PACK!
Shang easily shoved the hand to the side again, making it miss his shoulder.
For a mont, the two of them only looked at each other.
Then, Shang walked to the side, making room for the blonde guy. Without saying anything, Shang simply gestured to the free door.
For a bit, the blonde guy looked at Shang with furrowed brows. On one hand, he could pass now, but on the other hand, Shang had shoved his hand to the side.
The guy definitely didn't like that a re kid was looking at him like that.
"Tch, don't do sothing like that again if you want to survive in the academy," the guy spat before he entered the building.
Shang didn't answer, and his eyes didn't follow the guy.
With his actions, Shang had shown that he was willing to comply but also that he wouldn't accept being mistreated.
Shang had shown that it was a bad idea to pick a fight with him, but he had also not provoked the other person. He hadn't insulted him or berated him. He had only dealt with the action that went too far without teaching the other side "a lesson".
Could Shang have verbally attacked the guy after his little verbal provocation?
Sure, but why should he?
It was simply soone that wanted to save so face after receiving a perceived loss.
Many tis, when soone felt like they were losing a confrontation or a discussion, they tried to get one last jab in before leaving. Sothing like that was a bit cowardly, and one could certainly start the entire confrontation again based on that last jab. However, Shang had better things to do than to argue with so random guy.
Many people in Shang's place would have thrown a jab back. After all, he had been verbally attacked, so he had the right to attack back.
But that wasn't Shang.
Why?
Because it was pointless.
It was a waste of ti.
What was the point of beating down so random guy? Would Shang get fighting experience?
No.
Would Shang get money?
No.
Would Shang get training?
No.
So why should he do it?
Just because it felt good?
Because it felt good to stand above soone else?
Sure, but here's the kicker.
That feeling is only sothing soone without much self-confidence needed.
Shang's self-confidence didn't co from beating up so random kid that insulted him but from his actual power.
After the guy entered the building, Shang walked forward, leaving the building behind.
Sounds of fighting and screaming filled the area, and Shang got reminded of his old MMA gym. It hadn't been this crowded and loud, but the feeling was very similar.
Shang followed the paved road for a bit until he reached a crossroads. The rulebook had included a map of the academy, and Shang knew where each road led.
The western road led to the main building.
The eastern road led to the city.
The southern road led to an area dedicated to trading. It included the exchange hall for Contribution Points and a market with plenty of useful wares for warriors. Of course, the market only accepted gold.
The northern road led to the most training fields and arenas. Sure, the fields and arenas were basically everywhere strewn around the academy, but the biggest of them were in the north.
Since Shang was interested in purchasing a knife, he went towards the south, to the market.
"You seem pretty strong."
Shang couldn't take more than a couple of steps before soone stopped him from the side.
"Is there sothing you need?" Shang asked neutrally.
The person that had stopped Shang was soone at his age, 14 or 15 probably. He had icy blue hair, and Shang could feel a bit of Ice Mana swirling around him. On his waist, he carried two long rapiers.
Shang had the habit of analyzing everyone around him and thinking about how they would fight, and this boy wasn't an exception.
Shang guessed that this boy wasn't a pure warrior but a Magic Warrior, soone that practiced Magic to enhance their physical fighting capabilities. With his two rapiers, he was probably soone that struck quickly and with precision.
However, for so reason, Shang felt like the boy in front of him was weak.
Everything about him, his equipnt, his long hair, his two shining weapons, and his radiant uniform made him appear like a genius.
Yet, Shang felt like the boy was only putting on an act.
To Shang, he felt very weak.
The boy smiled with confidence, his smile brightening up the surroundings. "I've seen how you dealt with one of the upperclassn, and I think we two can be useful to each other."
"Useful? In what way?" Shang asked neutrally.
"Well, you see, I'm Stars Gerbon from the Gerbon National Resource Trading Firm," the boy, Stars, said with a graceful tone. "I've recently joined the famous Warrior's Academy, and I'm planning on creating a group of like-minded individuals."
"Not interested," Shang said directly.
Stars looked with shock at Shang for a second. Then, he put on a bitter smile. "Excuse , have you heard of the Gerbon National Res-"
"No," Shang answered, interrupting him. He didn't want to listen to that annoyingly long na again.
Stars' left eyelid twitched a bit, but he still kept up his polite smile. "Well, you see, the Gerbon Nat-"
"Doesn't matter," Shang said, interrupting the boy again. "Your background doesn't matter in here, and as I've said, I'm not interested."
Then, Shang continued walking.
After Shang said that, the polite smile vanished from Stars, and an icy expression ca over his face.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" he asked slowly.
Shang stopped walking and slowly turned around. Then, he looked into Stars' eyes. "Since you've been polite up to now, I'm willing to give you an honestly well-ant hint. This is not so veiled insult, or sothing said to provoke a reaction from you. It's an actual piece of advice."
Stars only lifted an eyebrow.
"Your act only works on warriors that haven't been through enough life-threatening situations in their lives," Shang said. "You can fool those warriors, but those warriors are worthless to begin with. In this world, four hands can't beat two fists."
"Give up," Shang said. "Give up trying to create a power. You obviously haven't been in danger in your life, and an experienced warrior can see that. Don't try to get around the pain of training by using your political ability to create so form of power. You're too weak for such an undertaking."
"Go back to training."
Stars' eyes narrowed, and Shang could not only see anger but actual hatred inside them.
Obviously, Shang had hit a nerve with his words. Based on that look, Stars had probably heard exactly these words a couple of tis before in his life. Otherwise, he wouldn't have had such a strong emotional reaction.
Shang guessed that Stars' parents had probably said sothing similar.
So, how did Stars react?
He sighed, turned around, and left.
A couple of seconds after Stars left, Shang sighed.
' and my big mouth. I wanted to give him so honest advice but see where that got . I'm pretty sure that guy is going to send his goons at later for my perceived disrespectful behavior.'
pᴀɴdᴀ nᴏveʟ Shang continued walking to the south while scratching his chin.
'Honestly, I don't want to deal with every annoying guy individually. I think I should make an example out of the first group.'
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