Past Events

"Class Five of First Grade wins. Until the Promotion Tournament ends, you will temporarily remain Class Five."

"Once the Promotion Tournament is over, the classes will be rearranged. Tomorrow, you will continue challenging Grade One Class Three."

This was not even a one-sided match. Everything had been so easy that Tang Wuyang and Gu Yue had barely used the power of their Martial Souls before the battle was over.

Just as Wu Changkong had once told Tang Wuyang and the others, among Soul Masters their age, Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin could defeat quite a few people through their own pure strength alone.

Wu Changkong did not spare even a glance for Kong Hanwen, Class Four's homeroom teacher. He looked expressionlessly at the Class Five students. "Dismissed!"

Xie Xie draped an arm over Tang Wulin's shoulder. "I suddenly feel like the Promotion Tournament is such a happy time. At least we don't need special training at night."

To preserve their stamina and condition, they did not need to undergo special training during the tournament.

Long Hengxu also came down from the platform at that moment, surprise in his eyes as he looked at Class Five's four students.

He had personally arranged for Xie Xie to enter Class Five, using the excuse that he had gotten into a fight when school started.

Otherwise, with Xie Xie's talent, entering Class One would have been beyond doubt.

However, Xie Xie's family had approached Long Hengxu and hoped he could receive better training through hardship, so he had been placed in Class Five.

Long Hengxu had had several considerations at the time. As the worst class, Class Five faced far more pressure in the academy than the other classes, and Wu Changkong had happened to be transferred to Class Five of First Grade.

Although almost none of the academy's higher-ups liked that Cold and Arrogant God, they had to admit that his teaching ability and personal strength were exceptional.

Looking one step further, with a genius like Xie Xie in Class Five, the Promotion Tournament would inevitably put considerable pressure on the other first-grade classes, thereby driving the entire first grade's motivation to teach and learn.

It accomplished several goals at once. That had been Long Hengxu's true purpose in placing Xie Xie in Class Five.

But now, Class Five's lineup had exceeded his expectations.

He clearly remembered that Tang Wulin's Martial Soul was supposed to be Blue Silver Grass. As for the ringless spear he had displayed earlier, Long Hengxu, as the director of studies, naturally understood what it represented. This student who appeared to possess a Useless Martial Soul was actually a rare wielder of Twin Martial Souls.

As someone with Twin Martial Souls, could Tang Wulin's Blue Silver Grass truly be ordinary Blue Silver Grass?

The answer was obviously no.

As for Tang Wuyang, who possessed a Beast Martial Soul, his strength was immense, but it had not come from his Soul Skill. His First Soul Skill was actually a rare elemental Soul Skill.

And that girl was probably the student Wu Changkong had been willing to apologize to him for just to bring into the class.

Although she had not displayed her strength today, possessing a Century Soul Ring was enough to explain everything.

Class Five's tournament lineup was practically defying heaven!

Even Class One of First Grade probably would not find it easy to beat them.

If the lower-ranked classes kept winning in the Promotion Tournament, that would not be a good thing for him, the person in charge of admissions.

If that happened, it would indirectly prove that his class assignments had been unfair.

Long Hengxu was already starting to regret agreeing to let Wu Changkong place Gu Yue in Class Five.

"Want to go out and have some fun?" Xie Xie whispered into Tang Wulin's ear.

Tang Wulin shook his head. "I'm going to the cafeteria with Wuyang to eat."

Xie Xie refused to give up. "Bring him along! Come out with me. I'll treat you brothers to dinner. How about it?"

Tang Wulin was a little tempted by that. "Then I'll ask Wuyang."

With that, he and Xie Xie walked over to Tang Wuyang, who was chatting with Gu Yue, and called him over.

Tang Wulin quietly asked in his ear, "Wuyang, Xie Xie invited us out for dinner. What do you think? Want to go?"

The moment Tang Wuyang heard Xie Xie was paying, his eyes lit up. He nodded. "Sure!"

Over the past few months, the brothers had continuously taken on Level Two Forging Tasks and saved over a hundred thousand Federation Coins. That was already no small sum.

At this rate, they were confident that by the time their Soul Power reached Level 20, they would have saved enough money for a Century Soul Spirit.

"I'm coming too!" Gu Yue had somehow already appeared beside the group plotting together.

Xie Xie looked disgusted. "We're not bringing girls along!"

Gu Yue snorted coldly and looked at Tang Wuyang. "Are you going with them, or with me?"

