Tang San's Challenge

Still, Huo Linfei didn't pay it much mind. The kid was just a little brat.

After Huo Linfei and Old Jero entered Noding Academy, they went to the Teaching Affairs Office and explained why they had come to Director Su.

Director Su was stunned to hear that Huo Linfei had Innate Full Soul Power, but when he saw that the boy's Martial Soul was an ordinary Guard Dog, he couldn't help feeling a little regretful.

With Innate Full Soul Power, how could his Martial Soul turn out like that?

He couldn't make sense of it.

"All right, you're registered. If you run into any trouble here, need help, or have questions about anything, you can come to me."

After a moment's thought, Director Su offered those words.

Huo Linfei's Martial Soul seemed ordinary for now, but he did have Innate Full Soul Power. Director Su had also taken a liking to him at first sight, so he decided to extend a hand and forge a little goodwill.

Whatever Huo Linfei achieved in the future, Director Su had nothing to lose.

After all, helping students was part of a teacher's duty. But saying so outright made it a little different.

"Little Linfei, hurry up and thank Director Su."

Old Jero's face lit up at those words, and he quickly tugged at Huo Linfei.

"Thank you, Director Su."

"Thank you, Director Su."

Young and old alike cupped their hands and thanked Director Su in turn.

"No need to be so polite. It's all part of my job."

Director Su smiled and waved a hand, telling them not to stand on ceremony.

After paying the tuition, the two left the Teaching Affairs Office. Old Jero gave Huo Linfei a few copper and silver coins, offered him some more advice, then finally departed.

Huo Linfei said goodbye and watched Old Jero leave. He then collected his school uniform from the school office and headed toward the Work-Study Student Dormitory...

Elsewhere.

Tang San had also completed his apprenticeship to Yu Xiaogang. The process had gone remarkably smoothly.

Tang San had wanted it from the start. As someone reborn, he naturally had no objection to becoming his teacher's disciple again.

After the ceremony, Yu Xiaogang had intended to say more to win Tang San over completely. But when he saw the reverence already filling Tang San's eyes, he let the matter rest.

Yu Xiaogang didn't know why Tang San looked at him that way, but he assumed the boy had been won over by his personal charm and formidable theoretical knowledge.

"By the way, do you know that Huo Linfei?"

Yu Xiaogang suddenly stopped and asked Tang San.

"No."

Tang San shook his head.

At the sound of that name, a cold glint flashed through Tang San's eyes.

Does Teacher still want to take that guy as a disciple? He's so irritating.

Even if Teacher takes him in, I won't acknowledge him.

As Tang San brooded over this, Yu Xiaogang spoke again.

"If you don't know him, there's no need to get to know him later, either. If the chance arises, you can use him as a cautionary example to prove my theory."

"Yes, Teacher."

Tang San gave a noncommittal reply.

He had worried that his teacher still wanted to take Huo Linfei as a disciple. Now it seemed he had worried for nothing.

How could someone as proud and exceptional as Teacher take a person who shows no respect for his elders as a disciple?

Tang San also caught the meaning behind Yu Xiaogang's words.

His eyes narrowed, and a ruthless look surfaced in them.

Huo Linfei, if I get the chance, I'll teach you a lesson and help Teacher vent his anger...

Huo Linfei had no idea the master and disciple now held a grudge against him.

Even if he had known, he wouldn't have cared much.

By then, Huo Linfei had reached the Work-Study Student Dormitory—Dorm Seven.

He had barely stepped inside when three children around his age surrounded him.

"Hey, new kid. That's Wang Sheng, the boss of Dorm Seven. You've got to call him Boss, just like we do."

Huo Linfei cast a disdainful glance at the three after hearing their less-than-brilliant introduction. Then he looked toward the relatively tall Wang Sheng sitting nearby, turned away, and carried his things straight to an empty bed. He had no intention of paying them any attention.

The three children stood stunned for a few seconds, then closed in again with unfriendly looks.

"What do you want?"

Seeing them surround him again, Huo Linfei frowned slightly. His expression otherwise unchanged, he spoke calmly.

"What do we want? You disrespected the boss, so of course we're going to teach you a lesson for him."

As they spoke, the three pressed toward Huo Linfei step by step, hoping to pin him down.

Sensing what they intended, Huo Linfei gave a cold smile. The instant they lunged, he sidestepped out of the way.

The three missed. They raised their fists and went after Huo Linfei again, only to be knocked to the floor in a few quick moves, groaning in pain.

At the sight, Wang Sheng raised an eyebrow. Realizing Huo Linfei was no pushover, he rose from his bed and walked over.

"I can tell you've got some skill, but it's nowhere near enough!"

"In Dorm Seven, the one with the biggest fists is boss and gets to call the shots. The loser has to behave himself and be an underling."

"I'm Wang Sheng. My Martial Soul is the War Tiger."

With that, Wang Sheng sprang forward and charged at Huo Linfei.

In an instant, Wang Sheng's fist reached him. Huo Linfei merely raised a hand and caught it.

"What!"

Disbelief spread across Wang Sheng's face when he saw how easily his attack had been stopped.

What happened next shocked him even more.

"What's going on?!"

He tried to pull his fist free, but it wouldn't budge. No matter how hard he strained, he couldn't move it an inch!

Huo Linfei's hand held his fist fast with effortless ease.

"All right, this farce is over."

Huo Linfei swept his right hand through his fiery-red hair, striking a pose he thought looked cool as he spoke.

Then Wang Sheng felt the world spin. By the time he knew what had happened, he was lying on the floor.

Huo Linfei lightly dusted off his hands. He said nothing, and he felt no sense of accomplishment.

After all, he felt as if he had been bullying a child. What was there to be proud of in beating a little kid?

"You win. From now on, you're the boss of Dorm Seven."

Wang Sheng climbed to his feet and spoke to Huo Linfei.

"Hello, Boss."

The three from earlier hurried over and called out in unison.

Huo Linfei waved them off, signaling that they didn't need to do that.

Truthfully, Huo Linfei didn't care about being boss. To him, it was just children playing make-believe. Beating a bunch of little brats and becoming their boss was hardly something to be proud of.

Just then, someone walked in.

It was Tang San.

Tang San gave Wang Sheng and the others a cursory glance, then fixed his gaze on Huo Linfei.

He had heard Wang Sheng's words from outside, and when he came in, he saw the result: Huo Linfei had beaten them and become the boss of Dorm Seven.

Perfect. Tang San could use a challenge for the title of Dorm Seven's boss as an excuse to teach Huo Linfei a lesson and vent his esteemed teacher Yu Xiaogang's anger.

His eyes blazed as he looked at Huo Linfei and said slowly:

"Huo Linfei, I challenge you!"