Xiao Wu felt the warmth in her palm, and her eyes crinkled with a smile. "Mm."
After walking closer, Dean Flender swept his gaze over everyone, then let it linger on Huo Yuhao, his expression meaningful.
"..."
Huo Yuhao sighed. So I'm the one he's going to make an example of.
Sure enough, Flender's voice rang out. "You're Huo Yuhao, the one who had a one-on-one fight with Old Zhao yesterday?"
Huo Yuhao stepped forward.
"Yes, Dean."
"You fought Teacher Zhao one-on-one!?"
Oscar and Ma Hongjun immediately turned their heads, staring at the handsome young man in astonishment.
They could hardly imagine that this was someone who could go toe-to-toe with Teacher Zhao. Seeing their reaction, Dai Mubai gave a slight sigh.
If they knew Teacher Zhao had even activated his Martial Soul Avatar by the end of the fight, they'd probably faint from fright.
Ma Hongjun was more focused on that handsome face.
He muttered mournfully, "Another handsome face! Aren't Boss Dai and Oscar enough? Oh, heavens! When will I ever get a face like that?"
Hearing the chubby boy lament life's unfairness, Flender rolled his eyes and paid him no mind. He continued studying Huo Yuhao.
"Not bad. Zhao Wuji told me about you yesterday, and he spoke very highly of you. Step out of line."
Huo Yuhao pursed his lips and turned his head slightly. He saw the three senior students give him a look that said, "Good luck. You're on your own."
With a wry smile, he walked over to Flender, saluted, and stood at attention.
Flender nodded, but wasn't finished. "Oscar, Ning Rongrong, step out of line."
"??" The two who'd been called looked somewhat bewildered.
Ning Rongrong wasn't particularly bothered. After a moment's surprise, she went over and stood beside Huo Yuhao.
Oscar, however, drooped, then trudged over to Ning Rongrong with his head bowed.
Flender looked at the others and waved them off. "Those three will stay for training. The rest of you can go rest and get ready for tonight's class."
"Wait, Dean. Can I join the training with Huo Yuhao and the others?"
A cool voice rang out. Flender looked up in surprise at Zhu Zhuqing, who had spoken.
"Why?"
"Because I want to become stronger. As strong as Huo Yuhao."
Zhu Zhuqing lifted her head slightly to meet Flender's eyes. Unlike when she'd looked at Huo Yuhao, her gaze was filled with resolve.
Even Huo Yuhao was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Zhu Zhuqing and Dai Mubai to have such different mindsets: one wallowing in dissipation and indulgence, the other so eager for strength.
"Yuhao, what do you think?"
Flender didn't answer her directly, instead turning to Huo Yuhao to ask his opinion.
"Dean, I think this is a good thing." Huo Yuhao answered without hesitation.
"Fine. Since Yuhao agrees, I'll make an exception and let you join."
Flender smiled at Zhu Zhuqing. "But there'll be consequences if you disobey my orders. You'll have to attend tonight's class too."
"Yes."
"Dean, I want to join too!"
It was Xiao Wu. She bounced over to Flender and called out.
"Sure. Anyone else want to join?" Flender asked, looking at the remaining three.
Tang San glanced at everyone without saying a word, then stepped forward to join them. Dai Mubai watched the others, hesitating.
Then he remembered the words Huo Yuhao had sent him through the twins, and the flame in his heart rekindled. It's just a matter of working hard! I'm all in!
Ma Hongjun, standing beside him, was dumbfounded. What was with everyone?
"Boss Dai, you too...?"
Seven people now stood beside Flender. They all silently looked at Ma Hongjun.
"I... I'll join too."
Ma Hongjun sighed, overwhelmed by the painful feeling of being forced to work hard.
A flash of delight crossed Flender's eyes as he turned to Zhu Zhuqing.
He hadn't expected one person to inspire an entire team. Zhu Zhuqing had given him a tremendous surprise.
Huo Yuhao smiled and nodded at Zhu Zhuqing, then looked around at everyone—the original Shrek Seven Devils, who had made their names in his previous life.
