Huo Lazi's left foot was pressing down on Xia Tian's right foot. She only realized it after Xia Tian spoke, and quickly moved her foot away—but then she noticed something even more irritating: she had stood up for him, yet instead of being grateful, he was complaining that she had stepped on his foot.
"Xia Tian, I'm sticking up for you, and you dare talk to me like that?" Huo Lazi's temper was famous—easily ignited and hard to control.
"You misunderstood," Xia Tian tried to explain, hoping to avoid any more trouble.
"Huo Lazi, this is your turf. I didn't expect the great 'Big Sister' of Jianghai High, Huo Lazi herself, can't even handle a little brother from her own class." Xu Shaocong stood up lazily. "Xiaoya, I'm leaving first. I don't want to get in the way while Sister Huo handles her family business."
"Xu Shaocong, I'll deal with you later." Huo Lazi shot him a glare before turning back to Xia Tian. "They say scholars are useless—and it's true. What's the point of being good at studying if you let people bully you like that? You don't even dare speak up. And when I defend you, you talk back to me?"
"You've got bad breath." Xia Tian frowned, not even looking at her. From the smell, he could tell she must have just eaten stinky tofu.
"You… you're making me furious! Do you think I wouldn't dare hit you?" Huo Lazi ground her teeth in anger. Although she and Xia Tian had been in the same grade for three years, this was the first time she'd ever spoken to him.
Today, she had stood up for him—only for him to insult her breath.
"Sister Huo, let me teach this guy a lesson for you." One of Huo Lazi's punkish followers rolled up her sleeves, ready to fight.
Although Huo Lazi's two followers dressed in flashy, rebellious styles, they weren't to be underestimated. Their grades might have been near the bottom of the class, but when it came to fighting, several boys together wouldn't be a match for the two of them.
"Wait." Huo Lazi gave Xia Tian a sharp look. "Let's go. Someone else will deal with him."
Xia Tian understood what she meant immediately. Xu Shaocong had clearly been looking for trouble. With Huo Lazi's interference, he would hesitate—but now that she was stepping aside, Xu Shaocong would definitely come after him.
"All right, class is starting. It's a mock exam today." The homeroom teacher entered the room just as Huo Lazi and her two followers were walking out. The teacher didn't even comment—apparently used to their behavior.
"You two, get back in there and take the exam, or I'll lose my spot at the top," Huo Lazi said proudly. Her "top spot" referred to being dead last in every exam. Her two subordinates proudly held second-to-last and third-to-last.
"Yes, Sister Huo." The two girls returned to the classroom, but they only scribbled a few answers before leaving again.
Xia Tian looked down at the exam paper, and suddenly, countless lines and trajectories appeared in his mind. Solutions unfolded effortlessly—he didn't even need to calculate; the answers just came to him.
In about thirty minutes, he finished the entire paper. After checking it twice, he handed it in.
"Xia Tian, did you check it properly? Why are you handing it in so soon?" The homeroom teacher frowned. Such speed usually meant careless mistakes. "Have you not been sleeping well lately? Don't forget the college entrance exams are coming up—everyone's expecting great things from you."
"Teacher, I'm done. Can I start the next subject?" Xia Tian wanted to test whether that strange clarity of mind would continue.
"You're done? Let me see." The teacher flipped through his paper. There were no blanks; every answer space was filled neatly. Satisfied, he handed over the next subject's paper.
As Xia Tian expected, the same thing happened again. Answers appeared in his mind instantly; his hand moved faster than thought. He completed all the remaining subjects just as quickly.
After finishing all his exams, Xia Tian went straight home. Later, the subject teachers checked his papers and found every answer correct. Considering the speed and accuracy, it was clear he hadn't cheated.
As he stepped out of the school building, Xia Tian spotted a familiar face—Xu Shaocong—waiting with four burly men behind him, each one clearly a fighter.
"Sister Huo, aren't we going to help him?" one of Huo Lazi's followers asked as they watched from a distance.
"Leave him be," Huo Lazi said coldly. "That arrogant guy needs to taste a little hardship. We'll step in after he's suffered a bit."
"Xia Tian, I heard you didn't even get to touch Wen Ya. What a pity—she's really something." Xu Shaocong sneered.
"She has nothing to do with me anymore. Do whatever you want; you don't need to report to me." Xia Tian smiled faintly. He had already moved past it. The old Xia Tian—the one troubled by love—had died in that car accident. The new Xia Tian would never again be swayed by that woman, Wen Ya.
"You're not even worthy to compete with me for women," Xu Shaocong scoffed. "Still, what I hate most is someone coveting what's mine." His mouth curled slightly, and the four men behind him charged toward Xia Tian.
Even though class was in session, plenty of students had gathered to watch.
Everyone knew Xu Shaocong—he was one of Jianghai High's most feared troublemakers. The four men with him were bullies in their own classes, each with a following of their own. But in front of Xu Shaocong, they were completely obedient. His family background made sure of that.
Xia Tian didn't want trouble—but he wasn't afraid of it either. In the past, even with a weak body, he had never backed down. When others bullied him, he always resisted, no matter how badly he lost.
Now, with his new physical strength and sharp perception, he had no reason to fear them.
The leading fat man swung a fist at him. At that moment, Xia Tian recalled the move Fan Lao had used on him in the park that morning. He caught the man's wrist with his right hand and kicked his leg with his left foot. The fat man's body lifted off the ground and flew five meters before crashing down heavily. The impact echoed on the concrete; the fall was not light.
"Heizi! Damn it, you dare hit our brother!" The other three men were fierce and unflinching. They attacked together, kicking toward Xia Tian.
Seeing them move at once, Xia Tian didn't retreat—he advanced. His right leg swept low, striking all three in their lower bodies, then his fists slammed into their chests in rapid succession. The movements were so fast that no one had time to react.
Even Huo Lazi and her two followers, who had been watching from a distance, were stunned.
"Sister Huo, did I see that right? That honor student actually fights like that?"
"Heizi and his crew are known for their viciousness, but he took them all out in seconds!"
"Could he be one of those legendary martial arts masters? My dream's always been to be a Wuxia heroine. If I learn his kung fu, I'll be unstoppable." Huo Lazi's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Come on, let's go."
"So cool! He even dared to hit Xu Shaocong's people. Who is he?"
"I think I've seen him before—he's that top student."
"No way! A model student who can fight like that? Impossible!"
The onlookers whispered among themselves. Xu Shaocong was a well-known figure in Jianghai High, and his four main henchmen—known as the Four Heavenly Kings—each ruled their own classes.
But today, all four had been defeated by a single person.
"You… what are you trying to do?" Xu Shaocong stammered. He had never faced such a scene before. The Four Heavenly Kings were infamous for their brutality, yet they were all down in seconds.
He had investigated Xia Tian before—just an ordinary poor student, no background at all. So why was he so strong?
"Do what?" Xia Tian smiled slightly and walked past him. "Be careful not to get diarrhea later."
"Diarrhea? Xia Tian, what trick are you trying to pull? I'm warning you—I'm not someone you can mess with. Don't let me see you again, or you're finished!" Xu Shaocong regained some confidence, remembering his family's power. His earlier panic had just been shock. In Jianghai High, no one dared touch him—except maybe Huo Lazi.
"Idiot." Xia Tian didn't even look back as he walked away.
"Xia Tian, wait for me!" Huo Lazi ran after him, but he didn't stop.
"Did you hear me? Stop!" Huo Lazi grabbed him from behind, wrapping her arms tightly around him.
Xia Tian turned his gaze directly toward her.
"What are you looking at!!" Huo Lazi shouted.