Xu Sanshi Attacks Su Ling, Tang Ya Is Furious

The large green fish sizzled over the fire. Huo Yuhao activated his Spirit Eye martial soul, his movements practiced as he sprinkled seasoning and flipped the fish with meticulous care, quickly roasting them to a golden brown.

"Brother Su Ling, here you go."

Su Ling took the fish. A thin layer of oil glistened on the surface, and a rich, savory aroma erupted from the meat.

He took a gentle bite; the skin was crispy without a hint of being burnt, followed by tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned meat.

"Mmm, not bad! Yuhao, your skills are truly excellent!"

Su Ling couldn't help but speed up his eating, giving Huo Yuhao a thumbs-up with his free hand.

The flavor was countless times better than the grilled fish in his memories, and the texture was superb—it even had the meaty bite of chicken strips.

Receiving Su Ling's approval, Huo Yuhao gave a bashful smile and lowered his head to continue grilling with focus.

Tang Ya looked at the golden, crispy fish in Su Ling's hand, then down at the pale yellow one in her own, and a sense of disparity immediately welled up.

"Hey now, little Yuhao, you're playing favorites!"

"Don't be angry, Teacher Xiao Ya. That was just a moment of peak performance; I'll grill you one exactly like it in a moment."

Huo Yuhao made a bitter face and gave a sheepish grin.

Just then, several female students in purple uniforms walked over. The surrounding crowd parted to make way, fearing they might bump into them.

The commotion was significant, especially among the male students whose eyes lit up; they kept their gazes locked on the girl in the lead, excitedly whispering the word "goddess."

Su Ling looked over at the sound.

The girl leading the group appeared to be only fourteen or fifteen years old. She had a slender, well-proportioned figure, and long, golden hair cascaded down her back in large waves. Her skin was as white as snow, and her eyes were like clear, still water. She possessed an air of elegant, refined grace.

It seemed this was the number one beauty of the outer courtyard—Jiang Nannan.

"Junior, how much for your grilled fish?"

"Five copper soul coins each."

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan's brows furrowed slightly, triggering her bargaining instinct. "That's a bit expensive. Considering the cost and your labor, three copper soul coins should be enough, and you'd still make a profit."

Huo Yuhao looked up, stunned. He hadn't expected a girl of such beauty to haggle with him; she didn't look like someone who lacked money.

"I apologize, but my grilled fish is not for bargaining, and today's batch is already sold out," Huo Yuhao said calmly.

There were only three fish left: two for Teacher Xiao Ya, and the one in his hand for Brother Su Ling. That was his bottom line.

Hearing this, Jiang Nannan felt a sudden pang of shame and quickly apologized. "I'm sorry, Junior. It's just a habit of mine to calculate costs. I'll try it another time if I get the chance."

"Yuhao, give that grilled fish in your hand to this senior," Su Ling suddenly spoke up.

Jiang Nannan, who had just turned to leave, paused, only then noticing the very handsome boy standing beside Huo Yuhao.

She glanced at the freshman uniform Su Ling was wearing and offered a faint smile. "Thank you, Junior, but I cannot accept a gift without merit. I will just queue up earlier next time."

With that, Jiang Nannan turned and walked away.

Just then, a figure rushed toward Huo Yuhao with lightning speed, reaching out toward the fish on the grill.

Huo Yuhao's heart skipped a beat. With his Spirit Eye active, he could clearly sense the intense pressure the person was emitting.

It was a feeling even stronger than that of Senior Brother Bei Bei when he had fought the thousand-year Mandala Snake.

"Yuhao, watch out."

Su Ling arched his brows, flashed in front of Huo Yuhao to shield him, and condensed his soul power into his right hand.

"Hah!" The figure glanced at the freshman badge on Su Ling's chest, raised his palm with utter disdain, and struck forward, holding back his full strength.

Seeing this, Su Ling raised his right hand to meet the blow.

"Xu Sanshi, what are you doing!?"

