The autumn wind rustled, and a few tender green leaves, in pursuit of their desired freedom, broke free from the embrace of the old tree, twirling down to Xiao Zihan's feet.

Monotonous days never wait for anyone; they flew by like birds. Two weeks passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Zihan hadn't received a call from Ren Xueyi, nor had he seen Xiao He coming to find him. Xiao Zihan, with too much free time on his hands, felt a bit bored.

Walking lightly in the woods, watching groups of students pass by, either shoulder to shoulder or happily laughing, Xiao Zihan felt a sense of confusion. Freshmen had aspirations for their new life, eagerly exploring every corner of the campus. Sophomores, tired of mundane studies, shuttled between classrooms and dormitories. Juniors and seniors were busy preparing for postgraduate exams or job hunting.

What exactly was his goal? Did he really want to live his life like this?

Seeing a long chair not far ahead, Xiao Zihan walked over and sat down. The woods were not crowded; a few male students were practicing martial arts, and a few female students were reading foreign languages aloud.

Suddenly, a loud commotion erupted. Someone shouted, "There's a fight, someone's fighting!"

Xiao Zihan frowned. What's going on? Why does trouble always find him in this forest? Looking back, the female student who was reading had disappeared, and a few mischievous male students in the distance were shouting, "Fight, fight, the more intense, the more thrilling."

Xiao Zihan's frown deepened; it was almost as if he was about to join the fray. Twenty meters away from him, eight or nine people were holding sticks, surrounding two individuals—one tall, one short.

The shorter one was already trembling in fear, on the verge of collapsing. Fortunately, the taller one was there to support him. The tall one, wearing jeans and a gray shirt, exuded muscular strength even through his clothes. His imposing figure suggested significant physical strength. He sneered and said, "We're just students, we haven't earned any money. What can we give you, and why should we give it?"

"Oh, damn, you're still talking tough. Where are you from? We're asking him for protection money. What's it got to do with you?" a guy with a long face cursed.

"What does it have to do with me? I can't stand by when you guys bully my classmates," the tall one retorted with visible veins on his forehead.

The guy with the long face stared at this obstacle in annoyance, "Damn it, you're meddling too much. I'll beat you along with him." He raised his stick and swung it at the tall one's head.

The tall one dodged, counterattacked, and landed a punch on the guy's nose, causing him to tumble. The guy clutched his nose, howling in pain.

His accomplices, angered by this turn of events, raised their sticks and attacked. After taking a few hits, the tall one knocked another person down. With six opponents left, he was determined to bring them all down. However, cries for help reached his ears. He turned to find the shorter guy being beaten while cowering on the ground.

With a sigh, the tall one ignored his own safety, threw himself over the shorter guy, and endured the blows. He thought, "I'm much stronger than him; I should be able to endure it. I just hope there won't be any medical expenses, and the school won't expel me if they find out."

The guy with a stubbled face was wondering how this guy could endure so much beating. Just as he was losing patience, he suddenly felt his collar being grabbed. Before he knew it, he was flying through the air like he was on a roller coaster.

His companions were dumbfounded by this sudden turn of events. Iron fists struck their faces indiscriminately, and each one was sent flying, noses shattered, blood streaming, and falling into unconsciousness.

The stubbled guy, having stood up, found a tall figure in front of him. Unaware that his companions had been incapacitated, he hadn't fully recovered from being flung away earlier. He opened his mouth to curse, "Damn you, a..."

Before he could finish his sentence, his neck was grabbed, the force making his eyes roll back, foam frothing at his mouth.

Xiao Zihan, filled with anger, stared at the wretch before him, contemplating strangling him on the spot.

Only when the guy was foaming at the mouth and convulsing did Xiao Zihan release his grip. He grabbed the guy's collar, pulled him close, exuding a fierce aura, and said, "I don't care what your reasons are. You and your friends are not allowed to come to this school again. Otherwise, I'll tear you apart. Do you hear me?"

His voice was sinister and terrifying; to the guy, it sounded like the call of the King of Hell.

Terrified, the guy couldn't utter a word. His eyes were full of fear. He tried desperately to kick his legs but couldn't reach the ground. He nodded vigorously, afraid that any delay would result in him being devoured by the person before him.

In the distance, the shouts of the campus security were faintly audible. Xiao Zihan released the guy.

The guy sat on the ground, legs spread, staring blankly at his blood-soaked, unconscious companions nearby. In an instant, this person had dealt with all of them. It was too frightening; he wasn't human.

Xiao Zihan walked over to the tall person, crouched down, and patted his shoulder. This person was Xiao Zihan's student, the robust sports committee member named Cao Meng. Blood dripped down Cao Meng's forehead as he held the trembling classmate Zhou An, looking dazed.

