The Rat Has Skin, Yet Man Has No Decorum (Part 2)

Ling Bai was a transmigrator, after all. He knew that Huo Yuhao had broken the rules more than once during his growth. In the original story, he had at least cheated in front of two acquaintances—Sect Master Tang Ya and his roommate Wang Dong. What did he mean by brazenly pulling that stunt right in front of Ling Bai this time?

Did he think the two of us were birds of a feather?

Did he think I would naturally cover for him?

"I..."

Huo Yuhao's facial muscles stiffened slightly. Compared to those vile servants at the White Tiger Duke's Mansion in his memories, who only knew how to roar and curse, the pressure Ling Bai brought was terrifying, like mountains collapsing and seas swallowing everything whole. Simply sitting there, he seemed like a bottomless black well that would devour someone skin and bones alike.

He had merely met those golden eyes for a second, yet it felt as though he had been viciously stabbed by a sharp sword. Compared to his usual calm and restrained state, Ling Bai was now as sharp as a blade.

"Pah!"

Wu Feng spat fiercely, her gaze toward Huo Yuhao filled with contempt. Spoiled as she was, she had never particularly liked Huo Yuhao. Now, she looked down on him even more.

Ning Tian remained impassive. Wu Feng could act without restraint, but she could not, because every word and action of hers represented the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. Huo Yuhao, meanwhile, was a disciple of the Tang Sect. The millennia-long friendship between the two sects meant she had to maintain a friendly appearance.

"Yuhao, you..."

Tang Ya panicked. If this matter spread, Huo Yuhao's reputation would likely plummet.

Enduring the tearing pain in his Spirit Eyes and Sea of Consciousness, Huo Yuhao said painfully, "Teacher Xiaoya, I wanted to help Senior Brother win! And Brother Ling, Xu Sanshi stole your grilled fish. Helping Senior Brother win was also helping you vent your anger!"

Before using Spiritual Detection Sharing, he had already considered the possibility of Ling Bai discovering it. He had thought Ling Bai would tacitly approve, because between Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi, Ling Bai would definitely favor Bei Bei.

Huo Yuhao racked his brains but could not understand why Ling Bai had intervened to stop him.

The exquisite rosy clouds of sunset dyed the sky red. A trace of chill entered Ling Bai's golden eyes as he said, "Help? What a faithful, expressive, elegant Chinese-to-Chinese translation..."

Ling Bai stared at Huo Yuhao, hoping to see even the slightest hint of remorse in his expression. Unfortunately, there was only persistence and doubt in the other's eyes.

"Huo Yuhao, the grudge between Xu Sanshi and me is settled. It is not your place to 'help' me vent my anger. Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi were sparring fairly, and it is not the place of a third party to break the rules and interfere.

Poor talent does not matter, and low Soul Power is no big deal either. Those can all be made up for through future opportunities. But if someone has no shame, then they truly are beyond saving.

The rat has skin, yet a man has no decorum.

Huo Yuhao, between ability and dignity, at least keep one for yourself."

They looked at one another, and only disappointment remained.

Ling Bai gave one final glance at Huo Yuhao, who was gritting his teeth, and Tang Ya, whose face was filled with shame. Shaking his head, he said, "Xiao Tian, Wu Feng, there is no need to keep watching. Let's go."

"Mm."

Ling Bai rose first, with Ning Tian and Wu Feng following close behind. The three left the Soul Arena together.

Standing on Shrek Academy's broad avenue, Ling Bai gazed into the distance at the nightscape of Shrek City to the southwest. The lights of that city, which had stood for millennia, reflected in his clear golden eyes, glittering like dazzling stars in the heavens.

"Bai Ge, are you angry?"

Ning Tian tugged on Ling Bai's sleeve and asked cautiously.

Before Ling Bai could answer, Wu Feng instead earnestly advised him, "Listen, Xiao Bai, getting angry over trash is not worth it. I think we should go get something tasty instead."

Thud!

