Chapter 20: The Moral High Ground
Quan Yi stood up and slowly walked over to the boy.
Standing side by side, the difference in their builds was immediately clear. Although they were of similar height, Quan Yi was significantly broader and more muscular.
Quan Yi looked down at the boy and said coolly,
"Name?"
He asked plainly, with no trace of warmth.
But the boy showed no fear of Quan Yi's physique. His face was full of disdain, not even bothering to respond.
Instead, one of the boy's companions spoke first.
"You don't even know our Brother Sun Jie? You really must be a bumpkin from the countryside!"
As soon as he said that, all of Sun Jie's followers burst out laughing.
Quan Yi ignored them. His gaze stayed locked onto Sun Jie's eyes.
Although seething with anger inside, he remained calm. He knew this guy was the ringleader.
Suddenly, Quan Yi gathered his soul power. His Blazing Sun Gauntlets emerged on both hands, and a yellow soul ring rose at his feet. A wave of intense pressure surged outward.
The sudden eruption stunned everyone nearby—especially the yellow soul ring, which shocked them all.
"Quan Yi. Martial soul: Blazing Sun Gauntlets. Level 15 Tool Soul Master. Please advise."
With a calm voice, Quan Yi declared his name, martial soul, and level—an official challenge in the world of soul masters.
He had no interest in arguing. Instead, he chose the simplest, most direct approach: fists.
Sun Jie, however, didn't seem intimidated. His lips curled into a slight smirk, eyes full of mockery.
"How interesting. I accept your challenge. But it's cramped in here—let's fight outside the cafeteria."
He then brushed past Quan Yi and headed downstairs.
The entire cafeteria erupted in excitement. No one had expected a soul master duel even before classes had started. Spoons were dropped, and students rushed after them.
Downstairs, the noise caught the attention of Huo Wu and her brother Huo Wushuang, who were heading toward the cafeteria.
"I don't recognize the guy you mentioned, Huo Wu," Huo Wushuang said with a helpless tone. "If he had such a distinct look, I definitely wouldn't have forgotten."
He never imagined his younger sister would ask him about another boy—especially one from the senior grades.
As the little princess of their clan, Huo Wu was adored by all. Huo Wushuang especially doted on her. Though she might just be curious, he couldn't help but feel wary of this unknown boy.
"It's okay, bro. He should be in the cafeteria again at lunchtime. Once we're there, you'll see him. I was a bit rude this morning and want to apologize."
She had regretted running away earlier. After calming down, she realized she ought to apologize. But knowing he was an upperclassman made her nervous, so she brought her brother along.
Still, it was strange—her brother didn't know the guy either. Could he be a transfer student?
Huo Wu was puzzled.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the cafeteria.
They saw a huge crowd forming a large circle, chattering excitedly.
Huo Wushuang quickly stopped a student and asked, "What's going on? Why is everyone gathered there?"
The student responded eagerly, "Someone challenged Senior Sun Jie! This is the first time I've seen something this exciting! Hurry or you'll only get to see the back of someone's head!"
Then he dashed off enthusiastically.
Huo Wu's face lit up.
"Let's go check it out too!"
She tugged Huo Wushuang's arm and ran toward the crowd.
Lunchtime was the busiest time in the cafeteria. By the time they arrived, they could barely see through the mass of students.
Fortunately, Huo Wushuang was incredibly strong. With Huo Wu in tow, he pushed through the crowd and got to the front.
Once inside the ring, they saw two figures standing in the center. Unlike the noisy surroundings, the tension between them was thick and silent.
Huo Wu's eyes widened in surprise.
"That's him! That's the guy I saw this morning! Do you know him, bro?"
Huo Wushuang scrutinized the boy but shook his head in confusion.
"Never seen him before."
Nearby, students whispered among themselves:
"I heard Sun Jie provoked him first. Never thought this guy had such backbone—challenging Sun Jie right there!"
"I heard he's a level 15 Tool Soul Master. Good talent, but too bad he ran into Sun Jie."
Huo Wu pieced together what had happened.
"Bro, that Sun Jie is way too arrogant. Should we help that guy out?" she said angrily.
Huo Wushuang shook his head. "The duel has already been established. No one can interfere now. Doing so would be disrespectful to both parties."
Huo Wu pouted but said nothing more. Then she asked,
"Is Sun Jie really that strong? Why's everyone so sure the white shirt guy will lose? He's level 15."
Huo Wushuang explained,
"Sun Jie's starting his sixth year. Martial soul: Flame Sparrow. He's a level 19 Beast Soul Master—one of the top fighters in the academy."
"If their martial souls were reversed, that white-shirt guy might stand a chance. But the four-level gap and the early advantage of beast martial souls over tool martial souls create a massive difference."
"Even if he looks more muscular, that won't close the gap. Beast martial souls enhance physical strength much more effectively."
His analysis was clear and logical. Huo Wu couldn't help feeling a little worried.
In the center of the ring, Quan Yi felt somewhat awkward. He hadn't expected things to escalate like this.
More importantly, the guy across from him seemed to be enjoying the attention, delaying any action.
Once the crowd was thick enough, Sun Jie finally spoke.
"Quan Yi, right? I just wanted to remind you—when in public, you should wear proper clothes. Walking into the cafeteria drenched in sweat affects everyone's appetite."
The moment he said this, many spectators—unaware of the full story—began to murmur in agreement. Looking at Quan Yi's still-damp white shirt, they started to feel it was indeed inappropriate.
Quan Yi hadn't expected this move. Sun Jie had taken the moral high ground.
So that was why he waited for the crowd to gather.
Quan Yi nearly laughed aloud.
This reminded him of certain people in his previous life—hypocrites with a façade of virtue. It was revolting.
Sun Jie, seeing the tide of public opinion turn in his favor, continued,
"I admit, my words earlier may have been a bit harsh, but my intentions were good. If you felt offended, I sincerely apologize."
He looked genuinely apologetic.
Most people, moved by his performance, began to sympathize with him.
Except for those on the second floor who had witnessed the original conflict, most had no idea what really happened. They were easily swayed by Sun Jie's act.
Quan Yi was now at a disadvantage.
(To be continued.)