Stepping In to Stop It

"First Soul Skill: Red Dragon Claw!"

Zhou Yi gave no one time to react. Her First Soul Ring flared, and a dragon claw wreathed in Dragon Flame came tearing through the air toward Huo Yuhao with a shriek!

She had no intention of killing Huo Yuhao, but even with Soul Power protecting him, that strike would leave him badly injured and bedridden. She would make the brat who had challenged her authority in public pay dearly!

At the back of the classroom, Dai Huabin's smile widened. He folded his arms and waited to watch Huo Yuhao go flying.

Just as the claw, trailing scorching Dragon Flame, came within three meters of Huo Yuhao, two figures moved at once.

"Seven Treasures Have Names: Second, Release! Third, Strength!"

Ning Tian sprang to her feet. Golden light blazed from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and two boosts landed on Gu Yue. At the same time, a protective barrier enveloped Huo Yuhao, dispelling the mental pressure of the dragon's might.

"Ice Wall."

Gu Yue's cool voice rang out, and cold fury flashed in her violet eyes. Three ice walls, each half a meter thick, rose before her, one behind another, shielding Huo Yuhao.

The moment the walls formed, her third Soul Ring flared. Earth Element gathered in a frenzy, and several stone spikes surged up from the floor beneath Zhou Yi, forcing her to pull back and defend herself.

Clang—!!

The dragon claw slammed into the ice walls. Scorching flame met bitter cold with an ear-splitting hiss, and white mist billowed through the room.

The first wall shattered instantly. The second and third broke in quick succession, but they stopped Zhou Yi's charge completely. The stone spikes at her feet forced her to leap back out of their path.

As the mist cleared, Gu Yue stood before Huo Yuhao, her black hair streaming. Water, fire, earth, and wood circled her like the retinue of a sovereign who commanded the elements. She stared coldly at Zhou Yi without a word, but the killing intent in her eyes carried more menace than any threat.

She was the Silver Dragon King. Forget a Six-Ring Soul Emperor—even if a Titled Douluo dared lay a hand on Huo Yuhao in front of her, she would turn on them then and there.

"Zhou Yi, you dare attack a student in the classroom?" Ning Tian stepped forward, fury in her eyes. "Aren't you afraid the academy will hold you accountable? That the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect will take this straight to the Sea God Pavilion?"

Zhou Yi looked at the two shielding Huo Yuhao, then at the shock and disapproval on the other students' faces. Her anger burned hotter. "I'm disciplining my own student! You two have no right to interfere! I'm throwing this disrespectful brat out of Shrek today, no matter what!"

Her second Soul Ring lit up again. She was about to unleash her dragon breath and abandon all restraint.

Just then, a gentle woman's voice, edged with cold, came from the classroom doorway:

"Zhou Yi, lay one finger on my student and see what happens."

Before her words had faded, a flood of pink-and-white hibiscus petals swept into the classroom, filling the air.

The petals looked soft, but they carried formidable Soul Power. The moment Zhou Yi's Dragon Flame touched them, more than half the flames were snuffed out.

"Second Soul Skill: Splendid Blossoms Fall!"

The petals gathered into a thick barrier between Zhou Yi and the three students. The Dragon Flame scorched it, but it did not budge.

Mu Jin walked in at an unhurried pace. She wore a pale purple teacher's uniform, her long hair tied back. Her features were gentle, but her eyes were full of frost.

She stood before the barrier, facing Zhou Yi across the room. The pressure of a Six-Ring Soul Emperor rolled off her, meeting Zhou Yi's Red Dragon might head-on without giving an inch.

Mu Jin had been uneasy about Huo Yuhao and the others entering Class Zero, so she had come to check on them. She had barely reached the door when she saw Zhou Yi enter Martial Soul Possession and prepare to attack Huo Yuhao. Her temper flared at once.

"Mu Jin? This is my Class Zero. Stay out of it!" Zhou Yi's expression darkened further at the sight of her.

Of all the people she could not stand, Mu Jin topped the list. She had already lost face over their wager, and now he had appeared to protect Huo Yuhao. He might as well have poured oil on the fire.

"Your Class Zero?" Mu Jin gave a cold laugh and swept her gaze across the room. "Zhou Yi, how can you call this your class? In Shrek Academy's ten thousand years, which school rule has ever allowed a homeroom teacher to use her Martial Soul against a new student in the classroom and strike with lethal force? He stood up a second late, so you decided to expel him—and even attack him? What kind of teacher are you? Did your conscience end up in a dog's belly?"

"What's wrong with disciplining a student who shows no respect for his elders?" Zhou Yi shot back angrily, though her voice had lost much of its force.

She knew perfectly well that if word of her attacking a student in the classroom reached the Academic Affairs Office, she would be in deep trouble.

"No respect for his elders?" Mu Jin stepped forward, his gaze sharp as a blade. "Respect has to be earned. You leaked exam details to your students just to beat me, then lost our wager and refused to hand over the Soul Bone. Is that how a teacher should behave? You expel new students at will to boost your advancement rate, piling their futures beneath your own achievements. Is that a teacher's virtue? You attacked a new student with only one Soul Ring in front of everyone, using your strength to bully the weak. Is that a teacher's bottom line?"

