Chapter 33: Cultivator Combat II

"Agh!"

"Matt!?"

It was a good thing that the halls of the Cultivator Academy of Old York were vast; if not, then Matthew's screams would have definitely reached the ears of anyone nearby.

"Let… let go of me!" Matthew quickly pushed Harvey away as he struggled to pry Lucian's grip away — he did not need to, however, as Lucian just let go of his arm as soon as he asked to.

"I apologize," Lucian blinked a couple of times as he saw Matthew holding his arm, seemingly in pain, "Did that hurt you? That was not my intention at all and I apologize…

…I just thought you were stronger than that."

"You—are you mocking me!?" Matthew gritted his teeth while backing away.

"No," Lucian shook his head, and he wasn't lying at all. Lucian truly was concerned about Matthew since he seemed hurt based on the way his face curled, "Are you hurt? If so, you need to get that checked."

"N… No!" Matthew was about to rush toward Lucian, but his friends stopped him from doing so.

"Hey man, it's not worth it. Let's just go! We'll be late for class."

"Damn it!" Matthew almost snarled at Lucian while staring him right in the eyes, "I'm going to remember you, old man. I'm going to fucking remember you. And you…

…fucking bitch ass weak shit, you don't deserve to be in this Academy—no. You don't even deserve to live."

Matthew stomped his foot on the ground while pretending to lunge at Harvey. Harvey, however, did not budge at all and just smirked at him while holding his slightly swollen neck.

"That's right. Run away from a Spirit Infant," Harvey let out a small scoff as he looked Matthew in the eyes without any fear, "All that talent, and you're still a pussy. What a fucking disappointment."

"What did you say!?" Matthew was truly going to lunge at Harvey this time, but his friends once again stopped him as soon as they saw someone else climbing up the stairs.

"Let's… let's just go, Man! We're going to be late, you know how strict the instructor is!"

"Damn it, fuck!" Matthew could really only curse as he pushed his friends. He then glared at Lucian and Harvey one last time before he and his friends all just rushed away in a hurry, "I'll remember this!"

"My god…" Harvey could really only caress his neck while shaking his head, "...He sounds like a 3rd rate villain. Why are almost all my siblings like that?"

"You should get him checked once you get home, Harvey," Lucian said as he glanced at Harvey's neck for a few seconds, "His arm might be injured."

"Nah, we don't live under the same roof," Harvey shook his head as he started walking, "I live separately from the rest of them."

"He seems to be incredibly young, Mr. Harvey," Lucian followed behind Harvey and asked.

"Well, yeah," Harvey let out a small sigh.

"But he is on a higher grade than you?"

"He… skipped a few grades," Harvey closed his eyes and once again sighed, "Most of my siblings do. I'm… the only one who keeps failing."

"So, you are stupid, Mr. Harvey?"

"No!" Harvey raised his voice, "I've already memorized all the things I need to know, all the techniques. I… just don't have any talent when it comes to actual practice. I've been stuck at the Spirit Infant rank for 4 years, and my Combat Proficiency is… laughable. Fuck, I'm getting depressed just thinking about it. At least your Combat Proficiency is rated S. That's like… super OP."

"OP?" Lucian tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah, overpowered," Harvey sighed while shaking his head, "Agh. I guess that's just life, you know? Anyway…

…we're here. This is where your next class is."

"Hm," Lucian was about to enter the classroom before Harvey stopped him.

"Wait," Harvey said, "Just in case you need help after the class, you can have my number."

Harvey then just casually placed a business card into Lucian's pocket before walking away,

"You can just call me anytime, bro."

"Okay. Thank you, Mr. Harvey," Lucian nodded before entering the classroom, and as soon as he did so, he quickly tilted his head to the side to avoid a pen market that was heading straight to his head,

"Good afternoon, I am a new student. I apologize for being 2 minutes and 14 seconds late."

Lucian completely ignored that the instructor just threw a pen at him and just greeted him.

As for the instructor, he only glared at Lucian for a few seconds before letting out a scoff and gesturing to him to just find a seat. And of course, Lucian just nodded as he looked at the bleachers of the class, and as he did so — he noticed Harvey's brother staring at him with wide eyes.

He did not heed him any mind, however, as someone was waving her arm at him.

Lucian squinted his eyes to see who it was — and he did recognize her, it was Emilia; the young lady he met at the same time as Harvey — and it just so happened that there was an empty seat right beside her… or more like, Emilia pushed the one sitting beside her.

"Mr. Zhang," Emilia quickly whispered as Lucian sat beside her, "I didn't think you would actually be attending the Academy at this time — but what are you doing in a 4th-year class?"

"I am here as a special student, Ms. Emilia," Lucian quietly answered as he focused on the instructor.

"...You chose a very weird timing, then," Emilia let out a small giggle, causing those near to her to very subtly glance, "There is—"

"What's so funny?"

And before Emilia could finish her words, the instructor suddenly appeared right behind her and Lucian; his long hair that reached almost to his waist, blocking Emilia and Lucian's view of each other as he leaned forward.

"Do you want to share what is so funny to the rest of the class, Ms. Emilia?" The tone of the instructor's voice was quite monotonous, almost the same as Lucian's.

"N…Nothing, Instructor," Emilia cleared her throat as she stood up straight, "I was just happy to meet a friend."

"A friend…?" The professor then oddly leaned his head closer to Lucian; their faces, only inches apart. Lucian, however, did not seem to mind at all as the two of them just stared at each other's eyes,

"Then is this friend of yours ready for his special introduction to his class?"

"That…"

"Special introduction, Mr. Instructor?" Lucian blinked.

"Yes," the instructor then just leaped back into the front of the class, not making any sound at all as he moved like a feather; his long black hair, just waving along with the wind,

"Someone from this class will challenge you to a duel — this is, after all, is called Cultivator Combat II."

"Me! I challenge him to a duel!" And almost without any delay, someone raised her hand — it was Emilia.

"Hm?" Lucian tilted his head to the side.

"No!" And before anyone else could say anything, Matthew stood up and pointed at Emilia, "She just said she was friends with her! Who knows if she'll be holding back. Me! Pick me!"

"Oh…?" The instructor tilted his head to the side, "It would seem two of your classmates challenge you, New Student. Who would you pick?"

"No one," Lucian quickly answered without any hesitation as he shook his head, "I…

…do not hit children, Mr. Instructor."