Beiming Yuan: Caught a Rat

By calling him "Dean," Beiming Yuan was clearly telling him he had no need to worry too much.

Come to think of it, Beiming Yuan looked like a model student, not someone who was utterly unreasonable.

Tang Hao, on the other hand... A Clear Sky Douluo of his generation had actually used his seniority to bully a junior. If word got out, he would be a laughingstock. How disgraceful.

Most importantly, Tang Hao had lost and been taught a lesson instead.

Zhao Wuji also looked at Tang Hao with disdain.

First, Tang San had brought trouble on himself and taken a beating. He was now lying in bed and surely wouldn't get up for another four or five days.

Then Tang San's father had used his seniority to bully a junior, only to get beaten up instead. He was even more badly hurt and might not fully recover even after four or five years in bed.

The two really did come from the same mold, each using more underhanded methods than the other.

"Sigh, what a hassle."

Flender rubbed his temples, his head aching, and looked at Zhao Wuji. "Old Zhao, first carry His Excellency Haotian back to the academy, then have Shao Xin and the others treat him. After that, leave the rest to fate."

"As for the cost... put it on his tab for now."

"All right."

Zhao Wuji nodded, casually hoisted Tang Hao onto his back, and returned to the academy.

"Has it ended already?" Elsewhere, Zhu Zhuqing saw that the forest had grown quiet again and wanted to continue on for a look.

After all, she still hadn't found Beiming Yuan.

Whatever else, they were classmates now, so she ought to at least check whether he was safe.

With that thought, Zhu Zhuqing reentered the forest, weaving through it as she hurried toward the place where the great battle had erupted.

"Whoosh!"

Suddenly, a dark figure darted out of the woods and headed straight for Zhu Zhuqing.

"Who's there!" Zhu Zhuqing sprang on guard. Her Hell Spirit Cat possessed her in an instant, and her Second Soul Ring lit up as she unleashed Netherworld Hundred Claws.

Yet her opponent broke through her Netherworld Hundred Claws with just one hand.

Zhu Zhuqing's pupils shrank. She instinctively tried to dodge, but it was already too late. The dark figure seized her by the neck from behind and lifted her into the air.

"Dead of night, a dark and dense forest, a lone man and a lone woman. What a heaven-sent opportunity." A somewhat muffled voice rang out.

Hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing immediately panicked, thinking she had run into some evildoer.

She struggled wildly, clawing and scratching at the large hand around her neck in an attempt to break free, but it was as if the hand were embedded in her neck. It didn't budge.

"Then I won't hold back."

The voice spoke again, its tone faintly teasing.

Zhu Zhuqing's heart trembled, but a ruthless look soon appeared on her face. She actually raked both claws fiercely toward her own neck.

She would rather die than be defiled.

"This woman sure is ruthless."

Beiming Yuan was slightly surprised. He quickly grabbed Zhu Zhuqing's wrists and said softly, "Don't be rash. It's me, Beiming Yuan."

Zhu Zhuqing froze.

Just as she was about to say something, she found that the large hand around her neck was already gone.

Zhu Zhuqing instinctively turned her head. What met her eyes was an extremely handsome man's face, possessing a distinctive charm in the moonlight.

Wasn't that face Beiming Yuan's?

Moreover, Beiming Yuan's face was very close to hers, practically inches away.

She could even smell the pleasant masculine scent on him!

"You..." Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face flushed at once. Both embarrassed and angry, she said, "Let go of me."

Beiming Yuan casually released her.

Zhu Zhuqing sprang away as though she had been shocked. Her face full of embarrassment, she said, "Beiming Yuan, that dark figure just now was you!"

"Mm."

Beiming Yuan nodded.

"You were trying to scare me?" Zhu Zhuqing stared at Beiming Yuan, furious.

"Who said I was trying to scare you?" Beiming Yuan raised an eyebrow and walked toward her. "I really am a little interested."

