Chapter Twenty-Two

Sky Eye Plaza

Students of the School, athletes and staff from this Sports Meet alike had all gathered here. Even with faculty trying to soothe them, these Yao Clan members were hardly ignorant children — anxiety was inevitable.

What a joke — they'd all seen black smoke one moment and gold light flashing the next from the direction of Jinyuan. Who knew what kind of monster had appeared!

Plenty of students had already prepared themselves: the moment things looked bad, they'd run at eight-thousand-li track-meet speed.

Just as time passed and the ominous feeling in everyone's gut grew stronger, Cui Jue arrived with a group of teachers — and a pig-headed creature. 'Sorry about that. Something unexpected happened just now. We worried everyone for nothing.'

The unfamiliar pig-headed creature spoke as well: 'Regarding today's events, our committee and the Hualing Alliance will jointly issue a notice, and at that time we will explain to everyone clearly what happened today. For now, we can announce that the crisis has been resolved. You may return to your dorms or the Classroom with peace of mind.'

The crowd on the plaza fell silent for a moment — then erupted.

'Holy shit, that pig-head is Xie Zai? I'm not hearing things, right?'

'Where did my dashing uncle-type handsome guy go? Pig-head, go away!'

'Sob sob, don't be like this. Something must have happened. Xie Zai was protecting everyone, that's why he put himself in danger and got blown into a pig-head. Remember the black smoke from over there earlier?'

Xie Rulin: '...'

Xie Rulin said, face dark: 'You can go back to your dorms.'

Nobody paid him any attention. They were still debating what the hell had beaten a Xiezhi into this state.

Cui Jue said quietly: 'Brother Xie, how about we just say you got hit by a Greedy Beast?'

Of course the notice issued tomorrow couldn't contain the whole truth. They'd strip out the important parts related to Zhou Mu and only speak of Shu Lin's matter.

This was also the agreement the School had made with Zhou Mu before his enrollment: until Zhou Mu had cleaned up all the Demon Aura, they didn't want to trigger panic of any kind, and they couldn't disclose a student's privacy without permission or reveal Zhou Mu's identity. This too had been written into the school rules.

Xie Rulin was silent for a long moment: '...Agreed.'

From today on, the injuries on his face would be the marks of a desperate battle against a Greedy Beast, fought to protect everyone!

...

The alarm was announced lifted, and the students drifted back in pairs and small groups, still gossiping.

When the Building 5 students reached the dorm area, they clearly saw You Qi and his roommate's figures. With so many people at the plaza, no one thought about why they hadn't been seen earlier.

But what was puzzling now was that the two, usually inseparable, were walking apart — and Zhou Mu was keeping company with Chun Shijiu, whom he'd previously avoided like the plague.

All three were silent. Chun Shijiu and You Qi in particular had terrible expressions.

Once they reached the twelfth floor, Zhou Mu threw his door wide open and started clattering through his packing.

Why was he packing? Couldn't stand You Qi's intimidation — was he dropping out?

Students on the same floor were all clinging to their dorm doors, or pretending to pass by, sneaking peeks at what was happening.

Inside the Room, a heavy silence pressed down. Zhou Mu, halfway through packing, went to grab his laptop. He saw the message his dad had sent on the screen and instinctively glanced at You Qi.

You Qi was looking at him too, thinking bitterly: yes, now he understood what that sentence meant. Zhou Mu didn't just want to eat him — he'd even discussed his flavor with his family.

You Qi had always been on their family's menu. If the conversation went further, would Zhou Mu start asking his mother for recipes on how to cook You Qi?

Zhou Mu knew the sentence carried a certain ambiguity, but — he couldn't really say anything either. And You Qi did smell pretty good. So he slammed his laptop shut with force, looked at Chun Shijiu, his expression terrifyingly calm: 'Why are you just standing there? Don't you want to live with me?'

Chun Shijiu, standing frozen on the side, almost cried. Again, me.

I'm standing right next to you and you still dare make extra moves — and isn't this just you taking your anger out on me?

Seriously, why — why does he have to take this kind of hit?

Just because today he kindly came along with Zhou Mu, he gets repaid with ingratitude??

At Jinyuan, they'd all seen Zhou Mu was far more terrifying than the Greedy Beast. One look told you he had no morals whatsoever. There was no telling how long the school rules could restrain him in his current rage.

This was countless times more dangerous than living with You Qi — at least You Qi had a Restriction on his face.

'I — I do.' Chun Shijiu swallowed his bitterness, stepped forward, and started helping Zhou Mu pack. Zhou Mu stopped moving, his gaze clearly questioning how clueless Chun Shijiu had been to just stand there before.

Zhou Mu picked up a packed box and walked straight to the opposite Room.

At the doorway, the Door-Protecting Grass straightened up, deliberating whether it should curse him — Zhou Mu was moving out, so he wasn't one of its own anymore. He was on Chun Shijiu's side now. Shouldn't it give him a few choice words for form's sake?

