The Big Boss

As the sky darkened outside, Xia Mu finished his book, then went to dinner with Shiina. They said goodbye in the elevator.

"See you tomorrow." Shiina was still smiling brightly.

Xia Mu nodded and stepped out of the elevator.

As soon as he did, he spotted Yamauchi and the others leaning against the wall outside his dorm room, arms folded across their chests.

When they saw Xia Mu, they strode over with hostile looks.

Ken Sudō hooked an arm around Xia Mu's, grinning. "Xia Mu, let's go inside and talk."

Yamauchi and Kanji each took one of Xia Mu's arms, wearing false smiles. "Open the door. Now."

"You little punk. Let's see where you run today."

Xia Mu wasn't surprised. His hands trembling, he took out his key and unlocked the door.

He was a little excited. Ever since learning Wing Chun, he'd been itching to try it out on someone.

And now, someone had come right to his door?

Seeing Xia Mu's trembling hands, Yamauchi sneered. "Weren't you acting pretty cocky before? What's the matter? Scared now?"

"Get in!" Ken Sudō shoved Xia Mu inside.

Kanji shut the door behind them and locked it.

"Hmph. Now I don't believe anyone can come save you!"

He snorted and rubbed his hands together.

Three against one—even if Xia Mu was six feet tall, there was no way he could turn the tables.

Unless he knew martial arts.

But as far as they were concerned, Xia Mu had gone online to watch tutorials because he didn't know how to fight.

And Chinese martial arts were just flashy moves. They couldn't compare to a real fight.

"Yeah, now no one can interrupt us."

Xia Mu nodded in mild agreement and set the books he'd borrowed from the library on the table.

The three of them stared at him in confusion, then exchanged glances.

"Is he stupid?"

Then they burst out laughing and charged at Xia Mu.

Yamauchi was in front. He'd often used his numbers to pick on people.

Thud!

But the next instant, his vision blurred. A tremendous force struck his abdomen. Before he could even see how Xia Mu had moved, he was sent flying into the door.

"You're still fighting back? You're asking for it!"

Furious, Ken Sudō raised his fist high and swung it at Xia Mu's face.

Xia Mu simply gave him a light shove, redirecting his punch, then drove an elbow into the side of his head.

His slender body concealed tremendous explosive power. The blow sent Ken Sudō crashing to the right and onto the table, scattering the stationery box and its contents across the floor.

Then Xia Mu moved with lightning speed and kicked him hard in the stomach.

Thud!

Ken Sudō doubled over like a shrimp. His stomach churned as if he'd been hit by a car, and he flew backward, landing on his knees.

He tried to fight back, but his head was still ringing, and the blow to his stomach had left him with no strength to stand.

Xia Mu was simply too strong. Even Ken Sudō, who played basketball year-round, couldn't match him.

"Cough, cough..."

Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. He panted, his face pale.

Seeing what had happened to the other two, Kanji hesitated, afraid to step forward.

Especially when he met Xia Mu's icy gaze and saw his opponent's expert fighting stance, he swallowed nervously.

Ken Sudō had been taken down in an instant, while Yamauchi had been knocked unconscious with a single punch.

How could he possibly beat Xia Mu?

Thump!

To avoid getting beaten, he dropped to his knees and begged, "Xia Mu, we're classmates. Let us go!"

Xia Mu merely walked over to him, unhurried.

His unruffled eyes were like a stagnant pool, filling Kanji with wave after wave of fear.

"You're disappointing."

Xia Mu sighed. He'd thought he'd get to enjoy this a little longer.

"Right, right. We were out of line. Please forgive us!"

Sweat poured down Kanji's face as he bowed his head and pleaded.

"If begging worked, what would we need laws for?"

Xia Mu replied calmly, "Wing Chun. Xia Mu."

Crack!

"Ah!"

He punched Kanji in the chin, leaving him writhing on the floor in pain.

Ten minutes later...

From left to right, Ken Sudō, Yamauchi, and Kanji knelt in front of Xia Mu, each with a fair number of bruises on his face.

