Bab 91: Chapter 91: Su Ming Beats Up Ma Hongjun
[Ding! Since the host conducted a livestream today, each female lead receives a reward. Please check your rewards!]
Upon seeing their respective rewards, the three girls' eyes lit up. They shared their rewards with each other. Thanks to the journal, and being the same age, they had grown closer.
However, none of them would reveal their rewards in the journal for now since they hadn't met the other female leads yet. First impressions were important, and they knew they'd likely be spending considerable time together at the academy. Eventually, everyone would notice the system's rewards.
The three girls shared their livestream rewards:
Xiao Wu: "My reward is a significant boost in my spiritual power. Now, I think I can use my Charm ability on a Soul King without suffering backlash."
Ning Rongrong: "My reward is that all three of my soul rings have had their years increased to 5,000. However, because of my martial spirit's unique nature, the effects of my soul skills haven't changed, but the consumption of soul power has decreased."
Zhu Zhuqing: "My reward is that all my attacks now carry 50% true damage. For example, in yesterday's battle, I couldn't break through Zao Wou-ki's defenses, but now, even if I can't completely break through, I can deal half the damage."
Zhu Zhuqing was extremely pleased with this reward. As a traditional agility-attack soul master, her attack power had always been weak. Now, she could actually cause some damage to stronger opponents!
The next morning, Su Ming woke up early, planning to explore the academy and see if there was anything decent to eat. If it was just buns and pickles, he'd rather explore the village for better food.
After getting ready, Su Ming went to Oscar's room, where Oscar was still sound asleep, clutching his blanket.
Su Ming yanked the blanket off and shook him, saying, "Oscar, wake up! Show me around the academy or take me to the village. Let's grab some food, then we can train."
Oscar groggily opened his eyes, mumbling, "Su Ming, what time is it? There's nothing much to see at the academy—just a few wooden huts. Breakfast at the academy probably isn't ready yet. You can buy something in the village, or I can make you some sausages?"
Su Ming's mouth twitched. Sausages? No, thanks. He said impatiently, "Get up! You're already at the 29th level. You should focus on training. I bet the academy will take us to the Star Dou Forest for Tang San's third soul ring soon. Don't miss this opportunity!"
Hearing this, Oscar agreed. He didn't want to have to make another trip to the Star Dou Forest later on.
When they stepped outside, they found Tang San had just finished his Purple Demon Eyes training.
Oscar casually asked, "We're heading to the village to buy some food. Since the academy probably doesn't have breakfast ready yet, do you want to join us?"
Tang San nodded. He was feeling hungry and had planned to buy food as well.
As they were about to leave, they heard Xiao Wu's voice from outside, "Brother, are you guys up yet? Hurry, let's eat!"
Hearing Xiao Wu's voice, the three of them quickly went outside. Su Ming had been planning to call for her, but it seemed she had beaten him to it.
To his surprise, Xiao Wu wasn't alone. Zhu Zhuqing and Ning Rongrong were with her.
Su Ming smiled and said, "Xiao Wu, you're up so early! I was just about to come find you."
Xiao Wu glared at him. "Of course, I'm up early! I'm hungry!"
Oscar chimed in, "Perfect timing. Let's all head to the village to get some food."
The three girls turned to Oscar in surprise. "Who are you?"
Oscar sighed. "I'm Oscar. Just because I shaved my beard, you don't recognize me? Are you stunned by how handsome I am now?"
Xiao Wu rolled her eyes. "Pfft, you're not as handsome as my brother, right, Rongrong, Zhuqing?"
The two girls sided with Xiao Wu, nodding in agreement.
Oscar felt as if he had been hit with a massive blow to his ego. But he wasn't about to admit Su Ming was better looking—it was a matter of pride.
Su Ming, meanwhile, found it odd how close the girls had become after just one day. But then again, considering this might be a parallel world to what he knew, he stopped thinking too much about it. As long as things weren't too outlandish, he could accept it.
After this small exchange, Oscar led the group toward the village.
A little later, everyone bought some buns and steamed bread to eat. Being in the countryside, these options were decent enough.
As they were about to leave, they heard a boy and girl arguing in the distance.
The girl appeared to be around 14 or 15 years old, plain-looking, and dressed like a farmer, likely a villager. The boy, on the other hand, was younger, plump, with red hair and two tiny mustache-like whiskers. Su Ming found him familiar—he must be Ma Hongjun, although he looked a bit uglier than in the anime.
The two were pulling at each other as they spoke.
The girl, clearly frightened, said, "Ma Hongjun, please leave me alone. I'm just a normal person. I can't take it anymore!"
Ma Hongjun, speaking in a strange tone, replied, "Cuihua, haven't I treated you well? Why are you making me leave?"
Cuihua blushed and replied, "You've been good to me, but I just can't take it anymore. Please find someone else."
Ma Hongjun, enraged, shouted, "Can't take it? What do you mean by that? Fine, we'll break up, but not before one more round!"
As he spoke, he tried to forcibly drag the girl away.
Xiao Wu couldn't stand it anymore. She leaped forward and yelled, "Stop!"
Oscar shook his head. Breaking up? This guy's practically forcing her. How is this any different from assault?
When Ma Hongjun saw Xiao Wu, his eyes lit up, his whiskers twitching. "Wow, what a pretty chick! So, do you want to replace her and be my girlfriend? No problem, I agree!"
