Chapter 23: A Small Conflict in the Cafeteria

Lying on his bed, Ye Qiu lazily lifted his eyelids, turned over, and, under Xiao Wu's expectant gaze, stretched before saying,

"I'm hungry too. Let's go together."

"Yay!"

Excited that her "wallet" was joining them, Xiao Wu jumped up happily.

Wang Sheng then turned to look at Tang San.

However, Tang San's situation was different from Ye Qiu's. His family's blacksmith shop was incredibly poor, and most of their money went to buying alcohol for his father, Tang Hao. To avoid going hungry, Tang San had brought some homemade coarse pancakes as rations.

Shaking his head calmly, Tang San declined, "You guys go ahead. I'll stay behind."

"Come on, Third Brother!" Wang Sheng threw an arm around Tang San's shoulders, understanding the feeling of having an empty wallet.

"Just come with us. I'll cover your and Sister Xiao Wu's meals for the next couple of days," Wang Sheng said generously. He could afford this much at least.

To protect Tang San's pride, Wang Sheng added, "We're roommates now anyway. Once you become a Soul Master, you'll get a monthly gold spirit coin stipend from the Spirit Hall. You can treat me then!"

"A gold spirit coin?!"

Tang San's eyes lit up.

Though he had some doubts, he didn't hesitate further and nodded in agreement.

"Wang Sheng, you don't need to cover my meal. Ye Qiu can pay for mine," Xiao Wu said cheerfully as she pulled Ye Qiu up from his bed.

"Ye Qiu, get up!"

"Haha… Alright, Sister Xiao Wu. Let's head out," Wang Sheng chuckled before leading the group toward the cafeteria.

On the way, Tang San walked beside Wang Sheng, asking about the Soul Master stipend while Ye Qiu and Xiao Wu quietly listened.

The dormitory for working students, Dormitory No. 7, was in a less convenient location, far from both the classrooms and the cafeteria.

However, since the primary academy wasn't very large, they arrived at the cafeteria within fifteen minutes while chatting.

"This place is huge!"

Xiao Wu gasped in amazement as she looked around the vast dining hall.

Tang San nodded slightly in agreement.

"Of course! This cafeteria is large enough to serve all six grade levels and the academy staff at the same time," Wang Sheng explained.

Xiao Wu looked around, but she didn't see what she wanted on the first-floor food stalls. She turned to Wang Sheng and asked, "Are there any fresh vegetables or carrots here?"

Wang Sheng replied, "Probably not on the first floor. I'm not sure about the second floor."

"Then let's go check upstairs!" Xiao Wu suggested eagerly.

Wang Sheng scratched his head awkwardly and explained, "Sister Xiao Wu, we should wait until we get our wages before going upstairs. The food there is really expensive."

"Huh?"

Xiao Wu blinked in surprise, then turned to Ye Qiu with a pitiful expression.

"Ye Qiu~ Ah!"

Ye Qiu unceremoniously flicked her forehead. "What are you thinking? Do you really take me for your personal wallet? You haven't even paid me back for the bedding yet, and I don't have much money left!"

"Why are you so mean?!"

Xiao Wu clutched her forehead, her eyes welling up slightly as she pouted at Ye Qiu.

Tang San chuckled lightly and said, "In that case, let's just eat on the first floor."

Just as Tang San finished speaking, someone sneered and interjected,

"That's right. Poor people should know their place. The second floor isn't for lowly working students like you."

A group of well-dressed teenagers descended from the second floor. The arrogant voice belonged to one of them, who stood on the stairs, looking down at Ye Qiu and the others with disdain and contempt.

"I have an idea—how about this? I'll pay for your meals today. You can feast on my leftovers! Sounds good, right? You should be grateful!"

"Hahaha!"

His companions burst into laughter, their gazes filled with mockery as they looked at Ye Qiu and his group.

Wang Sheng quickly lowered his voice and whispered to his three dormmates, "Boss, Sister Xiao Wu, Third Brother, these are the noble students of the academy. They love bullying us working students. The guy speaking just now is called Ling Feng—"

Before Wang Sheng could finish, Xiao Wu had already had enough. She stepped forward and snapped, "What are you laughing at? Do you want a beating?!"

Ling Feng's eyes gleamed as he took in Xiao Wu's appearance. Leaning casually against the staircase railing, he smirked flirtatiously.

"Wow, who would've thought this year's batch of working students would include such a cute little girl?"

"Too bad she's just a lowly poor kid," another noble student sneered.

Their arrogant remarks, filled with words like "poor" and "lowly," made Tang San frown. He hadn't intended to get involved with these childish provocations, but even he was starting to lose patience.

"Xiao Wu, go ahead," Ye Qiu said with a cold smile, just as he was about to unleash the "rabbit."

But before he could say anything else, Xiao Wu had already darted forward. In a flash, she leaped up the stairs and swung her palm at Ling Feng's face.

"You're the one asking for a beating!"

Startled by Xiao Wu's sudden attack, Ling Feng hastily raised his hand and summoned his Martial Soul.

"Shield Martial Soul—Defend!"

A golden shield materialized in front of him, blocking Xiao Wu's strike.

"Staff Martial Soul—Activate!"

The noble student who had insulted Xiao Wu earlier also reacted, summoning a wooden staff. With a flick, he created multiple afterimages and thrust it toward Xiao Wu.

Smack!

The staff was suddenly caught by a dark, shadowy hand.

Despite the illusions, Ye Qiu's keen senses had pinpointed the real staff instantly. He gripped it firmly, preventing the noble student from pulling it back.

Ye Qiu smirked and waited for the boy to use all his strength before suddenly letting go.

Thud, thud, thud!

The noble student stumbled backward, nearly falling on his backside. His face turned red with embarrassment as he swung the staff again in anger.

"You bastard! You're asking for it!"

Smack!

A strand of Blue Silver Grass suddenly lashed across his eyes—it was Tang San's move.

Ye Qiu seized the opportunity, landing a swift elbow strike to the boy's stomach before kicking him down the stairs.

Smack!

At the same time, Xiao Wu had broken through Ling Feng's defense. Her palm connected with his face, sending him tumbling down as well.

Standing at the top of the stairs, the three of them looked down at the fallen noble students.

Ling Feng clutched his swollen cheek, glaring at them with hatred.

"You lowly working students actually dared to hit me! Aren't you afraid of getting expelled?!"

"You're still spouting nonsense!"

Wang Sheng, who had finally reacted, grabbed Ling Feng's collar, ready to punch him.

Before he could land the blow, a stern, raspy voice rang out.

"Stop!"

"It's the Grandmaster!"

The surrounding students murmured among themselves as they looked at the newcomer.

The man wore an old, black academic robe and had a stern expression on his face—Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang.

With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood beside Wang Sheng and announced seriously,

"Fighting is not allowed on school grounds. Do you all not know the rules? If this happens again… you'll be expelled immediately!"

..........................................................

Xiaogang strikes again