Xiao Jun

Bai Xiaowen walked along the familiar paths of the campus. As for Skeleton No. 1 and Skeleton No. 2, he had already put them away.

It was noon dismissal, and groups of students were rushing toward the cafeteria. Bai Xiaowen rubbed his stomach and felt a little hungry too. His last meal had been bread he gnawed on in the Frozen Ancient Tomb of the Spirit Realm, more than a day ago.

Awakened ones had data-based bodies and robust constitutions. Going without food for a day or two would not affect their combat strength, but being hungry was uncomfortable all the same.

"I'll go find Xiao Jun in the middle school division. Before I joined the field combat training, I ordered a B-Rank Enhancement Recipe online. I wonder if Xiao Jun is used to it, or if I should change things up?"

Bai Xiaowen logged into his online banking account and checked the balance. He had 1.02 million left. Looking through the transaction records, he found that the Enhancement Potion he had previously concocted, Ravager Beast's Speed, had successfully sold on consignment, bringing in one million.

The benefit of online consignment was that it was convenient and fast, but the profit was lower than at a physical store.

In front of the senior-year teaching building, Bai Xiaowen unexpectedly ran into someone he knew: Jiang Wen.

"Bai Xiaowen!"

Jiang Wen reacted dramatically, her delicate eyes widening at once. "Y-you-you..."

Bai Xiaowen found it amusing. "What happened to me?"

"No, we all saw that Spirit Realm invader take you away... and you're actually okay! That's wonderful!" Jiang Wen rushed over and spread her arms, forgetting herself as she gave Bai Xiaowen a big hug. Then she stepped back somewhat shyly. "Thank you so much for what happened then. If it hadn't been for you, Teacher Xiao and the others might not have survived."

Bai Xiaowen smiled. "You're exaggerating. That Spirit Realm invader was actually pretty reasonable."

"No matter what, you saved me," Jiang Wen said solemnly. "I have to treat you to a meal, and you can't refuse!"

"A meal? Of course that's fine. But I just got back. You have to let me see my sister first, right?" Bai Xiaowen spread his hands. "My crappy phone ran out of battery ages ago. Xiao Jun still doesn't know I'm back. Who knows how worried she must be."

Jiang Wen cried out, "Right! You were missing for ten days. The school was even planning to report you on the death list. Your sister refused to sign, insisting that you would definitely come back. Her mental state hasn't been very good, but don't worry. Wu Xiaoyan has been visiting her often."

"Wu Xiaoyan?" Bai Xiaowen frowned slightly, sensing that something was off.

Jiang Wen did not notice Bai Xiaowen's strange expression and said excitedly, "Anyway, I have nothing to do. Why don't I go with you to the middle school division to find your sister?"

Bai Xiaowen nodded, and the two went to the middle school cafeteria together.

The middle school and high school divisions were very close, and they arrived in a few minutes. But when they searched the cafeteria, Xiao Jun was nowhere to be seen. At the seat where she usually sat, a thermos had toppled onto the table, its contents spilling everywhere.

Bai Xiaowen's expression darkened. It was obvious that something had happened to Xiao Jun.

After he asked around, two nearby younger girls immediately began chattering over each other.

"Are you Bai Xiaojun's older brother and sister?"

"Xiao Jun was just taken to the rooftop. Hurry up and go!"

"That's right, Butterfly and her group are vicious."

Bai Xiaowen gritted his teeth and rushed into the stairwell without a word. Jiang Wen cried out and hurried after him.

Rooftop.

Xiao Jun was huddled in a corner against the wall, head lowered, silent. Before her stood several teenage delinquent girls around thirteen or fourteen, all dressed rather fashionably.

"What is it, Bai Xiaojun? Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit?" said one delinquent girl in a crop top, with a butterfly tattoo exposed at her waist and hip.

"Butterfly asking you for money is doing you a favor. Don't be so ungrateful!" said the delinquent girl to Butterfly's left. She wore a camisole with the number "69" printed across the chest.

The delinquent girl on the right wore a miniskirt and played the peacemaker, saying to Xiao Jun, "Bai Xiaojun, we're classmates. Don't be so stingy. Butterfly has connections with people from the high school combat classes. As long as you pay the protection fee, she'll definitely look out for you!"

"I don't have any money," Xiao Jun said softly.

"No money? Then how can you afford a B-Rank Enhancement Recipe? Who the hell are you trying to fool, you little bitch?"

69 Camisole looked exceptionally vicious. She pulled a small folding knife from her pocket and made a feinting slash toward Xiao Jun's face, threatening, "Tell the truth now, or I'll carve up your face. Believe that?"

Miniskirt hesitated and said quietly, "Butterfly, isn't using a knife a bad idea?"

Butterfly snorted. "If you're this scared, don't follow me! What the fuck are you afraid of? We're minors, get it? The Minor Protection Law, get it? So what if we scar her face? Even if we splash acid on her and ruin her looks, what can happen? At worst, we go to reform school!"

Butterfly grabbed Xiao Jun by the hair and raised her hand to slap her.

Xiao Jun screamed and suddenly shoved Butterfly away.

"Fuck, you dare fight back? You two, hold her down!" Butterfly staggered from the shove, feeling humiliated. She ordered 69 Camisole and Miniskirt to seize Xiao Jun's arms, then kicked toward Xiao Jun's stomach.

Suddenly, a voice brimming with rage sounded from behind them. "I'll fucking kill you!!"

Before Butterfly's kick could land, pain erupted in her back. She flew through the air as though riding the clouds, her face smashing into the wall before she fell backward without making a sound.

69 Camisole and Miniskirt instinctively looked up and saw Bai Xiaowen's ashen face.

Only then did the two delinquent girls react. 69 Camisole screamed, "What are you doing? A man hitting women, have you no shame..."

Bai Xiaowen backhanded her across the face. The slap was so powerful that it spun 69 Camisole around twice on the spot. Blood seeped from the corner of her mouth, and the blow left her completely dazed.

"Ah..." Miniskirt screamed. Bai Xiaowen suddenly reached out, seized her by the throat, and tossed her aside.

"Brother!" Xiao Jun froze the instant she saw Bai Xiaowen. Only after a long while did she come back to herself, tears streaming down her face.

"Xiao Jun!" Bai Xiaowen felt a tumult of emotions, but guilt outweighed all else.

Xiao Jun ran into Bai Xiaowen's arms, crying as she spoke. "Brother, Wu Xiaoyan said you were dead. Teacher Xiao said you were dead too, and they wanted me to sign the papers. I refused to sign... You're alive. You're really alive!"

"Yes, I'm alive. I'm alive and well." Bai Xiaowen gently stroked Xiao Jun's hair.

Behind them, Jiang Wen silently watched the scene, her eyes reddening slightly as well.

Bai Xiaowen comforted Xiao Jun for quite some time before calming her down.

"What's the deal with these three? Did they suddenly come after you today?" Bai Xiaowen asked. He vaguely sensed that something was wrong.

Xiao Jun said blankly, "I don't know either. We're not in the same class, and we hardly ever talk."

Bai Xiaowen narrowed his eyes slightly. He reached out and lifted the delinquent girl in the miniskirt from beside him, his voice cold as he said, "Now I ask, and you answer. If you dare tell even one lie, I'll make you end up like them!"

Miniskirt quickly glanced at Butterfly and 69 Camisole's miserable states, then nodded fearfully.