Chapter 14: The New Desk Mate

Zhang Pu also instructed Zheng Furen and the others that, upon returning to the class, they need not tell anyone the truth; for now, he had no desire to become famous here. If anyone were to question them, they should make up their own excuses to muddle through. If no one asked, there was nothing to say at all.

Today, Zheng Furen and his gang had suffered a humiliating defeat, an unprecedented occurrence. None of them had expected Zhang Pu to cover up for them and keep their embarrassment secret. Their feelings were simply too complex to describe.

Once the group returned to the classroom, lessons soon began. Although some observant students noticed something odd about the group gradually returning, no one dared discuss it openly, for Zheng Furen and his four henchmen had long ruled with arrogance. Their influence even extended to Classes Nine and Eight next door. The Zheng Furen Syndicate was notorious throughout the entire Modern High School.

As a new student, Zhang Pu was assigned to a corner seat in the front row, conveniently far from Zheng Furen and his four henchmen whom he had beaten up in the restroom earlier.

Zhang Pu’s new desk mate was named Zheng Xiaoming, a person of similar build and equally ordinary looks. Zhang Pu recalled that in his previous life, Zheng Xiaoming had been one of his good friends on Earth. Unfortunately, Zheng Xiaoming’s fate had been as tragic as his own: later, due to certain circumstances, Zheng Xiaoming too was driven to a desperate end by destiny. At that time, Zhang Pu had been powerless, watching helplessly as fate took its cruel toll.

But things were different in this life. Now, seeing the concern in Zheng Xiaoming’s eyes, Zhang Pu silently resolved: since he was reborn to remedy the regrets of his former life, he would not let Zheng Xiaoming die a miserable death as before.

“Um, you’re new here…” Zheng Xiaoming, taking advantage of the classroom’s noisy atmosphere, spoke quietly to Zhang Pu.

Zhang Pu suddenly realized that he had not formally met Zheng Xiaoming yet, for time had restarted for him!

“My name is Zhang Pu!” he introduced himself sincerely.

“I know,” Zheng Xiaoming replied.

Then, he introduced himself, allowing Zhang Pu to learn his name.

“I saw you earlier being taken away by our class monitor and his four henchmen…” Zheng Xiaoming probed, sounding mysterious.

Zhang Pu could see genuine concern and a touch of worry in his eyes.

Zhang Pu smiled and said, “It’s nothing. Zheng Furen just said he’d buy me a drink.”

“Zheng Furen buy you a drink?” Zheng Xiaoming reacted as if he’d heard a fairy tale.

He was about to scold Zhang Pu for lying on their first meeting, but upon closer inspection, Zhang Pu looked perfectly fine, with not a hint of injury. Based on his years at Modern High School, Zheng Xiaoming thought: even if Zhang Pu had been quick-witted enough to pay protection money, Zheng Furen, being such a thug, would surely have given the new student a beating first.

Yet Zhang Pu appeared completely unharmed! Even if any minor injuries were invisible, no one who had just been bullied could be in such good spirits!

Zheng Xiaoming found himself utterly baffled.

As for Zheng Furen buying Zhang Pu, the new student, a drink—Zheng Xiaoming could not believe it, unless…

Heavens! Could his new desk mate have some powerful background?

Zheng Xiaoming’s heart skipped a beat, but looking at Zhang Pu’s plain, somewhat rustic clothing, and knowing from prior information that his new desk mate was from the countryside…

What could it possibly mean? Zheng Xiaoming had no idea.

Zhang Pu had meant to tease Zheng Xiaoming a little.

But he felt he wasn’t really lying. After all, Zheng Furen had genuinely said he’d buy him a drink beforehand. It was only once they reached the boys’ restroom that Zhang Pu fully realized it was meant to disgust him, which finally provoked him to retaliate and fight with Zheng Furen and his four henchmen.

At that time, Zhang Pu had actually wanted to treat Zheng Furen to a “drink,” since there was plenty of “beverage” available in the boys’ restroom, fresh and ready to serve!

Perhaps he’d become distracted by thoughts of “making money” and had subconsciously skipped over that detail.

Yet, a surge of determination rose in his heart: next time, if Zheng Furen dared misbehave, he would truly “treat him to a drink,” and his four henchmen would get their share as well.

Was it a case of mismatched conversation? Zhang Pu soon noticed that Zheng Xiaoming seemed to lose interest in talking to him.

Unbeknownst to Zhang Pu, it was his claim that Zheng Furen had treated him to a drink which had cast a mysterious veil over him in Zheng Xiaoming’s mind.

But in this new life, if Zheng Xiaoming tried to keep his distance, Zhang Pu would not allow it.

Soon, school was dismissed. Zhang Pu had paid little attention to the morning’s lessons, but he didn’t mind; his thoughts were absorbed in cultivation.

He skipped lunch at the school cafeteria. Having earned a few thousand yuan from Zheng Furen and his gang in the morning and promised to treat their injuries, he hurried to the pharmacy to buy herbs, ready to concoct a few pills for them. With his knowledge from the cultivation world—far superior to anything on Earth—he knew that even the cheapest herbs could work wonders.

After Zhang Pu left, Zheng Xiaoming lingered at his desk, staring at Zhang Pu’s receding figure.

A boy from the class, who was usually friendly with Zheng Xiaoming, came over and asked, unable to resist, “What’s wrong?”

“My new desk mate Zhang Pu is like a mystery,” Zheng Xiaoming said, almost as if inspired by some realization.

“What’s wrong?” the other boy, sensing something secret, pressed, “What is it…”

Zheng Xiaoming glanced at Zheng Furen’s seat in the back row, pursed his lips tightly, and then said to the boy, “Actually, it’s nothing… Forget it, I’ll tell you some other time. School’s over—time to head home…”

With that, Zheng Xiaoming abruptly left his seat, ignoring the boy.

The boy’s face contorted into a puzzled expression as he muttered at Zheng Xiaoming’s back, “So strange!”

Meanwhile, Zhang Pu had already left the campus. Since he wasn’t staying at Hong Guishan’s house, he would no longer be traveling with Wu Xiaomei and Hong Yingying.

He hurried to the pharmacy and bought some herbs. For the minor injuries on Zheng Furen and his gang, he would use formulas from the cultivation world—countless times more advanced than anything on Earth. With a handful of cheap herbs, he could perform miracles.