Dai Yueheng

While Jiang Nannan was still lost in thought, she suddenly felt herself being drawn into an embrace too. She froze, her small hands resting against Xiao Yi's chest. She struggled a little, though there was a hint of reluctance in it, and when she met Xiao Yi's gaze, she looked a little flustered.

"Nannan, I'll find a time to go back with you and get your aunt treated. Don't worry." Xiao Yi's reassuring voice rang out.

Jiang Nannan felt warmth bloom in her heart. So he was comforting her. And she didn't feel any resistance toward him, either, so she simply let Xiao Yi hold her.

She gave a quiet hum and stopped struggling, greedily savoring the reassuring warmth.

Xiao Yi sighed inwardly. So this is what it's like to have a great character model. The stat monster thinks he's got all the moves.

Tang Ya, meanwhile, wore a knowing smile from the sidelines. Heehee, Nannan, just join the Tang Sect obediently.

The three of them headed to the cafeteria. All three were strikingly good-looking, and word of Xiao Yi's instant defeat of Dai Huabin had spread far and wide. Xiao Yi was already well known throughout the Outer Academy.

As they walked, Tang Ya chattered nonstop, twittering in Xiao Yi's ear like a lark. Though they weren't especially close yet, Tang Ya was so lively and carefree that she was hardly the sort to harbor any ulterior motives.

Since Xiao Yi had already agreed to become the Tang Sect's leader, she only had to keep her end of the bargain. Besides, she wasn't losing out at all. It remained to be seen who was getting the better deal.

Laughing and teasing one another, they arrived at the upper-year cafeteria. Only then did Xiao Yi learn that the freshman cafeteria was the only one without tables and chairs.

"Xiao Yi, you said you got a lot out of this. What did you mean?" Tang Ya's cheeks were stuffed, making her words somewhat indistinct. She looked just like a pufferfish. Xiao Yi wiped the grease from the corner of her mouth and smiled.

"All my Soul Rings have become Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings," Xiao Yi said with a grin.

"Wow!" Tang Ya's eyes widened as she gazed at Xiao Yi, almost entranced. Her delight and happiness were impossible to hide, though a trace of sadness flickered in her eyes.

Xiao Yi noticed that hint of sadness. But it was better not to bring it up in front of everyone, so he patted Tang Ya's little head to comfort her.

Jiang Nannan, standing nearby, was secretly astonished too. All Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings—at that level, Xiao Yi could probably take on even upper-year students with ease, let alone freshmen from the Outer Academy. But she didn't know that Xiao Yi's Ten Thousand Year Soul Rings were merely for show; they didn't grant him any Soul Skills.

As they passed the Soul Fighting Arena, a figure Xiao Yi hadn't expected appeared.

The newcomer was powerfully built without looking bulky. His red Inner Academy uniform stood out, drawing sidelong glances from the students passing by.

He had a handsome, rugged face and long blond hair. Most striking of all were his mismatched eyes, one red and one blue, which drew everyone's attention.

The moment he appeared, he picked Xiao Yi out of the crowd. It was obvious he had come for him.

Xiao Yi raised an eyebrow. He knew this man—his appearance was far too distinctive to forget. Dai Yueheng, Dai Huabin's older brother and Huo Yutong's older brother as well. Judging by the way he looked, he had come specifically to find Xiao Yi.

And that was exactly the case. After the academy brought the assassins back, they interrogated them. Even if the men had been willing to die rather than talk, the academy had several Soul Masters specializing in mental abilities.

Under the effects of their Soul Skills, it hadn't taken long to pry the truth out of them. Dai Huabin's name had entered the picture.

Yan Shaozhe was in charge of the matter. In his eyes, Xiao Yi was already a precious treasure. His value to the academy aside, the fact that his disciple, Ma Xiaotao, needed him to help suppress her Evil Fire was reason enough to take him seriously.

When Yan Shaozhe learned that Dai Huabin had been behind it, he flew into a rage. If Xiao Yi hadn't been far stronger than others at his level, he might have been killed.

But after giving it careful thought, Yan Shaozhe hadn't done anything to Dai Huabin. As a Super Douluo, he could naturally sense the method Xiao Yi had used on the other boy, and he had also vaguely guessed that Dai Huabin had a grudge against the girl called Huo Yutong who was always with Xiao Yi.

