After another three days of rest, Feng Wen and I were finally discharged from the hospital and returned to the classroom. All the classmates looked at us with awe, and I couldn't help but smile wryly to myself. Starting school by ending up in the infirmary wasn't a good sign.
The lessons were all about some basic stuff, and I remembered everything after listening for a few minutes. But to make sure I learned it properly, I still listened carefully through the entire morning's lessons.
After lunch, Feng Wen, the Huo brothers, and I went to the cafeteria to refuel. The college cafeteria was huge, capable of accommodating over a thousand people dining together. Several windows sold meals at different price points, and we all bought medium-priced options. Since I have a big appetite, I bought two portions.
Facing the fragrant food, I was eager to eat. Just as I sat down to start, I suddenly heard some commotion behind me.
I turned my head to see two beautiful women had entered. No wonder there was such a commotion. "Food and sex are human nature," the ancients were indeed not deceiving me.
One of them was Zi Xue, whom I had rescued from the clutches of the Black Dragon. The girl beside her was slightly taller, with golden long hair and a white skirt, looking exceptionally charming. Her skin was fair, and her big, sparkling eyes exuded a hint of temptation. Compared to Zi Xue, her figure was more voluptuous. She truly had the face of an angel and the body of a goddess.
As soon as they entered the cafeteria, people rushed to give them seats, and some even brought them their meals. At that moment, Fengyun arrived and squeezed his way to our table. His eyes never left the two beauties, and a look of admiration flashed in his eyes. He whispered, "The Eight Beauties of the Campus rarely come to the cafeteria to eat. How come two of them showed up today?"
Feng asked with a smile, You're such a campus expert, give us the scoop!"
Fengyun immediately showed off his knowledge, saying proudly, "The one with purple hair is Zi Xue, ranked sixth among the Eight Beauties of the Academy. Lei Xiang even saved her once. The other one is even more impressive—Jin Lili, ranked fourth among the Eight Beauties of the Academy. Both she and Zi Xue come from noble families, and being unparalleled beauties, they naturally become the objects of pursuit for most of the male students in the academy. The Eight Beauties of the Academy usually go home for dinner and rarely make public appearances like this."
Huo Xing suddenly exclaimed, "Look, Zi Xue is coming! She must be here to find me!" He quickly struck what he thought was a cool pose.
Sure enough, Zi Xue walked over alone, heading straight for our table. She soon reached my side and said, "Thank you for saving me last time."
The Feng brothers and the Huo brothers immediately looked disappointed, enviously staring at me. I glanced up at this young girl, who was a year older than me, and coldly said, "No need. Just don't go near the Black Dragon in the future. I can't guarantee that I'll always be there to protect you."
Zixue's face turned red from my words and she said, "I'm sorry. I'll go now." She turned around and went back to her own table.
I immediately became the target of everyone's criticism. The Feng brothers and the Huo brothers glared at me angrily, clearly dissatisfied with my attitude. Feng Yun said, "Lei Xiang, how could you treat a beauty like that? She came here to thank you properly, couldn't you have been nicer?"
I gave him a cold glance and said, "What's wrong with my attitude? Do you want me to go and comfort her? If you want to go, you go. I don't care about the academy or the so-called 'top beauties.'"
A clear, pleasant voice sounded behind me, "What are you so arrogant about? Apologize to Zi Xue. Don't you feel ashamed for being so harsh to a girl?"
I frowned and looked in the direction of the voice. It was Jin Lili speaking, looking as if she was about to charge over in anger. Zi Xue desperately pulled her back, repeatedly saying, "Forget it, forget it. It's not his fault."
I snorted coldly, "Such a bad temper. Be careful not to damage your liver and get wrinkles. No one will want you in the future."
Jin Lili had always been everyone's darling, pampered at home and in the academy, always on a pedestal. Having suffered such an insult, her fair skin turned green with anger, and she shouted, "Who will help me teach him a lesson?"
Suddenly, the cafeteria erupted into chaos. Everyone was eager to act. Mars said, "Lei Xiang, it's not that we won't help you, but you've angered everyone. We'll go find the teacher first. You have to hold on." With that, the four of them dashed off. I snorted coldly to myself. That's what friends are like—when trouble comes, they all scatter. They have no loyalty.
