"Seeing them reminds me of what I used to be like," Zhao Wuji murmured.
Flender gave him a sidelong look. "What were you like as a kid?"
"I was much wilder than they are." Zhao Wuji grinned, showing a row of teeth. "I grew up in the mountains. By seven or eight, I could chase wild boars around. Back then, I trained my soul power entirely by fighting wild beasts. If someone had taught me, I'd definitely have become a Titled Douluo ages ago."
Then he added, "But I-I really am curious what our money-grubbing dean was like as a kid. Was he just as stingy?"
"Of course not! And I'm not stingy now either, all right? I've wanted to be a good teacher since I was little!" Flender protested quietly.
But Yu Xiaogang mercilessly exposed him from beside them. "What, did you think I didn't know how you used to steal chickens and sneak around?"
The smile on Flender's face instantly transferred to everyone else's, but afraid of waking the sleeping children, they all clamped their hands over their mouths.
"Hey, that was called gathering survival skills! When I took you two out adventuring later, wasn't it those experiences I relied on?
"Besides, you weren't much better. When you were their age and your martial soul mutation failed, you cried like your heart and lungs were being torn out." Flender's voice rose a notch.
Yu Xiaogang's movements paused for an instant. He did not argue, only lowered his head and took a sip of tea, as though swallowing those words along with the tea leaves. Seeing his expression, Flender quieted down, walked over, and patted his shoulder.
"I'll find a way," he said firmly.
Chen Xin was carrying Ning Rongrong inside. When he saw her brow crease, he cast