“But the looks in the eyes of these two second-year warrior cadets... were utterly detestable!” Qian Jin let out a long breath; those gazes were exactly like the ones from that day! He could tolerate other things, but he absolutely could not tolerate that look!

“Two seniors.” Qian Jin weighed the badge he had just won in his hand and walked toward the two second-year warrior cadets who were currently tormenting Biluo: “It’s this late, and you’re still not asleep?”

...

The two second-year warrior cadets were simultaneously startled, and their expressions quickly shifted to one laced with amusement as they looked at Qian Jin: “Oh, it’s Qian Jin, the one the headmaster called out this morning.”

The two second-year warrior cadets were not afraid of Qian Jin. So what if he was in the top ten of the first-years? After all, he was only a first-year cadet; they were second-years! A junior is always a junior, and daring to provoke a second-year would mean challenging the entire body of second-year warrior cadets. By then, if the top ten second-year warriors stepped forward, wouldn't beating up the first-years be easy?

Seniors must have the dignity of seniors! This was a tradition passed down in every academy. If a senior was beaten by a junior, then to maintain the dignity of all seniors, the strongest fighter in that senior’s year would appear and beat the junior back, teaching them what respect for seniors means.

“What are you two up to?” Qian Jin smiled faintly, slowly closing the distance between himself and the two seniors.

“What are we up to? Just exchanging pleasantries with fellow student Biluo. It turns out she proactively offered to wash our clothes for us.” The bald warrior cadet shook his head repeatedly with a sigh: “We couldn’t refuse Miss Biluo’s kind offer...”

“Insolent!”

Qian Jin suddenly let out a fierce roar, cutting off the bald warrior cadet’s speech. Because the sound was so sudden and violent, it startled the two into momentary confusion. They watched as Qian Jin strode two large steps forward, raised a finger to point at Biluo, and roared: “You woman, what did you promise me back then? Didn't we agree that you would only wash clothes for me? You dare wash clothes for others? Are you trying to rebel?”

The two second-year warrior cadets stared blankly at Qian Jin, completely unable to process what was happening.

Biluo also stood frozen, her eyes sneaking upward to peek at Qian Jin from beneath the brim of her hat, as if trying hard to recall when exactly she had agreed to such a demand from Qian Jin.

“I don’t care about the details!” Qian Jin swung his arms in a wild, overbearing manner: “You promised me, so you only wash for me. Others should take their clothes back and wash them themselves!”

The two second-year warrior cadets stared foolishly at Qian Jin. How could there be such a thing? Hadn't Biluo been someone anyone could bully or make do chores for since entering the school? The reason she was out so late tonight was because her dorm mates had ordered her out to do laundry. When did she become Qian Jin’s private laundry service?

“Gentlemen, I apologize,” Qian Jin said, nodding profusely with an ingratiating smile: “You should wash these yourselves.”

Bang! Not far from Biluo’s feet, the basin full of clothes was struck by Qian Jin’s kick. It spun repeatedly in place, spilling the assorted garments all over the ground. An item of clothing clearly sized to fit the bald warrior cadet was currently pinned beneath Qian Jin’s foot, which he ground down with a second stomp.

By the well, the only sound was the soft turning of the wooden basin. The two warrior cadets watched blankly as Qian Jin appeared, suddenly adopting a domineering and barbaric stance.

“I... I...” Biluo whispered a tentative reminder: “I don’t think... I ever agreed to that...”

“Didn’t agree? Is that so?” Qian Jin scratched his head with a look of utter bewilderment, then clapped his hands decisively: “Fine then, I decide now! From now on, you will only wash clothes for me.”

The faces of the two second-year cadets finally cleared with understanding. So, Qian Jin had no prior agreement with Biluo at all! And yet, he dared to be so arrogant as to kick the basin and step on clothes! This was provocation, an absolute challenge to the upperclassmen! It seemed the headmaster’s special address that morning had made him forget who he was—daring to challenge the seniors? Humiliate the seniors?

“You understand now? That’s right~! I did it on purpose...”

The moment the sound of Qian Jin’s word ‘purpose’ reached their ears, he injected Level Five Dou Jin into his legs and suddenly shot forward, rushing directly in front of the two seniors. Both fists swept upward simultaneously, slamming into the unprotected abdomens of the two men.

Pfft... pfft...

The two second-years were completely caught off guard. Their bodies bent over like shrimp from the heavy impact, and they opened their mouths to spew out two globs of half-digested dinner remains.

Bang! Bang!

Slowly, slowly, the two men knelt on the ground, lacking even the strength to lift their heads, retching uncontrollably.

“Honestly, I’m not being a hero saving a damsel this time,” Qian Jin looked down at the two men, reaching out to grip the collars of their tunics and lifting them both into the air as he walked forward: “I truly despise you two! Yes, my reasons for hitting you aren't as complex as you might think; I hit you because I hate the way you smile. As for ambushing you, must I wait until you attack me before I strike back?”

“You... you...” The bald man, still curled up, suddenly noticed his altitude and questioned with a trace of disbelief: “You... you’re going to...”

“What am I going to do?” Qian Jin smiled faintly as he released his grip on the bald man’s collar, watching the man plummet vertically with a shriek.

Moments later, a thud echoed from the distance below, followed by a massive splash as the calm well water erupted, along with the sound of the bald man’s curses from the water.

Qian Jin smiled faintly at the other senior whose collar he still held: “Do you know what I’m going to do now? Remember, never let that hateful smile show again. Yes, that smile—the one that treats people like dogs to be toyed with. That smile gives me a psychological shadow...”

Splash...

Before the second second-year warrior cadet could issue a threat or utter anything about how the second-years wouldn't let this go, his body had already created a massive spray in the well water.

“That’s strange,” Qian Jin looked down at the splash in the well, shaking his head with genuine puzzlement: “I really don’t understand. Such detestable people could create such a beautiful splash. It makes no sense.”

In the well, the two second-year students continued to curse. Biluo stood on the ground, looking timidly at Qian Jin. She feared Qian Jin might demand she remove her hat too, and wondered if she, too, would be tossed into the water if she refused.

“Tell me,” Qian Jin sat down heavily on the edge of the well, looking at Biluo: “Senior sister, none of these clothes look like yours. Why did you bring them here to wash? Isn't this one of the best times for mage meditation? What are you doing washing clothes?”