Morning sunlight filled the streets as the city began another busy day. Students walked toward their schools, some laughing with friends, others half-asleep as they carried heavy backpacks.
Lin Tian walked calmly along the sidewalk, his school bag hanging over one shoulder.
His expression was quiet and indifferent.
After several nights of cultivation, his body had changed. His senses were sharper, his movements lighter, and his mind clearer than before.
But to everyone around him, he still looked like an ordinary student.
The tall grey buildings of the school soon appeared ahead. Groups of students were gathering near the entrance gate, chatting loudly.
Lin Tian stepped through the gate without drawing attention.
However, some people had already noticed him.
Near the basketball court, three boys were leaning against the metal fence. They were known troublemakers in the school—students who enjoyed bullying others, especially those who looked weak.
The leader was a tall boy with messy hair and a cold smirk.
His name was Zhao Ming.
Zhao Ming noticed Lin Tian walking across the courtyard.
A mocking smile appeared on his face.
"Well, look who finally showed up," he said loudly.
The other two boys beside him laughed.
One of them nudged Zhao Ming and said, "Isn't that the quiet guy from Class Three? The one everyone calls the ghost?"
Lin Tian kept walking as if he hadn't heard anything.
But Zhao Ming pushed himself off the fence and stepped forward.
"Hey!"
His voice echoed across the courtyard.
Several nearby students turned their heads.
Lin Tian stopped walking.
Slowly, he turned around.
Zhao Ming and his two friends were already walking toward him.
Their expressions were full of arrogance.
Zhao Ming crossed his arms.
"Lin Tian, right?"
Lin Tian looked at him calmly.
"Yes."
Zhao Ming's smirk widened.
"I heard you've been acting strange lately. Quiet people like you usually try to avoid trouble… but somehow you've been ignoring us."
One of the boys beside him laughed loudly.
"Maybe he thinks he's tough now!"
The small crowd of students nearby began whispering.
Everyone knew Zhao Ming and his group were bullies.
Normally, Lin Tian would simply avoid confrontation.
But today something felt different.
Lin Tian's gaze remained calm.
"What do you want?" he asked quietly.
Zhao Ming stepped closer.
His height made him look intimidating.
"I want to see if you've suddenly grown some courage," he said.
Then he pushed Lin Tian's shoulder lightly.
It wasn't a hard push.
But it was clearly meant as humiliation.
Several students watching nearby expected Lin Tian to step back like he usually would.
But he didn't move.
His body remained completely steady.
Zhao Ming blinked in surprise.
His push had felt like pushing against a wall.
Lin Tian slowly looked down at Zhao Ming's hand.
"Are you done?" he asked calmly.
The relaxed tone of his voice irritated Zhao Ming immediately.
"You think you're funny?" Zhao Ming snapped.
He shoved Lin Tian again—this time harder.
But once again…
Lin Tian didn't move.
The courtyard suddenly became quiet.
The other students began whispering again.
"What's going on?"
"Did you see that?"
"He didn't even move…"
Zhao Ming's face darkened.
His pride was being challenged in front of everyone.
"You're asking for trouble," he growled.
He raised his fist.
Normally, a punch from Zhao Ming would scare most students.
But Lin Tian simply watched him.
His eyes were calm.
Too calm.
Zhao Ming swung his fist forward.
The punch moved quickly through the air.
But to Lin Tian…
It looked incredibly slow.
After experiencing cultivation and body purification, his reaction speed had improved significantly.
At the last moment, Lin Tian raised his hand.
He caught Zhao Ming's fist.
Easily.
The movement was smooth and effortless.
Zhao Ming froze.
His punch had been stopped midair.
And Lin Tian's grip felt unbelievably strong.
"What…?" Zhao Ming muttered.
Lin Tian tightened his grip slightly.
Zhao Ming's face twisted with pain.
"Ah—!"
The two boys behind him looked shocked.
"Let go!" Zhao Ming shouted angrily.
Lin Tian's expression remained indifferent.
"You started this," he said quietly.
Then he pushed Zhao Ming's arm away.
Zhao Ming stumbled backward several steps.
The watching students gasped.
Even Zhao Ming's friends looked confused.
"What just happened?" one of them whispered.
Zhao Ming's face turned red with embarrassment and anger.
"You think you're tough now?" he shouted.
He rushed forward again.
This time both of his friends followed.
Three against one.
The crowd quickly stepped back to avoid the fight.
But Lin Tian did not look worried.
Instead, he sighed softly.
"I don't have time for this."
Zhao Ming threw another punch.
Lin Tian stepped aside slightly.
The punch missed.
Then Lin Tian tapped Zhao Ming's shoulder with his palm.
The movement looked simple.
But Zhao Ming suddenly lost his balance.
He stumbled forward and nearly fell.
Before he could react, Lin Tian moved again.
He lightly pushed one of the other boys aside.
The boy spun around awkwardly and nearly crashed into the fence.
The third boy froze in shock.
Everything had happened too quickly.
Lin Tian hadn't even used real strength.
He had simply used better timing and control.
Within seconds, the three bullies looked clumsy and embarrassed.
The watching students were stunned.
"Did you see that?"
"He didn't even try!"
"How is he so strong?"
Zhao Ming stood up again, breathing heavily.
But this time, hesitation appeared in his eyes.
Lin Tian's calm gaze made him uncomfortable.
For the first time, Zhao Ming realized something.
This quiet student wasn't weak anymore.
Lin Tian adjusted his backpack.
"If you're finished," he said calmly, "I'm going to class."
Then he turned around and walked away.
No one stopped him.
The courtyard remained silent for several seconds.
Then the whispers started again.
"Lin Tian just beat them…"
"That was insane."
Zhao Ming clenched his fists in frustration, but he didn't chase after him.
Something about Lin Tian felt different now.
Dangerous.
Meanwhile, Lin Tian continued walking toward the school building.
His expression remained calm.
To him, the fight had meant nothing.
Just a small distraction.
But as he walked up the stairs toward his classroom, he suddenly felt something strange again.
That same faint ripple of energy from earlier.
The mysterious energy source somewhere in the city.
Lin Tian's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That energy…"
It felt closer now.
Much closer.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Looks like something interesting is waiting for me."
And deep within the modern city, a hidden secret was beginning to awaken. ✨📖