A Duel at the Back Mountain

Tang San, walking at the back, saw the state Wang Sheng and the others were in and asked with some confusion.

"What's wrong with you guys? Is the food in the cafeteria not good?"

Wang Sheng shook his head gently at the question.

"It's not that the cafeteria lacks good food, but as work-study students, what kind of good food can we afford? We can only buy some cheap meals to get by."

Hearing this, Tang San realized the situation, but looking at Su Ge and Xiao Wu walking ahead, he felt a bit awkward.

After listening to Wang Sheng, he realized he hadn't brought any money with him, only some dry rations from home.

"Let's go, Brother San. Since we're all in the same dorm from now on, I'll cover your meals for these two days. You can just treat me back later."

Wang Sheng had noticed Tang San's embarrassment and wanted to build a connection; after all, all three of them possessed innate full soul power and could become soul masters at any time.

He was about to graduate, and perhaps when the time came to hunt for a soul ring, if he could get any of the three to help, his soul ring wouldn't be too bad.

Maybe he could even hunt a ten-year soul ring that suited him perfectly!

Tang San hesitated for a moment, but nodded and accepted Wang Sheng's kindness, just as he had suggested.

He figured he could just treat him back once he had money, so there was no need to be coy.

Finally, the group from Dorm Seven followed Su Ge and Xiao Wu, crossing the playground to reach the Nuoding Academy cafeteria.

Upon arriving, Su Ge witnessed the prestige of the soul master profession.

Even for a junior soul master academy, the cafeteria was massive. At a rough glance, the first floor alone could accommodate about three hundred people, not to mention the second floor.

Just as they reached the cafeteria, Tang San spotted a familiar figure and hurried over.

"Teacher, you've come to eat as well."

The person was none other than Yu Xiaogang. He had naturally seen the group from Dorm Seven and walked over, so when he saw Tang San take the initiative to greet him, he simply nodded.

"Have you finished settling in?"

As he spoke, his gaze swept unobtrusively over Su Ge, who stood at the front of the group, a flicker of unusual interest crossing his eyes.

Tang San didn't notice, instead bowing respectfully. "Thank you for the bedding, Teacher."

Yu Xiaogang patted his shoulder and said, "Come with me to the second floor to eat, and then I'll take you to my place to show you where I am."

Tang San had no concept of the second floor at the time, and he truly didn't want to make Wang Sheng spend extra money, so he nodded obediently.

After a brief farewell to Su Ge and the others, he followed Yu Xiaogang toward the second floor.

There was, of course, some calculation on Yu Xiaogang's part; by casually displaying his status, he hoped to leave a first impression on Su Ge.

Once he shared information about powerful soul beasts with Tang San later, and Tang San leaked it to Su Ge, the boy would surely realize how valuable a knowledgeable teacher could be.

When that time came, Su Ge would naturally beg to become his student!

As Yu Xiaogang led Tang San to the second floor, he smiled to himself, feeling certain. After all, manipulating a six-year-old child was effortless for him!

Watching Tang San's retreating back, curiosity surfaced on Xiao Wu's face again. She looked at Wang Sheng beside her and asked, "Is there something different about the second-floor cafeteria?"

"The second floor is for ordering individual dishes. It's very expensive—not something we work-study students can afford."

Wang Sheng looked at Tang San's departing figure with envy. He had been at Nuoding Academy for so long and had never once set foot on the second floor.

"Yo? Isn't this Wang Sheng and his bunch of paupers?"

Just then, a discordant voice rang out as they entered the cafeteria.

Su Ge looked toward the source of the sound and saw a group of senior students standing on the stairs leading to the second floor, looking down at them with condescension.

The speaker was a handsome-looking boy of about eleven or twelve, his eyes filled with disdain. It was clearly Xiao Chenyu, the son of the Nuoding City lord.

However, his eyes lit up the moment he saw Xiao Wu.

"What a pretty little girl, too bad she's a work-study student."

"Wang Sheng, I'm going to eat now, so I'll let you off this time!"

Without waiting for a reaction from Wang Sheng and the others, he prepared to lead his group upstairs.

"How about we spar at the back mountain of the academy tomorrow morning?"

Just as Xiao Wu was about to lose her temper, Su Ge spoke up, meeting the hopeful gazes of Wang Sheng and the others.

Hearing Su Ge's words, Xiao Chenyu and his group paused their ascent and looked at the boy standing at the front of the line.

When he saw that Su Ge's face was even more handsome than his own, a flash of displeasure crossed his eyes.

But upon seeing the simple, unswapped clothes on his body, his displeasure turned into amusement. He didn't answer immediately, looking instead at Wang Sheng.

"Wang Sheng, you really have gone downhill. You're actually letting a kid who just enrolled act as your spokesperson."

"What's the matter... have you lost the guts to even talk to me yourself?"

"Boss Xiao, this is our new Boss Su of Dorm Seven. I suggest you show some respect!" Wang Sheng stood up for Su Ge upon hearing Xiao Chenyu's words.

Even though he didn't know if Su Ge was a match for Xiao Chenyu, he gathered his courage to back him up.

"Boss Su? Hahahaha..."

Xiao Chenyu burst into laughter, and his lackeys followed suit.

"Fine, fine, fine. Since you newcomers don't know the rules, I'll teach you what the rules are tomorrow!"

Xiao Chenyu's smile vanished in an instant. He glared at Su Ge with a fierce glint in his eyes, then slapped the railing and headed up to the second floor without looking back.

Xiao Wu was furious, itching to rush up and give Xiao Chenyu a beating, but Su Ge reached out and stopped her.

"Don't be impatient. It's only one night. Tomorrow, we'll make him understand exactly who runs this academy!"

A confident smile played on Su Ge's face. If it weren't for the fact that Tang Hao was in the Nuoding region, Su Ge wouldn't just be walking through Nuoding Academy—he could walk sideways through the entire city!

Although he intended to keep a low profile for now, he wasn't someone who could be provoked by just anyone!

Besides, he was more than happy that Xiao Chenyu had delivered himself to his doorstep!

After hearing Su Ge's words, Xiao Wu was still angry, but she only stomped her foot.

"Then tomorrow, I must make them realize how strong Sister Xiao Wu is!"