Wu Qianfeng cracked open his eyes just a sliver to look, only to find someone standing beside him, bracing the ceiling beam with a hand. "Such strength—is that even human?" Dust motes rained down incessantly, immediately blinding Wu Qianfeng’s eyes, making it impossible to clearly see who was there. He assumed it must be construction workers from outside who had finally discovered him, the trapped person, and had come down to rescue him. To his surprise, the other person scoffed upon hearing him: "Of course I’m not human."

That voice sounded so familiar? Wu Qianfeng hastily rubbed his eyes, struggling to open them to look at his savior—Xue Ziyun! It was this serpent demon holding up the beam and saving him. Not far off, the Han sisters were tackling the two talismans, one each. Two working together were clearly much more efficient; in less than half a minute, they both cheered, "Done! Success!" The two talismans dissolved into brilliant light and vanished into their hands. By then, the entire roof had opened up like a skylight, and all the collapsing bricks, tiles, and timbers were held aloft above their heads, thanks to Xue Ziyun’s magic. Seeing that the immediate danger had passed, he grabbed Wu Qianfeng and shouted to the Han sisters, "Let’s go!" He tossed the debris aside with a wave of his hand, and the four of them shot out through the roof opening.

Wu Qianfeng watched the brilliant sunlight rush toward him and let out a long sigh of relief. "We’re saved."

Beside him, Xue Ziyun was already on his phone: "Kangshan, I’ve rescued that idiot... Yes, we’re coming back now..."

Who was he calling an idiot! Wu Qianfeng’s gratitude instantly soured because of that description. He tried to move away, but his legs felt like jelly, and he almost buckled to his knees.

Xue Ziyun efficiently hoisted him onto his shoulder and called back to the sisters, who had suddenly developed a strong interest in the mechanical equipment used for demolition, "Let’s go, retreat!"

Wu Qianfeng yelled, "Put me down, put me down! What are you doing!"

"It really was Zhu Heihuang’s doing, tricking you into that derelict house to trap you before the building got demolished! That’s too much; people could actually die," Chen Kangshan exclaimed with exaggerated alarm.

Wu Qianfeng took a huge bite of bread, then gulped down several mouthfuls of cola, mumbling indistinctly, "Why would a demon care if people live or die? But he definitely wanted me dead."

"I think he didn’t dare cause trouble under Teacher Lin’s nose, so he had to lure you out of school." Seeing how famished Wu Qianfeng was, the Han sisters generously offered a large cache of snacks. Xue Ziyun was already returning from their dorm room, dumping them in front of Wu Qianfeng with a clatter. "You didn't know he was targeting you? That spider was so despicable; you didn't even try to guard against him!"

"The audacity! I’ll teach him a good lesson when this is over!" Wu Qianfeng gnawed on a pastry with intense resentment, as if biting an enemy.

"Better not," Chen Kangshan quickly advised him. "If things kick off at school, what if that firebird shows up... It, it’s truly terrifying!"

"Look at your cowardice!" Xue Ziyun tapped Chen Kangshan on the head. "Don't worry, I’ve long been fed up with that human-demon spider (Zhu Heihuang has half human and half demon blood) too. I'll team up with you to deal with him when the time comes!" This last part was directed at Wu Qianfeng.

Wu Qianfeng looked at him quizzically. After straining to swallow the food in his mouth, he asked directly, "Why have you helped me repeatedly?" He had initially suspected Xue Ziyun’s attentiveness was a ploy to mislead him, so he remained guarded, but today the other had saved his life. He couldn't continue harboring petty thoughts; he might as well ask clearly so they could get along better in the future.

Thwack! Xue Ziyun delivered a heavy slap to the back of his neck. "The three of us have shared life and death before, haven't we? Is it that hard to make a demon friend? Why are you so difficult, look at Kangshan over there."

"Shared life and death... friends..." Wu Qianfeng recalled the perilous, near-death moments they had faced together against that "madman," and his heart warmed.

