This incident thoroughly alarmed Director Su, who was overseeing the registration of new students. In a panic, he scooped up the affected boy and dashed toward the infirmary.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao, concealed in the shadows as he observed, was utterly perplexed. 'What's wrong with Little San? Why did he faint out of nowhere? Could it be something he ate last night that upset his stomach?' Adding to his confusion, he noticed a surprising figure nearby: a useless member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, previously pummeled by a mere Soul Elder, was also present.
Reflecting on Yu Xiaogang's past and recalling the woman with twin martial souls from the Martial Soul Hall, Tang Hao ultimately resolved not to interfere with their contact with his son.
At that moment, text appeared before Ning Tian:
[Current Side Effect Bearer: Tang San]
[Side Effect: Punch to the Abdomen (stomachache, severe cases may cause fainting)]
Glancing at the sudden system notification, Ning Tian's lips curled into a smirk. "Is that all you've got? My turn now."
Before anyone could react, Ning Tian swung his fist, landing a solid blow on Wang Sheng's right cheek. The results of his reckless, life-risking training over the past three months were undeniable. Wang Sheng, a full head taller than Ning Tian, was thrown backward by the force, crashing onto a bed two meters away. He flipped over it, tumbling heavily to the ground.
"I surrender, I surrender! I'm no match for you!" Wang Sheng groaned as he struggled to his feet, his right cheek swelling visibly, his words slurring from the pain.
Watching Wang Sheng's defeat, Xiao Wu didn't flinch in fear, instead, she seemed thrilled. Her large, adorable eyes blinked, and a sweet smile spread across her rosy face. "Hi, I'm Xiao Wu—'Wu' as in dance. My martial soul is a rabbit, a cute little white rabbit. What about you?" Her smile revealed two charming dimples, lending her an irresistible allure.
Yet, to Wang Sheng and the others, that smile sent chills down their spines. Having witnessed Xiao Wu's tactics before, they knew a fierce, violent girl lurked beneath that innocent grin.
"Hello, I'm Ning Tian. My martial soul is a bamboo sword," Ning Tian replied. He deliberately adopted a shy, captivated, and defenseless demeanor.
Before he could finish, Xiao Wu sprang into action. Her right leg bent at the knee, and with lightning speed, her toes shot toward Ning Tian's chin. Had any other work-study student taken that kick, their fate would've been no better than Wang Sheng's. But she had met her match in Ning Tian. Unfazed by the strike to his chin, he retaliated with a heavy punch to her abdomen, sending Xiao Wu flying back faster than she had come.
"Even Sister Xiao Wu isn't his match!" Wang Sheng and the others gasped in unison, though their shock was tinged with dread. 'To hit a cute girl like that without hesitation, he's got no sense of chivalry!'
"Ah, damn it! How dare you hit me, Sister Xiao Wu! I'll teach you a lesson today!" Xiao Wu fumed, her pride wounded like never before. Gritting her teeth through the pain, she rose and unleashed her soft skills against Ning Tian once more.
Ning Tian didn't hold back, meeting her with relentless fists. Even when her techniques flung him aside, he stood up as if unscathed, resuming the fight like a tireless machine. Defense meant nothing to him, only attack mattered, since the injuries weren't his to bear.
Their clash only ended when Mo Hen, the teacher managing the work-study dorms, intervened to separate them. By then, Xiao Wu's eyes were red, partly from the pain of Ning Tian's blows, partly from the frustration of losing.
Facing Mo Hen's reprimands, Ning Tian accepted them fully. He would be at this academy for the next six years, learning its knowledge while exploiting the Tang family. But his stance toward Xiao Wu remained icy. "I've no interest in being Dorm Seven's boss, nor will I bow to anyone else as one. Calling you 'Sister Xiao Wu' is out of the question. Provoke me again, and I'll beat you again," he said coolly.
"You…" Xiao Wu's voice faltered. Unable to hold back any longer, she let out a wail, covered her face, and sank to the ground in tears.
Mo Hen was at a loss for words. The academy existed to train soul masters, and rivalry among them was a tradition every such institution encouraged. He couldn't punish the losing side in a student conflict–especially when Xiao Wu had started it.
Still, he couldn't help but marvel 'This Ning Tian kid can really take a beating. He'd endured countless kicks without batting an eye,' while Xiao Wu was nearly battered beyond recognition. 'To beat a cute girl's face like that—he truly doesn't know how to cherish beauty.'
"Alright, stop crying. I'll take you to the infirmary to get patched up. You wouldn't want scars ruining that face," Mo Hen said gently.
At his words, Xiao Wu's sobs subsided. And so, by a twist of fate, Tang San and Xiao Wu crossed paths—not in Dorm Seven as expected, but in the infirmary, with Yu Xiaogang by their side.
Watching Xiao Wu's departing figure, Ning Tian felt a twinge of helplessness. Truth be told, if circumstances allowed, he wouldn't mind claiming this 'rabbit' for himself. But Tang Hao was lurking in the shadows. Though Ning Tian had activated his system, transferring side effects required him to stay alive. Tang Haomight be crippled by his schemes, but a lean horse still outclasses a camel. Killing Ning Tian would be child's play for him. If Ning Tian snatched Xiao Wu, he would likely meet a grim end.
Turning to the silent Dorm Seven students, he said, "Tell me about the academy."
The group slowly snapped out of their stunned silence. Ning Tian's brutal showdown with Xiao Wu had left them shaken and fearful. Finally, Wang Sheng stepped forward.
"We work-study students handle the academy's cleaning. The teachers assign specific tasks. There are six grades total. We have two classes in the morning and cultivation in the afternoon."
Ning Tian nodded, then asked, "Are there any teachers here with sword or blade martial souls?"
Though he possessed a sword martial soul, his grasp of swordplay was rudimentary, limited to basic moves like stabbing, slashing, pointing, and pressing, a legacy of his past life as a sword enthusiast. Seeking guidance from teachers with similar martial souls was essential. Even if they weren't experts in swordsmanship, they'd surpass him, and their soul skills might spark inspiration.
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