't understand for a moment.
"Are you willing?" Ye Sheng asked again.
"I am, I am! I'm more than willing." Xian Wu nodded hastily.
Ye Sheng waved his sleeve. "All right, you can go. I still have work to do."
Xian Wu remained where he was, as though he wanted to say something.
"Why haven't you left?" Ye Sheng asked, puzzled.
Xian Wu swallowed, as if he'd finally made up his mind.
Suddenly, he dropped to one knee, clasped his fist, and bowed. "I, Xian Wu, am unworthy, but I'd like you to take me as your adopted son."
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