Ben rubbed his side, groaning as he picked himself off the ground after being thrown like a sack of rice into the academy gate. His body felt sore from the rough treatment, and yet, there was an odd sense of relief mixed with annoyance. Tang Hao's grip had been merciless, but there was something about the way the man had handled him that seemed less about punishment and more about... curiosity? Regardless, Ben wasn't in the mood to overthink it.
"Thanks for the lift, Papa Hammer,"
Ben muttered under his breath, sarcasm thick in his voice. He took a moment to dust himself off before slowly standing upright, grimacing at the pain in his ribs.
"Jeez, he really doesn't know how to go easy on someone. I'm not a ragdoll…"
He glanced back toward the man who had thrown him without a second thought. Tang Hao, now standing tall and imposing, had gone through a complete transformation since their first encounter. The rough, disheveled man who reeked of alcohol had disappeared, replaced by a well-groomed, dignified figure. His clothes were pristine, his hair combed back with care, and his eyes sharp with a certain kind of intensity Ben couldn't quite place.
"What the hell happened to him?"
Ben thought, staring at the man in confusion. He'd expected a confrontation, maybe a few more insults, or even a fight. But this... this was different. Tang Hao seemed like a man who had shaken off his demons and was now standing with the calm composure of someone who had found his resolve.
Ben grumbled and turned his attention toward the academy gates.
"This guy's a total Nutjob. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he's some kind of perfect gentleman now. Too bad I'm not interested in figuring him out."
He walked through the gates, muttering to himself about how things seemed to get more complicated every day. The encounter with Tang Hao had left a bad taste in his mouth, but at least the man hadn't pressed him too much. It was like he already knew everything he needed to about Ben—more than Ben himself understood, honestly.
"Maybe that's the curse of having a soul with a big, glowing core,"
Ben mused as he crossed the courtyard, the weight of the conversation weighing heavily on him.
"At least I reached level 21,"
he added, managing a small grin despite the odd situation. It wasn't much, but it was progress. He was officially above level 20 now, and that was a milestone in itself.
Still, the words Tang Hao had spoken earlier echoed in his mind.
"You're the one who stole Ah Yin's leg bone."
The words were like a slap to the face. Ben had never planned to get involved in this mess, but now it seemed like everything was spiraling out of control.
He exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck.
"What a pain in the ass."
Ben reached the dormitory, the familiar sight of his fellow students milling about making him feel somewhat normal again. The noise of the academy and the bustle of life helped drown out his thoughts for a while. But he knew deep down that his peace wouldn't last. Tang Hao would keep watching, and the tension between them was far from over.
He made his way to the dorm, and as he reached the door, he couldn't help but mutter to himself.
"I'll have to get stronger. Can't let some big guy like that intimidate me. And... maybe I should start figuring out what this whole 'soul power' business really means. It's getting out of hand."
But as Ben stepped inside and settled into his room, a familiar feeling washed over him. His spirit was always active, a constant hum in the background of his mind, and now with his second ring, there was more power within him than ever before. The Ray Feather skill was something he could use without even thinking about it—one more weapon in his arsenal.
"I'll figure this out eventually," he thought, settling down on his bed. "And when I do, Tang Hao and anyone else who comes after me better watch out."
As Ben closed his eyes and began to drift into his thoughts, he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon. There was still so much he had to learn about his martial soul, and who knew what kind of trouble the future held?
But for now, Ben allowed himself a small smile.
"At least I don't have to call xiao wu jiejie anymore. That's a win in my book."