Hidden Assassin 153

## Volume 3: Cohabitation Era – Chapter 6: Under the Azure Sky – Section 153: Punishment

**2013-02-08**

It was two in the afternoon. The school was buzzing with activity. Jia Ming rubbed his face as he sat up from his desk. He watched students excitedly rushing out of the classroom. At the front of the classroom, Dongfang Wan listened to the gossip being spread with an air of disbelief, her gaze occasionally drifting towards Jia Ming. He could vaguely hear them talking about things like “fighting” and “taking down the dojo”.

Classes at Sacred Heart Academy started at 2:20 pm. Usually, students would be in the classroom by this time, chatting and goofing off. But today, as more and more people left the classroom, it became increasingly quiet. Dongfang Wan, having heard the gossip, walked towards Jia Ming, but then stopped. Ling Jing had already rushed into the classroom and pulled Jia Ming’s hand.

“No good, something’s happened. Come quick!”

“What happened?”

“It’s Xun. She went to the martial arts club by herself and challenged them!”

“Uh…”

As Ling Jing ran out of the classroom, they could see more and more onlookers heading towards the club building. Ling Jing ran, explaining what happened in the morning as she went.

“…It was all because of Fang Ming and his group from the martial arts club. Well, you probably don’t know Fang Ming. He’s a sophomore. He’s in the martial arts club, but he’s close to the student council. … They lost their match and started looking for excuses. They kept badmouthing you. I was so angry that I ran out and cursed at them. Xun was just there at that moment… I didn’t want you to get angry about it, so I told Xun not to tell you. But she actually went to the club by herself and challenged them. Sha Sha is already there helping her, so we have to hurry. There are 30 to 40 people there, and Xun is alone. How could she be so stupid…”

“Uh, 30 to 40 people… That’s indeed…”

After listening to Ling Jing’s explanation, Jia Ming frowned slightly. As they arrived in front of the club building, hundreds of students had gathered around the martial arts club, excitedly watching the scene. The doors were closed, and the windows were covered with thick curtains, making it impossible to see inside. They could only faintly hear chaotic noises and screams coming from within.

“Wow, a beautiful warrior fighting against 30 strong men…”

“It’s supposedly Yuechi Xun! Yuechi Xun, she’s inside alone…”

“How can those guys from the martial arts club be so shameless? Why are they shouting so loud? It’s like they’re the victims!”

“I… I don’t think it’s the martial arts club that’s being the villain…” someone timidly suggested, only to be met with a barrage of criticisms.

“What do you mean it’s not? You’re an idiot! A girl goes in there, and there are 30 to 40 people inside. They locked the doors and are making a scene. It’s not a prank, what is it? … Who has the keys? Why isn’t anyone opening the door…”

It’s undeniable, beauty has its privileges. Being pulled forward by Ling Jing, Jia Ming couldn’t help but chuckle at the commotion. Several male teachers were gathered by the door, listening to the increasingly loud screams from inside. They even ignored Sha Sha’s violent attempts to pry open the door with a steel pipe. One teacher called out to those inside, while another continued to ask the surrounding students for information. The remaining teachers were discussing how to find someone to break down the door.

“Yes, it’s Yuechi Xun who went in. She’s in the Class 16 of the first year…”

“She’s very pretty. She usually doesn’t talk. She’s Japanese. How could we get the wrong person… There shouldn’t be anyone else inside…”

“Could it be that someone from the martial arts club is jealous of her?” Though such a statement was quite rare amongst high school students, it wasn’t impossible. After a moment of hesitation, everyone started speculating, “Yeah, yeah, I heard that Yuechi Xun is quite popular. They locked the door. Maybe they are fighting inside. She’s a single girl taking on dozens of people. She even beat them up like this. Who would believe that!”

“But… when I passed by, I did hear Yuechi Xun say something about challenging them. She even said that the martial arts club didn’t have to participate in tomorrow’s competition. Well, she said… I’ll play with you all…” someone who witnessed the beginning of the incident said.

“Just kidding! She’s just kidding! Most girls tease their boyfriends like that…”

In Sacred Heart Academy, early romance wasn’t uncommon, and the martial arts club was always known for their brashness. Soon, the rumors of a challenge turned into whispers of jealousy and romance. However, Sha Sha knew that Xun wouldn’t get involved with these people. While prying open the door with her steel pipe, she yelled towards the inside, “Xun! Are you in there? Answer me! … Listen up, everyone inside. Anyone who dares to hit Xun, I will never forgive you!” She was already sweating profusely when Jia Ming and Ling Jing finally pulled her back.

The screams from the martial arts club spread through the school like wildfire, alarming everyone. Sha Sha, seeing Jia Ming arrive, immediately pulled his hand anxiously, “Jia Ming, please think of a solution. Even if Xun is very strong, she can’t beat 30 to 40 people. Something is going to happen if this continues.”

