A Late-Night Knock, a Challenge to Guang Biao!

"Walk sideways?"

Tang Linyuan glanced at Xie Xie, who was basking in his own glory, casually tossed the empty water bottle into the trash, and said flatly, "Are you a crab?"

The cool, domineering pose Xie Xie had just struck as if he ruled Eastsea City instantly collapsed.

"Boss, you really don't know how to appreciate the mood." Xie Xie rubbed his nose, not the least bit angry. Instead, he shamelessly sidled up to him.

"A crab, then. As long as I'm following you, I'd even accept being a mantis shrimp. I'm holding onto this thigh for dear life. No one's prying me off."

The atmosphere inside Li's Braised Beef Shop eased.

Uncle Li looked dazedly at the shocking hole in the wall, then at these half-grown children.

He was an honest man, timid and submissive his entire life. What had happened today was truly beyond anything he could comprehend.

Thud.

Uncle Li's knees went weak, and he was about to kneel before Tang Linyuan.

"Benefactor... If it hadn't been for you today, these old bones of mine..."

Before his knees came within three inches of the ground, a hand steadily caught his elbow.

That hand did not look particularly strong, and was even somewhat fair, yet Uncle Li felt as though he had been caught in an iron vise. No matter what he did, he could not kneel.

"Uncle Li, that kind of etiquette belongs to the old days."

Tang Linyuan exerted force with one hand and helped the old man back up, casually brushing the dust from his knees.

"We came here to eat, not to be worshipped."

Uncle Li was at a loss. "This meal is on me. From now on, whenever you come, everything's free! As long as my shop stays open, I'll make sure you eat your fill!"

"There's no need to waive the bill."

Tang Linyuan pointed at Xie Xie, who was still settling the bill by the counter. "That guy has money. It makes him uncomfortable if he doesn't spend it. As for the future..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the shop.

"We'll still come back. The food here really is good. But you pay when you eat—that's the rule, and it's also a principle. If you break the rule, we won't dare come again."

"As for that Light Dragon."

The boy's voice turned cold. "Put your mind at ease. From now on, whenever he sees this sign, he'll only walk around it."

With that, he turned and waved to Wulin and the others.

"Let's go. Back to school."

The night breeze was cool on the way back to the academy.

Apparently trying to regain the dignity he had lost in front of Gu Yue after class, Xie Xie spent the entire way attempting to start conversations, from Eastsea City's mecha deployments to the latest Soul Tool technology.

Unfortunately, Gu Yue only needed one sentence to choke him speechless.

"Since you know so much, why did I hear that you couldn't even take one hammer strike from Tang Wulin in practical combat class?"

"That was an accident! I let my guard down!" Xie Xie jumped up. "I'm an agility-attack type. He restricted my movement in a narrow space! Give me another chance, and I'll show him up for sure!"

"Oh." Gu Yue looked ahead, her tone completely flat. "A loss is a loss. People with too many excuses are usually weak."

"You!" Xie Xie flew into a rage. "Gu Yue, are you targeting me? Want to have a spar?"

"Sure." Gu Yue stopped walking, a wisp of azure wind element flickering at her fingertips. "Now?"

"Cough, cough... Well, a good man doesn't fight women. We'll talk when we get back to school." Xie Xie immediately backed down and slipped around to Tang Linyuan's other side.

Watching the two bicker like sworn enemies, Tang Linyuan and Tang Wulin exchanged a glance. Both saw the amusement in the other's eyes.

This kind of noise was not unpleasant.

When they returned to the academy, Xie Xie could not help showing envy when he saw the Tang brothers enter the Teacher Dormitory Area with its own private courtyard.

"So this is how geniuses get treated..." Xie Xie sighed. "Gu Yue and I still have to squeeze into the dormitory."

"Train hard." Tang Linyuan stood by the courtyard gate and waved back at them. "When you endure long enough to beat Teacher Wu, the dean will arrange something for you too."

"Tch. Easy for you to say."

The group said their goodbyes.

Late at night, all was quiet.

In the small courtyard, the two brothers finished chatting and returned to their respective rooms.

Tang Linyuan did not sleep. Instead, he continued meditating cross-legged.

The two runes in his sea of consciousness were like two profound Stars, drawing all of his attention.

He could feel that every contact with the runes was a form of tempering for his spiritual power.

Until midnight.

"Knock, knock."

The knocking was very soft.

Unlike Light Dragon's crude door-smashing, this sound was especially restrained, even somewhat cautious, as though afraid of disturbing the sweet dreams of those inside, yet with no choice but to knock.

Tang Linyuan and Tang Wulin opened their eyes almost at the same time.

Who could it be at this hour?

The two had just risen, left their rooms, and entered the courtyard. Before they could open the courtyard gate, the neighboring door, which was always shut tight, suddenly opened.

