Protagonist Treatment

"Boss, did I cause you trouble?"

Seeing Tang San and Yu Xiaogang leave, Wang Sheng finally edged over and asked cautiously.

"Take out the words 'did I.' I have no idea who taught you lot this, but no matter how useless this so-called Master is, as you said, he just can't break through to Soul Elder.

But at his core, he's still a Soul Grandmaster. You're a ninth-level little Soul Master, yet you dared to mock him to his face."

Lin Xuan looked up at the sky speechlessly.

This was, after all, a world where the strong preyed on the weak. Even if they were protected by the academy, that was no reason for these students to act so arrogantly.

"Remember this when you go out into the world later: don't join the commotion or follow the crowd when you've got nothing better to do. Those are the people who die the fastest."

Lin Xuan lectured the group behind him on his Way of the Dog experience.

"Yes, Boss!"

The members of the Seventh Dormitory responded in unison.

"Let's go eat. I'm not blaming you. I know you did it for my sake, but next time, try to be a little more tactful."

Lin Xuan patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder, then followed the work-study students toward the cafeteria serving windows on the first floor.

He did not stubbornly force himself to save face by going up to the second floor.

He would have to wait at least three years before breaking through to become a Soul Master. After this meal, he would need to find work outside. He had to spend his money carefully.

It had to be said, this truly was the Soul Master Cafeteria. Even the food on the first floor was far better than what he had eaten in the village.

It simply did not have as many choices as the second floor, nor could people order dishes.

Quite a few self-funded students ate on the first floor as well. The only ones who could truly afford the second floor were children from wealthy families.

Still, even the food on the first floor was not exactly cheap.

A steamed bun cost one Copper Soul Coin. It was quite large, and there was no skimping on ingredients.

The dishes were divided into meat and vegetable dishes.

A meat dish cost five Copper Soul Coins, a vegetable dish cost three, and soup cost one Copper Soul Coin.

Following behind Wang Sheng and the others, Lin Xuan watched them get their food. Their usual meal consisted of two steamed buns, one meat dish, one vegetable dish, and a bowl of soup.

One meal cost eleven Copper Soul Coins.

Then there was another meal in the afternoon, plus breakfast in the morning.

In a month, food alone would cost around eight hundred Copper Soul Coins.

And that did not include any other expenses.

A work-study student's monthly One Silver Soul Coin seemed to be just enough for food.

Lin Xuan took a look. There was neither too much nor too little meat in the cafeteria dishes, but compared with steamed buns, the buns were definitely more cost-effective.

After all, around twenty steamed buns were enough to fill him up.

But if he ate dishes, he would need seven or eight portions of meat dishes alone.

Then, beneath the stunned gaze of the auntie serving food, Lin Xuan directly asked for twenty steamed buns, one vegetable dish, and one bowl of soup, handing over twenty-four Copper Soul Coins.

"Student, we'll still be open this afternoon. These steamed buns will get hard once they cool."

The auntie thought Lin Xuan planned to focus on cultivation and could not be bothered to come to the cafeteria, so she kindly reminded him.

"Uh!? Auntie, this... I understand!"

Lin Xuan wanted to explain, but after thinking about it, he decided to let his appetite speak for itself.

Twenty steamed buns piled his tray full, like a small mountain.

"Boss!"

Seeing the steamed buns on Lin Xuan's tray, Wang Sheng and the other work-study students were dumbfounded.

"Eat. I told you, I have a big appetite."

Lin Xuan waved a hand and spoke casually.

Then he picked up a steamed bun and began wolfing it down.

At first, nothing seemed unusual, but as time passed, all the work-study students gradually stopped eating.

Lin Xuan was simply too fast. A few bites, and a large steamed bun was gone.

These were steamed buns supplied to Soul Master students. The cafeteria did not dare cut corners.

Every steamed bun was substantial.

Even though they had to undergo physical training and cultivate Soul Power every day, they could only eat two at most.

But how long had it been for Lin Xuan?

They had not even finished half a bun, yet Lin Xuan had already swallowed ten.

Only then did Wang Sheng and the others understand what Lin Xuan meant when he said he had a somewhat large appetite.

"No wonder Boss is so strong. He can really eat!"

Wang Sheng could not help sighing as he watched Lin Xuan.

Then Wang Sheng noticed that Lin Xuan seemed to have only gotten one vegetable dish.

Glancing at the meat dish on his own tray, which he had barely touched, he pushed his tray toward Lin Xuan.

"Boss, eat mine. I can't eat that much meat."

Wang Sheng said with shining eyes.

He was now completely convinced by Lin Xuan.

Not only had Lin Xuan defeated him, but when he had been about to face danger just now, Lin Xuan had chosen to protect him.

Those two points alone were enough for Wang Sheng to sincerely acknowledge him.

"No need. Eat your own food. None of us have it easy. As long as I'm full, that's enough."

Lin Xuan shook his head and refused outright.

"Alright."

Seeing the resolve in Lin Xuan's eyes, Wang Sheng pulled his tray back.

The others did the same.

But at the same time, they acknowledged Lin Xuan as their boss even more.

"Heh, did some pig wander in from the mud? How can he eat so much?

Could he be a Hungry Ghost Reincarnation?"

Just as Lin Xuan ate his eighteenth steamed bun, a teasing voice drifted down from the direction of the second floor.

Lin Xuan's hand paused slightly, but he did not stop chewing.

He continued clearing the food on his tray as if he had heard nothing.

"Liu Long, what do you mean by that?!"

Lin Xuan could endure it, but Wang Sheng could not. He slammed a hand on the table, rose to his feet, and glared furiously toward the second floor.

The other work-study students also stood up together and looked toward the second floor.

"Is there anything wrong with what I said? He eats so much—could his Martial Soul be a pig too?"

At the railing on the second floor, Liu Long leaned over it. Facing Wang Sheng's furious glare, he showed no fear at all and even replied with a broad smile.

"You're the pig! Your whole family are pigs!"

Wang Sheng was furious, but as elementary school students, they clearly had not learned how to curse properly.

"Hahaha, is there something wrong with what I said?

Look at him. He's still eating even now. If he's not a pig, then what is he?"

Liu Long said, looking toward Ling Feng beside him.

The mockery in his words was completely undisguised.

The self-funded students behind them could not help laughing as well.

Their greatest pleasure was probably finding trouble with these work-study students.

"Sigh, protagonists really are the center of attention wherever they go. Even when nothing happens, a whole pile of trouble still comes crawling out."

Lin Xuan wiped his mouth and swallowed the last mouthful of soup.

"Boss!"

Wang Sheng's eyes blazed with fury. The moment Lin Xuan gave the order, he would rush up and knock those two men's teeth out.

"Boss? Wang Sheng, have you regressed? You're actually calling a little brat Boss?

That must be this year's new student, right?"

Hearing Wang Sheng call him Boss, Liu Long and the others laughed even more wildly.

"Looks like the academy never taught you a certain lesson."

Lin Xuan stood up and stretched lazily.

Being full felt really good.

Especially when there were punching bags to hit after a full meal—it would probably feel even better.