"Fine. Since that's settled, let's start training. From now on, everyone will run twenty laps around the village. You may use Soul Skills and the like to help yourselves. Yuhao, you're their role model, so you'll run forty laps. You're not allowed to use Soul Power along the way, and you'll also make sure they finish."
Flender gave Huo Yuhao a broad smile, his meaning clear: since someone had made you their goal, you'd better show them what a true role model could do.
"...Yes."
Huo Yuhao sighed. Being the one who stood out was no easy task. In his previous life, he'd been at the bottom of the class when he first enrolled, and had to fight with everything he had just to keep up. He'd never imagined he'd become the one leading the pack now.
And so, their long journey began.
"Twenty laps! Looks like we're not getting lunch today," Ma Hongjun wailed, face full of misery.
"Why? The village doesn't look that big to me," Xiao Wu asked curiously.
Oscar explained, "When the Dean says around the village, he means including the farmland..."
Zhu Zhuqing froze, guilt immediately filling her face. "I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, none of you would have to..."
"We chose this ourselves. It has nothing to do with you. Becoming stronger is a choice each of us makes."
Tang San shook his head. Now that he'd chosen to train, he wouldn't regret it.
"It's fine. If anyone can't keep running, you can eat one of my sausages. I guarantee you'll make it to the end," Oscar said with a grin.
"..."
One lap.
Two laps.
"This lap is way too long!"
Xiao Wu complained. She already felt drained after just two laps, and everyone was starting to pant.
This was when the differences in their physical fitness became clear. Fine beads of sweat had appeared on Oscar and Ning Rongrong's foreheads, while Dai Mubai, whose Soul Power ranked second, was only breathing a little harder.
Up ahead, Huo Yuhao was still running with light steps, keeping an even pace as he led the group.
"Hmm?"
Huo Yuhao noticed the dejected looks on the others behind him and realized this couldn't go on. He gradually slowed down, then moved to the side of the group.
"You need to change your running posture. Ning Rongrong, land on the balls of your feet, not your heels. Oscar, swing your arms. Everyone, follow me and change your breathing rhythm..."
One instruction after another reached their ears.
"Wow, it really works! I suddenly feel so much less tired!" Xiao Wu's eyes lit up.
Zhu Zhuqing's eyes brightened. She turned her head slightly to watch Huo Yuhao's figure as he ran alongside them, coaching them. The corners of her mouth lifted.
Unaware of their expressions, he continued running and encouraging them. "Keep going, everyone! Stamina is an important quality for Soul Masters too."
When they finished the third lap, something unexpected happened.
"Ning Rongrong? What are you doing? You can't stop. Keep running."
Huo Yuhao frowned at Ning Rongrong, who had stopped.
Ning Rongrong ignored him and headed straight for Suotuo City.
"You guys keep running. I'll go see what's going on with Ning Rongrong," Huo Yuhao told the others before turning to chase after her.
"Ning Rongrong, what's wrong? It's only the third lap. Are you feeling sick?" Huo Yuhao asked softly when he caught up.
A smile appeared on Ning Rongrong's face. "Forget running, Yuhao. Let's go wander around the city. It doesn't matter whether we run or not."
Huo Yuhao froze. He gave Ning Rongrong a long look, his gaze turning colder.
"Come back with me. This is a task. If you didn't want to run, you should've refused from the start. No one would have forced you. But if you accepted, you should see it through instead of giving up halfway."
He hadn't wanted to get involved in this matter. But, just as he'd said, Flender had given him the task, and he hadn't refused at the outset. So he ought to see it through.
That was the most basic sense of responsibility.
Now, he simply had to make sure she ran every last lap.
"Know your place. Just because you look decent and your Soul Power is a little higher doesn't mean you can boss me around. You're just a student. So what if you can fight? In this world, you need connections!"
After being lectured by Huo Yuhao, Ning Rongrong grew angry, her attitude toward him turning hostile in an instant. She sneered at him.
"That's right, I'm just a student. But right now, you're just a student too. Once you leave the Academy, you can be a princess all you like. But right now, come back with me."
"And if I don't?"
"Then I'll beat you until you agree. You've already seen what I can do."
Ning Rongrong's face stiffened. Then she shouted angrily,
"I'm from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect! No one dares hit me. Go ahead and try!" With that, she continued toward Suotuo City.
