"Boss, look! Isn't that the kid you mistook earlier today?" one of Xiao Chenyu's lackeys suddenly spotted someone in the crowd.
Xiao Chenyu immediately turned his head, eyes blazing with anger. He took large strides forward.
"Let's go. That brat made me lose face earlier—he's going to pay for it now!"
"Brother Wang, look! Xiao Chenyu's heading our way with his crew," a dormmate beside Wang Sheng said nervously.
Wang Sheng quickly turned around. His expression darkened as he gritted his teeth. "Looks like we won't be getting out of this peacefully."
"Brother Wang, what do we do? Xiao Wu and Tang San aren't here," one of the younger boys asked in panic.
"They're probably here for me," Zhu Wu guessed calmly, noting the intense, hostile stare from the lead boy. He figured it was most likely because Xiao Chenyu felt humiliated earlier and wanted to regain face by beating him in public.
Kids, after all, have their own… creative logic.
"Zhu, what did you do to piss them off?" Wang Sheng asked, confused.
"The leader thought I was a girl," Zhu Wu said with helpless resignation.
Wang Sheng instantly understood and stepped forward with his chest out. "No point trying to run. I'll take the hits. I've got a tough body—I can handle it."
"No need. I got myself into this—I'll deal with it myself," Zhu Wu said as he strode forward boldly. Although his training time with Diamond Body and Longevity Art was limited each day, the improvement was still significant, especially since awakening his spirit. Thanks to Xiaobai constantly chewing herbs and feeding him the essence, his body had become noticeably stronger.
Otherwise, how else could his skin be so healthy and radiant?
"Zhu, this isn't the time for jokes," Wang Sheng clearly didn't believe in Zhu Wu's combat power.
What kind of battle strength could a silkworm spirit possibly offer?
"Trust me, Brother Wang. I've got my ways," Zhu Wu responded with confidence—though even he wasn't fully sure. But worst-case scenario? He'd just get beaten up. No big deal. Time to face it head-on!
"Besides, there's always Xiaobai's secret weapon," he thought to himself.
Just like humans have to digest and expel waste, Xiaobai also processed herbs and stored the waste and gases in the rear abdominal segment. Don't ask what for. Just know—it's a fart. A deadly one. Think Luo Sanpao-level stench.
It reeked. Intensely. A mix of potent herbal stink and trace toxins.
After all, every medicine has its poison.
The residual poisons from all those herbs would sometimes fuse into a highly toxic gas. Lab-tested—capable of killing mice.
This… fart attack was Xiaobai's current only offensive move.
Zhu Wu had only discovered this "ability" after Xiaobai munched on a few specific herbs.
His face had turned green right on the spot.
Gotta admit—having a spirit with internal storage does have some unique perks.
"You really have a plan?" Wang Sheng still didn't sound convinced.
"Just watch me!" Zhu Wu squared his shoulders and walked boldly to the front of the group, eyes locked on the approaching Xiao Chenyu.
"You little—" Xiao Chenyu was just about to spit some harsh words when Zhu Wu raised his hand and interrupted him.
"Save it. I know exactly what you're here for."
"You want to beat me up to get your pride back, right? You mistook me for a girl, and now you're mad about it—so you think beating up a six-year-old will make you look cool? Shame on you!"
"If you've got guts, come at me one-on-one!"
Face flushed with rage, Xiao Chenyu growled, "How do you want to fight?"
"Without using spirit abilities, obviously!" Zhu Wu replied without hesitation.
"What, you're a Soul Master with a spirit ring and you still want to use soul skills against a Soul Scholar like me who hasn't even gotten a ring yet?"
With so many eyes watching, Xiao Chenyu—concerned about his reputation—agreed without a second thought. "Fine, we'll do it your way."
"You all, make some space!" he shouted to his crew.
"Wait!" Zhu Wu suddenly called out.
"What now?" Xiao Chenyu frowned.
"I have a few conditions," Zhu Wu said calmly.
"What conditions?" Xiao Chenyu asked.
"If I win, you're not allowed to mess with anyone from Dorm Seven again. Also, you'll have to assign someone else to handle our dorm's cleaning duties. In short: you guys do the work, we keep the pay."
Zhu Wu added, "Also, I heard you're the city lord's son. As a noble, I'm sure your family has books about soul beasts, right? I want one. Nothing fancy—just something covering beasts found in the beginner Soul Hunting Forest."
Damn, Wang Sheng blinked in surprise. Didn't I just talk about that this afternoon? This kid really remembered!
"You call that one condition?" Xiao Chenyu was stunned. This guy's got no shame! And he was sharp as hell—was this really a six-year-old?
"What if you lose?" Xiao Chenyu asked.
"I'll drop to my knees and call you 'Daddy.' From then on, if you tell me to go east, I won't dare go west," Zhu Wu said firmly.
"…Unless it's something immoral," he added.
"You think I'm some kind of monster? Are you insulting me?" Xiao Chenyu was fuming.
"Fine, just as you said!" he snapped, gritting his teeth.
"Zhu, are you sure about this?" Wang Sheng asked, concerned, as Xiao Chenyu's gang stepped back to clear the area.
"Trust me," Zhu Wu replied, giving a reassuring glance.
"Be careful, then," Wang Sheng nodded and led the others back.
"Let's do this," Zhu Wu said, planting his feet firmly and nodding at Xiao Chenyu. "I'll let you make the first move."
What the hell? Xiao Chenyu's mind reeled—this kid was cocky beyond belief!
From a distance, Yu Xiaogang, who had been on his way to the cafeteria, paused and shook his head slightly. "The child's not lacking in wit... but he's still too green. Xiao Chenyu's spirit ring may be less than a hundred years old, but it still provides a significant boost to the physical body."
"There's no way a Soul Scholar with a silkworm spirit and no ring can win. It's reckless. Far too reckless."
"Smart but short-sighted. Impulsive and impatient. Not cut out for greatness."
As he thought this, Xiao Chenyu launched his attack. Perhaps because Zhu Wu hadn't summoned his spirit, and considering their age difference, Xiao Chenyu decided not to use his own either—doing so would only invite ridicule.
Clenching his fists, he charged forward.
Zhu Wu remained calm and focused, eyes tracking Xiao Chenyu's incoming strike, while also watching his footing.
Xiao Chenyu closed the distance fast. Just as he arrived, he abruptly stopped, pulled back his punch, and swiftly swept his right leg low—
"That's just bullying! He's taking advantage of Zhu's shorter legs!" Wang Sheng, an experienced target of beatings, immediately recognized the tactic.
But just then, Zhu Wu shifted sideways, dodging the sweep cleanly.
In the next instant, he stomped down hard, launched himself forward with his shoulder leading, and rammed into Xiao Chenyu's chest. At the same time, he curled one leg and aimed a brutal kick—straight for the family jewels.
(End of Chapter)
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