C6 A Strange School

Chu Qing was on his way to school when he suddenly heard someone calling out from behind, "Chu Qing, wait up!" He turned around to find an old friend.

With a smile, Chu Qing greeted him, "Dong, it's been a while." It was Lin Dong, one of the few friends Chu Qing remembered well. Lin Dong came from a wealthy family and had always been generous with Chu Qing.

But Chu Qing's face fell in the next instant; he hadn't expected Lin Dong to reach for his hand! Lin Dong looked puzzled and said, "What are you talking about? We just saw each other yesterday! You're looking a bit off, you know?"

Chu Qing sidestepped to avoid Lin Dong's grasp, apologizing, "Sorry, my mistake." That's when he noticed something odd—all the boys around the school were walking hand in hand!

Lin Dong went on, "Anyway, want to hit the coffee shop after class? Zhou Jiajia asked me to join her. Think she'll invite me to a movie? She hinted at it in class. Guess I'll be counting on her to have my back from now on."

Mentioning Zhou Jiajia made Lin Dong blush, reminiscent of a lovestruck girl's bashful glow.

Chu Qing felt out of place, almost as if the boy before him wasn't Lin Dong at all.

Catching Chu Qing's bewildered look, Lin Dong inquired, "Huh? What's up with you? You're acting really odd today. You're not on your period, are you?"

At Lin Dong's words, Chu Qing's embarrassment deepened. He thought, if men in this world had periods, he'd rather die on the spot.

Seeing Chu Qing's discomfort, Lin Dong laughed and teased, "I'm just messing with you. Lighten up!"

Chu Qing's complexion turned a shade of steel, steam practically billowing from his head.

Lin Dong finally cut the jokes, "Come on, we should head to school early today." He then led Chu Qing through the school gates. Chu Qing was too weary to argue or resist.

Settling into his seat, Chu Qing felt a sense of relief. His expression softened, but the sight of all the boys acting effeminately still struck him as bizarre. He decided to rest his head on the desk, blocking out the oddities around him.

Chu Qing wasn't sleeping, though; he was pondering over Cultivation Techniques and spells. Currently unable to cast many spells and without a fully formed Spiritual Body, he was vulnerable. His immediate goal was to master defensive spells, particularly the Sword Formation.

Under the desk, he began forming seals with his hands. Despite being in a new body, he was adept with the spells. His first attempt at the Sword Formation was a success, but just as it began to take shape, he quickly dissipated the Spiritual Energy with a flick of his wrist.

Suddenly, someone tapped Chu Qing's arm.

A girl with a face dotted with freckles peered at him, asking, "Chu Qing, are you feeling alright?" It was Soong Chaoran, his class monitor.

In his past life, Soong Chaoran had often tutored Chu Qing. She later achieved high marks and was admired by many as a goddess. Seeing her now, Chu Qing felt a wave of nostalgia.

He reassured her, "I'm fine, just skipped breakfast and my stomach's a bit upset."

Soong Chaoran offered, "I've got some bread here. Let me share some with you. The college entrance exams are right around the corner, and you really should be taking better care of yourself."

Chu Qing gave a wry smile. He hadn't expected Soong Chaoran to look out for him like this. As he was about to decline her kind offer, a girl cut in sharply, "Soong Chaoran, you sure are quick to cozy up to Chu Qing. Have you even taken a good look at yourself?"

A frown creased Chu Qing's brow as an unspoken revulsion welled up inside him.

Embarrassment washed over Soong Chaoran's face. She had only intended to lend a hand to a classmate, not to become the target of ridicule.

"Chu Qing, about that love letter I gave you yesterday—did you read it?" The girl's voice was insistent as she rested her hand on Chu Qing's shoulder, clearly angling for a more intimate gesture.

Fury ignited within Chu Qing, and with a burst of energy, he bellowed, "Get lost!"

The girl was nearly petrified by the fury that exploded from Chu Qing, stumbling backward and landing with a thud on the ground.

Humiliated, she snapped back at him, "You're just a boy, and you dare to yell at me like that!" She scrambled to her feet, intent on making unwanted contact with Chu Qing, but a boy stepped swiftly in front of him.

"Back off," the boy commanded.

The girl's face turned beet red, but she didn't dare to challenge him—not because he was intimidating, but because his sister was none other than Ye Chenxi.

Indeed, it was Ye Chenxi's brother, Ye Mao, who now stood before Chu Qing.

"Brother Chu Qing, can we talk? I need to speak with you for a moment," Ye Mao requested.

"Sure." Despite the near-miss with Ye Chenxi, Chu Qing bore no resentment towards his old friend.

Once outside the classroom, Ye Mao, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, apologized, "I'm really sorry about yesterday. I didn't realize my sister had set her sights on you until later. By the time I came looking for you with some others, you had already slipped away."

Chu Qing believed Ye Mao, his cultivation of numerous spells giving him the insight to discern truth from lies.

"Don't worry about it. It's not your fault," Chu Qing reassured him.

Ye Mao, visibly moved, was on the verge of tears and continued to apologize profusely. Chu Qing offered a comforting pat on the shoulder.

Despite the morning's unexpected drama, the rest of the day went smoothly. Aside from receiving a few love letters and Lin Dong's frequent invitations to the restroom, nothing out of the ordinary occurred.

The curriculum was nearly identical to what Chu Qing had studied in his previous life, posing no challenge to him. His cultivation of the Spiritual Body had greatly enhanced his cognitive abilities, and with the class monitor's constant help with difficult problems, Chu Qing managed to review the entire course in just one day, even getting ahead on some material.

"Chu Qing, you seem different from before," Soong Chaoran remarked out of the blue.

"Do I?" Chu Qing chuckled awkwardly. Thankfully, the bell rang, signaling the end of class, and he made a beeline for the exit.

"Chu Qing, are you heading to the coffee shop tonight?" Lin Dong called out from behind.

"Nope!" Chu Qing waved dismissively and kept walking.

Just then, a car pulled up smoothly beside Chu Qing. The window rolled down to reveal a face he knew all too well.

Upon seeing that face, a subtle shift flickered across Chu Qing's features.

"Hop in!" Ye Chenxi tapped the passenger seat, flashing a smile at Chu Qing.