The horse taps their hooves to the ground creating a slight footprint, the luggage are all packed to the carriage. The other disciples of Soaring Wind Sect are ready to departure from the ground of the mountain. What's left is to wait to the leader, an experience senior to lead their road.
This is a hunting trip to gather resources back to the sect. Wu Haoyu sit leisurely down at a tree to cover from basking in the warm of sunlight. He would ask Gui Lan and Jiu Lin so join him if not there isn't any vacant space left for more people to join. Though the two had nothing else to talk but gossip an pretty girls, at least they fill in the silent.
The leader arrived, he's well about in his middle age with heavy tiredness in his eyes. His cloth and attire are in haggard like he didn't have time to fixed it. It's believable to say he's late because he's overslept. "Before we start our journey, I probably should introduce myself..." He sounds reluctant from tiredness, "My name is Bo Xiang. Bo for.... whatever I forgot. We will be leaving shortly."
The other disciples cup their hand and giving the senior brother respect. Though the mood is quite dim like someone lower the opacity of the sun.
The mood changes when the one girl suddenly let out an excited squeal, her eyes directed behind Bo Xiang, a boy a head shorter than Wu Haoyu but has a reliable aura and blue sapphire eyes—hey that's Zhang Cheng!
Wu Haoyu body jerk up. "Zhang Cheng?!"
Zhang Cheng heard his voice and turn him, the moment his eyes met an emerald-colored eyes, his face turns sour. "You're here too...."
He is holiday for god sake! Moreover, Zhang Cheng will suspect he's following him, which make him look like a creep....
Wait, isn't that fine? Let him think that way for his mission, the rest of the ride Zhang Cheng will get distracted by that assumption enough he won't have to bother Zhang Cheng to get points! Wu Haoyu expression change to an eccentric man blowing Zhang Cheng a kiss.
[Villain Points: +15]
Wu Haoyu was worried when the villain points from Zhang Cheng started to decrease to only 5 points and less over the two years, never anymore 30 points like the start. Now the points increasing again. Wu Haoyu can't be happier.
The two aren't the only one who thought Wu Haoyu is stalking Zhang Cheng, the other 15 of the members of the disciples thought so too. With half of them are fans of Zhang Cheng, they don't look very happy.
....
Wu Haoyu been feeling weird along the ride, he has felt that people staring at him fiercely behind his back, but when he turns around, they all didn't look his way. He once had this feeling and it was right, someone does keep their eyes on him. He'll be careful not to be alone until he knows what exactly going on.
They stop and rest at an inn, he's the last in line to check in his room, his roommate were four other boys, the bigger one in the group didn't hide his dislike towards Wu Haoyu, in which he just ignores him with an arrogant smile, looking above it all.
Ahh, maybe being alone be a better idea.
He wakes up at night with an intense irritation on his skin, he opens up his blanket and see—bed bugs! He jumps out of his bad, manage to do that without making a sound. Strangely enough, the other boys are sleeping soundly without inching their skin.
The morning, he wakes up, his cloth is nowhere to be seen and after searching for a while he found in in mud in a farm behind the inn. Piggy mud.
Wu Haoyu storm into the room, he demand to know who did that to his white robe. After no one admitting fault, Wu Haoyu report this accident to the leader. The leader was still sleeping.
Wu Haoyu sigh. Don't these children have better things to do, like training with swords and actually focusing on the hunt for experience? He understands why, but he hoped those disciples know better than to do this petty villain-ish stuff.
But perhaps, if he were to ignore them for a while they might give up? It's not like he's weak or anything but he's not that immature to have a fight a bunch of children!
.....
The next day,
Drench in cold water Wu Haoyu mock his past self for being overly ignorant and a fool for believing that he actually has the patience to be the mature one. Hah!
"Hahaha, sorry Young Master Wu." The tall young man with a pretentious smile step forward, he didn't hide how sarcastic its sound.
The three behind him didn't say a word, but it's clear it their face that they're in it. "We are just playing a prank to drop water on whoever walk past this door." One of them stated.
