Volume One, Chapter Nine: The Homeroom Teacher

Ring—!
Once again, the dismissal bell rang.

The students, exhausted from the entire day, now sat weakly on the rubber track.

Most of them watched the farce unfolding before their eyes with schadenfreude.

At this moment, Jiang Huan lowered his head, listening quietly to Zhang Yu’s furious tirade.

“Jiang Huan! Have you grown arrogant? Do you even understand the purpose of the combat training class?”

“You’re only an F-grade spirit weapon. More practice is what’s good for you!”

“Last time, in the puppet combat, why did you get second place? Don’t you know it wasn’t skill but just luck?”

“You’re still only zero-level, four-star! Sometimes I wonder—have you wasted the past three years?”

“Do you know that most first-year students have already reached zero-level, three-star? Aren’t you ashamed?”

Jiang Huan wanted to explain that he had already broken through to first level, but the enraged Zhang Yu didn’t give him a chance to respond.

“Jiang Huan! Some people may be poor but never lose their spirit; you, however, are poor in both wealth and will! How can you waste your youth like this in school? Do you owe that to your parents?”

The whole class burst into laughter.

The young boy’s sensitive pride was ruthlessly trampled upon; Jiang Huan’s body trembled with anger, his fists clenched tightly beneath his shirt, his nails curved as if digging into his flesh.

Zhang Yu looked at Jiang Huan with disdain: “What, do you want to hit me? Come on! If you can beat me, I won’t interfere with whatever you do from now on!”

As these words fell, the atmosphere in the classroom reached a boiling point.

“Fight! Fight! Fight! Jiang Huan! Don’t chicken out!”

“Teacher Zhang, don’t bully him! You’re almost three realms above him!”

“Jiang Huan! Be a man! At worst, you’ll be in the hospital for a few days.”

Zhang Yu stood with his hands behind his back, still gripping the ruler tightly, eyes blazing as he scanned the room: “Anyone talking nonsense, come up and spar with me first!”

Teachers at Caiyun No. 3 Middle School were at least second-level, five-star spirits.

Moreover, Zhang Yu was said to be a retired soldier from the Demon Suppression Army. When he fought, his killing intent was palpable—no student who had never truly faced bloodshed could match him.

The entire room fell silent instantly, Zhang Yu’s cold gaze fixed on Jiang Huan.

As a soldier, he despised those who disobeyed orders the most.

If Jiang Huan had some real strength, Zhang Yu wouldn’t be this angry. However, Jiang Huan’s abilities were worrisome at best.

Soon, he watched as Jiang Huan slowly lifted his lowered head, and in that instant, he was stunned.

In those clear eyes, he saw a resolve not expected from someone so young.

Jiang Huan raised his hand and pointed at Zhang Yu: “Teacher Zhang, I seek your guidance!”

No one could have imagined these words would come from Jiang Huan’s mouth.

But the next moment, the crowd erupted.

“Is Jiang Huan crazy? Daring to confront Teacher Zhang head-on?”

“Damn! This kid’s really brave!”

“How many moves do you think Jiang Huan can last against Teacher Zhang?”

Jiang Huan ignored the sneers and mockery around him.

He didn’t want to burn bridges with his teacher, but that didn’t mean the teacher could trample on his dignity at will.

He didn’t know if he could defeat Teacher Zhang in combat, but at least in physical strength, he far surpassed any second-level spirit master.

A crisp system notification sounded softly in Jiang Huan’s mind.

[Host’s defiance of authority has caught the attention of Spirit No. 9, who is beginning to show some interest.]

However, Jiang Huan was unaware of the system’s message.

Zhang Yu stared at Jiang Huan in surprise, but the next moment, a faint smile curved his lips.

“Jiang Huan, you’ve got guts. But do you know who I am?”

“My cultivation might not be the strongest in the Demon Suppression Army, but among spirit masters of my level, I am definitely the best.”

As he spoke, he unbuttoned two buttons at his collar, revealing several terrifying scars beneath his shirt.

“I’m giving you one more chance—think carefully. Do you really want to challenge me?”

Jiang Huan met his gaze without fear: “I humbly seek your instruction, Teacher Zhang.”

Just as the tension between them reached its peak, a voice like silver bells rang out.

“What’s going on? Isn’t this supposed to be a beast appreciation class? Why are you all still here?”

