Gu Feng's lips curved into a smile as he walked straight over.
He sat down across from Ye Lingling and asked softly, "Lingling, didn't make any friends? Why are you still alone?"
Ye Lingling shook her head slightly, lowering her head as she ate her meal in small bites, clearly unwilling to say more.
Seeing this, Gu Feng didn't press further and continued eating his own food.
Soon, Yu Feng also emerged from the line for food. Her eyes scanned the surroundings and quickly landed on Gu Feng.
When she noticed a girl sitting beside Gu Feng, her lips unconsciously curled upward, and she walked straight toward them without hesitation.
Arriving at the table, Yu Feng deftly placed her tray down and sat down beside Ye Lingling.
Ye Lingling, who had been quietly eating, suddenly sensed a "boy" sitting next to her. She frowned slightly, a flash of surprise and aversion in her eyes.
Naturally introverted, she had an instinctive resistance to strangers getting too close.
However, when she inadvertently glanced up and caught the undeniable delicacy in Yu Feng's features, her sharp feminine intuition was instantly triggered.
She thought to herself, the way this person carried themselves, the softness in their demeanor—it didn't seem like a boy at all. Most likely, they were a girl disguised as a boy.
At this realization, Ye Lingling's slightly tense body relaxed a bit.
Perhaps it was because of Yu Feng's good temper and her constant efforts to liven up the atmosphere that the usually taciturn Ye Lingling actually started chatting with her.
This surprised Gu Feng, but he didn't dwell on it.
After all, she would have to overcome this sooner or later.
As a Support-type Soul Master, how could she trust others with her back if she didn't even have a close friend?
Just then, Xue Beng led a group of people into the cafeteria with a swaggering demeanor that instantly drew the attention of nearly everyone.
"Hey, look, Xue Beng is here."
Someone in the crowd whispered, their voice tinged with apprehension.
Faced with this reckless and unruly prince, though unwilling, everyone quickly made way and then respectfully bowed, saying in unison, "Greetings, Your Highness Xue Beng!"
Xue Beng nodded slightly, a hint of arrogance on his face, and led his entourage straight to the second floor.
The atmosphere on the second floor had been relatively relaxed, but the moment Xue Beng appeared, the air seemed to freeze.
When he saw Gu Feng, Ye Lingling, and Yu Feng chatting and laughing without a care, not only did they not greet him respectfully like everyone else, but they didn't even bother to stand up or bow, a surge of anger instantly flared within him.
How dare they?
In this academy, there was actually someone who dared to ignore his presence!
Seeing their master's dark expression, one of Xue Beng's lackeys quickly seized the opportunity to fan the flames, "Your Highness, those three clearly don't respect you. In this academy, who doesn't know your status? They're being so insolent!"
Another lackey chimed in, "Your Highness, I think they might be people of the Crown Prince."
Mentioning Xue Qinghe only made Xue Beng angrier.
"Hmph, let's see who they really are."
Xue Beng let out a cold snort, his face filled with malice, and strode toward Gu Feng and the others. His lackeys followed closely behind, rubbing their fists and palms, clearly ready to make trouble.
At that moment, Gu Feng was in the middle of taking a bite of food. As he casually glanced up, he noticed Xue Beng and his group approaching with an aggressive demeanor.
He frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face, and gently set down his chopsticks.
Ye Lingling and Yu Feng also sensed something amiss and stopped their conversation, looking up at the unwelcome visitors.
Xue Beng reached the table and slammed his hands down heavily, causing the plates to rattle and nearly spill the food.
He looked down at Gu Feng and the others, his voice dripping with arrogance, "You lot have quite the nerve. Seeing me, the Crown Prince, and not even greeting me? Do you not hold me in any regard?"
Gu Feng stood up leisurely, a faint smile on his face, and met Xue Beng's gaze without a trace of fear. "We meant no offense. Perhaps it's your narrow and fragile ego that can't handle even the slightest slight, making a mountain out of a molehill."
To Gu Feng, a useless prince like Xue Beng held no real status.
In terms of identity, Gu Feng was the only grandson of Bone Douluo, and in the current world, few could compare to him.
Xue Beng, clearly, was not one of them.
Seeing that Gu Feng not only refused to apologize but even dared to retort, Xue Beng's eyes filled with disdain. He sneered, "No offense? In this Heaven Dou Royal Academy, no one has ever dared to act so arrogantly in front of me."
At this point, Ye Lingling also stood up. Though usually reserved, she couldn't help but feel angered by such unreasonable provocation. "Prince Xue Beng, we are all part of the same academy and should coexist peacefully. Your aggressive behavior is unbecoming of a royal."
Xue Beng's face turned pale and then red with anger, and he was about to lash out.
Yu Feng suddenly stepped forward, mocking, "I always thought the princes of the Heaven Dou Empire were exceptional, but it seems they pale in comparison to those of the Star Luo Empire."
Xue Beng was left speechless, his fury burning even hotter. With a wave of his hand, his lackeys closed in.
"What? Looking for a fight?"
Gu Feng took out a napkin, elegantly wiped his mouth, and then tossed it accurately into a nearby trash bin. He then slowly assumed a combat stance.
Seeing this, Xue Beng's anger flared even more. He snorted coldly, "It seems I'll have to teach you a lesson today, or you'll never remember the name Xue Beng."
With that, he swung his arm forcefully in the air, giving the order to his lackeys, "Release your Martial Souls!"
At Xue Beng's command, his lackeys instantly spread out, their Soul Power surging as they each summoned their Martial Souls.
In an instant, the cafeteria was filled with the howls of wolves and the roars of bears, the atmosphere becoming tense and oppressive.
"Oh no, are those newcomers really going to fight Xue Beng?"
"Another clueless freshman who doesn't understand the ways of the world. Looks like they're in for a beating."
"Sigh, why is there no one who can put him in his place?"
"Put him in his place? He's a prince. What can anyone do? The only time he ever behaves is when the Crown Prince is around."
It must be said that Xue Beng's lackeys possessed high-quality Martial Souls.
They were all advanced Martial Souls like the Blazing Fire Wolf, Earth Burst Bear, and Netherworld Wolf King.
Yu Feng let out a light hum and also released her Martial Soul. In comparison, her Wind Chime Bird Soul Spirit appeared somewhat plain, and its presence was completely overshadowed.
Seeing this, Xue Beng curled the corner of his mouth in a smug, cold smile. "If you admit your mistakes now and bow to me, I might just let you off the hook."
"Oh, really? The words 'admit mistakes' have never been in my dictionary."
Gu Feng took a step forward, and a Hundred-Year Soul Ring slowly descended. Behind him, black mist began to spread, and the ferocious Bone Dragon Phantom instantly materialized, its massive skeletal wings blotting out the sky.
(End of Chapter)