Everyone who had been trying to assess the situation drew a deep breath. Just as they hesitated about how to approach the man hailed as the "Pearl Emperor" in the freshman circle, someone finally stepped forward.
"Excuse me, classmate," said Zheng Tian, meeting Ye Chenfeng's gaze. For reasons he couldn't explain, he suddenly felt weak. He'd heard the rumors about Ye Chenfeng, the prodigious new junior whose reputation had even reached the ears of seniors. But seeing him in person, after such a display, was astonishing.
Three monsters defeated, albeit with some mysterious assistance. Zheng Tian felt a twinge of intimidation. Though he was a year older, the word "junior" stuck in his throat. Calling him "brother" felt impossible, so he settled for "classmate."
"Are you a healing mage?" Ye Chenfeng's eyes lit up, the pain from his frozen wound still nagging at him.
"Uh... no."
"No? Then why are you here?" Ye Chenfeng's face fell in disappointment.
"I... I wanted to ask what happened. The school has already sent for a teacher, so I'm sure a healing mage will be here soon," Zheng Tian replied.
"Oh, it's just some Black Church scum," Ye Chenfeng said, his tone softening slightly at the thought of help arriving.
The teachers, who had been called earlier, rushed over, assessing the situation and the battlefield. Their shock was palpable.
"Ye Chenfeng, you took down three general-level demons and a gray priest?"
"Teacher, could you heal my wounds first?" Ye Chenfeng asked, exasperated.
"Oh, yes, of course." The teacher was still shaken. Three general-level monsters and a mid-level mage defeated—an almost unimaginable feat.
The scene had drawn attention. The crowd murmured, eyes wide as they registered the gravity of the achievement. A general-level demon typically required a team of intermediate wizards, while servant-level demons were already difficult for junior mages. Ye Chenfeng's prowess was astonishing. The whispers spread among the students:
"What? Those were general-level demons?"
"How is that even possible?"
"Haha! What's so strange about this?" a freshman exclaimed. "Emperor Mingzhu is unmatched." The more seasoned students rolled their eyes, knowing that the freshmen had no grasp of the weight of such an achievement.
In reality, facing even a small group of general-level demons could make a high-level mage retreat. For weaker mages, it could mean death. A team of junior mages might barely handle servant-level foes; general-level ones required coordinated strikes by intermediates, and even then, success wasn't guaranteed.
Later that evening, Ye Chenfeng returned home, catching the enticing aroma of a meal prepared by Ying Su. The golden, crispy meat glistened in the light, its rich scent filling the room—a masterpiece of color, fragrance, and taste.
But Ye Chenfeng frowned.
"Where's my share?" he asked, jaw clenched.
Ying Su, about to enjoy her cooking, looked up, surprised. "Didn't you tell me to only make my portion from now on?"
He had. When Ying Su first came to live with Ye Chenfeng, he'd worried her black magic might affect Uncle Ye, so he had him move out. This meant there was no one else to cook.
Ye Chenfeng recalled how Ying Su had assured him, smiling confidently, that she'd been self-reliant and cooking for years. Her claim seemed believable, and he'd trusted her, thinking her skills would match her confidence. To his surprise, her cooking was indeed exceptional. However, Ye Chenfeng's culinary skills were more suited to wilderness survival.
He remembered tasting her food, waving her off with praise, and telling her he'd rely on school meals from then on. Now, after his fight with the Black Church, he needed to eat.
"I fought some people today and didn't have time to eat, so I'm starving," he said, eyeing the table.
"You fought? Are you hurt?" Ying Su's concern softened her voice.
"It's nothing. I had my clothes for protection, and the teachers already treated me."
"Oh, those Black Church scoundrels!" Ying Su clenched her small fists. "If I run into them, I'll avenge you!"
Ye Chenfeng's eyes lingered for a moment on her fierce expression and the unintentional display of her charms, before a shiver ran down his spine. "You? Go after the Black Church? Auntie, they'd capture you in a heartbeat."
If Ying Su, with her unique powers, fell into their hands, she'd be more of a weapon than a victim.