Chapter 1: Yaoxing Academy 1 Part 2

If Xun Ji hadn’t pushed him just in time, his head would have been split open.

The underlings panicked and rushed forward to check. In the chaos, a slender figure darted like lightning from the shadows to Xun Ji’s back.

Xun Ji felt a powerful grip lock around his neck from behind, yanking him back several meters and away from the others.

“No one move, or I’ll kill him!” The young man’s voice was fierce and hoarse.

The group froze in shock. “Lu Zhou? Weren’t you tied up?”

One underling grimaced toward Yan Feng, who was pinned under the furniture and grimacing in pain: “Brother Yan, I tried to tell you earlier—the one hanging up isn’t Lu Zhou; it’s one of our own guards.”

“There’s another brother lying behind the desks and chairs—he’s out cold!” another shouted.

Sweat beaded on Yan Feng’s forehead from the pain, but he ignored it and roared at Lu Zhou, who held Xun Ji: “Lu Zhou, you fucking suicidal? Let go of Young Master Xun!”

The underlings snapped to attention, grabbing whatever they could and advancing while hurling insults like “little beast,” “dog thing,” and “sick of living.”

“I said, no one move!” An electric baton pressed against Xun Ji’s abdomen, Lu Zhou’s voice right by his ear.

Like a cub desperately baring its baby fangs at a stronger foe.

Only Xun Ji, pressed tightly against him, knew that before the warm breath, a bloody scent reached him first.

The smell of blood from Lu Zhou’s body.

【Host, it’s the Protagonist!】 The System said excitedly.

This was the novel’s Protagonist, Lu Zhou.

The original story was a dark revenge tale. Commoner Protagonist Lu Zhou unexpectedly entered the elite Yaoxing Academy, suffering brutal campus bullying. He started with stubborn resistance, only to face even crueler suppression. The lone wolf pup gradually turned into a lurking venomous snake. He schemed his way into funding from some conglomerate, studied abroad for three years after high school, returned transformed, and exacted revenge on all who bullied him.

The worst fate befell the School Bully Xun Ji, who tormented him most viciously. The Xun Conglomerate was devoured by the little snake, and Xun Ji was tortured to death.

【Host won’t be tortured to death.】 After summarizing the plot, the System comforted Xun Ji. 【As long as the Protagonist Blackening Value reaches 100%, Host can leave this world.】

Xun Ji: “What’s Lu Zhou’s Blackening Value now?”

【20%】 The System cheered. 【Congratulations, Host! You picked up this much Blackening Value without even starting the tasks. It’s a dream start, perfect opening, great luck!】

Xun Ji: “Heh.”

At just 20% Blackening Value, he had taken down underlings, injured Yan Feng, and held the School Bully hostage. And he, a fine upstanding youth, had to rush headlong into suicide by bullying this ticking time bomb that kept darkening.

Xun Ji felt bitter; even his golden mop seemed to dull.

“Lu Zhou, don’t do anything stupid!” Yan Feng eyed the electric baton, panic flashing in his eyes.

He had brought Young Master Xun here today. If anything happened to him, Yan Feng couldn’t imagine the consequences.

The arm around Xun Ji’s neck tightened, while Lu Zhou’s other arm clamped his waist firmly. The baton pressed against his abdomen, unpowered. Xun Ji could faintly smell the burnt odor from prior use.

Yan Feng growled hatefully: “Lu Zhou, what the hell do you want?”

Lu Zhou sneered: “Yan Feng, I’ll fight you anytime, but not today!”

He was a bit shorter than Xun Ji, so restraining him from behind took effort. Xun Ji felt the body against his back shift slightly, as if on tiptoes.

“I said I had urgent business and you promised to let me go after tying me up and beating me.” Lu Zhou’s tone grew icier. “You broke your word first.”

Yan Feng seemed to recall something and realized: “In such a rush—did your mom, who’s always in the ICU, get another critical condition notice?”

Lu Zhou’s body trembled; his grip on the baton wavered. Xun Ji’s heart raced, terrified he’d accidentally trigger it.

Yan Feng scoffed: “Your mom gets critical notices every few days, but she doesn’t necessarily die today. Even if she does, by the time you rattle over on that junk bus, she’ll be stone cold. What’s the hurry?”

The words were truly vile. A crimson glint flashed in Lu Zhou’s eyes as he raised his wrist to activate the baton—

“Hey, Yan Feng,” Xun Ji drawled with a casual smile, though his tone chilled. “Chatting so enthusiastically with the toy I was given during my welcome ceremony—you’re not putting me in your eyes at all, huh?”

The arm with the baton snapped back to Xun Ji’s waist, squeezing hard: “Who’s your toy?”

Xun Ji winced inwardly but kept glaring at Yan Feng imperiously.

Yan Feng hadn’t expected that and scrambled to explain: “Young Master Xun, this little bastard is ungrateful. I was just…”

A shiver from Xun Ji’s glare silenced him.

Xun Ji ignored him and turned his head slightly to Lu Zhou: “I can let you go right now. And have the driver take you to the hospital.”

Yaoxing Academy was isolated from the city center for an optimal learning environment. As an elite school, students had chauffeured rides; distance was no issue.

But not for Lu Zhou—getting to the city hospital alone would take considerable time.

【OOC Warning! OOC Warning!】 The System beeped frantically. 【Host behavior violation! No helping the Protagonist! No redeeming the Protagonist!】

“Shut up.” Xun Ji’s head throbbed. “I’m not done.”

Lu Zhou didn’t loosen his grip, his reddened eyes fixed on Xun Ji’s profile: “You’ll let me go?”

Xun Ji wanted to nod but couldn’t with his head held, so he said: “Yes. And not only that—the trouble you caused today can be forgotten. Those three—”

Xun Ji nodded toward Yan Feng pinned under desks, the unconscious underling behind, and the one on the hoop.

“Won’t hold you accountable.”

Yan Feng’s face changed instantly. He’d never swallowed such a loss—bitten by a gutter pup and unable to bite back? No way.

“Young Master Xun, this grudge…” he urged.

“My first day back, someone chokes my neck and jabs me with an electric baton. Yan Feng, who should I settle that score with?” Xun Ji cut him off calmly.

Yan Feng fell silent, words dying on his lips.

Everyone at Yaoxing had backing. A nobody injuring the family young ones meant retaliation for face, enough to crush Lu Zhou.

But if Xun Ji said no pursuit, no one dared.

In noble circles, there were hierarchies. Xun Ji—or the Xun Conglomerate—was indisputably at the pinnacle.

Lu Zhou slowly released his hold on Xun Ji. He watched as Xun Ji methodically straightened his wrinkled suit uniform before rasping:

“What’s the catch?”

Xun Ji turned, seeing the Protagonist’s face clearly for the first time.

The lean, black-haired youth was a mess everywhere. Bruises and blood obscured his looks. Yaoxing’s prestigious suit hung in tatters and filth like a rag.

Meeting those cold, vigilant black eyes—like a wary beast—Xun Ji held up two fingers:

“Two conditions. Choose one. First, drop out and get out of Yaoxing.”

Lu Zhou’s grip tightened on the baton without thinking: “I choose the second.”

Xun Ji brushed back his fringe; a golden confetti fleck fluttered down, catching the smile curving his lips—stunningly beautiful.

“Second: from now on, be my dog. Obey my every command. Offer me your absolute loyalty.”