Nine Lotus Academy had its own set of rules and system, and even something as simple as food was governed by rules that reflected hierarchy and value.

It was the duty of the servants to serve meals for every disciple. For inner disciples, food would be delivered directly to their residences three times a day without fail. Core disciples enjoyed even greater privileges, often having multiple personal servants who handled every aspect of their daily lives.

However, for those outside these privileges, things were entirely different. Outer disciples, visiting cultivators, and unaffiliated individuals had no such luxury. They were required to gather at the Academy Food Hall, stand in line, and collect their meals like commoners.

The system was a deliberate set up. Those who lacked talent were not worth investing in, and the academy made that distinction very clear.

Because of this, the food hall had become one of the most crowded places in the academy, a melting pot of ambition, frustration, and quiet resentment. It was a place where outer disciples, servants, and even visiting guests gathered daily, creating an atmosphere filled with noise, movement, and constant observation.

This is also the place where most information is shared among others. A club of chit chat.

Today, however, something unusual disrupted that routine.

Tony Clark walked into the food hall....!

And beside him the snow leopard walked without any fear and nervousness.

The massive beast moved slowly, its steps heavy yet controlled, its piercing eyes scanning the surroundings like a predator surveying its territory. The moment it entered, the entire hall turned.

People moved aside instinctively... Paths opened without command.

The murmurs began almost immediately.

"That’s him..."

"Tony Clark..."

"The one they were talking about..."

"And that beast... he brought it inside?!"

Tony ignored everything. It was his first time stepping into the outer disciple gathering area, and while the crowd was noticeably larger than anywhere else in the academy, none of it interested him.

He wasn’t here for people... He was here for food.

As it was already lunchtime, more and more disciples poured into the hall, filling every corner with movement and noise. Yet even in that chaos, attention gravitated toward Tony like iron filings toward a magnet.

He walked straight toward the central counter where a chef was busy frying meat.

"I want something tasty for my pet... Snow leopard," Tony asked while leaning on the window wall.

The chef froze for a brief second.

He had already noticed Tony’s presence, and the stories surrounding him were more than enough to make his hands tremble slightly. Without wasting time, he quickly prepared a plate filled with the best cuts of meat available, ensuring both quality and quantity.

"Here... young master, if you need anything to eat of your personal preference, I will also prepare it. Please say the word," the chef said in a humble tone as his hands were shaking slightly. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Tony took the plate without another word and moved toward an empty corner. He sat down casually, placing the plate before the snow leopard and began feeding it directly with his hand.

The beast, clearly hungry, leaned forward eagerly, drool forming at the edge of its mouth as it began devouring the meat.

"Easy, easy, don’t eat my fingers," Tony said while rubbing its head with his other hand.

The scene— Was absurd.

No one in the academy fed their beasts like this. Pets were usually left outside, fed scraps or leftovers by servants. But here was Tony Clark, personally feeding a predator like it was a harmless puppy.

Many took side glances and occasionally watched Tony with interest. Even though they heard many stories about Tony’s villainous acts, encountering him personally is a different matter.

Eyes turned... Again and again.

No one dared question him... Because no one wanted to take the risk.

Tony, however, was completely immersed in the moment. Watching the snow leopard eat stirred something familiar inside him, a quiet satisfaction he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Back when his talent was considered nonexistent, he had spent his days with animals, feeding them, caring for them, finding comfort where humans offered none. Those memories resurfaced faintly, bringing with them a strange sense of calm.

For a brief moment— Everything going smoothly. But...

"Phat...!"

The sound shattered everything.

The plate of meat flew out of Tony’s hand, crashing violently against the wall along with the table, scattering meat across the floor.

The snow leopard let out a furious roar, its body tensing instantly.

The entire hall froze... And everyone turned instantly.

In the next second, every gaze locked onto the source of the disturbance.

Tony slowly turned his head, his expression darkening slightly as his eyes landed on the one who dared.

A young man stood there, holding a massive hammer, his posture firm, his gaze filled with open contempt.

Tony stared at him for a few seconds.

But even after a long time, Tony didn’t recognise the hammer guy who is staring with a proud face.

But then— His eyes shifted slightly. And landed on the woman beside him.

"Elsa Clay...!" Tony spoke her name clearly.

The memory returned instantly. The herb garden incident. She is the same girl who Tony bullied in the Clark family herb garden. At that time, even her brother came to threaten Tony.

Elsa stood proudly beside the hammer-wielding youth, her expression filled with smug confidence, as if she had finally found the stage she was waiting for.

"What are you staring at? Don’t you recognize me?" Elsa asked directly with a smug look.

Tony stood up slowly, placing a hand on the snow leopard to keep it from lunging forward. The beast was already growling, its instincts screaming for violence.

Tony’s lips curved slightly.

"How can I forget you, Elsa Clay? I still remember touching your Soft chest," Tony said dramatically in a loud tone.

The reaction was immediate.

"What...?!!!" A voice from the crowd cried out in shock.

"Did Elsa lose her chastity?!"

"I thought she was pure! How can she fall victim to Tony?!"

"Poor Elsa..!!!"

The whispers spread like wildfire. Shock turned into pity... Pity turned into judgment.

Elsa’s face changed instantly... Red and Furious.

"Stop your nonsense," Elsa cried out directly as she couldn’t bear to hear pitiful whispers behind her back.

Her voice carried across the hall, drawing even more attention from spectators.

Disciples from outside rushed in, pushing closer to witness the unfolding drama. Several individuals had already taken out their golden orbs and mobile devices, eager to record everything.