I sprang to my feet. My tall stature and stern expression exuded an indescribable aura of dominance. I coldly stared at the boys surrounding me.
"If you want to die, come at me all together. Women are all damn trouble."
My cool demeanor left Jin Lili speechless, and an unusual emotion welled up in her heart.
It was clear that most of those surrounding me were nobles, dressed in luxurious attire. Warren, who had wanted to "teach me a lesson" back then, charged forward first, sneering, "It was this kid who insulted Purple Snow, the freshman. Everyone, attack him and beat him to death." He swung a punch at me. There was indeed a hint of fighting spirit in it. It seemed his three years of schooling here hadn't been entirely wasted.
Seeing his arrogant expression, I felt an inexplicable disgust. I grabbed his fist and coldly said, "I don't know how you managed to advance to the third year, but today I'll teach you nobles a lesson for bullying others."
Upon hearing this, most of the commoner students' dislike for me diminished significantly. Normally, they were bullied by these nobles but dared not speak out.
I twisted his arm with all my strength, pulled it backward, and with a "crack," dislocated his right arm. I then kicked him out with a single blow. Warren crashed into a wooden table, lying in the debris and screaming in pain.
I didn't expect him, a third-year student, to be so useless. He wasn't even as strong as Fengyun and the others. I didn't know that these nobles came here to school just to get a diploma, to add some weight to their future political careers. How many of them would truly cultivate themselves? Most of them relied on their family's power to run rampant in the academy.
The nobles, seeing me attack Warren, charged at me in unison. Only a few of them posed a threat to me; most were mere novices. They might be arrogant in their daily lives, but their martial arts skills were far inferior.
Three of them posed a threat, silently advancing toward me with grim expressions. Before long, I had taken three punches and two kicks. Though I wasn't seriously injured, their powerful blows left me feeling quite uncomfortable. The surrounding tables and chairs were scattered everywhere by our clashing qi, many of them damaged.
The strongest of the three roared, " You worthless nobles, you're bringing shame upon our noble family. Get out of the way and watch us deal with him."
The worthless nobles had already been knocked down by me, seven or eight of them, and that was with me holding back. Otherwise, they would have been beaten to a pulp. Upon hearing this, the worthless nobles immediately scattered like they'd been granted a pardon, all running to the side to watch the spectacle. Only the three stronger ones remained, surrounding me.
I channeled my Dark Power and Heavenly Thunder Armor to their peak states. With no one to hinder them, the three of them roared simultaneously and charged forward. I quickly unleashed the Thirteen Thunder Fists to meet them.
The Thirteen Thunder Fists are indeed a formidable technique on the battlefield, but against these experts, they were ineffective, unable to land a single blow.
The strongest one struck with a punch, and I met it with one of my own. He was knocked back three steps but remained unscathed. I was greatly surprised—he was the first to withstand my direct punch without injury. As I knocked him back, I also took blows from the other two.
They truly lived up to their reputation as senior students. Under their relentless attacks, my qi and blood surged throughout my body. Thus began the most arduous battle of my life.
The opponents seemed to be from the Martial Arts Department, relying solely on their qi to attack me. I could not defend both sides simultaneously. Blood trickled down the corner of my mouth, but I stubbornly remained in the center, doing my best to withstand their assaults.
The slimmer noble sneered, "Give up, kid. If you kowtow to me three times, I'll spare you." The three nobles burst into laughter.
There was indeed a significant difference in strength. Was I really going to lose to these shameless scoundrels? Go into a frenzy? No, if anyone recognized my identity, it would be exposed, and besides, I couldn't control myself in a frenzy right now. Sighing silently, I decided to pretend to be a dark mage. Gritting my teeth, I focused my mind and began to use dark magic for the first time. I murmured, "Great God of Darkness, with my soul as an offering and my life as a bridge, grant me your boundless divine power. Devour the enemies before me." This was the strongest dark attack magic I could use at the moment: Dark Magic Devouring the Heavens. I had already gambled everything on this. Dark Magic Devouring the Heavens is a highly corrosive spell; if it hits the enemy directly, it will corrode them to death.
