The Day Long Yuan Fell into Despair

It made sense. Ever since he'd enrolled, Xia Mu had shown no interest in exams or class competitions.

But had he really come here just to have fun?

Everyone came to this school for their own reasons. Perhaps Xia Mu simply didn't want to confide in her.

Sakura rested both hands on her knees, her heart heavy.

Did Xia Mu not trust her?

But the sadness was soon drowned out by the aroma of fish and seaweed.

Just as the two of them finished grilling the fish and were about to dig in, a voice called out from deep in the forest. "Xia Mu, Sakura!"

"Are you there?"

Sakura knew that voice all too well. "Ayanokoji?" she exclaimed, staring in shock at the path leading to their camp.

Ayanokoji and Suzune Horikita emerged side by side from the path.

Suzune Horikita looked worse than she had yesterday. Clearly, her illness had gotten worse.

But now wasn't the time to help her. She was stubborn by nature, and only when she was truly cornered would she learn gratitude, listen to others' advice, and make a change.

One look at the food roasting over their fire, and Suzune Horikita immediately understood what had happened.

"We were worried something had happened to you, so we came looking. And here you are, leisurely grilling meat." Suzune Horikita frowned, deeply displeased with Xia Mu's behavior.

"Want some?" Xia Mu offered her a grilled sea cucumber. "We caught too many to finish."

"Are you trying to buy us off with food?" Suzune Horikita stared at the fragrant sea cucumber, but in the end, her appetite won out over her better judgment.

After all, she was sick and really did need to replenish her strength.

She said no more, took the sea cucumber, and sat down. Ayanokoji sat down too. He had always been good at adapting to the situation.

Who would've thought that now they'd become accomplices?

Sakura's anxious heart gradually settled. She'd been worried they would scold her.

She never expected things to turn out this way. Was she too rigid by nature?

They sat around the bonfire, finished all the food, and then headed back together.

When they returned to camp, they tacitly agreed not to tell the others what had happened.

Everyone was suspicious, but without evidence, there was nothing they could do about it.

Night fell, and Xia Mu taught Karuizawa Kei self-defense techniques as usual.

Karuizawa Kei was exceptionally talented. She was as supple as a willow and quick to learn, mastering the few techniques Xia Mu taught her in no time. She caught on with just a hint.

Though she didn't understand why Xia Mu was helping her, she was filled with gratitude, and her old resentment had long since faded away.

Now, even without Hirata's protection, she had some ability to defend herself.

And Xia Mu had gotten what he wanted as well: progress in Correction, which converted into Skill Points.

Although he'd only reached twenty percent Correction and gained just ten Skill Points, it had cost him almost nothing.

Besides, he still needed Karuizawa Kei's help with certain things in his plans going forward.

Sure, he could handle them himself, but if he could save time and effort, why do everything personally?

Judging by the difference between Karuizawa Kei's and Sakura's Correction progress, correcting Kikyo Kushida and Suzune would be no easy task.

It wouldn't be easy to shake them to their core.

But that was fine. There was plenty of time—three whole years. There was no need to rush.

It was like playing a game. He could treat them as main quests and small problems like Karuizawa Kei as side quests.

As long as he kept improving his skills, he was sure there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.

In any case, even if he left the school now, he had plenty of options.

He could become a psychologist, help the authorities interrogate criminals, open a martial arts school, or represent his country in various combat sports.

He was also outstanding in fields like Diving, Swimming, and hacking.

But there was no need to rush. He could first build up his Skill Points at this school. The more skills, the better.

After all, he was still helpless against heavy weapons.

So he had to get stronger.

And to get stronger, he had to work hard to correct these problem students and earn Skill Points.

The classes changed every year, after all. There would always be a steady stream of problem students.

In the days that followed, Xia Mu spent his time teasing the adorable Sakura, hunting, and Diving. The days passed by easily.

Until late at night on the fifth day.

A shadow slipped silently into Suzune Horikita's tent like a phantom. When it emerged, it headed deeper into the forest.

"Is this the Key Card needed to claim a base?" Deep in the forest, Xia Mu examined the green card in the bright moonlight. Suzune Horikita's name was clearly engraved on it.

That's right. He was the shadow that had just slipped into Suzune Horikita's tent.

He carefully put the card away, then slowly set off in a certain direction.

Stealing the card was only the first step in his plan. The truly exciting part was about to begin.

"Based on my scouting around the island over the past few days, Long Yuan should be somewhere over there." Xia Mu took out a compass and headed in that direction, making his way by the faint moonlight.

The undergrowth here was thick, forming a natural screen that made it extremely well concealed. Ordinary students wouldn't venture here. This was where Class A's base was located.

What surprised Xia Mu a little was that Class A had even arranged for someone to keep watch at night.

There was no denying it: Class A was much stronger than Class D. They had covered every angle.

But what did Class D's weakness have to do with Xia Mu?

Using the tree trunks for cover, he moved nimbly through the trees, inching toward the makeshift shelter. The figure behind him followed close on his heels, moving swiftly. The Class A student on watch, drowsy and half-asleep, didn't notice a thing.

"Not bad, Ayanokoji." Xia Mu grinned smugly. The sleep-inducing incense he'd made hadn't managed to put Ayanokoji into a deep sleep.

Once he was close, he walked straight toward the tent, which had been built from palm fronds and countless weeds.

"Whoosh!" Before he could get any closer, someone inside hurled a metal can at him like a cannonball.

It was aimed right at Xia Mu.

"Clang." But Xia Mu's hand shot out with the speed of the wind and caught the seemingly swift attack with ease. He squeezed slightly, then tossed it carelessly to the ground. The metal can had been crushed into a flat disk.

A filthy figure then slowly crawled out of the shelter like a snail.

His mouth was ringed with a wild tangle of beard, and his hair was so greasy it looked like you could wring a bucket of water from it. He seemed not to have washed in days.

"Hard to believe. I hid myself so perfectly, yet you still managed to find me." A strange smile crossed Long Yuan's face as he spoke, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"Can't help it. The stench coming off you is so strong I could smell it from miles away. It would've been hard not to find you." Xia Mu shrugged helplessly, a faint smile on his face. His gaze, however, was as cold as ice as he stared straight at Long Yuan. "I told you, didn't I? I'd make you despair."

Xia Mu's voice echoed through the air, sharp as a blade and bone-chillingly cold, as if announcing to Long Yuan, "And today is the beginning of your despair."