A fist-sized stone suddenly came crashing in through the dilapidated window. The loud, muffled impact instantly woke Lu Yu and Lu Fei, who were still lazing in bed.
Lu Yu stared blankly at the stone rolling across the floor, utterly bewildered. He had no idea what had happened. Beside him, Lu Fei trembled violently, curling up tightly beneath the bedding. His teeth chattered as he murmured under his breath again and again.
"They're here..."
Seeing Lu Fei's terrified face and trembling body, Lu Yu knitted his brows tightly and hurriedly leaned closer. Only then did he make out Lu Fei's quivering whisper.
"Xiao Fei, don't be afraid. Calm down."
Lu Yu raised his hands and held Lu Fei's thin shoulders firmly, giving him a gentle, soothing shake. His voice was steady and resolute as he did his utmost to calm Lu Fei's panic.
But the fear of years of oppression had long since gripped Lu Fei's heart. His eyes reddened at once, crystalline tears welling in them, and his voice was thick with helpless sobs. "Brother... they're here again..."
"Who's here? Who is it? Tell me clearly!"
Lu Yu gently wiped away the tears about to roll from the corners of Lu Fei's eyes. His gaze sharpened as he pressed urgently for an answer.
Lu Fei sobbed several times before he could barely steady his trembling voice. Gritting his teeth, he forced out a name. "It's the village chief's grandson, Ta Ke, and his gang."
The moment the words left his mouth, everything became clear to Lu Yu.
Lu Yu finally understood why Lu Fei was so terrified.
The original owner of this body had been struck in the chest by the village chief's grandson, Ta Ke. The palm strike had fatally wounded him, allowing Lu Yu from Blue Star to transmigrate and take over his body.
Recalling the original owner's tragic death and seeing the terrified Lu Fei before him, the warmth in Lu Yu's eyes faded bit by bit. A bone-deep chill slowly spread, and a fierce killing intent began to grow in his heart.
Lu Yu's eyes darkened, and he thought coldly, Very good. I haven't even come looking for you to avenge the original owner, and you've already come knocking.
Lu Yu gently cupped Lu Fei's face and made him look up at him. His gaze was firm, and his voice rang with conviction as he reassured him solemnly, word by word:
"Xiao Fei, look at me."
"We're Soul Masters now too. We don't have to be afraid of them anymore."
The clamor and jeering outside grew closer, along with unrestrained shouts and curses. Chaotic footsteps shattered the quiet of the morning. Even through the dilapidated wooden door, their arrogance could be felt.
Scenes of years of oppression, cold looks, and bullying surged through Lu Fei's mind.
Lu Yu slowly rose to his feet and stood protectively in front of Lu Fei, his thin back straight as a pine. His whole presence had changed.
His once-gentle features were covered in frost, and the presence surrounding him was cold and intimidating.
"Today is the perfect time to settle all the old scores at once."
Lu Yu walked slowly toward the door, his steps steady but carrying an unquestionable pressure.
The commotion outside had reached the doorway. Several arrogant young voices carried into the house without restraint.
"Hey! You two paupers in there, get the hell out here!"
"Are you hiding inside and playing dead? Didn't we teach you enough of a lesson last time? Hurry up and come pay your respects to Lord Soul Master. Looks like we'll have to give you another good lesson today!"
"Brother Ta Ke said the villagers built this house. If you want to live here, you have to pay."
Amid the arrogant shouting, another stone smashed hard against the wooden door with a loud, muffled bang. The dilapidated door shook violently, and its already loose frame teetered on the verge of collapse.
Lu Fei hid in the corner of the bed, clutching the hem of his clothes. He was still afraid, but as he looked at the straight, steady back in front of him, a faint trace of confidence inexplicably rose in his heart.
"Xiao Fei, remember this: from today on, no one can bully us!"
Lu Yu turned back and calmly told him this, then raised a hand and pulled the dilapidated wooden door all the way open.
Outside, five boys considerably sturdier than ordinary children stood around the doorway. The boy at their head had brutish features and a defiant expression. He was none other than the village chief's grandson, Ta Ke.
Ta Ke and his gang hadn't seen the Lu brothers begging for food in the village for several days. Having nothing to do today, they had come to torment the destitute brothers, who had no one to rely on, as they had in the past.
But when the wooden door swung open and Ta Ke saw the boy standing before him clearly, the arrogant, mocking expression froze on his face.
Lu Yu, who had always been timid and submissive and hadn't dared fight back even when beaten, now stood tall with an icy gaze. An unfamiliar, steady presence faintly surrounded him, with none of his former meekness or cowardice left.
Lu Yu stood quietly in the doorway, sweeping an indifferent gaze over the group before him. His voice was cold, without a trace of warmth.
"Who are you here to settle scores with?"
Ta Ke froze for a moment, then let out a derisive snort, his face full of belligerence. In his eyes, Lu Yu was still the poor boy who let them beat and curse him as they pleased, utterly incapable of making the slightest wave.
"Oh? You actually dared to open the door yourself today?"
Ta Ke folded his arms and looked arrogantly at Lu Yu. The lackeys behind him all burst into laughter.
One of the lackeys glanced behind Lu Yu. Not seeing Lu Fei, he said mockingly, "Boss Ta, the other one hasn't come out. He hasn't starved to death, has he?"
Threats and insults poured into the house one after another. Lu Fei, hiding beneath the covers, trembled as scenes of past bullying resurfaced in his mind.
Lu Yu stared coldly at Ta Ke, the leader, his gaze indifferent. "What? Is bullying the two of us so much fun?"
"So what if I bully you?" Ta Ke stepped forward, his face full of arrogance.
"I'm a Soul Master now. Do you even know what a Soul Master is, you unwanted little pauper?"
Lu Yu was speechless. He gave a derisive laugh. "A Soul Master? Is that so impressive?"
Seeing Lu Yu's impassive face and hearing no respect for Soul Masters in his voice-or rather, no respect for himself-Ta Ke grew angrier and angrier.
"Fine, fine, fine. You haven't learned your lesson, have you? I'll help you remember whether Soul Masters are impressive or not."
With that, Ta Ke took two quick steps straight toward Lu Yu. Raising his right hand, he swung it at Lu Yu's cheek.
The slap was just like the palm strike that had killed the original owner: brutish and rough, carrying unbridled arrogance.
If the original owner had still been here, he certainly wouldn't have been able to dodge it. But Ta Ke was now facing Lu Yu, a Lu Yu who had studied martial arts at a training hall on Blue Star; a Lu Yu who had awakened his Martial Soul and become a One-Ring Soul Master.
The instant Ta Ke raised his hand, Lu Yu merely cast it a casual glance, turned slightly to the side, and lifted his right leg in a side kick.
"Thud-Argh!"
The sound of a body hitting the ground rang out at the same time as Ta Ke's scream. The other four still wore excited expressions, anticipating the sight of Ta Ke beating Lu Yu to the ground. But reality often went the other way.
"Get lost! If there's a next time, you'll end up just like him!"
Lu Yu's shout finally snapped the four of them out of their CPU crash. One by one, they turned in disbelief to look at Ta Ke, who was two meters away, clutching his stomach and crying out in pain.