Xie Xie said proudly, "Is that even a question? We're roommates and friends, and Wulin is his actual older brother. Even an idiot would know what to choose."

Gu Yue nodded. Then she suddenly turned toward the direction Wu Changkong had left and shouted, "Teacher Wu, I think our coordination still isn't good enough. We should continue special training."

"Hey!" Xie Xie flashed in front of her and raised his hand to cover her mouth.

Silver light flashed around Gu Yue, and she shifted two meters sideways, appearing beside Tang Wuyang. She sneered. "What? Want to fight?"

Xie Xie looked utterly defeated. "Fine, fine. If you want to come along, then come along!"

He truly had no way to deal with Gu Yue. She was stronger than him, and that fact alone had him completely pinned down.

They had trained together for so long, yet in one-on-one fights, he had never beaten Gu Yue. Only when he teamed up with Tang Wulin could they occasionally win, and that was with Tang Wuyang standing by without helping Gu Yue at all.

Strangely enough, Gu Yue was always targeting him. Her attitude toward Tang Wulin was relatively indifferent, but she was exceptionally nice to Tang Wuyang.

Thus, the four of them had a rather peculiar relationship. Xie Xie and Gu Yue were each close to Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang respectively, while Tang Wulin and Tang Wuyang were brothers, so naturally they were close as well.

Yet Gu Yue and Xie Xie disliked each other, while the Tang Wulin brothers caught in the middle were like the link between them.

The four changed back into their own clothes and left the academy.

"Where are we going?" Tang Wulin asked Xie Xie, who had suggested going out.

Xie Xie said, "Let's eat first. Don't you and Wuyang both love eating?"

"I know a snack street. Let's eat there."

Walking side by side with Gu Yue at the front, Tang Wuyang turned to look at Xie Xie behind them. "Are you sure you're treating us?"

Xie Xie said irritably, "It's just snacks. Do you think this young master can't afford it?"

Gu Yue said, "You reek of money!" With that, she grabbed Tang Wuyang's wrist and pulled him two steps forward.

Xie Xie said viciously, "Then don't eat if you've got the guts!"

Gu Yue held her head high. "I never planned to eat what you paid for anyway. Wuyang, you can treat me."

Tang Wulin rubbed his forehead. "Can't you two behave for a while? Didn't we come out to relax?"

Looking into Gu Yue's black gemstone-like eyes, Tang Wuyang once again saw Na'er's image in his mind. He agreed instinctively, "Okay, I'll treat you."

After receiving his answer, Gu Yue looked smugly at Xie Xie. "Don't worry, you cheapskate. I won't eat anything you buy. Everything you buy comes with..."

As she spoke, she waved a hand in front of her nose with a look of utter disdain.

Tang Wuyang shook his head and muttered inwardly, Their hair colors and appearances are clearly different. Why do I always think of Na'er whenever I look at Gu Yue?

Xie Xie took several deep breaths. Whether it was bickering or fighting, he was no match for her.

That was also why he had not wanted to bring Gu Yue along.

The snack street was not close to Eastsea Academy. The four walked for a full half hour before arriving.

Shops lined both sides of the not particularly wide street. The moment they reached the entrance, all kinds of aromas drifted out from the snack street, making their mouths water.

"Let's eat that first. Braised beef in clay pots. The beef is especially tender, and it's best with some white rice," Xie Xie said proactively as the host from Eastsea City.

"Sure!" Tang Wuyang readily agreed. He had been hungry for a while.

It was already late autumn, and the temperature outside was low. The moment they entered the shop, warmth and the aroma of beef washed over them, instantly making them feel comfortable all over.

The shop was small, with the stove outside. Nearly a hundred small burners sat atop it, each holding a clay pot of stewed beef.

The steaming beef fragrance made the clay pot lids hum from time to time, and the aroma slipped out to tempt passing pedestrians.

There were only five small rectangular tables inside, enough for at most twenty-something people. Half of them were already occupied.

Gu Yue looked at Xie Xie in surprise. "I didn't expect a rich young master like you to eat at a roadside shop."

This time, Xie Xie did not argue with her. "My mom used to love this shop's braised beef. I come here every so often."

As he spoke, he walked inside and sat down at the innermost table.

Tang Wuyang nudged Gu Yue, then followed him in and sat across from Tang Wulin.

"Oh, Xie Xie's here! You even brought friends. The usual?" The owner was a middle-aged man with a slightly grease-stained apron tied around his waist and a broad smile on his face.

"Mm, thank you, Uncle Li." Xie Xie smiled.