Xiao Zihan lightly patted Cao Meng's shoulder and chuckled, "Kid, you're quite loyal; that's good. Come on, get up, wipe the blood off your head. I'll handle things later."

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Cao Meng, upon hearing this, felt his pounding heart finally calm down, but a sudden surge of pain spread through his entire body. He looked up at Xiao Zihan, who was deep in thought, and felt a wave of gratitude. In the past two weeks, as the sports committee member, he had interacted with Xiao Zihan the most. Xiao Zihan always had a cheerful demeanor, often teasing female students, speaking without filter, and making a few of them blush. When some female students wanted to complain to the school authorities, Xiao Zihan would play the pitiful card like a loyal dog, making it difficult for anyone to take severe action. They even had a few heated arguments, and Xiao Zihan had run away in fear during one confrontation. Since then, even as a teacher, Xiao Zihan often couldn't raise his head in front of his classmates. In Cao Meng's eyes, Xiao Zihan was just a guy who got into teaching through connections, a total loser.

However, now it seemed that the saying "Don't judge a book by its cover" was quite accurate. This seemingly frail person turned out to be so fierce in action. In an instant, Xiao Zihan's image went from being a petty person to a hero, earning Cao Meng's admiration. Silence might conceal a hero; when he spoke, he astonished everyone. This was what Cao Meng wanted to learn.

Cao Meng took off his shirt, casually wiped his face, and comforted Zhou An, who was still beneath him. Seeing Xiao Zihan heading towards the security office, Cao Meng quickly stood up, intending to explain things.

However, as if anticipating his move, Xiao Zihan raised his hand without looking back, signaling that everything was fine. Cao Meng felt a surge of excitement and sat back down.

As Xiao Zihan walked away, he pondered how to explain things thoroughly, but by the time the security officers arrived, he hadn't come up with a foolproof plan. With a sigh, he realized he would have to dip into his wallet.

Money was indeed a powerful tool. Initially, the security officers refused to compromise and insisted on taking the troublemakers to the police station. When Xiao Zihan sadly pulled out five one-thousand-yuan bills, they all smiled, becoming instant buddies with him. Xiao Zihan was annoyed, but there was nothing he could do.

After settling the matter, Xiao Zihan walked towards Cao Meng with a downcast expression. He felt sorry; why did he have to go withdraw money today, and why did he have to put all five thousand yuan together? Two thousand would have been enough.

Cao Meng, with an air of respect, awaited Xiao Zihan. Zhou An, behind him, looked even more admiring.

Xiao Zihan examined Cao Meng's injuries. Despite being covered in bruises, there were no major wounds. Xiao Zihan couldn't help but secretly admire Cao Meng's robust physique.

Xiao Zihan said, "Although you guys don't look too bad, you should still apply some ointment for the bruises. Going to the hospital might not be suitable, so come to my place first."

Cao Meng and Zhou An had no objections and followed Xiao Zihan.

After the three left, the troublemakers were taken away by the security officers. They had already discussed how to handle the situation, ensuring that Xiao Zihan and the others wouldn't face any consequences.

Xiao Zihan returned to his residence, where a new night watchman had replaced the previous one. This old man was easygoing and friendly. As for the former night watchman, he was currently in a mental hospital, daydreaming about a warm and happy life with his deceased wife. He would smile at everyone and rush over.

One afternoon, around four o'clock, with nothing else to do, Xiao Zihan went to the troublesome woods and practiced his martial arts. His fists and kicks created a powerful wind, invigorating and satisfying. His legs began to move involuntarily—side kicks, sweeps, spinning kicks, explosive triple strikes. Each kick was so fast that it seemed beyond human capability; at least, the naked eye could hardly catch his movements. Perhaps only the most terrifying figures in the world of underground fighting—the demon kings of the black-market fighting scene—could compete with his leg techniques. He sighed inwardly; for over three years, he was still using his leg techniques. He had trained these legs for more than twenty years, practicing tirelessly day and night. Yet, unexpectedly, the first thing he did with these legs was to kill his own father. How ironic.

Xiao Zihan shook his head vigorously, trying to dispel the memories resurfacing in his mind. Yes, he had changed completely; he was no longer the Xiao Zihan who, under his father's cruel pressure, only knew to train hard and engage in battles with fierce animals. He had a new personality, a new life. Let these leg techniques, along with his former ruthless nature, disappear.

Xiao Zihan eased his mood and thought about the nameless qigong he had practiced. Thanks to that qigong, his personality had undergone a transformation; otherwise, changing one's character wouldn't have been so easy. However, his personality had become more unpredictable now, and sometimes, he didn't even know which was the real him.

