Sick Cat

Class One and Class Five were having a practical combat lesson that day. The blazing sun hung overhead, its vicious rays scorching the earth. Heat waves rolled across the field, warping even the air.

Everyone was hot as dogs, drenched in sweat, their clothes soaked through as if they had just been fished out of water. Their tongues were practically hanging out.

Xuan Xiao alone made everyone grit their teeth in irritation, because that bastard was actually having hot pot in the shade.

That's right, hot pot.

No one knew where he had gotten a small table. A steaming bronze pot sat atop it, red oil bubbling as its fragrance spread through the air. All kinds of ingredients were piled beside it in dazzling abundance.

And the seasonings made those who recognized them twitch inwardly, because those were fucking ten-thousand-year spiritual herbs, and he was using them like scallions!

A Ten-Thousand-Year Snow Ginseng that could sell for tens or even hundreds of thousands of Gold Soul Coins outside.

He sliced it up, tossed it into the pot for a quick dip, then ate it with sauce as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

After Shadow Twin Scythes left, he had made a trip to the Far North and collected all that blood money. It filled several storage rings to the brim, and he had made a fortune.

Now that he had both money and leisure, of course he would enjoy himself when he could.

Someone truly could not stand the sight anymore and ran off to summon the dean of instruction, Du Weilen.

When Du Weilen heard that someone had violated school rules and was openly having hot pot during practical combat class, he came storming over, ready to teach this brat who disregarded school regulations a proper lesson.

But the moment he arrived and took a look, his heart skipped a beat. You people never said it was this ancestor!

The instant he saw Xuan Xiao's faintly smiling face, he stopped in his tracks. The anger on his face vanished by more than half.

Xuan Xiao was not flustered when he saw him. Instead, he warmly called out to him.

"Director Du, you came at just the right time. Want to sit down and have some? This tripe was just cooked. It's nice and tender."

Du Weilen's mouth twitched, but he still asked in an official tone, "Why aren't you attending practical combat class?"

Xuan Xiao looked at him as though he were an idiot, his tone carrying a hint of utter righteousness.

"Me? Practical combat class? How did you even connect those two words?"

He pointed at Wang Yan in the middle of the field. Wang Yan was busy guiding the other students through sparring practice, sweating profusely.

Xuan Xiao continued, "Believe it or not, if I threw one punch, I'd have to beg him not to die. When that happens, would it count as a workplace injury for him, or intentional assault by me?"

Du Weilen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but swallowed the words before they came out.

He really had no way to refute that.

With Xuan Xiao's strength, if he went all out, even an ordinary punch might be more than Wang Yan could withstand.

"Anyone can talk big!"

Just then, an arrogant voice rang out from the crowd, carrying challenge and disdain.

Everyone turned to look and saw a tall youth step out from among them.

He had long golden hair that gleamed beneath the sunlight. His features were handsome, but his brows carried arrogance and domineering pride. At a glance, he was clearly the sort of young master who had been spoiled since childhood.

A cat-eared girl with shoulder-length short hair and a curvaceous figure followed behind him. She wore a tight-fitting combat uniform that accentuated her alluring shape. Her black cat eyes held a trace of indifference, making her resemble an elegant yet dangerous cheetah.

Xuan Xiao recognized them at once. Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu, people from the White Tiger Duke's Estate.

Fine, fine. You dare play it like this, huh?

Then you can forget about having your fiancée.

He had been worrying over the fact that his body pillow was in seclusion cultivating. Now one had delivered herself right to his door.

Xuan Xiao set down his chopsticks, leaned against the back of his chair, and crossed one leg over the other. His voice was lazy and disdainful. "What? You have a problem? If not, shut up. If you do, hold it in."

Dai Huabin's face instantly turned bright red. Since childhood, no one had ever dared speak to him like that.

He drew a deep breath, suppressing the rage in his heart. His voice was practically gritted through his teeth. "If you have the guts, come with me to the Soul Arena!"

