Zheng Nan's gaze locked directly onto Chen Shu—clearly he'd come prepared.

As he took a few steps forward, the other students didn't dare approach, some even backing away. After all, it was a universal school law that upperclassmen carried a natural intimidation.

Zheng Nan looked up slightly at Chen Shu and let out a mocking laugh.

"So you're fucking Chen Shu?"

As he spoke, he extended his right hand, wanting to pat Chen Shu's face.

Without a change in expression, Chen Shu instantly grabbed Zheng Nan's wrist as three options appeared before his eyes.

[Option 1: Release Zheng Nan's hand, let him pat your face, while showing a fawning smile: "Brother Nan, that feels great."]

Completion reward: Obtain title "He Who Knows What's Good",

Effect when equipped: Appetite +50%

[Option 2: Say seriously: "Big brother, you've got the wrong person. I'm Zhang Dali."]

Completion reward: Golden Slime size +10%]

[Option 3: Counterattack directly and show your style.]

Note: Zheng Nan is a Level 6 Beast Tamer.

Completion reward: Skill Book: Overlord Body

Chen Shu's mouth twitched, and he almost laughed out loud at the first option. While he could tolerate the shameless content, the reward was simply ridiculous. A title that increases appetite? It really *was* "He Who Knows What FOOD's Good For Him."¹

With no time to think further, he directly chose the third option.

He'd beaten up a Level 9 wanted criminal before—a mere Level 6 was nothing.

Chen Shu's left hand held him in a death grip while his right hand swung hard.

SMACK!

"That's right, I'm fucking Chen Shu. You got a problem with that?"

In an instant, Zheng Nan's head whipped to the side, his brain buzzing.

Were students this violent nowadays?

What about the universal school law?

Where was the fear of upperclassmen?

Though he was a Level 6 Beast Tamer, his thin build couldn't compare to Chen Shu.

"You looking to die?!"

Zheng Nan's face turned ashen, fists clenched tight as rage surged up from his chest.

"What? Want to summon your contract spirit?"

Chen Shu's right hand formed a palm and slapped hard again.

According to the official Beast Tamer Code, Beast Tamers couldn't randomly summon contract spirits.

If contract spirits hurt people or paraded around in public, the Spirit Suppression Bureau would personally investigate.

To maintain social stability, China had enacted various strict laws, this one being one of the many.

"You summon, we call the Spirit Suppression Bureau."

The Beast Taming Class 5 students all threatened.

Normal fights were just minor scuffles, but summoning a contract spirit to injure someone was an entirely different matter.

"If you've got guts, follow me to the school's Beast Arena!"

Rage surged through Zheng Nan; he hadn't expected his opponent to be so ruthless as to corner him for a beating.

"You think I'm as stupid as you? Going there to get beat up?"

Chen Shu sneered, his tone full of mockery, making Zheng Nan’s face red with anger.

"I think you've played too much Plants vs. Zombies."²

"Huh? What do you mean?"

Zheng Nan had already taken several hard slaps, his brain somewhat fuzzy, asking almost instinctively.

"Your brain's been eaten clean, obviously."

"Let me ask one last time—yeah, I'm fucking Chen Shu. Any problems?"

Chen Shu lightly patted Zheng Nan's face with an arrogant expression.

Everyone was slightly dazed.

With all this fog, who could tell who was the villain?

"No... no problem..."

Zheng Nan looked aggrieved, finally choosing to submit.

If he'd known this kid was built so big, he should've brought more people.

"Alright! Everyone disperse!"

At this moment, homeroom teacher Fang Ke finally strolled into the classroom.

"Chen Pi, what are you doing?"

"Teacher Fang, we're just fooling around. Little Nan recently improved his Beast Tamer level and wanted to spar with me."

Everyone was speechless. This excuse was too ridiculous.

Which Beast Tamer who got stronger would choose to fight personally? Shouldn't they go to the Beast Arena?

"Alright, Zheng Nan, return to your class."

Fang Ke nodded slightly, completely accepting this reason.

The bruised and swollen Zheng Nan left Beast Taming Class 5. Before leaving, he shot Chen Shu a venomous look.

"Chen Pi, be careful. Zheng Nan loves to fight—push him too far and he'll do anything."

Fang Ke warned, having some impression of this third-year student.

Chen Shu scoffed: "Please. He'll do anything? Let's see him do a college entrance exam paper, then."

Fang Ke: "..."

"Stop talking nonsense and come with me to the office."

Chen Shu's face immediately fell as he reluctantly followed Fang Ke to the office.

"Chen Pi is really fierce, beating up both Zheng brothers. These two have quite a reputation at Nanjiang Second High."

"That's right. Zheng Yi is Beast Taming Class 3's monitor, and Zheng Nan is even a member of Beast Taming Class 1—definitely future key university material."

"Will Chen Pi face retaliation? If he gets ambushed, something might happen."

Everyone began to discuss what had happened animatedly, a hint of worry in their voices. While Beast Tamers couldn't randomly summon their contract spirits, that rule didn't always apply in remote areas, and the Spirit Suppression Bureau wouldn't investigate thoroughly as long as no one was seriously injured or killed.

"I don't think Chen Shu is likely to get ambushed..."

The usually aloof Xia Bing said quietly.

Everyone paused, then felt it made sense.

Though Chen Shu's Beast Tamer level wasn't high, he was incredibly cunning and, most importantly, never played by the rules, always managing to pull off something shocking.There was also his size which was a head taller than most students.

"Teacher, I really didn't hit anyone. Zheng Nan came to me purely to explore questions."

"What questions?"

"He asked if I was Chen Shu, so I answered him in a friendly manner."

Fang Ke was speechless. "And where exactly did those bruises on his face come from?"

"He got emotional every time I answered and kept hitting my hand with his head. It was all so confusing."

Looking at Chen Shu's innocent expression, Fang Ke felt somewhat amazed internally.

How the hell could you be so calm, telling such outrageous lies with a straight face?

"Fine, I won't ask any further since it seemed like he came looking for trouble first."

Fang Ke had known all along and hadn't stepped in, wanting Chen Shu to teach Zheng Nan a lesson.

"Zheng Nan brought it on himself, but the Zheng Yi matter was your fault."

"In Beast Tamer battles, the school doesn't allow students to personally fight. What if someone gets hurt? How are we expected to explain it to parents?"

If everyone was like Chen Shu ignoring rules, the school would be in chaos.

Everyone was educated from childhood that human bodies were fragile—battles must rely on contract spirits.

Contract spirits had strong vitality and could slowly recover even from severe injuries, sometimes even from fatal ones if you had the right potions and training.

But if a person died, everything ended.

"Teacher, I was just showing him the world's dangers. If they enter dimensional space gates, fierce beasts won't just target their contract spirits."

"If you can't even protect yourself, having strong contract spirits is useless."

"Spare the rod, spoil the... cough, create strong people. I'm helping train them both."

Fang Ke was actually caught himself being convinced for a moment, left speechless.

"I imagine my words have deeply touched your soul." Chen Shu clasped his hands. "Teacher Fang, take your time to comprehend. I'll take my leave!"

Fang Ke: "..."

Footnote:

¹ A play on the Chinese idiom "识时务者为俊杰" (He who understands the times is a hero). The system twists it to "识食物者为俊杰" (He who knows food is a hero), mocking the appetite-increasing reward.

² The "Plants vs. Zombies" insult is a popular Chinese internet meme. Since zombies eat brains, saying someone "played too much Plants vs. Zombies" is a creative way to call them brainless.