Chapter 123: Devil Plan 2.0!

Tang Fei and Little Fatty were led into the Dean's office, where Shang Xiulin was pruning his pots of Phalaenopsis orchids.

Ran Ran stood at the entrance of the Dean's office and reported, "Dean, Tang Fei and Gongshu Lei have arrived."

With a sharp "snip," Shang Xiulin sheared off a large section of a misgrown stem and replied without raising his head, "I know."

He then fell silent, focusing entirely on the task at hand.

Ran Ran looked at Tang Fei and Little Fatty, and accompanied them, standing quietly and waiting.

After more than half an hour, Shang Xiulin finally finished pruning the potted plants. He put away his shears, walked over to a water spray bottle to wash his hands, glanced at Ran Ran, and asked, "Does Teacher Ran have no classes today?"

"Ah?" Ran Ran was stunned for a moment before realizing that the Dean was issuing an eviction notice. She quickly said, "I have classes, I have classes. I'll go right now."

With that, she turned and bolted.

She had wanted to help shield the students from trouble, but Dean Shang wouldn't allow it.

"Such a fair-weather friend," Tang Fei mentally condemned her.

After Ran Ran left, Shang Xiulin turned to Little Fatty and asked with a genial smile, "I heard you got into a fight with someone last night?"

"Master, it was they who bullied me and my brother... I couldn't help but strike back..." Little Fatty explained.

"I heard you were even shouting that I am your master?"

"I was too nervous and misspoke... I meant to say you are my master..." Little Fatty lowered his head in shame.

Standing right in front of the person involved, Little Fatty felt somewhat embarrassed.

The Dean has been so good to me, how could I have called him my disciple?

It is simply too disrespectful to one's master and lacking in propriety.

Shang Xiulin's gaze suddenly shifted to Tang Fei, who wore an expression of studied detachment, and asked, "Did you teach him to do that?"

"What?" Tang Fei pulled his gaze away from the pots of Phalaenopsis, looked at Shang Xiulin, and asked, "What did I teach him?"

With a profound look in his eyes, Shang Xiulin stared at Tang Fei and said, "You were the one who told him to start the fight, and you were the one who told him to shout 'Shang Xiulin is my master' while doing it, weren't you?"

Little Fatty was alarmed and hurriedly defended him, "Master, my brother didn't teach me any of this. I wanted to fight them of my own accord, and I wanted to call you my master of my own accord..."

"If no one had taught you, you wouldn't have thought of it," Shang Xiulin said, hitting the nail on the head.

"Master, I *would* have thought of it..."

Little Fatty tried his best to put up a final struggle.

Tang Fei patted his shoulder, looked at Shang Xiulin, and said, "That's right, I taught him. I told him to strike, and I told him to invoke your relationship when he did."

"Why did you do that?" Shang Xiulin asked in a deep voice.

"The Dean is as wise as the sea, so you should understand our purpose," Tang Fei looked at Shang Xiulin and said with a serious expression, "When encountering those high-status young masters with extraordinary backgrounds, we actually have no sense of security in our hearts..."

"The two of us dared not socialize with anyone and didn't want to conflict with anyone. We were just sitting quietly in the courtyard pavilion eating something, when we were secretly photographed, mocked, insulted, and attacked..."

"I went up to them and asked them to delete the photos and apologize, but they refused. Thinking that we couldn't just let ourselves be bullied like that, I had Little Fatty beat them up..."

"As for why I told Little Fatty to call you his master, it's because the two of us only have this single connection here on the New Star. Dean Shang is the president of the Imperial First Military Academy, with deep connections, students all over the world, and is deeply respected and loved..."

"I figured that if we really made a big fuss, out of respect for Dean Shang, they might treat the two of us a bit more favorably. At least they wouldn't beat us too badly. Besides, Little Fatty truly is your disciple, so calling you that isn't really lying, is it?"

"Why didn't you do it yourself? Why make Little Fatty strike?"

"He has a master like you, but I don't," Tang Fei said righteously.

"..."

"So, I am just the tiger's skin you used to borrow its might?"

"A tiger roars in the mountain forest and all the beasts scatter. You aren't tiger skin; you're a majestic, awe-inspiring tiger."

"Is that so? I never imagined that a mere schoolteacher like me could have such power."

"We tested it for you, and it indeed has immense power," Tang Fei said. "Precisely because of the signboard of Dean Shang, those young lords didn't dare to fight back, and Qin Jianyi was deterred by this and threw down his sword in surrender..."

Shang Xiulin let out a cold laugh and said, "I might believe anything else you say, but claiming that Qin Jianyi was deterred into throwing down his sword in surrender is sheer nonsense. Given the dignity and face of the Qin family, how could Qin Jianyi simply surrender just because Little Fatty is my disciple? How could the Qin family let him off?"

"Oh, I thought that was the main reason," Tang Fei said, putting on a look of sudden realization.

Shang Xiulin looked at Tang Fei thoughtfully and said, "It's rather unexpected that you managed to defeat Qin Jianyi. Judging by cultivation realms, he should be much higher than you. That proves your swordsmanship has its unique aspects. What is the name of the swordsmanship you practice?"

"The Netherworld Scroll," Tang Fei said, then fixed his gaze on Shang Xiulin, wanting to see his reaction upon hearing the name.

Shang Xiulin showed no reaction at all.

This left Tang Fei quite disappointed. It seemed the Fiendish God wasn't fierce enough yet, as even someone as knowledgeable as Shang Xiulin had never heard of his cultivation technique...

"I've never heard of such a technique," Shang Xiulin said. "However, most ancient secret manuals are relics from before the Cataclysm, mostly preserved by individual clans or sects, while others were unearthed from ancient tombs and immortal dwellings by later generations, leaving no trace in historical literature..."