Su Ming, Tang San, and the two girls frowned.
Oscar inwardly thought, Oh no, this is bad.
Although he hadn't witnessed yesterday's battle, Zao Wou-ki's reaction made it clear that Xiao Wu and the others were incredibly strong, far beyond Ma Hongjun's level.
"Shut up!" Xiao Wu shouted angrily, ready to attack.
But before she could move, Su Ming acted first.
Xiao Wu was his sister—no, his future wife—so how could he let this fat idiot act so shamelessly? Based on his first impression and what he knew from his past life, Su Ming had no good feelings toward this fatso.
"Wood Release: Cutting Technique!"
Dozens of wooden spikes shot toward Ma Hongjun out of nowhere.
Su Ming's companions were shocked. The spikes appeared so quickly, and there were no signs of soul power usage at all!
Ma Hongjun, who had been advancing, quickly retreated in fear. He felt the threat of death from those wooden spikes and unleashed his full strength in defense.
"Second Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Baptism!"
"First Soul Skill: Phoenix Fire Line!"
Ma Hongjun used everything he had, spitting a stream of fire to protect himself. But some of the spikes still pierced his limbs, leaving him bleeding.
After it ended, Ma Hongjun was left kneeling on the ground, panting heavily, his lips pale. He looked up and angrily shouted, "Who the hell are you to interfere with my business?!"
Then he noticed Oscar standing nearby, along with two other beautiful girls, and sensed something was off. He turned to Oscar and asked, "Oscar, who are these people?"
Before Oscar could answer, Su Ming spoke in a cold tone. "You? You dare call yourself 'boss'? With your pathetic chicken spirit, you dare act arrogantly in front of me?"
Ma Hongjun seethed in anger at Su Ming's words, but before he could react, a massive wooden hand erupted from the ground and grabbed him tightly.
He was stunned. Who is this guy? His strength feels even more terrifying than Boss Dai's! I didn't even have time to react!
As Ma Hongjun struggled, his face turning purple, Oscar quickly intervened. "Su Ming, don't kill him! Just teach him a lesson. This is how he is."
Oscar lowered his voice and added, "He's the headmaster's student. Don't cause too much trouble."
Xiao Wu also chimed in, "Brother, that's enough. He's learned his lesson."
Hearing this, Su Ming released his grip on Ma Hongjun. He never intended to do anything serious to him anyway, not right now.
Ma Hongjun gasped for air, grateful to be alive. For a moment, he had truly thought he was going to die.
Ignoring him, Su Ming turned to Oscar and asked, "Is that fat guy a student at the academy too?"
Su Ming's imposing aura made Oscar a little nervous as he replied, "Yes, there are currently only three students at the academy, and you've now met all of us."
Su Ming continued, "So, there are only three of you. Before school started, I saw Dai Mubai taking twin sisters to a hotel, and now I see this fat guy about to assault this girl. Their behavior is disgusting! One of them doesn't care about cleanliness, and as for this one…"
"Tell me honestly—have you been to those kinds of places too?"
Hearing this, the three girls shot cold glares at Oscar.
Oscar quickly waved his hands. "No, no! I've had girlfriends before, but I've never been to those places. If I wanted to go, I wouldn't have been so scruffy-looking all this time!"
Su Ming felt a bit relieved, but still suspicious. "So, when they invited you, you never felt tempted to go?"
Oscar smiled bitterly. "They did invite me, but I couldn't bring myself to go, and I didn't have the money. Eventually, they stopped asking. Dai Mubai and Fatty share a room and are much closer than I am with them."
Oscar added a brief explanation for Ma Hongjun: "His martial spirit is the Evil Fire Phoenix, a mutated form. Because of that, his desires are hard to control, so he has to… relieve them frequently."
Su Ming scoffed. "That doesn't excuse assault or visiting brothels. If he can't control it, he should handle it himself!"
The three girls blushed at Su Ming's blunt words.
Xiao Wu, her mind wandering, wondered if Su Ming had the same urges and how he handled them…
The group decided to trust Oscar's explanation for now. If Oscar had been involved in that kind of behavior, they'd have serious doubts about the academy's integrity.
Ma Hongjun, unwilling to back down, grumbled, "It's not assault! She's my girlfriend! And why would I take care of it myself if I can find a woman? It's not the same!"
Xiao Wu, still furious, kicked him hard. "She doesn't want to be with you anymore! You've broken up!"
Su Ming added, "I may not understand, but I know what it means to have basic decency."
Oscar sighed. Fatty, your mouth is going to get you killed. The only one here you can talk back to is me.
He quickly intervened again. "Fatty, stop talking! These people are all new students, and their combined strength far surpasses yours. Everyone here is at least a level 30 spirit master."
He then introduced Su Ming and the others to Ma Hongjun.
Ma Hongjun was shocked. They're all around my age, yet they're all stronger than me? But he stubbornly said, "So what? Are they stronger than Boss Dai?"
Su Ming scoffed. Slowly, four soul rings rose around him as he spoke coldly, "Fatty, you'd better watch your words, or I won't hold back next time. Learn to admit when you're wrong."
The three girls were equally disgusted with Ma Hongjun.
Seeing Su Ming's four soul rings, Ma Hongjun trembled. "F-Four soul rings?! That's impossible!"
It seems even Boss Dai wouldn't be able to beat this guy, he thought, now reconsidering his plan to seek revenge.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone