Ding!
"You have completed a crushing victory. Your understanding of Iron Body, Shave, Finger Gun, Armament Haki, and the Azure Dragon Fruit has deepened. Proficiency +5 to all related abilities."
"Only five points? What a joke."
Zhao Xuan grumbled as he deactivated his Dragon-Human Form.
Instantly—
a wave of exhaustion and weakness swept over his entire body.
It was that hollow, almost dizzying feeling that came from losing overwhelming power all at once.
Casting one final glance at the corpse of the fallen cultist, Zhao Xuan turned and leapt out of the crater, heading back toward Fengming High.
By the time he returned to the school, Di Ruqing—thanks to the energy fluid—had already regained some strength.
She was standing unsteadily, scanning the ruined courtyard wall where the hulking cultist had crashed through moments ago. Her face was tight with worry.
When she saw Zhao Xuan walking back unharmed, her eyes lit up instantly.
She let out a long breath of relief, quickly running up to him. After a cautious glance at the dust-filled crater beyond the wall, she said anxiously:
"I—I've recovered a little. Let me help you. My father's on his way back now. We just have to hold on for ten more minutes!"
Zhao Xuan shook his head calmly. "No need."
He gestured toward the crater and said flatly, "He's already dead."
Her entire body froze.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds.
Then her eyes widened in disbelief.
"W-what did you just say? Dead? You killed him? You actually killed that fourth-tier Demon Cultist!?"
"Yes." Zhao Xuan nodded casually. "If you don't believe me, you can check. I made sure he was dead before I came back."
"N-no, no… I believe you. I do!"
Looking at Zhao Xuan's calm, steady expression, Di Ruqing couldn't help but recall the moment he'd stood in front of her—taking that devastating punch meant for her head-on.
Her shoulders relaxed.
Her tightly wound nerves finally snapped free.
Her legs trembled—then gave out completely.
She collapsed.
"Hey—careful!"
Zhao Xuan reacted quickly, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Are you okay? Should I help you back to a classroom to rest?"
"Y-yeah… okay…"
Her weak voice trailed off.
But then—
Her eyes caught something.
She froze.
Her face flushed bright red.
And before Zhao Xuan could even blink—
She wriggled out of his arms and sprinted away like a startled rabbit.
Only a faint, embarrassed word drifted back through the air—
"P-pervert!"
Zhao Xuan stood there dumbfounded.
"...What?"
"What the hell was that?"
He blinked, confused.
"Was it because I called her flat-chested earlier? That can't be it…"
"I literally saved her life! Shouldn't there at least be a thank you somewhere in this?"
He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Girls, man… impossible to understand."
Then—
A breeze blew by, cool against his skin.
…Too cool.
A bad feeling hit him.
He glanced down.
"OH—SHIT!!!!"
Only now did he realize—
his clothes and pants had been completely shredded during his transformation into the Dragon-Human Form.
Luckily, his underwear had survived—though stretched uncomfortably tight.
(Author's Note: Don't ask why the underwear didn't break. The great Censorship Gods said no.)
"...Well, that explains a lot."
Without hesitation, Zhao Xuan opened a relic gate and slipped inside his hidden base.
A few minutes later, now wearing fresh clothes, he reemerged back into the real world—finally breathing a sigh of relief.
And right as he stepped out—
There she was again.
Di Ruqing.
She'd come back.
In her hands, she was holding a folded school uniform and trousers—clearly from the boys' supply closet.
She walked straight toward him, head lowered, refusing to meet his eyes.
When she stopped in front of him, she stretched her arms out, offering the uniform without a word.
Zhao Xuan scratched his neck awkwardly. "Ah… it's fine. I already changed."
She froze for a moment, then slowly lifted her head.
Her eyes flicked downward—
confirming that yes, he was indeed clothed again.
A visible sigh of relief escaped her lips.
But as her gaze rose to his face—
her cheeks flushed red all over again.
A few seconds passed in silence before a soft, trembling voice escaped her lips:
"Th-thank you…"
"What?" Zhao Xuan blinked. "Didn't catch that."
"Thank you!" she repeated, louder this time, her voice sharp with embarrassment.
"Oh—no problem, no problem!" Zhao Xuan waved it off casually. "Just doing what anyone should. Besides, those Demon Cult scum deserve to be wiped out."
"Still…" she murmured, bowing deeply. "I really… thank you."
"We're classmates. No need for formality," Zhao Xuan said, smiling slightly.
The two of them fell silent after that.
The air between them grew strangely calm—
quiet, almost peaceful.
After a few moments, Zhao Xuan clapped his hands lightly.
"Well, since the cultist's dealt with, I should head back to First High. The college exam results should be out by now—I've got to check mine."
He gave a casual wave. "See you around, Di."
She watched as he walked away—
farther… and farther… until his figure disappeared from sight.
Her delicate hands clenched tightly into fists.
Then she pressed them against her chest, eyes glimmering softly as she whispered—
"Zhao Xuan…"
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