Jiangnan returned to his small nest, locking his “Phoenix” bike to the old locust tree at the entrance.
The twenty-five-square-metre rental wasn’t big, but Jiangnan kept it tidy.
Under the bed, piles of stall goods were neatly stacked.
Ignoring his rumbling stomach, Jiangnan drew the curtains, and with a thought, the Marrow-Cleansing Spirit Fruit appeared in his hand.
Staring at the red, plum-like fruit, he swallowed hard.
“What’s there to fear? I’ve got nothing to lose!”
With that, he popped the fruit into his mouth.
It melted instantly…
And then it was gone!
Gone!
What happened to purifying essence and cleansing marrow?
Even a plum would have some sweetness!
Five minutes later, Jiangnan suddenly felt his sensitivity to spiritual energy sharpen, and it surged into his body.
In no time, his cultivation shot up to Black Iron Seven-Star!
He could feel his talent had genuinely improved!
Though he didn’t know what grade it was now, it definitely wasn’t E-grade anymore.
His heart raced with excitement!
His hands trembled!
Coming to his senses, Jiangnan quickly checked to see if anything was missing from his body.
Thankfully, all parts were intact!
After drinking the Strength Potion and going bald, who knew what side effects this fruit might have?
Still uneasy, Jiangnan stripped off everything and began a thorough inspection.
Just as he was nearly done checking, head bowed, the door swung open.
“Brother Jiangnan, you’re back so late, you must not have eaten, right?”
“I made you a bowl of noodles…”
A pretty girl in a floral dress with a ponytail stood at the door, holding a bowl of noodles, looking lively.
Her eyes met Jiangnan, frozen in place.
A blinding whiteness.
His hands still trembling from excitement…
The girl’s mouth dropped open. She glanced at Jiangnan, then at the crumpled tissues in the bin…
It clicked!
Her face turned beet red.
With a “bang,” she slammed the door shut.
“The… the noodles are at the door. Eat when you’re done, Brother Jiangnan!”
Jiangnan: “???”
Oi, oi, oi!
What do you mean, “when I’m done”?
Did you misunderstand something?
Think I’m doing something weird?
Before he could explain, the girl had already fled, blushing.
…
The noodles were tasty, just a bit salty…
Don’t ask. It’s the taste of tears!
He’d have to explain later. She was the landlord’s daughter and went to the same school, so it’d be easy to clear up.
Calming himself, Jiangnan began studying the system closely.
Checking his Resentment Points, he had over 110,000.
Beating up Wang Lin had raked in a fortune, and Li Muyan contributed plenty too.
Enough for another ten-draw!
Imagine getting another Marrow-Cleansing Fruit. Wouldn’t that be brilliant?
[Lucky Wheel! Ten-draw lottery commencing!]
[Thank you for participating!] Consolation prize: one Strength Potion!
[Thank you for participating!] …
…
After ten draws, Jiangnan’s face was blacker than coal.
Thank your sister for participating! Why is “Thank you for participating” even an option on a Lucky Wheel?
Is it because I’m bald?
The inventory now had ten more “bott ascendancy=”true”>bald?
But wait!
He could sell the Strength Potions at his stall!
Sure, they made you bald, but the strength was miraculous!
Plus, he could earn Resentment Points on the side!
Nice!
Decision made, Jiangnan lay on his bed, pulling out his knockoff phone, bought for fifty quid at a stall, ready to browse a bit before sleeping.
He stumbled into the Spiritual Martial Class’s WeChat group.
The chat was buzzing.
“Oi, mates, seen that video on Weibo of a bald guy at Jiangcheng Night Market thrashing a Spiritual Martial University student? Over 400,000 views!”
“What’s the deal? Share it!”
Soon, someone posted the video.
It showed bald Jiangnan, in his Hello Kitty t-shirt, sitting on Wang Lin, smashing him with a stool.
“Blimey, this bald lad’s fierce!”
“That guy’s screams are brutal! You can feel the pain through the screen!”
“If I’m not mistaken, the one getting battered is a Bronze-level strength-type martial artist, right?”
“This bald guy looks young but has the strength to crush him and still runs a stall?”
“A master among the masses!”
Jiangnan snickered behind his screen. He hadn’t expected to be filmed.
Though the video was blurry. Shaky hands, mate!
“Hold on, doesn’t this bald guy look a bit like Jiangnan from our class?”
“Him? Pull the other one. That weakling, taking down a Bronze-level strength awakener?”
“Yeah, three years in high school and only Black Iron Three-Star! Wasted all those monthly spiritual beads! Spatial type, my foot!”
“After tomorrow’s exam, he won’t be our classmate anymore, will he?”
“Safe travels in advance!”
“Off you go!”
Reading the group’s chatter, Jiangnan stayed silent, just smirking.
Tomorrow? He had no plans of leaving!
They’d all be gobsmacked!
“Wait, isn’t that Li Muyan helping the beaten guy leave in the video?”
“No way? It’s her!”
“I heard she’s dating some Spiritual Martial University bloke!”
“@Li Muyan, what’s the story, sister?”
“@Li Muyan, how’d it kick off? Spill the tea!”
“@Li Muyan, is your boyfriend alright?”
[Resentment Points from Li Muyan +555]
…
The system kept pinging with Li Muyan’s Resentment Points.
Jiangnan was over the moon! His classmates were too adorable. Clearly, she was in the group, seething!
She had every reason to be mad, stuck in the hospital with Wang Lin getting stitches…
So Jiangnan chimed in.
South God: “@Li Muyan, hospital Wi-Fi super fast, eh? Jealous of you lot mooching off it! My data’s nearly gone…”
[Resentment Points from Li Muyan +999]
I’m there for the Wi-Fi, am I?
Can you be any more of a prat?
You know who did it, don’t you!
She stayed silent the whole time, but the system kept racking up her Resentment Points.
It was still going when Jiangnan fell asleep…
Women hold grudges like nobody’s business… tsk tsk tsk.
The next morning, in high spirits, Jiangnan bumped into the landlord’s daughter, backpack on, ready for school.
“Little Yuqing, about yesterday, I…”
Zhou Yuqing glanced at him, her face flushing again.
Shyly, she said, “Brother Jiangnan, you should rest early at night, take care of yourself!”
With that, her ponytail bounced as she bolted.
Jiangnan was near tears, “Am I beyond explaining…?”
Listen, sis!
Your brother’s not that kind of guy!
I was just checking my body, and those tissues in the bin were for my nose!
Wearing a cap to hide his bald head, Jiangnan rode his bike, chain clinking rhythmically, all the way to Jiangcheng No.1 High.
The monthly exam was about to begin!
