Chapter 29: Hidden Dragons and Crouching Tigers

Arrogant—unbelievably arrogant.

At that moment, many of the students watching were shocked by Jiang Xiaofei’s brazen words to Xie Xuanxuan, convinced he was being reckless, as if they must have misheard. After all, this was the notorious, violent campus belle, Xie Xuanxuan. To show off in front of her—was he courting death?

A male student, arms crossed as if settling in for a show, turned to the girl beside him and asked, “Who is this guy? He’s so full of himself! Doesn’t he know the one he’s provoking is Xie Xuanxuan, the campus belle with a temper?”

The girl shook her head. “No idea, he looks unfamiliar. Must be a new student?”

“Well, he’s done for then, daring to provoke Xie Xuanxuan.”

But some didn’t think Jiang Xiaofei was merely arrogant and ignorant. They had just witnessed him send a spinning top flying, creating a tornado-like wind with it—something no ordinary person could pull off. In their eyes, Jiang Xiaofei was a hidden mage. With that in mind, they began to wonder: who was really stronger—Xie Xuanxuan or Jiang Xiaofei?

Ye Zichen, meanwhile, heard Jiang Xiaofei’s words and instantly regretted his earlier rashness. Considering what he suspected about Jiang Xiaofei’s background, he grew terrified—he might not be able to stay at this school any longer! To think he had managed to offend two powerful figures in one day.

“My cousin will know what to do.” With that hope, Ye Zichen scrambled up and slipped away from the sports field while everyone’s attention was on Xie Xuanxuan and Jiang Xiaofei.

Xie Xuanxuan herself was both angry and surprised at Jiang Xiaofei’s audacity. At school, everyone treated her with deference—even the principal gave her face—yet here was someone daring to speak to her like this.

But she was Xie Xuanxuan, after all—the infamous violent belle. How could she suffer such humiliation?

She pointed fiercely at Jiang Xiaofei and barked, “If you’ve got the guts, say that again.”

Jiang Xiaofei replied coldly, “I just don’t like the look of you. What are you going to do about it?”

“You…” Xie Xuanxuan was so furious she was momentarily speechless.

The students watching were stunned. Was the campus belle actually intimidated by him?

Just as everyone wondered if Xie Xuanxuan had really been cowed, she suddenly spoke again, her words dripping with menace. “I don’t care who you are or what connections you have. You hit me with your spinning top today, so you owe me compensation. If you don’t pay up, I’ll make sure you can’t set foot in this school again.”

Jiang Xiaofei pretended he’d misheard, feigning confusion. “What? You want me to compensate you with a night in bed?”

“You… you’re shameless!” Xie Xuanxuan was both mortified and enraged, leaving the onlookers astounded—was this really the violent campus belle they knew? She seemed more like the girl next door.

But they quickly realized it wasn’t Xie Xuanxuan who had changed, but Jiang Xiaofei’s sharp tongue—he could make any girl blush with his words. He was obviously a master when it came to wooing women!

“Believe me, I’ll rip your mouth to shreds!” Xie Xuanxuan threatened, reaching for Jiang Xiaofei’s face.

But Jiang Xiaofei nimbly dodged out of the way.

“If you’re so tough, then don’t dodge!” she cried angrily.

“Only a fool wouldn’t dodge,” Jiang Xiaofei replied coolly.

“You—” Xie Xuanxuan began, but was interrupted by a cold male voice.

“Xie Xuanxuan, just because you’re a woman I’ve tolerated you again and again. But this time, you’ve gone too far—you beat my cousin like this. I won’t let you off.”

The voice was loud, brimming with anger. The entire sports field turned to look, Xie Xuanxuan frowning as she did so.

At the entrance, two young men appeared. One was Ye Zichen, now following behind the other youth.

The young man leading the way wore a sharp black suit and large sunglasses. Handsome, but with a cocky swagger—every inch the streetwise youth.

His appearance caused all the students to widen their eyes in awe. “That’s Song Jie from the Demonic Class! This is going to be good!”