Huo Yutong might not have been as valuable as Xiao Yi, but a Body Martial Soul was rare. And even setting that aside, given her relationship with Xiao Yi, Yan Shaozhe wouldn't choose to make things difficult for her.

So Yan Shaozhe had decided to put direct pressure on the White Tiger Duke Mansion. The academy couldn't simply do nothing. As for Dai Huabin himself, he would leave him to Xiao Yi and the others to deal with.

Watching the figure approach, Xiao Yi wondered what he wanted. He hadn't paid much attention to what happened after Dai Huabin's attack. As far as Xiao Yi was concerned, wiping out the White Tiger Duke Mansion wouldn't be difficult.

At worst, he'd shape a Fire Lotus, toss it over, and run.

When the other man came closer, Xiao Yi spoke first.

"Senior Dai, what can I do for you?"

Dai Yueheng looked surprised. He hadn't expected Xiao Yi to recognize him, and quickly explained why he had come.

"Younger schoolmate, you actually know who I am. I came here because of that matter." Xiao Yi gave a slight nod. The other man had come with good intentions, so Xiao Yi didn't call him out or spell anything out. Dai Yueheng was one of the more normal people in the original story, at least; he hadn't done anything particularly outrageous. Of course, that might simply have been because he didn't get much screen time.

Seeing that Xiao Yi was willing to hear him out, Dai Yueheng finally relaxed. "I came here because of my younger brother. The White Tiger Duke Mansion won't interfere in this matter. Dai Huabin is at your disposal, younger schoolmate."

Xiao Yi was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Dai Yueheng to take this stance. He'd assumed the most Dai Yueheng would do was come apologize under pressure from Yan Shaozhe. Was he really cutting ties with Dai Huabin just like that?

Seeing Xiao Yi's reaction, Dai Yueheng felt a bitter ache in his heart.

Dai Huabin was his own younger brother, after all. But this matter was different. Yan Shaozhe had personally visited the White Tiger Duke Mansion. Xiao Yi's importance was plain to see. He wasn't some ordinary genius—he was a genius favored by a Limit Douluo.

And given Xiao Yi's own strength and potential, the information they had uncovered was enough to make it clear that if the mansion didn't respond, Xiao Yi wouldn't even need to become a Titled Douluo. Once he reached Soul Emperor, the Soul Beasts under his command could probably flatten the whole mansion.

Xiao Yi: It's not that weak.

"And this is the compensation from the duke's mansion. Dai Huabin acted alone throughout the whole affair; it had nothing to do with the White Tiger Duke Mansion." As he spoke, Dai Yueheng took out a Storage Soul Tool and handed it over. They had paid dearly this time.

Xiao Yi accepted the storage ring and probed it with his Soul Power. He was surprised to find that the Gold Soul Coins alone amounted to a staggering sum, and the rest was mostly cultivation resources.

Xiao Yi understood. This was probably the academy's doing, most likely Yan Shaozhe's. It looked like he'd have to go thank him later. Xiao Yi's potential was already worth a major investment from Shrek, and Ma Xiaotao had probably played a part in it too.

"All right, I understand the White Tiger Duke Mansion's position. Thank you, Senior Dai," Xiao Yi said to Dai Huabin. He did believe in settling his grudges, but his grudge was mainly against Dai Huabin himself. As for the White Tiger Duke Mansion, given the sincerity they had shown, Xiao Yi wouldn't pursue the matter further.

He had already planned to make Dai Huabin pay a little interest on Huo Yutong's behalf. And he wouldn't let Dai Huabin live after the boy had sent people to assassinate him. Once Huo Yutong had taken her revenge with her own hands, that would be the day he died.

Dai Yueheng let out a breath of relief. It wouldn't be easy to explain things to his mother, but at least Xiao Yi's anger had been appeased. The pressure from the academy and his family had been weighing on his shoulders all this time. As for Dai Huabin, he could only hope for the best.

At that moment, Dai Huabin was still wondering why the hidden guards he had sent out had vanished without a trace. It had never even occurred to him that they might have died at Xiao Yi's hands. Naturally, he had no way of knowing that he had already become a discarded pawn of the White Tiger Duke Mansion. That had been Yan Shaozhe's idea too; he had made sure the news never reached Dai Huabin.

Who said Old Yan was no good? The man knew exactly how to handle things.

After Dai Yueheng left, Xiao Yi exchanged a glance with Tang Ya and Jiang Nannan, then headed for the dormitory.