Pleasure Working With You

Chang Ping knew Nie Li.

Who didn't know Nie Li? He was the protagonist of Tales of Demons and Gods!

In his previous life, he'd been violated by the Saint Emperor and six god-level demon beasts. Now he'd been reborn thanks to the Tome of Time and Demon Spirits. Essentially, he was an old monster who'd regained his youth.

Chang Ping figured Nie Li was still living in the memories of a max-level expert, unaware that he'd started over and lost all his incredible cultivation. Chang Ping didn't mind helping him wake up and face reality.

"Get your lousy ass off my chair! Move it!" Chang Ping strode over to his desk with heavy, thudding steps. He planted his huge, fan-like palm on the desktop and leaned over Nie Li, looking down at him as he issued the order in a cold voice.

Ye Zi Yun and Xiao Ning'er were both away from their seats. Maybe they'd gone outside the classroom for some fresh air, or maybe they'd gone to the restroom together. Either way, they weren't there.

"What if I say no?" Nie Li slammed both hands on the desk and stood up.

The entire class looked at him as if he were an idiot.

"Did that good-for-nothing take the wrong medicine today?"

"I bet that big fool's still groggy from sleeping. He thinks his dream was real and that he's still the legendary Demon Spirit Master from it."

"He's got no talent, and he doesn't work hard at his studies or cultivate diligently. All he does is daydream. He's hopeless."

As the students pointed at Nie Li and whispered, a sharp slap rang through the classroom.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Nie Li wedged in the window beside Xiao Ning'er's seat, with his butt facing inward and his face pointing out.

Chang Ping gave a cold snort and shook his left hand. With a flashy flip, he returned to his seat, wiped the chair with his enormous palm, and sat down.

"You're not the protagonist everywhere you go, kid!" Chang Ping muttered mockingly. He wasn't sure if Nie Li had heard him.

"W-where am I?" When Nie Li woke up, he found himself back in his seat. His speech was a little slurred, and the moment he moved his mouth, the right side of his face stung fiercely.

He looked around in a daze. The students were all sitting up straight and listening attentively, and there was a new instructor at the front of the classroom.

"Quit pretending you don't know!" Lu Piao suddenly grabbed him by the neck and shook him hard. "You promised to wash my clothes for a month. You're not trying to wriggle out of it, are you?"

"What clothes? Wasn't I only supposed to wash your underwear?" Nie Li rubbed his swollen cheek. It was now puffed up like a huge bun.

He'd realized he'd lost. Completely and utterly.

He'd clearly predicted Chang Ping's slap, but he hadn't expected Chang Ping to predict his prediction. The enemy was always one step ahead.

The guy had been fast, accurate, and ruthless. Before Nie Li could figure out what was happening, everything had gone black, and he'd passed out. There was no way he could beat Chang Ping at his current level.

"I'll get my revenge!" Nie Li clenched his fist. He'd have to pay Chang Ping back for that slap.

Luckily, Zi Yun hadn't been there at the time. Otherwise, he'd have been humiliated.

Still, from that one slap, he'd been able to roughly estimate Chang Ping's cultivation. His strength was probably somewhere between Silver Four-star and Silver Five-star.

A mere Silver-ranked cultivator dared strike the great Emperor Nie Li? He really didn't know his place.

"Hiss..." Nie Li sucked in a breath. The more he rubbed his cheek, the more it hurt.

He'd been careless this time.

He hadn't expected a master like that to be in the Beginner Warrior Class.

Lu Piao let go of Nie Li's neck and slumped over his desk, his cheek against his textbook. "I warned you. Chang Ping's a real tough guy who beat Instructor Tie Lang. You just wouldn't believe me. And look what happened—you got beaten up. Where'd you even get the nerve?"

He was probably an idiot from sleeping too much. How could Nie Li sleep that much?

Lu Piao had to learn from his example and try not to sleep in class. Otherwise, he might wake up all confused one day and provoke the wrong person. That would be a disaster.

"Do you have any pocket money left? I'll help you make a quick fortune tonight!" Nie Li suddenly asked Lu Piao, rubbing his fingers together. To surpass Chang Ping, he had to improve his cultivation. To improve his cultivation, he needed money—a lot of money.

At the mention of pocket money, Lu Piao's face turned sour.

He shook his head. "Nope! Not a single coin. I treated Chang Ping to a meal yesterday, and he ate all three thousand Demon Spirit Coins' worth. He's an absolute beast—he can eat like crazy!"

Nie Li clenched his fist.

"There's no other way. I'll have to go to the Alchemist Association." Nie Li made up his mind. With the pill formulas in his head, he was sure he could earn a fortune in Demon Spirit Coins from the Alchemist Association.

"Hey, big fool!" Shen Yue suddenly called out to Nie Li from the left side of the aisle.

Nie Li's face darkened, and he ignored Shen Yue.

You're the big fool! Your whole family's full of big fools! Fool your uncle! Fool your ancestors!

He still hadn't gotten revenge for the way Shen Yue had bullied him in his previous life. The guy had some nerve, pushing his luck like this.

"Nie Li, I'm talking to you! Are you deaf?!" Shen Yue wouldn't let it go.

Hearing Shen Yue call his name, Nie Li reluctantly turned around. "What do you want?"

"Do you hate Chang Ping?" Shen Yue asked quietly, shielding his mouth with his hand.

His father, Shen Hong, had once told him that the enemy of your enemy was your friend.

He planned to ally with Nie Li and take on Chang Ping together.

"Obviously! If I slapped you, would you hate me?" Nie Li rolled his eyes. He really didn't like Shen Yue. "If you've got something to say, say it. Stop beating around the bush!"

Damn it, who did this brat think he was, talking to him that way? Was he looking to get himself killed?

Shen Yue forced down his anger. "Help me deal with Chang Ping, and I'll provide the funds. But if you get caught, don't give me up. If you agree, this Demon Crystal Card is yours." Shen Yue took a Demon Crystal Card out of his Space Ring.

He had plenty of money. If he could make Chang Ping miserable, he didn't care how much it cost.

"Why pick me?" Nie Li disliked Shen Yue, but he didn't dislike money.

Shen Yue let out a cackle and answered bluntly, "Because you're reckless! You knew Chang Ping was that tough and still dared to provoke him. I like people who don't care if they live or die."

Reckless was putting it nicely. Put less kindly, he was stupid.

Only stupid people worked diligently and conscientiously, without cutting corners or trying to get out of work.

"Thanks for the compliment," Nie Li said with a rueful smile.

If he'd known Chang Ping was that tough, he would've made thorough preparations before challenging him. Then he wouldn't have ended up in such a sorry state, becoming a laughingstock for the entire class.

"Pleasure doing business!"

The two reached an agreement at once: Shen Yue would provide the money, and Nie Li would take care of things.

Lu Piao leaned over discreetly and whispered in Nie Li's ear, "Are you really going to help Shen Yue deal with Chang Ping?"

"I'm not helping Shen Yue. I'm helping myself," Nie Li corrected him.

As his desk mate, Lu Piao earnestly advised him, "Chang Ping isn't an ordinary guy. If you make him angry, you'd better be ready to face the consequences."

"I'm no ordinary guy either! If he dares slap me, he'll pay for it!" Nie Li said with a cold snort. Getting revenge for every grudge and repaying every kindness was his guiding principle.

Besides, when had the great Emperor Nie Li ever suffered such humiliation?

"Enough talk. I'll help you make a quick fortune tonight. Bring a few more buddies. Ten thousand Demon Spirit Coins won't be nearly enough to deal with Chang Ping!"