“Uh, first, call an ambulance. Call several.”

“But…”

While trying to calm Sha Sha down, Ling Jing used her handkerchief to wipe her sweat, her eyes fixed on Jia Ming, hoping he would do something. On the side of the large room, amidst the commotion, Dongfang Wan had directed several people to move tables and chairs to create a platform by the window. The window on this side was quite high, so this was the only way to reach the window glass.

“Everyone, move back a little. Move back a little…” Wearing a jacket over her head, Dongfang Wan picked up a chair and smashed the window twice. Things happened so quickly that Sha Sha, who had only arrived recently, hadn’t even thought about using something to break the window. Dongfang Wan’s decisive action was truly impressive. After sweeping away the glass shards on the windowsill, she pulled open the curtains, leaned inside, and then froze.

“What’s going on inside? How many people are injured?” People below asked loudly. For a long time, Dongfang Wan turned back from the window, her expression incredibly complex.

“Uh, that, well, they’re all… uh…” Shaking her head in disbelief, Dongfang Wan was slightly dazed. “Nevermind. She… she’s opening the door. You… you can see for yourselves…”

From the front, with the sound of chains, the door finally swung open with a loud bang. The first thing that appeared before everyone was Yuechi Xun’s figure.

In her hand, she held the chain used to lock the door. Her expression remained calm, except for a red scratch on her nearly perfect forehead and grey-black stains on her white tracksuit. The scene resembled a female character in a TV show after being assaulted.

“Xun! What happened to you?”

“I’m fine…”

Ling Jing rushed forward to check the wound on Xun’s forehead, while Sha Sha cursed and rushed into the room. Even with the groans of the people in the martial arts club, they couldn’t cover up the anger of the crowd. The teachers felt particularly awkward, almost fearing that Sacred Heart Academy was about to witness its biggest scandal since its founding: thirty students gang-raping a foreign visitor…

Gazing into the room, Jia Ming whistled, then turned his head and stepped aside. Moments later, Sha Sha also ran out of the room, supporting Xun with Ling Jing, one on each side. “Uh… well, that… we’re leaving first, Xun…”

“What happened?” Ling Jing asked in confusion.

“Uh, let’s go first… let’s go first…” The three of them pushed through the crowd, while those behind them squeezed forward to get a better look. As the teachers opened the door completely, the anger turned into silence and astonishment. Gasps of astonishment spread outwards.

“My god…”

“How is this possible…”

“Really… did she do this?”

Amidst this murmuring, a shocking scene unfolded before them.

Groans, screams, bodies sprawled everywhere, blood splattered on the floor, broken wooden tables and chairs. Some people were groaning and struggling to get up, their faces bruised and swollen. Some cried out in pain, some sobbed. The entire martial arts club was a scene of utter misery.

Regardless of how everyone had imagined it, the fact was that everyone in the martial arts club had fallen. Yuechi Xun walked out alone. When people, still reeling from the shock, turned their heads back to look for her, Yuechi Xun had already disappeared from sight, supported by Ling Jing and Sha Sha.

*********************************************************

**First class of the afternoon.**

“Does fighting feel good?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“I heard you went to fight for me?”

“…”

“You’re a big disappointment. If I was angry, I would have directly planted a bomb under the building… I taught you how to make a bomb… Do you still remember anything I said?”

“…I’m sorry.”

The teacher lectured from the podium, while some students whispered among themselves in the classroom. They couldn’t help but glance back at Yuechi Xun in the back row. Some were amazed, others were awestruck. After all, she had taken down the entire martial arts club single-handedly. She had only treated the scratch on her forehead and was able to attend class and take notes as usual. In this atmosphere, Jia Ming and Xun tried to conceal their mouth movements as they conversed in Japanese. Jia Ming was clearly unhappy with her recklessness.

“Being an assassin isn’t just about doing whatever you want. Your actions this time were incredibly stupid. Those teachers probably already gathered to discuss how to deal with you. Even if you’re a Japanese with connections, you’ll definitely be expelled.”

“I…” Hearing Jia Ming’s words, Yuechi Xun trembled slightly. Her gaze lingered on Jia Ming for a second before dropping her head again. “I’m sorry…”

“It’s not like there’s no way to solve this. Right now, Yan Huang Jue Xing (Yan Huang Awakening – a fictional organization) has some cooperation with your family and Takamagahara. Call Tenyu Masatsugu tonight and have him handle this through Yan Huang Jue Xing.”

“Yes.” Her mood lifted slightly.

“You like to fight. I think you have too much energy… Well, how about this.” Frowning, Jia Ming looked at the playground shrouded in clouds. “I remember the running track is 400 meters per lap. Start running from the last self-study session and run 100 laps. You can rest today… A marathon can help you regulate your mood.”

Yuechi Xun gently nodded, “Yes.”

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