By the time Tang Xiu reached his classroom, whispers of the fight had already spread like wildfire through the school. As he stepped inside, dozens of eyes turned toward him, some curious, others incredulous.
"That can't be true. Tang Xiu beat Zhang Wei and his gang?"
" heard Zhang Wei ran away like a scared dog!"
"Did Tang Xiu secretly learn martial arts?
Or is it some crazy luck?"
Tang Xiu ignored the chatter, heading straight to his seat at the back of the class.
His desk was old and covered in graffiti, a clear sign of how neglected and disrespected he had been.
As he sat down, a boy next to him leaned over. It was Liu Yang, one of the few students who wasn't openly hostile toward him.
"Hey, Tang Xiu," Liu Yang whispered, his face lit with excitement. "What happened?
Did you really fight Zhang Wei? I heard you sent him flying!"
Tang Xiu glanced at him and nodded faintly.
Liu Yang gasped. "You're a legend! Do you know how many people have been waiting for someone to put Zhang Wei in his place?
Man, this is huge!"
"Keep it down," Tang Xiu said calmly. "it's just a small matter."
"A small matter?" Liu Yang repeated, incredulous. "You've changed, Tang Xiu.
Seriously. A week ago, you'd never talk like this. What's going on?"
Tang Xiu gave a faint smile but didn't reply.
Explaining his reincarnation and cultivation would only sound insane to someone like
Liu Yang.
As the morning classes began, Tang Xiu's sharp senses noticed someone staring at him. It was Chu Yunxi, the class monitor and one of the most beautiful girls in the school. Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her intelligent eyes seemed to sparkle with curiosity.
Chu Yunxi had always kept her distance from Tang Xiu, not out of malice but because she had no reason to interact with someone of his low status. But today, her gaze lingered on him, a faint frown on her
face.
At the break, she approached him, drawing the attention of the entire class.
"Tang Xiu," she said, her voice calm but firm. "I heard about what happened this morning. Is it true?"
Tang Xiu looked up at her, his expression unreadable. "What did you hear?"
"You fought Zhang Wei," Chu Yunxi said, folding her arms. "And you won."
"That's true," Tang Xiu replied, leaning back in his chair. "Is there a problem?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "It's not a problem, but it's surprising. You've never shown any signs of being able to fight before. Where did you learn to defend yourself?"
Tang Xiu smirked faintly. "A little self-study goes a long way."
His casual tone seemed to irritate her. Chu Yunxi was used to people either fawning over her or being intimidated by her. Tang Xiu's indifference was new.
"Well" she said after a pause, "just be careful. Zhang Wei's family has connections. He might not let this go."
"Thanks for the warning," Tang Xiu said, his tone nonchalant.
Chu Yunxi studied him for a moment longer before walking away. The room buzzed with excitement as the other students whispered about their interaction.
"Did Chu Yunxi just talk to Tang Xiu?"
"She actually warned him? What's going on?"
"Is she interested in him now?"
Tang Xiu sighed inwardly. The attention was a nuisance, but it was unavoidable.
After school, Tang Xiu walked home alone.
The streets were quiet, and the sun cast long shadows across the pavement. He was deep in thought, planning his next steps to rebuild his strength, when he sensed something unusual.
A faint killing intent lingered in the air.
Tang Xiu's eyes sharpened, and his steps slowed. "Amateurs," he muttered under his breath.
As he turned a corner into a narrow alley, three figures stepped out to block his path.
They weren't students-these were grown men, their rough appearances and scarred faces revealing their backgrounds as street thugs.
"You're Tang Xiu, right?" the leader said, cracking his knuckles.
Tang Xiu's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Zhang Wei sent you, didn't he?"
The thug's eyes narrowed. "You've got a big mouth for a kid. Let's see how tough you really are."
The men charged at him, fists swinging. To them, Tang Xiu was just a high school student-a soft target. But as they attacked, Tang Xiu moved with speed and precision that left them stunned.
He dodged the first punch effortlessly, grabbing the thug's arm and twisting it until a sickening crack echoed through the alley. The man screamed in pain as Tang Xiu shoved him into the wall.
The second thug hesitated, but Tang Xiu didn't give him a chance. A swift kick to the knee brought him down, and a palm strike to the chest left him gasping for air.
The leader, now visibly nervous, pulled out a knife. "You little punk!" he snarled, slashing wildly.
Tang Xiu's eyes turned cold. He sidestepped the blade with ease, grabbing the man's wrist and disarming him in one smooth motion.
With the knife now in his hand, Tang Xiu pressed it against the thug's neck. "Go back to Zhang Wei," he said in a low, menacing tone. "Tell him this: if he wants to come after me, he'd better be prepared to lose everything."
The thug nodded frantically, fear written all over his face. Tang Xiu released him, and the men scrambled to escape, leaving the alley littered with their bruised pride.
As Tang Xiu walked home, his mind was calm. These small skirmishes were nothing compared to the battles he had faced in his past life. Still, they served as a reminder of the dangers lurking in this world.
"Earth may seem weak, but its martial arts clans and families have their own hidden powers," he thought. "I can't let my guard down."
Reaching his room, Tang Xiu sat down and began meditating again. He could feel his body growing stronger, his foundation slowly rebuilding.
"This is only the beginning," he murmured, his eyes gleaming with determination.
"Zhang Wei, the martial clans, the hidden dangers of this world-none of it matters.
I'll rise above it all."
And so, his journey continued, one step closer to reclaiming his place as the unrivaled supreme.