Dealing with Guang Long

Outside the pot-stewed beef shop.

Xu Xiaoyan had originally been ready to strike in anger, but when she spotted Xu Yue hurrying over through the crowd, her fury instantly vanished, replaced by delight.

As for Gu Yue beside her, her eyes flickered as she lowered the stance she had prepared to attack from.

I thought I'd have to wait until the Class Promotion Tournament to see him make a move. I didn't expect to get the chance now.

The instant Guang Long felt a hand press down on his shoulder, his expression twisted with rage. The shoulder being pinned immediately swung a fist backward.

"Who the hell is it? You dare touch me? You want to die... Aah!"

Before he could raise his fist, however, a sharp pain suddenly exploded from his shoulder and swept through his entire body.

Crack! Crack!

In that instant, Guang Long felt as if he had been clamped by Soul Hydraulic Pliers. His bones trembled violently, crackling nonstop.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the figure behind him.

It was a boy about the same age as the two girls in front of him, and Guang Long's expression immediately contorted.

"Ahh!! Don't ever let me catch you, or I'll skin you alive and pull out your tendons!"

A dragon's roar rang out.

Iron-gray dragon scales instantly surfaced across Guang Long's exposed skin, while two Soul Rings swiftly rose beneath him.

However.

Before Guang Long could summon his Martial Soul and fight back, Xu Yue abruptly withdrew the hand resting on his shoulder.

Guang Long felt his body suddenly lighten, but before he could react.

Xu Yue, standing behind him, had already raised his fist high before bringing it crashing down.

Could you withstand three tons of force in one punch?

The next moment.

Boom! Crack!

Amid the thunderous blast, the iron-gray dragon scales shattered, followed by a crisp crack even sharper than the sound of bones breaking before.

What... kind of power was that? Did a meteor... hit me?

Before Guang Long could figure out what kind of force had struck him, darkness swallowed his vision, and he lost consciousness.

Outside the shop, the scene abruptly fell silent.

Guang Long's body went limp and collapsed to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

The two previously ferocious lackeys stared blankly at the sight before them.

But they quickly came to their senses. It was as if their spines had been pulled out, and they dropped to their knees on the cold ground with a thud.

"Spare us! We'll never dare again! It was all the boss's... no, it was Guang Long who forced us!"

Xu Yue swept his gaze over the unconscious Guang Long on the ground before finally settling on the two trembling lackeys. His voice was cold and hard.

"You broke things. Aren't you going to pay for them?"

"Oh... yes, yes! We'll pay right away!!"

Feeling as though they had been granted amnesty, the two lackeys pulled out all the Federal Coin they carried, then searched Guang Long and took his money as well.

After Xu Yue accepted it, he thought of Guang Long's older brother, Guang Biao, and looked at the two men as he said coldly.

"My name is Xu Yue. First Grade Class One, Intermediate Division, Eastsea Academy. If you want revenge, come find me."

"Now take him and get out of here."

"We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare! We'll get out of here right now!"

The two lackeys nodded repeatedly, hauled Guang Rong away, and fled the Snack Street as if their lives depended on it.

The conflict ended, leaving only a mess outside the shop.

Xu Yue stuffed the Federal Coin he had just collected from Guang Rong and the two lackeys into Uncle Li's hands.

"You helped me out, sir. I can't take this!" Uncle Li hurriedly refused, but he simply could not resist Xu Yue's strength.

"Keep it. This is compensation." With that, Xu Yue took a business card containing his contact information from his Soul Tool.

"Oh, right. This is my card. If they dare come back, you can call my communication number."

Still, in his view, if Guang Long or Guang Biao had even a little sense, they would investigate his identity and abandon any thought of revenge.

Whether it was the Blacksmith Association or the Eastsea City Finance Bureau, neither was something a mere captain could afford to provoke.

Though they could not directly command the Mecha Brigade, applying pressure indirectly would not be a problem.

After handling the matter, Xu Yue walked over to Xu Xiaoyan and Gu Yue. His usual smile returned to his face.

He took two portions of meatballs, still faintly steaming and wrapped in oiled paper, from the bag he carried and handed one to each of them.

"Here, I brought these for you."

Gu Yue looked at the meatballs held out before her, and a trace of surprise flickered through her cool eyes.

She had not expected Xu Yue to bring a portion for her as well. After pausing for a second, she reached out to accept it, her voice calm.

"Thank you."

Xu Xiaoyan accepted her portion too, holding it in her palms.

The fragrance drifted into her nose, but all her enthusiasm had disappeared.

Thinking of Guang Long's group and their arrogant faces, the shopping trip she had been eagerly looking forward to was completely ruined.

She looked at Xu Yue, pouted her red lips, and said sullenly.

"What a buzzkill! Brother A-Yue, let's go back to the academy."

Xu Yue glanced at the dispirited Xu Xiaoyan and nodded. "All right, let's head back."

Then he looked at Gu Yue, who stood to one side holding the meatballs with her usual expression, and said apologetically, "Sorry, Gu Yue. We'll be leaving first. See you at the Class Promotion Tournament."

Xu Xiaoyan linked her arm through Xu Yue's. Whether she was trying to shake off her unhappiness or shake off Gu Yue, she pulled him toward the academy.

Gu Yue remained where she was and did not follow.

She held the warm meatballs in her hand and quietly watched Xu Yue and Xu Xiaoyan's backs as they left side by side.

"What a shame. Looks like I'll have to wait until the Class Promotion Tournament."

Just then, Tang Wulin and Xie Xie came over chatting and laughing. When they saw Gu Yue standing alone.

The smiles on their faces turned into undisguised surprise.

"Gu Yue?"

Tang Wulin spoke first, his tone full of surprise.

Xie Xie's eyes widened as well. He looked at Gu Yue, clearly astonished that she had appeared here.

"Gu Yue, why are you here too? Didn't you say you weren't coming?"

Then, as if suddenly realizing something, a teasing look entered his eyes.

"Oh, I get it. You just didn't want to accept my invitation, right?"

"You acted like you were refusing, but your body was honest after all. You even bought meatballs."

As he spoke, he nudged Tang Wulin beside him with his elbow, waggling his brows.

Yet Gu Yue showed not the slightest expression in response to Xie Xie's words, remaining as cool and aloof as ever.

Her pink lips parted slightly as she calmly uttered two words.

"Boring."

With that, she opened the package of hot meatballs, speared one, ate it, and walked toward the street entrance on her own.

Seeing Gu Yue like this, Xie Xie stood there blankly. Only after a moment did he turn to Tang Wulin. "Did I say something wrong?"

Tang Wulin looked utterly speechless. "What do you think?"

Still, as he watched Gu Yue's unhurried steps and her gradually receding back, he inexplicably felt a little disappointed.

Xie Xie chuckled and did not take what had just happened to heart. He grabbed Tang Wulin and headed toward the nearby shop.

"Come on, come on. I'll treat you to pot-stewed beef."

Tang Wulin shook his head and cast aside the faint emotion that had inexplicably arisen within him.

But when the two reached the shop entrance.

They saw Uncle Li cleaning up the mess scattered across the doorway.

Xie Xie immediately asked in surprise, "Uncle Li, how did this place end up like this?"

"Ah, it's nothing, nothing. I slipped up just now." Uncle Li gave a slightly bitter smile. "Young man, it's you again."

"Have a seat first. Uncle Li will bring it out for you in a moment."