Standing Up for What's Right

"Since that's settled, we'll do it."

Guang Ling leaned back in his chair and looked at Chu Heng.

"Xianling, I don't care how you taught him back in Nott City. From today on, he's my disciple, so the way he trains will have to change."

Su Xianling grew more serious.

"You've already made arrangements, Teacher?"

"Now that I've taken him as my disciple, I'm not leaving everything to you."

Guang Ling flicked a finger, sending a streak of icy-blue light toward Su Xianling. She caught it in her hand. It was a jade slip less than half the size of her palm.

Su Xianling channeled Soul Power into it and closed her eyes. A moment later, she opened them again.

"Teacher, isn't this a little..."

"Strict?"

Guang Ling finished the sentence for her.

Su Xianling nodded.

Standing beside them, Chu Heng felt a sudden sense of foreboding. If even Su Xianling thought this plan was strict, he suspected the days ahead would be rough.

"It should be strict."

Guang Ling spoke calmly.

"An Agility Attack Soul Master can't afford the slightest mistake in battle. One slip could cost him his life. Being hard on him now is for his own good."

He turned to Chu Heng.

"Your Martial Soul is unusual. That also means there's no precedent to guide you, so you'll have to find your own way. You'll need to put in more effort than others just to achieve the same results."

Chu Heng didn't argue. Guang Ling was right.

"The jade slip contains the training details."

Guang Ling looked at Su Xianling.

"When you get back, teach him according to what's in it."

Su Xianling nodded.

"Understood."

Get back?

Chu Heng caught the phrase, but before he could ask about it, Guang Ling rose from his chair.

"Let's go."

Su Xianling paused.

"Now?"

"What?"

Guang Ling glanced at her.

"Do you expect me to pick an auspicious day?"

"No, I just..."

Su Xianling looked toward Chu Heng, but Guang Ling was already heading out of the hall.

"You've broken through to level sixty. The sooner you obtain your Spirit Ring, the better."

Chu Heng's eyes lit up.

Her sixth Spirit Ring! Su Xianling had broken through to Soul Emperor? No wonder Guang Ling had agreed yesterday to take her to obtain a Spirit Ring himself.

Su Xianling hadn't expected her teacher to act so quickly either, but she hurried after him. After a few steps, she turned back.

"Little Chu Heng."

"Yes, Sister?"

"Train on your own for the next few days. Don't wander off."

"Got it."

Chu Heng nodded.

"That's enough."

Guang Ling's voice came from outside the hall.

"With me there, do you think we won't be back in two or three days?"

Only then did Su Xianling wave.

"See you."

Chu Heng watched them leave. Once they had vanished from sight, he looked away.

Should I head back now?

Chu Heng glanced up at the sky.

The sun had only recently risen, so there was still plenty of time. He could go back and train, but since arriving in Spirit City yesterday, he had stayed by Su Xianling's side and barely knew the place. They had only taken a quick look around, and he still needed to buy a fair number of everyday essentials.

With that in mind, Chu Heng turned and headed down the Sacred Mountain.

"I'll buy a few things first."

Su Xianling had shown him the way yesterday, so Chu Heng wasn't likely to get lost. As he made his way down the Sacred Mountain, the streets grew steadily busier.

Chu Heng stopped at a few shops along the way, buying a change of clothes and some daily necessities.

Later, he passed a shop selling Soul Beast materials and went in for a curious look. Unfortunately, many of the items were frighteningly expensive. He felt his storage pouch, then came back out empty-handed.

Now that he was Guang Ling's disciple, he probably wouldn't lack training resources in the future. But that was the future. The money he had on him now wouldn't stretch far at those prices.

"I'll come back when I have money."

Chu Heng muttered to himself and continued on. He hadn't gone far when an argument broke out ahead.

"I told you! I already paid this month's fee a few days ago!"

"Paid? That was for last month."

"Nonsense! It was for this month!"

Chu Heng slowed and looked toward the voices. A crowd had gathered outside a small general store not far away.

At the entrance, a gray-haired old man clutched a money pouch tightly. Three large men stood before him. The leader looked to be in his thirties, wore a fitted gray outfit, and had a Soul Master badge pinned to his chest.

Chu Heng took a quick look. The leader was a Soul Grandmaster. The other two wore no badges, but judging by the aura around them, they were probably Soul Masters too.

"Old man."

The leader sounded impatient.

"I'm telling you one last time. Hand over the money, and don't make trouble for yourself."

The old man's face flushed with anger.

"This is Spirit City! You wouldn't dare rob me in broad daylight!"

The man laughed.

"Who's robbing you? You owe us the money."

"You!"

The old man struggled to find the words to argue back.

Plenty of people were watching, but no one stepped forward.

Chu Heng frowned. He hadn't intended to get involved. He had only just arrived in Spirit City and knew nothing about how things worked here. If he broke some unwritten rule, he might bring trouble on himself.

But after watching a little longer, he could see that these men were harassing the old man.

Still, this was Spirit City. If they dared do this so openly, they were either fools or had someone backing them.

Chu Heng hesitated, then walked over.

"Wait."

The people arguing all turned toward him. When the leader saw that the speaker was only a child of about eight, he froze for a moment.

"A kid?"

Chu Heng stepped beside the old man and glanced at the money pouch in his hand.

"If you say he owes you money, you must have some proof."

The man looked Chu Heng up and down.

"Stay out of this, brat."

"I'm only asking."

Chu Heng's tone remained calm.

"He says he's already paid for this month. You say he hasn't. Someone must be keeping records, right?"

The onlookers began murmuring among themselves.

Hearing them, the leader's face darkened.

"Brat, where are your parents?"

"Not here."

"Then hurry up and run home."

Chu Heng frowned.

"Does no one in Spirit City deal with things like this?"

At that, a strange look crossed the man's face.

Then he laughed.

"Deal with it? Who would?"

One of the men beside him laughed too.

"Kid, this is your first time here, isn't it?"

Chu Heng didn't answer.

The leader took a step forward.

"Brat, you're dressed pretty well. Someone in your family must be a Soul Master. Let me teach you something today: in Spirit City, there are things you can't meddle in just because you want to."

With that, he reached out to grab Chu Heng.