Li Luo and Tang San headed to the student dormitory for work-study students—Dorm Seven.
Li Luo opened the door, and the first thing he saw was an enormous fist.
But Li Luo knew the rules of the work-study dorm, so he had prepared for this.
He raised a hand and blocked the fist rushing straight for his face.
Wang Sheng's fist landed squarely in the center of Li Luo's palm. Li Luo grabbed it and gave it a light twist.
"Ahhh! It hurts, it hurts! Let go! I give up!"
Wang Sheng hadn't expected the newcomer to be such a tough opponent. He'd lost right off the bat.
Li Luo hadn't meant to use much force, but he was already a genuine Soul Master at level thirteen. Even a little strength was more than Wang Sheng, who wasn't yet a Soul Master, could handle.
Hearing Wang Sheng cry out, Li Luo let go.
Wang Sheng immediately pulled his arm back and shook it until the pain eased.
At Wang Sheng's cry, the other students in Dorm Seven turned to look.
With everyone watching him, Wang Sheng stared intently into Li Luo's eyes.
Even though Li Luo had made him hurt with a casual move, there was no resentment in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with excitement and anticipation.
Was this guy into SM or something?
Just kidding.
Work-study students usually came from the countryside. They only got the chance to study at Notting Academy because they had awakened Soul Power.
But work-study students often had poor talent and ordinary family backgrounds, so they were treated unfairly by other students.
A rule had naturally arisen among the work-study students: choose the strongest person as their leader to stand up to other students and protect the rest of the work-study students.
So whenever a new work-study student enrolled, the previous leader would challenge them.
That was why Li Luo had been met with fists and kicks as soon as he arrived at Dorm Seven.
After Li Luo easily subdued him, Wang Sheng excitedly clasped his hands toward him.
The other work-study students gathered around Li Luo at the doorway and clasped their hands in unison.
"Greetings, leader!"
Anyone who didn't know better might have thought the Dragon King had returned.
"Leader, I didn't mean you any harm when I attacked. It's just the rule among us work-study students."
Afraid Li Luo might misunderstand and hold a grudge over the unexpected attack, Wang Sheng explained the rule the work-study students followed and where it had come from.
As he spoke, Wang Sheng rolled up his sleeves, revealing scars on his arms and back.
"Leader, these are all from Xiao Chenyu's underlings. They think they can treat us work-study students unfairly every day just because they have connections. As the previous leader, I had to stand up for everyone, but I wasn't strong enough. I took the brunt of it and ended up covered in injuries."
At this, Wang Sheng gazed at Li Luo with excitement.
"And today, you beat me, so you're our new leader. You have to protect the work-study students and stand up to the other students who treat us unfairly."
"Of course, we won't accept your protection for nothing. If you ever need anything, the rest of us will go through fire and water for you without hesitation!"
Wang Sheng certainly knew how to talk. Anyone who didn't know better might have thought Dorm Seven was some sort of secret society.
But to be fair, Wang Sheng was a decent person. The injuries he'd suffered protecting the other work-study students were no fake.
Li Luo wasn't a saint, but since he was a work-study student too, sooner or later these troubles would come his way. They weren't worth mentioning to him, but being pestered nonstop would still be a nuisance.
So he didn't mind being the work-study students' leader.
"Fine, then I'll be your leader!"
When Li Luo agreed, Wang Sheng and the others stepped aside to let him into Dorm Seven.
Li Luo looked around and spotted two empty beds. He headed for one, with Tang San following close behind.
Only then did the others in Dorm Seven notice the new student behind Li Luo. But Tang San stayed so close to him that they assumed he was Li Luo's follower and weaker than him. No one suggested that Li Luo and Tang San have a match too.
Li Luo reached the bed and found it bare. Only then did he realize that neither he nor Tang San had brought any bedding.
Wang Sheng was quick to catch on. He picked up his own bedding and hurried over to Li Luo.
"Leader, use mine!"
Wang Sheng's bedding looked rather worn, but it had been washed until it was white and seemed clean.
"No, keep it for yourself. I'll figure something out."
Li Luo wasn't used to using someone else's personal belongings, so he refused.
Just then, Dorm Seven's door opened again. A little girl in pink stood in the doorway.
"Excuse me, is this Dorm Seven?"
Xiao Wu's sweet voice came from outside, immediately drawing everyone's attention once again.
"Another work-study student? Usually we only get one each year. Why are there three this year?"
Wang Sheng was puzzled. He couldn't understand why there were so many work-study students today.
"Leader, go on! Test her strength."
Wang Sheng walked over to Xiao Wu, briefly explained the work-study students' rules, then gave Li Luo a pointed look.
Li Luo stepped forward, intending to spar with Xiao Wu and test his current skills.
After all, Xiao Wu could take down even Tang San, who was at the same level, thanks to her flexible fighting style.
After hearing Wang Sheng's explanation, Xiao Wu looked excitedly at Li Luo as he approached.
"Hey, are you Dorm Seven's leader? I challenge you!"
"My name is Xiao Wu. Xiao as in 'small,' Wu as in 'dance.' Just wait until you're calling me Sister Xiao Wu!"
Before Li Luo could answer, Xiao Wu charged at him, swinging one pale leg toward him.
Li Luo hadn't expected Xiao Wu to play so dirty and ambush a six-year-old like him, but he immediately sprang into action.
A flash of purple light passed through Li Luo's eyes. Under his Purple Demon Eye, Xiao Wu's every move was perfectly clear.
Li Luo reached out and caught the pale leg Xiao Wu had kicked at him.
Xiao Wu wore a pink dress with white knee-high socks. Her slender legs, wrapped in the socks, looked quite lovely.
Holding the leg she'd kicked at him with one hand, Li Luo swept at the other leg supporting her.
When Xiao Wu saw Li Luo attack, she tried to pull back her captured leg. But Li Luo's grip was far stronger than she'd expected, and she couldn't break free.
Li Luo's sweep struck Xiao Wu, and she lost her balance, landing on her back with both legs in the air.
Li Luo waited two and a half seconds. When Xiao Wu didn't move, he assumed she'd admitted defeat and released her legs.
"That's it? That's all you've got?"
But the moment Li Luo let go, Xiao Wu hooked both legs over his shoulders, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.
Then she tightened her waist and swung herself onto his shoulders, wrapping her legs around his neck. Her body faced him, blocking his view.
She followed up with a chokehold, trying to take Li Luo down.