Very quickly, four clay pots of braised beef, four bowls of white rice, and two vegetable side dishes were brought over.

"This is your first time bringing friends here, so the side dishes are on the house." Uncle Li said with a smile. He even rubbed Xie Xie's head as though Xie Xie were his own nephew.

Tang Wuyang and Tang Wulin both looked at Xie Xie in surprise. Xie Xie was a neat freak, after all. In the dormitory, his bed was always the cleanest one.

Yet when this roadside shop owner touched him, he not only did not dodge, but even smiled. "Thank you, Uncle Li."

Whether it was the Tang Wulin brothers or Gu Yue, they all found this side of Xie Xie somewhat unbelievable.

Xie Xie urged them, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and eat."

As he spoke, he lifted the lid from the clay pot in front of him.

A rich aroma of beef immediately spread from the clay pot. The broth was dark golden, and they could clearly see the bite-sized chunks of beef within.

Xie Xie touched one with his chopsticks, and the stewed, tender beef immediately broke apart.

He carefully picked out a piece, placed it over his white rice, and ate it together with the rice.

Tang Wuyang could no longer hold himself back. He copied Xie Xie and started eating.

"Mm! So delicious." Tang Wuyang praised it.

Gu Yue and Tang Wulin also picked up their chopsticks and took a bite. Both were moved.

It really was delicious. The rich beef flavor blended with the broth, while the savory soup was balanced by the rice, complementing each other perfectly.

It was such a simple little shop, with dim yellow lights and plain wooden tables and chairs, yet it served astonishing food. Beef, rich soup, vegetable dishes, and rice came together into a meal that warmed them through and through.

The atmosphere among the four, who had trained together for three months, was clearly much more harmonious than it had been at the academy.

"Uncle Li, another twenty servings, please." Xie Xie called out to Uncle Li. After over two months together, he knew the appetites of a certain pair of brothers all too well.

"Uh, hehe." Tang Wulin swallowed the food in his mouth and gave an embarrassed laugh.

Tang Wuyang also scratched his head awkwardly. "Thanks."

Xie Xie looked up at Tang Wuyang. "What?"

Tang Wuyang explained helplessly, "I meant thanks as in gratitude. Your name is really easy to misunderstand."

Xie Xie suddenly gave a bitter smile, his eyes reddening. "My mom named me Xie Xie. She told me she gave me that name because she was grateful for her encounter with my dad."

"She said it was the happiest thing in her life, but..."

As he said that, Xie Xie's face grew somewhat pale, and even the hand gripping his chopsticks visibly tightened.

"Your mother, she...?" Tang Wulin asked hesitantly.

Tang Wuyang set down his chopsticks. His attention had also been drawn in.

Although the brothers could tell that Xie Xie's family was wealthy, this was the first time they had heard him mention anything about his family.

Xie Xie pressed his lips together. "My dad was busy with all sorts of things every day. Even when my mom was gravely ill, he was still running around outside."

"Before my mom died, her final wish was to see him one last time, but he still came back too late."

"I'll never forget that night. Mom cried, her eyes filled with regret as she let go of my hand. I hate him. I hate him!"

"I hate my name too. If that encounter had never happened, maybe Mom wouldn't have..." At that point, he suddenly collapsed onto the table.

Coming here seemed to have stripped away all the cold, arrogant disguises he wore. This was also the first time he had revealed his true feelings to anyone.

Just then, Uncle Li brought over the new clay pots of braised beef.

As he set them on the table, he sighed. "This child is so pitiful. His mother used to love bringing him here."

"After his mother passed away, he started coming by himself. Every time, he thinks of her. Please don't blame him."

"It's rare for him to bring friends here. I'm happy for him. He's still so young, but he carries so much on his mind. Please help him more. Ah, what a tragedy!"

Tang Wulin gently patted Xie Xie's back, while Tang Wuyang handed him tissues. The way Gu Yue looked at Xie Xie gradually changed as well.

"Hey, stop crying. I take back what I said earlier. You can treat us all today." Gu Yue kicked Xie Xie beneath the table.

Xie Xie raised his head and wiped the moisture from his eyes with his sleeve. "I reek of money!"

Gu Yue curled her lip. "You little brat sure hold grudges."

Xie Xie said angrily, "You're the same age as me, and you're even younger by a few months, right? If I'm a little brat, what does that make you? A little brat girl?"

Gu Yue opened one of the newly delivered clay pots and lowered her head to eat. As she ate, she said, "I don't argue with crybabies."

"Mm, so delicious."