My Rules Are the Only Rules Here! (Please Keep Reading!!!)

The scene abruptly fell silent.

Expressions varied across the crowd. Luo Bu's smile slowly stiffened, and his eye twitched as he looked at Xiao Yan. Xue Ni and the others were even more stunned, their red lips parted.

His words had covered far too many people.

He might as well have called everyone there trash.

Xiao Yu rolled her beautiful eyes at Xiao Yan but said nothing. Seeing the odd looks from several of her friends, she shrugged and smiled.

If she hadn't known his true strength, she would probably have thought the brat was boasting too. He was always fooling around and getting on her nerves, but when it came to strength, even she had to admit he was a monster...

"Brat, say that again."

Luo Bu clenched his fists and held back the angry followers beside him. He stared coldly at Xiao Yan. "That's a mighty big claim. Since you're asking for a beating, I'll oblige."

"Everyone, move!"

His followers drove the new students back, clearing a space. The commotion also drew a few older students nearby to stop and watch.

"Isn't that Luo Bu? Looks like that kid's in for it."

"First time I've seen a troublemaker this arrogant. Challenging an older student outright? One beating will straighten him out. Didn't we all go through that?"

"I bet the kid won't last one move against Luo Bu."

"No kidding! That guy's a Five-Star Dou Zhe. He's strong even among us older students."

"..."

The older students grinned. Some folded their arms; others leaned against the walls, watching the spectacle and trading jokes.

They sized up the handsome young man with mocking eyes.

"Brat, there's still time to kowtow twice and kneel down to apologize. I'll be generous and let you go for Xiao Yu's sake. Otherwise..." Luo Bu's smile was icy, but anger gradually rose behind it. Xiao Yan was smiling right back at him.

In fact...

"Here, boy. Here, boy."

Xiao Yan extended a finger and beckoned Luo Bu, a warm smile on his face.

As if calling a dog.

"You little shit!" Luo Bu erupted. He clenched his fist, coating it in pale blue Dou Qi, then pushed off the ground and charged straight at Xiao Yan.

The onlookers sucked in sharp breaths.

He was serious now.

Many looked at Xiao Yan with pity. The boy had no idea what he was up against. If that punch landed, he would be lucky to escape with his life. At the very least, he would spend months in bed...

Xue Ni and the others looked uncertainly at Xiao Yu. Only when they saw that she remained calm did they look away, unable to bear watching what would happen to Xiao Yan.

But in the next instant,

Nothing they expected happened. Instead, every face slowly went blank. The handsome young man still stood where he was, without even shifting his feet. He had casually raised one hand and caught Luo Bu's full-force blow.

Luo Bu's pupils contracted violently. The pale blue Dou Qi around his wrist gradually faded.

Xiao Yan looked down at Luo Bu from above. Sunlight fell across his face, leaving half of it in shadow.

Then the corner of his mouth slowly lifted.

At the same time, he drew back slightly, bent forward, and twisted his waist, gathering his strength in his leg. He whipped it into Luo Bu's abdomen.

BOOM!

The instant the kick struck, waves of air burst outward.

With a sonic boom, Luo Bu flew backward. He smashed through obstacle after obstacle before crashing through a tree. It felt as though every bone in his body had shattered. Blood spilled from his mouth as he collapsed in a heap, twitching uncontrollably.

"..."

The entire place fell silent.

Countless eyes fixed on Xiao Yan in shock and disbelief.

That had not been a fight. It had been a one-sided crushing!

The older students who had come to watch looked like geese caught by the throat. All their mockery vanished. Their faces flushed, tinged with fear and disbelief.

Xiao Yan rolled his neck and walked toward Luo Bu under everyone's gaze.

He slowly crouched, grabbed Luo Bu by the hair, and smiled just as warmly as before. Two words left his lips.

"Worthless trash."

Then he dragged Luo Bu by the hair and tossed him into the blazing sun like a piece of garbage.

"Stay here for half a day. Leave early, and I'll kill you."

"Gulp..."

Luo Bu's face was deathly pale. Blood welled up in his throat as he struggled to nod.

Xiao Yan swept his gaze around the crowd. Everyone looked away guiltily. Even the older students who had been so arrogant a moment ago unconsciously dropped their airs and stood quietly.

"Tch, this guy..." Shock flashed through Xiao Yu's beautiful eyes as well. Her red lips parted. She looked calm, but her heart was in turmoil.

Back in the Xiao Clan, he had never been like this.

The infuriating brat who made her grit her teeth and this ruthless young man seemed like two different people.

Or was he only kind to his own clan?

"No wonder Xiao Yu told me about you, young man. It seems I've found myself a treasure." A gentle voice came from inside the tent.

Xiao Yan looked toward the voice. A woman in green stepped out of the tent with a smile. She appeared to be in her thirties, with a full, graceful figure and a natural allure that gave her a charm far beyond Xiao Yu and the other young women.

Ruo Lin extended her hand. Soft, pale blue Dou Qi wrapped around Luo Bu. Surprise flashed through her beautiful eyes, and she glanced at Xiao Yan, who stood nearby with his arms folded.

"Young man, you really didn't hold back."

With a leaf between his lips, Xiao Yan watched Luo Bu impassively as he lay on the ground like a dead dog, visibly recovering.

"All right, everyone, come inside."

Ruo Lin waved the others in.

Luo Bu hung his head. When he looked at Xiao Yan again, his eyes were full of terror.

"You. Get back into the sun. Squat down, hold your head, and stay there all day."

Xiao Yan spoke evenly.

Luo Bu's eye twitched. He gritted his teeth and looked to Ruo Lin for help.

Ruo Lin paused, taken aback. She clearly had not expected this troublemaker to be quite so... troublesome. She pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Young man, you're all fellow students. Is this really necessary..."

"You didn't stop him when he attacked me," Xiao Yan said calmly. "If I'd been weaker, that one punch could have left me bedridden for months."

"If Jia Nan Academy believes the strong rule over the weak, then my rules are the rules here!"

"And at my level, Jia Nan Academy isn't my only option. The Dou Qi Continent is vast, and plenty of factions would recruit me. Just say no, and I promise I'll turn around and leave."

"..." Ruo Lin stared at him, speechless.

"Get back there. If you dare slack off, I'll make sure you never leave Wutan City." Seeing that Ruo Lin had nothing more to say, Xiao Yan gave Luo Bu a cold glance and spoke evenly.

Humiliation filled Luo Bu's face. When even Instructor Ruo Lin remained silent, he trudged back into the blazing sun. Under countless strange looks, he squatted down and held his head.

Ruo Lin's brows knit slightly, but she held her tongue. She would wait until she had a clearer idea of his strength.

Still, from what she had seen, he was probably at least in the Dou Shi Realm.

A sixteen-year-old Dou Shi. Even those monsters in the Outer Academy could not compare.

Besides, recruiting him would count toward her own achievements.

The young man was right. A genius would be a genius anywhere. The chance to recruit one of his caliber was rare, even in her lifetime.

And Jia Nan Academy did indeed follow the rule of the strong. This young man...

He was very interesting.