Making a Move Again

"So, it's time for you to make good on your promise, right?"

Xia Mu came before the Trio and looked up at them with deep eyes filled with an indescribable light.

Yamauchi and Kanji couldn't hold out for even a second. They promptly dropped to their knees, bowed their heads, and called out, "Big bro!"

Xia Mu's gaze shifted to Sudo, whose fists were clenched tight.

After a long pause, Sudo slowly unclenched his fists. The sharp edge in his expression faded away, and he looked like a deflated ball. He came before Xia Mu with his head lowered. He was unwilling, but he knew he had to accept defeat. "Big bro."

His voice was dejected, and he doubted himself.

"Not bad, not bad."

Xia Mu reached out and patted Sudo on the head. "You're pretty obedient. When we have time, I'll teach you how to play basketball."

The gesture startled Yamauchi and Kanji so much that they clung to each other, their butts clenched tight.

Good grief, was Xia Mu gay?

"Alright, get up."

Xia Mu turned to Yamauchi and Kanji. "You're making me look like some crime boss. If other students see this, it'll hurt my image."

At that, Yamauchi and Kanji hurried to their feet. They cared about their image, too.

"Remember to attend the study session."

The three figures, leaning on each other as they walked away, trembled at Xia Mu's words and hurriedly nodded over and over.

This was the second time they'd lost to Xia Mu.

The students nearby surrounded Xia Mu and snapped pictures.

Seeing this, Xia Mu furrowed his brow and suddenly pulled out a pocket watch, spinning it around and around.

He also planted a suggestion in their minds, making them gradually forget what had just happened.

Their attention had already been focused on him, and their wills weren't especially strong. They were hypnotized in no time.

One by one, they rubbed their heads and dispersed, convinced that what they had just seen was nothing more than an ordinary one-on-one basketball game.

Still, they all felt as though a zombie had taken a bite out of their brains, leaving something missing.

Seeing this, Xia Mu breathed a little easier. He didn't want to attract attention.

He took out his phone and called Horikita Suzune.

"Phew... Horikita Suzune, I'm seriously exhausted..."

"To get them to attend your study session, I let them beat me up and begged them like crazy. It was awful, you know?"

"Did you succeed?" Horikita Suzune's cold voice came from the other end of the phone.

"I have fulfilled my duty!" Xia Mu pressed a hand to his chest, putting on the solemn air of someone who would charge into battle even against ten thousand foes. "But I really worked hard. My whole body aches. You have to pay me extra."

"Is that so?"

"Turn around and see for yourself."

As Horikita Suzune finished speaking, Xia Mu turned to look behind him.

Horikita Suzune sat in the stands, narrowed her eyes, and spoke into the phone. "Do you still want extra pay?"

Xia Mu awkwardly hung up. "Yes. Why wouldn't I?"

"Even if I didn't do a great job, I still put in the effort..."

"Get lost!"

"What a stingy woman. No wonder you're flat-chested!"

Horikita Suzune couldn't be bothered to argue with Xia Mu. She put away her phone and walked up to him. "I didn't expect you to be so good."

As soon as Xia Mu heard that, he wanted to pull out his pocket watch.

But Horikita Suzune had already turned and walked away.

This is bad. I need to find a chance to hypnotize her. Xia Mu was startled. He hadn't even noticed the stands just now.

Horikita Suzune knew too much. She would definitely cause trouble for him in the future.

He had to find a chance to hypnotize her completely and make her forget.

Time flew by. On this day, a fine misty rain fell from the sky.

Xia Mu was walking along the road with Sakura under an umbrella when the phone in his pocket began vibrating violently.

He took it out and glanced at the screen. His expression sharpened.

The program he had implanted in the Fatty earlier had been triggered.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked with concern.

"It's nothing. Go back first. I'll come find you later." Xia Mu shook his head, put the phone back in his pocket, and turned to head in another direction.

Sakura stood frozen in place. It was the first time she'd seen Xia Mu in such a hurry. Could he be going to see his girlfriend?

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

"What are you trying to do?"

In a deserted corner, Zhu Xincheng clutched his schoolbag as he was steadily backed into a corner.

His legs trembled. In front of him stood a tall, muscular Black man wearing sunglasses. His bulging muscles were frightening to look at.

At that, Yamada took out his phone. The screen displayed his points.

The Fatty understood at once. This guy had come to collect points on Long Yuan's behalf.

Every month, the students in Class C had to hand over twenty percent of their points to Long Yuan to hold onto.

They called it safekeeping, but everyone knew that once they handed their points over, they'd never get them back.

Zhu Xincheng had already paid for two months, but this time, he didn't want to pay anymore.

But if he refused, he'd be beaten again.

He gritted his teeth, Xia Mu's words echoing in his ears. "Don't be afraid. I'll help you."

Besides, he'd learned boxing...

It had only been a few days, but...

"I refuse."

He set down his schoolbag and umbrella, his brow burning with defiance. "I've had enough."

When the burly Yamada heard this, he pushed up his sunglasses, then slammed his fist into his palm with a series of thuds and slowly approached Zhu Xincheng. "You're asking for a beating."

Facing Yamada, who was nearly two heads taller than him, the Fatty was afraid. But after several days of practice, he'd developed some fighting instincts.

He took up a boxing stance.

"Whoosh!"

He was the first to raise his fist and swing at Yamada.

"Thud!"

"Crash!"

Yamada raised both arms to form a barrier and block the blow. His body slid half a meter back, and he looked somewhat surprised.

But he calmly raised his fist and swung it at Zhu Xincheng.

The latter wasn't afraid. He raised his fist and swung back.

"Thud!"

Their fists collided, splashing rainwater everywhere. The Fatty felt like he'd punched a hammer, and the pain made him grimace.

But he wouldn't give up so easily. He shook his aching hand and charged again, swinging his fists over and over.

"Thud, thud, thud!"

His fists fell like a torrential downpour, pounding against Yamada's raised arms.

"Too weak." Feeling the force of the blows, Yamada delivered his verdict. He tilted his head to dodge the Fatty's attack, then landed a right hook on his face.

The tremendous force knocked him straight to the ground.

Then Yamada raised his foot and ruthlessly brought it down toward the Fatty's face.

If that kick landed, the Fatty's face would be swollen for at least half a month.

"Thud!"

But at that moment, another foot came flying in even faster, sending the rainwater scattering.

Yamada's leg was kicked aside. Pain twisted his face, and he staggered backward.

He tried hard to suppress it, but the spot where he'd been kicked kept trembling.

"Are you okay?"

Xia Mu held out a hand to the Fatty and pulled him up.

The latter was overwhelmed with excitement. "Xia, you're here!"

"I didn't chicken out."

Xia Mu nodded. "Good. That's the spirit."

Then he turned to look at the Black man before him.

Feeling Xia Mu's hostile gaze, Yamada didn't back down. He gritted his teeth against the pain in his leg and charged at Xia Mu.