A thick black mist rose from my body and, following my command, surged toward the three nobles. They were immediately struck with terror. "What is this thing?"
Just as the three were unsure how to defend themselves, a majestic voice rang out, "Who dares to use such a vicious spell? God of Light, grant me your power. Use your sacred light to purify the endless dust of the world. —Holy Light" A golden light enveloped the black mist I had emitted, and the mist vanished as quickly as ice melting on carbon. The caster of the spell—me—felt a powerful pressure bearing down on me. The golden light flickered, and I felt a warm, indescribable comfort throughout my body. Then I knew nothing else.
When I awoke, I found myself in a medical room. No, this shouldn't be a medical room, The facilities were much more complete than the last place I stayed in. It must be a high-level infirmary. It's all those two so-called "campus queens" who caused this trouble. I must stay away from them in the future. This battle made me realize how far my skills still are. Losing twice in a row, feeling powerless despite having the strength, was truly agonizing. Once my injuries heal, I must seize the opportunity to train diligently and avoid causing trouble again.
My whole body feels weak and limp, and I can't muster any strength. Strangely enough, since arriving in the Dragon God Empire, I haven't managed to steal any knowledge, but I've ended up in the infirmary twice.
At that moment, a male doctor walked in, wearing a white coat. "You're awake."
I nodded weakly and said, "Doctor, how did I end up here? Why can't I use any strength?"
The doctor chuckled, lifted my eyelids to examine them, and said, "Young man, this is the school-run hospital of Tiandu Academy. You were struck by the Vice Chancellor's Holy Light. You're lucky to be alive. You're quite resilient—you regained consciousness so quickly. Rest well; there's nothing serious now. Your body will recover gradually. Once you're better, the Vice Chancellor will want to speak with you. I'll leave now. A nurse will come to take care of you shortly." With that, he turned and left.
Why does he want to question me? Has he already discovered my identity? Probably not. I only used dark magic, and there are others on the continent who use similar dark magic. Besides, I have a human body, so I'm not exactly the same as the demon race. Then why is he looking for me? To ask about the source of my magic? Probably. Regardless, I must get through this difficult time. I still need to continue my studies at Tiandu.
A nurse approached. She was young, with fair skin and large eyes, looking quite adorable.
She asked kindly, "Is there anything bothering you?"
I shook my head.
She smiled and said, "Then I won't disturb your rest. If you need anything, just call me. I'll be right outside the door."
Suddenly, I remembered something and called out, "Nurse, could you come here for a moment?"
The nurse hurried over and asked, "What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"
I said, "Nothing hurts, but I need to go back to the academy."
She clearly paused and said, "Go back to the academy? What for? You should focus on recovering first."
I shook my head and said, "I can't. I have something very important to do."
She asked, "What is it? Something so important?"
I snorted and said, "That's none of your business. I'm going back to the academy anyway."
The nurse frowned and said, "If you don't tell me why, I definitely won't let you go back." She was pretty principled.
I tried to gather my energy, but neither the Heavenly Demon Technique nor the Heavenly Thunder Armor could be summoned. Now I was no different from an ordinary person. When you're under someone else's roof, you have to bow your head. I sighed and said, "Alright, I'll tell you. It's because my horse is at the academy. Since I came here, I haven't fed it. It only eats what I feed it. If I don't go back soon, it'll starve to death." The nurse chuckled and said, "There's such a horse that only eats what one person feeds it? I don't believe it."
I hurriedly said, "I'm telling the truth. Just let me go back."
The nurse hesitated for a moment and said, "In your current state, how will you go back? Alright, I'll go find a wheelchair, but you must go quickly and return promptly. There can be no delays."
This nurse was pretty easy to talk to, so I quickly said happily, "Sure, I'll feed him and come back with you right away." Her flexibility made me feel a little fond of her.
I don't know where she found a wheelchair, but she helped me sit in it.
