Just as we were about to head up to the third-year floor, we heard footsteps from below. Gong Ning and Liu Zihong were coming up.

“Hao Ge, I handled things with the dorm supervisor,” Gong Ning said. “But he warned us not to fight, or things will get ugly for everyone.”

“Got it.” I tossed him a pack of cigarettes. “You don’t need to follow us. Stay with the supervisor. I’ll keep things under control upstairs and won’t cause any trouble. Let him know he can relax.” The only ones who might fight us were the more rebellious types like Feilong, and someone like him wouldn’t tattle to the supervisor. He’d lose all respect in this circle if he did. The ones who might tattle were the compliant ones, and we wouldn’t fight them anyway.

“Alright.” Gong Ning took the cigarettes and was about to head downstairs. Liu Zihong looked at me, unsure whether to follow us or go with Gong Ning. Gong Ning put his arm around Liu Zihong’s shoulder and nudged him towards the stairs. “Come on, if I can’t stay with Hao Ge, neither can you,” he laughed as their footsteps faded away.

“Let’s go.” I led the group towards the third-year dorms.

Our blood was boiling once again.

The third-years are different from the second-years. These seasoned students, in their third year at this school, don’t even respect the ‘South Fist, North Kick, King of Slaps’ and certainly wouldn’t respect a first-year newbie like me who’s just started to make a name for himself.

This trip to the third-year dorms was bound to be more troublesome than the second-year visit.

The previously lighthearted atmosphere turned heavy. No one was talking about taking on the third-years anymore. In terms of age, height, and build, we weren’t a match for the third-year students. This age is a period of rapid growth, and the difference between first-year and third-year students is like night and day. Among us first-year troublemakers, only Dai Zude was physically strong.

What would happen? My palms were sweaty, but I felt no fear, only excitement. Since we didn’t find those guys in the second-year dorms, they must be in the third-year dorms. I didn’t want trouble, but I also secretly hoped for it.

The third-year dorms were quieter. It was late, and these students were already deep in their dreams, preparing for the college entrance exams.

Our group was no longer chatting and laughing. It was as if we were entering a dangerous den. I led the group to the first dorm and reached out to push the door. At that moment, I noticed my hand was slightly trembling. These were third-year students...

The door didn’t budge.

It was locked. I exhaled, trying to steady my nerves. Ye Zhan stood beside me, looking anxious.

I knocked on the door, politely saying, “I’m Wang Hao from the first year. I’m looking for a few people. Could you open the door?”

No response. Not a sound from inside. Maybe everyone was asleep?

I knocked again, but there was still no sound. If this were a second-year dorm, I would have had Dai Zude kick the door open already.

“Haozi, what do we do?” Ye Zhan no longer had his earlier nonchalance. We both knew what facing the third-years meant.

I took a few steps back and took deep breaths. I didn’t ask Dai Zude to kick the door; I was afraid he wouldn’t dare. If I asked and he hesitated or refused, it would be like a small hole in a dam, leading to an immediate collapse.

Fear and hesitation are contagious, so I couldn’t let those emotions spread.

I needed to give them a boost of confidence, a shot of courage to push forward with me!

So, I had to kick the door open myself.

Taking a deep breath, I lifted my foot and kicked the door hard!

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The door made a "click" sound but embarrassingly, it didn’t open! I felt incredibly awkward and wanted to find a hole to crawl into. Why did it seem so easy when Dai Zude kicked the door before? Scratching my head, I turned to everyone behind me and said, "Damn, this door is really tough."

"Hahaha..." Everyone laughed, and the atmosphere suddenly lightened up. Dai Zude said, "Hao Ge, let me do it."

"No need, no need. I’m determined to get this door open myself today!" I raised my foot and kicked the door hard again.

The door made another "click" sound, even wobbled a bit, and dust flew out, but it still didn't open.

"Hahahahaha..." Everyone laughed again, even I couldn't help but chuckle and shake my head in disbelief. Clearly, my kick wasn't strong enough; I need to find a way to improve my strength.

Finally, we heard a voice from inside the dorm, "Damn it, who is it?! Can’t a person get some sleep? What’s so urgent it can’t wait until tomorrow?"

"Friends, it can't wait until tomorrow," I said loudly at the door. "I gave you a chance, and you didn’t take it!" Then, with a powerful kick, the door finally opened, and a mop fell to the ground.

No wonder the door wouldn’t open—there was a mop holding it shut!

As soon as the door opened, I shone my flashlight inside. The students inside were getting out of bed, all shirtless and wearing large shorts. "What’s going on, are you causing trouble? Do you want to live or not?"

The commotion had also alerted students in other dorms. Doors were opening, and footsteps approached as many students came out, curiously watching and asking what was happening.

Encountering such trouble at the first dorm made me quite angry. The student who had been talking approached slowly, a typical third-year student, tall and arrogant. This type of student had sharp eyes. By looking at our height and demeanor, he immediately knew we were first-years.

"You first-year brats, what are you doing here in the middle of the night?" The student strode over, clearly not taking us seriously.

The other students didn’t come over but stood up and watched us, ready for a fight to break out at any moment.

The corridor was crowded with students, and the buzz of their voices filled the air.

No one behind me said a word; they didn’t have the arrogance they had on the second-year floor and certainly weren’t shouting things like "open the door when we tell you to" anymore. I knew everyone was watching me.

I looked at Ye Zhan. Before Dai Zude and the others arrived, I had discussed the break-net plan with Ye Zhan in detail.

We had considered all kinds of possibilities, and this was just one of them.

Ye Zhan looked at me and nodded. Then, we both stepped forward and kicked the student in the stomach simultaneously!

Caught off guard, he fell flat on his back. At the same time, other students in the dorm rushed over, and Ye Zhan’s brothers, along with Li Mu and Ou Jiahao, followed the plan and charged at the students, engaging in a fight. With our lead, Dai Zude and the others joined the fray.

Twenty people fighting eight; we easily won.

Ye Zhan and I grabbed the lead student, kicking his head and stomach. Before long, he covered his head, begging for mercy. This was a signal, and the other students in the dorm stopped resisting and began begging for mercy too.

Ye Zhan and I each grabbed one of the student's arms and dragged him out of the dorm.

In the corridor, many third-year students had gathered, watching us in shock.

The student we beat up was still holding his head, and even in the corridor’s light, his fear was evident.

“Who are you? Who are you all?” The student trembled, clearly not expecting us to be so ruthless.

Dai Zude and the others also came out, surrounding us, ready to guard against the third-year students.

“My name is Wang Hao,” I said, my voice calm but loud enough for everyone in the corridor to hear. “I’m Wang Hao from the first year.”

“Wang Hao?!” The student looked up at me with a look of sudden realization. “Are you the one who stabbed Mai Zi?” The corridor fell silent; I didn’t need to look to know that all eyes were on me.

“Yes, that’s me,” I said, looking down at him.

“Why did you kick our dorm door in the middle of the night?” His voice had lost its arrogance, clearly much more “humble” after learning my name. I wanted to ask him, why act tough when you didn’t have to?

“I knocked on the door,” I said, bending down and grabbing his hair, pretending to be fierce. “I politely said I was Wang Hao from the first year, and I wanted to come in and find a few people. Don’t tell me you didn’t hear it?”

The student started trembling, and his eyes were filled with fear. Clearly, the name "Wang Hao" scared him more than the beating.

“Why aren’t you talking?” I continued to look at him, focusing on him to warn the other third-year students.

Oh, right, this tactic is called “killing the chicken to scare the monkey.”

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” The student’s spirit was completely broken.

My tone softened a bit. “I’m not here to cause trouble. I had some issues tonight and need to find a few people. I’ve been through all the second-year dorms and dealt with a few troublemakers. I’m just wondering why finding a few people has to be so difficult?”

I emphasized the last sentence, “Going against me means going against yourself, understand?”

The student nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, his face full of fear.

“I need to check your dorm to see if those people are there. Do you have any objections?”

The student shook his head vigorously, still full of fear.

“Good,” I said. “I’ll check now. If they’re not there, I’ll leave and won’t cause you any trouble.”

This was not only for him but for all the third-year students.