Chu Yang dodged the spell by sidestepping, twisting his waist as he did so. He warmed up while taunting, "You're quite skilled with spells; you must use that trick on people often, right? But your speed is too slow. Even my neighbor's grandma is more agile than you."
"Is this how wizards handle things? It's not even as tough as a Muggle's fist."
Chu Yang's words weren't very damaging, but they were extremely insulting. The students watching the commotion burst into laughter, and Marcus's face visibly reddened. He raised his wand, preparing to cast a more powerful spell.
Stopping at a point was all nonsense; the enraged Marcus only wanted to finish Chu Yang.
"Confringo!"
Marcus was casting the Blasting Curse (Explosion Charm)!
Unfortunately, Chu Yang, possessing Observation Haki, had already taken out his wand and cast a spell before Marcus even cried out.
"Expelliarmus!"
Expelliarmus!
A flash of light shot from the tip of Chu Yang's wand, accurately hitting Marcus's wand and knocking it away.
The laughter of the onlookers in the common room abruptly ceased. Everyone stared in shock at the first-year student who had caused such a stir.
Clearly, this wasn't the scene they had expected to see.
Chapter 49: One Against Many
Marcus froze, looking at Chu Yang with an incredulous expression. "You're just a first-year. Where did you learn that spell?"
"It's all written in books, isn't it?" Chu Yang sneered. "Besides the Disarming Charm, I also know the Stupefy you just mentioned."
Marcus realized something was seriously wrong and quickly shouted, "Stop him!"
Harper immediately pulled out his wand, ready to cast a spell at Chu Yang. However, the moment he pulled his wand from his robes, a flash of light precisely struck the wand in his hand!
Another wand flew out!
"How is your casting speed so fast? Even a fifth-year student doesn't have this casting speed!" Harper cried out in a panic, quickly attracting the attention of the surrounding older students.
Some of them were observing.
Others immediately chose to help Harper and Marcus.
If word got out that the two of them had been disarmed by a first-year, the older students' reputation would be ruined!
And to be disarmed by a non-pureblood wizard!
The older students, who had been watching the show, successively pulled out their wands, all preparing to cast the Disarming Charm to attack Chu Yang.
However, something horrifying happened… No matter who it was, as long as they intended to act, Chu Yang's Disarming Charm would land within a second, accurately hitting the wand in their hand, without exception.
At this moment, Chu Yang seemed to be able to foresee the future!
In just twenty seconds, a pile of wands had gathered on the common room floor!
"That first-year actually cast the Disarming Charm more than a dozen times in such a short period! Even an adult wizard couldn't have such immense magic power!"
"His spell-casting speed is even faster than those wizards who passed their O.W.L. exams!"
Gasps erupted continuously from the crowd. They had intended to see the non-pureblood wizard make a fool of himself, but instead, they witnessed a scene that overturned their understanding.
Marcus and Harper, as the instigators, were now regretting it immensely!
"I told you, besides the Disarming Charm, I also know the incantation for Stupefy." Chu Yang revealed a devilish smile. He didn't intend to let these few people off so easily; this wasn't the outcome he wanted.
Chu Yang was someone who hated trouble. He was annoyed by those cockroach-like enemies, so it was best to hit them hard to solve the problem once and for all.
Upon hearing the words "Stupefy," all the older students who had intended to attack Chu Yang panicked!
"Run!"
Marcus shouted, then turned and ran towards the common room exit.
The others immediately followed suit, scrambling in a panic, knocking over many decorations. The originally elegant hall suddenly became like a chicken coop.
However, no matter how fast they ran, they couldn't outrun Chu Yang's wand.
After several flashes of light, the older students, led by Marcus, stiffened and froze in place, unable to move, only their eyes able to blink slightly.
"Aren't you all going to class, seniors?" Chu Yang looked indifferently at the observing older students, delivering a warning. "If you're late, our house will lose points again."
The cold words, like winter frost, fell upon their hearts. The "seniors" dared not linger and quickly rushed towards the exit.
This new student, strong as a monster, was clearly not someone they could deal with. If they didn't run now, would they stay to become statues?
A moment later, only a group of sculpture-like boys remained in the Slytherin common room.
"I just want to quietly study magic, why is it so hard?" Chu Yang sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "It seems like it should all be Dumbledore's fault..."
For the secret knowledge in the restricted section of the library, no matter what arrangements Dumbledore had for him, Chu Yang could only grit his teeth and accept it!
Chu Yang grumbled as he stepped over the wands they had dropped, walking out.
Crunch ~ Crunch ~
Hearing the sound, Marcus and the others immediately showed heartbroken expressions. Chu Yang's retreating figure left a sufficiently deep shadow on them at that moment.
More Slytherin students were absent from breakfast in the Great Hall.
Only this time, it was older students instead of new students.
Snape vaguely felt something was amiss but didn't think much of it, returning to his Potions classroom as usual to prepare for teaching.
However, what happened next confirmed his premonition.
More students were absent from class, and they were Slytherins. After class, Snape left the classroom with a gloomy face!
