Douluo Dalu (Soul Land): Shadow Monarch

"Have you heard? Our boss at Nuoding Academy is no longer Xiao Chenyu; it's a new work-study student, someone named... Cheng Xiao."

"Yeah, that's right, his name is Cheng Xiao. No, wait, we shouldn't call him Cheng Xiao; we should call him Boss Cheng."

"Apparently, during lunch today, Boss Cheng represented the work-study students and took down all the senior students by himself. Do you know Liu Long and Ling Feng? They got completely wrecked!"

"And did you hear what Boss Cheng said after defeating Xiao Chenyu?"

"What did he say?"

"I heard... after Boss Cheng defeated Xiao Chenyu, he didn't act like a boss at all. In fact, he even took Xiao Chenyu in as his little brother. Now Xiao Chenyu goes around calling himself Boss Cheng's top little brother."

"Come on, where did you hear that gossip? That's way too wild."

On the second floor of the Nuoding Academy cafeteria, Tang San was sitting in a corner by the window. He had just returned from Grandmaster's place not long ago, as the soul master stipend he received included a share for his teacher, Grandmaster. Moreover, when he went to see Grandmaster, it naturally involved some training in martial soul theory.

After going the whole day without eating, Tang San finally got his first meal near dusk. Now that he had some money, his dinner was quite decent, with both meat and vegetables, along with a bowl of soup.

Hearing the loud conversations of the senior students, Tang San was filled with curiosity, but he didn't pay much attention. To him, both Cheng Xiao and Xiao Chenyu were just kids. Cheng Xiao might be a bit more mature, but so what? He had not only the guidance of the martial soul theory master but was also highly proficient in the techniques of the Tang Sect. Moreover, he had the powerful aid of Mysterious Heaven Technique for his cultivation.

Tang San was confident that no matter what kind of genius he encountered, they would pale in comparison to him. He not only wanted to prove his teacher's martial soul theory to the world but also re-establish the glory of the Tang Sect in this new world.

He, Tang San, was born a Tang Sect member and would die as one. No matter what, he would find a way to revive the Tang Sect's brilliance, even in this foreign world.

"I need to fully arm myself as soon as possible," Tang San thought to himself as he downed the last sip of soup. "I should find a job at the blacksmith's shop. That way, I'll have materials to craft Tang Sect hidden weapons. With these weapons at my side, I won't have to fear any danger."

---

When Cheng Xiao and Xiao Wu returned to the dormitory, Wang Sheng and the others were already there. From their excited expressions, it was clear they were discussing something amusing.

"Boss Cheng, Sister Xiao Wu, you're back!" Wang Sheng immediately came to greet them upon seeing the two enter.

"Wang Sheng, what are you all talking about? You all seem so happy," Cheng Xiao asked curiously.

Wang Sheng chuckled, "Boss Cheng, you wouldn't believe it. After you and Sister Xiao Wu left, Xiao Chenyu scrambled to become your number one little brother. Now the entire academy knows he's your subordinate."

"What the heck?" Cheng Xiao was stunned. "Xiao Chenyu scrambling to be my number one little brother? Are you messing with me?"

Wang Sheng proudly replied, "It's all thanks to Boss Cheng! Don't worry, Boss Cheng, Xiao Chenyu knows how to be a good underling. He even arranged for the senior students to take over our work-study duties so you wouldn't have to tire yourself out."

"He's made it so we don't have to work anymore, but we still get paid. All thanks to you, Boss Cheng!"

"Thank you, Boss Cheng!"

As soon as Wang Sheng finished speaking, the other work-study students in the dormitory loudly shouted their sincere thanks.

"Alright, alright, stop calling me Boss Cheng," Cheng Xiao waved them off, feeling a bit of a headache. "Wang Sheng, didn't I tell you not to call me that?"

Wang Sheng awkwardly scratched his head. "Cheng... Cheng Xiao, it's not up to me. Everyone just wants to call you that, and I couldn't stop them."

"Yeah, Boss Cheng, we're all calling you that willingly!" The work-study students chimed in again, each sounding more loyal than the last.

