The guy who'd opened his mouth to mock Lin Dongyang saw he actually looked like he was about to make a move, and a trace of surprise flashed across his face. Not long ago he'd just brought people over to teach him a lesson, and he knew perfectly well this kid was a total wimp—his legs turned to jelly the moment he saw people, he never dared say a word while being beaten, only kept his head down and took it.

But how long has it even been? After not seeing him for a while, the moment he mocked him, this kid actually looked like he was about to swing at him. Where did he get that kind of guts? He couldn't help thinking about the change in Lin Dongyang, and felt a bit surprised.

You know, someone so introverted he walks with his head down, a doormat who's been bullied since he was a kid, suddenly has the nerve to go against you, to look you in the eye, walking with his head up like he's full of confidence—that really is shocking.

Still, that surprised look only stayed on his face for a few seconds. Very soon, his expression turned into pure disdain. Hmph! So what if you dare to swing? You really think you've got the strength to back it up? In the end aren't you just going to get your ass handed to you?

He was only surprised that Lin Dongyang suddenly showed up here, and even walked in with Hao Jian, so he felt a bit taken aback, a bit puzzled.

After Hao Jian told Lin Dongyang to step back, Lin Dongyang retreated to his side and then kept his mouth shut.

Hao Jian's eyes, though, stayed locked on Gu Peng. The smile on his face was hard to read—no one could tell what he was smiling at, whether it was just casual or flat-out mocking.

Gu Peng saw that and immediately felt annoyed. He looked at Hao Jian, then gave Lin Dongyang a few disdainful glances and said, "What, feeling pissed off inside?"

As he spoke, those lackeys behind him all burst out laughing. In their eyes, this was exactly the time to laugh at Hao Jian. The harsher they laughed, the happier their boss Gu Peng would be. As long as Gu Peng was happy, the benefits for them, his followers, would naturally be greater.

Gu Peng actually knew exactly how much pull Hao Jian had at school—aside from knowing a few people, he basically knew no one. So why did he still call so many guys out today? First, because he knew Hao Jian had some moves; with just one or two people, they might not be able to handle him. Second, he wanted more people here to watch the show and create a big scene, so that before Hao Jian even started swinging, he'd be scared stiff just by the sheer formation.

He'd already plotted it all out: he wanted to crush Hao Jian's momentum, then humiliate him thoroughly, and at the same time stir up a huge commotion so that everyone would know that today he, Gu Peng, had given this guy named Hao Jian a brutal "training session." And if anyone dared offend him again in the future, this would be the result.

He was going to kill the chicken to scare the monkeys—take Hao Jian as an example and rebuild his own prestige once again.

Hao Jian didn't respond, but Gu Peng's gaze shifted back to Lin Dongyang. He pointed at Lin Dongyang and said with a laugh, "I thought you'd bring a whole crowd over. Didn't expect you to just bring this one piece of dead weight! What, you couldn't find anyone else to call, or do you already know you're here to die, so you brought along another dead man walking for the ride?!"

Gu Peng's tone dripped with contempt. He was obviously mocking Hao Jian and, while he was at it, humiliating Lin Dongyang. But when Hao Jian heard it, there wasn't the slightest change on his face; he wasn't affected at all. On the other hand, after getting chewed out by Hao Jian earlier, Lin Dongyang's face still held a trace of anger, but he only dared stand by Hao Jian's side and didn't move.

Hao Jian had told him to keep his cool, so he had to keep his cool. He listened to Hao Jian, and believed him without a doubt.

Hao Jian ignored Gu Peng, but his eyes instinctively swept over to Lin Dongyang. He saw the kid standing behind him, anger on his face. Even though he was trying to stay calm, Hao Jian could still tell that, right now, he was more or less still a little scared.

Even though over these past days he'd put him through a good deal of training, turning the cowardly, timid Lin Dongyang into a version of Lin Dongyang who walked with his head up, confident—this was probably his first time facing so many people, and they were people he had to fight. So it was only natural that he'd still be a little scared.

It's just that, compared to the old Lin Dongyang who would only stare at his shoes and let himself be beaten and bullied whenever he saw a crowd, the Lin Dongyang now was already someone completely new. At the very least, facing so many people, he had his head up, he dared to feel angry, and he wasn't so scared that he couldn't even speak.

Right now, this was only the beginning of Lin Dongyang's transformation. From today on, every single day, he'd be a brand-new Lin Dongyang, and he'd become the kind of Lin Dongyang whose very name would make people afraid and steer clear.

Without Hao Jian's order, Lin Dongyang naturally didn't dare speak. Hao Jian turned his gaze back to Gu Peng, took two steps forward, and asked with a smile, "You really think I came here to die?"