The hospital was very close to the college, so we got there quickly. It was class time, so there weren't many people on the field. Under my guidance, we quickly reached the stable. When we arrived at the stable, I noticed a small figure crouching there, sorting through the hay. She was throwing the hay over the wooden fence to Black Dragon, and strangely enough, Black Dragon was eating it with relish. Great, he's betrayed us and is eating someone else's food. But then I thought, I can't blame him; he must be starving.
The nurse smiled wryly and said, "That big, fat horse eating and drinking voraciously—it's not yours, is it?" Her eyes sparkled with mockery. She actually called the majestic Black Dragon a fat horse, which made me both laugh and cry.
I didn't answer, but pushed her aside with a gloomy expression. Upon getting closer, I realized that the one feeding the horse was actually Zi Xue. The sun was shining brightly, and sweat kept trickling down Zi Xue's forehead. Her tired expression made my heart flutter for no reason. I coldly said, "Who told you to feed my horse?"
Zi Xue jumped in surprise, turned around, and saw it was me. Her little face lit up with joy, and she said, "Are you feeling better? I'm so sorry—it was all my fault you got injured. You've been in the hospital for days, and I was worried your horse might be hungry, so I came to feed it. At first it wouldn't eat, but I coaxed it for a long time before it finally ate."
I took the hay from her hands and fed it to Black Dragon. Black Dragon saw me and neighed happily a few times. The nurse said, "It's pretty nice to look at up close."
The nurse looked at Black Dragon with excitement and said, "Can I pet it? Its fur is so shiny."
I wanted to refuse her, but a strange feeling arose in my heart. I grabbed Black Dragon's reins and whispered in its ear, "Let this sister pet you. She has no ill intentions." Then I nodded to the nurse.
The nurse happily stroked Black Dragon's large head. Though Black Dragon didn't resist, its eyes betrayed a look of wariness...
Zixue watched from the side, feeling deeply saddened. She turned away gloomily, her petite figure looking so lonely. Seeing her pitiful state, my heart softened. "Wait a moment," I called out to Zixue.
Zixue turned back and forced a smile, "Is there something else? Since you're back, I won't need to feed it anymore."
I looked at her deeply and said, "Thank you for feeding Black Dragon."
Zixue was clearly surprised by my change in attitude. A look of surprise flashed in her eyes, and she whispered, "It's okay. If it weren't for me, it wouldn't have gone hungry."
"Anyway, you've already fed it, so could you please help me feed it for a few more days? My injury hasn't healed yet, and I might have to stay in the hospital for a while longer."
"Black Dragon, this person is also a friend. Don't be mean to her from now on." After hearing what I said to Black Dragon, Zi Xue also walked over and gently touched Black Dragon a few times. Seeing her joyful expression, a warm feeling welled up in my heart.
I turned to the nurse and said, "Let's go back."
Zixue bowed to the nurse and said, "Please take good care of him."
The nurse smiled and said, "You really care about him. Don't worry, it's my duty."
Seeing Zixue like this, my heart couldn't help but stir.
...
On the way back to the hospital, the nurse kept asking me who Zi Xue was and whether she was my girlfriend.
No matter how impatiently I glared at her, it didn't work. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore and said, "She's a senior at the academy. When I first arrived at the academy, she once tried to touch the black dragon and almost got trampled to death by it. I just saved her once."
The nurse said, "Then why did she say you were injured because of her?"
"You're so annoying. Do all the nurses at your hospital interrogate patients like this?" I said bluntly.
The nurse's eyes darkened, and she pushed me back in silence. Maybe because of my injury, my heart grew soft, and I couldn't bear to see her like that, so I told her the whole story of how I got injured.
The nurse smiled and said, "It seems that this Miss Zi Xue really likes you."
I frowned and said, "Why are you so nosy? Can you just let me be quiet for a while?"
Finally, we returned to the hospital.
I told her, "I need to rest. You go back to your work. I'll call you if I need anything." After saying that, I closed my eyes and ignored her. Finally, I could escape this nagging fly.
Thus, I stayed in the hospital for another eight days before my strength was mostly restored. During those eight days, the nurse came to accompany me every day and chat with me. Though I found her a bit annoying, my gloomy heart seemed to be opened by her, no longer so closed off. By the end, I actually began to look forward to our conversations.
After these days of rest, my injuries had fully healed, and I was ready to return to the academy. After spending time with the nurse, I was about to leave, and there was a hint of reluctance in my heart.
On the day of my discharge, she accompanied me all the way to the hospital entrance, her eyes red, and said, "Will you ever think of me again?"
I nodded but did not respond.
She said, "Remember, my name is Kran. Be sure to come visit me."
I sighed softly and said, "My name is Lei Xiang. If I have time, maybe I'll come." After saying that, I left the hospital with a sense of lingering regret. I realized that Zi Xue and Kran had left an indelible mark on my heart. The beauty and gentleness of human women were fully embodied in them, gradually opening the closed doors of my young heart.
When I entered the classroom, no one dared to speak to me. Since they ignored me, why should I bother with them? I walked to my seat, and Huo Xing said, "Lei Xiang, you're better now."
I nodded.
"I'm really sorry about last time, but we really did go to get help. We even brought the vice president along." It seemed he didn't know that it was the vice president who had sent me to the hospital.
I smiled wryly, "You're just making things worse. I was sent to the hospital by the vice dean's holy light."
Huo Xing smiled awkwardly and said, "Oh, I'm really sorry, but you did stand up for us commoners. Now many first-year freshmen look up to you as an idol."
I looked around and said, "I don't see it. They don't even greet me, let alone call me an idol."
Huo Xing whispered, "You don't know, but ever since you beat up those nobles last time, they swore to take revenge on you. The students are probably afraid of being dragged into it, so they dare not talk to you."
Oh, I finally understood. It seems those nobles won't let me off the hook. Hmph, I won't let them off the hook either.
Just then, our homeroom teacher, Ms. Zhuang, walked in. She spotted me immediately and said, "Everyone, please start your self-study session. Lei Xiang, come out for a moment."
It seemed she was also there because of the incident last time. I followed Ms. Zhuang out.
She led me to the hallway, her eyes filled with reproach, and said, "You've only been in school for a few days, yet you've already been to the infirmary and the hospital. I heard you used dark magic (actually dark magic) last time. Didn't you say you couldn't use magic?"
I scratched my head and said, "Because everyone on the continent says dark magic is evil, right? I didn't want to be misunderstood, so I didn't mention it. That day, when I fought with those nobles, I had no choice but to use it."
Zhuang Jing sighed and said, "Never mind, it doesn't matter. You don't need to explain to me. I'll take you to see the vice principal. Do you know that since you started school, you've already been to the infirmary once and the hospital once? You've become a problem student in the eyes of other teachers."
I stared into her eyes and asked, "What about you? Am I a problem student in your eyes?"
Zhuang Jing blushed and said, "Of course not. You're my student. How could I think that of you? Besides, neither of those incidents was your fault."
I smiled slightly and said, "As long as you don't think that of me, it's fine. Let others say what they want. Come on, let's go see the vice principal."
Zhuang Teacher said, "This is the first time I've seen you smile. Young people should always keep a smile on their faces; otherwise, they'll age quickly." She turned and led the way. Her words left me stunned. Was I really that bad now?
I followed Ms. Zhuang all the way to the top floor of the academic building, where the college leaders' offices were located. She brought me to a door, knocked, and said, "Is the vice dean in?"
A deep male voice came from inside, "Come in."
Ms. Zhuang and I entered the spacious office. Behind the central desk sat an elderly wizard with snow-white hair and beard. Upon seeing us, he said, "Sit down. You're the student who used dark magic last time, aren't you?"
Before I could respond, Ms. Zhuang interjected, "Vice Dean, it was a misunderstanding last time..."
The Vice Dean raised his hand to stop her, saying, Alright, Ms. Zhuang, you may return to class. I will handle this."
Ms. Zhuang reluctantly stood up, giving me a cautionary glance before leaving. I couldn't help but feel grateful.
After Ms. Zhuang left, the Vice Dean gestured for me to answer his previous question.
I nodded and said, "Yes, it was me who used dark magic last time."
