After joining the group, Tang San walked straight to Xiao Wu's side.
"Wang Sheng was too impulsive. In a head-on fight, he can't even get close to his opponent-only by closing in does he have a chance of winning."
Xiao Wu was watching with a deep frown when a low voice suddenly sounded beside her ear. She turned her head, and her large, beautiful eyes immediately lit up with delighted surprise. "Little San, you're back!"
Tang San looked at Xiao Wu, then swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue.
Xiao Wu saw through his hesitation at once. "What? Going to call me impulsive again?"
Tang San shook his head. "We working students can't keep letting people bully us, either. Settling this through one-on-one matches really would put an end to it once and for all. I'm with you. But you should have waited until I came back before challenging them. We'd have had a better chance."
Xiao Wu glared at him. "Wait for what? Who knew when you'd come back! They were already walking all over us! That bastard Xiao said he wanted to make me his pet rabbit. If I could put up with that, my name wouldn't be Xiao Wu!"
Tang San frowned slightly at her words and fell silent, his thoughts unknown.
Lin Yan, who had been keeping an eye on Tang San ever since he arrived, noticed his fingers brush his waist before he turned his gaze back to the match.
By now, Wang Sheng was covered in bruises, and the Soul Power in his tiger roars was growing weaker and weaker. His opponent, meanwhile, handled him with ease, looking every bit like a cat toying with a mouse.
Wang Sheng's attacks were too predictable. Gritting his teeth, he took two running steps and lunged at Liu Long again before his Soul Power ran out-this time, even if he had to take a few more heavy blows, he would make his opponent pay.
Liu Long had dealt with Wang Sheng for years and saw through his intent at a glance. His expression tightened, and his long staff whipped out, delivering three consecutive strikes toward Wang Sheng's head and shoulders. Once he repelled this assault, Wang Sheng would have no strength left to fight.
Yet just then, Liu Long suddenly felt something strike his wrist. Pain shot through it, and his offensive faltered.
Wang Sheng would never let such a fleeting opportunity slip away. He surged forward, slamming a tiger claw onto Liu Long's head and knocking him clear off the ground, then swung his right leg like a tiger-tail whip into his opponent's back.
-with a thud, Liu Long crashed to the ground and lost consciousness on the spot.
Wang Sheng threw back his head and roared, as though venting every last bit of resentment that had built up over the years.
Having kept his attention on Tang San, Lin Yan saw it clearly: the instant Liu Long lunged forward, Tang San flicked his wrist, and a pebble struck Liu Long's wrist with pinpoint accuracy.
Although he felt some disdain for Tang San secretly interfering in the match, Lin Yan was happy for Wang Sheng as well. This victory should free him of his inner knot; perhaps his cultivation would go more smoothly afterward.
The reversal shocked the previously composed Xiao Chenyu, changing his expression. Liu Long ranked among his three strongest followers. If Xiao Chenyu hadn't already obtained his first soul ring, he wouldn't have dared claim he could reliably beat him.
Xiao Wu spoke mockingly. "Withered flowers and battered willows are still withered flowers and battered willows. Sure enough, he couldn't withstand a single blow. What do you think, Xiao Chenyu?"
Xiao Chenyu waved for the others to hurry and carry Liu Long away for treatment, then said with a dark expression, "We'll count the first match as our loss. Ling Feng, you're up for the second."
The second to step out was a small, skinny student with a little nose and small eyes. His slender build made him look nothing like a twelve-year-old; instead, he seemed about the same age as Xiao Wu and Tang San.
"Have Wang Sheng come back. I'll take this match," Tang San told Xiao Wu quietly.
"No. You need to stay back to anchor the lineup. We have to win so thoroughly that they accept it with all their hearts." Xiao Wu's gaze shifted and suddenly landed on Lin Yan. "Lin Yan, you're up."
"Huh?" Lin Yan, who had been enjoying the show, failed to react for a moment. "Me? No, I can't beat him..."