Hearing that, Gu Peng's face instantly twisted with anger. He'd brought so many people, such an overwhelming lineup, and Hao Jian showed up with just two guys, yet he still dared use that tone with him? Wasn't that just asking to die?

Even though he was furious, he still forced himself to stay calm. If just a few words from Hao Jian were enough to get under his skin, wouldn't that make him look like someone who couldn't keep his cool? The one who should be pissed right now was supposed to be Hao Jian. After all, this whole area was packed with his people, and Hao Jian had only two. No matter what, he was the one with the stronger presence.

He ignored him and instead signaled with his eyes, and Liu Jie, who had been standing off to the side, stepped out.

Liu Jie was someone Gu Peng had specially called over. Last time, in the corridor of the teaching building, Hao Jian had openly beaten Liu Jie so badly he ended up in the hospital. It took a week before he was discharged and came back to school. That time, Hao Jian had also completely wrecked his face, so since they were going to properly humiliate Hao Jian this time, of course they had to call him over.

Sure enough, after being called out by Gu Peng, Liu Jie just kept glaring at Hao Jian. Ever since Hao Jian beat him that time, he'd been nursing the grudge, but after experiencing Hao Jian's skills firsthand, he didn't dare casually provoke him anymore. To the point that after coming back from the hospital, even if he saw Hao Jian, he didn't dare say much to him, afraid Hao Jian would suddenly take a swing and send him back to the hospital again.

Even so, although he didn't dare say anything, every time he looked at Hao Jian there was never any kindness in his eyes. He kept thinking that one day he'd get revenge and wash away his shame, give Hao Jian a brutal lesson. And today was the chance—he was going to vent all his past humiliation on Hao Jian.

That one time he was beaten so miserably by Hao Jian, and in front of so many people too, had left him feeling he had no face walking around school now, nowhere near as cocky as before. All of that, he was going to get back today, from Hao Jian.

He stepped out, then glared angrily at Hao Jian and said with a smile, "Heh… You've strutted around enough these days. Today is your death day. Hurry up and kneel and call me daddy, or don't blame me for being ruthless in a minute." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

Hao Jian didn't respond at all. He turned instead to look at Lin Dongyang and said, "Remember, when it's time to throw down, you throw down. Don't you dare go soft. If you want to get strong, you have to be number one, got it?"

Listening to Hao Jian's teaching, Lin Dongyang nodded very seriously. Liu Jie, however, saw him talking to Hao Jian, and Hao Jian acting like he didn't even exist, talking to Lin Dongyang instead. At once he was so angry he nearly exploded, his face flushing red.

He was furious. He raised his hand and strode toward Hao Jian, making a move as if to slap him. He didn't believe it—there were so many people here, Hao Jian wouldn't dare fight back, right? He was going to land a slap right on Hao Jian's face, and after one slap he would keep going, let him know what the consequences were for ignoring him and offending him, whether he could bear it or not.

Then, just as he walked up to Hao Jian and swung his hand down, everyone thought it would land straight on Hao Jian's face and were already ready to burst out laughing and mocking him. However, just when they were waiting for that slap sound, before Liu Jie's raised hand could come down, it was directly caught by Hao Jian.

"Let go!" Liu Jie said angrily.

He didn't believe that after he said that, Hao Jian still wouldn't let go. With so many people here, if he really didn't let go, he'd make sure Hao Jian suffered, let him know what it felt like to be jumped by a crowd, what it felt like to be beaten and carried into the hospital, see how much pain he could take.

However, right after he finished speaking, Hao Jian didn't even bother to respond to him. He just looked at Lin Dongyang and said, "Slap him!"

Hao Jian's words were extremely calm, as if it was something completely ordinary and normal. As soon as Lin Dongyang heard it, he walked up without the slightest hesitation.

Seeing this, Liu Jie's face flushed with rage and he shouted at Lin Dongyang, "You fucking dare!"

That shout was extremely loud and full of intimidation. An average person, hearing it, would probably freeze on the spot.

However, after hearing that shout, Lin Dongyang didn't even hesitate for a second.

Hearing Hao Jian's order, he walked straight up to Liu Jie without any hesitation. His expression didn't change at Liu Jie's words. He raised his hand, and a slap whipped across Liu Jie's face.

Immediately, a loud "smack!" rang clearly in everyone's ears.

Liu Jie grabbed his face where he'd been hit. A bright red five-finger print had already appeared, and a burning pain spread across his cheek.

His face was full of shock. He hadn't expected Lin Dongyang to actually dare make a move, nor had he expected Hao Jian to be so bold as to have Lin Dongyang do it at a time like this.

Right now, he was furious beyond belief.