Jiang Nannan's face was filled with shock and anger, but Xu Sanshi ignored her, having already charged like a bolt of lightning, his palm aimed straight at Su Ling.

The two palms collided.

With a muffled "thud," Xu Sanshi stumbled back several steps, his palm tingling from the impact. As he steadied himself, he looked up at the motionless Su Ling, feeling a secret sense of alarm.

Good grief, he's this sturdy? And he's a freshman?

"Kid, get lost! I only want the grilled fish!" His face was resentful, and he prepared to lash out.

At that moment, Jiang Nannan hurried in front of Su Ling, blocking the space between them. Her delicate features twisted into a look of disgust. "Xu Sanshi, how can you bully a freshman in the academy!?"

Seeing Jiang Nannan's angry expression, Xu Sanshi's aggressive momentum instantly withered. His tone turned weak and aggrieved. "I... no... Nannan, I just wanted to buy you some grilled fish..."

"Enough! I've told you how many times? There is nothing between us. Stop pestering me, or don't blame me for being unkind!"

After saying this, Jiang Nannan turned to look at Su Ling, the anger on her face instantly softening into concern. "Junior, are you alright?"

Seeing this, Xu Sanshi nearly coughed up blood and shouted urgently, "Nannan, look at him—does he look like he's not alright?"

"Shut up!"

Jiang Nannan glanced back, a sharp, cold light flashing in her eyes.

Xu Sanshi shut his mouth on the spot, shrinking back like a frightened quail; that was a look Jiang Nannan had never directed at him before.

At this time, Tang Ya and Huo Yuhao also stepped forward to stand beside Su Ling, the former immediately grabbing his hand to check him over with eyes full of concern.

This scene was witnessed by Bei Bei, who had just arrived on the scene.

He froze in his tracks, his expression stiffening as if something within him had shattered, leaving him with a sudden, chilling sensation.

"Don't worry, I'm fine. That senior held back his strength," Su Ling said, pulling his right hand away with a helpless smile.

Only then did Tang Ya breathe a sigh of relief. Su Ling was the future of her Tang Sect; he couldn't afford to be bruised or injured in the slightest.

That detestable Xu Sanshi had dared to lay a hand on Su Ling right under her nose. According to the sect rules, he had practically invited his own death!

With that thought, she stepped forward, pulled a golden needle from her hand, and glared at Xu Sanshi.

"Xu Sanshi, how dare you bully my people! Take this Dragon Whisker Needle!" No sooner had she spoken than Tang Ya raised her hand, and a point of golden light shot straight toward Xu Sanshi.

"Holy crap, are you kidding me?"

Xu Sanshi's face paled in shock. He hurriedly summoned his martial soul, the Mysterious Underworld Shield, but Tang Ya's hand was too fast, and that golden needle was specifically designed to pierce through energy shields.

The golden needle sank straight into his body.

Xu Sanshi shuddered, his eyes suddenly glazing over. A fierce light erupted in his tiger-like eyes as three soul rings—two yellow and one purple—instantly rose from beneath his feet.

"Tang Ya, don't think that just because you have Bei Bei protecting you, I wouldn't dare do anything to you!" As he spoke, he brandished the black tortoise-shell shield, preparing to strike at Tang Ya.

Tang Ya was unfazed. She immediately summoned her Blue Silver Grass martial soul, and her two yellow and one purple soul rings flared to life.

"Xu Sanshi, stop!"

Bei Bei rushed forward, his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon martial soul instantly manifesting as he intercepted Xu Sanshi with a thunderous dragon claw.

"Bei Bei? Are you an idiot? Can't you see that your Tang Ya was the one who started it!"

Tang Ya frowned slightly. For some reason, hearing Xu Sanshi say "your Tang Ya" made her feel uncomfortable.

She was well aware that Bei Bei liked her, but she had always maintained that until her great revenge was fulfilled and the Tang Sect was stabilized, she would never consider matters of the heart.

She had never even accepted Bei Bei's pursuit, so when had she become "yours" as Xu Sanshi claimed?