She hadn't taken more than two steps before a sudden blow landed on her backside. She lost her balance and fell to the ground, her white dress instantly covered in dust.
"!?"
Ning Rongrong was completely stunned. He actually dared to hit me? Doesn't he know my standing in the sect?
It didn't hurt, but humiliation surged through her, and tears welled in her eyes.
Before Ning Rongrong could get back up, Huo Yuhao's voice rang out again.
"I don't know how much the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect spoils you, and I don't care to know. All I know is that you're smug about your talent and conceited about your background."
"Tell me, what do you have to be proud of? Your Soul Power is the lowest in the whole class. Everyone here has exceptional talent."
"I'll say this one last time: come back with me. After training, you can complain to your family or report me to the Dean. Do whatever you like."
"Anyway, after this run, I won't be responsible for you anymore. The Dean only told me to supervise you this time."
"If you don't come back now, I won't just give you another light kick like that."
Ning Rongrong slowly got back to her feet. Hearing Huo Yuhao's cold words, she shuddered and threatened him in a trembling voice. "Just you wait."
Then she lowered her head, walked past Huo Yuhao, and ran toward the group.
"I'll be waiting."
"...That was ruthless..."
Flender, standing not far away, sighed. Even he wouldn't dare hit Ning Rongrong, yet Huo Yuhao had done it.
When Ning Rongrong returned to the group, covered in dust with a shoeprint on her backside, everyone wordlessly pretended not to notice.
Huo Yuhao soon rejoined them. "Keep going, everyone. Follow my breathing rhythm."
Ning Rongrong gritted her teeth. Though she resisted, her oxygen-starved brain instinctively matched Huo Yuhao's breathing rhythm.
It really was much easier. She couldn't help watching the back of the person leading them, muttering to herself, You little menace, you sure have a few tricks up your sleeve.
Before they knew it, noon had arrived, and they'd only run half the distance. Their bodies were exhausted, and their stomachs were growling with hunger.
Huo Yuhao's voice rang out again. "Oscar, hand out sausages to everyone."
"Yuhao, what about you?" Oscar asked, looking up at Huo Yuhao as he held out a sausage.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "I'll pass. The Dean gave me special instructions."
Ning Rongrong had been chewing the sausage as if she were taking it out on Huo Yuhao. She couldn't help freezing, his words echoing in her ears.
If you accepted the task, you should do your best to complete it...
She shook her head hard and snorted. "I hope you work yourself to death!"
At last, when they reached the fifteenth lap, everyone was drenched in sweat, and the afternoon sun beat down on them with scorching heat.
Huo Yuhao glanced back at the others. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were staggering, and Oscar seemed close to his limit too.
With a soft sigh, a jade-green light appeared at Huo Yuhao's chest. Everyone immediately felt cooler, and even the breeze blowing toward them turned refreshing.
"It's Yuhao..." Tang San said, his expression complicated.
At last, in the evening, they finished the run and arrived at the training field. Flender had been waiting there for them with his hands clasped behind his back.
Looking at the panting group, he nodded and said with a smile, "I'm very pleased. Only one of you failed to complete the training and treated my instructions like they were wind in your ears."
Everyone turned their eyes to Huo Yuhao. His task had been to run forty laps, yet he had run alongside them to help regulate their breathing.
After the fifteenth lap, he had even used Soul Power to cool them down. He'd broken every rule.
"Huo Yuhao, do you have anything to say?"
"No, Dean. I failed to complete the task." Huo Yuhao stopped the others, who were about to defend him.
"Then you don't object to the punishment I'm about to give you?"
"I don't."
Flender nodded in satisfaction, then looked around at everyone.
"Judging by how you look, you won't be able to attend tonight's class. But Huo Yuhao's punishment is your original class. Now, everyone follow along and watch Huo Yuhao being punished."
Then, as if something had just occurred to him, he smiled at Huo Yuhao. "Oh, right. That isn't the only punishment. You also have to make up the laps you didn't finish."
"...Yes."
"Th-the..." Xiao Wu looked curiously at the building before them, which stood nearly a hundred meters tall. Its towering walls looked especially imposing beneath the night sky.