Early the next morning, Jiang Huai walked out of the boys' dormitory. He looked up at the sun and remarked, "This is the perfect time to practice swordsmanship."
With that, Jiang Huai vaulted over the railing and jumped down. He took Jiang Ling out of the Storage Soul Tool at his waist, gripped the hilt, and began practicing the most basic sword-drawing stance.
Ning Rongrong had just woken up and was heading out to get some water when she happened to see him. Jiang Huai's sword movements reminded her of her childhood, when Sword Grandpa would practice just like that at home.
Every time Jiang Huai swung his sword, sweat flew from his body. His presence was just like that of someone destined to become the next Sword Douluo.
Ning Rongrong decided she had to find a way to recruit him into the sect. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was, after all, the second of the Upper Three Sects and the strongest auxiliary-type tool Martial Soul sect on the Wuhun Continent.
Jiang Huai practiced for an hour. Then he put his sword away in his Soul Tool and headed to the waterfall behind the academy to take a bath.
When Jiang Huai returned to the dormitory, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San had all gotten up. He greeted them one by one. "Good morning."
Dai Mubai and Oscar both nodded in reply. "Good morning, Jiang Huai."
Tang San came over to Jiang Huai and looked around before asking, "Brother Huai, where are Gu Yue and Xiao Wu?"
Jiang Huai shook his head helplessly. "I don't know either. I don't even know which dormitory they're in."
Dai Mubai said, "Oh? Are you asking where the girls' dormitory is? It's the first wooden house on the left as you leave here."
Jiang Huai nodded and headed that way. Tang San followed behind him, asking about how he made his Soul Tool along the way, but Jiang Huai wouldn't give him the blueprints.
Just as the two of them reached the girls' dormitory, the door opened. Xiao Wu came out first and took a breath of fresh air. Gu Yue followed, looking a little haggard. It seemed she hadn't slept well.
Jiang Huai stepped forward and put an arm around Gu Yue's shoulders. "Didn't sleep well?"
Gu Yue nodded against his chest. "Mm."
"Want me to take you to wash your face?"
Gu Yue nodded. Jiang Huai helped her to a stream behind the academy, took a towel out of his Soul Tool, dipped it in the water, and handed it to her.
Gu Yue squirmed and said, "You wash it for me."
At that, Jiang Huai gently wiped her face. He cleaned around her eyes, nose, and ears. Afterward, Gu Yue seemed much more awake, and her cheeks had a healthy flush.
Jiang Huai couldn't help pinching her cheek. Gu Yue suddenly grabbed his hand and pressed her lips to his.
Jiang Huai's eyes went wide. Xiao Wu had just come over to wash her face too, but the moment she arrived, she saw them. Tang San came up behind her, turned away at once, and began reciting the Heart-Calming Mantra.
Hearing the commotion, Gu Yue immediately let go. Then, like a little cat, she licked Jiang Huai's face and walked away.
Still dazed, Jiang Huai touched the spot she had licked and smiled. "That girl."
Soon, the four of them were walking through the little village. While wandering around, they heard an argument up ahead, so they hurried over to see what was going on. A fat young man was pulling at a woman.
Xiao Wu cried out indignantly, "What are you doing? Let that girl go!"
The man turned around. He wore a red jacket, and his reddish hair was combed into a cockscomb. When he saw that the one who had spoken was a little girl, he let go of the woman.
The fat man made an outrageous remark. "Well, well! Where did this little beauty come from? Want to take her place as my girlfriend? Fine, I accept!"
Xiao Wu snapped, "Pah! Pah! You fat pig! I'd never be with you. If I were going to be with anyone, it'd be Brother Huai or Third Brother. Who'd like someone as fat and ugly as you?"
The fat man flew into a rage and shouted, "Hey, you little brat—" Then he spotted Gu Yue beside Jiang Huai, with her arm around his. He brazenly added, "Well, well! There's another stunning beauty here. Why don't you come with me? Look at your little boyfriend—he's such a pretty boy. He definitely can't give you the kind of pleasure you want."
Jiang Huai's hand had already moved toward his Storage Soul Tool. Tang San saw this and stopped him. "Brother Huai, there's no need to bother with this chicken."
The fat man wasn't angered. "Kid, I'm talking here. Get lost."
Tang San's expression changed in an instant, turning cold. "Who did you call a kid?"
"Whoever's standing here is the kid I'm talking to."
Jiang Huai put a hand on Tang San's shoulder. He was furious and needed something to take his anger out on. He slowly stepped forward, his eyes fixed on the cockscomb-haired man.
Jiang Huai threw a punch. The fat man reacted by activating Phoenix Possession to block the blow, but he still went flying.
The fat man's hand was numb. The moment he got back to his feet, the temperature around him rose and burst outward. Gu Yue raised a hand to shield herself from the wave of heat.
Jiang Huai had eaten a few hamburgers before heading out, so the heat didn't affect him. A pair of fiery red wings appeared behind the fat man.
The fat man sneered. "I'll show you what an Undying Bird looks like."
With that, he snapped his fingers, and several chickens appeared around them. Jiang Huai sensed something was off and kept a wary eye on the chickens.
Xiao Wu burst out laughing. "You call that an Undying Bird? Hahaha! It's just a chicken!"
The fat man flew into a rage and spewed a stream of fire at Xiao Wu. Gu Yue appeared in front of her, holding out her right palm toward the incoming flames.
The fire struck Gu Yue's palm, and ice crystals formed on it. The fat man also felt the flames on his body weakening, so he stopped breathing fire.
But as soon as he extinguished the flames, a heavy punch slammed into his face. He tried to fight back, but Jiang Huai smacked his hand aside and then slapped him across his fat face.
Jiang Huai had put all his strength into that slap. The fat man's face visibly swelled, and he spat out a tooth that had been knocked loose.
The fat man had only just started to raise his hand when Jiang Huai slapped it back down. He was forced to take the beating, every attempt to lift his hand sent back down by Jiang Huai's powerful blows.
As he beat him, Jiang Huai asked, "Who was calling who a kid?"
The fat man's face was already swollen. He wanted to say that Jiang Huai was the kid, but all that came out was a muffled "Mmm."
After a while, a voice called from behind them, "Xiao Huai, what are you doing?"
Jiang Huai turned and saw Dai Mubai watching them in confusion. The fat man broke free and hid behind Dai Mubai.
The fat man gestured frantically in front of Dai Mubai, asking him to help teach Jiang Huai a lesson. But he couldn't speak properly and just kept going "Mmm, mmm, mmm."
Seeing Dai Mubai arrive, Jiang Huai rubbed his wrist, sore from all the slapping, then went to stand beside Gu Yue. "This guy was harassing a respectable woman in broad daylight."
Dai Mubai looked over and saw Cuihua standing some distance away. One look at her told him what had happened.
Dai Mubai smiled. "It's fine. They're boyfriend and girlfriend. The fat guy was just trying to win back his love."
The fat man flung his arm out and crouched on the ground, drawing circles. Not only had Dai Mubai refused to help him, he'd even exposed his pathetic history.
Jiang Huai knew he had gone too far, so he used his first Soul Skill to make a hamburger and handed it to Ma Hongjun.
"Hamburger, one layer of cheese; Soul Power flows with ease!"
Ma Hongjun saw the delicious-looking hamburger and took it, biting into it. His injuries healed rapidly, and his Soul Power returned to its peak.
Jiang Huai smiled. "My Soul Skill can't heal your injuries, but my Martial Soul has healing properties of its own."
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