"Boss won!"
The moment Tang San hit the ground, Wang Sheng couldn't wait to leap out and shout the result.
Around them, voices of admiration rose in a chorus.
Lin Yang was speechless. What was there to be so excited about in beating up a kid?
If Tang San hadn't been so aggressive, he wouldn't have bothered to get involved with him at all.
Tang San stared at Lin Yang's receding back, purple light flickering in his eyes, jaw clenched.
"Third precept of the Tang Sect Xuan Tian Records: Once you're certain your opponent is an enemy, if there is a way to kill, do not show mercy, or you will only bring trouble upon yourself."
An opening!
He immediately raised his right hand. With a faint click of a hidden mechanism, a sleeve arrow shot out silently like lightning toward Lin Yang's back.
Hm?
In that electric instant, Lin Yang whirled around, shock and icy killing intent flashing in his eyes.
He raised his hand and snatched the arrow out of the air.
The sharp tip cut his palm, and drops of fresh blood slipped between his fingers, spattering on the ground like red blossoms.
The entire dorm seemed to freeze; an invisible weight settled over everyone's hearts.
They all stared at Tang San, faces pale with fear and disbelief.
They had seen everything clearly—Tang San had just tried to kill someone.
Tang San himself stood dazed. His sleeve arrow… had been caught by hand?
Clink.
The bloodstained needle fell from Lin Yang's palm and hit the ground with a crisp sound.
Lin Yang fixed Tang San with a cold look.
"Were you trying to kill me… with this thing just now?"
Tang San opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
He knew that if he admitted it, the academy would hear of it soon enough—and expulsion would be inevitable.
As someone who had just stepped into the world of soul masters, he couldn't accept that.
Wang Sheng's face flushed red with fury.
"Boss, what else is there to say? He wanted to kill you. Let's go tell the principal."
The others chimed in one after another.
"Yeah, exactly, report it to the teachers!"
"I don't want to die suddenly in my sleep one day."
"This is terrifying!"
The other students were agitated. They were soul masters, true—but none of them had thought of killing anyone yet, especially a classmate.
On the very first day of school, Tang San had already provoked public outrage.
As Tang San stood helpless and at a loss, a stiff voice suddenly sounded from the doorway.
"This was all just a misunderstanding."
Everyone turned to look. When Tang San heard that voice, he latched on to it like a drowning man to driftwood.
"Teacher…"
It was Yu Xiaogang, carrying a bundle of bedding.
Clearly, he'd come personally to deliver things to his prized disciple—only to stumble upon a great show.
Tang San's loss didn't surprise him.
After all, Lin Yang was a one-ring soul master; his soul power and physique both surpassed Tang San's.
What did surprise him was the strength Tang San had shown.
That strange footwork and purplish eye technique looked like some kind of self-created soul skill.
It only made him more determined to take Tang San as his heir and successor.
Only a genius like this was worthy of his instruction.
As for losing just now? He barely cared.
If Tang San didn't get a good taste of failure, how would his own guidance shine by comparison in the future?
"Ahem…"
Yu Xiaogang cleared his throat and glanced at Lin Yang.
"I saw everything just now. Xiao San only accidentally triggered a mechanism when he fell. This little trinket wasn't going to kill you. No need to overreact."
"Really?"
Lin Yang's lips curled in mocking amusement.
"Then why don't you try it yourself, Master?"
Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He barked sharply without hesitation.
"Lin Yang, look at yourself—no respect for your elders, bullying the weak. Just because you've gained a soul ring, you think you can look down on everyone?"
"Heh…"
Lin Yang was almost amused to anger.
Twisting the truth and talking nonsense—somehow, it was his fault now?
This old dog… must be tired of living.
Shing!
His black Nichirin Blade appeared in his hand, the razor-sharp edge glinting coldly. A soul ring rose beneath his feet, glowing bright.
"Old dog, say that again if you dare."
The killing intent pouring off the blade was like a cluster of needles, stabbing straight toward Yu Xiaogang's face.
Yu Xiaogang couldn't stop himself from stepping back, raising an arm to shield himself.
"Lin Yang, do you want to get kicked out of the academy?"
"If I'm getting kicked out anyway, I'll slaughter you first…"
Just as he was about to move, a roar thundered through the room.
"Enough!"
An even stronger, deeper pressure flared—and vanished in the next heartbeat.
By the time everyone came back to their senses, a middle-aged man was standing between Lin Yang and Yu Xiaogang, one hand pressing down on Lin Yang's shoulder.
Seeing the new arrival, Yu Xiaogang suddenly perked up as if he'd found his backer, pointing at Lin Yang.
"Su Hong, hurry up and expel Lin Yang…"
At the sound of his name spoken so casually, a flicker of displeasure passed through Su Hong's eyes. Still, he turned to Lin Yang first.
"Put your Spirit away, Lin Yang."
"Yes, Principal." Lin Yang sheathed Hizama at once and answered respectfully.
The moment the principal appeared, he knew the matter was settled—for now.
But this debt… he would remember.
Su Hong was pleased by Lin Yang's good sense.
Compared to the hysterical "Master" beside him, Lin Yang was far more pleasing in every way—and he was one of the academy's outstanding students.
He'd heard the name Lin Yang a few times in the past, but seeing him today confirmed just how unusual the boy was.
His soul power was clearly at least level fifteen, and that blade of his was so sharp that even Su Hong felt a touch of dread.
In front of everyone, Su Hong cleared his throat.
"I've roughly understood what happened. Tang San was in the wrong for attacking in that way, but Lin Yang, you were also in the wrong for drawing your weapon on Grandmaster."
"You'll both be fined five silver soul coins, to be deducted from your work-study pay."
"Also, Lin Yang, as long as you're at the academy, you are not allowed to appear in front of Grandmaster again. Do either of you have any objections?"
This was a classic case of raising the issue high and putting it down gently. It was obvious Su Hong didn't want to take sides.
Yu Xiaogang opened his mouth to speak, then closed it again with a bitter shake of his head.
He understood Su Hong's intent.
Lin Yang, naturally, saw no reason to argue. Just the sight of that "Old Dog Yu" made his stomach churn with disgust.
He briskly paid the fine, then took his luggage and left Dorm Seven under the reluctant gazes of the others.
No sooner had he gone than the remaining students of Dorm Seven made no effort to hide their hostility toward Tang San.
Part of it was because he'd harmed Lin Yang—but more of it was fear of how ruthless Tang San had been.
With someone like that around, you'd have to sleep with one eye open.
Seeing this, Su Hong could only arrange a different dorm for Tang San. At the very least, he couldn't stay in Dorm Seven anymore.
In the end, it was Grandmaster who spoke up and asked to have Tang San placed in a room next to his own, conveniently close for "guidance."
Su Hong, of course, had no objection.
And so, a bloody conflict was smoothed over on the surface—but the grudge between Tang San and Lin Yang was firmly set.
If, before this, Lin Yang had still felt a faint pang of guilt over taking the Blue Silver Emperor soul bone, now he had only one thought left:
"Your mom's soul bone is mine."
He couldn't touch Tang San—for now.
But Tang San's mother?