Lost in his thoughts, Xiao Zihan returned to the teacher's residential building. After greeting the elderly doorman, he went upstairs. However, the moment he opened the door, he sensed something was amiss.

Sure enough, there were two people inside his room, and they stood up as soon as they saw him. The shorter one had a square face with bold features, exuding a tough yet upright aura. The taller one, despite being equally fierce, seemed somewhat weaker in terms of aura. Xiao Zihan, seeing these two strangers suddenly appear in his home, quickly deduced their purpose.

While Xiao Zihan assessed the two men, they were also scrutinizing him. The taller one, with an air of laziness despite his tall and upright appearance, smiled mysteriously, giving off an enigmatic vibe.

The two men, though skeptical of Xiao Zihan's capabilities, had been explicitly warned by their subordinates two days ago that the person before them was formidable and to be cautious.

The current person stared at Xiao Zihan for a while before speaking, "You really kept us waiting, sir."

Xiao Zihan chuckled, "I didn't expect distinguished guests today. My apologies, my apologies."

The man continued, "I'm straightforward. I heard that two days ago, sir, you dealt with some people. Is that true?"

"Indeed, why deny it? Are those guys related to you?" Xiao Zihan replied lazily.

Upon hearing this, the man's companion reached into his pocket, but the man stopped him. His expression turned cold as he said, "They are under my command." After a pause, he added, "But now six of them are lying in the hospital. Sir, you have to give an explanation."

Xiao Zihan grinned and, with a sharp look in his eyes, said, "You brought quite a group of henchmen. Extorting protection money from students and resorting to violence if denied— I just wanted to teach them a lesson. You have to know the limits."

One of the men behind the leader shouted, "This is impossible! Don't talk nonsense, kid. We, the Howl Gang, are not those third-rate gangs. It's impossible for anyone to collect protection money in the school."

When Xiao Zihan heard that they were from the Howl Gang, a playful expression appeared on his face. "So, you two are from the Howl Gang. That's interesting. I happen to know someone in the Howl Gang. I wonder if you know him." Hehe, you're in for a surprise.

The man's companion said sternly, "This can't be true. Don't talk nonsense, kid. The Howl Gang would never engage in such trivial matters. We have our own entertainment venues, bars, baths, gambling dens, underground banks, and adult entertainment establishments. Besides, we earn substantial money from protecting businessmen. We don't involve ourselves in petty schemes like extorting students. It's against our principles."

Xiao Zihan, upon hearing they were from the Howl Gang, wore an amused expression. "So, you two know about the Howl Gang. Well, that's great. Things are easier to handle now. I have an acquaintance in the Howl Gang. I wonder if you know him." Hehe, you've walked into a trap.

The man's companion insisted, "No matter who you know, you have to explain today. Otherwise, you won't have a good time."

Xiao Zihan adopted a nonchalant tone and said, "Oh, come on, guys, don't be so absolute in your words. My acquaintance in the Howl Gang holds considerable weight. Besides, you haven't clarified the situation yet. If you become the scapegoat and give face to others, it won't be good."

The man frowned, lowered his head, and fell silent. He was usually cautious, and this matter shouldn't have been something he needed to handle personally. The injured individuals weren't official members of their gang, just some people they protected. But they had to follow the gang's rules. His subordinate happened to encounter the situation while handling things, and hearing that the assailant was formidable, he became curious. So, he inquired and decided to come personally. His main purpose wasn't to save face for his subordinates but to understand who Xiao Zihan was.

Now, hearing Xiao Zihan claim to know someone in the Howl Gang, he was astonished. Who could it be?

He said, "So, sir, you know someone from our Howl Gang. That's great. This matter can be resolved easily. Would you mind accompanying us to clarify things? We are not unreasonable people."

Xiao Zihan grinned, "No problem. Let's go."

"Good, straightforward."

The three of them went downstairs, got into the leader's car, and headed to the Howl Gang's turf.

During the journey, both the leader and his companion couldn't get a moment's peace. Xiao Zihan, since getting into the car, had been singing one song after another, like "Big Sister, you're so beautiful, like the blue moon in the trees, round and tender, kissing me on the face. I always have sweet dreams about you."

His companion complained, "Boss, look at him. Look at him. How could this kid possibly know someone important in the Howl Gang? I... "

The boss waved his hand, "A'Guang, stop talking. According to my plan."

Xiao Zihan, hearing their conversation, couldn't help but feel amused. He had forgotten about the most important person in the Howl Gang—their big sister boss. She usually had a carefree demeanor, hugging and embracing her brothers whenever she met them, calling them brothers, oblivious to the fact that she was a girl with a beautiful face, ample chest, and round, firm buttocks. Often, she left them dumbfounded, not knowing how to react to her actions.