"Ah?!"
"Practical combat drills? We have to fight too?!"
"Wait... aren't we just watching Teacher Wu teach Yao Chuan a lesson... I mean, guide him?"
"We're doomed, we're doomed... My Martial Soul is just a support-type Milk Bottle! How am I supposed to fight?"
"Teacher Wu... I... I'm a support-type Soul Master... Do... do I have to go up too?" A timid girl raised her hand, her voice pleading and on the verge of tears. "I really can't handle close combat..."
Wu Changkong's icy blue eyes swept over her in an instant.
Like two ice picks.
The girl shuddered from head to toe.
She swallowed the rest of her words.
"Support-type?"
Wu Changkong's voice grew even colder.
It carried the iron-blooded air of a battlefield, thick with smoke and gunpowder.
"When you're on the battlefield."
"Will the enemy show you mercy because you're a support-type..."
"and let you off?"
"Will they let you live so you can go back and buff your teammates..."
"just because you can't fight?"
His questions fell like a heavy hammer.
They pounded into everyone's heart.
"Childish!"
"Foolish!"
"Put away those naive ideas of yours!"
"If you don't want to die on the battlefield..."
"then show me you're ready to fight for your lives!"
"Practical combat!"
"Starting now!"
An icy killing intent filled the air.
Every student fell silent, too frightened to make a sound.
Wu Changkong's gaze was as sharp as lightning as he called out the first fighters.
"Tang Wulin! Zhou Changxi!"
"First match! Step forward!"
"Begin!"
Zhou Changxi, whose name had been called, froze for a moment. Then his face flushed with a mixture of excitement and malice.
He rubbed his fists together, eager to get started.
The humiliation of being sent flying by Tang Wulin's punch in the dorm yesterday still hadn't faded.
Then that monster Yao Chuan had scared him witless, and he'd lost all his authority.
He'd been racking his brains for a chance to get even!
Now he had one: a fair and square arena!
One on one!
This was the perfect chance for Zhou Changxi to wipe away his past humiliation.
And reestablish his authority in front of everyone in Class Five!
He sneered at Tang Wulin.
His fists cracked as he clenched them.
"Heh heh, Tang Wulin!"
Zhou Changxi's voice was full of provocation.
"Got the guts to... test your strength against me?"
"None of that fancy Martial Soul stuff! If you're a man, fight me head-on!"
He was afraid Tang Wulin would use that Blue Silver Grass to tie him up again.
So he started by trying to provoke him!
Tang Wulin looked at him calmly and nodded.
"Fine!"
Before the words had even left his mouth,
Zhou Changxi came charging forward with a roar!
His two enormous hands,
whooshing through the air,
reached for Tang Wulin's shoulders!
He was going to throw the kid just like he had yesterday.
And wipe away his humiliation!
Tang Wulin stood where he was.
He watched Zhou Changxi charge at him.
His gaze was focused.
Just as those huge hands were about to grab his shoulders,
he didn't dodge.
He struck out with both fists!
They shot toward the insides of Zhou Changxi's wrists like lightning!
The movements were crisp and decisive,
without the slightest flourish!
"Thud—!"
The dull sound of flesh striking flesh rang out!
The sneer froze on Zhou Changxi's face!
A terrifying force, more than ten times greater than he'd imagined,
crashed into his wrists like a rampaging rhinoceros!
Pain shot through him!
His arms went numb in an instant!
His massive frame couldn't keep its balance!
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
He staggered back three huge steps!
Each one left a deep footprint in the training field's sandy soil!
Only then did he manage to steady himself!
He stared in bewilderment, his arm trembling uncontrollably, his thumb and forefinger numb!
What was going on?
How could this kid be so freakishly strong?!
Before he could recover from his shock,
Tang Wulin was already moving!
He stepped forward, his momentum surging like a rainbow!
Another punch!
Straight and direct, without a trace of flourish, it slammed toward Zhou Changxi's chest!
The wind howled around his fist!
Shocked and furious,
Zhou Changxi could no longer worry about their contest of strength.
His face reddened as he roared!
Soul Power surged through his body, and he once again activated his strength boost, gathering all his strength into his right fist!
He braced himself and punched back!
"Thud—!"
Another dull thump!
This time,
the difference was even more obvious!
Zhou Changxi felt as if he'd been hit head-on by a Soul Guidance Train speeding at full tilt!
