Punishment?

"They're a bunch of thugs. So what if we beat them up? Is it really that big a deal?" Leng Xiyue saw nothing wrong with it. Xie Yue certainly wasn't blaming her for causing trouble, either. He was astonished that she had the courage to face more than a dozen people head-on-and the strength to actually knock down nearly half of them.

"There will definitely be consequences, but good ones. Spirit Hall Academy has always treated separate matters separately. Since we beat them up, we'll get a scolding even if it was self-defense, but our results will also be recorded fair and square and entered into the rankings. Unless something unexpected happens, we'll be famous before the day is out." Xie Yue shrugged and continued:

"The real trouble comes afterward. These guys are just spoiled brats with decent talent, at most. But every year has more than one elite class, and the battle maniacs in those classes challenge anyone with impressive combat records. Fight them and win, and you'll only fan their fighting spirit and attract even more challengers. Lose, and you'll embarrass yourself. You're caught between advancing and retreating."

Indeed, never mind the other classes-several of the spectators in their own class were already itching to make a move, as though they had spotted a treasure.

"Can't I just refuse? I'm still a child, after all!" Leng Xiyue pointed at her baby face, making her meaning perfectly clear.

"You can, but then you won't make any money." Xie Yue's eyes, however, brimmed with fighting spirit. He clearly wasn't afraid of those challenges at all.

"There's money to be made?" At the mention of money, Leng Xiyue's eyes immediately lit up.

"Right. Generally speaking, unless you take your chances with the Arena's matchmaking, challenging someone by name requires paying a challenge fee. Otherwise, why should they waste their time fighting you? Both sides can also set wagers, so the profits add up." Xie Yue was equally eager for money. Although he and his sister had been adopted by a powerful, high-ranking elder, that elder wouldn't give them much money to spend on luxuries. If he wanted his sister to live comfortably, he still had to rely on himself.

Although Leng Xiyue received three thousand Gold Soul Coins every month-an extremely extravagant living allowance-it seemed rather inadequate compared with what she had planned next.

Just as she was working out how to set up a steady money-making scheme at the academy, a female teacher who looked to be only in her thirties pushed the door open and entered.

The teacher looked young, and her figure could only be described as petite, yet she radiated authority. Sweeping her gaze over everyone present, she barked, "Who beat up those people outside? Step forward!"

"I did!" Xie Yue stepped forward first, placing himself in front of Leng Xiyue and Hu Liena.

The teacher glanced at Xie Yue, then at the two girls he was shielding. How could she fail to understand what had happened? At a glance, the others clearly weren't close to them and couldn't have been involved. In other words, at most, these three were responsible.

She had already heard that the new arrival, Xie Yue, was formidable, but this was taking fighting prowess a little too far.

"Spare me the hero act. You three, carry them to the infirmary. Then, as punishment, fight five matches in the Arena today. You can skip this morning's theory classes!"

Leng Xiyue was delighted when she heard that. How was this a punishment? It was clearly a reward.

Xie Yue's expression, however, soured. From what he knew, the Arena's matchmaking system was extremely thorough and would pair them with evenly matched opponents. It didn't just balance soul power; martial soul grades were factored in as well. One-sided beatdowns were rare, and with both sides striving to win, every match would leave them exhausted. Two or three matches a day were the limit for an ordinary student. Five matches? That was practically trying to work someone to death.

Still, the teacher had spoken, so he couldn't say much. He could only pull Leng Xiyue and Hu Liena along as he headed outside.

Just then, another voice came from the back of the classroom. "Teacher, I was involved too. I'm willing to be punished with them."

Leng Xiyue looked toward the voice curiously and saw a red-haired boy approaching with hesitant steps.

The teacher had just written "Chu Lingyun" on the blackboard, intending to introduce herself, only to find that the boy had already reached her lectern.

"Your name is Yan, right? Fine, go with them. Don't come back until you've fought five matches!" Chu Lingyun felt utterly drained. It wasn't that she was naturally so fierce, but she needed this sort of demeanor to keep these newly arrived, heaven-favored prodigies in line. Every one of these youngsters was proud and arrogant. If she didn't intimidate them like this and they all started causing trouble, who could bear it?

Once they got to know each other, she wouldn't need to keep up the pretense anymore.

At those words, Yan looked as though he had been granted a pardon and followed Leng Xiyue and the others outside.

"Uh, Yan, why did you come along?" Xie Yue did know Yan. Yan was also an orphan and had come in with the same group as them. In fact, the two boys were roommates. They had crossed paths a few times back at the training camp, but everyone had been training hard to survive then, so they hadn't gotten to know each other.

"No reason. I just don't want to sit through those boring theory classes. See you at the Arena." Yan spread his hands, then headed off on his own without talking to them further. After all, he hadn't beaten anyone up. He had merely found an excuse to slip away, so there was no need to get involved in this mess.

"Hmph. What's he acting so smug for?" Hu Liena muttered irritably, then prepared to start carrying the boys who lay sprawled on the ground, groaning nonstop.

"Hey, Nana, wait." Leng Xiyue stopped her, then addressed them bluntly. "Don't think I don't know you're all pretending to be seriously injured to cause trouble for me. Every one of you has soul power above level fifteen. Why are you playing the victim? I'm telling you, if you don't get up and drag yourselves to the infirmary, I won't mind actually breaking a few of your legs before carrying you over!"

Her words produced immediate results. Those who had just taken a savage beating promptly struggled up from the ground.

Their leader was still deeply resentful. After all, he had only ended up like this because of a surprise attack, and he badly wanted another fight with Leng Xiyue. But classes had started now, and another fight would cause far too much commotion. So he and his underlings supported one another as they headed toward the infirmary.

Leng Xiyue followed behind them like she was herding livestock. Only after they had all entered the infirmary did the three of them head toward the Arena.

The Arena occupied a vast area, not much smaller than a typical Great Soul Arena. Many upper-year students came over in the morning to stretch their muscles, so there were quite a few people around.

As for students in their own year, those who came here to fight at this hour had either found an excuse to slip away like Yan or simply skipped class outright. They had completely given up on theory classes and only wanted to make up for their shortcomings in theory with outstanding practical combat results.