C6 The Man in Black

Amidst the clamor, the orientation ceremony for new students at Mu'an Academy finally came to a close. Zhang Heng was still trying to make sense of his surroundings. Gaining entry to Mu'an Academy was a dream for many, yet unattainable. For the average person, it represented a lofty status symbol.

As Zhang Heng took in the sight of the academy, he couldn't shake the suspicion that perhaps those elders had deceived him. He pondered to himself, "Surely not. Why would such esteemed elders bother to trick someone as insignificant as me?"

While he was grumbling to himself, his attention was drawn to the group of young people at the entrance. Regardless of the academy's legitimacy, their attire alone spoke volumes about their extraordinary status. Their bold fashion made them stand out starkly against the others present.

A realization seemed to dawn on Zhang Heng. The entrance, previously unguarded, was now flanked by individuals who appeared out of place. Coupled with the provocations during the ceremony, it was clear that the real challenge was just beginning.

With resolve, Zhang Heng strode forward. The people at the door addressed him with a dismissive tone, "Our boss would like a word with you."

The crowd nearby grew agitated. They might not have been armed, but the tension in the air was palpable. "I never imagined I'd face such a situation after my rebirth," Zhang Heng mused.

He reasoned, "If I refuse to go with them now and make a scene, they can't touch me. But that's only a temporary solution. Sometimes you have to confront things head-on."

With this in mind, Zhang Heng faced the challengers with confidence. He knew that in moments of stress and excitement, it was crucial not to betray any signs of fear.

Emulating their posture, he casually leaned against the doorframe and, with a dismissive wave of his hand, said, "If that's the case, lead the way."

"Good! You've got spirit!" The person was clearly taken aback by Zhang Heng's readiness to step into their snare.

Without looking back, the individual led the way, and Zhang Heng followed closely behind.

Zhang Heng knew that if he didn't willingly go, they would likely resort to kidnapping him. It made more sense to confront the situation head-on, especially since he still had his powers and wasn't intimidated by these few individuals.

Walking into another alley with the man in black, the rest of the group trailed closely behind them. The man in black came to a halt and, with a broad smile, extended his hand to Zhang Heng, saying, "It's been ages since someone with four SSs graced this world."

"Oh? Is that a compliment?" Zhang Heng asked, hands clasped behind his back, showing no interest in shaking hands with the man.

The man's smile faded, and he shook his head, then waved his hand as though to brush off the previous awkward moment.

The man in black gave Zhang Heng a direct look, and as Zhang Heng approached, he settled comfortably into a chair. With a slow, deliberate motion, he played with a tiger-head necklace and said, "It's been a long time since I've come across someone as intriguing as you. You might have four SSs, but aren't you still worthless?"

Standing there, Zhang Heng observed their careless demeanor, which reminded him of the entitled behavior of some pets at his family home. He despised those who abused their family's wealth and influence to act above the law, and it was irritating to encounter such people in both his past and current life.

"Trash, do you really think you can defeat me, another piece of trash?" Zhang Heng taunted.

Initially, he hadn't intended to argue with them, considering his age, including the years from his past life. It seemed somewhat unfair to pick on these overconfident youngsters.

Besides, his priority was to deal with the immediate danger, not to babysit these kids.

The man in black was livid at Zhang Heng's retort.

"What did you say? You think I can't beat you?" the man scoffed, a smirk on his face. He swung his fists with all the force and bitterness he could muster, but to his astonishment, his punch had no effect on Zhang Heng.

With lightning-fast reflexes, Zhang Heng evaded the punch effortlessly.

If the man in black was quick, Zhang Heng was quicker still.

The man clearly hadn't anticipated Zhang Heng's ability to evade his attack.

The onlookers were astounded, as they had never witnessed such an event before.

In astonishment, the man exclaimed, "You actually dodged it?"

"What did you expect? Are you that surprised?" Zhang Heng retorted.

Regaining his composure, the man admitted, "It seems I've underestimated you. You do have some talent. But do you really think you can defeat me with your level of cultivation?"

"Why couldn't I? Only a challenge will reveal the truth, right?" Zhang Heng said with a smile.

The man, clearly swayed by Zhang Heng's self-assurance, fondled his bone necklace and proposed, "Interesting. If you beat me today, then I'll acknowledge you as the top dog at Mu'an Academy."

"Do I look like I need your recognition? Does Zhang Heng need your approval to act?" Zhang Heng replied with a hint of sarcasm.

He had no reason to fear. With 300 years of accumulated power after his rebirth, what was there to be afraid of? Especially from someone as insignificant as Luo Luo.

Zhang Heng's words evidently struck a nerve, prompting the man to retort angrily, "If you fail to defeat me, then leave this school. How about that?"

"That's fine. But if I defeat you, I want you on your knees, apologizing to me," Zhang Heng responded, unfazed. For him, being the boss of the school was not his ambition, nor did he have the desire to manage it.

To him, Mu'an Academy was merely a platform for learning; he had no interest in getting entangled in its affairs.

After all, the aspirations of a swan are unknown to a sparrow.

His sights were set far beyond the confines of a single school; he aimed to make his mark on the entire continent.

"A gentleman's word is his bond, hard to retract like a galloping horse. Shall I let you in on a few tricks?" the man said with a laugh, his companions nodding along, accustomed to his bravado and unconcerned about the repercussions of a fight, a habit formed within the school's walls.

"Let me in on a few tricks?" Upon hearing this, Zhang Heng couldn't help but smirk at the thought.

"Sure, thanks for the offer."

The man, hearing Zhang Heng's response, assumed that Zhang Heng's previous statements were merely to boost his own morale, not to be taken seriously, believing Zhang Heng was merely bluffing.

"Rest assured, I fully intend to take it easy on you. If I happen to hurt you later on, just let me know. You can apologize directly to me, and I might just forgive you, considering you're my junior." Upon hearing Zhang Heng's words, the man adopted a very confident tone, acting as though victory was already his.

"Really? Well, thanks for that."