Song Jie strode toward Xie Xuanxuan, then, to everyone’s disbelief, raised his hand and slapped her hard across the face.

The slap echoed across the field. The students erupted in shock, staring wide-eyed at Song Jie—he really dared hit the campus belle!

Wasn’t he afraid of retaliation from the Genius Class?

Xie Xuanxuan herself hadn’t expected Song Jie to actually hit her. She clutched her burning cheek, mortified and furious. “You hit me? I’ll make you pay with your life!”

With that, Xie Xuanxuan’s delicate hand became a palm strike aimed at Song Jie. If one looked closely, one could see a faint glow swirling around her hand—a clear sign she was using magic.

Jiang Xiaofei watched with surprise; he hadn’t expected Xie Xuanxuan to be a mage as well.

Song Jie, seeing her attack, only sneered. His own hand moved, also glowing, and he struck back.

Their palms collided with a boom, the air itself shuddering. Under the students’ astonished gaze, Xie Xuanxuan staggered back several steps, as if struck by a powerful force. Looking up at the unmoving Song Jie, she gasped, “An intermediate mage?”

Song Jie replied coldly, “That’s right. Now do you see what you’re up against? Hurry up and apologize to my cousin.”

“Apologize?” Xie Xuanxuan laughed coldly. “In your dreams. Just because you’re an intermediate mage doesn’t mean I’ll be frightened. Wait and see—sooner or later, I’ll make you pay for today’s humiliation.”

Song Jie only responded with a dismissive smirk. “Then I’ll wait for your revenge.”

“It won’t be long. Tomorrow you’ll be the one begging for mercy.” With a snort, Xie Xuanxuan turned to Jiang Xiaofei, her voice icy. “And you—I won’t let you off either. Just wait and see.”

Jiang Xiaofei simply smiled and said nothing.

“Don’t think your silence will spare you. No chance.” Xie Xuanxuan huffed, then, under the gaze of the entire crowd, stormed off toward her Lamborghini. She sped away in a fury.

Once she was gone, the field fell silent, but the students knew a storm was brewing. Xie Xuanxuan belonged to the Genius Class, and Song Jie had humiliated her in public—surely, the Genius Class would strike back against the Demonic Class.

But the thought of a showdown between the Genius and Demonic Classes thrilled them. Mage battles were rare outside of the National University.

Just then, Song Jie turned to Jiang Xiaofei and said coldly, “You let my cousin take the blame for you earlier. Don’t you think you should say something?”

Jiang Xiaofei realized he was in the wrong and smiled, “Sorry.”

“You think a simple sorry is enough?” Song Jie snapped, relentless. Jiang Xiaofei frowned, growing irritated.

Ye Zichen quickly tugged Song Jie’s sleeve. “Cousin, let’s not make things worse. Just let it go, okay?”

“Cousin, you’re too soft. Don’t worry—I’ve got your back. No one will dare bully you with me here. If anyone tries, I’ll make sure they can’t stay at this school.”

Song Jie’s words were loud enough for the entire field to hear—a clear warning to Jiang Xiaofei. The students grew uneasy and avoided Song Jie’s gaze.

Then Song Jie fixed Jiang Xiaofei with a cold stare. “I hear you’re a mage, too. If you can beat me, I’ll drop the matter of my cousin taking the fall for you. If you lose, get out of this school. If I see you again, I’ll beat you every time.”

Jiang Xiaofei, angered by the threat, arched an eyebrow and sneered, “You aren’t even qualified to be my opponent.”

With that, he turned away.

“You dare look down on me?” Song Jie, enraged, reached for Jiang Xiaofei’s shoulder.

But at that moment, a surge of invisible force erupted from Jiang Xiaofei, knocking Song Jie’s hand aside.

The students were stunned.

Retracting his hand, Song Jie was inwardly shaken—the force had been so powerful his hand tingled as if electrocuted.

He forced himself to retort, “I don’t care who you are. If you ever trouble my cousin, I’ll make you suffer.”

