Chapter 18 – Beneath the Surface

The day after Li Wei's dramatic victory, the atmosphere at Shrek Academy was charged with energy. Whispers floated across every corner of the academy—around the dorms, through the narrow paths between training fields, and in the small dining hall where the elite eight gathered for meals.

"I'm telling you," Oscar said, spoon poised over his soup, "he didn't even need to manifest spirit rings to use it's abilities! Do you know anyone who fights like that?"

"Those armored warriors," Ma Hongjun added, eyes wide, "They weren't spirit beasts. They looked like some kind of summoned constructs—but cooler."

Oscar then add.

"Everytime that I saw how he fight and when he spar with vice principal Zhao Wuji, it really make one know that his strength is in entirely different dimension than us."

Hearing that Oscar said something like that Ma Hongjun also add his two bits.

"Do you think that all? Oscar, you might not know this because Flander do not allow you to fight in the spar because of your support system, after he become spirit ancestor teacher Zhao Wuji use more strength in the spar. Even me and Dai Mubai could not keep up."

Oscar hearing this felt enlighten.

"Isn't the real reason is that you and Dai Mubai always disappear and goes toward the club, so Zhao Wuji use that as a reason to beat the two of you. Do you think that I am blind!."

Hearing that Ma Hongjun thought he can fool the gullible Oscar, look like this one still has brain.

"Damn, thought could fool your gullible mind."

The dining hall hummed with speculation, but even louder was the awe. Students couldn't stop talking about how Li Wei's swift movements and strange invocations overwhelmed Ashzure. Even the more battle-hardened teachers admitted they'd never seen techniques like those.

Behind the excitement was another current—something more adult, more pragmatic. The teachers, especially those who'd been at Shrek long enough to know Flender's habits, began to connect subtle dots.

"Have you noticed?" one instructor murmured to another. "Ever since Li Wei joined last year… our wages were adjusted. Even our training halls got new repairs."

"You think that's his doing?"

"I don't think it's direct," the first said thoughtfully. "But you know how Flender is—he doesn't spend coin unless he sees potential returns. If he's use that much money, there must be a source of that. Then it's probably because Li Wei brought eyes to the academy, when they know that he come here they must want to invest because of that."

"Just who is he really? Did he some kind of a prince of a nation?"

"I do not think that is the case. We have Dai Mubai here at our academy. Even if we are not royalty, as a high level soul master we at least should heard about him, like Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing."

"Yeah, you are right about that"

"But I won't complain," the second replied with a grin. "Whether he's some kind of prince of a nation, king or just a really wealthy successors, I'm enjoying the benefits."

To the teachers, Li Wei was more than a student—he was a symbol of fortune. Perhaps not the cause of their blessings, but certainly the herald.

___________________________

Under the shady branches near the student dorms, four of the academy's new student has gathered. Tang San, always analytical, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the breeze stir the leaves trying to act cool but if one look more closely he will realize that he looks more stupid. He is not as handsome as Li Wei or Dai Mubai, just an ordinary face so what he do just make other look the others ways as it sting.

"Did you see how he moved?" he asked, eyes narrowing. "No spirit rings can be seen when he use the skill, yet he able to dominated and use them freely. It was almost like he could manipulate time—or at least perception of other toward the his own spirit ring, he might be able to use an illusion skill to mask it."

"Maybe that's his martial soul abilties?" Xiao Wu offered. Her tone was light, but her eyes were thoughtful. "Or maybe something else? Spirit tools?"

"No, Xiao Wu. It might not be the case at all." Tang San replied, shaking his head. "Those warriors he summoned—'Riders,' he called them—they are able to acted independently. That's not something even tool spirits can accomplish. It's… different."

Xiao Wu let out a soft laugh. "Still, I like him. He's calm, cool, and that technique was flashy. I get why the academy only accepts monsters now. If Li Wei is what a 'monster' that this academy took as the standard looks like… then we're all just will be learning from him."

Zhu Zhuqing, standing slightly apart from the group with arms folded, glanced toward the horizon. Saying a few word, she not really the type that want to talk too much. "Watching from afar won't be enough."

Tang San turned. "You disagree with just observing him?"

"People hide what they don't want other people seen," she said, voice quiet and firm. "Especially people like him. Calculating. Distant. If you want to understand him, you need to talk to him."

Ning Rongrong, who had been sitting on a smooth stone nearby, nodded in agreement. "I like what Zhuqing said. You can only see a person's nature in how they talk, how they look at you. You can't read everything from battle. Some time people will wear mask in the battle, I know about it because my uncle sword is like that. The face that he take when you see him fight and the face that he has when home look totally different."

Tang San frowned. "That's true, but it will not be easy for him to open up."

Rongrong leaned forward. "Then maybe we just haven't approached him right. Maybe he doesn't see us as worth opening up to yet. Combine with the fact we are just new student, we still do not see much as we have shorter contact unlike the other three senior student. Well if you see how the other student act, he can be totally be trust."

Xiao Wu smiled slyly. "I could always just drop in on him during lunch. He look the type that always eats alone. Even last night he just sit at the edge of the group."

Zhu Zhuqing's eyes flicked toward her. "Let's try that."

There was a shared moment of silent agreement between them—curiosity no longer just about power, but about the person beneath the armor.

Tang San exhaled. "Alright. Let's talk to him directly then. Just… try to be cautious."

"Of what?" Xiao Wu asked, raising a brow.

He paused. "Of the fact that someone that powerful probably isn't showing everything. And people like that… usually have reasons."

The wind rustled through the trees again, brushing away their voices like whispers on the edge of a growing mystery.

Then Tang San try to implement his plan in tying to Li Wei so that he can help him when he have trouble, as long as Tang San need Li Wei. A backstabber always will be a backstabber even after reincarnated. Even the previous Tang clan of his old world do not accept Tang San.