"Urgh!"
He cried out in pain,
and his entire body flew backward!
He traced a clumsy arc through the air!
Then he landed hard on his backside with a thump!
He slid a long way across the sandy ground before finally coming to a stop.
Dust billowed around him. He was utterly dumbfounded!
He stared at his own fist, then at Tang Wulin, who stood firm in his spot, his upper body only swaying slightly.
A tangle of emotions rose inside him.
His whole face twisted.
How could this be?
How had he been crushed so completely?
Wu Changkong watched it all without expression.
His gaze was cold.
There was no trace of praise.
Instead, his brow furrowed slightly.
He raised a hand.
And pointed at Zhou Changxi, still sitting on the ground and questioning everything he knew.
His voice rang out like a verdict.
"You're out!"
Then,
his icy blue eyes turned to the victorious Tang Wulin.
His tone held an unmistakable note of reproach.
"Why didn't you use your Martial Soul?"
Wu Changkong's voice wasn't loud.
But it carried clearly to everyone's ears.
It held a note of scrutiny and disappointment.
Tang Wulin froze for a moment.
He didn't quite understand.
He scratched his head.
Then pointed at Zhou Changxi, who was still sprawled on the ground.
And answered honestly.
"Because..."
"He said he wanted to test our strength."
His tone suggested that this was only natural.
He thought he'd kept his word.
At that, Xie Xie couldn't help covering his face.
He looked like he couldn't bear to watch.
Yao Chuan, watching from the podium, also twitched the corner of his mouth almost imperceptibly.
A helpless look flashed in his eyes.
That kid... was way too honest!
Wu Changkong's brow furrowed even deeper.
For the first time, that icy face clearly showed an expression that looked... like he thought Tang Wulin was an idiot.
He stared coldly at Tang Wulin.
Each word fell like a bead of ice striking the ground.
"He said he wanted to test your strength... so you really tested your strength against him?"
"If he told you to go eat shit right now... would you do that too?"
Wu Changkong's rebuke was merciless.
"Get down!"
"Wait for the next round! Think it over!"
"Advance!"
Tang Wulin was left reeling after Wu Changkong's icy scolding.
He felt terribly aggrieved.
Hadn't he won? Why was he getting chewed out?
He walked off the field in a daze, like a little beast stunned by a reprimand.
Just then, Xie Xie came over with an "I knew it" look. He patted Tang Wulin on the shoulder, speaking with the seasoned air of someone who'd been there before.
"Hey, Wulin."
"Still haven't figured it out?"
Xie Xie chuckled.
"Teacher Wu meant... you were too rigid! Too hung up on the rules!"
Tang Wulin turned to look at him, still bewildered.
Xie Xie shrugged and imitated Wu Changkong's icy tone.
"Even a fierce tiger gives its all when fighting a rabbit!"
"Get it?"
He lowered his voice.
"Who cares what the opponent asks for? Once you're in the ring, just get it done! Take them down in the easiest, most effective way possible! That's the way to go!"
"Got it?"
Xie Xie raised an eyebrow.
He looked like he was imparting the wisdom of life.
After listening to Xie Xie, Tang Wulin's eyes gradually lit up.
His earlier grievance vanished in an instant.
In its place came the sudden realization that he'd finally seen the light.
He looked at Xie Xie, his eyes filled with sincere admiration.
"Xie Xie, you're something else! You know so much! We look about the same age... but you seem way more mature than me!"
He spoke from the heart. So there really was so much to know about fighting!
Hearing this, Xie Xie immediately grew smug. He chuckled and instinctively lifted his chin.
"Of course!"
"Just look... who've I been following all these years?"
His gaze drifted toward Yao Chuan, who stood nearby, calm and seemingly detached from everything.
His voice was full of undisguised admiration and a little boastfulness.
"All that wisdom... my boss taught me himself, little by little, through word and deed!"
Xie Xie nodded toward Yao Chuan.
The meaning was clear, and Tang Wulin immediately turned his gaze to Yao Chuan as well.
He looked at the boy with black hair and black eyes.
In the sunlight, the profile of his face appeared exceptionally calm and handsome.
Tang Wulin's eyes filled with complicated emotions.
So... the gap between them really was that huge!
Not just in strength... but also in that invisible, intangible awareness and understanding!
Before you continue