At that time, although the three boys had different identities, different objectives, and different vulnerabilities, none of them abandoned the others to save themselves during that crisis. Each held on until the last minute. In that chaotic battle, neither of the three ever doubted that the person they had just met might harm them at a critical moment or set them up. Yet, they upheld the trust the others placed in them.

Wu Qianfeng hid his trembling voice by taking a large gulp of his drink while recalling the excitement, pretending to be indifferent. "I was just worried you might not like having a cultivator as a friend."

"How could that be? Ziyun has always praised how brave and capable you are," Chen Kangshan interjected.

"Of course, I’m capable. If I hadn't been there that day to show off my might, you two would have been in real trouble." Wu Qianfeng’s tail immediately wagged upon receiving praise.

"You have the nerve to say that? Who was the one who let that madman out!" Xue Ziyun slammed the table in anger. "You nearly got us all killed!"

"My intentions were good."

"Good, my foot! If Kangshan hadn't grabbed you, you would have bolted already..."

"What? Am I the kind of person, Wu Qianfeng, who abandons his friends and flees!"

"..."

At lunch the next day, the students of Chengjin High School witnessed a shocking sight—the famous "Four Musketeers" had become the "Five Musketeers." The little Daoist priest, notorious campus-wide for wearing his Daoist robes to registration, had gloriously joined their ranks, striding into the cafeteria alongside the other members.

Xue Ziyun, as usual, treated the people lined up in front as air, shouldering his way through the crowd until he reached the window. He then turned back and boomed, loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear, "Hey, what do you guys want to eat?"

Chen Kangshan still hunched his neck, fruitlessly attempting to look like he didn't know Xue Ziyun. But since this routine played out three times a day for nearly half a semester, was there anyone left who didn't know they were a group? The identical twin Han sisters stood beside Xue Ziyun, feeling completely justified in their actions. However, if it were just the two of them, more than half the boys in line would have automatically moved aside for them. Thus, the resentment of the crowd wasn't directed at the sisters, but solely at their male companion. Chen Kangshan must have found this deeply unfair regarding the advantage beautiful women could always exploit.

The newly joined Wu Qianfeng wasn’t quite accustomed to this team's method of getting food and felt a bit self-conscious doing this openly in public. Yet, his craving for the delicious food—especially since Xue Ziyun had promised to treat—drove him. He crept over to Xue Ziyun, whispered a few dish names, and then scurried back to sit beside Chen Kangshan, pretending no one had seen him. After a moment's thought, he sneaked back again, ordered a few more dishes, and returned to his seat.

On his third round trip, he was moving too quickly and bumped hard into someone’s back. The person was carrying a tray of food, which immediately crashed to the floor, splattering both him and those standing nearby. "Damn it, are you blind! Why did you crash into me!" The other person didn't even turn around, raising the tray in their hand to slam down on Wu Qianfeng’s back. Wu Qianfeng ducked deftly, dodging the blow, and immediately raised his fist: "What, you wanna fight!"

"I'll hit you, you blind idiot!" the other roared, throwing another punch.

Wu Qianfeng evaded it again. If he had retained even a sliver of guilt toward the other party earlier, it vanished completely after such an aggressive, indiscriminate attack. He immediately shot back, "You’re the one who’s blind! Why did you suddenly stop walking when you were fine a second ago? Is this your house? Do you know you’re obstructing people’s path! Even a good dog doesn't block the road!"

The boy glared fiercely at Wu Qianfeng, who met his gaze without yielding an inch. A thick atmosphere of gunpowder immediately filled the space between them.

As the gazes of the conflicting parties locked, they realized the other was actually a classmate.

This boy, who even made the one-meter-eighty Wu Qianfeng have to look up, was none other than his classmate, Qi Jun. While they were staring each other down, a figure even taller than Qi Jun walked up beside him. This was Shang Tongxin, the only person in the entire school who dared to stay close to Qi Jun and the only one he would actually talk to. When two giants over 1.9 meters stood side-by-side, most people would feel a shock in their hearts. However, Wu Qianfeng was never one to bow down to status or size. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "What? You two want to jump me together? This Daoist Master is ready for both of you. Or maybe just this murderer wants a one-on-one."