There are only 5 of them are in this room including him, the four people were waiting inside for the water to drop on the unsuspecting victim... it's pretty clear who are they targeting. They aren't doing a pretty good job at being a side villain, if he we're the big boss, he'll kill them in the background when the audience aren't even looking....
Wu Haoyu believe it is not necessary. But also, there will be unknown consequences if he acts ooc but so he can't act merciful and forgive them. He just has to show he's not someone they can mess with.
"Oi," Wu Haoyu crack his finger and then clench his fist, eyeing each and every one of them till they got uncomfortable and avoid his eyes. His smile didn't reach his eye. "Children, if have any problem with me "talk" to me directly. Unlike you all, I'm not unreasonable."
" W-we aren't the problem, you are! Stop trying to get close to Zhang Cheng! Your obsession towards him and stalking him here is what made us want to take action to help him by letting you know no one likes you!" The boy seems like the leader of the group step forward.
"Have you all ever stop to think that maybe you all have the same problem? You all think you have the right to say which and whom he got to hang out with and play the judge, yet you didn't deserve to be with him either. How hypocritical~" Wu Haoyu can play with the script all day if he have to.
As a previous copy editor, a person who script the news, scandal and such in the entertainment industry he is very familiar with it. There also way too many cases with fan get too self-absorbed with their idol invade the idol's privacy thinking he's deserved of it. And celebrity discovered to have a relationship and those in relationships with said celebrity are harass by the said "fans" because they feel intitled to their private life.
"So, are you any better? You are arrogant, selfish and unlikable with no redeeming qualities! What YOU have the right to judge us?!" The tall ready to throw hands right then and there.
"No one deserves him! He'll be the one to decide, idiot! And no! I have one redeeming quality. Unlike you, if I have someone hit my nerve, I will fight head on like a man!" Wu Haoyu punch to the tall boy under his chin, his teeth got rip off and flew out to the air.
The other got shock that their body stiffens, but quickly recover their senses, they launch an attack to Wu Haoyu altogether.
Wu Haoyu knock them all from the air with a single swing of his hand, making a red prominent hand mark on their faces. He beats them to a pulp by slapping them repeatedly and their cries asking for forgiveness is melody to his ears, their dignity is not at his mercy. It's all fine and dandy until our perfect little school president walk in to see Wu Haoyu beating them.
The door opens to Zhang Cheng confuse face, "What...are you doing?"
In a spacious living room, Wu Haoyu and the 4 other disciples are kneeling down to Bo Xiang who seem rather sleepy and detached to the situation in front of him. "Who started it?" He said lazily, the words were like as if he was forced to say it.
Wu Haoyu sigh pretentiously, "I'll pay for the damage, for I have to confess my fellow members are not cooperating with one another. They had a fight and I try to stop it yet got into one myself. I'm ashamed for not able to stop them beforehand." He masters the look of completely innocent bystander just for this moment. He learned it from trying to snitch on punishment by planting the blame on Zhang Cheng.
Zhang Cheng could guess that he's faking it from watching it multiple times already. He scoffed. "Are you sure that is what happened?"
By the ray of light from Zhang Cheng sense of justice, the 4 thought they could save themselves. But Bo Xiang spoke before they could, "Then, Wu Haoyu since you said so, I'll shall take your generosity. That also saves me the time to explain them to the owner of the inn, that takes too many energy... Meanwhile the four of you...." Under the leader gaze, the 4 bullies knew that he's complete won over by Wu Haoyu, "Will be punished by carrying our luggage by foot on the journey, until we reach our destination. Understand?" The last sentence was said with force that whoever disobey him, and his rest will have worst fate.
Their faces are pale. In this sunny hot weather, at the end of the journey they will be looking like dried fish.
They dispersed their meeting. The four punished individuals, walk to their own separate ways with their tails between their legs. Feeling satisfied, Wu Haoyu walks out of the place smiling brightly. Unfortunately, not long he walked out he is followed by a certain somebody.
"They accuse me of stalking you, yet here you are, following me under the shadow," Wu Haoyu paused in the hallway next to the wooden fence, turning to face Zhang Cheng with a look reminiscent of a police officer scrutinizing a suspected criminal.
