After only a few steps, Huan Zhan came to a stop.
He glanced at Gou Feng's unsteady footing and frowned.
"This isn't working."
Without another word, he crouched in front of him.
"Come on."
He patted his shoulder.
"Get on."
Gou Feng blinked.
"You don't have to—"
"You'll only slow us down if you keep arguing," Huan Zhan interrupted.
"And your legs are shaking."
Gou Feng glanced at Shen Jiu, who responded with a small, almost imperceptible shrug.
"He's right."
The corners of Gou Feng's lips lifted into a sheepish smile.
"...Alright."
With Shen Jiu steadying him from the side, Gou Feng carefully climbed onto Huan Zhan's back.
Huan Zhan hooked an arm beneath Gou Feng's legs and adjusted his grip to make sure he was secure.
"Hold on."
With practiced ease, he rose to his feet.
"A-Jiu."
Shen Jiu looked at him.
"Walk behind us. If he starts slipping, catch him."
Shen Jiu gave a single nod.
Resting against Huan Zhan's back, Gou Feng couldn't help but laugh softly.
"You two are making such a fuss."
Neither of them responded.
Only the sound of their footsteps filled the silence.
The smile on Gou Feng's face slowly faded.
"...What?"
His gaze shifted between the two cousins.
"Why are you both so quiet all of a sudden?"
Huan Zhan adjusted his grip around Gou Feng's legs before letting out a slow breath.
"We'll talk after we get you to the infirmary."
His voice softened.
"For now... just rest."
Shen Jiu nodded in agreement.
"He's right. We can talk later."
Gou Feng's eyes softened. A small, genuine smile appeared on his face.
"...Alright."
He rested his head against Huan Zhan's shoulder and slowly closed his eyes.
Surrounded by the reassuring presence of the two people he trusted most, he finally allowed himself to stop pretending he was fine.
Inside the university infirmary, Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan carefully tended to Gou Feng's injuries.
Now lying on one of the infirmary beds, Gou Feng rested with his eyes closed while the two worked in silence.
Bruises covered the side of his face, and several cuts had already begun to darken into shades of purple and blue.
"Does it sting?" Huan Zhan asked.
The question had barely left his mouth when Gou Feng hissed under his breath, drawing in a sharp breath through clenched teeth.
"A little."
He forced a weak smile.
"But I'm fine."
Huan Zhan frowned.
"You don't sound very convincing."
Before Gou Feng could respond, Shen Jiu spoke without lifting his eyes from the bottle of antiseptic in his hand.
"Be gentler."
"I am being gentle," Huan Zhan protested.
"You call that gentle?" Shen Jiu replied flatly.
"You nearly made him jump off the bed."
"I barely touched him."
"You pressed directly on the bruise."
Huan Zhan clicked his tongue but noticeably lightened his touch.
Even then, Gou Feng couldn't help flinching whenever the antiseptic touched another bruise.
The sight made Shen Jiu's brows knit together.
Unlike him and Huan Zhan, Gou Feng does not truly have strong endurance when it comes to wounds.
Although Hei Bao's blood had transformed him into a half-Lycan years ago, his body still couldn't match the natural resilience of those born into the bloodline.
Bruises that would disappear from Shen Jiu and Huan Zhan within a day often took Gou Feng twice as long to heal.
The same went for shallow cuts and scrapes.
It wasn't a dramatic difference, but it was enough that they had learned to be more careful whenever he was injured.
Especially Huan Zhan.
Shen Jiu glanced at him.
"Ease up."
Huan Zhan paused.
"I already am."
"You've said that three times."
"And I meant it every time."
"The fact that he keeps flinching says otherwise."
Gou Feng let out a faint, tired laugh.
"You two..."
His voice was hoarse, but the amusement in it was genuine.
"You sound like an old married couple."
The room fell silent.
Shen Jiu paused.
Huan Zhan slowly looked up.
The cousins exchanged a glance before turning back to Gou Feng at the same time.
"You still have the energy to joke, ha." Huan Zhan asked in disbelief.
Shen Jiu shook his head with a helpless smile.
"That's a good sign. It means he's feeling a little better."
Gou Feng chuckled weakly before wincing.
"...Ow."
"There," Huan Zhan said flatly.
"Serves you right."
Despite his words, he became even more careful as he resumed treating the remaining bruises, his movements noticeably gentler than before.
