91: Challenge Fisherball

"What is it?" Xie Ning asked.

Instructor Yan Ruyu said, "The earth cracking beast inner core."

"inner elixir?" Xie Ning was stunned, hearing the term for the first time.

Seeing his confusion, Instructor Yan Ruyu gave him a brief explanation:

"The so-called inner elixir is a pearl-like object condensed by a small number of native Huaxia Yao Beasts during their growth. They vary in size and contain rich, pure energy, but it's only beneficial to Yao Beasts of the same elemental origin."

Hearing this, the first thing Xie Ning thought of was the fire bead that White Fang had absorbed.

"So that's what it is. Here you go." As he spoke, Xie Ning placed an earthy yellow bead, about the size of a fingernail, on the table.

Instructor Yan Ruyu paused for a moment before saying, "A teacher doesn't take things from you for nothing. What do you want in exchange?"

"I don't know for now. Anyway, just take it. If I want something later, I'll come find you," Xie Ning replied with a smile.

After speaking, ignoring Instructor Yan Ruyu's furrowed brow as she thought, he took a few sips of green tea. Only now did the tea's fragrance truly bloom.

"Fine, I owe you one. In the future, whatever you want, as long as I can do it, I'll help you." Instructor Yan Ruyu said, looking relieved as she tucked away the earth cracking beast inner core.

The scene fell back into an awkward silence. Xie Ning didn't know what to say, and Instructor Yan Ruyu was as motionless as a block of ice. After a few seconds, Xie Ning felt uneasy and made an excuse to leave.

After Xie Ning left, the middle-aged beautiful woman sat down next to Instructor Yan Ruyu and stroked her head with the tenderness one shows their own child.

Only then did Instructor Yan Ruyu show a hint of exhaustion, letting the woman stroke her hair.

The middle-aged woman spoke softly, "You should try to step out from the shadows of the past... People are different. This boy's Aptitude is good, and his character was proven in the Flower City incident. Why don't you change your mind and nurture him?"

"Aunt Bai..." Instructor Yan Ruyu seemed lost in memory, her eyes both pained and angry. After a long time, her complex emotions dissolved into a sigh, "...I don't know."

"Sigh... You've suffered, child."

...Xie Ning didn't know what happened after he left. Riding on White Fang's back, he moved slowly toward the dormitory, scrolling through the campus forum on his phone and replying to messages from Lu Bingyun and others.

The campus forum was a bit strange today. Many students were discussing some Treasure Trove or ruins.

The general idea was that a Houtu Ruin would be opening soon, but the specific location was unknown.

Xie Ning didn't pay it much mind and scrolled through a few pages. Seeing nothing important, he was about to put his phone down when he heard two 'dings'—it was a message from Mo Yu.

Learning that she had been promoted to teacher's assistant after obtaining her breeding certificate, he was happy for her. After answering a few of her breeding questions, Xie Ning returned to the dormitory.

Su Qin had returned a step ahead of him. Seeing Xie Ning enter, he said, "I've gathered some information about the instructor."

"Oh? What is it?" Xie Ning was curious.

"Instructor Yan Ruyu doesn't actually lack the ability to teach. In fact, she once nurtured an absolute Genius, the kind that could be ranked alongside those in the Imperial Capital. But unfortunately... that person disappeared later, apparently dying in battle. Since then, the instructor lost heart and became unwilling to train students again."

"Losing heart after someone died in battle?" Xie Ning frowned. For some reason, he felt it was a bit strange.

"That's what those people told me, but they are just students. Besides, this happened several years ago, so they don't know much." Su Qin spread his hands, looking helpless.

Xie Ning didn't speak, but he instinctively felt something was off.

If the reason were really that simple, why would so many people in Lingnan Academy be so hostile toward Instructor Yan Ruyu?

Su Qin then shared more information related to Instructor Yan Ruyu. After listening, Xie Ning couldn't help but ask, "And the master tablet?"

"I don't know about that either. It seems to be related to the students' strength."

Just then, a somewhat familiar voice came from outside the door:

"Hey! Anyone there? Fatty is here to collect protection fees! If you don't want a beating, get out here and welcome me!"

The two looked toward the sound with complicated expressions.

The newcomer was none other than the fat guy who had fled in panic today, Fei Shanqiu.

Fei Shanqiu also spotted Xie Ning and Su Qin, blurting out, "Eh? Brothers, why are you here?"

"This is our dormitory. Why wouldn't we be here?" Su Qin retorted.

Fei Shanqiu slapped his forehead and said with a look of annoyance, "My bad, I'm not familiar with the route yet~ I only knew this area was for freshmen, I didn't check who was living here."

"But... since I'm already here, I have to collect some protection fees no matter what." At this, Fei Shanqiu grinned and squeezed through the gate into the courtyard. "It's not much, thirty thousand per person to ensure you a worry-free year. This is a special price because I think highly of you. For others, Fatty only charges twenty thousand."

Xie Ning: "???"

Su Qin stared with wide, angry eyes. "Why is ours ten thousand higher than others?"

"Because this kid kicked me this morning! Fatty has to get some compensation no matter what!" Fei Shanqiu said, pointing at Xie Ning. His previously smiling face immediately turned into a fierce scowl.

The next second, he turned back into a smiling face and said to Su Qin, "Of course, you're not him, so for you, it's twenty thousand."

"But, but I don't have twenty thousand..." Su Qin was both angry and embarrassed.

Xie Ning rolled his eyes at Su Qin.

Unable to even bother complaining, Xie Ning's gaze skipped over Su Qin and landed on Fei Shanqiu. "What if we don't pay?"

"If you don't pay, it's simple. Maybe someone will get drunk in the middle of the night and smash some holes in this yard, or someone might take a leak at your doorstep, or someone seeking revenge might hit the wrong person... basically, anything could happen. Oh, right, if this courtyard gets damaged, the maintenance costs are a total rip-off! Much more expensive than a one-time protection fee."

Fei Shanqiu's shameless words made Su Qin grit his teeth in anger.

"It sounds like you want to fight?" Xie Ning asked.

"Heh! If you're unhappy with Fatty, here, hit me right here. Use all your strength, Fatty isn't afraid of you!" Fei Shanqiu took a few steps forward, thrusting his greasy, fat face in front of Xie Ning and pointing at his cheek.

Xie Ning raised his hand and swung a punch toward the fat man's face.

The next second, just as Fei Shanqiu wore a triumphant smile, Xie Ning's hand stopped. Then it swerved and, just as a notification sound rang out, he pressed down on the other's wristband.

[Ding! Intermediate Class student Fei Shanqiu has accepted the challenge from Elementary Class student Xie Ning. Both parties please proceed to Zone T for the challenge match within 30 minutes.]

As the notification sound faded, Fei Shanqiu's eyes widened instantly.

"Holy crap! How do you know about challenge matches?"

Xie Ning smiled calmly. "Because I'm Instructor Yan Ruyu's student. Our instructor doesn't play by the rules."

Indeed, according to the general teaching method, academy challenges would only be taught after three days. But Instructor Yan Ruyu found it troublesome and explained everything on the very first day.

Xie Ning also remembered that besides the challenge matches, there was another rule: "Private fighting is prohibited within the academy."

At the same time, the news of Xie Ning challenging Fei Shanqiu spread throughout the school via the broadcast.

This was the standard practice of Lingnan Academy; whenever there was a challenge, students were encouraged to watch to gain more combat experience.