Chapter 9: The Judge Arrives

“Crack!” My fist connected with the skinny senior’s jaw.

I could clearly see his jaw dislocate and twist out of shape.

Before he could even react, his eyes rolled back, and his body went limp as if his soul had suddenly departed. He collapsed straight to the ground, completely unconscious—unlike the burlier senior who was still writhing on the floor.

Two left!

Come! Watch my spinning roundhouse kick!

I whipped my leg around, and even I couldn’t believe how cool it looked. At home, when I practiced, a shut-in like me could at most kick someone in the crotch, and I wasn’t even sure if I could turn properly.

But this time, I executed a perfect three-sixty spin, my foot aimed straight at one of their faces.

That senior was so startled he could only clumsily raise his hands to protect his face.

My foot struck like lightning, blocked by his hands—but the force still sent him flying sideways, his feet leaving the ground.

In mid-flight, he crashed into the other senior standing beside him, along with a few desks.

“Aren’t you guys done yet?” I said to the six still grappling.

They all stopped and stared at me as if seeing a ghost.

“Holy crap, Xiaobai, are you even human? You finished that fast?” Lin Xiaopang gawked at me.

“Stop fighting. You guys drag them away and fix the desks. Don’t mess up our art department,” I told the remaining three.

“Yes, yes, yes,” they stammered, nearly pissing themselves as they helped the fallen seniors and fled.

We watched them run off.

“Hey, Xiaobai! How are you so good at fighting?” Lin Xiaopang slapped my shoulder. Zhao Jianwen and Qin Hui walked over, seemingly uninjured—guess they were just play-fighting after all.

“I’ve trained in martial arts,” I lied again.

“What kind of martial arts is that powerful?” Lin Xiaopang asked.

“Never mind. I’m hungry after exercising. I’m going to eat first.” I waved them off and started to leave the classroom.

“Xiaobai, you’re not eating with us?” Zhao Jianwen said.

“Nah, I’ll eat at my apartment. See ya.” With that, I left. I’d been starving since yesterday, and after talking with that woman Ye Ying forever, the only useful info was that eating lamb, pork, or beef could fill me up.

And something about danger? She sent a bunch of clowns to attack me?

“Hello? Headquarters? I’ve found something. It’s a student at Dongchuanguang University…” After we all left, a man hiding in the corridor quietly made a call.

The real danger was only just beginning.

School cafeteria.

“What’ll it be, young man?” the cafeteria auntie said.

“Four pieces of pork chop,” I said.

“Eating like that won’t do! Meat without veggies—you’ll be malnourished.”

“I’m not eating it all myself. I’m sharing, okay?”

“Then you should order some veggies too. Even for sharing, it’s all meat.”

“You’re more annoying than my mom.” I grabbed a large chicken cutlet rice and fled. I found a seat and started eating, absolutely famished.

‘Hmm, seems I can actually get full,’ I muttered to myself while eating. Afterwards, I went home.

On the way back, I pondered. Ever since Xiaowu killed me and I revived that day, my body had definitely changed.

Not only had a small spider spine grown on my back, but my physical abilities seemed to have improved unconsciously—even my dynamic vision was sharper. That skinny senior’s punches had looked like slow motion to me.

‘I could probably go out masked like Spider-Man and save beauties,’ I joked half to myself. Honestly, I was a little excited. A guy suddenly gaining unusual abilities—just like a movie or anime protagonist.

I arrived at the apartment building.

Something was off. I’d walked an entire street without seeing a single passerby. I looked around.

The wonton shop I’d visited last time was still closed even though it was morning, and only the supermarket was open. But from a distance, I could see it was empty inside, not even a cashier.

‘What’s going on? Biochemical apocalypse?’

I entered the apartment lobby. First floor—empty. Not a trace of anyone. Like a radar, I could sense that all six rooms on the first floor were vacant. This was seriously abnormal.

Don’t ask how I knew. It must be one of my mutated abilities. Maybe like Wu Xiaowu’s mind reading.

I went up to the second floor. Same lifelessness—no one in any of the six rooms.

It felt like walking through a horror movie, even though it was early morning. Third and fourth floors were the same—absolutely deserted.

On the fifth floor, I finally sensed someone, but not here—on the sixth floor. I could pinpoint that person standing right in front of my room, 603.

They were after me!

I stood at the stairwell on the fifth floor. Should I go up? I had no idea what methods they used to clear out the entire area. This must be the danger Ye Ying mentioned.

Because I could sense people through some vague aura or something, I could also feel the person at my door, though they were well hidden. But the murderous intent emanating from them was unmistakable!

‘Phew!’ I took a deep breath. I couldn’t run. I had to get to the bottom of this! With that thought, I stepped forward and climbed to the sixth floor.

I pressed myself against the wall at the top of the stairs, peeking toward my apartment.

There was a filthy homeless man standing in front of my door, his back hunched, face pointing at my door, completely motionless. He carried a guitar case that looked completely out of place on him.

“You’re here,” the homeless man said flatly, without turning around.

“Who are you?” I was found out, so I stepped out and stopped at a distance I deemed safe.

“I am the Judge, and I’m here to collect your life,” the homeless man turned. His face was covered in stubble and dirt.

Judge? What the hell? And what’s this ‘Pretender’ Ye Ying mentioned?

“So you’re here to kill me? Why?”

“Why? I’ve killed so many Degenerates, and none has ever asked me why. Men killing monsters—it’s only natural!” the homeless man said.

“Hey, Lang Laosan! Found prey and didn’t tell us? Where’s your sense of decency?” A cocky voice suddenly rang out from the stairwell.

Shit! Someone was coming up behind me. Three people, and they were with this homeless guy. The plan to escape was out the window—my retreat was blocked.

I glanced at the three newcomers: a salaryman in a suit, a high school girl, and a young man with a very unconventional style—that cocky voice belonged to him.

But they all had one thing in common: the salaryman and the youth also carried guitar cases that clashed with their outfits, while the girl held two violin cases.

“What are you looking at! Asking for death!” the non-mainstream guy pointed at me and cursed.

“With that getup, aren’t you afraid of getting beaten up on the street?” I sneered at him.

“You little shit! Boss, Lang Laosan, let me kill him!”

“Wait, Xiao Ai. First, assess his level,” the suit man pulled back the youth who was about to open his guitar case.

“Yes.” The high school girl named Xiao Ai quickly pulled out a DSLR camera hanging at her waist and took a photo of me. I was sure it wasn’t an ordinary camera.

“Only one mutation point, slight strength enhancement. E-level Degenerate,” Xiao Ai reported after glancing at the data on her camera.

“E-level, huh. Xiao Fei, you go first. Xiao Ai, cover him and make sure he doesn’t escape,” the suit man ordered.

“Yes!” Xiao Fei and Xiao Ai replied.

“That okay with you, Lang Laosan?” the suit man called to the homeless guy.

“Sure, let it be training for the rookies.” With that, the homeless man leaned against my door, ready to watch the show.

“You’re treating me like I’m already dead!” I fumed. Being ignored for so long would make even a Buddha angry!

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