Zhu Zhuqing's expression stiffened. She instinctively backed away, only to end up against a tree trunk.

Watching Beiming Yuan draw closer and closer, Zhu Zhuqing panicked and said repeatedly, "Don't even think about it. I won't let you get your way... Ah!"

Before Zhu Zhuqing could finish, Beiming Yuan was already in front of her. He seized her wrists in one hand and pinned them against the tree trunk.

"Do you think I can get my way now?" Beiming Yuan pinned Zhu Zhuqing with one hand and gripped her chin with the other, his expression faintly playful.

"Let go of me!" Looking at Beiming Yuan before her, Zhu Zhuqing blushed all the way to the tips of her ears, her face red enough to drip blood.

"You wouldn't know it."

Beiming Yuan smiled. "Zhu Zhuqing, who was so cool and aloof during the day, has actually turned into this. I wonder what you'll be like in a little while..."

"Beiming Yuan, you bastard!" Zhu Zhuqing cried, a trace of tears in her voice and a mist already veiling her beautiful eyes.

"No fun. I won't tease you anymore." After saying that casually, Beiming Yuan released Zhu Zhuqing and took two or three steps back, keeping his distance.

Zhu Zhuqing didn't run. Her eyes slightly red, she looked at Beiming Yuan with anger and resentment.

"Don't look at me like that."

"It's dangerous to follow me without permission. The reason you kept your life is that you're weak. If you'd been even a little stronger... Heh."

Beiming Yuan's expression was indifferent, his voice calm.

"You..." Zhu Zhuqing didn't know whether to be angry or relieved.

"Go on, tell me. Why were you following me?" Beiming Yuan asked.

"I heard a commotion over here, so I came to take a look, to see if you were in danger..." Zhu Zhuqing's gaze wandered. She was clearly not much of a liar.

"Your cultivation is lower than mine. If even I couldn't deal with it, you'd just be throwing your life away by coming over."

"Besides, I wasn't asking about just now. You saw me leave the dormitory and followed me. Was there something you wanted?"

With a few words, Beiming Yuan exposed Zhu Zhuqing's lie.

An awkward look appeared on Zhu Zhuqing's face. After a moment's thought, she said in a voice as faint as a mosquito's, "I was curious."

"Have you heard the saying 'curiosity killed the cat'? It's a bit like your situation just now. You almost lost your life," Beiming Yuan said.

"I'm sorry. It won't happen again." Zhu Zhu lowered her head and apologized.

"I hope there is a next time. After all, if there is, I really won't hold back." Beiming Yuan chuckled, turned, and left.

Zhu Zhuqing's face reddened. She looked at Beiming Yuan's retreating figure in annoyance.

Only when Beiming Yuan was about to disappear did she hurry after him. This time, she wasn't trailing him in secret, but following him openly.

Zhu Zhuqing collected herself and asked, "Beiming Yuan, what happened deep in the forest just now? Were powerful experts fighting?"

"Curious again?"

Beiming Yuan glanced at Zhu Zhuqing.

Zhu Zhuqing jumped in fright and shook her head almost instinctively.

"It was nothing. I caught a rat," Beiming Yuan said.

"A rat?"

Zhu Zhuqing was taken aback.

Beiming Yuan nodded and continued, "A rat bigger than a little wildcat like you."

"I'm not a little wildcat..." Zhu Zhuqing looked at Beiming Yuan in annoyance.

Beiming Yuan stopped and looked her over for a moment. Then he smiled and nodded. "True. You should be a big wildcat."

"You... Where are your eyes looking?!" Zhu Zhuqing's pretty face flushed. Her arms instinctively wrapped around her chest, and she was both embarrassed and angry.

Beiming Yuan smiled, said nothing, and continued toward the dormitory.

Zhu Zhuqing watched Beiming Yuan's retreating figure, her face red for a long while. Then she spat lightly. "Pervert!"