Academy Bullying

Martial Soul Academy, early morning.

Xia Yang followed Yu Xiaogang into the academy cafeteria.

The aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through the cafeteria, and sparse lines had already formed before several serving windows.

Yu Xiaogang headed straight for the window selling Spirit Beast meat, pulled out his money pouch, and began making selections.

His movements were somewhat hurried, his finger swiftly pointing between different kinds of meat.

"This, this—whether it's cooked or raw, wrap it all up for me."

Xia Yang stood to the side, watching the bundles of meat gradually pile up into a small mountain, and could not help reminding him, "Xiaogang, isn't this too much?"

"My martial soul is in a special situation."

Yu Xiaogang explained as he paid, with a rare lightness in his voice.

"Since I've found a way to improve it, there's no harm in preparing more."

Indeed, he had bought enough for ten people to eat.

Fortunately, it was breakfast time and the cafeteria was well stocked. At any other time, they probably would not have been able to gather so much Spirit Beast meat.

The two people divided the purchased meat into several cloth bags and carried them in their hands, the bags weighing heavily.

As they left the cafeteria, Yu Xiaogang suggested, "Let's go back to the dormitory. It's quiet there, suitable for feeding Luo Sanpao."

Xia Yang nodded in agreement.

Thus, the two of them carried their large and small bags along the stone path toward the Work-Study Dormitory.

Before long, the outline of the Work-Study Dormitory appeared before them.

However, the entrance to the dormitory was unusually lively today.

Two groups of people were confronting each other there, completely blocking the entrance.

One group wore Formal Attire and carried themselves arrogantly. At their head stood a blond young man.

Though they had fewer people, their presence gave them the upper hand.

The other group was plainly dressed. Though they outnumbered the first group, they stood loosely, with traces of timidity on their faces. They were clearly at a disadvantage.

Since the two groups had blocked the dormitory entrance, Xia Yang and Yu Xiaogang had no choice but to stop for the moment.

The two exchanged a glance and silently blended into the crowd of onlookers nearby, intending to first figure out what was happening.

Xia Yang walked over to a classmate who looked relatively easy to talk to.

Then, he lightly tapped the other person and asked in a low voice, "Classmate, what's going on here?"

The student turned around and first gave Xia Yang a puzzled look. Only after seeing his academy uniform did he lower his voice and reply, "You really don't know? Jin Chen is picking on the work-study students again."

Xia Yang's gaze fell on the blond young man. "The one with the blond hair?"

"That's right."

The student nodded, then added, "He puts on a scene like this every month. We're used to it."

Xia Yang carefully observed those work-study students being bullied and thought to himself, I never expected bullying like this to happen even at an academy directly under Spirit Hall.

I thought this sort of thing only happened at those junior academies.

Just then, the atmosphere in the crowd changed.

"Jin Chen, what right do you have to stop us?"

Among the work-study students, one bolder student gathered his courage and demanded.

Jin Chen idly played with his fingers and lazily said, "I told you last month. Every one of you work-study students has to hand over ten Gold Soul Coins every month."

"Today is collection day."

After saying that, Jin Chen stepped back and opened up a path.

"Hand over the money obediently, and I'll naturally let you pass."

"Why should we give you money?"

Someone among the work-study students shouted indignantly.

"Why?"

Jin Chen snorted coldly and clenched his right fist. Intense Soul Power Fluctuation immediately erupted all over his body.

"Because of this! Is the strength of a Level Twenty-Nine Soul Grandmaster enough?"

"Jin Chen, don't go too far."

Another work-study student snapped.

"I am going too far. So what can you do about it?"

Jin Chen's face was filled with confidence as he said, "If you're not convinced, come out and have a go."

One work-study student angrily wanted to step forward, but the companion beside him held him back tightly. "Forget it. We already suffered last month. We're no match for him."

"Just consider it paying to avert disaster."

Sighs rose from the group of Work-study Students. One after another, they began taking out money, then left with their heads bowed in dejection.

"Hmph, a bunch of trash."

Jin Chen curled his lip disdainfully. "I really don't know why Spirit Hall takes in trash like you. Keeping you around only drives up the price of rice."

Xia Yang watched the bullying coldly, deciding that it was better to avoid trouble. He planned to return to the dormitory after these people had dispersed.

He glanced at Yu Xiaogang beside him and found that the usually composed young man had his brows tightly furrowed as well, yet he likewise made no move to intervene.

Before long, more than a dozen Work-study Students had paid up and left, while the crowd of onlookers gradually dispersed.

Jin Chen weighed the heavy Money Pouch in his hand. The coins clinked crisply against one another as he prepared to leave in satisfaction.

Seeing that the path was clear, Xia Yang and Yu Xiaogang headed toward the dormitory entrance.

"Hold it, you two."

Just as Xia Yang was about to step into the dormitory, an arm suddenly blocked his way.

Xia Yang turned and met Jin Chen's scrutinizing gaze.

"What is it?"

Xia Yang asked calmly.

"Where's your money?"

Jin Chen shook the Money Pouch in his hand, making the coins rattle.

Yu Xiaogang stepped forward. "Didn't you just say that only those leaving needed to pay?"

"Huh? New faces."

Jin Chen sized the two of them up. "New here?"

"So what if we are?"

Xia Yang's brows creased slightly.

"If you're Work-study Students, then hand over your money like good little boys."

Jin Chen's tone was forceful.

"What if we don't want to?"

After being pestered repeatedly, Xia Yang could not help growing impatient.

"Oh? Looks like your skin's gotten itchy. You want me to give you two a proper beating?"

Jin Chen's tone abruptly turned harsh.

"Wait."

Xia Yang suddenly raised his voice.

"What? Changed your mind? Ready to pay up?"

Jin Chen raised his brows smugly.

"Pay? Pay my ass."

Xia Yang snorted coldly and shoved Yu Xiaogang in front of him. "Do you fucking know who he is?"

Jin Chen burst into laughter. "Then do you know who I am?"

"His name is Yu Xiaogang. His father is Yu Yuanzhen, Clan Leader of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Xia Yang revealed Yu Xiaogang's identity, hoping to intimidate the other party.

"My name is Jin Chen. My grandfather is Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Second Worship of Spirit Hall."

Jin Chen announced his background with a proud expression.

Upon hearing that the other party was Golden Crocodile Douluo's grandson, Xia Yang fell silent at once.

That background was indeed beyond his expectations.

"Haha, why aren't you saying anything now?"

Seeing this, Jin Chen became even more smug.

"What do we do?"

Yu Xiaogang asked in a low voice, concern evident in his tone.

At this moment, the crowd that had originally dispersed began gathering again.

Although most of them disliked Jin Chen's actions, no one dared step forward to speak up for the Work-study Students. They could only watch silently from the side.