The second class that morning was Martial Soul Studies, taught by that Teacher Zhao.
Teacher Zhao briefly explained the relationship between Martial Souls and Soul Power, then demonstrated it for the students.
She showed the difference in power between a Martial Soul on its own and one enhanced with Soul Power.
Qin Qi earned a hundred credits in this class, fewer than in culture class. The reason was that Teacher Zhao taught well.
Most of the time, she was answering the students' various questions, so they earned fewer credits.
After class, Teacher Zhao stopped Qin Qi on his own.
"Boss Wang, the teacher called Qin Qi away!"
"Should we go see what's happening?"
"Maybe not. Have you forgotten what happened when we got beaten up?"
Some of them wanted to go take a look, while others didn't. In the end, everyone turned to Wang Sheng.
Wang Sheng had been the boss at the academy for many years, and he still commanded plenty of respect.
"Let's go! Our conflicts are our own business. No matter what, he's one of the Work-Study Students."
"If he's in trouble, we have to find a way to help!"
Wang Sheng hesitated for a moment, then made up his mind. The things Qin Qi had said last night were meant to distract Wang Sheng.
But they had also been heartfelt. Wang Sheng might not be very strong, but he had absolutely earned the title of boss!
They ran to the teachers' office and secretly listened at the door to hear what was being said inside.
"I spoke to the principal about your situation, and he agreed. You're in luck, too."
"In five days, the sixth-years are going to the Soul Hunting Forest for a Soul Hunting Operation."
"You can go with them."
Teacher Zhao spoke.
"Thank you, Teacher Zhao. Um... I don't have any money. This is my first time selling myself."
Qin Qi looked at Teacher Zhao, wearing an embarrassed expression. There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.
He had no money right now, so all he had to offer was his handsome face.
"You little rascal, what are you thinking?"
Teacher Zhao froze for a moment, then burst out laughing and flicked Qin Qi on the forehead.
"I reported your situation because I'm your teacher. It's my job."
"And having a genius like you in my class means the principal will think more highly of me at the academy."
"If you become famous one day, I'll get to bask in your glory as one of your academy teachers."
Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi. She'd be lying if she said she wanted nothing in return, but whatever she wanted wouldn't come at Qin Qi's expense.
"Oh, so that's how it is. Well, Teacher Zhao, you can want something else from me, too."
"After all, you're so beautiful."
Qin Qi folded his arms and flashed an utterly honest smile.
"You smooth talker."
Teacher Zhao looked at Qin Qi, her smile growing wider.
"I'm telling the truth."
Qin Qi put on an utterly innocent expression.
"Go on, go on. Save that line for the girls around you. Your teacher isn't falling for it."
Teacher Zhao laughed as she shooed Qin Qi out. "Come to my office five days from now, in the morning. I'll take you to meet up with the dean and the others."
"Yes, Teacher. Got it."
Qin Qi nodded, then turned and left.
"That child... He seems quite well-behaved, but he's got quite a mouth on him. I really can't tell if he's honest or not."
Teacher Zhao shook her head with a smile. She had a good impression of Qin Qi. He really was quite handsome.
And with that honest, sincere smile, he was easy to like.
Qin Qi walked out of the office and ran into Wang Sheng and the others outside.
"What, are you going to jump me?"
Qin Qi looked at them and asked.
"No, we saw the teacher call you into the office alone, so we were worried something might happen to you."
"By the way, what did you do? Why did the teacher want to reprimand you alone?"
Wang Sheng hurriedly explained. Qin Qi had really beaten the fear of him into Wang Sheng. The first time might have been a fluke, but the second time too?
Wang Sheng wasn't an idiot. He didn't think Qin Qi had beaten him through sheer shamelessness alone.
"What do you mean, reprimand me? The teacher was giving me a private lesson."
Qin Qi answered with a smile.
"She gave you a private lesson? Why?"
Wang Sheng froze. He'd been at the academy for six years. How come no one had ever given him a private lesson?
"Because I'm handsome."
Qin Qi laughed and patted Wang Sheng on the shoulder, then prepared to find some other way to earn money and get through the next five days.
"Wait, I'm not bad-looking either. My mom says I'm pretty handsome too."
"Wait up! Tell me what happened in there!"
Wang Sheng watched Qin Qi walk away, burning with curiosity about what had happened in the office.
As Wang Sheng chased after Qin Qi, a Formal Student by the side of the road suddenly stuck out his foot and tripped him.
"Thud!"
Wang Sheng went down face-first onto the ground, but immediately scrambled back to his feet.
"Liu Long, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Wang Sheng stood up and glared darkly at the person behind him. They were in the same year.
They'd fought many times, and Wang Sheng had lost nearly every time, but he'd never backed down.
"You tripped yourself. How's that my fault?"
Liu Long looked provocative, and the Formal Students around him began to gather.
"Yeah, yeah, we saw it. You tripped yourself."
"You Work-Study Students are useless. You can't even walk on flat ground without falling."
"Wasn't Wang Sheng supposed to have the Fierce Tiger Martial Soul?"
"What Fierce Tiger? He's just a little kitten."
The Formal Students around them all began to jeer.
The Work-Study Students around Wang Sheng came over too. They gritted their teeth and glared furiously at the Formal Students opposite them.
They were terrified, and they knew they couldn't win if it came to a fight, but they couldn't lose face!
If they backed down, they'd keep getting bullied from then on, so they had to fight back!
"You... You just want to fight, don't you? Fine. Step up and fight me one-on-one!"
Wang Sheng said through gritted teeth.
"You all heard him. He suggested it himself. I'm not the one picking on him!"
Liu Long stepped forward and summoned his Martial Soul, a Martial Staff. He was ready to beat the tiger with his staff.
But just as the fight was about to begin, Qin Qi walked over.
"Stop!"
Qin Qi roared.
"B-but we haven't even started fighting."
Liu Long looked at the imposing Qin Qi. He froze, then stared blankly as he spoke.
"Don't touch my roommate. If you want to fight, come at me!"
Qin Qi took two steps forward and spoke with righteous conviction.
"Qin Qi, you... This has nothing to do with you. They're here to give me trouble!"
Wang Sheng looked at Qin Qi as he stepped forward, visibly moved.
"No, we haven't even fought yet. I haven't even made a move."
Liu Long looked at Qin Qi and tried to explain.
"Wang Sheng, we may have our differences, but that's our own business!"
"Now that outsiders are picking on us Work-Study Students, I have to stand up for us, because I'm one of them too!"
"By the way, do these guys have any money?"
Qin Qi wasn't here to beat them and then loot their money. That was only a secondary goal.
His main goal was to defend the dignity of the Work-Study Students. After all, he was one of them too!
When the lips are gone, the teeth are left exposed!
"Qin Qi... I misjudged you before. You're a good person. And they have plenty of money!"
Wang Sheng was so moved he was about to cry as he spoke.
"No, what does whether we have money have to do with anything?"
"One last thing: Wang Sheng's right. We're different from you poor country bumpkins. We're rich!"
Liu Long had no idea what was going on, but he still spoke proudly.
"Come on, I'll fight you one-on-one!"
Qin Qi pointed at Liu Long and spoke.
"Fine. I'm going to beat someone either way. Come on!"
Liu Long summoned his Martial Soul, the Martial Staff, again, then took up a fighting stance.
"Huh? What did you say? Did you agree, or didn't you?"
Qin Qi looked as if the commotion around them had made it impossible to hear. He walked toward Liu Long as naturally as could be.