A Rabble

A Rabble

Since Dugu Yan had been the main cause of the incident, by the time Chen Ming left the Mimicry Training Ground that evening, the group of noble youths outside, all plotting who knew what, had already vanished.

Niu Dali lay on the grass with a blade of Blue Silver Grass between his teeth, staring blankly at the sky. Even when he heard Chen Ming's footsteps, he said nothing, merely waving a hand.

Seeing how exhausted he looked, Chen Ming roughly understood why Niu Dali had seemed that way when he and Qin Ming arrived that morning.

After all, who could stand being harassed by a bunch of insufferable people every day? The little free time he finally had was even disturbed by others. Anyone would lose their temper over that.

Chen Ming waved goodbye to Niu Dali, then followed the route Qin Ming had shown him toward the cafeteria. He bought some food from the serving window and stored it in his Storage Soul Tool. Just as he was about to turn and leave, he paused to think, then returned to buy some fried chicken and watermelon.

When Chen Ming returned to the entrance of the Mimicry Training Ground, Niu Dali was still lying on the grass. The moment Chen Ming took out the fried chicken and watermelon from his Storage Soul Tool, Niu Dali, who had been sprawled on the ground, immediately sat upright with shining eyes, as though he had caught the scent of some rare delicacy, staring straight at Chen Ming.

"Teacher Niu, you've worked hard. I'm a new student who's only just enrolled, so I'll probably have to trouble you with things in the future. It's just a small gift to show my appreciation."

"Good. This is exactly what I like." Niu Dali did not stand on ceremony. He rose directly, accepted the fried chicken and watermelon, then patted Chen Ming on the shoulder.

After chatting briefly, Chen Ming stopped disturbing Niu Dali and headed back toward his own courtyard nearby.

Yet just as he was about to return to his courtyard, Chen Ming discovered that a group of people was waiting in front of it.

Qin Ming had told Chen Ming that no one had lived in this courtyard before. Chen Ming was its only resident, and if any other students were going to move in later, he would be notified in advance.

So clearly, this group could not possibly be his roommates or anything of the sort.

Although it was already dark, Chen Ming circulated Soul Power into his eyes and took a careful look. Among the people blocking his gate, he spotted several faces he had seen that morning.

Chen Ming did not even need to think to know that these people had come to find him so they could use him to get to Dugu Yan.

While Chen Ming was observing them, several students who looked like lackeys spotted him as well and immediately started shouting within the crowd.

Very quickly, the group in front of Chen Ming's gate surged toward him in a dark mass. Chen Ming neither dodged nor retreated, simply walking forward and completely ignoring this rabble.

"Hello, junior. I'm from the Yun Family—"

"I'm from the Zhang Family—"

"The Tang Family—"

A rabble was a rabble. Though these people had gathered to block Chen Ming's courtyard, that did not mean they were all on the same side. The moment they saw him, they shoved and jostled one another. Each tried to speak while pushing others aside to stop them from talking, leaving the entire group unable to produce a single complete sentence.

"Make way, everyone. I need to go back and cultivate. Whatever it is, we can talk about it later."

Chen Ming could not be bothered with this rabble. He walked straight ahead, lightly circulating his Soul Power as his body forced aside the noble youths blocking his path like an iron tower. Without looking back, he left them with a single sentence and prepared to return to his courtyard.

Seeing Chen Ming act so "arrogantly," some who considered themselves noble could not help cursing at him.

"Who the hell do you think you are? Some minor noble from the border comes to Heaven Dou City to throw his weight around? You dare ignore me when I'm speaking? I am—"

Smack! Smack!

Chen Ming showed no mercy to someone who could not speak properly. He stopped and delivered two resounding slaps, leaving the other man dizzy and swaying on his feet.

"In the world of Soul Masters, strength rules. I'm a Soul Grandmaster. If any of you can beat me in the arena, then come make demands of me. Otherwise, stop buzzing around me like flies. Wouldn't your time be better spent cultivating?"

"You dare hit m—"

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Chen Ming turned and gave the troublemaker three more slaps, knocking him straight to the ground.

Seeing that student get knocked unconscious without another word, the spoiled noble youths who had been clamoring moments ago were all stunned. None of them had expected Chen Ming to act so decisively.

A few hotheads instinctively wanted to speak, but the people beside them pulled them back.

"I came to Heaven Dou Royal Academy to study. Don't drag me into whatever nonsense is going on between you people. If any Soul Grandmaster among you can beat me, I'll do whatever you want. Otherwise, stop wasting my time."

Chen Ming casually shoved aside several people blocking the way, opened the courtyard gate with his key, then ruthlessly shut this group of people, still unsure what to do, outside.

At that moment, someone who believed himself fairly capable finally came to his senses and shouted at Chen Ming through the wooden gate.

"Hey! You said you wanted to fight, so come out and spar with us in the arena! What kind of hero are you, going straight home? All talk and no action?"

"Go sign a life-and-death waiver with the Education Committee Members first and get their approval for me to use poison in the academy. Once they approve it, I can go to the arena against all of you at once. At worst, I'll just kill a few more people."

Chen Ming's voice came through the wooden gate. It did not sound particularly cold, yet it made those few who had been eager to try involuntarily shudder.

Chen Ming had only just enrolled, so they did not know much about his background. All they knew was that he was a Soul Grandmaster from some small place and that his family held a hereditary countship. They had yet to obtain any other detailed information. They could not tell whether Chen Ming was merely arrogant or truly capable.

Still...

If things were handled according to the rules between nobles, these students, who had received noble education, considered themselves quite adept at it. But Chen Ming's response, which was completely unbecoming of a noble and even downright barbaric, left them at a complete loss.

They looked at one another, not knowing what to say. After lingering outside the gate for a while, they had no choice but to leave and begin investigating Chen Ming's background one by one.

Only a few hotheads still believed they held various advantages and had some ideas in mind. They wanted to defeat Chen Ming and make him agree to help them pursue Dugu Yan.

But none of that had anything to do with Chen Ming at the moment. He returned to his room, drew some water from the well in the backyard, simmered the medicinal soup he had brought from home in the kitchen, found a wooden tub in the Quiet Room, and began his Medicinal Bath.