"Since you've displayed that sword technique in public, you must be as careful and cautious as possible from now on."

Tang Fei's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Is the Dean worried that someone has set their sights on my technique and will try to seize it?"

"An innocent man bears a treasure as a crime. It has been so since ancient times. That sword of yours is so powerful that it allowed you to defeat Qin Jianyi across realms. Just think, how many people will covet this sword manual?"

"If it were in the hands of those great families, they might still feel some apprehension. But in the hands of the two of you, they will likely be far more unscrupulous..."

"I understand," Tang Fei bowed deeply to Shang Xiulin, thanking him for the warning, and said, "Thank you, Dean. I will definitely be careful in the future."

"Mm, you don't need to worry too much either. The New Star is different from the Old Earth; it's a society governed by law, and no one dares to openly rob you. The school is certainly safe, so the two of you just need to exercise a little caution."

"Understood. I'll try to stay in school and not go out," Tang Fei said with a smile.

He thought to himself that the school wasn't all that safe either.

The last time he went for a walk by the lake, he had been attacked by a mechanical snake controlled by a machinist.

Thinking of that mechanical snake naturally brought Lu Siyu to mind...

What on earth is Lu Siyu's relationship with the old man? And where is the old man now?

Little Fatty looked at Shang Xiulin with trepidation and asked, "Master, won't me beating those people bring trouble to you?"

"A beating is just a beating," Shang Xiulin's expression turned slightly cold as he said, "My, Shang Xiulin's disciple, is not someone just anyone can bully."

Tang Fei was deeply moved, and looking at Shang Xiulin with sincere gratitude, he said, "Thank you, Master, for your willingness to protect my younger brother and me. Such great kindness is unforgettable..."

"I am not your master; your teacher is Ran Ran." Shang Xiulin refused to fall for Tang Fei's trick.

This brat was far too good at stirring up trouble. If he were to let him force a connection, goodness knows how many messes he'd have to clean up for him in the future...

Yet, thinking of his foolish disciple who followed this guy's every word, Shang Xiulin felt a wave of helplessness.

When there was mischief to be done, this kid wouldn't do it himself, instead having Little Fatty do the dirty work... Wasn't he the one cleaning up after them in the end?

As brothers, how could their personalities be so utterly different?

"Don't be so modest, Dean Shang. You are the president of the Imperial First Military Academy; therefore, you are the teacher of every student in this academy," Tang Fei said in a firm tone. "Besides, you are my younger brother's teacher, which naturally makes you my teacher as well. In front of you, I must perform the rituals of a disciple."

A teacher recognized by Tang Fei had to remain a teacher.

Want to run away? No way.

"Alright, alright," Shang Xiulin couldn't be bothered to continue chatting with this glib fellow. He waved his hand and said, "You go on out first. Little Fatty and I have things to discuss..."

"Yes, Dean." Tang Fei gave Little Fatty a look, then turned and left.

Once Tang Fei had walked away and the office door was closed again, Shang Xiulin looked at Little Fatty with a serious expression and admonished him, "You must not follow his bad examples and learn to be like him."

"My brother isn't bad," Little Fatty corrected the Dean.

He didn't like anyone calling his older brother a bad person, not even Dean Shang.

In his heart, there was no one better than his eldest brother.

Shang Xiulin pondered for a moment and said, "I know his core nature isn't bad, he just has to live much harder than others..."

"Your cultivation path is different from his. Therefore, you must maintain a pure and sincere nature so that you can attain the Great Dao. If you were to learn his cunning and slick ways, your journey would likely stop right there, and even immortals couldn't save you..."

Little Fatty nodded, half-understanding, and asked, "Teacher, what is my Great Dao?"

"I don't know either," Shang Xiulin shook his head, yet looked at Little Fatty with eyes full of anticipation as he said, "However, I am very much looking forward to the arrival of that day."

"Oh," Little Fatty's eyes lit up, and he asked excitedly, "Master, what should I go learn today then?"

"Smash rocks," Shang Xiulin said.

——

When Tang Fei came out of the martial arts hall, the sky had already grown dim.

Just as he was about to go find Little Fatty so they could go home together, he saw Sheng Xinhuai standing at the entrance waiting for him, dressed in a long black gown.

The dress reached her knees, and her dark hair fluttered in the wind.

Because her breasts were exceptionally full, the lines of her figure appeared curvaceous and exquisite, making her a striking sight that easily caught people's attention.

"Hello, Teacher Sheng," Tang Fei walked up and took the initiative to greet her.

He held a very favorable impression of this woman who had repeatedly demonstrated dances for him at the ball, all so he could quickly master it and accompany Phoenix for the second dance.

"Class is over?" Sheng Xinhuai looked at Tang Fei and asked.

"Yes," Tang Fei nodded, then asked, "Is there something Teacher Sheng needs me for? Or are you waiting for someone?"

"Waiting for you," Sheng Xinhuai looked at Tang Fei with a playful smile, her voice soft and alluring.

"Waiting for me? What could you possibly need me for?" Tang Fei asked, puzzled.

He hadn't expected Sheng Xinhuai to wait for him, considering she was Phoenix's friend, not his... Could Phoenix have sent her?

Another test?

"To do everything you and Phoenix did all over again," Sheng Xinhuai said with a mischievous smile.

Tang Fei stared at Sheng Xinhuai with wide eyes, asking in astonishment, "All of it? Do it all over again?"

This time, it was Sheng Xinhuai's turn to look somewhat uncertain as she asked, "What *did* you and Phoenix do? You... you didn't sleep together, did you?"

"..."