Wu Zhangkong emerged in white robes.

He did not look at the Tang brothers. Instead, he walked straight to the courtyard wall, his gaze passing over it as he coldly stared into the darkness outside.

"Who is it?"

His voice was like a sword, carrying undisguised vigilance and chill.

With his powerful spiritual power, he had sensed them the instant they entered the Teacher Dormitory Area.

There were three people who warranted attention.

One had unstable aura and reeked of blood. He was crippled.

One was a six-ringed Soul Emperor with a restless aura, nothing to fear.

But the last one...

Wu Zhangkong's aura tightened.

That person's aura was as deep as the sea. Though he had deliberately restrained it, the sensation of drawing resonance from the surrounding heaven and earth essence energy with every movement could not deceive him.

Seven rings, a Soul Saint.

And one with an exceptionally solid foundation, a top-tier Martial Soul, and an assault-type Soul Saint.

In a place like Eastsea City, a powerhouse with higher Soul Power than his own had suddenly appeared and was visiting his students' dormitory in the dead of night. Wu Zhangkong had no choice but to be on guard.

Though the Sky Frost Sword remained sheathed, its frigid Sword Intent had already locked onto the three people outside.

"If you're here to cause trouble, you came to the wrong place."

Wu Zhangkong spoke coldly.

Outside the gate, the oppressive atmosphere froze for a moment.

Then, a rough voice that had been deliberately lowered rang out.

"Teacher Wu, you misunderstand."

The courtyard gate slowly opened.

By the moonlight, Tang Linyuan saw the newcomers clearly.

At the front stood the burly man they had seen during the day.

Two people followed behind him. One was Light Dragon, covered in bandages and carried on a stretcher. The other was a tall middle-aged man whose features somewhat resembled Light Dragon's, but whose head was currently hanging low.

The captain of the Eastsea City Mecha Brigade, Guang Biao.

The burly man ignored Wu Zhangkong's Sword Intent lock. Instead, he respectfully bowed to Tang Linyuan, who had just stepped out of his room, before turning to Wu Zhangkong, whose face was full of caution, and clasping his fists.

"I am Xing Tie, President Mu Chen's guard."

"We have come so late not to seek revenge." Xing Tie pointed to Light Dragon behind him.

"This Light Dragon relied on his power to bully others and offended Young Master Linyuan. The president has ordered that if a son is not taught, it is the father's fault; if a younger brother is not taught, it is the elder brother's fault. As his elder brother, Guang Biao failed to discipline him. I specifically brought him here to apologize to Young Master Linyuan and Young Master Wulin."

"Apologize?"

Wu Zhangkong raised his brows slightly. The chill in his eyes receded somewhat, but his surprise grew even stronger.

He glanced at Guang Biao, who stood there with his head lowered.

A six-ringed Soul Emperor and the captain of the Mecha Brigade, he was a prominent figure in Eastsea City.

Yet now, he had been dragged here to apologize like an elementary school student who had made a mistake?

And this Soul Saint called Xing Tie was actually Mu Chen's guard?

Wu Zhangkong looked toward Tang Linyuan, his gaze growing deep.

He knew the boy had a background, possessed the Heaven Propping Token, and was someone the Pavilion Master valued.

But he had not expected the boy to possess such terrifying connections and influence within the Blacksmith Association as well.

It made sense. At only nine years old, he was already a Level Four Blacksmith and a Five-Grade Blacksmith. How could the Blacksmith Association not treasure him like a jewel?

Although Wu Zhangkong was not a blacksmith himself, he knew that calling the two of them potential Divine Craftsmen would not be an exaggeration, given their talent in forging.

"So you are from President Mu Chen of the East Sea Blacksmith Association."

Wu Zhangkong dispersed his Sword Intent, though he did not relax completely. "Since you are here for them, do as you please."

He took a step back and yielded the space, but did not return to his room. Instead, he stood in the shadows like a guardian deity.

Tang Linyuan stepped forward and looked at Light Dragon, who had been so arrogant during the day but now lay on the stretcher like a mummy.

"Young Master Linyuan..."

Guang Biao stepped forward. The captain, usually imposing and majestic, forced a smile even uglier than crying as he held out a bank card.

"It was my failure to discipline him that allowed this bastard to offend you. There are ten million Federation Credits here. This is everything I managed to gather in a hurry. Consider it compensation for the emotional distress suffered by you and your friends. If you feel it isn't enough, I'll find more afterward. Please... show mercy."

Tang Linyuan did not take the card.

He merely looked quietly at Guang Biao. His dark eyes seemed especially deep beneath the moonlight.

"You can keep the money, but I have one condition."

"Please say it. As long as I, Guang Biao, can do it." Guang Biao was overjoyed.

The boy's voice was calm. "Fight me without using a mecha. If you beat me, I'll let the matter go."