The days passed one by one.
Every day, the first thing Lin Yan did after waking was pull weeds and clean. Then came physical conditioning and Tai Chi Fist practice, followed by morning classes.
After classes ended in the afternoon, he went to the library and devoured all kinds of books, learning various fundamentals and deepening his understanding of the Douluo Continent and Martial Souls.
At night, he practiced the Supreme Purity Breathing Technique instead of sleeping. The other work-study students had tried to persuade Lin Yan not to push himself so hard, but he responded that his talent was too poor and he needed to work twice as hard. As time passed, they grew used to it and stopped paying him so much attention.
As the days passed, Lin Yan could feel his body and Soul Power changing imperceptibly. His strength, speed, combat skills, and every other aspect had improved considerably.
This life also left Lin Yan feeling exceptionally fulfilled.
One afternoon after class, just as Lin Yan was about to head to the library to read, Wang Sheng came running to find him again. He asked Lin Yan to come along to make up the numbers and bolster their presence.
Lin Yan could more or less guess what was happening. It was nothing more than the work-study students going to fight Xiao Chenyu and his gang in the grove.
He had intended to refuse tonight, but Wang Sheng had already grabbed his hand and run out with him.
Lin Yan had no choice. He might as well go. After all, this had counted as one of the iconic scenes in the original story.
After all, Tang San, that king of showing off, would make his entrance and display his newly acquired Soul Ring, drawing plenty of attention and winning a great wave of admiration.
The so-called hill behind the academy was not within Nuoding Academy, but was a small hill outside its rear gate.
Generally speaking, the teachers would not come here. Even if a fight here was discovered, it had taken place outside the academy and did not count as breaking academy rules.
Thus, it had become the perfect place for Nuoding Academy students to settle personal grudges, territorial disputes, and gang conflicts.
By the time Wang Sheng dragged Lin Yan there, the two sides were already facing off, with something of a swords-drawn, bows-taut atmosphere between them.
All the work-study students stood behind Xiao Wu. Opposite them was a group composed of more than twenty senior students.
Wang Sheng and Lin Yan ran into the work-study students' ranks. Wang Sheng released Lin Yan's hand and squeezed forward to stand beside Xiao Wu. Lin Yan, meanwhile, quietly moved backward and stood at the very rear.
"Little girl, there's still time to regret this. Of course, I wouldn't mind having another pet rabbit. Your Martial Soul is a rabbit, right?" Xiao Chenyu spoke first, his face full of haughty pride.
Xiao Wu lost nothing to him in expression, her face full of disdain. But paired with her soft, rosy face, that disdain looked rather cute no matter how one looked at it.
Wasn't it just trading tough talk before a fight?
Xiao Wu raised her hand and pointed at him. "Xiao Chenyu, are you scared? If you are, become my little brother from now on. Call me big sister, and I'll let you off!"
"Ha ha!" Xiao Chenyu laughed, affecting a carefree air.
"Me, scared? Say, Wang Sheng, have all you work-study students gotten water in your brains? You actually found a little girl like this to challenge me. How ridiculous!"
"Little girl, haven't you asked around about who I, Xiao Chenyu, am?"
"In Nuoding City, no one would dare stand in my way even if I walked sideways, let alone here at the academy."
Xiao Wu was clearly growing impatient. "Enough nonsense. Let's start. Tell us how we're fighting."
Xiao Chenyu's eyes shifted, and a somewhat wicked look came over his face.
"Relax, I won't bully you. There are ten of you here, right? Then we'll only send out ten people too."
"We'll take turns fighting. Whoever wins can keep fighting the next opponent, until everyone on one side has been defeated."
Boss Xiao had not become the students' boss by being reckless. On the contrary, he was very clever. Although Xiao Wu did not seem to pose much of a threat on the surface.
Boss Xiao still decided to play it safe first!
After all, Xiao Wu's earlier display had put him somewhat on guard!
But so what if this girl was strong?
Everyone on his side was a senior student, and none of them were weak. Among the work-study students, only Wang Sheng had any real ability. Even with this little girl added in, that was at most two people.
He would let the boys under him wear them all down. He would not even need to act himself before this battle was won.
This method of dueling looked fair, but was it truly fair?
Wang Sheng naturally saw through Xiao Chenyu's plan too, but Xiao Wu had already agreed readily. "Fine, that's settled. Come on, who's your first fighter? Step out."
By then, it was already too late for Wang Sheng to stop Xiao Wu from agreeing.
Xiao Chenyu gestured with his lips toward someone behind him. "You go."
A tall, burly student immediately stepped forward.
"Who's coming?" He lifted his chin, his tone contemptuous.
Wang Sheng gritted his teeth and stepped out, saying to Xiao Wu, "Let me go first. His name is Liu Long, and he's no pushover. He's in my class, and his Martial Soul is a staff. I've fought him many times and never won."
"I'll go first and wear him down a little. Then you can go up, Sister Xiao Wu, and beat them to pieces."
Looking every bit the big sister of the group, Xiao Wu nodded and agreed to Wang Sheng's request.
Wang Sheng took a deep breath and walked out between the two sides. "Liu Long, come on."
Liu Long's expression darkened. Without another word, he strode forward, his staff Martial Soul appearing in his hand as he brought it smashing down at Wang Sheng.
Wang Sheng gave a low growl. Soul Power surged as he crossed his arms and raised them to meet the blow head-on.
With a muffled bang, Wang Sheng staggered back two steps. The impact had already left a bloody mark across his arms, and bruising was inevitable.
Liu Long curled his lips. "You still haven't learned your lesson. This is my Martial Soul!"
Light flashed, and the end of the staff caught in Wang Sheng's grip suddenly vanished. Immediately afterward, its tip jabbed forward, passed between Wang Sheng's arms, and struck his chest with a thud, knocking him back again.
Wang Sheng had a tenacious fighting spirit and a clear advantage in strength, but he suffered from not yet having a Soul Ring and being unable to use Martial Soul Possession. Although his Soul Power enhanced his strength, his agility was lacking. Against a Martial Soul like a staff, where "an extra inch of reach meant an extra inch of strength," he truly struggled to strike back.
Again and again, he lunged forward with a tiger's roar, only to be beaten back by the staff each time.
Still, Wang Sheng was tough and thick-skinned. Having taken plenty of beatings, he could withstand blows far better than ordinary students. Although he was completely at a disadvantage, it would not be so easy for his opponent to put him out of the fight.
After all, Wang Sheng had once been the boss of the work-study students. All of them had relied on him alone for protection. Without some genuine ability, he would have been bullied miserably long ago.
Just then, Lin Yan sensed something and looked back-sure enough, Tang San was hurrying over from a distance.