Finally reaching the edge of the arena, thinking he could reach safety he jumped off the stage right as the Narwhal beam hit him, knocking him away and flying off into the far wall crashing hard into it.
Zhu Jiao swept his hands and walked off the stage, he smiled as he walked toward Lin Chen and Shi Tou who were still trying to process what had happened.
Murmurs came from the audience as they started to discuss what actually happened. According to the senior in the crowd, Zhu Jiao had shown not one but 2 legendary skills, the Kun Peng strike and the great suction art. Causing Zhu Jiao to be even more mysterious.
"I think all the rumors of him paying his way into the core disciple courtyard is false. He obviously has the skills."
"I heard his master is a legendary figure that imparted him the Legendary Kun Peng strike, but because he had a fortuitous encounter on the outside and learned the evil art, great suction art, he got exiled."
Zhu Jiao shook his head, there was an obvious amount of misinformation, but it is inevitable. Like how boomers use WhatsApp to spread misinformation. Misinformation could also spread via word of mouth.
Reaching Shi Tou and Lin Chen who were still in shock, he patted their shoulders to knock them out of their stupor as they slowly regained their motor skills and the nagging began again.
"Lin Dong! Why did you do that? Now the disciplinary hall will be after you! Even after you return back to the core disciple hall, they'll still make trouble for you. I've asked around, your master isn't someone great. If they attack you, your master wouldn't even be able to help you. You know you…"
Before Lin Chen could finish speaking Zhu Jiao put his finger on his lips requesting Lin Chen to stop speaking. He was 50/50 about using the
"Shi Tou, let's go somewhere else to talk, I have something that I think will be suitable for you."
Shi Tou nodded as he led Zhu Jiao to the living quarters.
----
Back in the arena, Wu Lie slowly stood up, his voice came back to him eventually in an hour. Granting him more resolve to take revenge.
"I need to let my brother know about this! Find out who the one who did this to me is and let my brother know!"
Zhu Jiao's
---
Zhu Jiao entered the living quarters, Shi Tou was sharing a room with Lin Chen who was still fuming that he was made to shut up.
Walking around the room he was shocked to find the sub par living conditions, from day 1 he had been given lodging by different teachers or deans so he didn't stay in the student living quarters. But seeing this up close he felt sad for the both of them, his eyes couldn't betray his feelings and his expression showed through his eyes.
Lin Chen noticed this and he got upset.
"What's with the look of pity! Don't pity us! This dorm room is pretty good. It costs 15 school credits per person per month."
"Wait… exactly how many credits do you earn a month?"
"We usually get 5 credits to complete missions for the school and in a month we complete at least 10 missions? So we still can eat freely." Lin Chen replied before turning his head to Zhu Jiao.
Zhu Jiao had tears flowing down the side of his cheeks as he put his hands on the shoulders of Shi Tou and Lin Chen nodded his head as his expression basically said 'You've led a hard life, I feel very sorry for you.'
Lin Chen shrugged his hands off of his shoulders.
"Tsk, then tell me mr core disciple, how much are you paying for lodging?"
"Erm… I'm staying in my master's villa, so I got my own room for free."
"Then for food?"
"Also free…"
Feeling his blood pressure rise to a higher level Lin Chen pushed the attack and continued asking, something he would regret later on.
"How much do you get from doing missions then?"
"I haven't done any missions yet though…"
"Then how do you get any school credits!?"
"Well I sold some items and I have a million school credits, so I'm pretty good right now." Zhu Jiao replied with a wry smile.
"..." Shi Tou was stunned.
"..." Lin Chen felt like he wanted to tear his hair out of his head.
Before they could sink further into despair, Zhu Jiao spoke frankly about the duo running his new business.
"I'll be frank with both of you, I'll be running another business in the school and the terms of the business will be in school credits. I've thought about it and I need people I can trust to work with me so I'm here to offer you work in the business."
Immediately without hesitation, Shi Tou replied with gusto. "Whatever the boss wants me to do, I'll do it. I'm your underling after all."
Looking towards Lin Chen, he waited for an answer.
"Screw that, I'm not going to be working under you. I'll have to decline!"
Lin Chen replied finally, Rome can't be built in a day so his negative feelings towards his useless cousin couldn't be swept away entirely.
Shrugging his shoulders Zhu Jiao didn't pursue the matter and spoke frankly to Shi Tou instead.
"Since you decided to work with me, I'll give you a monthly salary of 200 school credits. But before that, I will have to put your body through unimaginable pain and super harsh training. Will you be able to do that?"
A fire lit up from behind the eyes of Shi Tou as he agreed almost instantly. The two went on to shake hands, with Shi Tou not knowing what would happen to him in the time to come.