With that, Song Jie led Ye Zichen toward the exit.

Jiang Xiaofei watched him go with a cold smile. “Let me warn you too—if you dare provoke me, you’ll regret it more than you can imagine.”

His words set the crowd abuzz. To speak to Song Jie like that—was he not afraid of the Demonic Class’s wrath? But remembering Jiang Xiaofei’s earlier display, they grew increasingly curious about this new student’s true identity.

“You’re amazing, big brother!” said Lin Fan, burning with admiration as he gazed at Jiang Xiaofei. To make Song Jie suffer—surely, only a senior mage could manage that.

A senior mage! There were only a handful at the entire school!

Determined, Lin Fan resolved to cling to this powerful new friend—then no one would ever dare bully him again.

He turned to Jiang Xiaofei, “By the way, big brother, what’s your name?”

Jiang Xiaofei smiled, “I’m Jiang Xiaofei. And you?”

“I’m Lin Fan. I hope you’ll look after me from now on.”

Jiang Xiaofei grinned, “You seem alright—I’ll take you as my little brother.”

Lin Fan was ecstatic—he’d really managed to hitch himself to this big tree!

Then Jiang Xiaofei asked, “Lin Fan, why are there mages among the students at this school?”

Lin Fan snapped back to attention. “Big brother, are you really new here?”

Jiang Xiaofei nodded.

Lin Fan explained, “Have you heard of the Mage Association?”

“No,” Jiang Xiaofei shook his head.

Patiently, Lin Fan replied, “The Mage Association is a mysterious organization founded by the state, kind of like Maoshan or Dragon Tiger Mountain. The Genius and Demonic Class students are all being groomed by the Mage Association.” His eyes shone with longing—clearly, he wanted to join.

Jiang Xiaofei’s doubts were resolved. “So that’s how it is.”

He asked, “You seem eager to join. Why haven’t you?”

Lin Fan explained, “Of course I want to join! But you have no idea—just the entrance fee is thirty million. If you have a recommendation, though, you can get in for free. But that’s even harder to come by.”

“I see,” Jiang Xiaofei nodded, then headed for the field’s exit.

Lin Fan hurried after him. “Big brother, where are you going?”

“Home,” Jiang Xiaofei laughed.

“But school isn’t over yet,” Lin Fan frowned.

“You ask too many questions. I haven’t started work yet—my job begins tomorrow.”

“Work? Big brother, aren’t you here to study?”

“I was,” Jiang Xiaofei replied patiently. “But Principal Zhou saw my grades and asked me to become a professor in the Genius Class.”

“What? A professor in the Genius Class?” Lin Fan was stunned speechless.

Jiang Xiaofei found his reaction odd. “Is that a problem?”

“You don’t understand. The Genius Class students are notorious troublemakers. Several professors have come and gone, all driven out. They’re not easy to handle—you’d better be careful.”

Jiang Xiaofei now understood why Zhou Shiqin wanted him as a professor. He smiled, “Don’t worry, they’re just a bunch of low-level mages. If they try anything, I’ll have them kneeling and singing for mercy.”

With that, Jiang Xiaofei strutted out of the sports field.

After leaving the school, he crossed the street to a hotel and booked a room.

Once he had his key card, he entered the elevator and called Jun Yao.

When she answered, Jiang Xiaofei asked, “Hey, sweetheart, where are you now?”

“I’m about to head back to the Underworld. Why, what’s up?”

“Good news, honey—I’ve joined the National University, and I’m even a professor now.”

“Congratulations, darling. But let me remind you—be extremely careful. This university is not as simple as it appears. And don’t you dare get involved with any other women, or you know what will happen.”

“Don’t worry, dear. I know my limits.” Jiang Xiaofei spoke as he opened the door to his room and closed it behind him. Stretching out on the bed, he asked, “So, when will you come see me?”

“Missing me already?”

“Of course I am! I can’t stop thinking about you.”

“When I’m done with business in the Underworld, I’ll come see you.”