The vice principal stared at me intently with his sharp eyes for a moment before saying, "Do you know how dangerous dark magic is? If you're not careful, it could cost someone their life. Last time, if I hadn't arrived in time, who knows what kind of trouble would have erupted."
I retorted angrily, "Last time, there were so many of them attacking me alone. If I hadn't used dark magic, maybe I would have been the one to lose my life. I only used it to protect myself."
The vice principal laughed and said, "You sure are confident. Actually, I know those noble students have been bullying the commoners in the academy for years, but the academy can't intervene. From now on, if you fight them again, you're not allowed to use dark magic. You're not allowed to injure or kill them. Do you understand? They deserve a lesson."
I stared at him blankly. Was he encouraging me to fight?
He continued, "Your body is very strong. Since few people use dark magic now, I thought the demonic spies had infiltrated the academy to harm it, so I used such powerful magic. You only stayed in the hospital for ten days after being hit. That was beyond my expectations." Was he implying I should have died?
"Who did you learn dark magic from?" Here we go, he was getting to the point and interrogating me.
I replied with the response I had prepared in advance, "Once, while exploring a valley, I accidentally found a book on dark magic and learned from it. Practicing dark magic is very difficult. That day in the cafeteria was the first time I used it, and I didn't know it would have such severe consequences."
The vice-principal didn't press further. He said, "Alright, regardless of the reason, causing trouble in the academy is wrong. From your eyes, I can tell you're not a demon. This is a good lesson. You need to be careful in the future. For now, I'll give you a warning. If you behave well over the next three months, the punishment will be lifted. Additionally, you'll be punished by facing the wall on the top floor of the academy library for three months. Do you have any objections?"
What objections could I have? Would you even listen to them? I couldn't attend classes anyway, so when would I have time to secretly practice martial arts? I shook my head and said, "I have no objections. I will follow the college's arrangements."
The vice-principal smiled and said, "Actually, facing the wall isn't such a bad thing. You can freely browse the books in the library. Three months of seclusion will only benefit you, and no one will disturb you there."
After hearing his words, I had a sudden thought. Was the vice-dean trying to help me off the hook? If I went to face the wall, I wouldn't have to deal with the nobles' provocations, which meant I could smoothly lift the punishment that had just been imposed on me. It seems this vice-dean is quite shrewd.
I sincerely said, "Thank you, Vice-Dean. I will try my best not to cause trouble in the future."
The vice-chancellor and I exchanged a smile. He whispered, "After your wall-facing is over, if any nobles provoke you, you don't have to spare my feelings, but remember the requirements I just mentioned. I forgot to tell you, I'm also from a commoner background."
He made me laugh. Finally, one crisis was resolved.
I asked, "When do I start the wall-facing?"
He replied, "Start now. I'll take you to the library."
The library was located in the northwest corner of the academy, a majestic eight-story building. I followed the vice principal to the top floor. He instructed me, "From now on, you will face the wall. There are a few things you must remember. First, you are not allowed to go below the sixth floor, and the upper three floors are off-limits to other students. Second, you must not damage the books on the upper three floors. Third, your training must not damage anything here. I will come to release you in three months. Someone will bring you meals daily."
Before turning to leave, he said to me, "Under no circumstances are you to use dark magic within the academy. If you must use it, wait until you are on the battlefield, understand? You may study magic from other departments here. Keep up the good work, young man."
I replied, Thank you, Vice Dean. By the way, could you please ask Purple Snow from the second year to help me feed my horse for three months?"
"You still have a horse? Alright, I'll speak with her."
The Vice Dean left, and I was alone on the eighth floor of the library. I looked around at the massive bookcases, each taller than a person, labeled and categorized. The floors were made of marble, and the entire library had a very rustic appearance. On the way up, I noticed that the floors below the sixth had windows, but the upper floors were completely sealed, relying on magic crystals to power fans for ventilation.
Being confined here isn't so bad. If I collect more information here, won't I be able to achieve my mission's objectives? It can also help me improve my own abilities. Where should I start? The vice-principal said I couldn't use dark magic, so I'll learn some other magic first.