Conflict at the Academy Gates

Tang San's steps faltered, and his face darkened.

"I'm already this unlucky. Can't that damn bad luck just leave me alone?"

"Does it have to kill me before it's satisfied?"

Tang San's fists clenched involuntarily, his teeth grinding together.

Sometimes, he really wanted to pretend he hadn't heard and walk away without looking back.

Unfortunately, he didn't dare.

That bastard Lin Chen didn't warn him that bad luck was coming every time, so he had no way of knowing which time it would strike.

If it didn't, then fine. But if it did, and he wasn't prepared—

Who knew what he'd face when bad luck hit?

More often than not, the unknown was what inspired the greatest fear.

"Phew!"

Tang San took a deep breath, then turned to look at Lin Chen.

"Is there a problem?"

A trace of apprehension colored both his eyes and his voice.

[Successfully inflicted Disaster Curse on Tang San. Obtained one System Bestowed Soul Ring.]

Lin Chen smiled.

"Nothing. I bought some fruit. Want to take some downstairs to eat?"

Tang San's expression froze instantly.

I'm already about ready to beat you up. I'm even thinking of refusing to pay you back.

And you're asking me to eat fruit?

What the hell is wrong with you? I'll eat your ＊＊＃＊...

Tang San was really starting to crack.

He genuinely couldn't understand. Did this guy not have a temper at all?

Of course, he only dared to curse him out in his heart.

"No!"

Tang San spat out the two words viciously, then turned and left.

Lin Chen smiled faintly.

He loved seeing Tang San dislike him but be powerless to do anything about it.

He went back into the dormitory and shut the door.

Lin Chen opened his system inventory and glanced at the two System Bestowed Soul Rings.

The corners of his mouth curled up of their own accord.

At this rate, he shouldn't be short on Hundred-Thousand-Year Spirit Rings in the future.

Closing the system inventory, Lin Chen opened his money pouch.

Looking at the thousand Gold Soul Coins inside, he fell into thought.

"Where did Tang San get so many Gold Soul Coins?"

"Forget it. Why think so hard about it? Getting them back is a good thing, no matter what."

Lin Chen smiled and transferred the Gold Soul Coins into his system inventory.

Then he sat cross-legged on the bed and began cultivating.

Over the next two days, Lin Chen went all out. In just two days, he inflicted Disaster Curse on Tang San six times, without giving him even a chance to recover.

Xiao Wu, who spent every day with him, was caught in the fallout too.

The space between both their brows was now as dark as ink.

It was easy to imagine that when this bout of bad luck struck, it would hit especially hard.

Yu Xiaogang, who hid in the dormitory all day and had Tang San bring his meals back to him, had instead gotten lucky and escaped the calamity.

That day, Flender and the others finally arrived at Nuoding Academy.

"Hey, Boss Dai, Oscar, look! That girl's pretty cute."

Ma Hongjun tugged at Dai Mubai and bumped Oscar with his shoulder.

He didn't bother lowering his voice. His eyes roamed over the girl without the slightest restraint, as if he'd never heard of manners.

Flender and Zhao Wuji heard him and saw what he was doing.

But neither said a word.

"Those who don't dare cause trouble are good-for-nothings"—that was the teaching philosophy of their academy.

Dai Mubai and Oscar looked in the direction of his voice.

They saw a boy in a white school uniform, with dark skin, walking out of the academy gates beside a girl in a pink dress, whose face was exceptionally pure and lovely.

Neither of them looked very old—eight or nine at most.

They were none other than Tang San and Xiao Wu.

Ma Hongjun had made no effort to hide his words. Naturally, neither of them could have missed them.

Xiao Wu didn't think much of it, but Tang San was starting to lose his patience.

"You fat bastard, looking to die?"

Tang San looked coldly at Ma Hongjun, treating Flender and Zhao Wuji as if they weren't there.

His father was a Titled Douluo. There was nothing that could make him afraid.

Ma Hongjun wasn't angered by his words. Instead, he mocked him with a grin.

"Oh, you've got some fire!"

"Listen up, kid. It's your good fortune that I've taken an interest in your girl."

"Don't go asking for trouble."

Dai Mubai and the others didn't step in. They folded their arms and waited for a show.

Flender and Zhao Wuji took the same stance.

Tang San narrowed his eyes, murderous intent welling up in their depths.

But when his gaze landed on Flender and Zhao Wuji,

he hesitated.

Xiao Wu didn't have nearly as many reservations as he did. She shot forward in an instant.

That damn fatty had actually called her Tang San's girl.

He'd plainly earned his death.

Today, she was going to teach him a proper lesson.

"Xiao Wu!"

Tang San's heart jolted. He reached out to stop her, but it was already too late.

Xiao Wu had already rushed right up to Ma Hongjun.

Before he could react, she bent her right knee and snapped out her foot, aiming a kick straight at Ma Hongjun's chin.

"Little girl, are you that eager to throw yourself into this master's arms?"

Ma Hongjun didn't take her seriously at all. As he teased her, he reached out with his right hand and grabbed straight for Xiao Wu's ankle.

He'd thought his grab was sure to succeed, but an unexpected turn of events caught him off guard. The instant his hand closed around Xiao Wu's ankle, it suddenly slipped free.

Then,

Xiao Wu's kicking leg swept sideways, coming to rest on his shoulder.

She pressed down with her right leg to gain leverage, vaulting into the air as she lifted her other leg and hooked it over Ma Hongjun's opposite shoulder.

She was as slippery as a loach.

Ma Hongjun finally realized something was wrong, but Xiao Wu's legs were already wrapped around his neck. Then he felt a tremendous force hit him.

The force not only squeezed his throat until it hurt; it lifted his whole body, too.

His fat body was hurled away by Xiao Wu.

"Fatty!"

Dai Mubai's expression changed drastically, and he instinctively started to rush to his aid.

But Tang San wasn't about to give him the chance.

Tang San was the type to act first and talk later. He immediately raised his right hand.

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Three Sleeve Arrows tore through the air, aimed straight at Dai Mubai's vitals.

They were meant to take his life.

"Hmph!"

Zhao Wuji gave a quiet snort and stepped in front of Dai Mubai.

He threw three punches, striking at the arrows.

It looked as if he were hitting the arrows with his bare fists, but his knuckles were actually wrapped in Soul Power.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The arrows collided with his fists, ringing out like metal striking metal.

All three arrows were knocked away.

"Thud!"

At almost the same moment, Ma Hongjun landed in an intimate embrace with the ground.

"Shit!"

Ma Hongjun couldn't help cursing. He sprang upright like a carp leaping from water.

But he'd barely found his footing when a small, delicate foot grew rapidly larger in his vision. It was about to kick him in the face.

"That's enough!"

Flender rushed over and grabbed Xiao Wu by the calf.

Xiao Wu still wanted to fight back.

Flender gave her a push. Off balance, Xiao Wu staggered back several steps before steadying herself.

Xiao Wu glanced at Flender, unwilling to let it go.

Then her gaze fell on Ma Hongjun.

"Useless!"

Xiao Wu spat out the two words coolly, and Ma Hongjun instantly flushed with rage.

"You're asking to die!"