He spoke lightly, but he was actually quite nervous about the prospect of fighting both of them. It wasn't that he feared fighting multiple opponents; it was because Shang Tongxin wasn't human—he was a demon. Qi Jun, a fierce, combative human who had even killed before, always stuck with Shang Tongxin, who was physically strong yet timid and gentle. Wu Qianfeng couldn't understand this pairing. Wu Qianfeng wasn't afraid of a physical fight; against a notorious delinquent who had received rigorous martial arts training since childhood, he usually had the upper hand. But if a demon joined in... Wu Qianfeng began rapidly calculating in his mind which talisman to use first to subdue Shang Tongxin, then focus on conquering Qi Jun, and then...

A hand landed on his shoulder. "Qianfeng, what are you doing?"

Wu Qianfeng turned to see Xue Ziyun, his face contorted with an expression that clearly read, 'I'm ready to fight,' and a sudden wave of relief washed over him. He wasn't alone; he had friends here too, so he didn't need to rack his brains calculating how to win against the odds. He had never felt this sensation before. His heart warmed, his eyes stung, and suddenly he felt that fighting shoulder-to-shoulder with friends must be a wonderful thing.

The students in the cafeteria, along with a few teachers interspersed among them, fell completely silent. In the stillness, even the sound of the cooks’ woks rolling hot oil could be heard clearly. Then, the first person to react appeared: he quietly picked up his tray and slipped toward the door. One person led, and others quickly followed suit. In a short while, more than half the bustling cafeteria had emptied, leaving only a scattering of those who considered themselves unafraid, sitting here and there, still enjoying their lunch.

The two "forces" were now facing off: on one side stood the tall and imposing Qi Jun, whose bad reputation had already spread from outside the school; on the other were the members of the "Four Musketeers"—no, now the "Five Musketeers"—who were infamous within the school.

Though Xue Ziyun wasn't short, standing before the two tall figures, he looked a size smaller. However, when he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Wu Qianfeng, the air of roguish defiance they exuded was in no way inferior to their opponents.

"Beat them up!"

"What's there to be afraid of! Hit them!"

"Go on, hit them!"

"Who’s afraid of whom!"

The Han sisters cheered them on from the side, eager for chaos.

The school faculty and students knew that Xue Ziyun, nicknamed "Xue the Cannon Fuse," though quick-tempered, was not actually unreasonable. If it weren’t for the two sisters beside him, the chance of him resorting to violence in a conflict would only be forty percent. But with the twins present, the probability of physical confrontation immediately shot up to 99.99%. One could say these beautiful, cute girls were the catalyst for that cannon fuse to explode.

"Stop, stop," Chen Kangshan stepped forward at the critical moment. "We bumped into them; we should apologize."

"No, no, it’s that we shouldn’t have stopped suddenly," Shang Tongxin also replied sheepishly, rubbing his head.

"Not at all, it’s that we shouldn’t have..."

Chen Kangshan and Shang Tongxin started exchanging conciliatory words, trying hard to dissolve the conflict into nothingness.

"Why are you so timid!"

"Why are you interfering? You don't need to worry about the fighting; the two of us can handle it."

The designated combatants on both sides were not receptive and immediately turned their attention to the two peacemakers.

Chen Kangshan and Shang Tongxin looked on sheepishly. These two were arguably the most docile individuals (demons) in Grade 10, Class 9, so they actually got along quite well privately. But unfortunately, their respective best friends were notorious thugs, so their desire for peace could never be realized against the forces of villainy.

The participants on both sides glared, sparks flying between them, and they kicked away anything obstructing their feet, flexing their knuckles, ready to strike at any moment. Just then, Chen Kangshan suddenly shouted, "Teacher Lin, why are you here?" The sudden announcement turned the combatants on the field into statues.

