At last, all the students finished their hundred laps within the allotted time and stood in a loose cluster in Shrek Square.
"Except for those few running punishment laps, everyone go back to your dorms and change, then come to the classroom for lessons. I'm giving you fifteen minutes." With that, Zhou Yi turned and headed straight back to the teaching building.
No one dared delay. They all rushed toward the dormitory building.
At their dorm room, Lin Mo pushed the door open, only to turn and find Huo Yuhao standing motionless outside.
"Aren't you changing?" Lin Mo asked.
Huo Yuhao's face flushed bright red. He hurriedly waved his hands and said, "Lin Mo, y-you change first. I'll wait until you're done!"
Lin Mo didn't think much of it and soon came out in a clean set of clothes.
As the dorm room door closed again, Lin Mo decided not to wait for Huo Yuhao and headed back to the classroom first.
He had barely stepped into the classroom when powder-blue hair swept past his eyes and a figure planted herself directly in his path.
"What's your name?"
Wang Dong'er stood with her hands on her hips and her chin slightly raised, her powder-blue eyes looking him up and down, brimming with interest and curiosity.
Lin Mo's heart gave a thud.
Wait, seriously? Why had Wang Dong'er come looking for him again?
Facing one of the chief culprits who had offed him in his previous life, Lin Mo twitched the corners of his mouth, forcing out a reasonably normal smile. "Lin Mo. Can I help you, classmate?"
Wang Dong'er declared in a proud, crisp voice, as though it went without saying, "Your martial soul is pretty good. You're qualified to make this young lady's acquaintance."
Lin Mo: Thanks for the invite, but I'll pass.
Lin Mo was just about to refuse, but Wang Dong'er gave him no chance to open his mouth.
"This young lady has decided. From now on, you're my friend. Don't get any ideas. This young lady doesn't just make friends with anyone. You should feel honored."
His fists clenched. They really clenched.
The smile on Lin Mo's face was about to slip. "I refu-"
"No." Wang Dong'er settled it with a bang of the gavel, then twisted the knife for good measure. "This young lady has the final say."
With that, she tossed her long powder-blue hair and turned away with effortless flair, leaving Lin Mo standing there alone, questioning his life.
Yet no sooner had she left than Xiao Xiao came over.
Lin Mo's eyelid instantly twitched.
Xiao Xiao was nowhere near as confident or proud as Wang Dong'er.
The girl stood before him, wringing her hands in front of her. The blush from earlier still lingered on her little face. She didn't dare meet his eyes, only occasionally raising hers before quickly lowering them again.
"U-um... hello." Her voice was soft and delicate, like a kitten's. "I... my name is Xiao Xiao."
"Hello," Lin Mo said.
Xiao Xiao took a deep breath, mustered every scrap of courage, and raised her eyes to look earnestly at him.
"I-I'd also... like to get to know you. May I?"
By the last few words, her voice was so quiet it was almost inaudible. Her face had flushed all the way to her ears, but her eyes shone, holding a little timid hope.
Lin Mo: "..."
In the end, he let out a long sigh and waved his hand as though resigning himself to his fate. "Fine, fine, fine. Let's get acquainted. Everyone can get acquainted."
Xiao Xiao's eyes instantly lit up. Her little head bobbed like a chick pecking at grain, and the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably.
Back in his seat, Lin Mo slumped over his desk, looking utterly done with life. He could almost see his peaceful, wonderful life waving to him, then flying farther and farther away on pure white wings.
Wait, there's killing intent!
After lying there for a while, Lin Mo suddenly sensed something wrong with the atmosphere around him. He straightened abruptly, looking up just in time to meet the eyes of Xiao Xiao, who had turned around in the seat ahead to sneak a peek at him.
Caught peeking, Xiao Xiao's little face flared red again. She hurriedly turned back around, her shoulders stiff.
Then a clear, pleasant, and familiar voice came from his left. "Lin Mo, from now on, you're this young lady's deskmate!"
Lin Mo turned toward the voice.
Wang Dong'er sat on his left, her arms folded across her chest and her exquisite little face tilted upward.
Today was the first day of school. They were all new students, and there were no assigned seats, so everyone could choose freely. Thus, Xiao Xiao and Wang Dong'er had sat right in front of him and to his left.
Looking at the two of them, Lin Mo suddenly had an ominous premonition.
He spun around and, sure enough, met Huo Yuhao's huge, mascara-ad blue eyes.
Seeing that Lin Mo had noticed him, Huo Yuhao's expression visibly brightened, and he called out happily, "Lin Mo!"
That call nearly stopped Lin Mo's heart.
How the fuck was this any different from a vengeful ghost coming to claim his life?!
Wang Dong'er was clearly the prettiest girl in class, and Xiao Xiao was no slouch either, easily ranking in the top three. Now that two beauties had taken the initiative to gather around Lin Mo, he had successfully earned the hostility of every boy in class.
Feeling the undisguised hostility in the eyes of the boys around him, Lin Mo nearly ground his teeth to pieces.
These people really were his karmic retribution!
Fucking chasing him down to kill him!!
Your Majesty, I miss you, Your Majesty, waaaah...
Lin Mo was truly on the verge of tears. Right now, he missed his good emperor, his good boss, Xu Yuwan, more than ever.
Thinking back to the days when he had made his living under Xu Yuwan in his previous life, although that woman had been a little crazy, she really had given him life-saving Class 9 soul tools!
What was more, Xu Yuwan alone could draw all the killing intent.
So, theoretically speaking, as long as Xu Yuwan didn't die, no killing would reach him.
Leaving her flaws aside...
Xu Yuwan was absolutely a good boss covered head to toe in virtues!
Sitting in his seat, Lin Mo felt as though the chair were burning his backside. He could neither sit nor stand at ease, and that feeling only gradually faded once Zhou Yi entered the classroom.
Seeing that all the students were present, Zhou Yi nodded. "We'll begin class now. Your performance in the test just now was largely satisfactory. The vast majority of you completed this simple assessment conscientiously. Huo Yuhao, stand up."
"Teacher Zhou." Huo Yuhao promptly rose, his back ramrod straight.
"State your Soul Power rank."
"Yes. My Soul Power is rank eleven."
Hearing Huo Yuhao's answer made Lin Mo feel even closer to a heart attack.
According to Shrek's admission requirements, Huo Yuhao was twelve this year, with rank eleven Soul Power. Yet at twenty-four, Huo Yuhao had rank ninety-nine Soul Power-a Limit Douluo.
In other words...
This guy's Soul Power rose by at least seven ranks every year!!
Not only that, Zhou Yi also said that this guy was a specially invited student from the Tang Sect, likewise admitted directly without an exam.
Was this the treatment a son of destiny received?
Lin Mo sprawled over his desk as though every bone in his body had been pulled out, completely uninterested in listening to Zhou Yi's lecture at the podium.
"Lin. Mo."
Zhou Yi's chilly voice drifted down from the front.
"Judging by your posture, you've already mastered the entire course. Then answer this: among the various types of soul masters, which are better at attacking, and which should lean more toward defense and support?"
Yes, the price of not paying attention in class was being called on to answer a question.
Lin Mo: "..."
Why was his life so miserable?!