Are You Flirting with Me?

Hearing Dugu Yan's words, Ye Lingling and Yu Tianheng both looked at Jiang He in surprise.

Because the specifics of Jiang He deceiving Dugu Yan involved the Immortal Herbs in Sunset Forest, no one else knew about it besides Jiang He, Dugu Bo, and Dugu Yan.

Even though Dugu Yan was very close to Yu Tianheng, she had not told him everything.

Faced with Dugu Yan's complaint, Jiang He shrugged helplessly. "I don't think it counts as lying. At most, I only told half the story."

Dugu Yan raised an eyebrow. "How is leaving out half the story not lying?"

Jiang He blinked and asked Dugu Yan in return, "Then what if I said my parents nearly wiped out an entire class of Heaven Dou Royal Academy students in Sunset Forest, but fortunately, a Title Douluo appeared in the end and saved those students' lives, while my parents died on the spot? Would there be anything wrong with saying that?"

Dugu Yan froze.

Put that way, it seemed... there was nothing wrong with it.

It just sounded strange.

Those who knew the truth understood that Jiang He was speaking facts.

He just had not told the whole story.

And it made it sound like Jiang He's parents had intended to harm those students... which was completely different from the truth!

For a moment, Dugu Yan felt like her little brain was overloaded.

She could not say exactly what was wrong, but something definitely felt wrong.

Seeing Dugu Yan's dazed expression, Jiang He spread his hands. "See? There's nothing wrong with what I said. Your own interpretation was wrong, so how can you say I lied to you?"

Dugu Yan was left speechless and had no idea how to refute him.

However, Ye Lingling suddenly spoke from the side. "That's how rumors get spread by you, isn't it?"

As a student of Heaven Dou Royal Academy, Ye Lingling naturally knew about Jiang He's parents as well.

Hearing Ye Lingling's words, Jiang He blinked and looked at her. "So which part of what I just said was wrong?"

Ye Lingling lifted her chin slightly and said softly:

"You never mentioned why those students nearly died in Sunset Forest, or why your parents died. You left out all those crucial details.

"You used a misleading way of describing the matter, guiding others into thinking the wrong thing. That is deception.

"Just because every sentence you said was true does not mean it was not deception. Misleading people is also a form of deception."

Although he could see only Ye Lingling's eyes, Jiang He could still sense her seriousness.

So he fell silent for a moment.

Then he spread his hands and said in an odd tone, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, you're right. Time to eat~"

With that, Jiang He left the classroom on his own.

Leaving the other three standing there in a daze.

Ye Lingling looked at the equally bewildered Dugu Yan and asked, "Was he being sarcastic?"

Yu Tianheng also looked at Dugu Yan and asked with a strange expression, "Is he always like this? He feels... kind of obnoxious."

Dugu Yan looked at Yu Tianheng, then at Ye Lingling.

She was confused too!

She remembered that Jiang He had not been like this before!

What Dugu Yan did not know was that the old Jiang He had been guarded against his surroundings and the people around him for various reasons.

Moreover, he had awakened memories from more than twenty years of his previous life. Inside him lived the soul of an adult in his twenties.

So what they usually saw was an adult trying hard to pretend to be a child.

Even so, the old Jiang He would occasionally be scheming and a little annoying, but people generally did not notice it.

But over the past half year or so, he had consumed Immortal Herbs, become Dugu Bo's disciple, and awakened his Martial Soul.

One event after another had caused Jiang He to gradually lower his guard.

Especially after Dugu Bo learned that Jiang He's mind did not belong to someone his age, Jiang He became even less concerned about keeping up appearances.

So now, Jiang He... had completely let loose.

How could a group of ancient teenagers possibly outdo an adult steeped in the absurdity of modern internet culture...

After lunch at the cafeteria and a brief midday rest, Jiang He followed Qin Ming and the others to the Martial Arts Arena.

After a short speech, Qin Ming looked at Jiang He. "Jiang He, step forward."

Jiang He took a step forward.

Qin Ming then said to Yu Tianheng, "Tianheng, you too."

Yu Tianheng also stepped forward.

Qin Ming glanced at the two of them, then addressed the rest of the class. "This afternoon's lesson will focus mainly on actual combat. Since Jiang He has only just awakened his Martial Soul and severely lacks practical combat experience, today's primary instruction will focus on him.

"However, the rest of you should observe carefully. Watch for any practical combat mistakes Jiang He might make, and check whether you have similar flaws. If you do, make sure to correct them promptly.

"At the same time, this lesson will help Jiang He quickly integrate into our class and catch up with our usual pace."

Hearing this, everyone understood. This was openly giving him special instruction.

But none of them had any objections.

Everyone who could be in this class was among the best of their age group. They themselves had long enjoyed all kinds of advantages brought by their talent.

So when someone even more talented enjoyed the same advantages, they could accept it quickly.

Besides, the Soul Master world respected strength above all else. Jiang He had started as a Soul Grandmaster—there was no point refusing to accept it!

Seeing that everyone had silently agreed, Qin Ming looked at Jiang He and Yu Tianheng again.

"Jiang He, because you lack actual combat experience, neither you nor Tianheng may use your Martial Souls at first. You will begin training with the most basic form of practical combat, then gradually increase the intensity.

"Tianheng, hold back a little. Don't hurt Jiang He. You've been through this before, so you should know how fragile beginners are."

The two nodded at the same time.

"Understood, Teacher Qin."

"Don't worry, Teacher Qin. I know what I'm doing."

Qin Ming nodded slightly. "Good. Everyone, spread out. Jiang He and Tianheng, steady your breathing and prepare for practical combat!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding students immediately dispersed from their orderly formation and formed a semicircle around Jiang He and Yu Tianheng.

Jiang He and Yu Tianheng each moved a short distance apart and stood facing one another.

Yu Tianheng smiled at Jiang He. "Do your best, Jiang He. I'll go easy on you."

Jiang He smiled as well. "Alright, Brother Tianheng. I'll do my best."

Seeing that the two had finished exchanging pleasantries, Qin Ming shouted from the side, "Ready!"

Yu Tianheng's gaze immediately turned serious.

Jiang He also stared solemnly at Yu Tianheng across from him.

"Begin!"

The instant those words fell, Yu Tianheng sprang into motion and charged fiercely at Jiang He.

Jiang He activated System Assistance at once and observed Yu Tianheng's attack trajectory.

With the system's prediction, Jiang He guessed where Yu Tianheng's attack would land and tried to dodge in advance.

But just as Qin Ming had said, Jiang He had absolutely no practical combat experience, and his control over his own body was far from perfect.

Because of that gap, Yu Tianheng's fist still struck Jiang He on the shoulder as he tried to twist aside.

But in the next second, Jiang He looked at Yu Tianheng with confusion in his eyes.

Why... did it not hurt at all?

Was that a fist or a bean-paste bun?

"Are you flirting with me?"