"Fine, fine, call me whatever you want," Cheng Xiao said helplessly. "But in the dorm, either call me Cheng Xiao, or don't call me at all. If anyone calls me Boss Cheng again, I'll give them a punch. Got it?"

"Got it, Boss Cheng!"

"You guys are impossible." Shaking his head, Cheng Xiao walked to his bed, planning to grab his toiletries and wash up before going to sleep.

"By the way, Sister Xiao Wu, why did you two come back so late?" Wang Sheng suddenly asked.

Xiao Wu glanced at him and then at Cheng Xiao, who had already left to wash up. "It's nothing. We just went for a soul master assessment for Cheng Xiao."

"Soul master assessment!" Wang Sheng exclaimed.

The surrounding work-study students all looked on with envy, but that was all they could do. The strength Cheng Xiao displayed today was beyond their wildest expectations. It wasn't human; it was godlike!

One person taking on all the senior students was something that had never happened in the history of Nuoding Academy!

And the fact that the one who defeated the senior students was also a work-study student, just like them, made them feel immense joy.

Cheng Xiao's arrival meant they no longer had to endure the strange looks from others, and all of this was thanks to Cheng Xiao—the true boss of Dorm Seven!

"Alright, Wang Sheng, I'm going to rest now. I'm exhausted from being with Cheng Xiao all day," Xiao Wu yawned and stretched as she headed back to their shared bed, soon falling into a deep sleep.

Wang Sheng scratched his head and didn't disturb Xiao Wu any further. Instead, he told the other work-study students to lower their voices, so they wouldn't wake her up.

After washing up, Cheng Xiao returned to the dormitory and saw Xiao Wu already asleep under the covers.

Shaking his head helplessly, Cheng Xiao sat on the edge of the bed, looking at how Xiao Wu had completely taken over the two beds they had pushed together. He couldn't help but chuckle as he gently lifted her up.

Xiao Wu was very light, so it didn't take much effort for Cheng Xiao to move her, making room for himself to lie down before gently placing her back.

"Tang San, why are you so late?"

Just after settling down, Wang Sheng's voice suddenly rang out.

Cheng Xiao turned his head and saw Tang San entering the room. Their gazes met for a brief moment before Cheng Xiao nodded at him and then looked away, preparing to sleep.

Watching Cheng Xiao's indifferent attitude toward him, Tang San was puzzled. The tension between them that afternoon seemed to have disappeared. Why was Cheng Xiao acting so differently now? But Tang San didn't lower his guard. After all, only the two of them knew what happened in the Spirit Hunting Forest. He wasn't sure what Cheng Xiao was thinking, nor did he want to guess. Given the urgency of the situation back then, if one of them hadn't stayed behind to delay the enemy, none of the three would have made it out alive.

Leaving Cheng Xiao behind wasn't Tang San's fault; it was just that Cheng Xiao had been a burden at the time. Moreover, Grandmaster was his teacher, and Tang San couldn't let his teacher die so easily.

As for himself, Tang San had no intention of letting himself fall into danger.

"Cheng Xiao, if you have time, I'd like to spar with you," Tang San said, looking at Cheng Xiao, who had already lain down.

He had heard plenty of stories about Cheng Xiao in the cafeteria and couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity toward him. So, he wanted to spar with Cheng Xiao and test his own combat abilities.

"Spar?" Cheng Xiao sat up, his tone indifferent. "Of course."

Tang San's face lit up with excitement. "Then we..."

"Tang San, let's spar tomorrow. I'm a bit tired right now." Cheng Xiao interrupted him with a yawn before he could finish speaking.

"Well... alright, then." Tang San's expression stiffened. "We'll do it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow, tomorrow," Cheng Xiao waved his hand dismissively before lying back down and closing his eyes.

Seeing this, Tang San could only sigh helplessly. Although Cheng Xiao's behavior had been a bit rude, at least he had agreed to spar, right?

As for waiting until tomorrow, well, tomorrow it is!