It was precisely because of that experience that Zhou Yi could not help worrying whether Wang Dong had been injured by Lin Xi.
She had read Wang Dong's file. A Soul Grandmaster-already quite impressive for her age.
But compared with Lin Xi, she fell far short. This fellow could defeat Zhou Yi, a Soul Emperor, and in an instant at that!
Or rather, could he and Wang Dong really even have a "fight"?
Lin Xi shrugged.
"Don't worry, teacher. He started that fight. I held back."
"Ugh..."
Wang Dong shot Lin Xi a resentful glare.
Those words left her deeply unconvinced. They made it sound as though she did not even deserve his full strength.
Yet she had no way to refute him.
Lin Xi had defeated her without even using his Martial Soul, and when he threw her, he had deliberately thrown her onto the soft bed. She was not so oblivious that she could not see even that.
"That's good, then."
Zhou Yi breathed a sigh of relief.
Her thoughts had been in disarray when she saw Lin Xi stand up.
Nothing she could say to this brat seemed quite appropriate. After all, she was the one who had said that strength reigned supreme at this academy.
Seeing that she had nothing more to say, Lin Xi asked for permission.
"Then, teacher, how about we leave first?"
"...All right. Go do whatever you want. Wang Dong, go down and run with the other students."
"Huh? I have to run too?"
Wang Dong pointed at herself in disbelief.
At last, a trace of a smile appeared on Zhou Yi's aged face.
"Of course. I never said you were an exception."
"Fine..."
Head drooping, Wang Dong walked out of the classroom with Lin Xi.
Once outside, she pouted in displeasure.
"What the hell is wrong with that old hag? Is something wrong with her brain? She's completely nuts!"
Lin Xi gave her an indifferent glance.
"I agree about her being nuts, but are you sure you shouldn't hurry down and run? You've already lost some time."
"Hmph." At that question, Wang Dong perked right up.
She proudly puffed out her chest. "No need for you to worry. This young master is strong enough. Losing this little bit of time is no problem at all."
"Oh." Lin Xi nodded indifferently. In the original story, Wang Dong had indeed finished the run with ease. "Then have fun running. I won't be joining you."
"Huh?" Wang Dong froze. "What do you mean?"
By now, the two had reached the edge of the field. Rather than answer her, Lin Xi waved at Huo Yutong, who was running.
Huo Yutong, who had been worrying about Lin Xi all along, immediately noticed his gesture and hurried over.
Wiping away her sweat, she asked with concern:
"Brother Lin Xi, are you all right? Did that teacher give you any trouble?"
Lin Xi gave her a gentle smile.
"Don't worry, she didn't. Are you warmed up?"
Wang Dong stared, dumbfounded.
Although Lin Xi was usually smiling in her recollection, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that his smiles were deliberately put on and lacked warmth.
Yet the smile on his face now was extraordinarily gentle. Wang Dong could not help rubbing her eyes, wondering whether she had mistaken him for someone else.
So this guy could make that kind of expression too?
"Yes!" Huo Yutong sighed in relief and said happily, "That amount of exercise was just right for a warm-up!"
"Good, then. Let's go."
Smiling, Lin Xi took her hand and headed toward a corner of the field.
Wang Dong came back to her senses and hurriedly called out to stop him.
"Hey, wait! Do you have a death wish? You're actually disobeying that old hag's orders!"
Lin Xi glanced at her and sighed softly.
"Classmate Wang Dong, please think back carefully. Did the teacher say I had to run with everyone too?"
"Does that even need saying? Of course... uh..."
Wang Dong froze.
Indeed, thinking back carefully, Zhou Yi had not told Lin Xi to run. Instead, she had said, "Go do whatever you want."
Why was that?
Lin Xi offered her no explanation, however. Seeing her sink into thought, he led Huo Yutong to a corner of the field and called softly:
"Artoria."
At his call, Artoria appeared before him.
"Here, Lin Xi. What is it?"
Lin Xi stretched his body a little and said with a smile:
"I've spent the past few days studying Soul Tools, so I've fallen behind on swordsmanship training. I'd like to make up for it. Would that be all right?"
"I see." Artoria smiled. "A diligent Master is a blessing for a Servant. I would be happy to oblige."
"Hmph!" With that disgruntled sound, a silver-haired girl suddenly appeared beside Lin Xi. "Then when are you going to make up for the dates you've owed me these past few days?"
"Melusine, you're awake." With a wry smile, Lin Xi rubbed her little head. "Don't worry. I'll definitely make it up to you when we get back."
With that, he turned a serious gaze toward Artoria.
"Then we're coming, Artoria. Same rules as always, two against one. No problem?"
"Come."
Artoria raised her invisible sword and readily answered.
Before her words had faded, Lin Xi and Huo Yutong each drew a sword-type Soul Tool from their storage rings and lunged at Artoria.
A fierce battle began.
Meanwhile, Wang Dong, who had been left standing where she was, was utterly dumbfounded.
What the hell was this?
Making people appear out of thin air? And such cute girls, at that?!
And...
Watching the three battle like a raging gale, Wang Dong unconsciously swallowed.
Weren't these people absurdly strong?
That girl was all right. Wang Dong estimated that her physical prowess was roughly on par with her own.
But what was going on with Lin Xi and that blonde girl?
Wang Dong felt as though her eyes could barely keep up with their movements!
"Shocking, isn't it? But that's the truth." At some point, Zhou Yi had come up beside Wang Dong. She patted her shoulder. "This world has never lacked geniuses. Stop being so pleased with yourself just because you have a little talent. Go run."
"Ah, okay..."
Wang Dong stepped onto the field, somewhat distracted.
Zhou Yi gazed somberly at the three training.
Though she had acted utterly unruffled in front of Wang Dong, in truth, the shock in her heart was no less than Wang Dong's.
The gulf in strength was so vast that Wang Dong could not tell, but in Zhou Yi's eyes, the most terrifying thing about Lin Xi was actually his swordsmanship.
His physical prowess was, at most, only at the Soul Emperor level. Although that was utterly heaven-defying for someone his age, disregarding his age, it was nothing more than that.
His swordsmanship, however, was different.
When Zhou Yi tried putting herself in Lin Xi's opponent's place, she was astonished to discover that there were many moves she could not counter at all.
Even a Titled Douluo might not possess swordsmanship at this level. How had this brat mastered it?
As for that blonde girl, Zhou Yi did not even dare imagine it.
Because she discovered that if she switched places with Lin Xi, Artoria would behead her in an instant.
Swordsmanship that had stepped into the domain of gods-that was the only assessment Zhou Yi could give.