Chapter 8: Dai Huabin

After class ended, Tang Wulin prepared to get up and look for Huo Yutong.

He hadn't even gotten up yet when a crowd of female classmates swarmed over.

"Tang Wulin, how did you manage to enroll at nine years old?"

"How do you take care of your skin to make it so good? It looks so smooth."

"Classmate Tang Wulin, let's date!"

All kinds of remarks assailed Tang Wulin—some asked questions, some tried to get close, some did weird things, leaving him overwhelmed.

More importantly, while he was surrounded, Huo Yutong had already left the classroom; if he didn't catch up now, it would be too late.

Tang Wulin hurriedly pushed through the crowd around him, apologizing as he went:

"Sorry, sorry, I have something urgent; let's talk next time."

Unfortunately, by the time he chased out of the classroom, Huo Yutong's figure had still been lost to him.

Looks like I'll have to ask next time...

Tang Wulin sighed, preparing to go back to the classroom to pack up and leave.

At that moment, he turned his head and saw Dai Huabin not far away, talking with a girl beside him.

"..."

Tang Wulin suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Although he couldn't find Huo Yutong for the moment, he could ask another party involved, couldn't he?

Of course, considering Dai Huabin's relationship with Huo Yutong, he might not tell the truth.

This guy is probably the scumbag Huo Yutong mentioned; such people are best at lying, so I must clearly discern the falsehoods in his words.

Tang Wulin made up his mind and approached Dai Huabin.

Seeing Tang Wulin approach, Dai Huabin's expression was extremely annoyed.

"What do you want? Do you have business with me?"

"Huh." Tang Wulin took a deep breath and asked, "May I ask what your relationship with Huo Yutong is?"

"Huh?"

Dai Huabin's brain froze for two seconds.

He searched his mind for the name Huo Yutong, but got no response for a while.

He shook his head.

"I have no impression; tell me her characteristics."

"Well, she's petite, frugal, from a poor family, and has a pair of very beautiful eyes..."

Tang Wulin thought for a moment, then described the image of Huo Yutong in his mind.

Upon reflection, she really is an outstanding person.

What he didn't expect was that, after listening, Dai Huabin actually let out a scornful laugh.

"I see; according to your description, she's a lowly commoner, so you've got the wrong person—I have no interest in lowly commoners and could never know any."

Having said that, he turned his gaze to the girl beside him.

"Come on, Zhu Lu, let's go get lunch—really, it's just a waste of time."

However, just as he was about to leave, his hand was grabbed.

Looking back, Tang Wulin's eyes burned with fierce anger.

"Take back your words."

"What?"

"I said take back what you just said!"

Tang Wulin said, unable to contain his anger.

He had prepared to vet the information, but it turned out unnecessary; Dai Huabin first said he had no impression of Huo Yutong at all, then after hearing Tang Wulin's description expressed extreme contempt for her.

Tang Wulin didn't know what relationship Huo Yutong had with Dai Huabin, but she worked hard, was earnest, and treated people gently—she shouldn't be looked down on like that. Dai Huabin's gaze turned cold.

"Are you sick in the head? Why should I take back what I say just because you tell me to? Could I be wrong? According to your description, she's poor and frugal—isn't that exactly a lowly commoner?"

He was only answering the kid's question out of kindness because Wang Yan had told the students to look after Tang Wulin; he never expected this kid to get uppity.

"Of course not!" Tang Wulin said firmly: "One's family background isn't something one can decide; why should you call someone a lowly commoner just because their family conditions are poor?"

He came from the Star Luo Federation of ten thousand years later, so he naturally couldn't understand the feudal aristocratic mindset of ten thousand years ago.

Likewise, Dai Huabin couldn't understand Tang Wulin either; he just thought this little brat must have something wrong with his head.

"Boring."

Dai Huabin didn't want to hear Tang Wulin's nonsense any longer; he snorted and shoved his hand hard, trying to shake Tang Wulin off.

But to his surprise, Tang Wulin's hand was like cast iron—he couldn't shake it off at all.

Dai Huabin stared wide-eyed in astonishment.

You know, he had just used considerable force; even an ordinary great soul master would only be shaken off, and a soul master like Tang Wulin would at least have to be staggered.

No wonder he could enroll at nine; it seems he does have some special ability.

"Interesting."

Dai Huabin's mouth curled up, a dangerous red light flashed in his eyes, and he threw a punch at Tang Wulin's face.

"!"

Tang Wulin hadn't expected Dai Huabin to suddenly strike; in panic he could only release his hand and dodge.

Having just dodged that straight punch, he was met with a whip kick.

Tang Wulin had to block with his hand; with a "bang," both bodies shook simultaneously, resulting in a draw.

A flicker of shock flashed in Dai Huabin's eyes.

Leg strength is greater than arm strength—that's common sense.

Yet, with him using his legs and Tang Wulin using his hands, their strength comparison ended in a draw?

What a joke—just some unknown brat dares to be so arrogant!

Dai Huabin flew into a rage, launching fists and feet in a relentless attack on Tang Wulin.

Under such pursuit, Tang Wulin's temper flared; he stepped with the still-unfamiliar Ghost Shadow Wandering Step, dodging all of Dai Huabin's attacks, then seized the moment and punched Dai Huabin in the chest.

「Ugh! 」

Although Dai Huabin promptly blocked Tang Wulin's attack with his hand, the blow still caused him some pain, forcing him to retreat two steps.

The previously noisy class fell silent in an instant.

All the students stared, mouths agape, at the two who had just finished a round of combat, their eyes dazed.

Although neither Tang Wulin nor Dai Huabin used their martial souls, their clash remained fierce, causing many lower-ranked students to break into a sweat.

As for Dai Huabin, it's no surprise—many in the class know him, the Heaven's Pride of the White Tiger Duke's family, so his strong strength is expected.

But what about Tang Wulin? An unknown child actually fought Dai Huabin in hand-to-hand combat without using his martial soul, and even seemed to have a slight edge.

According to what Wang Yan just said, his soul power level is near the bottom of the class, yet he can go toe-to-toe with Dai Huabin—this completely overturns the students' perceptions.

Feeling the astonished gazes of his classmates, Dai Huabin's eyes turned blood-red.

He has only ever received praise since childhood—when has he ever lost face like this?

In his view, Tang Wulin's actions were outright rebellious.

「Good, Tang Wulin, right? You're impressive! 」

Dai Huabin let out a chilling cold laugh, as white hair sprouted all over his body, three soul rings appeared around him, and his aura surged.

「Let me give you a proper beating! 」

Tang Wulin remained calm as he watched the ferociously charging Dai Huabin.

A faint golden current began to stir on his hand.

(End of chapter)