When Tang San finished absorbing the Mandala Snake's Soul Ring and opened his eyes, he saw Yu Xiaogang's anxious expression and a smiling Qi Ling before him.
"Little San, are you all right? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" Yu Xiaogang asked with concern written all over his face. "Your Martial Soul, and the Soul Ring you just absorbed-is everything normal?"
After checking his physical condition, Tang San said, "Teacher, I'm fine. In fact, I've never felt better."
"That's good!" Only then did Yu Xiaogang relax. "Something went wrong while you were absorbing the Soul Ring. You nearly went to the Yellow Springs!"
"Qi Ling saved you using some method I don't know about. You really must thank him properly."
Tang San was startled by Yu Xiaogang's words. So that familiar feeling I sensed just now actually came from Qi Ling? What was going on?
But regardless, it was an indisputable fact that Qi Ling had saved him, so Tang San said to him, "Thank you, Brother Qi. I owe you another one!"
"Haha, what's there to thank between good brothers? Since you've absorbed your Soul Ring, Little San, let's hurry back so we don't miss our classes!" Qi Ling said.
After taking a little time to get ready, the three set off on their return journey, finally arriving at Nuoding Academy on the morning of the third day.
Yu Xiaogang was physically frail, and several days of traveling had already exhausted him. He went back to his room to rest, while Tang San and Qi Ling headed toward the dormitory.
They had only just entered the academy when they saw several work-study students looking flustered as they jogged toward the back mountain.
Curious, Qi Ling stopped one of them and asked, "Hey, why are you running to the back mountain instead of going to class?"
"We're being bullied right over our heads! Who cares about class..." the work-study student replied instinctively, but once he got a clear look at who had stopped him, he immediately came to his senses.
"B-Boss Qi! You're finally back! This is great!"
"Take your time. What exactly happened? Who's bullying us?" Qi Ling asked.
"It's-it's Xiao Da, the sixth-year boss! He brought a group of people and surrounded Sister Xiao Wu. Wang Sheng has already taken all the work-study students over there!"
"Oh? The sixth-year boss?" Qi Ling scratched his head. With no interest in these little brats, he really had never heard of such a person.
"Is he that strong? Why is he picking on Xiao Wu?"
"It's because he often bullies the work-study students. Sister Xiao Wu couldn't stand it and stopped him, so he's held a grudge ever since!" the work-study student said.
"Xiao Da is an expert at the Soul Master realm, and we've heard that several other sixth-years have reached that realm too. That's why they dare to pick on Sister Xiao Wu!"
"And we also heard that Xiao Da declared that if he wins this time, Sister Xiao Wu will have to become his pet, and all the work-study students will become his servants! Everyone in the academy will have to obey him from now on."
[Ding-dong! The host has been detected facing Xiao Da's challenge. Please choose from the following options!] Option one: swallow your anger and let Xiao Da bully you. Reward: the title "Worthless Wimp." Option two: let the higher-ups handle this matter. Reward: one commendation. Option three: teach Xiao Da a lesson and defend the dignity of the work-study students. Rewards: reputation +3, Soul Power Level +3.
Without question, Qi Ling would naturally choose the third option!
Neither swallowing his anger nor reporting it to the higher-ups was Qi Ling's style. He preferred to bring down his own enemies with his own fists.
More importantly, option three would raise his Soul Power Level by three! After absorbing his Soul Ring, his Soul Power Level had already reached fourteen, while even Tang San was only at thirteen!
With another three levels in one go, Qi Ling's Soul Power Level would reach a terrifying seventeen. At his age, that was simply an impossible level, making him the undisputed number one!
[Ding-dong! Congratulations to the host for choosing option three: personally teach Xiao Da a lesson. Rewards received: reputation +3, Soul Power Level +3.]
"Hmph, when the tiger's away, even the monkeys act arrogant!" Qi Ling said angrily. "Little San, come on. Let's meet this Xiao Da and see just how many hands he has!"
On the back mountain, the work-study students and Xiao Da's group were facing off. As the leaders of their respective sides, Xiao Wu and Xiao Da each stood at the front.
"There's still time to regret it. If you admit defeat now, I'll only take you as my pet!" Xiao Da said with a leering chuckle as he looked at Xiao Wu.
"Pah! A toad lusting after swan flesh-that's what you are! No ability, but quite the appetite!" Xiao Wu said, hands on her hips, looking every bit the domineering girl boss.
"Xiao Da, if you're scared, hurry up and admit defeat. From now on, you can obediently be my underling!"
"Me, scared? Hahaha, why don't you get the situation straight first?" Boss Xiao said with a laugh.
"We're the ones with the upper hand! If you can't send anyone else out, you'll have to take the field yourself."
Xiao Da and Xiao Wu had chosen a rotating battle to decide the winner. Each side sent people out to fight, replacing anyone who lost with the next person. Whichever side ran out of people first would lose.
These seemingly fair rules actually put the work-study students at a serious disadvantage, because their strength was generally low, and Xiao Wu was the only one at the Soul Master realm.
Meanwhile, Xiao Da's side had a full four people at the Soul Master realm, including him, and everyone else had Soul Power of at least level eight or nine.
Watching the people on her side lose one after another, Xiao Wu could not help stamping her foot anxiously, muttering to herself with puffed cheeks, "Where on earth did those two go? Honestly, they're nowhere to be found when it matters!"
"You've got no one left. Isn't it time you took the field yourself?" Xiao Da said smugly. "Or are you planning to admit defeat outright and become my pet just like that?"
As Xiao Da's words grew increasingly filthy, Xiao Wu stamped her foot in anger and was about to take the field herself to teach him a proper lesson.
Just then, a particularly reassuring voice rang out. "Xiao Wu is the face of our Dorm Seven. Why would she take the field herself? Let an underling like me handle this instead."
At the sound of that voice, Xiao Wu's face immediately lit up with joy, though she said, "Hmph! You're finally back. I thought you'd gotten lost out there!"
"Hahaha, sorry. We got held up on the way and came back late!" Qi Ling said with a laugh.
"Xiao Wu, leave these people to me! Little San, check the others' injuries, and treat them if necessary."
"Be careful, Brother Qi. They have strength in numbers, and they're quite unscrupulous," Tang San said. "Why don't I go with you?"
"All right, they're just a bunch of little brats. I don't even consider them worth my notice," Qi Ling said. "I won't even need to lift a hand to deal with them!"