Mockery, Establishing Authority

Bai Lin carried a brand-new little schoolbag on his back as he walked somewhat nervously into the Soul Master class classroom.

The air was filled with the unique clamor and excitement of children. Nearly every child wore an expression of curiosity and anticipation for their new identity—"Soul Master."

They gathered in little groups of twos and threes, chattering about the grand awakening ceremony from yesterday, showing off or complaining about their awakened martial souls. Their voices carried the innocence and undisguised competitiveness unique to six-year-olds.

Bai Lin found a relatively quiet seat by the window and sat down, placing his small hands properly on his knees.

He tried hard to sit up straight, attempting to suppress the lingering trace of inferiority in his heart because of his Blue Silver Grass martial soul.

Everything from yesterday replayed through his mind like a carousel:

Na'er's peaceful sleeping face, his parents' warm smiles, and that cold, powerful version of himself curled up in the corner of his spiritual sea...

Protect!

A clear, intense thought burst forth like a seed breaking through the earth—he wanted to grow stronger!

Strong enough to protect that little girl who had suddenly entered his life, as pure and fragile as moonlight!

So what if it was Blue Silver Grass?

As long as he worked hard, there had to be a way!

Just then, a round little fatty dressed in brand-new satin clothes swaggered over, shoving aside several children as he made his way to Bai Lin's desk.

With his hands on his hips and his chin held high, he asked in a booming voice filled with superiority:

"Hey!"

"New kid!"

"What's your name?"

"What martial soul did you awaken yesterday?"

"Tell us already!"

Several children nearby were drawn over as well, gathering around curiously with all their eyes fixed on Bai Lin.

Bai Lin's heartbeat sped up slightly, and his cheeks grew warm. He took a deep breath, raised his head, and tried to make his voice sound calm and composed.

"My name is Tang Wulin."

"My martial soul..."

"Is Blue Silver Grass."

Though he had already made up his mind, the moment he uttered those words, the thorn in his heart still gave him a light stab.

"Blue..."

"Blue Silver Grass?"

The little fatty's curiosity froze instantly. Then, as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world, he burst into exaggerated laughter.

"Pfft, hahahaha!"

"A useless martial soul, Blue Silver Grass?"

"Hey, hey, hey, did you hear that?"

"He said he's Blue Silver Grass! Hahaha!"

As he laughed, he slapped his thigh hard and winked at the children around him, as though he had discovered some rare treasure—one meant to be mocked, of course.

The laughter surrounded Bai Lin like an icy tide.

The gazes that had merely been curious now became filled with undisguised contempt and malicious delight.

The little fatty laughed until tears nearly came out. Wiping the corner of his eye, he pointed at Bai Lin with utter scorn in his voice.

"A useless martial soul!"

"A lousy weed that can't even beat a soul beast!"

"Hahaha, I'm dying!"

Proudly sticking out his round belly, he stretched out his right hand. A one-handed saber about a foot long, glinting with a faint metallic sheen, appeared out of thin air in his palm.

The blade was ordinary, its edge slightly rough, but in the eyes of six-year-old children, it was already a symbol of awe-inspiring might.

"See that?"

The little fatty showed off his saber martial soul, waving it through the air with a faint whistle that drew envious gasps from the children around him.

"My martial soul is a saber!"

"A genuine weapon martial soul!"

"And you, with that lousy weed."

He contemptuously pointed the tip of his saber at Bai Lin, lifting his chin even higher as his voice turned provocative.

"I could make you kneel and beg for mercy with just a few swings!"

"Crying for your mommy and daddy!"

"Believe it?"

The piercing mockery was like red-hot needles stabbing viciously into Bai Lin's heart.

The color drained from his face at once. Beneath the desk, his little hands clenched tightly into fists, his nails nearly digging into his palms.

Humiliation, anger, and that damned sense of inferiority coiled around him like poisonous vines.

Biting his lip, he lowered his head and tried to shut out that grating laughter.

Just endure it...

It'll be fine as long as I endure it...

He did not want to cause trouble on his first day, nor did he want his father and mother to worry...

However, just as that cowardly thought arose...

"Trash!"

A cold voice exploded without warning in the core of Bai Lin's spiritual sea!

Deep within his spiritual sea, Hei Lin, who had been lurking in a dark corner like a boulder at the bottom of an abyss, suddenly opened his eyes!

Violence and mockery burned openly in those pitch-black eyes!

He rose abruptly and stepped out of that deathly darkness. His powerful consciousness was like a vicious blade drawn from its sheath, carrying bone-chilling cold!

"They're practically spitting in your face, and this is your attitude?"

"Burying your head in the sand like an ostrich?"

Hei Lin's voice was like an ice awl steeped in poison, every word filled with piercing cold and extreme contempt.

"Blindly retreating and enduring will only make these fools, who don't know their place, push their luck even further!"

"They'll think you're easy to bully!"

"They'll think they can trample all over you whenever they want!"

Hei Lin's icy will was like a surging black tidal wave, carrying unquestionable tyranny and the savage aura of a predator. It instantly shattered Bai Lin's fragile defenses!

"Let me teach you what it means to—establish authority!"

Just as the little fatty smugly waved his saber martial soul, basking in the awestruck looks of the children around him and laughing without restraint at the "useless Blue Silver Grass martial soul"...

An indescribable, hair-raising aura erupted from Tang Wulin without warning!

The boy who had been hanging his head and hunching his shoulders, looking weak and easy to bully only a moment ago, suddenly raised his face!

The air in the entire classroom seemed to freeze in an instant!

All laughter and chatter stopped abruptly, as if sliced apart by an invisible blade!

The smug grin on the little fatty's face stiffened completely, like a frozen fish.

Even the glow of the saber martial soul in his hand dimmed somewhat, and its tip began to tremble uncontrollably.

His eyes widened in terror as he stared fixedly at the figure a few steps away.

Was that still Tang Wulin?

All gentleness, timidity, and even the innocence belonging to a child had vanished from that young face without a trace!

In their place was a bone-deep coldness!

Those eyes were no longer a clear brown. They were like the deepest frigid pool, devoid of warmth and without the slightest ripple.

There was only pure indifference, as though looking down upon ants, and a savage ferocity that made one's soul tremble!

It was as if an ancient beast that had been slumbering for ages had opened its eyes to gaze down upon all living things!

An invisible pressure, heavy as a mountain, flooded the entire classroom like tangible ice water!

The children around them turned pale and instinctively backed away, crowding together without daring to breathe too loudly.

They only felt as though an icy hand had clenched their hearts. Their limbs went cold, and even breathing became difficult!

It was a fear born from the instinct of life itself, like lambs facing a starving wolf baring its fangs!