Xia Mu sat on the bed with his legs crossed.

"Don't push it!"

Ken Sudō gritted his teeth, still defiant, but he'd seen Xia Mu's moves firsthand.

Forget one of himself—if ten of him showed up, they probably still wouldn't win.

So all he could do was talk tough.

"Push it?"

Xia Mu toyed with his phone and gave Ken Sudō a sidelong glance. "You were the ones who came after me. I was just defending myself."

"Yeah, but we're the ones who got hurt! Who do you think the teachers will believe?"

Yamauchi retorted stubbornly, but when he saw Xia Mu raise a hand, he covered his head with both arms and curled into a ball, trembling all over.

A classic all-talk tough guy.

"Look. Here's the proof."

At that, Yamauchi slowly lowered the hand shielding his head. The next second, Xia Mu punched him in the head. Yamauchi grimaced in pain, his head bobbing.

"Losers don't get to yap," Xia Mu taunted.

Even without learning Wing Chun, Xia Mu wasn't sure those three could have taken him.

Ken Sudō and Kanji were already staring dumbfounded.

The phone Xia Mu had laid out in front of them was playing a video. Judging by the angle, it was from a security camera.

It had recorded the whole thing.

If they tried to argue their case, the teachers would punish them first.

"Gulp..."

Kanji, who was a little smarter, felt his Adam's apple bob. He looked at Xia Mu as if he were a terrifying beast.

Had Xia Mu predicted they'd pull something like this and installed a camera in his room ahead of time?

Combined with his overwhelming strength, Xia Mu was terrifying...

In fact, Kanji had guessed wrong.

Xia Mu simply made a habit of keeping evidence of everything.

"Understand?"

Xia Mu put his phone away and looked down at them. "I have proof that could get you seriously punished at any time."

"Grr..."

Ken Sudō gritted his teeth and knelt up straight. "Do whatever you want with me!"

"Ah, no!"

Yamauchi begged in terror. "Didn't the teacher say that using violence against a classmate could get you expelled in the worst-case scenario?!"

Tears were already welling in his eyes.

Kanji was pale too. He asked Xia Mu, "If you weren't going to report us right away, you must have some conditions, right?"

"Snap."

Xia Mu snapped his fingers and looked at Kanji. "At least you've got some brains."

"It's simple..."

Xia Mu's words drew all three of their attention.

Their fates depended on these conditions.

"Clean up the room, and don't come looking for trouble again."

"Also, whenever I need you, come help me out."

"Nothing life-threatening, of course. Just deliver messages and gather information."

The three of them blinked in disbelief.

That was it?

"What? You want to get expelled?"

Xia Mu narrowed his eyes.

"Ah, no, not at all!"

"We'll clean up right now!"

Yamauchi and Kanji scrambled to their feet and put Xia Mu's things back in order.

"Spineless cowards!"

Ken Sudō didn't move. He simply lowered his head. "We lost this time, but I don't believe you can beat me at everything. Don't get cocky!"

"Oh..."

Xia Mu raised an eyebrow. You're already on your knees, and you're still making threats?

Still, he didn't hit him again.

After Yamauchi and Kanji finished cleaning up, they came over to Xia Mu and asked cautiously, "B-big bro, we're done. So, can we..."

"Get lost," Xia Mu said indifferently, glancing at them.

"Sure!"

Kanji hurried out with Yamauchi, dragging Ken Sudō along.

"Don't drag me! I can walk by myself!" Ken Sudō shouted.

"Wait!" Xia Mu's icy voice sounded behind them as they opened the door, making them jump.

"Don't tell anyone a thing about me. Got it?"

Yamauchi and Kanji nodded frantically. Ken Sudō replied angrily, "Got it."

Why would he tell anyone about this humiliating mess?

When Xia Mu gave them no further instructions, the three hurriedly closed the door and left.

Watching the doorway, Xia Mu rubbed his chin and muttered, "Why do I feel like some big bad boss behind the scenes?"