Street Conflict

Huang Fei paused.

He set down his book, sat upright, and replied respectfully, "Instructor, I did not deliberately expose it today."

"Oh?"

"When Hong Yu rushed at me, my first instinct was actually to defend myself."

"But I had only recently absorbed my Second Soul Ring, and my control was not yet proficient. I accidentally... let it show."

Huang Fei spoke sincerely, his expression open and composed.

After a pause, he added, "Since it was already out, putting it away would only have seemed stranger, so I simply..."

"So you simply went along with it and showed off?" Song Yunzhi finished coolly.

Huang Fei fell silent for two seconds.

"...This disciple knows his mistake."

Song Yunzhi did not respond immediately.

Inside the Meditation Room, she watched the boy's presence transmitted through the Voice Transmission formation. It was steady and calm, without the slightest hint of guilt.

What mistake did he know?

He was obviously completely justified.

She shook her head, though her tone softened somewhat. "Forget it. Since it has already been revealed, hiding it now would only invite suspicion."

"This disciple thinks so too," Huang Fei immediately said.

Song Yunzhi: "..."

She drew a deep breath and decided not to argue with this Disciple.

"After today, Elders from the academy and Instructors from the Inner Court will surely come to probe into your true abilities."

"I have already spoken to Mu En. If anyone else asks, just say that your Soul Ring came from a fortunate opportunity. There is no need to explain further."

"This disciple understands."

"As for those who refuse to accept it and want to challenge you..."

"Go easy on them. Do not cause any deaths."

Song Yunzhi paused, her tone calm:

Huang Fei was slightly startled, then smiled. "Rest assured, Instructor. This disciple knows what to do."

Song Yunzhi said nothing further, and the Voice Transmission ended.

Inside the Meditation Room, she leaned back in her chair and gazed at the moonlight beyond the window, the faint smile on her lips never fading.

He spoke of hiding his edge, but could he truly keep it hidden?

Blue Silver Grass Martial Soul, innate Level One Soul Power.

This child had held himself back for four years before finally stepping into the spotlight.

Whoever it was, they would be reluctant to press that light back into its sheath.

"So be it."

She closed her eyes, her voice as soft as a murmur.

"Let him be flamboyant, then."

"At my age, could I not even protect a Disciple?"

Outside the window, moonlight filtered through the leaves of the Golden Tree, scattering silver across the ground.

The next evening.

After finishing an entire day of cultivation, Huang Fei felt refreshed, his Soul Power flowing smoothly and without obstruction.

It had been two days since he broke through to Level 23. His cultivation had fully stabilized, and his control over the Second Soul Ring had become increasingly proficient.

He rose and pushed open the window. The evening breeze carried the aroma of food from the academy Cafeteria inside, but it stirred little appetite in him.

Better to go for a walk.

Huang Fei made a quick adjustment to his appearance and strolled out of the Dormitory building.

Shrek Academy covered a vast area. Aside from its teaching district and Training Ground, it also had a Student Commercial Street that ran from east to west.

The street was lined with shops offering everything from Soul Tool repairs and Elixir trades to delicacies from all over. Many students came here to wander after class.

Huang Fei walked slowly along the Blue Stone road, treating it as a chance to relax.

When he reached the middle section of the Commercial Street, he suddenly caught a familiar burnt fragrance.

He paused and followed the scent with his eyes.

At an inconspicuous stall on the street corner, seven or eight people had gathered.

The stall owner was slender, with blue hair hanging over his forehead. He was intently turning fish skewers on the grill.

It was Huo Yuhao.

Huang Fei was mildly surprised.

He remembered that in the original story, Huo Yuhao had indeed sold grilled fish to supplement his cultivation resources. He had not expected him to continue doing so after arriving at Shrek Academy.

On the grill, the fish skin was golden and crisp. Fat dripped onto the charcoal, sizzling loudly.

Huo Yuhao worked with practiced skill, seasoning, flipping, and controlling the heat in one fluid sequence. Clearly, he was no novice.

"Huo Yuhao, three skewers!"

"I want five!"

Several lower-grade students crowded around the stall, evidently regular customers.

Huo Yuhao answered them with a smile, his hands never stopping.

Just as Huang Fei was about to step forward and greet him, a burst of boisterous laughter came from behind him.

"Well, this place is pretty lively."

