Unable to figure out why Hals had spared Ning Songxi, the newcomer hurriedly called to the Soul Masters behind him to check on Yan Xiaoliu and Strongman, who lay unconscious nearby. Then he carefully rushed to Hals's side. He had no time to greet him and immediately bent down to check Ning Songxi's condition.
After a long while, the newcomer finally straightened up and let out a breath of relief. He wiped the cold sweat from his brow, then waved for his attendants to carry Ning Songxi away. Only then did he turn solemnly to Hals, cup his hands, and say, "Thank you for showing mercy, sir. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Song Gongran, an elder of the Star Luo Empire's royal family and vice dean of Star Luo Royal Academy. I am an eighty-sixth-level Control-Type Battle Spirit Master, and my martial soul is Sword Vine."
Seeing the white-haired old man before him treat him with such courtesy and respect, Hals bowed slightly as well. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I am Yu Hun, a wandering cultivator, an eighty-second-level Power Attack System Battle Soul Master. My martial soul is Soul Flame."
Song Gongran's expression turned stern. He cupped his hands toward Hals and said, "Though I thank you for sparing the three of them, isn't attacking at the gates of Star Luo City a bit too disrespectful to the Star Luo Empire?"
"Disrespectful?" A low laugh came from beneath Hals's hood. "Does Your Excellency think that, as a Soul Douluo, I should let an ordinary person insult me without consequence? Perhaps I'm too mild-tempered, so anyone thinks they can walk all over me?"
At Hals's challenge, Song Gongran paused, then turned to the trembling captain of the guards. His eyes went cold, and his tone was no longer as mild as it had been with Hals. "Tell me, is that what happened?"
The guard captain was already deathly pale and shaking all over. Under Song Gongran's icy stare, his legs gave way, and he fell to his knees before him. "S-Sir, spare me!"
Song Gongran showed no mercy as the guard captain wailed. This time, they had only provoked a fairly mild-mannered Soul Douluo. What if they had angered a hot-tempered Titled Douluo, like Poison Douluo of the Heaven Dou Empire? Couldn't that have endangered the royal family?
At the thought, Song Gongran's gaze grew even colder. He waved a hand, and two Soul Kings from the group behind him rushed forward, seized the guard captain, and dragged him away. There was no need to imagine what would happen to him next.
Watching the guard being dragged off, Song Gongran's expression softened a little. He turned back to Hals, stroking his white beard with a cheerful smile, and said:
"Hahaha, this was due to the Star Luo Empire's failure to keep its people in line. I'll make sure he's dealt with when I return. But may I ask, sir, have you come to Star Luo City for a particular reason?"
Hals hesitated, pretending to struggle with how to put it. After a long pause, he finally spoke. "The village where I used to live was wiped out. I happened to be away traveling at the time. When I returned, all I could do was send the villains who did it to their deaths, to comfort the spirits of my family and friends..." Hals paused, then continued, "After I killed them all, I realized I had no home to return to, and I was alone. So I came to Star Luo City hoping to find a job. I didn't expect to run into this trouble at the gates... I was also somewhat rash in my actions, so I apologize for that."
Song Gongran's smile grew even brighter. A strong, polite, mild-mannered man with no home who wanted a job—Heaven had sent him the perfect candidate for a teaching position.
"Hahahaha!" Song Gongran stroked his white beard, his eyes narrowing to slits. "Sir Yu Hun, I have a position available. What do you think?"
"Oh?" Hals pretended to be delighted. Though his face remained hidden beneath his hood, his body language showed a hint of excitement. "May I ask what kind of position?"
Song Gongran smiled without answering and gestured ahead. "Why don't we talk as we walk?"
"Uh, all right." Hals paused, then nodded and followed Song Gongran into the city.
The streets were bustling, with vendors calling out their wares. A few girls in beautiful school uniforms and boys in ornate uniforms strolled along laughing. Every now and then, they stopped to haggle with the vendors, then happily carried off the goods they wanted and continued browsing.
"Good day, Dean!"
A few students out shopping happened to spot Song Gongran. They hurried over to greet him, then stole a curious glance at the mysterious-looking Hals before turning and running off.
"What do you think?" Song Gongran asked with a smile, watching the students walk away.
"What do I think of what?" Hals asked, taken aback.
"The students." Song Gongran looked away and continued walking. The vendors along the roadside stood and bowed respectfully whenever they saw him, clearly showing that he was well liked in the city.
"...They seem nice," Hals said, pretending to be confused.
"Then come teach at our academy." Song Gongran kept walking with a smile, but suddenly dropped the suggestion.
"Me? Teach?" Hals froze and hurriedly shook his left hand. "I can't. I don't know how to teach."
"I'm not asking you to teach any particular subject. Just teach them now and then. Mainly, you'd pass on some of your experience. So, what do you say? Yes or no?"
"..."
After pretending to hesitate for a moment, Hals nodded and said hoarsely, "All right. I can do it."
"Hahaha!" Hearing Hals agree, Song Gongran laughed heartily and patted him. "Come on, let's go see the academy grounds. I'll also get your paperwork sorted out."
"All right."
Star Luo Royal Academy truly lived up to its royal name. It had a magnificent entrance and a campus that stretched as far as the eye could see. There were even several mountains within the grounds. Hals walked through the campus with Song Gongran, marveling as he went.
Seeing Hals's amazement, Song Gongran felt secretly proud. With a smile, he explained, "These are the Simulation Training Grounds our academy has. We have a grassland, a forest, two valleys—one with a volcano and the other made entirely of stone—as well as a huge lake. What do you think? Impressive, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Hals replied with a nod. "It's pretty good. If I'd had these resources back then, I'd probably be a Titled Douluo by now."
Song Gongran's voice caught in his throat. He yanked hard on his beard with his right hand, trembling from the pain.
After a moment, Song Gongran asked, "If you don't mind my asking, Sir Yu Hun, how old are you?"
"Thirty-seven," Hals answered without hesitation.
"Cough, cough, cough!" Song Gongran nearly coughed up a lung. "How old? Thirty-seven? Doesn't that mean you could become the youngest Titled Douluo on the continent?!"
Hals didn't deny it. He nodded. "Perhaps."
Hals had to show that he possessed enough talent and value.
Song Gongran fell silent, his hand gripping his beard trembling slightly. After a long while, he finally calmed down and said, "I'll just call you Yu Hun. Yu Hun, do you know how old I am?"
Hals shook his head.
Song Gongran sighed. "I'm seventy-two. I always thought that even if my talent wasn't exceptional, it wasn't too bad, and I wasn't too far behind the geniuses. But after meeting you today, I finally understand the difference."
Hals remained silent. He didn't know how to respond. Should he tell him that he was actually twenty-one?
They walked on in silence for a while. At last, Song Gongran spoke. "We're here. This is our administrative building!"
Before you continue