"Stop! Prefect!"

This was Yingning’s voice—only she could shout with such energetic righteousness, without a shred of shame.

The alley’s violence fell silent.

Then came laughter—three voices, one girl and two boys.

"I thought it was someone important. Just you, fool… What? Sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong again?" A spoiled, arrogant girl’s voice cut through.

Xiang Ling. A classmate. Yingning’s old rival.

"Xiang Ling! Bullying classmates again! Classmate… Wu Ming?! Is that you? Are you okay? Xiang Ling… you’ve gone too far! Even targeting our own class? Wu Ming’s the least likely to cause trouble—you can’t claim he provoked your friends this time!" Yingning snapped indignantly.

"Why don’t you ask what he did? During study hall two nights ago, he kept staring at me! Ugh, look at his pathetic face—a toad dreaming of swan meat? He should check the Mirror first! Disgusting!" Xiang Ling sneered.

"Seriously… just for looking? You beat people for that? You’re pretty, so what if others look? Don’t think being the school board chairman’s daughter lets you act like a tyrant! This is a school! A place for learning! Not your personal toilet!" Yingning’s voice brimmed with disbelief.

"Ohhh~ Is that jealousy I hear? Maybe a ‘wild chicken’ like you—with no parents—could never understand how blessed it is to be the chairman’s daughter? School? Hah… this school *is* my toilet! What’ll you do? Report me? Go ahead! Try!"

Yingning froze for a moment, stunned by the venom. Her voice trembled as she forced out, "I will. I’ll report you. You *will* pay for this…"

"Pay?" Xiang Ling burst into laughter. "Hahahaha… So naive. There’s no karma in this world—just weaklings comforting themselves. Power wins. Look: I wiped out your Wild Chicken Guild with Jian Hui Tianxia members, and I’m still thriving~"

"It… was you?!" Yingning gasped.

"Yep. Go report me~ Go on~ Hahahaha… Why not? See if teachers can drag back your quitters~" Xiang Ling’s laughter was sharp, cruel.

"Why… why would you do this!" Yingning’s voice cracked with tears.

"Because…" Xiang Ling drew it out, each word a slow stab, "I—hate—you."

Yingning fell silent, crumpled where she stood.

"Still playing hero, ‘wild chicken’? Huh?" Xiang Ling prodded.

"Don’t… bully… classmates…" Yingning’s voice was hoarse, weak—but unshakable in its resolve.

"Hmph… You refuse kindness? Then take punishment! Beat her!"

"Enough! Ling! That’s too far!" A male voice cut in just as I lunged to teach that woman a lesson.

"Let’s go. Today ends here, Ling."

A sixth presence had appeared—beyond Yingning, the victim, and the three bullies.

I knew that voice. Xiang Renhe. Xiang Ling’s older brother. Our classmate.

"Tch… Two peasants. A toad and a ‘wild chicken’—clueless about their place… Pah!" Xiang Ling spat. "Bro, let’s go."

"Go?"

I ignored Yatou’s rule against interfering. Gently pulling her close, I patted her back. Her tears spilled freely onto my shoulder, shaking with sobs.

This time, she was truly broken. Even yesterday’s hundreds of deaths hadn’t made her cry like this.

You don’t strike where it hurts most. However childish, Xiang Ling had crossed the line.

"Leaving? Has my sister given permission?"