Jiang Nannan had no idea what was going through Feng Piaoling's mind. Seeing him with such a furrowed brow made her heart, which had just begun to relax, feel strangely stifled.
"Benefactor, is there something on your mind?" she asked hesitantly.
"No, it's nothing." Feng Piaoling shook his head and continued walking forward.
Jiang Nannan followed silently by his side. Suddenly, she realized that she knew nothing about this benefactor of hers. She didn't know his past, his worries, or even what he desired. He was like a thick mist; no matter how she tried to get closer, she couldn't touch even a fraction of his true self.
They didn't say another word until they reached the dormitory building.
"Benefactor, are you leaving now?" Jiang Nannan asked, looking at Feng Piaoling as he prepared to head toward the white freshman area, her words trailing off.
"Mm. You should head back early as well." Feng Piaoling nodded, passing by her to walk toward the dormitory.
"Benefactor!" Jiang Nannan took a step forward and called out to him.
"Mm." Feng Piaoling turned around and gave a soft hum of acknowledgment, quietly looking at her and waiting for her to continue.
"During the soul duel just now, I saw that your control over soul power is extraordinary. In the future, if I have any questions about cultivation that I don't understand, may I come to consult you?"
Jiang Nannan summoned her courage to ask.
The two stood beneath an ancient tree outside the teaching building. As a gentle breeze blew past, their hair and clothes swayed in the wind. They simply stood there, looking at each other in silence.
After a moment, Feng Piaoling nodded and said, "Of course you can."
Jiang Nannan smiled. It was a genuine smile; she had finally taken a step closer to her benefactor.
Meanwhile, things were quite miserable for Huo Yuhao.
Back in the dormitory building, not long after the students who had gone to watch the soul duel left, he exited his cultivation state because he felt hungry.
Realizing that the sky had grown dark and he had missed dinner, he took out some coarse bread and water from the Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges imitation—a soul tool gifted to him by Tang Ya—intending to eat a simple meal and continue his cultivation.
Unexpectedly, he had only taken a couple of bites when Dai Huabin came rushing in from outside and kicked the bread and water right out of his hands.
"What are you doing? I've already finished laying out your bedding for you," Huo Yuhao said with a mix of shock and anger.
"I didn't realize you had such a talent for being a servant."
Dai Huabin glanced at his bed. Seeing that Huo Yuhao had arranged it meticulously, much like a domestic slave from the White Tiger Duke's Mansion, he was slightly surprised.
Then, his tone shifted as he said coldly, "But what you should never, ever do is bring the food you commoners eat into this young master's room. It makes me very angry, and when I'm angry, I want to hit someone."
As he spoke, Dai Huabin's foot had already lashed out.
Huo Yuhao didn't expect Dai Huabin to strike without warning. Unable to even activate his Spirit Eyes martial soul for Spiritual Detection, he was kicked squarely in the abdomen. The force sent him flying backward until he crashed onto his own bunk.
Dai Huabin hadn't used any soul power for this kick, relying purely on his physical strength. Even so, it was enough to make Huo Yuhao vomit up the food he had just eaten.
Because he had recently lost to Feng Piaoling in front of a large crowd, losing a great deal of face, Dai Huabin had been suppressed by a lingering rage. Still venting his anger, he lunged forward, pinned Huo Yuhao down, and began raining punches down on his head.
He beat Huo Yuhao until the boy was scrambling just to protect himself.
"Yuhao, endure it. Endure. Right now, Dai Huabin isn't using his soul power to beat you. If you dare to fight back, it won't be as simple as just taking a beating. You must remember: a lack of patience in small matters will ruin great plans," the Tian Meng advised earnestly.
"I'll endure... I'll endure... In just one more year, I won't have to fear Dai Huabin anymore." Huo Yuhao shielded his head tightly.
He actually endured it.
As he suffered the assault, he thought of his mother once again.
"Mother... Mother..." Huo Yuhao screamed inwardly.
The obsession in his heart surged abruptly. In that moment, all the physical pain was eclipsed by his longing and indignation.
Mother, one day, I will fulfill your wish. I will make Dai Hao kneel before your grave and beg for your forgiveness. I will make everyone who ever bullied you pay the price.
Mother, for your sake, I must be strong. I must be strong. No matter what, I have to hold on. I am not a coward. I am Huo Yuhao, I am my mother's son. For my mother, I must live on with strength and courage. I won't become a man like Dai Hao; I will surpass him.
And you, Dai Huabin, just you wait. I will return today's humiliation a hundredfold in the future.
The obsession in his heart transformed into an indescribable force that exploded within his spirit. Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth and endured, even as his face became bruised and swollen and blood flowed from his nose and mouth. He didn't let out a single groan.
After a long while, perhaps because Dai Huabin was tired of hitting him or because his anger had finally subsided, he finally climbed off him.
By this time, Huo Yuhao had been beaten into looking like a complete "pig's head."
Dai Huabin let out a long breath. "Remember this: if I catch you bringing that commoner trash food into this dormitory again, I'll beat you again."
Having said his piece, he sat cross-legged on his bed with his malice spent and began to cultivate.
At this moment, one of Huo Yuhao's eyes was swollen shut, looking as large as an egg, while his other eye was bloodshot. He forced himself to sit up and began to circulate the Mysterious Heaven Skill, healing his injuries while simultaneously cultivating his soul power.
The Tian Meng was stunned. To be able to withstand such a beating and then immediately force oneself to cultivate through the pain—just how deep was the mental obsession required to achieve this?
In this moment, the Tian Meng couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for Huo Yuhao. Having previously regretted not sacrificing itself to Feng Piaoling, it now felt once again that it had chosen the right person.
Meanwhile, Feng Piaoling, who had already returned to his room, naturally had no idea that Dai Huabin had gone back and beaten Huo Yuhao again.
After returning to his dormitory, he ate some dry rations and water he carried with him, then swallowed a Spirit Ascension Pill and entered a state of cultivation.
As the medicinal effects dissolved, Feng Piaoling was pleasantly surprised to find that his soul power increased by a significant margin. Originally, it would have taken him nearly two months to reach Rank 35; now, it would likely take just over half a month.
Beyond that, his already impressive cultivation speed had increased by about thirty percent. This meant that what used to take thirteen days of cultivation now only took ten. Over the course of a year, he could save more than eighty days.
"This Spirit Ascension Pill really is a good thing. Not only does it increase soul power, but like the Mystic Water Pill, it also stimulates potential and provides vital nutrients. It's a pity only one can be taken; taking any more would negatively impact my future cultivation potential."
Quieting his mind, Feng Piaoling began his cultivation.
The night faded quickly.
The next day, inside the Shrek Academy cafeteria.
Feng Piaoling and Jiang Nannan were standing by a window, eating breakfast together.
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