After a muffled impact, Wu Feng immediately cried out and crouched down, clutching her head.

Ling Bai blew on his fist and turned his head. "Watch your manners. You're calling me Xiao Bai now? Still, Wu Feng, you finally said something right for once. Huo Yuhao's nonsense really is not worth dwelling on.

I barely see him while studying in the inner courtyard. The two of you will inevitably run into him from time to time, so just treat him as a stranger from now on."

Ning Tian nodded slightly. She had once considered whether she should show Huo Yuhao some care out of consideration for the Tang Sect. Now, there was no need.

"By the way, Xiao Tian, how is the task the Sect Master assigned you progressing?"

Ling Bai recalled something important.

Although the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Pagoda, the inherited martial soul of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, was hailed as the number one auxiliary tool martial soul in the world, it possessed not the slightest bit of combat ability itself. It relied heavily on powerful Battle Soul Masters from outside the clan for protection.

Was there anywhere on Douluo Continent more likely than Shrek Academy to encounter Battle Soul Masters with outstanding talent?

The answer was no.

Thus, every generation of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect sent direct descendants to study at Shrek, both to temper themselves and to recruit young talents in advance, providing the sect with future protectors.

As the young sect mistress of the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Tian naturally bore this arduous responsibility.

At the mention of serious business, Ning Tian immediately put on a solemn expression and listed, "Bai Ge, over the past two days, I have asked around about the martial souls and Soul Power of students from every class. I found that their overall talent is far stronger than my mother's generation. Aside from me, there are already two geniuses who reached Rank 30 Soul Power at eleven years old!

I have only been here for two days, so I have recruited just one girl from my class: a Grand Soul Master with a relatively ordinary background and the Jade Green Bird martial soul, Nanmen Yun'er."

"Mm. Have you begun approaching those two Soul Elders?" Ling Bai asked.

"I was just about to. Of the two, Dai Huabin comes from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion of the Star Luo Empire, so the sect has no chance of attracting him. The other one, Xie Huanyue, is a defensive Soul Elder with the Rubber Elephant martial soul. I can do my best to recruit him!"

Ling Bai pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "Xiao Tian, I will tell you about several people. They are students from this year whom I have heard possess fairly exceptional talent. Make them your primary targets going forward.

Xiao Xiao with the Three Lives Soul Suppressing Cauldron, Xie Huanyue with the Rubber Elephant, the long-haired twins Lan Susu and Lan Luoluo, Cao Jinxuan with the Fleeting Time Bell, Zhou Sichen with the Treasure Tome, Cui Yajie with the Nine-Tailed Fox, and Huang Chutian with the Hercules Divine Ape."

Ning Tian silently memorized their names, then suddenly realized that someone she had expected was not on the list. Confused, she said, "Bai Ge, there is a genius student in Freshman Class One named Wang Dong, whose martial soul is the Light Goddess Butterfly. I want to..."

"No, you don't!"

Ling Bai instantly extended two fingers in an OK gesture and pinched her lips shut, saying with unprecedented seriousness, "That person is a descendant of the Clear Sky Sect. You must keep your distance and show proper respect!"

The God King Tang's own daughter!

Only Huo Yuhao had a life tough enough to survive that mess. Ling Bai absolutely could not let Ning Tian wade into those muddy waters!

"Mm-hmm!"

Ning Tian nodded rapidly like a pecking chick. Seeing this, Ling Bai decisively released her before Wu Feng could pounce on him and bite him, then took out two white jade porcelain bottles and handed them to Ning Tian.

"Mystic Water Pills. Use them to recruit talented students from the outer courtyard. Give one to Xie Huanyue. A freshman like him, with an ordinary background but exceptional talent, is extremely suitable for the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect."

"Alright."

Ning Tian immediately agreed. They were merely Mystic Water Pills worth ten thousand Gold Soul Coins each. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had always bought them by the crate!

Eat as much as you want! Give them away as you please!