"Isn't that Wang Sheng and those broke kids?" As soon as they entered the cafeteria, a grating voice drifted over.
Tang San looked toward the source of the voice. A group of upperclassmen stood on the staircase between the first and second floors, gazing down at them with lofty disdain.
The speaker was a male student who looked handsome, roughly eleven or twelve years old. Contempt oozed from his eyes as he wagged his finger at Wang Sheng. "Broke is broke. I'm afraid you'll never be able to eat on the second floor."
On the way to the cafeteria, Wang Sheng had already explained the rule about Dormitory Seven's boss standing up for the work-study students, and Xiao Wu had agreed readily. Now, seeing someone pick a fight, her temper flared instantly. "And who are you supposed to be? What's so special about the second floor?"
A work-study student beside Xiao Wu whispered in her ear, "The second floor is where you order dishes separately. It's really expensive — we genuinely can't afford it."
Xiao Wu was about the same height as Tang San. She had been hidden behind Wang Sheng earlier, but now that she stepped forward, the students on the staircase naturally caught sight of her. The male student who had spoken lit up immediately. "What a pretty little thing — too bad she's a work-study student. Wang Sheng, I've got to go eat now. I'll let you off this time."
With that, the group headed up the staircase toward the second floor.
Xiao Wu lifted a foot to chase after them, but Tang San grabbed her arm. "Forget it. We're here to eat."
Xiao Wu gave Tang San a look of mild disdain. "Are you really that afraid of trouble?"
Tang San offered no explanation. He simply walked to the end of the food line and queued up.
Tang Sect rules: No disciple of the Tang Sect shall court trouble lightly. However, should anyone provoke them first, they are permitted to retaliate with overwhelming force.
From an adult's perspective, the students in this academy — no matter their temperament — were nothing more than children. Asking a transmigrator with an adult's mind to bicker with a kid barely into double digits held no appeal for Tang San whatsoever.
Still, Xiao Wu's displayed temperament earned Wang Sheng's greater admiration.
Just then, Tang San spotted a familiar face and hurried over. "Master, you're here to eat too."
It was the Great Master. He gave Tang San a nod and asked, "Have you finished settling in?"
Tang San bowed respectfully. "Thank you for the bedding, Master."
The Great Master patted his shoulder. "Come eat on the second floor with me. Then I'll take you to my place so you can find your way."
Tang San shook his head. "No, thank you, Master. I'd rather eat with my dormmates." He had never wanted to stand out as a loner.
The Great Master did not insist. He nodded and said, "Good. That's the right way to handle it. Go on. Wait for me at the cafeteria entrance after you've eaten." With that, he headed straight up to the second floor.
For some reason, Tang San felt the Great Master and his father were somewhat alike. His father spoke very little, while the Great Master spoke much more, yet both possessed a peculiar quality in their bearing. With the Great Master, it was even more pronounced — even when he smiled, he still managed to convey a sense of gravity.
Wang Sheng came up to Tang San. "You know the Great Master?"
Tang San nodded. "He is my teacher."
Wang Sheng looked bewildered. "No way. You took the Great Master as your teacher? His strength isn't anything impressive. In our academy, the Great Master is basically a guest figure. Apparently, he's only allowed to stay because he's on good terms with the headmaster. To put it bluntly, he's a freeloader. I heard that even approaching fifty, he still hasn't broken through to Great Soul Master — his Martial Soul is only at the twenty-ninth rank. He probably won't ever break through in his lifetime."
Tang San lifted his head and looked Wang Sheng in the eye, his expression serious. "If you don't want to spar with me again, then I'd ask you not to disrespect my teacher like that. This is the first time, and I hope it will be the last. Thank you for the offer, but I don't think I'll need you to treat me to dinner."
With that, he turned and walked toward the cafeteria exit.
Wang Sheng hadn't expected such a strong reaction. He froze on the spot. Xiao Wu and the other students nearby were equally puzzled by his outburst.
A teacher for a day is a father for life — for Tang San, this was far more than empty words. Having accepted the Great Master as his teacher, his respect was genuine and heartfelt. If the one who had called the Great Master a freeloader hadn't been the relatively likable Wang Sheng but someone else, Tang San very likely would have struck first.
Wang Sheng muttered in exasperation, "What was that about? Is this kid crazy?"
Xiao Wu watched Tang San's retreating back. He was still wearing those patch-covered clothes, yet somehow, his slight frame seemed to carry a new sense of stature.
After washing down some dry rations with plain water, Tang San quickly returned to the cafeteria. This time he didn't go inside. He stood quietly at the entrance, waiting. Quite a few passing students cast curious glances his way, but he kept his eyelids lowered, ignoring them as though they didn't exist.
He waited for a full half hour before the Great Master finally emerged from the cafeteria. Walking beside him was a middle-aged man of similar age.
The man wore a long robe. His features were a few degrees more refined than the Great Master's, with a slightly protruding chin and a gentle smile on his face.
"Let's go, Little San." The Great Master called out to Tang San standing at the entrance.
The middle-aged man beside him chuckled. "So this is your new disciple?"
The Great Master nodded.
The man patted the Great Master's shoulder. "All right — I wish you success. I'll be going now." He gave Tang San one last look before heading off in a different direction.
The Great Master's quarters were in a corner room on the top floor of the dormitory building. It was a modest room, roughly thirty square meters. The furnishings inside were simple enough, except for a bookshelf that spanned two walls and was crammed with all manner of books — and it was that which immediately caught Tang San's eye.
(End of Chapter)