Different Paths, Different Futures!

Night gradually fell.

Suotuo City.

Soto Grand Hotel.

Led by Flender, the teachers and seven students, including Ma Hongjun, entered the hotel one after another.

A tall, graceful waitress in a black cheongsam approached them and asked with a bright smile, "Are you here to see Mr. Ji?"

Hearing the words "Mr. Ji," Flender raised an eyebrow and gave a roguish smile. "That's right."

"Mr. Ji has arranged a private room on the third floor. Please follow me," the waitress said respectfully before leading the way, completely ignoring the gazes of Ma Hongjun, Dai Mubai, Oscar, and Tang San.

Flender looked around the Soto Grand Hotel and said to his old friends beside him with a smile, "Xiaobai has really made something of himself these past few years!"

Everyone grinned and nodded in agreement.

Spotting Ma Hongjun staring at the waitress's backside, Flender rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Look at Xiaobai, then look at yourself. All you know is how to fool around. You don't even work hard at cultivating!"

Ma Hongjun looked completely different from when Ji Bai had left. Not only had he grown rounder, but there was now a somewhat lecherous air between his brows.

If the hotel staff had not already grown accustomed to this sort of thing, someone else might have flown into a rage and started an entirely avoidable conflict.

Ma Hongjun pulled a long face. "Teacher, when have I ever failed to cultivate diligently? I work very hard too! Even with Evil Fire affecting me, my Soul Power has already reached level twenty-seven. That's better than plenty of people, isn't it?"

"Ji Bai is already a Soul Elder, while you're only level twenty-seven. What do you have to be proud of?" Flender glared at Ma Hongjun, furious that he was not living up to expectations.

The other teachers could not help laughing.

As for the students... both the new and old students were staring at Ma Hongjun in surprise.

Before long, everyone followed the waitress into the private room Ji Bai had arranged.

The waitress said softly, "Please wait a moment. Mr. Ji will be here shortly."

After saying that, she closed the door and withdrew. She then arrived outside Ji Bai's room and knocked.

Click!

The door opened, revealing Ji Bai standing behind it. He wore a fitted red-and-white outfit, with a gentle smile on his face. Combined with his exceptionally handsome features and tall frame, he was particularly eye-catching to girls.

A sincere smile appeared on the waitress's face as she bowed slightly. "Mr. Ji, your guests have arrived. They are now in the private room you arranged."

"Thank you. Have the dishes served," Ji Bai said, straightening his sleeve. A flash of golden light appeared in his hand, and an extra Gold Soul Coin naturally slipped into the pocket at the front of the waitress's uniform.

The waitress's mood instantly changed. The exhaustion from a day of work vanished completely as she smiled sweetly. "Please wait a moment. I'll arrange it right away."

Ji Bai soon arrived outside the private room. With a soft click, he pushed open the door. Flender and the others inside all turned toward the entrance, their eyes falling on him as he appeared.

"Dean Flender, long time no see." Ji Bai recognized Flender at once. The man had not changed in the slightest over the past five years.

Seeing Ji Bai again, Flender asked in disbelief, "Are you really Xiaobai?"

"Of course." Ji Bai swept his gaze around the room before it landed on the other red-haired fat man besides himself. He blinked. "You're Little Ma, right?"

Ma Hongjun subconsciously stood up and carefully examined Ji Bai from head to toe. His mouth slowly fell open. "Are you really the Ji Bai I know?"

"The genuine article." Ji Bai calmly sat in the only remaining empty seat of honor and teased, "Little Ma, you've been living well these past five years. Compared to before, you've become much rounder."

Ma Hongjun lowered his head to look at his plump body, then compared himself to Ji Bai. A wave of inferiority immediately rose in his heart.

He glanced at the exquisite dishes being brought to the table one after another. Many of them were things he had never seen before. He promptly decided to turn his grief and indignation into appetite and thoroughly feast at Ji Bai's expense.

Ji Bai glanced over Xiao Wu and the other new and old students, then said with a smile, "Don't be polite, everyone. Make yourselves comfortable."

The waitress pushed a small cart into the private room. Several bottles of seemingly exquisite liquor sat atop it. "Mr. Ji, the wine you requested."

Ji Bai said, "Open them and leave them here."

The waitress nodded, did as Ji Bai instructed, and then left the private room.

Flender sighed with a smile. "Five years apart, and Xiaobai has grown so much! You're just like a noble!"

As he poured the wine, Ji Bai replied, "Dean Flender, please stop teasing me. I'm no noble, and I don't care for those identities."

"Would you like some too?"

Ji Bai glanced at the group of seven new and old students seated opposite him and shook the bottle in his hand.

"I'll have some." Ning Rongrong gave a sweet smile.

Xiao Wu raised her hand. "Give me some too."

Tang San reminded her quietly, "Xiao Wu, we're still young. We shouldn't drink."

Xiao Wu said unconcernedly, "It's fine! I'm a Soul Master, not some ordinary little girl. It's only a little wine. It's nothing!"

"Help yourselves." Ji Bai passed the wine over and called out, "Everyone, shall we begin?"

"Come on! Let's have a toast first!"

The smile on Flender's face had never faded. Looking at the table full of fine wine and delicious food, all without having to pay for it himself, he was delighted.

A little wine lifted the spirits; too much harmed the body.

Some time later, the private room reeked of alcohol. Flender had an arm around Ji Bai's shoulders, his face flushed red and his breath reeking of wine as he spoke. "Xiaobai! You've really struck it rich now. Want to invest in the academy? I'm telling you, the academy is getting better and better. Look at them—their future is limitless!"

Hearing this, Ji Bai glanced at the seven people opposite him. Other than the three girls, everyone else had already drunk themselves unconscious. He shook his head helplessly. "I'm only studying at Blazing Academy right now. I still have a long way to go before I can call myself successful."

"Burp—!" Flender glanced at Ma Hongjun and said, "That brat Hong Jun has caused me no end of trouble over the years. If only he were half as outstanding as you!"

Ji Bai helplessly pushed Flender away. After getting up and opening the door, he said to the waitress waiting outside, "Go get a few people to help them all back to their rooms."

"Yes."

The waitress answered respectfully.

Ji Bai looked back at the three girls and sighed. "Good thing you're all still awake. I booked each of you a room. Rest here tonight and go back tomorrow. I'm staying in room 502, so come find me if you need anything."

At this, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong nodded groggily, as though they had heard Ji Bai.

"Little Zhu, I'll have to trouble you..." Before Ji Bai could finish speaking, Zhu Zhuqing, who had been awake a moment ago, suddenly leaned against Xiao Wu's shoulder and fell asleep.

"Uh..."

Ji Bai looked at Flender and the others, then at the dozens of bottles of liquor, and rubbed his brow.

Was that really necessary?