"Still want to fight?" Ao Tian asked with a smile.
Tang San was thrown so hard he was seeing stars, his mind completely blank.
How could this Ao Tian be so freakishly strong in strength, speed, and defense? He surpassed him in every way.
Even if he just stood there and let Tang San hit him, he wouldn't be able to do any damage.
The more Tang San thought about it, the more dejected he felt. The other party hadn't used any techniques—just raw strength and speed were enough to render him helpless.
He had always thought Ao Tian was just a slightly talented guy who relied on his gifts but was actually weak and arrogant.
But reality had just slapped him hard across the face.
Just as Ao Tian had said: pride comes from having the strength to back it up.
Tang San's face burned. He wanted to teach Ao Tian a lesson but ended up being the one taught.
He got up, patted the dust off his body, and looked at Ao Tian with a complicated expression.
After a few seconds of silence, he finally said, "Ao Tian, I lost this time."
Ao Tian looked at the ashamed Tang San and smiled, "You were right earlier—there's always someone better out there. Now I return those words to you."
Tang San's face turned even redder, almost wanting to bury himself in the ground.
Sensing the awkward atmosphere, Wang Sheng quickly changed the subject: "Ao Tian, since you beat Tang San, does that mean you can challenge Boss Xiao Wu now?"
Ao Tian turned to look at Xiao Wu and said, "No need. Let Xiao Wu be the boss."
He couldn't care less about being the boss—just a bunch of annoying responsibilities.
Plus, Xiao Wu seemed interested in the position, so he might as well let her have it.
"That… doesn't seem right," Wang Sheng said awkwardly.
"What's not right about it?" Xiao Wu looked at Wang Sheng, "Is there some rule saying we can't admit defeat?"
"Uh… no, I guess not."
"Then it's settled. From now on, I'm the boss of Dorm Seven!" Xiao Wu announced loudly.
"But you guys better start calling me Sister Xiao Wu. Calling me 'boss' makes me sound old."
Everyone exchanged looks, then gradually started calling her Sister Xiao Wu.
Just then, a teacher who looked to be in his thirties appeared at the door and shouted, "The new work-study students, come out for a moment."
Ao Tian, Xiao Wu, and Tang San stepped outside.
The teacher held two sets of bedding and scanned the trio. When his gaze landed on Ao Tian and Xiao Wu, he was clearly stunned by their looks.
His gaze lingered on Ao Tian for a moment before asking, "Which of you are Tang San and Ao Tian?"
Tang San raised his hand, "Teacher, I'm Tang San."
Ao Tian said, "I'm Ao Tian."
"You can call me Teacher Mo," the man said. "Tang San, Ao Tian, these beddings are from the Grandmaster."
Tang San accepted his set, feeling a little moved. He hadn't expected the Grandmaster to prepare even this for him.
Ao Tian, however, stood still. He had no relationship with the Grandmaster, and didn't want one either—so naturally, he wouldn't accept anything from him.
Seeing Ao Tian unmoving, Teacher Mo frowned: "Ao Tian, this is your bedding."
Ao Tian shook his head, "Thank you, Teacher Mo, but please return it to the Grandmaster. I don't need it."
"You already have bedding?" Teacher Mo asked.
"I have money. I'll go buy some later."
"Alright then." Teacher Mo nodded. "Let me explain your daily duties..."
After explaining, he turned to Wang Sheng: "Wang Sheng, you're the veteran here. Tell them about the academy's rules—and remember, don't bully the newbies."
Wang Sheng nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Teacher Mo walked off with the leftover bedding.
Tang San glanced at Ao Tian, said nothing, and went to spread out his bedding.
Xiao Wu looked at Tang San's bedding with a hint of envy.
The boys' eyes all lit up and immediately rushed forward with their own beddings.
"Boss, use my bedding!"
"Boss, mine's better!"
"..."
Xiao Wu looked at the beddings—tattered and smelly. Some smelled sour, some fishy, some musty...
"No need, no need!" Xiao Wu waved her hands frantically, her skin crawling.
She looked around and saw Ao Tian already sitting on an empty bed inside, with two sets of school uniforms next to him.
She quickly walked over and sat next to Ao Tian, placing her hands on either side, her long legs swinging.
Looking at his perfect profile, she said, "Ao Tian, can I ask you something?"
"What is it?" Ao Tian turned to look at the little loli.
"You said you have money, right? Can I borrow a bit? I want to buy bedding too. Don't worry, Teacher Mo said we get 10 copper soul coins a day for our work—I'll pay you back quickly."
She blinked her big watery eyes, looking at Ao Tian hopefully.
It was already autumn, and the nights were cold. Without bedding, it would be miserable.
"I was lying earlier. I actually don't have any money on me."
"Ah—" Xiao Wu screamed, drawing everyone's attention. "Then why didn't you accept the Grandmaster's bedding earlier?"
While making his bed, Tang San perked up his ears, curious to hear Ao Tian's response.
Ao Tian shrugged, "You heard Tang San earlier—the Grandmaster wants to take me as his disciple, but I don't want that. So how could I take his things?"
Xiao Wu nodded, "Makes sense."
But then she pouted, "But what about the bedding? It's cold at night!"
Ao Tian glanced at her smooth, tender skin and joked, "How about we cuddle for warmth tonight?"
Xiao Wu blushed, jumped off the bed, and shouted, "You... you scoundrel!" She stomped and ran to the next bed with her uniform in her arms.
She occasionally glanced at Tang San, feeling a bit envious.
Ao Tian smirked, stood up, and lightly brushed his hand over the bed.
A soft, luxurious mattress appeared out of thin air. Everyone gasped in astonishment.
All eyes were on Ao Tian once again.
Xiao Wu jumped from her bed to Ao Tian's mattress.
"Ao Tian, where did you get this mattress? Ah—it's so comfy!"
She couldn't help but lie down, rolling around, squealing in excitement.
Tang San, halfway through making his bed, stood frozen. He had just glanced over and saw Ao Tian conjure the mattress like magic.
He had never seen a mattress before—he'd always slept on wooden boards with just a thin pad. He'd heard mattresses were luxuries only the rich could afford.
Wang Sheng and the others swallowed hard, staring at the mattress, wondering just who Ao Tian really was.
That kind of thing was out of reach for any work-study student.
"Ao Tian... was that a soul tool you just used?" Wang Sheng asked cautiously.
Ao Tian had simply waved his hand and summoned the mattress—this had to be a legendary soul tool.
"Soul tool? What's that?" Tang San thought, confused, but didn't ask. He planned to ask the Grandmaster later.
"If you say so, then sure." Ao Tian said with a subtle smirk.
Soul tools? Please. That kind of low-level gadget? He wouldn't be caught dead using one.
The dorm filled with the sound of gasps again.
Storage-type soul tools were notoriously expensive—money couldn't even guarantee you one.
At least in Notting City, you couldn't buy them anywhere.
Wang Sheng hesitated, then asked, "Ao Tian, your family must be really wealthy, right? Why are you working as a student laborer?"
"Because I like it. That's all."
Wang Sheng and the others looked at each other, faces full of complicated emotions.
So Ao Tian was a rich kid after all.
Handsome, powerful, rich... they were suddenly feeling seriously unbalanced inside.
Why him...
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