"Cut the nonsense! Wang Sheng told me he fought you when you first came to Dorm Seven, and it took him a lot of effort to beat you." Xiao Wu waved a hand, allowing no refusal. "Don't be afraid of losing. Just don't lose too badly."
"I..."
"What do you mean, 'I'! I'm the boss, so do as I say! Or I'll beat you up!"
"...All right. I'll do my best."
Lin Yan could only steel himself and step forward. It was a good chance to test the results of his recent training, too.
Lin Yan bowed to Ling Feng across from him. "Senior, please go easy on me."
"Hahaha, at least you know your place!" Ling Feng laughed arrogantly. "I'll hit you a little more gently. You can attack first, so no one can say I'm bullying you."
"Then pardon me, senior."
The words had barely left his mouth when Lin Yan darted forward and drove a straight punch hard into Ling Feng's stomach-
Before Ling Feng could react, he was sent flying backward.
"W-wait..." Clutching his stomach, he grimaced in pain. "I haven't summoned my Martial Soul yet! You have no martial honor!"
"Sorry, senior. I didn't know you had to wait for your opponent to release their Martial Soul before fighting." Lin Yan looked utterly innocent.
The working students immediately burst into laughter, while the faces on Xiao Chenyu's side darkened.
"Then please release your Martial Soul, senior."
Ling Feng staggered to his feet and steadied himself. Light flashed over his body, and the phantom of a bird-shaped Soul Beast appeared behind him.
"May we begin now?" Lin Yan asked politely.
"We may..."
Before the last word was out, Ling Feng was sent flying by another punch, that final word practically jolted out of him by the fall.
The working students cheered and applauded, and Xiao Wu cried, "Well done, Lin Yan!"
Those on Xiao Chenyu's side covered their faces, unable to bear watching.
"You... just great!" Ling Feng climbed to his feet, gritting his teeth. "I'll cripple you!"
He sprang toward Lin Yan, moving with great speed and agility. Just as he was about to reach him, he suddenly twisted and flipped behind Lin Yan, chopping both arms toward the sides of his neck!
Lin Yan lowered himself and leaned back, narrowly avoiding the blow. Following through with an overhead kick, he knocked Ling Feng away, then immediately closed in and unleashed a string of attacks.
Though Ling Feng was fast, Lin Yan's Tai Chi Fist countered speed with slowness and overcame hardness with softness. With no distracting thoughts, he immersed himself completely in the match, gaining an ever deeper understanding that solitary cultivation could not provide.
Sure enough, actual combat is the fastest way to grow. His thoughts raced. I'll have to find people to spar with more often.
They traded blows for many rounds. Lin Yan inevitably took some hits, but those were minor issues. After all, Ling Feng had taken far more blows than he had.
Seeing that he could hardly glean any more experience from the fight, Lin Yan used a move that "borrowed force to counter force" to fling Ling Feng away, then pretended to be exhausted. Panting, he said, "S-senior... let's stop. My Soul Power can't keep up. Can we call it your win?"
Ling Feng knew he hadn't gained any advantage and took the offered way out. "You don't have to call it my win. Your combat skills are excellent; I just have more Soul Power. Let's call this a draw."
"All right. Thank you for going easy on me, senior."
"Lin Yan! Why did you stop? Beat him up!" Xiao Wu shouted from the sidelines.
Lin Yan spread his hands helplessly. "I'm out of Soul Power. If I keep fighting, I really will get beaten up."
"You..." Xiao Wu was about to say more, but Tang San stopped her.
"Let it go. A draw is fine, too. Lin Yan's innate soul power isn't high. Lasting this long was already no easy feat."
Xiao Wu stamped her foot in anger and glared at Lin Yan.
Unbothered, Lin Yan quietly returned to his place.
"Let me take the next match." Tang San stepped forward, sweeping his gaze over the opposing side. "Tang San, Martial Soul: Blue Silver Grass-who will face me!"