A graceful figure stepped between Jiang Huan and Zhang Yu, prompting a chorus of voices: “Teacher Murong.”

Her golden hair cascaded like a waterfall, and frameless gold-rimmed glasses lent her an aura of gentle elegance.

The newcomer was none other than Murong Xue, the homeroom teacher of Class Five.

She smiled warmly at Zhang Yu: “Teacher Zhang, why so angry? Who offended you?”

Zhang Yu snorted coldly. Murong Xue then glanced at Jiang Huan in the crowd: “You brat, did you offend Teacher Zhang again?”

Jiang Huan said nothing.

Murong Xue shrugged and smiled helplessly: “Alright, I’ll make the call. Jiang Huan, you’re going for a run—keep running until school ends.”

Zhang Yu frowned slightly. There were less than thirty minutes until dismissal.

This wasn’t a punishment—it was clearly Murong Xue shielding Jiang Huan.

He snorted coldly and said, “One hundred pounds added.”

Murong Xue nodded slightly, looking at Jiang Huan. Jiang Huan nodded back, then turned and strapped on the weighted vest used for training, starting to run laps around the track.

He could refuse to give face to Zhang Yu, but never to Murong Xue.

Over the years, he had always remembered her care and kindness.

Zhang Yu buttoned up his collar again and turned toward the office.

Murong Xue clapped her hands and smiled at the crowd: “Why are you all just standing there? Hurry back to class.”

The students helplessly complied. Some who had intended to cause trouble for Jiang Huan grudgingly returned to the classroom.

As the crowd gradually dispersed, Zhao Yiyi silently exchanged a knowing glance with Murong Xue, then draped her arm over Liu Zhiyue’s shoulder: “Zhiyue, let’s go. We’re heading back.”

A moment later, Murong Xue returned to her office.

Zhang Yu was already waiting inside.

“Teacher Zhang, is something the matter?”

Zhang Yu nodded: “It was that Zhao Yiyi girl secretly coming to find you again, wasn’t it?”

Murong Xue smiled faintly: “If I hadn’t come, would you have really wanted to beat up Jiang Huan?”

Zhang Yu shook his head: “Not really. I just wanted to teach him a lesson.”

“You know, this kid’s spirit weapon is weak to begin with. If I don’t let him face reality, he might waste his whole life.”

Murong Xue nodded: “You’re right. But I’ve always thought Jiang Huan is a good kid. Have you considered that he didn’t arrive late on purpose?”

Zhang Yu looked puzzled: “Not on purpose?”

Murong Xue adjusted her glasses: “Teacher Zhang, don’t you think the things you said might be quite hurtful in certain circumstances?”

Zhang Yu’s face grew serious: “Hurtful? I don’t think so. Are men really so fragile emotionally?”

Murong Xue said no more. Instead, she picked up a pen and paper and quickly wrote down an address and a phone number.

“Teacher Zhang, there’s something I need to tell you. One of my orders from above is to discreetly provide some assistance to the Jiang family.”

“This is their address and phone number. If you have time, you can go visit them.”

Zhang Yu took the note, pondered briefly, then stood to leave.

Near the door, Murong Xue suddenly said, “Old Zhang, be careful in your actions. Don’t expose yourself. Yiyi told me that the Ye Corporation’s people have already entered Caiyun City.”

Zhang Yu looked back at Murong Xue: “Isn’t the school recruitment two months away? Why is Ye Corporation coming so early?”

Murong Xue shrugged: “Yiyi said they’re ostensibly contacting the Liu family, trying to recruit Liu Zhiyue early. But you know, those Ye Corporation people aren’t to be underestimated. Who knows what schemes they’re plotting behind the scenes.”

Zhang Yu nodded in acknowledgment, then left Murong Xue’s office without looking back.

Murong Xue sat for a while, then, feeling a little bored, walked down the corridor and looked toward the track field.

Though she wore glasses, they were merely ornamental.

Her eyesight was excellent, allowing her to clearly see Jiang Huan running with the weighted vest from afar.

His pace was slow but steady, and the weight on him hadn’t lessened.

“Hmm, no one’s watching him, yet he’s so serious about running—such a stubborn kid!”

She watched idly as Jiang Huan circled the track.

Gradually, she began to sense something was amiss.

“I remember his physique is only rated five; how can he endure for so long…”