C10 Blocked Door

At the gates of Changqing No.1 Middle School, the scene was always bustling at dismissal time. In addition to the thousands of students streaming out, numerous parents arrived in their private cars to pick up their children.

As the premier high school in Changqing City, the student body was diverse, with many hailing from wealthy or influential families. This was evident from the rows of private cars that lined the street outside the school, ranging from a modest Chevrolet Cruze to the luxurious Porsche Cayenne.

During this particular dismissal, Wang and Qin Anyi walked out side by side, quickly becoming the focus of whispers and stares from many nearby students. So when a shout, thick with anger, cut through the air, it caught the attention of nearly everyone present.

Qin Anyi turned to see a group of more than ten young men with buzz cuts marching toward him, led by Black Skin, whom he had soundly defeated the previous night.

The crowd at the school entrance quickly gave way, creating a wide berth around the confrontation. The students backed off to a safe distance, their eyes wide with curiosity. Wang remained calm and collected beside Qin Anyi, his expression unchanging.

"Are you the one who hurt my guys?" the leader of the buzz-cut brigade challenged, his bulky frame and menacing look aimed squarely at Qin Anyi.

"Black Skin, did you come to settle your debt?" Qin Anyi asked, unfazed. He didn't even spare a glance for the leader, addressing Black Skin with a casual smile instead.

In the past, being encircled by such an intimidating group would have sent Qin Anyi into a panic, possibly even leaving him weak-kneed. But now, with his greatly improved physical condition and his remarkable ability to analyze and calculate, he lacked experience but not the capacity for a strong showing in a fight. A dozen run-of-the-mill thugs posed no threat to him.

"Bullshit! The humiliation you dished out yesterday, I'm returning it to you twofold today!" Qin Anyi's taunt instantly infuriated Black Skin, who pointed at Qin Anyi and bellowed once more.

"We're at the school entrance. Starting a fight here would be a real hassle. Even if no one from the school has the guts to intervene, someone's bound to call the cops. How about we take this somewhere more secluded?" Qin Anyi glanced around, noting the growing crowd of students, and casually suggested with a shrug.

Qin Anyi's composed demeanor left the burly leader of the group second-guessing. Black Skin had claimed that despite his unremarkable appearance, this student had some serious moves—enough to take on four guys, landing three in the hospital, with Black Skin himself not walking away unscathed.

That's why he had rounded up over a dozen toughs, all seasoned brawlers, each with a weapon stashed in their clothing. Yet, to their surprise, Qin Anyi showed no signs of anxiety; on the contrary, he exuded an air of confidence.

Where was this confidence stemming from? Did this average-looking student truly believe he could take on a dozen of them single-handedly? That seemed like a tall tale. Even a professional fighter would struggle with such odds, let alone an ordinary high schooler.

"You make a good point. Beating you to a pulp here would indeed be messy. So let's head out. There's a park nearby where we can settle this," the muscular youth suggested, thumbing towards the direction of the park.

Qin Anyi readily agreed, preferring to keep a low profile. Being the center of attention often brought more trouble than it was worth.

"I'm going to handle some personal business with them. Just wait here for me; it won't take long," Qin Anyi assured Wang Suan with a reassuring smile.

"I'm coming with you," Wang Suan declared, not simply acquiescing as Qin Anyi had anticipated but standing firm.

"Uh... They've got over a dozen guys, and they all look like seasoned fighters. It could get pretty dangerous," Qin Anyi admitted, scratching his head, surprised by Wang Suan's courage.

"That's precisely why I need to be there with you," Wang Suan replied, resolute in his decision to stand by Qin Anyi's side.

Qin Anyi quirked an eyebrow, feeling a sense of oddity. There was no question about Wang Sheng's intelligence. Despite having little to no interaction over two years as classmates, Qin was well aware of Wang's knack for self-preservation, never placing himself in harm's way.

It would be perilous for a girl of such striking beauty to lack self-defense skills. So why was Wang Sheng so adamant about joining him to confront this gang of ruffians? There had to be a reason...

Qin's mind involuntarily replayed the earlier scene of walking out of the school building with Wang Sheng. Something about Wang's gait and the rhythm of his movements seemed off.

Could it be... Yes, that had to be it! Qin hadn't been focused on it before, so he hadn't analyzed it on the spot. But now, as he reflected, a stream of data and analytical judgments cascaded through his thoughts. If he was right, Wang Sheng might be harboring quite a few secrets.

"Alright, we'll do this together, but I'll handle it. They're just a bunch of petty thugs, no need for you to step in," Qin Anyi said with a smile, offering no further explanation. Instead, he gestured for the other to lead the way.

Wang Sheng was momentarily taken aback, not expecting such a statement from Qin Anyi. Had he uncovered something? But that seemed impossible...

This man was becoming increasingly enigmatic...

Wang Sheng watched Qin Anyi's retreating figure, her curiosity now at a fever pitch. To think she had been classmates with such an extraordinary individual for two years and never noticed! With a slight upturn of her lips, she quickened her pace to follow. She was eager to see what other surprises Qin Anyi might reveal.

Watching the group of more than a dozen people depart, the assembled students and parents from Changqing No.1 Middle School exchanged bewildered glances. Some students even rushed back into the school to alert the administration.

Inside the school, the duty security guard in the reception room frantically dialed the internal line.

The incident of Changqing No.1 Middle School students being led away by a gang of hoodlums right at the entrance was no trivial matter. Considering that some students came from families with formidable connections, the inability to ensure student safety at the school gates could provoke an unimaginable wrath from the powerful figures with children at the school.

Even the principal of Changqing No.1 Middle School, who holds a high-ranking position due to the school's special status, might not be able to withstand such fury.