Chapter 24: Lesson

Well.

That's exactly how it is.

These Newblood who are under thirteen, relying on their numbers, without distinguishing right from wrong, probably haven't thought it through, just intent on bullying people.

How is this behavior any different from campus bullying?

They're still immature, not realizing the seriousness, thinking it's just playing house.

What Lin Ke hated most in his past life was campus bullying.

A bunch of scum who can't tell right from wrong, poorly understand good and evil, follow their nature, enjoy the morbid pleasure from bullying, act recklessly, oppress classmates, take delight in it, never repent, simply unworthy of being human.

Lin Ke never expected to encounter such a thing in this new world, and the victim about to be oppressed is himself.

If this can be tolerated, what cannot?

Lin Ke has long kept a low profile, avoided conflict, but that doesn't mean he has no temper.

If he hadn't promptly activated the Brain Seal Technique, his pent-up rage would have exploded just now.

With a slight curl of his mouth, Lin Ke pushed off, lunged forward a step, took advantage of their shock, clenched his right fist, and unleashed a rising uppercut like Mount Lu Rising Dragon Tyrant, striking the jaw of the outspoken Newblood.

With a bang.

He only saw stars, his head buzzing, and immediately crashed.

Lin Ke didn't stop, twisted his hips, using his left foot as pivot, lifted his right leg high and swept horizontally at the two nearest.

Bang, bang—two more.

Their heads were kicked hard by Lin Ke, less than half a second apart, instantly dazing them, and they collapsed to the ground.

Lin Ke's right foot landed, his long legs tensed instantly, he twisted his hips again, and his left leg rose into a battle-axe-like spinning chop.

The remaining two were struck in the chest and collapsed without any ability to resist.

If these five weren't Five Grade Aptitude geniuses who had already advanced to First Grade Wizard Apprentice, whose bodies had absorbed magic and whose physical qualities had risen sharply, Lin Ke's punch and kicks just now would have killed them outright.

Lin Ke crouched, gently patted the outspoken Newblood's face, spoke calmly and softly: "Don't worry, I'm just giving you a beating. As long as you don't report this to the academy, there'll be no trouble. If you do report it, you'll have plenty more trouble."

After speaking, Lin Ke's gaze turned indifferent as he looked each of the five fallen Newblood in the eye.

That kind of indifference—treating life as nothing, seeming ready to kill them at any moment without any emotional waver—made the five Newblood feel chills down their spines.

This…

How many people has he killed?

The five Newblood almost simultaneously had this question arise in their minds.

Lin Ke certainly hasn't killed anyone.

He merely activated the Brain Seal Technique, mimicking the gaze of a serial killer he'd seen on a legal program in his past life.

Lin Ke is not a murderer, nor will he, who dislikes campus bullying, become a bully himself; to ensure future peace, he gave the five Newblood who came looking for trouble a lesson, plus a bit of intimidation.

After dealing with the five Newblood, Lin Ke pulled out his Portable Smart Brain, messaged Mo Li, and asked where she was.

Since last night, the more he thought about it, the stranger things seemed.

Although he hadn't looked into Lifusi Fulansi, the fact that he could become Vice President of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society suggests he's not completely brainless.

It makes no sense that yesterday they just found people to teach Lin Ke a lesson, and the news leaked straight to Mo Li.

Unless there was a traitor in his circle who teamed up with those seeking revenge on Lifusi.

Mo Li quickly replied, informing Lin Ke she was having breakfast in the Cafeteria.

Lin Ke thought, then told Mo Li to come straight to the Library after breakfast, not accepting any invitations along the way or going anywhere else.

Mo Li agreed.

At that moment, the five Newblood on the ground gradually came to, slowly sat up, but remained frozen, unsure what to do.

Regain face?

Joking aside, the five have good reason to suspect that if they dare to cause trouble again, they'll really die.

Lin Ke glanced over casually, and the five instantly shivered, a little afraid.

Smiling, Lin Ke asked: "Tell me, what exactly is going on today?"

The five hesitated, but the earlier outspoken one stepped forward, stammering: "It was Vice President Lifusi Fulansi of the Newblood Mutual Aid Society who approached us yesterday, saying you're the third-ranked person in our class to advance to First Grade Wizard Apprentice; if we don't teach you a lesson now to make you respectful, you'll keep ignoring us Five Grade Aptitude geniuses more and more."

Upon hearing that, Lin Ke couldn't help but think of the black person question mark face meme.

The matter of his promotion had been exposed; he was already mentally prepared.

The key is, what kind of brain circuitry do these five have?

He couldn't help but frown and ask: "You came to cause me trouble just because of that one sentence?"

"Well… not exactly."

The outspoken one stumbled even more, finally gritting his teeth and revealing the truth: "Vice President Lifusi promised us each two Magic Stones."

"Oh."

Lin Ke nodded; the bustling, give-and-take scene—now that makes sense.

After a while, Lin Ke asked: "How do you plan to respond to that Vice President now?"

"This…"

The five then looked at each other, unsure what to do.

Everything's gone wrong, so of course they can't respond well.

Lin Ke smiled: "Here's an idea—just say you already beat me up and forced me to promise to detour whenever I see that Vice President."

"Would… this work?"

The five were a bit reluctant to agree outright, fearing they'd be exposed in the end.

"What's wrong with that?"

Lin Ke's smile widened as he continued: "Just say you were worried I'd report to the academy, so you didn't hit my face. If he demands evidence, say that if it leaked, the academy investigating would be a hassle. Anyway, insist you already beat me up."

He paused slightly, seeing that the five understood his meaning, Lin Ke then explicitly said, "As for the magic stones..."

"All of it belongs to you!"

The five immediately shouted in unison.

"No, no, no."

Lin Ke waved his hand, his tone serious and firm, "What belongs to you is yours; I don't want even a single one. Feel free to take them."

"This..."

The five hesitated again; seeing Lin Ke's smile gradually fade, they reluctantly replied, "Well... okay."

Next, under Lin Ke's "witness," the five used their portable smart brains to reply to Vice President Lifusi and obtained a certificate of payment for ten magic stones from him.

The magic stones will be delivered directly to the mailbox outside the five's dormitory; there's no need to pick them up in person.

Only then was Lin Ke satisfied.

The five having taken Lifusi's magic stones, they will no longer continue to be his 'mercenaries'.

Moreover, having gained benefits, their resentment toward Lin Ke will also diminish considerably.

After all, there is no deep hatred, just a beating they received.

Lin Ke certainly doesn't want to turn his peaceful study life into a hot‑blooded monster‑slaying, level‑up drama; if he can have one less enemy, he will.

All that remains to be dealt with is the trouble surrounding Mo Li.

(End of chapter)