He had long wanted to find someone to establish his authority against. There were only four Soul Elders among the freshmen, himself included, and aside from the guy before him, he was the strongest.

A few days ago, this guy had even been privately dubbed the Uncrowned King by the freshmen. It made his teeth itch with hatred. Why should some obscure freshman stand above him?

Of course he had watched that Soul Arena match. But a turtle and a bug—were they even worthy of being compared to his White Tiger?

Ten thousand years ago, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon had been defeated by the White Tiger. What waves could a mere wind-attribute Martial Soul possibly stir up?

Seeing his eager expression, Xuan Xiao could not help laughing. There was a trace of amusement in that smile. "Why make it so troublesome?"

He stood up, rolled up his sleeves, and simply walked toward Dai Huabin. His steps were casual, as though he were taking a stroll. He did not even release his Martial Soul.

Seeing him act so arrogantly, Dai Huabin was enraged. He immediately used Martial Soul Possession. Golden light flashed around him as the phantom of an enormous White Tiger appeared behind his back, radiating a violent aura.

His first and third Soul Rings lit up at the same time. Sharp tiger claws sprang from his fingertips, carrying a force that seemed capable of tearing through anything as they shot straight for Xuan Xiao's throat.

That claw strike was fast and vicious, accompanied by a sharp whistle through the air.

Yet Xuan Xiao did not even use Martial Soul Possession. He merely raised a hand.

The movement was slow and unhurried, utterly harmless-looking, like he was swatting away a fly.

"Smack!"

A crisp sound echoed over the field.

The slap landed squarely on Dai Huabin's face. It was so powerful that it left him completely stunned, stars bursting before his eyes as his head buzzed.

Taking advantage of the motion, Xuan Xiao pressed down on his face and slammed him to the ground with a dull bang.

Dai Huabin's face was pressed against the ground. His limbs struggled as he tried to rise, but Xuan Xiao's hand bore down on his face like a mountain, leaving him unable to move.

The entire field fell silent.

Everyone stared with wide eyes and gaping mouths, watching the scene in utter disbelief.

Dai Huabin, a Rank 37 Soul Elder, son of the White Tiger Duke and one of the Star Luo Empire's foremost young talents, had been slapped to the ground by Xuan Xiao?

Without him even using his Martial Soul?

What the fuck was this?

Xuan Xiao crouched down beside him and leaned close to his ear, his voice filled with mockery and amusement. "White Tiger? Forget killing intent—why can't you even use brute force? Is your White Tiger Martial Soul some kind of hybrid?"

That was not merely beating him. That was cutting straight into his heart.

Dai Huabin trembled with rage, but pinned to the ground, he could not even speak. He could only make muffled sounds, like a wild beast that had been subdued.

In the distance, Huo Yuhao was grinning so hard his gums showed.

Although he wanted to take revenge himself and defeat Dai Huabin with his own hands, that did not stop him from enjoying the sight of Dai Huabin getting beaten up.

Watching the lofty son of the White Tiger Duke get pinned to the ground by Xuan Xiao like a chick made him feel better than if he had eaten honey.

Zhu Lu stood to the side, looking at Dai Huabin pinned to the ground, then at Xuan Xiao crouching beside him. A complicated look flashed through her black cat eyes.

She hesitated for a moment, but ultimately did not make a move.

Because she could sense that even if she acted, she would not be a match for this man.

It was an instinctive intuition telling her not to act rashly.

Xuan Xiao released his hand, stood up, dusted off his palms, then turned and returned to his seat. He picked up his chopsticks again and continued eating hot pot, as though he had merely done something utterly insignificant.

Dai Huabin climbed up from the ground. A bright red handprint was stamped across his face, his hair was disheveled, and his clothes were covered in dust. He looked utterly miserable.

He stared fixedly at Xuan Xiao, his eyes filled with fury and unwillingness. Yet in the end, he said nothing and turned to leave.

He would remember today's humiliation. One day, he would repay it tenfold.