Zhang Cheng ignore his remark, "What you said, it has flaws. I know how strong you are, they won't stand a chance. If you want to stop a fight, you can do it easily. Moreover, they are the one who's injured and only one who is unscathed is you. "
The wind from the outside making Wu Haoyu realize his cloth are still wet, he has to end this quickly. "The matter is solved. You don't have to look over it since it doesn't concern you."
"They are my brothers in arm, it does concern me. I won't let them suffer from injustice."
"Has anyone ever said to you that your naivete and simplistic mindset is really charming? Because I want to be my little angel's first time... Your strong sense of justice and righteousness makes people trust you. But at most times, it's easy to read..." Wu Haoyu chuckles.
"What do you mean by 'easy to read'?" Anger rose to his face; he gritted his teeth.
Wu Haoyu played with a strand of his hair, knowing that if he didn't distract himself, he would jump in and tackle Zhang Cheng. His patience was wearing thin today, and it angered him that Zhang Cheng defended the wrong people. "Your enemy can easily predict your moves and take advantage of your emotions. Because, honey, if a bird flies in a straight line, even a toddler can hit it with a stone..."
".... Is that why you are unpredictable?"
".... That's a 'no'. I act like this only to you, because you're special to me Zhang Cheng." It's unclear whether any of what he said is true, he quickly turns to leave.
"Wait!" Zhang Cheng hadn't yet received the answer he was seeking. As he reached out to grasp Wu Haoyu's sleeve, he encountered the unexpected chill of damp fabric, causing his fingers to recoil slightly. His attention had been on the broader situation, not Wu Haoyu's condition. Now, observing him, he noticed Wu Haoyu's usually neat hair was disheveled, his complexion pale, and dark circles under his eyes actually more pronounced than Bo Xiang's. Although Zhang Cheng had many questions, the only words that escaped his lips were, "Why... are you wet?"
Wu Haoyu was surprised and throw Zhang Cheng hands away, "It's my own business to care. Would you be an angel and let me change so that I don't freeze to dead?"
"Who did this to you?" The conversation suddenly takes a turn to another direction and Zhang Cheng instantly forgot about their argument.
Wu Haoyu is wrong; Zhang Cheng personality is not predictable at all. Is he genuinely worried about him, or he want to know the person who prank him and Zhang Cheng wants to laugh with them? "I fell down a lake!" In a panic, he blurted out.
"That's not true, you are not a clumsy person." His words are said in a statement of fact, leaving Wu Haoyu no room to disagree.
What he's going to say then? He's being bullied by his fans and he's an innocent victim??? If the truth ever came out, he can't be the Big Boss Villain anymore.
From the Zhang Cheng's palm, he feels the coldness on his cloth disappears and replace with a warm and comfortable sensation, it spread throughout his whole body till his cloths are all dry. Wu Haoyu look up to Zhang Cheng, he's used a drying spell on him. His energy that flows on his is super comfortable like a fluffy blanket made out of wool.
The protagonist kindness, in Zhang Cheng eyes if someone needs help doesn't matter if it were his enemy. Like an angel bestowed to the earth, Zhang Cheng extend his hand even humanity have long didn't deserve it.
Zhang Cheng was looking at Wu Haoyu face, as if waiting to hear if he did the job right.
Wu Haoyu snap out from his traces, "Mister Zhang is such a gentleman. Do you always do this kind gesture for everyone? Their heart must be won by you, even I couldn't help my heart from beating." His first instinct in situation he can't control, is to joke, undermine the situation. Maybe then, he can pull himself together. Maybe then, Zhang Cheng would ignore how loudly his heart is beating.
"No, I only do this to you." Zhang Cheng nonchalantly said.
"Oh...." Wu Haoyu mind went blank, the conversation got won over by a kid he's supposed to bully, he can't keep his face from blushing red. He pushes Zhang Cheng to the ground. "Don't touch me!"
Zhang Cheng is just a human being though, being pushed to the ground for no reason is not something he can tolerate. "YOU!" However, Wu Haoyu already made his escape. "You really made your point in being unpredictable...." He sighs under his breath.