Behind the crowd, three Senior Students pushed through the others and swaggered closer.

The leader was broad and powerfully built, with a tiger-like back and bear-like waist. Beneath his open outer robe, his muscular chest was exposed, while a ferocious Black Bear was tattooed on his right arm.

The School Badge on his chest marked him as a Fourth Year student. His aura was robust and deep—he was clearly a Level Thirty-Four Soul Elder.

The other two behind him were also above three rings. One had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, while the other had a face full of flesh.

"Fourth Year... Tie Xiong?"

"What is he doing here?"

Low whispers rose from the crowd as several students who had been waiting in line quietly stepped back.

Tie Xiong's Martial Soul was the Earth Violent Bear. He was a Fourth Year Assault Type student, notorious for his violent temper and fondness for bullying lower-grade students.

If not for his genuinely formidable Combat Strength and the fact that he had never seriously injured anyone, the academy would have expelled him long ago.

Huo Yuhao looked up and recognized the newcomers. His hands paused slightly before returning to normal. "Three Seniors, grilled fish costs five Copper Coins per skewer."

Tie Xiong grinned, picked up a skewer from the grill, and took a bite.

After chewing twice, he spat it onto the ground.

"Pah. What the hell is this? Tastes awful."

He casually tossed the skewer back onto the grill. Grease splattered onto Huo Yuhao's sleeve.

Huo Yuhao lowered his eyes to glance at the stain on his sleeve but said nothing.

"What, not happy about it?" The Sharp-Mouthed Student behind Tie Xiong gave a strange laugh. "Freshman, do you know who our Brother Tie Xiong is?"

Huo Yuhao moved the ruined skewer aside on the grill, his tone calm. "If you think it tastes bad, Senior, you do not have to buy it."

"Ha!"

As though he had heard a joke, Tie Xiong turned to look at his two lackeys. "This kid is telling me not to buy it?"

He turned back and looked down at Huo Yuhao. "Freshman, this street is managed by the Fourth Year students. Do you know the rules? To set up a stall, you pay a Venue Fee—ten Gold Soul Coins a day."

Ten Gold Soul Coins.

Huo Yuhao sold grilled fish for five Copper Coins a skewer. One hundred Copper Coins equaled one Silver Coin, and one hundred Silver Coins equaled one Gold Soul Coin.

For ten Gold Soul Coins, he would have to sell two thousand skewers of grilled fish.

Huo Yuhao fell silent for two seconds. "I do not have that much."

"You do not?" Tie Xiong's smile widened. "Then use something else as payment."

His gaze fell upon the Storage Soul Tool at Huo Yuhao's waist.

It had been a gift from Beibei. Though it was only the lowest-grade model with ten cubic meters of space, it was Huo Yuhao's most valuable possession.

Huo Yuhao's expression changed slightly, and his hand instinctively pressed against his waist.

Seeing this, Tie Xiong's smile grew broader. "Hand it over yourself if you know what is good for you. Save yourself a beating."

The two men behind him were already cracking their knuckles.

The surrounding students retreated even farther. No one dared step forward.

Huo Yuhao pressed his lips together as his Spiritual Power quietly gathered, ready to summon his Spiritual Eye at any moment.

As soon as the first ripple of Soul Power appeared, Tie Xiong noticed it. He sneered. "What, you want to fight?"

Soul Power burst from his body. Three Soul Rings—yellow, yellow, and purple—lit up as the phantom of an Earth Violent Bear appeared behind him.

The pressure of Level Thirty-Four bore down like a crushing boulder. Huo Yuhao's breathing caught, and he took a small step back.

More than ten levels against Level Thirty-Four.

The gap was far too great.

At that moment, a calm voice sounded from outside the crowd.

"Is this ten-Gold-Soul-Coin Venue Fee an academy rule, or one you made up yourself?"

Tie Xiong frowned and turned toward the voice.

The crowd automatically parted, opening a path.

Huang Fei walked slowly into the circle, his expression composed and his gaze tranquil.

Tie Xiong sized him up, his eyes falling on the School Badge on Huang Fei's chest—First Year.

He immediately sneered. "Another First Year student. What, you want to stand up for him too?"

Huang Fei did not answer. He looked at Huo Yuhao. "Pack up the stall. You will not be doing business tonight."

Huo Yuhao was taken aback, then nodded and began putting away the grill.