After obtaining his Soul Ring, Han Xing continued cultivating in the Spirit Hall for a while.
When Notting Academy opened for the school year, he finally went there to study.
As expected, Han Xing soon ran into Tang San.
However, he hadn't seen the scene where Tang San and Old Jack were bullied by the gatekeeper.
By the time he first met Tang San, they were already in the classroom.
Because Han Xing was from the Spirit Hall, and a genius who had caught the bishop's attention at that.
So when he came to study at Notting Academy, he naturally didn't have to live in the dormitory like Tang San and the other work-study students.
That meant he'd had no chance to get involved in the things Tang San had encountered when he first arrived at Notting Academy.
"What a pity. If I'd seen that scene, I might've earned some Popularity Value."
"I'll have to think of another way to get some screen time."
Han Xing swept his gaze across the classroom and quickly spotted another key character besides Tang San.
That's right—the living Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone: Xiao Wu.
"Hey, why are you staring at Sister Xiao Wu?"
Just as Han Xing was watching her, Xiao Wu suddenly turned around and demanded fiercely.
As a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast—and a Soft Bone Rabbit, a relatively weak kind of Soul Beast at that—Xiao Wu was highly sensitive to other people's gazes.
"Are you looking for a fight?" Xiao Wu asked, sounding a little excited.
Han Xing didn't answer. He simply considered the matter to himself.
If he challenged Xiao Wu to a fight right here, would it get the system's attention and earn him a chance to appear on screen?
"Hey, I asked you a question!"
Xiao Wu wasn't exactly mild-tempered. Seeing Han Xing stare at her without answering, she immediately demanded an explanation.
"Ding! Congratulations, you have gained one Popularity Value."
Just then, the system's notification suddenly rang in Han Xing's ears.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have gained Popularity Value for the first time. The anime video section is now unlocked."
"Through the video section, the host can check the current plot development and view the audience's comments."
"Keep up the good work, host. Get more screen time and reach ten Popularity Value as soon as possible to earn your first reward."
Hearing the system's voice, Han Xing's lips curled into a slight smile, and he accepted Xiao Wu's challenge on the spot.
"You look pretty confident in your strength. Since that's the case, let's have a match."
As expected, Tang San had only just arrived at Notting Academy.
At a time like this, getting into a conflict with him or someone close to him could earn Han Xing some screen time.
Although Han Xing would most likely appear as a villainous supporting character for now,
as long as he got screen time, none of that mattered to him.
Only by appearing on screen would he have a chance to gain Popularity.
"Fine! Don't leave after class. Meet me at the practice grounds."
Xiao Wu raised her fist and waved it in front of Han Xing, then issued her challenge.
"I hope you don't get scared and chicken out when the time comes," Han Xing shot back.
After the two of them finished talking and returned to their seats, one comment after another appeared before Han Xing's eyes.
[Hahaha, that's so fitting. "Don't leave after class"—isn't this just elementary schoolers arranging a fight?]
[Well, Tang San and Xiao Wu really are elementary schoolers right now.]
"But are the anime's supporting characters really this well done? This character's only there to start the initial conflict, but they still gave him such a detailed model?"
"Now that you mention it, I noticed that too."
"Compared with Tang San, this passerby's model looks even more polished. Could he actually be an important supporting character?"
"What important supporting character starts by provoking the heroine?"
"Not necessarily. Don't lots of stories have scenes where two people fight first and become friends later?"
"Maybe this guy will get beaten by Tang San at Notting Academy, become his loyal lackey, and follow him around from then on."
Amid the audience's back-and-forth comments, Han Xing's first day at Notting Academy soon came to an end.
As soon as the bell rang, Xiao Wu went straight over and blocked Han Xing's way.
"We agreed—you're not leaving after class!"
"Either apologize or come with me to the practice grounds."
"Apologize?" Han Xing tilted his head and gave her a look as if she were an idiot.
"You!" Xiao Wu clenched her fists in frustration.
At that moment, Tang San came over to Xiao Wu and reminded her,
"Xiao Wu, let's go to the practice grounds first. If we break anything here, we'll have to pay for it."
After speaking, the two of them looked at Han Xing.
"Don't worry. Since I said we'd fight, I'm not going to break my word."
Han Xing challenged them. "You two are the ones in such a hurry to block the door. You're making it look like I'm afraid of you."
Xiao Wu seemed to realize she was in the wrong and turned her head away. But a moment later, she clenched her fists again, put on a tough front, and snorted.
"I just didn't want you to run away!"
Han Xing didn't bother replying to this frolicking, silly rabbit.
He quietly packed up his textbooks, slung on his schoolbag, and slowly made his way to the ring.
Tang San and Xiao Wu followed close behind the whole way, as if they were afraid he'd run off.
"Xiao Chenyu, come over and hold my schoolbag."
Han Xing called out to a student nearby who was watching the commotion.
Xiao Chenyu was the student from the original story who had wanted to make Xiao Wu his pet.
He was the son of the Nuoding City Lord, whose father had always wanted to get in good with the Spirit Hall.
That was why, after Han Xing obtained his Soul Ring, Xiao Chenyu had kept finding excuses to bring him around Han Xing.
Although Han Xing had no plans to become close friends with him, he didn't mind making a casual acquaintance.
After all, being the Nuoding City Lord's son could still be useful to Han Xing.
At the very least, it would make things much easier for him in Nuoding City.
"Han Xing, are you going to fight them?"
Xiao Chenyu caught the schoolbag and looked at Tang San and Xiao Wu.
"Looks like it's a crowd picking on two people. Need any help?"
"A bunch of work-study students, and they dare to bully us?"
At that, Han Xing waved a hand.
"I'm enough on my own, and they're not fighting two-on-one."
His goal was to build up his Popularity. It was fine to make enemies of the Protagonist Group.
As the city lord's son, Xiao Chenyu knew how to behave in many situations.
But he naturally looked down on commoners. Han Xing didn't mind accepting small favors, but he didn't want to get too entangled with Xiao Chenyu.
"Is that so? I think people from the Spirit Hall are just too reasonable."
"If it were me, I wouldn't care what kind of nonsense they pulled. I'd call over my lackeys and give them a beating first."
Xiao Chenyu's words suited Han Xing just fine. Perhaps that was because of the image Han Xing had always presented to him.
Having grown up in an orphanage, after his Martial Soul Awakening, Han Xing had quietly built up a particular image among the people around him.
Being friendly toward commoners and reasonable were the core of that image.
Xiao Chenyu had clearly picked up on what Han Xing liked to hear.
"What are you two muttering about over there?"
"You're Han Xing, right? Get up here already!"
Xiao Wu climbed onto the platform and beckoned Han Xing over.