Time gradually passed.

Sun Qi, Luo Tiegen, and the others were flushed with drink, a bit tipsy.

Qian Dele suddenly proposed, "We've all entered the Entry Level of the Nourishing Life Art. It's fate that we're gathered here, eating meat and drinking wine. Why don't we become sworn brothers and rank ourselves?"

"I agree, it makes us feel closer," Sun Zheng said happily.

"Sounds reasonable," Luo Tiegen nodded, holding the last jar of wine.

"Sounds interesting."

With Sun Qi, the top in Fist Strength, nodding in agreement, the ranking and oath-taking proceeded smoothly. The group exchanged titles and then burst into laughter.

"Speaking of which," Sun Qi raised his eyebrows and looked at Sun Zheng, "Little Zheng, I heard you were slapped. Is that true?"

On the bed, Jiang Ping, who was about to fall asleep, suddenly became more alert.

Damn, they're coming for me!

Below.

Sun Zheng waved his hand dismissively, "Thanks for your concern, Brother Qi. It's a small matter, it's over."

"How can it be a small matter? Tell us, if you've been wronged, your brother will stand up for you," Sun Qi said boldly.

Then Sun Zheng recounted the incident, adding some embellishments, not caring that the other party involved was present.

"So that's how it is," Sun Qi nodded, snorting, "Even if Little Zheng did something wrong, we're all in the same dormitory, it's fate. Why couldn't Jiang Ping talk it out instead of being so overbearing and resorting to violence?"

"Brother Jiang was indeed out of line," Luo Tiegen agreed.

"Drag him down here, make him kneel and apologize to our Zheng, only then can this be settled!" another person, emboldened by drink, declared.

Jiang Ping woke up fully.

He realized why this gathering was held in his dormitory—it was likely to intimidate him.

Of course, they could drink and make noise, and he didn't want to argue over drunken nonsense.

But they better not climb onto his bed!

Otherwise, the Dragon King of the Shallow Waters would emerge early!

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If Jiang Ping, at the 3rd Layer of the Nourishing Life Art, was somewhat apprehensive facing so many people, now at the 4th Layer, his Fist Strength far surpassed theirs, and taking on all seven wouldn't be a problem.

Jiang Ping mused, listening to their 'bold declarations', but his eyelids grew heavier.

When he woke up, it was already the next morning.

Jiang Ping stretched lazily, feeling more refreshed with each sleep, washing away fatigue and feeling invigorated.

"Looks like nothing happened last night..." He got out of bed and glanced at Sun Zheng and the others still dreaming, suddenly stunned.

Sun Zheng's face was bruised and swollen, his left cheek puffed up like a pig's head.

In his sleep, Qian Dele scratched his right eye, seemingly itchy.

No wonder it itched; his right eye was swollen like he'd been punched, a panda eye.

"Who did this?" Jiang Ping found it amusing, yet curious.

Looking at Luo Tiegen, he found that this one was unharmed.

"That's what you get for drinking," Jiang Ping shrugged, grabbed his towel and salt, and left the dormitory.

...

After breakfast.

While practicing, Jiang Ping noticed that not only Sun Zheng and Qian Dele were injured, but Luo Daniu also bore marks on his face, sparking a suspicion in his heart.

Of course, he couldn't directly ask the involved parties, so during a break, he pulled another roommate aside to inquire about the truth.

Only then did he learn.

Apparently, the seven drank late into the night, but Sun Zheng, in his drunkenness, became rowdy, causing a ruckus.

Luo Daniu, wanting to rest, reminded him, but Sun Zheng ignored it, continuing his antics, and couldn't be persuaded. Then Luo Daniu cursed him, and the two started arguing.

It quickly escalated from words to fists.

"Qian Dele didn't intervene?" Jiang Ping asked.

"Hmph!" At this, the roommate seemed disgruntled, coldly saying, "That guy's a hypocrite. I thought Qian Dele had some decency during your incident with Sun Zheng, but he's just a scoundrel."

"He did intervene, but he restrained Daniu alone, letting Sun Zheng land a few more kicks."

"And that's where it ended?" Jiang Ping raised an eyebrow.

"Not at all. Sun Zheng not only behaved badly but also had a foul mouth, insulting Daniu and dragging his fellow townsmen into it. Then those guys got fed up and joined in, leading to a one-sided beating."

Jiang Ping nodded. Sun Zheng's loose tongue and lack of sense had already been evident when he belittled Luo Daniu and the others during the drinking. Though they didn't mind then, it likely set the stage for the later beating.

Serves him right.

"Strange," Jiang Ping sighed, surprised he slept through it all.

Normally, such commotion would have woken him.

"It must be because I broke through to the 4th Layer of the Nourishing Life Art, enhancing my physical condition, making me sleep more soundly," Jiang Ping speculated.

"By the way, didn't Luo Tiegen try to mediate?" he asked, puzzled.

"He couldn't. When Daniu was taking on two, he didn't dare get close, just stood there anxiously, like a coward."

Hearing this, Jiang Ping pondered.

He didn't think Luo Tiegen couldn't mediate, but rather chose to stay out of it, slippery like an eel.

However, the outcome was both unexpected and predictable.

In the end, Sun Qi and the newly sworn brothers were alerted, separating the two sides and using their superior martial prowess to make Luo Daniu and the others apologize and pay some silver.

"That guy will probably be even more arrogant now."

Jiang Ping glanced at Sun Zheng in the distance, who seemed to have a third eye, instantly meeting his gaze and glaring fiercely.

Jiang Ping smirked inwardly, then looked away, listening to his roommate sigh, "Indeed, I think that slap you gave him was well-deserved. Sun Zheng is a fool, and the dormitory will probably never be peaceful."

...

Things unfolded just as the roommate predicted, quickly becoming reality.

Sun Zheng, backed by Sun Qi and Qian Dele, flaunted his arrogance during the afternoon nap period, showing off his insolence.

Whenever Luo Daniu and the others made the slightest noise, Sun Zheng would reprimand them, yet he himself disregarded everyone's rest, loudly chatting with Qian Dele.

Even Jiang Ping wasn't spared, scolded when he got up.

But Jiang Ping couldn't be bothered to argue, which only made Sun Zheng more smug, thinking Jiang Ping feared him.

So by nightfall, he pushed his luck, seemingly trying to annoy Jiang Ping, who slept early, speaking loudly and buying several jugs of wine to drink with his newly sworn brothers, making as much noise as possible.

The others dared not intervene, and it wasn't until Qian Dele, wanting to rest, spoke up that Sun Zheng quieted down.

Of course, Jiang Ping knew nothing of the night's events until his roommate informed him while washing up the next day.

"Brother Jiang, are you pretending to sleep because you're afraid of that fool?" Liu Wensheng chuckled nearby.

He had heard about the incidents in Jiang Ping's dormitory and despised those who bullied others with backing.

"Not really," Jiang Ping shrugged. He truly slept soundly until morning, fitting his theory that after reaching the 4th Layer of the Nourishing Life Art, his condition improved, making him sleep deeply.

Which was good, avoiding nighttime irritation from dogs.

"If you need help, just say the word, I can back you up," Liu Wensheng smiled, then added quietly, "I've broken through to the 2nd Layer."