C5 The School Belle Helped Him out

Zachary's expression instantly soured, drawing sympathetic looks from the bystanders. This was beyond a plea for mercy; it was sheer humiliation. Having offended Rury, Zachary could only blame his misfortune.

The security guards stationed at the school's entrance had been poised to intervene in the student scuffle, but upon recognizing Rury as one of the parties involved, they chose silence, pretending not to notice.

"No way," Zachary declared, his face twisting with determination. He would rather face a beating than crawl and lose face.

"Michael, Armstrong, you hear that? He's not willing," Rury said with a malicious chuckle, eyeing his lackeys.

"You're quite the stubborn one, huh?"

"This is easy. Armstrong, let's lend him a hand and teach him a lesson," Michael suggested.

The pair advanced toward Zachary with a menacing air.

Zachary backed away, his expression alert. "What are you planning?"

"Did you think you could defy Young Mr. Carlson and get away with it?" Michael taunted, his face contorted in a sinister smile as he grabbed Zachary's arm.

"Get off!" Zachary roared, forcefully shaking off Michael's grip.

Michael, who had been smugly trying to restrain Zachary's arm, was caught off guard by a powerful force. His face paled as he stumbled backward and tumbled to the ground.

Zachary gazed at his hand, astonished. Was he getting stronger?

Could the Heritage of the Medical Saint have transformed his body, enhancing his physical condition?

"What did you do, kid?" Michael picked himself up, staring at Zachary with an ugly scowl. What was the source of that immense strength he had felt? Could it really be Zachary's own power?

"Hmph, I never started anything with you. Don't go too far!" Zachary snapped back, his face stern. He was sure his strength had indeed grown.

"You're courting death!" Michael hissed, turning to Armstrong. "Don't just stand there, help me out—let's go!"

Armstrong charged, and the two, with a fierce determination, each grabbed one of Zachary's arms.

"Damn it! Let go of me!" Zachary struggled desperately, but he couldn't shake them off this time. His strength had grown substantially, but Armstrong and Michael were seasoned fighters, reputed to have even stood their ground against special police forces.

Both of them clamped down on Zachary's arms with an iron grip. Lacking any experience in fighting, he was quickly overpowered and rendered helpless.

"Kneel!" Michael barked, landing a kick on the back of Zachary's knee.

Zachary grimaced in pain, yet defiantly kept his knees straight, teeth clenched.

"You won't kneel? You don't have a say!" Armstrong raised his foot and brutally struck Zachary's left knee.

With a sharp cry of pain, Zachary's left leg shook and buckled, cold sweat streaming down as he collapsed to his knees.

Rury's smile broadened with pleasure as he stepped forward, grabbed Zachary by the hair, and jerked his head up. "Will you crawl now?"

Through gritted teeth and with eyes filled with resentment, Zachary responded, "In your dreams! I'd rather die than crawl for you."

"Still got a smart mouth, I see," Michael snapped, annoyance clear in his voice. He delivered another kick, flipping Zachary onto the ground.

Zachary's face scraped against the dirt, his lip torn and bleeding, a sorry figure indeed.

"Crawl, now!" Rury ordered, striding forward and pointing imperiously to the ground beneath him.

"Refuse to crawl, and we'll beat you to death!"

"Move it, you little wretch, crawl!"

Yet, no matter how much they goaded him, Zachary's resolve held firm, his teeth gritted in steadfast refusal.

The onlookers displayed mixed reactions; some couldn't bear to watch, while others were secretly hoping to see Zachary give in. A few provocateurs in the crowd even started shouting, "Crawl, come on! Do it!"

"Damn this stubborn brat, he won't crawl for anything!" Rury fumed, his face twisted in fury. "Alright then, if that's how it's going to be, beat him until he's dead!"

"Stop right there!"

In the nick of time, a figure rushed to the scene.

"My God, why is she here?"

"This is going to be good!"

The crowd murmured in shock, taken aback by the sudden appearance.

Enraged by the interference, Rury snarled, "Which bastard has a death wish, meddling in my business?"

Before his words could fully settle, a figure, like a dark tornado, swooped in and struck him with a fierce slap.

Rury reeled from the impact, sprawling on the ground, stunned by the forceful blow.

"That's for your loose tongue!" a deep, icy voice from the bodyguard cut through the air. He then turned to Michael and Armstrong and barked, "Scram!"

The two men blanched at the sight of the imposing bodyguard and quickly scuttled back.

"Are you okay?" a melodious voice reached Zachary, who was still on the ground.

He looked up, a gentle fragrance wafting over him, and a spark lit up his dark eyes.

Standing before him was Eleanor, the famously beautiful girl from Medical University. Her skin was as white as snow, her almond-shaped eyes sparkled like stars, and her delicate features were framed by soft, fair skin. She was dressed in a sky-blue dress that accentuated her slender neck and delicate collarbone, her presence as refreshing as a lotus flower yet vibrant with youthful allure.

She stood out so distinctly that everyone else seemed to fade into the background.

Zachary, now on his feet, was streaked with dust and had a trace of blood at his mouth. Eleanor looked at him with concern. "You're hurt! Should we go to the hospital?"

Zachary casually wiped the blood from his lip and offered her a nonchalant smile. "I'm fine, really. Thanks for stepping in."

"Are you sure you're okay?" Eleanor's brows furrowed, not quite convinced by his reassurance.

Zachary shook his head, then turned to Rury with a steely gaze. "I'll remember this."

Rury, nursing his sore cheek, shot back a cold stare. "Don't be arrogant! Just because someone saved you doesn't mean you can be insolent!"

Eleanor's face clouded over at his words, and she called out, "Mr. Hart!"

The bodyguard nodded and advanced on Rury with a grave warning, "Leave now, if you value your life."

Rury, his eyes filled with rage, seemed ready to lash out, but seeing the clear strength of the bodyguard, he backed down. Grinding his teeth, he shouted at Zachary, "Damn you, I won't let this go!"

"I'll be waiting," Zachary replied coolly.

With that, Rury, his bravado deflated, turned and fled, his cronies following suit, all making a swift and ignominious retreat.