Chapter 15: Another Campus Tyrant

For the minor injuries suffered by Zheng Furen and his men, Zhang Pu bought some herbal medicines like Paris polyphylla and Panax notoginseng from a local pharmacy, though the quantities were modest. He planned to use a remedy from a star realm in the cultivation world, specially designed for treating bruises and sprains, practiced by those who specialized in wood-element spiritual techniques. He was confident that Zheng Furen and the others would be cured by tomorrow.

After purchasing the herbs, Zhang Pu grabbed a quick meal before bringing the materials back to his rented place. Since the noon break for students was too short, he didn’t have time to concoct the medicine then, so he decided to wait until evening to do it, hurrying back to school in the meantime.

As for Zheng Furen and his four lieutenants, they truly did as Zhang Pu had instructed: after being beaten and forced to pay protection money, they dared not make a sound. They had been known to severely punish disobedient students in the past, so they understood that if they stepped out of line, Zhang Pu would show them no mercy. The memory of Zhang Pu’s ferocity in the restroom still lingered in their minds, leaving them uneasy.

Yet even if Zheng Furen and his four lieutenants kept their mouths shut, there were always those inclined to observe and speculate. Most students didn't dare discuss the matter; everyone preferred to avoid unnecessary trouble and look out for themselves. However, those who were on equal footing with Zheng Furen in the school’s hierarchy were bold enough to speak their minds.

Gao Lixia, a formidable female boss from Class 6 of the senior year, was one such person. Though a girl, she was a force to be reckoned with in the school’s underworld, no less than any boy. With family connections and training in martial arts outside of school, she had fought her way through chaotic battles among rival factions and ultimately established herself as a leader of a campus clique. She had once met Zheng Furen as an adversary, but after their initial clash, they developed a mutual understanding common among top student bosses.

During the break in the afternoon, Zheng Furen left his four lieutenants behind and wandered alone, looking sullen a little distance from his classroom. That was when Gao Lixia, accompanied by two of her own followers, “caught” him.

“Hey Zheng Furen, what’s wrong with you today? You look like an eggplant left out in the frost—completely wilted!” From afar, Gao Lixia’s sharp eyes instantly detected how different he was from his usual self.

Ordinarily, Zheng Furen was arrogant to the extreme, even strutting like a proud rooster when he encountered her. But today, he seemed utterly deflated.

“Mind your own business!” The memory of his humiliation in the restroom that morning, compounded by Gao Lixia’s mocking tone, sent Zheng Furen’s temper flaring.

“Oho—” Gao Lixia’s voice grew even more mocking. “I know what it is. Did that tramp Ye Xiaoting from Class 1 somehow…”

“Gao Lixia, I’m warning you—don’t you dare…” Zheng Furen tried to cut her off, but she immediately interrupted him: “What, you want to fight?”

She instantly dropped into a fighting stance, every inch the Amazon, undaunted by any man. Her two followers gleefully egged her on.

Zheng Furen was thoroughly provoked and just about to act, but the places where Zhang Pu had beaten him that morning suddenly throbbed with pain. If he fought now, he knew he’d only be at a disadvantage.

“Just you wait!”

Yet Zheng Furen hadn’t risen to the rank of campus overlord by being all brawn and no brains. If he couldn’t fight now, he could at least avoid further trouble—after all, revenge could wait. Once he’d recovered, it wouldn’t be too late to settle things with Gao Lixia.

“Running away, are you, Zheng Furen?”

Just then, the bell signaling the end of break rang. Though Zheng Furen hurried off, he could still hear the laughter and jeers of Gao Lixia and her followers trailing behind him.

Back in the classroom, Zheng Furen glanced, almost unintentionally, toward Zhang Pu’s seat in the corner, a flash of hatred passing through his eyes—all of today’s misfortunes were thanks to that boy, and now he had to endure Gao Lixia’s mockery on top of it.

For the rest of the afternoon, Zheng Furen, like Zhang Pu, was too distracted to pay attention in class. Now and then, he’d steal a glance at Zhang Pu, then lower his head, fuming at the thought of that detestable woman, Gao Lixia.

Once, as if Zhang Pu could sense it, he turned back and caught the hatred in Zheng Furen’s eyes, though the latter quickly looked away. Zhang Pu, however, was unfazed—he merely sneered inwardly. He knew that after what had happened, Zheng Furen and his four lieutenants might obey him outwardly, but in their hearts, they surely wished to tear him to pieces.

But what did Zhang Pu care? Even if there were several times as many Zheng Furens and four lieutenants, with his current strength, he had no reason to fear them.

Now that he’d truly entered the Qi Refining stage of cultivation, and with his mastery of advanced combat techniques from the cultivation world—not to mention spells he hadn’t even used on Earth yet—he doubted there was anyone in Qingwu City qualified to challenge him.

If Zheng Furen tried to stir up trouble or plot against him, Zhang Pu’s thousand years of experience as an old monster in the cultivation world meant he was more than a match for any earthly schemer. If they dared defy him in the future, they would just have to wait and see what happened.

What Zhang Pu didn’t know was that Zheng Furen’s hateful glances were not idle; schemes were already brewing in his mind. Zheng Furen could have called for backup after being beaten that morning—he had connections outside school, as any campus tyrant did—but for various reasons, including Zhang Pu’s terrifying display, he had dismissed the idea for the time being.

The more Zheng Furen thought about it, the more convinced he became that Zhang Pu’s background was anything but ordinary. He kept repeating to himself the old saying: “A gentleman’s revenge is never too late, even after ten years.” Someone like Zheng Furen could never tolerate such humiliation—he would have his revenge, no matter what.

But he would not strike recklessly. He wanted first to secretly investigate Zhang Pu’s background, and only then, when he was sure of success, would he make his move.

Zheng Furen wasn’t in any rush—he could take his time. But after suffering Gao Lixia’s taunts, a sly idea suddenly came to him: use another’s hand to do the deed. Of course! The classic stratagem—killing with a borrowed knife.

He’d long known that Gao Lixia, for all her fighting prowess, was just a brainless brute. When it came to scheming, Zheng Furen thought she wasn’t even worthy to lick his boots.