"You—you don't have to stand so close!" Wang Dong clutched his forehead and glared at Mu Chen, embarrassed and furious.
His voice was still a little hoarse from just waking up, and the end of each sentence lifted unconsciously. He didn't sound like he was accusing Mu Chen so much as pouting.
Mu Chen rubbed his chin and looked at him expressionlessly. "I called you three times. The first time, I tapped your head. The second time, I called your name. Only the third time did I use Zhou Yi to scare you. You were the one who sprang up."
Wang Dong opened his mouth to argue, then realized he was in the wrong. He angrily pulled the blanket into his arms and turned his face away without saying a word. The tips of his ears were so red they looked ready to bleed, whether from the bump or some other reason.
Mu Chen stopped teasing her and turned to gather his things. He put the textbooks they'd received yesterday into his Storage Soul Tool, then checked that everything in his wristband was in place. Behind him came a rustling sound as Wang Dong changed her clothes.
"What classes do we have today?" Wang Dong asked from behind him, her tone already back to its usual coolness.
"Zhou Yi's Martial Soul Theory Class is first thing this morning," Mu Chen said without turning around. "Second period is Introduction to Soul Beast Knowledge. This afternoon we have Introduction to Combat Techniques. Apparently, we'll be taking it with Class Two."
At the mention of Zhou Yi, Wang Dong's movements visibly quickened. The memory of being punished with two hundred laps on the first day of class clearly hadn't faded.
Though Mu Chen had actually carried her under his arm while running, being hauled around like a sack was an experience she never wanted to repeat.
Before long, the two of them were ready and left the dormitory, one after the other.
Shrek Academy was already bustling in the early morning. The trees lining the school paths cast long shadows in the morning light, while the aroma of breakfast drifted through the air from the cafeteria.
Students emerged in twos and threes from the various dormitory buildings. Some were still bleary-eyed and yawning, while others were already full of energy, discussing the day's schedule.
Mu Chen and Wang Dong walked side by side along the path.
They hadn't gone far when Mu Chen noticed some unusual looks.
A few older female students carrying textbooks were walking toward them. They had been chatting and laughing, but the moment they saw Mu Chen, their voices cut off.
Their eyes all settled on him. Then they huddled together and whispered, occasionally letting out a muffled squeal. One girl with a ponytail was nudged by her friend, her face turning as red as a ripe apple.
"That's him! The one at the Arena yesterday..."
"Oh my gosh, he's even better-looking than the rumors..."
"Who's the one beside him? He's so pretty too..."
"I heard he's his roommate, from Freshman Class One..."
Mu Chen kept walking without so much as a change in expression, as if the whispers had nothing to do with him.
He'd been used to people staring at him back in Coastal City. Back then, it was because he was better-looking than everyone else. Now, he had something else going for him too: strength.
Wang Dong, on the other hand, didn't look too happy. He shot the girls a chilly glance, lifted his chin slightly, and unconsciously quickened his pace, moving half a step ahead of Mu Chen.
"Why are you walking so fast?" Mu Chen called from behind him.
"I'm hungry," Wang Dong replied tersely, without even turning around.
Watching him from behind, Mu Chen couldn't help thinking that he was in an especially foul mood today. But he didn't dwell on it and hurried after him.
The two of them ate a quick breakfast in the cafeteria. Wang Dong kept his head down the whole time and said nothing, as if he had a grudge against the fried eggs on his plate. Mu Chen didn't try to start a conversation either, eating his breakfast at an unhurried pace.
More and more people filled the cafeteria, and more and more eyes turned toward Mu Chen.
There were new students, older students, and even several people in teachers' uniforms. Every gaze held curiosity and interest. Clearly, after a night of spreading, news of last night's fight had reached the entire Outer Academy.
When they left the cafeteria, Wang Dong finally couldn't hold back.
"You're quite the celebrity now," he said. It was hard to tell whether he was being sarcastic or something else; either way, he sounded awkward.
Mu Chen glanced at him. "Aren't you too? Walking around with me means people remember you as well."
Wang Dong was stumped. He opened his mouth to retort, then realized Mu Chen was right. He gave a muffled snort and said nothing more, but he kept pace with Mu Chen, neither falling behind nor getting too far ahead.
By the time the two arrived at the Freshman Class One classroom, quite a few students were already seated inside.
The moment Mu Chen pushed the door open, the chattering in the classroom seemed to stop as if someone had pressed pause. Every sound vanished at once.
Dozens of pairs of eyes turned toward the doorway.
Mu Chen stood in the middle of the doorframe, the morning sun shining in behind him and outlining his tall, slender silhouette.
His short, deep-blue hair gleamed softly in the sunlight. His blue eyes calmly swept over every face in the classroom, without a trace of emotion.
The silence lasted about three seconds.
Then the atmosphere in the classroom grew subtly strange. Someone excitedly tugged at their deskmate's sleeve. Others lowered their voices to pass some news along to the students in front of and behind them. The boys in the back row looked at Mu Chen with open awe, while a few girls in the front row developed the faintest blush.
Mu Chen paid none of it any mind and walked into the classroom. His gaze passed over the desks before settling on a seat by the window, where Huo Yuhao was sitting and waving to him.
"Big Brother Mu! Over here!"
Huo Yuhao's voice brimmed with excitement. The seat beside him was empty, clearly saved for Mu Chen.
Mu Chen nodded to him and walked over to take the vacant seat. Wang Dong followed behind him, glanced at Huo Yuhao for less than half a second, then sat down expressionlessly on Mu Chen's other side.
"Big Brother Mu, the whole Outer Academy is talking about what happened last night!" Huo Yuhao leaned closer and lowered his voice. His thin face was full of admiration. "Everyone says you knocked Xu Sanshi, a fifth-year student, off the platform in just two moves. Even his Black Tortoise Bloodline couldn't stop you! Some people are saying you're the strongest among this year's new students—no, the strongest in the Lower Grade Department of the entire Outer Academy!"
Mu Chen took his textbook out of his Storage Soul Tool and set it on the desk. He gave Huo Yuhao's excited report no more than a casual "Mm."
"It cost me a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone," he said offhandedly, in a tone as casual as if he were commenting on the weather.
Huo Yuhao froze. A Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone? Had he heard right? Big Brother Mu actually had a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone?
No wonder the Trident was so powerful. No wonder his fourth Soul Ring had jumped straight to the ten-thousand-year level. So he had a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone to back him up.
The thought deepened Huo Yuhao's admiration for Mu Chen even further.
Even powerful Titled Douluo would covet something like a Ten Thousand Year Soul Bone, yet Big Brother Mu mentioned it so casually. That composure alone showed just how extraordinary he was.
In truth, Mu Chen was referring to the one million three hundred thousand Gold Soul Coins he'd received in exchange for the Deep Sea Flood Dragon's Left Arm Bone at the auction.