C13 Angered His Roommates

Time flew by, and Zhang Heng had an exceptionally comfortable sleep, stretching from noon well into the night.

He rose and stretched languidly.

"Between that capricious girl and the mysterious person, I've been run ragged today. Sleeping from noon to night was just too blissful," Zhang Heng remarked.

Next, he gestured with his hands, activating his Spiritual Sense.

The clamor from outside abruptly filled his ears.

"Why is it so noisy outside at this late hour?" Zhang Heng wondered.

He listened more intently.

"Damn, something's off!" he silently mused. "It sounds like it's coming from right outside my dorm room. Could something have happened here?"

Zhang Heng hadn't anticipated visitors, so he hurriedly got out of bed.

He opened the door with a goofy expression.

Waving his hand, he greeted, "Hey, guys, what's going on?"

Upon closer inspection, he saw five people at the door, four of whom were holding luggage. It was very late, and no one else was around, except for the sound of knocking that had prompted the neighboring dorms to open their doors.

They gazed at Zhang Heng as if he were the subject of midday gossip.

"Damn, I'm in trouble now," Zhang Heng thought to himself.

"How long have you been dead, standing there? We've been here shouting for ages, and you still have the nerve to keep sleeping? I bet you're deliberately not opening the door!" a young man in blue accused.

"You did it on purpose, didn't you? We've been waiting here for so long, knocking and getting no response. How can you sleep so soundly?" another luggage-bearer complained.

"You're Zhang Heng, right?" another person said, looking ready to start a fight.

The bystanders scratched their heads in confusion.

Realizing things were looking grim, Zhang Heng apologized, "I'm really sorry, everyone. I was just so exhausted today. I didn't expect you and ended up closing off my Spiritual Sense while sleeping, so I didn't hear you calling. My apologies. Let me make it up to you by treating you to a meal another day."

It's sometimes best to keep things amicable with dorm mates, considering he'd be living there for a few more years. If relations soured, life would undoubtedly become more difficult.

"Do you really think we need your measly invitation? This isn't over between us!" the young man in blue retorted.

After their exchange, all five individuals retreated to their respective rooms. Zhang Heng stood to the side, chuckling with a hint of embarrassment.

Suddenly, the previously silent man exclaimed, "You claim you were sleeping, but on which bed? You didn't sleep in mine, did you?"

Zhang Heng had taken note of the man's scholarly appearance, complete with a pair of glasses. Despite having waited outside for an extended period, the man had remained quiet. Now, his loud concern over the possibility of someone sleeping in his bed suggested he might have a touch of germophobia.

"No, no, I didn't sleep in your bed, rest assured. That's not a habit of mine," Zhang Heng reassured him.

"But if you didn't sleep in my bed, and there's no other mat here, are you saying you slept directly on the wooden planks?" the man asked incredulously.

The bystanders observed the scene, struggling to contain their laughter.

"Wow, I never would've guessed you'd enjoy that. Claiming you were sleeping in here—were you actually stealing something?" the man in blue quipped.

Zhang Heng thought to himself, "This guy is so irritating; I'd love to give him a piece of my mind." But the immediate issue wasn't the man in blue; it was the refined-looking man, so Zhang Heng held back and further clarified, "Honestly, I used my Spiritual Force as a foundation and slept on it as if it were a wooden board."

Hearing this, the onlookers burst into laughter.

"So you're saying you used your Spiritual Force as a mat? That's pretty impressive," the man in blue said mockingly.

"Yes, what about it?" Zhang Heng replied, somewhat puzzled.

His patience was wearing thin. Had he not been at fault initially, Zhang Heng might have lost his temper by now.

"I realize you used my bamboo mat, but there's no need for such tall tales. It's not a big deal; I'll just switch it out. Just be more mindful in the future—I have a thing about cleanliness and prefer others not to touch my belongings," the bespectacled man stated.

"No? How am I lying?"

"You do realize it's quite challenging to control Spiritual Force unconsciously, right? It can be incredibly potent, but what's the highest level you can achieve in this school, especially as a freshman?" the person next to him explained.

Zhang Heng pondered for a moment.

So that was it. They suspected he was lying because of this misunderstanding. With a tilt of his head and an easy smile, he quipped, "So you think I'm trash because you're trash?"

The man bristled at Zhang Heng's retort.

"Zhang Heng, is it? Today, I'm going to show you what a real beating feels like!"

With that, he threw a punch.

He was clearly well-built, and a punch like that could easily break bones in an average person. But Zhang Heng was no average person.

He effortlessly sidestepped, avoiding the attack.

Onlookers winced, knowing a hit like that could land someone in the hospital for weeks. Yet, when they saw Zhang Heng dodge, no one stepped in to help.

The man, failing to land his first punch, swung wildly a few more times.

He even infused his fist with Spiritual Energy, aiming for Zhang Heng.

Zhang Heng weaved left and right, never getting hit.

"Is this a joke? Your technique is awful," Zhang Heng taunted.

The man, provoked by Zhang Heng's words, lost all restraint, desperately trying to land a punch, but Zhang Heng was always one step ahead.

The man's punch, thrown with too much force, threw him off balance when it missed, sending him sprawling forward, face-first onto the floor.

A pool of blood began to seep out beside him.

Zhang Heng thought to himself, "He must've put all his strength into that punch, thinking it would hit me. Now, he's face-down on the ground, probably in need of serious medical attention."

The bystanders were shocked, but then someone stepped forward to help the man in blue.