Biting the Hook

No time to ponder why Hals had spared Ning Songxi, the newcomer quickly called over the other soul masters following behind to check on Yan Xiaoliu and the burly man lying unconscious nearby, while he himself cautiously rushed to Hals's side. Without even greeting Hals, he bent down to examine Ning Songxi's condition.

After a long while, the newcomer straightened up and let out a sigh of relief, wiped the cold sweat from his brow, and waved his hand to signal his attendants to carry Ning Songxi away. Only then did he look solemnly at Hals, cupping his hands and saying, "Thank you, sir, for showing mercy. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Song Gongran, an imperial elder of the Star Luo Empire, vice dean of the Star Luo Royal Academy, an eighty-sixth-level Control System Battle Soul Master, and my martial soul is the Sword Vine."

Seeing the white-haired old man before him so courteous and respectful, Hals slightly bowed and rasped, "This Seat is Yu Hun, a rogue cultivator, eighty-second-level Assault System Battle Soul Master, martial soul Soul Flame."

Song Gongran's expression turned serious, and he cupped his hands to Hals again. "Though I thank you, Sir Yu Hun, for sparing the lives of those three, does your striking within the gates of Star Luo City not show too little regard for the Star Luo Empire?"

"Too little regard?" A low laugh came from beneath Hals's hood. "Do you not think, sir, that as a Soul Douluo, this Seat should allow an ordinary person to offend me? Or is it that this Seat's temper is too good, so anyone can jump on this Seat's head?"

Hearing Hals's rebuke, Song Gongran paused, then turned to look at the trembling guard captain nearby. His eyes turned cold, and his tone lost the gentleness he had shown Hals. "Tell me, old man, is that how it happened?"

The guard captain, already pale and shaking, saw Song Gongran's icy gaze and went weak in the knees, falling prostrate before him. "G-great sir, spare me!"

Listening to the guard captain's wailing, Song Gongran showed no mercy. This time, they had only provoked a Soul Douluo with a decent temper. If it had been a hot-tempered Titled Douluo, like that Poison Douluo from the Heaven Dou Empire, wouldn't it have endangered the royal family?

With that thought, Song Gongran's eyes grew even colder. He waved his hand, and two Soul Kings rushed out from the soul masters behind him, swiftly and cleanly seizing the guard captain and dragging him away. There was no need to imagine what would happen to him next.

Watching the guard being dragged off, Song Gongran's expression eased somewhat. He turned back, stroking his white beard with a smile, and looked at Hals. "Haha, this matter is due to lax discipline in the Star Luo Empire. When I return, I will certainly rectify it. But if I may be so bold, sir, do you have business in Star Luo City?"

Hals hesitated, feigning reluctance to speak, before finally rasping, "This Seat... the village where this Seat lived was slaughtered. Coincidentally, this Seat was traveling at the time. After returning, this Seat could only send those villains to their deaths to comfort the spirits of friends and family in heaven..." He paused, then continued, "After this Seat killed all the villains, this Seat found himself homeless and alone, so this Seat came to Star Luo City seeking a position. Who would have encountered this incident at the gate... This Seat's actions were somewhat rash, and I offer my apologies to you, sir."

Song Gongran's smile grew even brighter. Strong, polite, good-tempered, homeless, seeking work—wasn't this heaven sending a teaching prospect right to his door?

"Hahaha," Song Gongran stroked his white beard, his eyes narrowing into slits. "Sir Yu Hun, I do have a position here. What do you think?"

"Oh?" Hals feigned surprise. Though his face was still hidden beneath his hood, a hint of excitement could be seen in his posture. "May I ask what position it is?"

Song Gongran smiled without answering, extending a hand in invitation. "How about we talk as we walk?"

"Ah, alright." Hals paused, then nodded, following Song Gongran into the city.

Inside the city, the streets were bustling with noise. Vendors hawked their wares loudly along the roadside, and from time to time, girls in bright school uniforms and boys in ornate ones laughed and chatted as they walked, occasionally stopping to haggle with vendors before walking on, satisfied with their purchases.

"Dean!"

A few students wandering by happened to spot Song Gongran and hurried over to bow and greet him. Then, curious, they stole a glance at the mysterious Hals before turning and running off.

"So?" Song Gongran asked with a smile, watching the students' retreating figures.

"So what?" Hals was taken aback.

"The students," Song Gongran said, withdrawing his gaze and continuing to walk. The vendors along the road would rise and bow respectfully whenever they saw him, clearly showing his popularity in the city.

"...They're fine," Hals replied, feigning confusion as he looked at Song Gongran.

"Then come teach at our academy," Song Gongran said, still smiling as he walked, but suddenly blurting out these words.

"Me? Teach?" Hals was startled and quickly waved his left hand. "I can't do that. I don't know how to lecture."

"I'm not asking you to lecture. Just teach them occasionally, mainly pass on your experience. So, yes or no? Give me an answer."

"..." Feigning hesitation, Hals nodded after a moment, his voice hoarse. "Alright, I can."

"Hahaha!" Hearing Hals's affirmative answer, Song Gongran laughed heartily and clapped Hals on the shoulder. "Come on, let's go see the academy grounds. I'll also get your paperwork sorted."

"Alright."

The Star Luo Royal Academy truly lived up to its royal name—a grand gate, a campus stretching beyond sight, and even several mountains within its grounds. Marveling inwardly, Hals followed Song Gongran as they walked through the campus.

Seeing Hals's impressed reaction, Song Gongran felt a quiet pride and smiled as he explained, "These are our academy's simulated training grounds: a grassland, a forest, two valleys—one with a volcano inside, the other a pure stone mountain—and a massive lake. Impressive, isn't it?"

"Mm," Hals nodded. "Not bad. If I'd had this treatment back in the day, I'd probably be a Titled Douluo by now."

Song Gongran's voice caught, and he yanked hard at his own beard, wincing from the pain.

After a moment, he asked, "If I may be so bold, Sir Yu Hun, how old are you this year?"

"Thirty-seven," Hals answered without hesitation.

"Cough, cough!" Song Gongran nearly coughed up a lung. "How much? Thirty-seven? That means you could very well become the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent?!"

Without denying it, Hals nodded. "Perhaps."

Hals had to show enough talent and value.

Speechless, Song Gongran's hand trembling as he clutched his beard, it took him a long while to calm down. "I'll just call you Yu Hun. Yu Hun, do you know how old I am this year?"

Hals shook his head.

Song Gongran sighed. "I'm seventy-two. I always thought my talent wasn't too bad, and I wouldn't be too far off from geniuses. But meeting you today, I finally understand the gap."

Hals was silent. He didn't know how to respond. Should he tell him that his real age was actually twenty-one?

They walked in silence for a while until Song Gongran's voice rang out. "Here we are. This is our office building!"