After a while, Beichuan Si looked up and said, "The leaders come with me, and the rest return to your classes."
As soon as he spoke, the delinquents standing there took a step back in unison, leaving only the tall boy, Seki, and Ikegami at the front of the crowd.
Realizing they had been sold out, the tall boy, Seki, and Ikegami turned dark in the face, standing there, neither advancing nor retreating.
But Beichuan Si didn't have the leisure to care about their feelings. After waving to disperse the crowd, he simply said, "Follow me," and walked straight toward the back of the school building.
Seeing this, the tall boy and Ikegami, along with Seki, could only brace themselves and follow closely behind Beichuan Si.
The students on the sidelines watching this unfold were all stunned.
In just a short time, rumors of various strange and inexplicable versions spread among both junior and senior students.
For example, the nickname "Beichuan Demon King," or exaggerated statements like "All twenty of you have already been surrounded by me, Beichuan Si." Even more outrageous rumors like "When Beichuan laughs, life and death are uncertain" were spreading.
Anyway, being encircled by senior students early in the morning and called 'boss,' Beichuan Si had firmly established himself as the delinquent leader.
And as for Beichuan Si, the one at the center of all this, he was completely unaware.
But he probably wouldn't care even if he knew; he would just maintain his expressionless demeanor, indifferent to the rumors circling among the high schoolers.
This should be the place.
Beichuan Si circled around the back of the school building, walked a long distance forward, then stopped and turned around.
Behind him followed the uneasy trio, and not far from them was Shen Gu Mirai.
Beichuan Si gestured for Shen Gu Mirai to come over.
This made the short-haired girl quite happy.
See! In the end, Beichuan called me first!
Shen Gu Mirai mused that her relationship with Beichuan Si had progressed beyond just being acquaintances.
Her heart was bouncing as she slowly approached Beichuan Si—
Then Beichuan Si casually took off his bag.
Uh...
Shen Gu Mirai blinked, dumbfounded.
All her hundred-word-long thoughts led to the conclusion that Beichuan Si only regarded her as a bag stand?
Beichuan Si glanced curiously at the bewildered Shen Gu Mirai but couldn't be bothered to address her. He simply turned back to look at the trio of Seki and the others.
Upon his inquiry, he learned their real names.
The tall boy was named Changgu Makoto, Seki's full name was Seki Naoya, and Ikegami was named Ikegami Keito.
This time, the gate reception event was their idea, primarily aiming to accomplish Beichuan Si's task.
After all, only delinquents could mix with delinquents; getting them to promote Beichuan Si's matters to ordinary students was difficult, so this direct approach seemed better. Additionally, Beichuan Si's combat ability really impressed them, so the delinquents went with the flow and even helped elevate his position.
Yes, now their goal was indeed achieved, and Beichuan Si could almost foresee how many nicknames the students at Kyubei High School would come up with for him.
Thinking about this, Beichuan Si raised his hand and gave each of them a solid punch to the abdomen.
He didn't use much force, but it was enough to leave the three of them in pain for quite a while.
"Why would you hit us... Beichuan, we came exactly as requested..." Seki Naoya was teary-eyed.
In response to his question, Beichuan Si merely showed him a sidelong glance and replied calmly, "I hit you, do you have a problem with that?"
"No..." Seki Naoya shivered and shook his head with difficulty.
Beichuan Si ignored his resentful expression, then said after pondering for a moment, "You all should go back to class. Tell those senior delinquents that you're using my name now, so don't bully other ordinary students anymore, or else—"
"Or else?" Changgu Makoto couldn't help but interject.
"Or else—" Beichuan Si smiled coldly, "I can break a person's leg bone with one kick, would you like to experience that?"
This was way more difficult than kicking a wooden board, but Changgu Makoto and the others turned pale, shaking their heads wildly, clearly unwilling to experience such a thing.
"All of you, go back to class. Don't bother me when there's nothing going on." Beichuan Si kicked each of them.
Watching these 'senior' students leave, Beichuan Si turned around and looked at Shen Gu Mirai behind him.
Seeing her still standing there in a confused state, Beichuan Si waved his hand in front of her, asking, "Did I scare you?"
"Uh? No," Shen Gu Mirai shook her head vigorously.
Until just now, she had been concerned about being treated like a bag stand, but upon seeing Beichuan Si's calm face, her initial worry inexplicably vanished.
Perhaps Beichuan Si wanted her to see his true self in private, so he allowed her to follow him?
Thus comforting herself, Shen Gu Mirai felt encouraged again.
"Glad you weren't scared."
"Mr. Temple! Wait for me."
Seeing Beichuan Si walking away after saying that, Shen Gu Mirai stamped her feet, shook her frozen ankle, and then followed him.
...
Lunch break had become a rather enjoyable time for Beichuan Si.
Shen Gu Mirai helped bring his bento, and during walks, he would occasionally reduce Magong Tong's curse a bit, which had been his rare leisure in the past three days.
The golden airflow thickened a bit more.
In Beichuan Si's sight, the black air around Magong Tong was suppressed a little more.
However, in terms of total volume, the golden airflow couldn't compare to the cursed black air; it could barely maintain a state of suppression.
Witnessing this, Beichuan Si had some clue about the golden airflow's inexplicable growth.
Though he wasn't sure if it was as he thought.
The golden airflow should last another week or two, enough time for him to return after a trip to Yashan City, Iwate Prefecture, and then solve Magong Tong's curse.
Since the golden airflow was growing, his appointment with Magong Tong tomorrow could also be postponed.
After all, his original intent was to weaken the curse and buy Magong Tong some time, but now that was unnecessary. The golden airflow had accomplished everything for him.
So then...
Beichuan Si stopped walking.
After taking leave this afternoon, he could find time to head to Yashan City, Iwate Prefecture.
Sakura Yuuki hiding in the shadows now had leads, and with nothing urgent to handle, Beichuan Si didn't intend to delay any longer at Kyubei High School.
The decision was made.
Next, he had to deal with Qian Xia Chiyuki, the little girl.
Beichuan Si looked up.
Qian Xia Chiyuki happened to be walking out from the corridor ahead.