You Dare Blackmail Me?

The next morning, Gao Teng woke up and headed straight for Mercy Hospital.

However, when he reached the seventh floor by elevator, he did not find Zhou Xing in his hospital room.

Where did my good brother go?

A massive wave of disappointment washed over Gao Teng, making the whole world seem gray and dim.

He hurried toward the nurses' station in the hallway and asked urgently, "Excuse me, may I ask where Zhou Xing, who was in room 5, went? Was he discharged?"

Upon hearing the name Zhou Xing, the nurse immediately became alert. "What is your relationship to him?"

"Classmate, why?"

The nurse let out a sigh of relief, her tense body instantly relaxing. "He was discharged yesterday."

"Discharged?"

Gao Teng's eyes flickered. Given Zhou Xing's personality, he certainly wouldn't go home to rest; it was highly likely he had gone to Fifth Middle School.

"Thank you."

Gao Teng did not delay, turning around to leave.

However, after walking a few steps, he turned back, asking curiously, "Yesterday, Zhou Xing's family was making a huge scene in the hospital. How did it end?"

The nurse looked Gao Teng up and down, her eyes filled with scrutiny.

Gao Teng smiled and explained, "I'm just curious. Actually, my relationship with Zhou Xing isn't good. I was often bullied by him, so I'm quite happy to see him suffer."

The nurse's face showed disgust. "Zhou Xing's mother is such a scammer. She insisted that our hospital ruined her son's health and demanded five million right off the bat.

"The director wasn't about to indulge her foul behavior, so he had security 'politely' escort them out of the hospital."

The smile on Gao Teng's face deepened. That so-called polite escort must have involved violence.

It was a pity he had been in a rush yesterday and didn't have time to stay and watch the show; otherwise, he could have witnessed a spectacular scene.

"What a shame."

Gao Teng felt a tinge of regret. After thanking the nurse, he went downstairs, left the hospital, and hailed a taxi toward Fifth Middle School.

Once he arrived at the school, he headed straight for the classroom where Zhou Xing belonged.

To his surprise, Zhou Xing's seat was empty; the guy hadn't come to school at all.

"Hey!"

Having missed him again, Gao Teng scratched his head. It looked like he would have to make a trip to Zhou Xing's house. This bird-brained guy really knew how to cause him trouble.

Gao Teng cursed under his breath and started walking upstairs.

But he had only climbed a few steps when he ran into Zhou Xing waiting in the stairwell.

Zhou Xing was in a terrible state. His eye sockets were bruised black, his face was pale without a drop of blood, and his hair was as messy as a bird's nest. He looked as if he had just undergone mental torture.

"Gao Teng!"

Zhou Xing shouted viciously, his expression incredibly gloomy.

Gao Teng raised the corners of his mouth and walked up to him. "I heard you were hospitalized. Are you alright?

"You have no idea how much I've missed you. I'm so glad to see you back at school today."

"Cut the crap, you motherfucker!"

Zhou Xing cursed viciously. "Is the one thousand ready? Hand it over!"

"Heh."

Gao Teng let out a scoff.

Instantly, a surge of rage rushed to Zhou Xing's brain. His internal True Qi surged wildly as he raised his fist and swung it toward Gao Teng's face.

Gao Teng's expression remained calm, not a single ripple in his heart.

Zhou Xing's current physical strength was too low; the power he unleashed was pitifully weak, lacking any momentum whatsoever.

He lightly raised his palm and blocked the punch with ease.

"!!!"

Zhou Xing's face changed drastically, filled with disbelief.

The next moment, Gao Teng moved, slamming a fist into Zhou Xing's stomach. A tyrannical force of Punch Energy penetrated his body!

Zhou Xing spat out a mouthful of blood, his body curling up like a shrimp. It felt as if thousands of knives were churning inside his gut, the pain so intense he could barely breathe.

Gao Teng did not stop there. He grabbed Zhou Xing by the collar and began raining slaps down on his face.

Before long, Zhou Xing had taken over thirty slaps. His face was swollen like a pig's head, and blood mixed with saliva dripped from the corners of his mouth—a truly miserable sight.

"Get lost!"

Gao Teng gave him a violent shove. Zhou Xing stumbled and fell to the ground, stars dancing before his eyes. He felt dizzy and disoriented, unable to regain his senses for a long time.

"With your pathetic strength, you still dare to extort me? Who the hell do you think you are!"

Gao Teng grabbed Zhou Xing by the hair and hurled him down the stairs. He tumbled down step by step, landing in the corner like a pile of mush.

Gao Teng stood at the top of the stairs, looking down from on high.

After so many days of grueling cultivation, he could finally beat Zhou Xing like a dog.

He watched Zhou Xing for a moment with a sneer before turning to head back upstairs.

Stealing cultivation now would likely arouse Zhou Xing's suspicion; it was better to wait until the break.

Zhou Xing wasn't going anywhere, so there was no need to rush.

Before long, Gao Teng walked into the Class Five classroom and sat cross-legged on his chair to cultivate, just as he usually did.

A class period passed in the blink of an eye. Gao Teng slowly opened his eyes, the true qi circulating through his meridians gradually returning to his dantian.

He stood up, stretched, cast a glance at his classmates still immersed in their cultivation, and walked out of the classroom.

It was time for classmate Zhou Xing's good days to return!

"Gao Teng."

Just as Gao Teng stepped out of the classroom, a dark-skinned student walked up to him.

Gao Teng's gaze flickered; this was his former deskmate, Zhu Hong.

Back when Zhou Xing was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment, the two of them had chatted for a while outside the Class Eight classroom.

"Something up?"

Zhu Hong pursed his lips, his expression troubled. "Did you provoke Zhou Xing?

He wants you to go to the back mountain; he said he has something to discuss with you and asked me to pass on the message."

Gao Teng raised an eyebrow. That beating just now hadn't taught Zhou Xing a lesson? He wanted another round?

"I don't know who beat Zhou Xing up today, but he's in a foul mood. I'm not sure if he's looking to take it out on you.

He's gathered a group of people to wait for you at the back mountain. If you go, make sure you speak carefully. Don't go against him no matter what he tells you to do. If you piss him off, he'll definitely try to kill you."

Swallowing hard, Zhu Hong added with a miserable face, "He demanded a thousand yuan from me today. I had no choice but to give it to him.

He's got a belly full of rage right now, so don't go sticking your neck out.

Honestly, I don't get you. With your grades, you aren't going to get into a vocational college anyway, so why stay at school and let Zhou Xing bully you?

If I were you, I'd have dropped out and found a job already."

Gao Teng smiled. Zhou Xing and his crew were just kids, after all; their methods were childish to the point of being embarrassing.

He patted Zhu Hong on the shoulder. "Come with me to the back mountain. I'll help you get your money back."

"Huh?"

Zhu Hong's eyes widened, doubting he had heard correctly.

"What did you say? Have you lost your mind?"

"How are you going to get my money back? By kowtowing to Zhou Xing and his gang one by one?"

"Even if you cracked your skull open, it wouldn't matter. Why would they cough up the money just because you're pathetic? You're dreaming!"

Gao Teng shook his head. "You underestimate me. I'm going to use my strength to make them return the money obediently."

Zhu Hong was stunned. "Are you okay? Which wire in your brain snapped?"