But Zhou Mu seemed to know what it was thinking. He shot it a cold glance.

That single glance made the Door-Protecting Grass fall silent with fear, its leaves wilting...

The students secretly watching didn't know the details. They only saw Zhou Mu heading to the opposite Room with his luggage, all stunned. Their minds raced — was Zhou Mu moving into Chun Shijiu's place?

No wonder You Qi and Chun Shijiu had looked so grim earlier. They must have argued over Zhou Mu.

Looking at it this way, Chun Shijiu had some skill — to snatch food from under You Qi's nose!

Chun Shijiu was alone with You Qi in Room 1203. He packed Zhou Mu's things, while You Qi watched him with dark, heavy eyes. Even without turning around, Chun Shijiu could feel the emotion in that gaze.

What was it? Hostility. Killing intent. Malice.

Chun Shijiu couldn't stand being watched anymore. Why did he have to take heat from both sides?! If you've got the guts, go find him — was it his idea to live with Zhou Mu?

He wanted to slam the table and roar, but You Qi didn't look rational right now either. Survival was etched into every living creature's genes.

Chun Shijiu held back, turned, and laughed bitterly: 'Sure, keep glaring at me. Maybe one day you won't see me anymore. I'm not even enough for him to make a meal of.'

You Qi: '...'

You Qi watched Chun Shijiu carry Zhou Mu's things away piece by piece. Half the Room was already empty.

Months ago, this had been the state of the Room he'd lived in for years. But why did it feel so foreign now, so unfamiliar?

Chun Shijiu opened the cabinet and took out Zhou Mu's snacks — all of them You Qi had bought for Zhou Mu and carefully arranged inside. Watching Chun Shijiu pull them out, he felt as if a piece of his heart had gone empty too.

You Qi stood up abruptly. He couldn't stay here any longer. He strode out of the Room.

Both Room doors were wide open. Zhou Mu could see You Qi leaving. He froze for two seconds, then slammed his door shut.

You Qi heard the sound, his body jolted. He looked back, unable to believe Zhou Mu could be this cold-blooded.

He only felt cold all over. Irritably, he grabbed a fistful of hair and went straight downstairs.

Two students were looking at the vending machine on the first floor. Just as they were about to buy something, they saw You Qi appear and hesitated.

Since Zhou Mu had enrolled, he often cleared out the vending machine — sometimes You Qi bought for him. Borrowing the tiger's might, no one dared fight them for it.

But wasn't Zhou Mu moving into Chun Shijiu's Room right now? Everyone knew the snacks were for Zhou Mu. So now — they should be able to buy, right?

The two timidly pressed a button...

You Qi raised a hand. A Wind Blade shot out, grazing past their hands. The person flinched, stepping back two paces.

You Qi didn't even look, walking out while saying expressionlessly: 'Not allowed to buy.'

...

Chun Shijiu finally finished moving everything. Only the last bag of clothes remained. He carried it toward the opposite side.

In the hallway, a student from the neighboring Room, pretending to pass by, grinned at Chun Shijiu and even winked: 'Bro, congrats on getting what you wanted. Weren't you always saying Zhou Mu would eventually move into your dorm on his own? Hehe, enjoy!'

Right. He remembered now. He'd said it. He'd told everyone. He'd even said it to Zhou Mu himself.

Chun Shijiu: 'Blech!'

He spat out a mouthful of blood.

'Damn, take care of yourself.' The student took one terrified look and walked away, afraid of contagion.

'Nothing much. Just karma.' Chun Shijiu wiped the blood, walked into the dorm, and put the clothes away.

Afraid Zhou Mu would find more fault with him, his survival instinct kicked in again. He walked over and said humbly: 'The team combat tournament prelims are in a few days. You and You Qi are on the same team. What do you think about forfeiting?'

Let Zhou Mu and You Qi meet and they'd go mad again, taking it out on innocent people like them.

In Chun Shijiu's humble opinion, it was best to let them cool down separately.

Didn't You Qi also run off on his own.

Zhou Mu thought: forfeit?

He and You Qi weren't even in the same major. They had no classes together, their Classrooms were far apart, and their schedules barely overlapped. After moving out, they'd have very few chances to see each other.

If he forfeited, they might not meet even once a week.

The thought drifted through his mind briefly. Why should he be the one to avoid You Qi? He'd never heard of a Taotie dodging people.

Zhou Mu's long fingers pressed against his chin, tapped twice. He said lightly: 'If I don't compete, how am I supposed to win the prize money? What are you plotting?'

Fine. Bad call.

Chun Shijiu, head lowered, explained: 'I was just worried you'd be in a bad mood seeing him. If you need money, I still have some.'

Zhou Mu crooked a finger at Chun Shijiu, humming. Didn't Chun Shijiu love getting close to him? 'I don't believe you. Come here, let me check how many total calories you are.'

Chun Shijiu: '............'

...This was absolutely revenge, messing with his head! Who believes anyone checks calories when they eat?!