The morning classes had just ended, and Chu Yang was summoned to the Headmaster's office by Dumbledore again.
And Snape, with a grim expression, had been waiting there for a long time.
The moment the two met in the Headmaster's office, the air immediately became charged with tension.
"Mr. Chu Yang, can you tell me if you are retaliating against those students, or against me?"
It was only the third day of school, and Slytherin had another incident of a large number of students skipping classes!
And the instigator was still Chu Yang!
Snape's face was ashen, trembling with anger, his voice as cold as if it had thawed from an ice cellar. "Since I became Head of Slytherin House, such a thing has never happened."
Chu Yang looked at Snape's slightly reddened pupils and said with sincere attitude, "I'm very sorry, Professor Snape. I also want to live each day quietly, but the environment doesn't allow it. Perhaps you should talk to Headmaster Dumbledore; it might be more practical for me to transfer houses."
Snape snorted. He knew very well that Chu Yang had been specifically arranged into Slytherin by Dumbledore, and he somewhat understood Dumbledore's intentions.
Even though Dumbledore would warn Chu Yang, in fact, he was happy to see Chu Yang teach those overly arrogant Slytherin students a lesson.
Besides, there was no such thing as a house transfer in Hogwarts' tradition. Once the sorting hat completed the sorting, it was a lifelong matter.
"Mr. Chu Yang, a house transfer is impossible. Hogwarts has never had such a precedent."
Dumbledore first corrected Chu Yang's attitude, then turned to Snape and said, "Although Chu Yang used Stupefy on those students, we also understand that the older students initiated the action."
"Professor Snape, I think Slytherin needs to strengthen its character education. A group of older students bullying a new student is not something to be proud of!"
The veins on Snape's neck were almost throbbing with anger. He suddenly remembered what he had said to Chu Yang in Potions class not long ago, and he didn't expect the other party to use his strength to slap him in the face so quickly.
Very loud!
Presumably, every year group in the entire school heard it!
Dumbledore adjusted his glasses and said in a deep voice, "Stupefy is not a very harmful spell. Let this matter end here. If those students have any objections, you can tell them to come to me. I don't think anyone would have the nerve."
When the whole matter was sorted out, the key point was still that the older students made the first move.
Therefore, no one could criticize Chu Yang's self-defense.
Snape could only swallow the result of being humiliated by Chu Yang and hastily excused himself.
Chapter 50: Newcomers Arrive
After Snape left, Dumbledore let out a long breath and complained, "I remember you promised me just last night that you would be quieter."
Chu Yang thought for a long time but couldn't recall when he had promised Dumbledore to be quieter. However, seeing the old man's displeased expression, he quickly nodded and offered his sincere apologies.
The distressed Dumbledore immediately softened considerably and slowly asked, "First-years shouldn't have had Charms class yet. Where did you learn those spells? And you even defeated older students, which is beyond my expectation."
Among the students who lost to Chu Yang, Marcus and Harper were both fifth-years.
And among the other students, the highest was a seventh-year graduate!
Even Dumbledore, who had seen many storms, couldn't help but show a surprised expression after learning of Chu Yang's performance.
Even Tom Riddle, who was Voldemort, was not as exaggerated as Chu Yang when he was in his first year.
"Headmaster Dumbledore, I used all the living expenses the school sponsored me to buy books." Chu Yang showed a shy smile. "My suitcase contains spell books for all seven academic years."
"Seven years' worth of books?" Dumbledore was somewhat disbelieving, yet also emotional. "While I admire your studiousness, I must remind you that Hogwarts' curriculum is not unchangeable; it mainly depends on your professors."
"The books you bought might only count as extracurricular reading."
Chu Yang was silent for a moment, then said frankly, "It's alright, there's no harm in reading more books."
Dumbledore nodded with satisfaction. "Well said. A wizard's power comes from knowledge; magic power is only secondary. Many adult wizards fail to understand this point."
Subsequently, Dumbledore had Chu Yang demonstrate the spells he had mastered. Aside from some spells that were inconvenient to demonstrate, Chu Yang used most of the spells recorded in "Basic Spells" one by one.
Amidst his surprise, Dumbledore's expression gradually became solemn. A talented student would make a teacher proud, but also worry that he might go astray.
Dumbledore reminded Chu Yang, "You have experienced the power of spells and understand the profound might of magic, so you must use it with even greater caution. Remember, use it correctly!"
Chu Yang nodded. Dumbledore almost told him not to become the next Dark Lord.
"Alright, you can go back now. Don't forget to go to the Great Hall for lunch." Dumbledore waved his hand, signaling Chu Yang to leave.
The heavy wooden door made a grating sound. As Chu Yang walked out of the Headmaster's office, his vision suddenly blurred. The familiar sensation made him realize that the Soul Palace was calling him.
In the blink of an eye, the mist pulled Chu Yang to the Soul Palace. He quickly saw the two "selves" he hadn't seen in a long time standing by the throne.
Beside them, Chu Yang saw a new "self"!
The four figures naturally gathered, and after touching each other, they began to share the memories and power from this period.