Lin Qingping came from a poor family (Xue Ziyun: Poor? Not a chance. Her son, Lin Rui, once extorted thousands from me for roast chicken), so she rarely visited this expensive cafeteria, preferring to hide in her office eating instant noodles (Wang Tongtong’s eyes were red when she told everyone this story; she was the only one in the class who truly respected Teacher Lin out of affection rather than awe). Therefore, nobody expected any severe consequences if Teacher Lin witnessed a brawl here.

As soon as Chen Kangshan finished speaking, Shang Tongxin was already skillfully grabbing Qi Jun and dragging him away. Before Qi Jun could resist, their figures had vanished outside the cafeteria.

"Where is Teacher Lin?" Xue Ziyun asked Chen Kangshan angrily.

"...Um, um..." Chen Kangshan stammered, "Don't fight..."

"You actually lied to us, you rascal!"

"Yeah, and you’re treating us to lunch today!"

The two girls also turned their sights onto him.

"Qi Jun, eat first..." Shang Tongxin chased after Qi Jun with two full trays all the way to the dormitory before catching up. He placed the trays in front of Qi Jun and cautiously persuaded him, "It's not that I won't help you. He, that Xue Ziyun, is a famous master of martial arts. Even Liu Di praised him as the most cunning of the younger generation in Lixin City (Liu Di’s actual words were: Ziyun, you brat, planning to pursue both Han sisters at once? You’re ambitious; you’re almost catching up to me...)." "Plus, the Han sisters are involved. We would be at a disadvantage..."

"Those others are... demons too..." Qi Jun poked at his food with his chopsticks. He truly struggled to accept Shang Tongxin’s demonic identity, but having witnessed his true form—that massive black bear with long rabbit ears—he had nothing more to say.

"Yes, Xue Ziyun and the Han sisters, all three of them are. Haven't I told you before? Many students in our class... no, not just our class, many children of demons like me are here. You need to be careful not to provoke them. Some demons eat people without spitting out the bones."

Qi Jun glanced at him, snatched the chopsticks away, and began eating heartily.

Before meeting Shang Tongxin, he had never imagined the world held so many "marvelous" things. Demons? Going to school in the same class as him? It was unbelievable. He wondered if Chen Kangshan, who spent every day with Xue Ziyun and the other three demons, knew their identities, or if he, like Qi Jun initially, had simply gotten over the shock and continued interacting with them as normal. In the end, whether they were demons or not didn't concern him. If they really pushed him too far, demon or not, he’d fight them. Demons weren't all powerful; take the one right in front of him, for example—he clearly had the capability but was as timid as a mouse, easily bullied.

"Hey, I’m skipping class this afternoon, and I might not be back tonight either. Remember to let me copy your notes..."

"You're skipping class again? That's not good. Besides, the school rules forbid leaving campus casually..."

"You go out every day yourself!"

"I, I have no choice. The tuition here is so expensive; my parents won't pay for it, so I have to work part-time to earn tuition!"

"If you know the tuition is expensive, why come to a noble school! Don't you know that the students here are either children of profiteers or corrupt officials!" Qi Jun wiped his mouth after finishing his meal and tossed his chopsticks down heavily.

"It’s not just that; there’s also..."

"There are also you damned demons!" Qi Jun couldn't understand why anyone would willingly subject themselves to the suffering of attending school when being a demon offered such freedom. It really was true: those of a different race had entirely different ways of thinking...

"In any case, I am definitely going to attend school here," Shang Tongxin said with rare firmness. "I caused you to be wrongly accused of murder; I have to be with you. We are friends; if the other side seeks revenge, we’ll share the difficulty!"

"Idiot, who wants to share difficulty with a coward like you!" Qi Jun said as he walked out.

Shang Tongxin didn't know if Qi Jun heard him, but he looked up and let out a long breath. Ignoring the dormitory rules posted not far away on the wall, he lit a cigarette.