Shen Jiu walked over to one of the cabinets. After searching for a moment, he returned with a neatly folded spare school uniform.
"Here."
He held it out.
"Can you sit up for a bit? Your shirt's beyond saving."
Gou Feng glanced down at the torn fabric hanging from his shoulders and let out a quiet groan.
"They really did a number on it."
With Shen Jiu's help, he slowly sat upright and carefully changed into the spare uniform, wincing every now and then as the bruises protested.
"Did you recognize any of them?" Shen Jiu asked.
"Names, faces, anything."
Gou Feng nodded.
"At least one. The blond one. Professor Wu Feng called him Adrian."
Shen Jiu frowned.
"Adrian..."
He repeated the name under his breath.
"Why does that sound familiar?"
Huan Zhan had just finished throwing away the used cotton pads and bloodstained gauze before returning the first-aid kit to the cabinet paused.
"Now that you mention it, it does sound familiar."
"I've heard that name somewhere before," Shen Jiu murmured.
Before either of them could think any further, the infirmary door opened.
Professor Wu Feng walked in, accompanied by a woman in a charcoal-gray business suit who appeared to be in her late thirties.
The moment Huan Zhan saw her, he immediately straightened.
"Principal Jane."
The principal smiled and gave him a small nod before looking around the room.
"Where's Gou Feng?"
The two cousins immediately stepped aside.
The moment she saw him sitting on the infirmary bed, her expression softened.
"Good heavens."
She slowly walked closer.
"So Professor Feng wasn't exaggerating."
She carefully examined the bruises covering Gou Feng's face before letting out a quiet sigh.
"Adrian and those students did this to you?"
"They did," Professor Feng answered.
Sympathy slowly filled Principal Jane's eyes.
"My goodness, child… I'm so sorry this happened under our school's watch."
Her voice softened considerably.
"How are you feeling?"
Gou Feng offered her a faint but reassuring smile.
"The dizziness has eased, and the pain isn't as bad as it was earlier. Though I'm still exhausted."
He paused.
"I don't think I'll be able to attend classes tomorrow. Would it be possible to request two da—"
Principal Jane raised her right palm with a gentle smile.
"You don't need my permission for that."
Her tone was warm yet firm.
"Take all the time you need to recover. When you're ready to return, come straight to my office. We'll adjust your class schedule and make sure you don't fall behind."
Relief flickered across Gou Feng's face.
"Thank you, principal."
Principal Jane smiled and gently patted his shoulder.
"I've already instructed the University's Internal Affairs Office to contact Adrian's parents. They're currently overseas on a business trip, but they'll be informed as soon as possible."
Her expression suddenly became serious.
"The university also intends to pursue disciplinary action."
She met Gou Feng's eyes.
"If you wish to file a restraining order or press formal charges against Adrian and the others… The university will personally support you."
She paused briefly.
"Two police officers are on their way to the university to take your statement if you choose to do so."
Her expression softened once more.
"Whatever you decide, the university will support you."
Gou Feng lowered his gaze.
His fingers unconsciously tightened around the blanket.
Part of him wanted to agree immediately.
Those six students deserved to face the consequences of what they had done.
But another part of him hesitated. If legal proceedings began…
The incident would inevitably draw attention.
The Lycan Internal Bureau would become involved.
Then the Pack Leader…
Once Hei Bao stepped in. The matter would no longer remain a simple university assault. It could easily reach the Mundane Council.
Perhaps even the Prime Minister himself.
What began as a simple case could become a political issue involving two races. That was the last thing Gou Feng wanted.
He quietly let out a sigh.
Of course he wanted Adrian and the others to answer for what they had done.
But he also didn't want countless innocent people to become entangled in something that should have remained a simple matter.
Seeing his hesitation, Huan Zhan stepped forward.
"A-Feng..."
He smiled reassuringly.
"Whatever you decide… We'll be with you."
Shen Jiu nodded in agreement.
Gou Feng looked at his two childhood friends and couldn't help but smile gratefully.
Just as he was about to respond, a phone suddenly began ringing.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Huan Zhan blinked and looked down before reaching into Gou Feng's backpack.
"It's your phone."
He pulled it out.
The screen lit up.
The moment his eyes landed on the caller ID, the color instantly drained from his face.
"..."