Frankly Speaking, Everyone Here Is ()

Two orioles sang amid emerald willows; a line of egrets flew into the blue sky.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying away fallen leaves. Following the direction indicated by the upperclassmen, Yang Ming used Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track all the way to the hilltop.

From afar, he could hear voices conversing in the woods. Before long, the sounds of fighting rang out as well.

Yang Ming's expression shifted. After drawing near, he did not reveal himself immediately. Instead, he hid behind a large tree and poked out half his head to observe the situation.

Xiao Wu's group was confronting another group of people.

In the clearing, Wang Sheng was fighting an upperclassman.

Yellow light flared in Liu Long's hand, and a long staff over two meters in length appeared in his palm.

"Wang Sheng, you defeated loser, lie down already!"

Liu Long truly deserved to be called an upperclassman. He had abundant practical combat experience. In his hands, the staff longer than his own height moved as smoothly as an arm, creating layers of shadowy staff images that engulfed Wang Sheng.

Having his old wounds exposed in public, Wang Sheng could not save face.

Under the cover of the staff shadows, Wang Sheng dodged left and right in a miserable state. Before long, he had been struck several times, leaving purple bruises across his body.

"I won't lose!"

Unwilling to accept defeat, Wang Sheng roared. Soul Power surged through both arms as he crossed them over his forehead to block the staff's blows. Soul Power light also shone from his body. Like an enraged tiger cub, he drove forward with both legs, forcing his way through the dense staff shadows in an attempt to get close to Liu Long.

Wang Sheng's Martial Soul was considered fairly good among the students, greatly enhancing his strength and speed. On top of that, he was naturally tough and thick-skinned, and having been beaten often in the past, his resistance to blows was extremely strong. If he really succeeded, he might actually have had a chance to turn the tables.

As the saying went, an inch longer meant an inch stronger; an inch shorter meant an inch more dangerous.

Wang Sheng had thought things too simply. He believed that as long as he got close to Liu Long, he could turn defeat into victory. Little did he know that this was a path to his own death.

Liu Long stepped backward in an orderly fashion, never giving Wang Sheng a chance to approach.

At the same time, he put more force into his hands. The long staff carried a fierce wind as it struck Wang Sheng's arms with repeated bangs, carving streaks of blood across them. Then, with one final vicious blow, he knocked Wang Sheng's arms apart. With his guard wide open, Liu Long smashed the staff into his chest and sent him flying.

Bang!

Wang Sheng collapsed onto the grass, clutching his chest as he struggled to catch his breath.

Liu Long withdrew his staff, looking at Wang Sheng with contempt before spitting on the ground.

"Peh!"

"You worthless trash dare challenge me? You really don't know how the word 'death' is written!"

That utterly merciless mockery made Wang Sheng cough repeatedly, nearly choking himself.

But the other side was simply more skilled. There was indeed nothing he could do about Liu Long.

Xiao Wu raised her brows, placed both hands on her hips, and spoke up indignantly for Wang Sheng.

"How can you be like this? Wang Sheng lost because he wasn't as skilled as you, but there was no need for you to humiliate him like that, was there?"

Liu Long rested the long staff on his shoulder, his face full of disdain as he said sarcastically,

"What? You lost, and people aren't allowed to say so? Trash is trash! If you're such useless rookies, don't come out and embarrass yourselves! If you're unhappy about it, come fight me one-on-one!"

Xiao Wu was furious. She turned around and swept her gaze over the work-study students, saying indignantly,

"Which one of you is going up there to avenge Wang Sheng?"

Yet, contrary to her expectations, not a single work-study student dared meet her gaze. One by one, they lowered their heads, acting like ostriches burying their heads in the sand.

Rather than fear godlike opponents, fear piglike teammates.

Xiao Wu had not expected that even when the upperclassmen were bullying them so openly, and Liu Long was berating Wang Sheng so viciously, the others would remain like this. In truth, Liu Long was using Wang Sheng to insult all of them.

Could it be that they had not understood?

No!

They had understood, which was why they acted this way.

Xiao Wu raised a finger, pointing at the foreheads of those work-study students as she angrily rebuked them.

"What do you mean by this? Aren't you men? Don't you have even a shred of manly spirit?"

One of the work-study students raised his head and said unhappily,

"We never said we would accept the challenge. It was Sister Xiao Wu who agreed to it herself, and now you're blaming us?"

That work-study student set a bad precedent, and another immediately spoke up.

"Sister Xiao Wu, it's not that I want to criticize you, but we definitely can't beat Boss Xiao. Why do you insist on holding out? If you agree to become Boss Xiao's pet rabbit, then we can avoid getting beaten up!"

Seeing the other six keep their heads lowered without speaking up to refute him, it seemed they silently agreed with that thought as well.

Pitiful people must have something hateful about them!

The work-study students were looked down upon by the others at the academy. Besides their poor family circumstances, there were actually other reasons.

"You all think so too?"

Xiao Wu received no answer to her question, and the fire in her heart cooled by more than half.

Only now did Xiao Wu suddenly understand why Yang Ming had never cared to compete for the title of Dorm Seven's dorm leader.

Because it was not worth it!

Clutching his chest, Wang Sheng came to Xiao Wu's side and said softly,

"Sister Xiao Wu, don't blame them. They've been bullied by upperclassmen for so long that they can't even bring themselves to resist anymore."

Xiao Wu pressed her lips together, feeling deeply hurt.

Seeing the work-study students turn against one another, the upperclassmen led by Boss Xiao were all so delighted that they could barely close their mouths.

"Xiao Wu, surrender obediently. I'll take very good care of you."

A wicked smile appeared at the corner of Boss Xiao's lips. His words made the upperclassmen around him show knowing expressions. Clearly, it was not anything good.

Just as Boss Xiao and the others were smugly pleased with themselves, applause came from the woods.

Clap, clap, clap!

"Who is it?"

Boss Xiao abruptly turned his head. Not only him, but everyone else shifted their gazes as well.

Deep in the woods, a figure dressed in white came into everyone's sight. With both hands behind his back, Yang Ming carried himself with indescribable ease. Under gazes of surprise, delight, and anger, he strolled calmly to Xiao Wu's side.

Xiao Wu was overjoyed. Excitedly, she threw her arms around Yang Ming, pointing at Boss Xiao and the others with one hand as she said,

"Yang Ming, you're finally back! They bullied me! Hurry up and teach them a lesson!"

Yang Ming's body stiffened. Ignoring Xiao Wu's dissatisfied pout, he pushed her away.

Women really were a source of disaster!

Muttering inwardly, Yang Ming suddenly turned around. His gaze was as sharp as an unsheathed sword, making Boss Xiao feel as though his eyes were stinging.

Yang Ming crooked a finger at Boss Xiao and sneered.

"Aren't you people so impressive? You actually dared bully my people. My time is precious, so come at me together!"

Boss Xiao's face darkened as he angrily said,

"Kid, you're pretty arrogant!"

Yang Ming curled his lips and shook his raised finger from side to side.

"Don't misunderstand. I'm not targeting you. I mean everyone here is ()"

(Note: You all know what belongs inside the parentheses. It cannot be written out, or people will report it as vulgar content.)

(Two chapters)