Intimidating Delinquents

Ordinarily, they relied on their numbers to run rampant across campus, and bullying new students was already routine.

But today, their targets had changed to Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei.

The surrounding students stopped in their tracks. Some frowned in concern, some whispered among themselves, while even more watched coldly or took pleasure in the misfortune, treating it as a spectacle.

This is bad. The new students are about to get taught a lesson. This is terrible—should we stop them?

You go if you want. I don't want to provoke those guys!

The students around them spoke in hushed voices, their whispers filled with unease and fear. Their eyes held sympathy, but also a trace of helplessness.

Faced with Lingnan High School's infamous delinquents, no one dared step forward or say a word. They could only silently watch the newcomers get bullied.

Yet Shendai Liufei stood beside Chi Tong, her brows slightly furrowed, but there was not the slightest trace of fear on her exquisite face.

Who was she?

She was the third young lady of the Shindai family. Having grown up among the powerful and wealthy, she had seen more storms than these people had walked roads. In her eyes, these little punks were not even worth calling ants.

Kid, didn't you hear what we said?

One delinquent sneered and stepped forward, reaching out to grab Chi Tong by the collar. His movement was rough and threatening.

Shendai Liufei frowned, just about to warn Chi Tong to be careful, when, in that instant, a bone-chilling cold seemed to surge up from the depths of hell and sweep across the entire area.

The air seemed to freeze in that moment, and even the sunlight appeared to dim.

The smiles on the delinquents' faces froze. Their bodies seemed to be suppressed by some invisible force, making even breathing difficult.

As if by prior agreement, they all looked at Chi Tong. He was still standing where he was, but the calm in his heterochromatic eyes had vanished, replaced by an icy, blade-like scrutiny.

His gaze seemed capable of seeing through people's hearts, and his presence seemed capable of freezing the air.

The delinquents felt their hearts clench violently, as though they would be crushed by some irresistible force in the next second.

You're far too arrogant!

Chi Tong slowly raised his head. His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

At the instant his heterochromatic eyes met those of the delinquents, some invisible force seemed to erupt from his gaze.

It was not an angry look, but an utterly indifferent scrutiny that looked down upon all living things.

There was no murderous aura, no furious roar—only the instinctive awe ordinary people felt when facing an emperor.

The delinquents' bodies began to tremble uncontrollably. Their limbs seemed bound by invisible chains, and even breathing became heavy and difficult.

The one who had been the most arrogant and stood closest to Chi Tong now staggered backward like a startled wild dog, before collapsing onto the ground with a thud.

He did not know why Chi Tong's gaze had intimidated him so badly, but he had a feeling that if he did not obey, the consequences would be beyond what he could bear.

Get lost!

Chi Tong's voice remained calm, but that icy chill cut through the hearts of everyone present like a blade.

I don't want to say it a second time!

The delinquents swallowed in unison, their legs going weak until they could barely stand.

Their eyes were filled with fear and reverence, as though they had just endured a judgment from hell. No one dared block the way any longer.

Trembling, they immediately moved aside and opened up a path, like subjects welcoming the return of a king, or ants avoiding the gaze of a god.

Some of them could not even remain standing and fell to the ground one after another, their faces pale and their gazes unfocused, unable to utter a word.

Chi Tong did not spare them another glance. He simply walked forward calmly, his steps steady, as though what had just happened was nothing more than a breeze brushing past him.

Shendai Liufei followed closely behind. She did not look back at those little punks either; her gaze remained fixed on the figure ahead.

That back was calm and aloof, composed and unhurried, as though he had been born to stand at the center of the world.

At this moment, Chi Tong was more dazzling than ever.

Watching his back, Shendai Liufei's heartbeat quickened without her realizing it.

A faint blush spread over her lovely face, and a touch of shy rosiness quietly surfaced, like the most delicate cherry blossom in spring.

Fortunately, Chi Tong was walking ahead and did not turn around. Otherwise, she would have been too embarrassed to show her face.

Only after they had gone far away did the delinquents still sprawled on the ground finally come to their senses. They let out long breaths, as if they had taken a trip through the gates of hell.

Damn, that scared me to death!

Sigh, what exactly happened just now?

Why were we afraid of that brat?

You've got the nerve to say that? Weren't you scared too?

That guy just feels like trouble. I think we'd better not provoke him again in the future.

Yeah, I think so too.

The delinquents remained sprawled on the ground, talking over one another, their voices full of lingering terror after surviving a disaster.

While they were still reliving that pressure from the depths of their souls, the chill around Chi Tong had already quietly faded away. It was as though that suffocating oppression had merely been an illusion. His eyes had returned to their usual calm, and that unfathomable coldness was replaced by familiar composure, as if nothing had happened at all.

Ah!

Just then, a familiar voice came from ahead, carrying a hint of teasing along with the warmth of a long-awaited reunion.

Chi Tong and Shendai Liufei stopped at the same time and looked toward the sound. At the corner not far away, a young man was waving at them.

He had a signature broom-like hairstyle, slightly raised beneath the sunlight, giving him an unruly and carefree air.

That familiar figure, that familiar smile.

The newcomer was none other than Sento Zhang.

Seeing Sendoh again, complicated emotions rose in Chi Tong's heart.

He stood where he was, calmly looking at that familiar figure, feeling deeply moved as well.

At first, he had never expected that he would end up at Lin Nan High School and become teammates with Sendoh again.

He had considered going to Shohoku High School, but that had merely been regret left over from watching the anime in his previous life. He would not deliberately choose Shohoku High School just to make up for those regrets.

To him, this was a real world, so naturally he had to consider practical circumstances when making decisions.

Sento, long time no see.

Chi Tong spoke with a smile. A rare warmth appeared in his heterochromatic eyes, and though his tone was calm, it carried a trace of emotion at their reunion after so long apart.

Sendoh smiled too, his smile as carefree as ever.

Yeah. I was honestly worried you wouldn't play basketball anymore.

But the instant he approached Chi Tong, that familiar yet unfamiliar presence rushed toward him.

He froze slightly. Chi Tong seemed to have changed, yet also seemed unchanged.

Over the past year or so, the guy before him seemed to have become more complicated. Sendoh could still see traces of the person Chi Tong used to be, but he could also feel a familiar yet strange sense of pressure. His heart was filled with mixed emotions.