"You haven't acted like a teacher for a single moment. What right do you have to demand their respect?"

Every word struck where it hurt. Zhou Yi's face went from pale to livid, and her hands trembled, yet she could not find a single word to refute him.

The students nodded one after another, their eyes full of disdain as they looked at Zhou Yi.

Before, they had been angry but afraid to speak. Now that Mu Jin had said it all aloud, they had little left to fear.

"Exactly. Teacher Zhou went way too far. He was only a second late. Was there any need to attack him?"

"Huo Yuhao was right. Virtue comes before respect. She doesn't deserve to be our homeroom teacher!"

The whispers grew louder, gathering into a wave of discontent.

Looking out at a classroom full of students who opposed her, Zhou Yi felt her face burn as though she had been slapped dozens of times. She could barely stay on her feet.

Just then, heavy footsteps sounded at the classroom door.

Du Weilun strode in, his face dark, with two teachers from the Academic Affairs Office behind him.

He had heard every word from the corridor. He looked at Zhou Yi, still in Martial Soul Possession and seething with rage, then at Mu Jin standing in her way. His expression turned grim.

"Zhou Yi! End your Martial Soul Possession at once!" Du Weilun roared. The pressure of a Soul Douluo crashed down, crushing Zhou Yi's dragon might into nothing. "Look at yourself! Attacking a student in the classroom? Do the academy's rules mean nothing to you?"

Zhou Yi shuddered. Seeing the thunderous look on Du Weilun's face, she finally panicked. She hurriedly ended her Martial Soul Possession. Her scales and dragon claws slowly receded, and she lowered her head without daring to speak.

"Director Du, this matter..." Zhou Yi began, but Du Weilun cut her off sharply.

"Enough!" Du Weilun glared at her. "Come with me to the Academic Affairs Office! The academy will deal with this seriously. Teacher Mu Jin will take charge of Class Zero for the time being!"

With that one declaration, Zhou Yi was removed as Class Zero's homeroom teacher.

Zhou Yi's head snapped up in disbelief. But Du Weilun's expression allowed no argument. In the end, she gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and slunk out after the Academic Affairs Office teachers.

As she passed Huo Yuhao, she shot him a venomous look. He answered it with a casual glance that put her in her place.

She can barely save herself, and she still thinks she can threaten me?

At last, the classroom fell quiet. Mu Jin waved a hand, and the hibiscus petals drifting through the air slowly vanished. He turned to the students and spoke warmly. "All right, it's over. I'll be handling Class Zero's lessons from today onward. I won't impose any absurd rules to keep you down. As long as you train diligently and follow school rules, I won't blame any of you without cause."

A thunderous cheer erupted through the classroom. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Mu Jin with gratitude.

Wang Dong and Xiao Xiao hurried over to Huo Yuhao. Wang Dong patted his shoulder, admiration written across her face. "Huo Yuhao, you're something else! You actually stood up to that madwoman Zhou Yi. I was sweating for you back there."

Huo Yuhao smiled and was about to answer when Mu Jin called him over.

"You really never let anyone stop worrying about you." Mu Jin looked at him and shook his head helplessly, though his eyes were smiling. "Zhou Yi is a lunatic. If you confront her head-on, what will you do if she loses it and hurts you?"

"Thank you for getting here in time, Teacher Mu Jin." Huo Yuhao bowed deeply, his gratitude sincere.

If Mu Jin had arrived even a step later, things would have spiraled out of control, even if Gu Yue had managed to stop Zhou Yi.

"All right, spare me the ceremony." Mu Jin smiled and patted his shoulder. "I've submitted the Lionheart Club's venue application to the Academic Affairs Office for you. With Director Du's approval, it should go through soon. Don't spend all your time stirring up trouble, kid. Make sure you get the important work done."

"Don't worry, Teacher Mu Jin. I won't let you down." Huo Yuhao's eyes lit up, and he nodded with a smile.

As Mu Jin turned to make arrangements for Class Zero, Ning Tian leaned toward Huo Yuhao with a teasing smile. "Not bad, President Huo. You drove off your homeroom teacher on the first day. I bet everyone in the freshman division knows your name now."

Huo Yuhao rubbed his nose and smiled helplessly. "It's not like I wanted to. She kept pushing her luck. I don't go looking for trouble, but I won't back down when trouble comes for me. She was about to attack—was I supposed to stand there and take a beating?"

Gu Yue looked at him, a trace of softness passing through her violet eyes. "If she dares trouble you again, I'll deal with her."

Warmth spread through Huo Yuhao's chest as he looked at the two beside him, and he nodded with a smile.

The matter with Zhou Yi had been no more than a minor interruption.

After that, every student in Class Zero except Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu was thoroughly convinced of his worth.

The Lionheart Club's venue application was about to be approved as well. The road before him was growing wider with every step.

He looked out the window. The sunlight was bright, and a keen light shone in his eyes.

Now that he had stepped into Shrek's muddy waters, he intended to stir them until heaven and earth turned upside down.