I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

She waved at Xue Jing from afar, forcing a smile as a casual greeting.

Seeing her demeanor, Xue Jing understood inwardly and whispered to himself, "I see..."

"Hmm? Why is this junior here? She's quite bold, not even waiting for the lunch break before rushing to our class to find you," Li Ge was momentarily taken aback.

Slightly nearsighted and without his glasses at the moment, Li Ge hadn't really noticed the junior's expression. He merely chuckled at Xue Jing, "Be kind when you turn her down, don't break the girl's heart. Actually, trying out a relationship isn't bad, those legs aren't a downgrade for you..."

Xue Jing didn't say much, just nodded and got up to head outside the classroom.

Many in the class had noticed the pretty junior at the door. Coupled with Li Ge's earlier callout, everyone knew she was there for Xue Jing, and now all eyes were on him as he walked out.

Once Xue Jing and the junior left together, the rumor mill sparked fiercely within the class, igniting a fervor of speculation.

...

Xue Jing followed the junior to the staircase at the end of the corridor. Since class was about to start, all students were in their classrooms, leaving no one else in the corridor.

"Here will do," Xue Jing said.

"Speak up, what's the matter?"

As soon as Xue Jing spoke, tears began streaming down the junior's face uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry, senior, it's all my fault..."

She started explaining what had happened, crying so much that her words were fragmented and intense emotions made her hard to understand at times. But Xue Jing didn't rush her, patiently listening, only asking for clarification when something was truly unclear.

When the other person finished explaining the whole situation, Xue Jing finally understood what had happened.

Simply put, this pretty sophomore girl had a classmate pursuing her, a guy named Pei Youguang.

This name was quite famous at the middle school; Xue Jing remembered him as the kind of school bully who 'made waves' in school.

The problem started during yesterday’s physical fitness assessment, when the girl came to give Xue Jing a towel.

Unbeknownst to Xue Jing, the helper told Pei Youguang about him accepting the towel, and this morning, Pei loudly declared in class that he was going to give Xue Jing something to look forward to.

"..."

Although when the tearful junior came to him, Xue Jing had a premonition about what it was all about, he couldn’t help but find the whole thing somewhat laughable when it was confirmed.

"Senior, I'm really sorry. I pleaded with him for so long not to trouble you, but he wouldn't listen..." the junior sobbed, continuously wiping her tears.

Xue Jing: "..."

Are you sure this isn’t adding fuel to the fire?

He was at a loss for words.

Had he not known that these teenagers often acted without thinking things through, he might have suspected the junior was deliberately fanning the flames.

Youngsters inclined to resort to force to compete for dominance clearly had impulsive natures. Hearing their crush plead for someone else would only ignite their inner anger, making them subconsciously believe they were in the right, that they found a ‘weak spot.’ Otherwise, why would the girl be so afraid?

Nevertheless, Xue Jing didn't blame her.

He nodded and said, "I understand. You can go back now."

“This isn't your fault, so don't worry about it. I'll take care of everything.”

There was a pause.

The sophomore girl had her worries, but they weren't anything major.

Even if history blamed figures like Baosi, Daji, or Yang Guifei, the biggest burden shouldn't be theirs to bear.

“Thank you, senior…”

The girl was moved.

“To be honest, I've always…”

She wanted to seize this opportunity to say something, but she realized that Xue Jing had already turned around, walking back to his own class, clearly not intending to listen further.

“…”

“So, the person giving you trouble is Pei Youguang?”

Li Ge rubbed his chin, his brow furrowing as he absorbed the story Xue Jing detailed.

“This isn't looking too good, Jing.”

Xue Jing pulled out his Chinese textbook for the first class, placing it lightly on the desk as he answered casually, “What do you mean?”

“You might not be clued into these things, but Pei Youguang is a real piece of work.”

Li Ge explained.

"Let me put it this way, if our secondary school had a sorting hat when enrolling students, it would have sent him straight to Azkaban."

"This guy's in the martial arts club. He bullies other students as a matter of routine under the pretext of having learned a little martial arts. Every other day, there are rumors about who he's beaten up. I even heard he often harasses girls."

Li Ge moved his chair closer to Xue Jing, lowering his voice: "But that's not the main point. I also heard that he's killed someone and even assaulted a female student."

"If I remember correctly, last semester, a girl from Class 7 of the second grade suddenly transferred schools. It was said she transferred because he bullied her."

Xue Jing furrowed his brows. "That can't be true. If he'd really done such things, how could he still be allowed to stay in school?"

Li Ge remarked, "That's what I thought at first, too. But then I found out that the students he bullied are too scared to report him to teachers or parents. It seems like the school just turns a blind eye."

"So I asked around in the second grade and found out that Pei Youguang's dad works for a prominent councilman. His background is solid."

"Come to think of it, it's obvious. How else could a thug like him get into our secondary school without some powerful backing?"

A councilman represents the theoretical pinnacle of power in a city, with approximately thirty or so in Qingcheng, including one director and three deputy directors.

If he works under a councilman, his background really is sky-high."

Xue Jing pondered for a moment and asked, "Did he really kill someone?"

Li Ge shook his head: "There are no definite claims on that, but lots of people have seen him carrying a knife around. With someone daring enough to commit those acts, killing someone wouldn't be out of the question."

"We should just report this to a teacher. What if Pei Youguang actually attacks you?"

Li Ge was thoroughly worried.

Xue Jing smiled.

It sounded intimidating. Most students would probably be scared stiff by the mention of Pei Youguang's name.

However, Xue Jing didn't find him particularly frightening.

There's a certain logic to how the world operates; once your understanding reaches a certain level, you can easily see through appearances to grasp the essence of things.

These notorious acts are absolute taboos in human society. Even if you have a father working for a member of parliament, it's impossible to brazenly flaunt such acts, as if you desire the entire world to know.

Even those at the top of the power ladder need to follow the rules on the surface. So, why would a mere schoolyard bully do otherwise?

Ordinary students, not yet seasoned by society, might feel a sense of fear from the rumors, layering Pei Youguang with the bravado of a tiger, fearing him more with each tale.

Xue Jing, on the other hand, found the more he heard, the less fearsome Pei Youguang became.

Some people emphasize what they lack.

“No need to inform the teacher.”

“I’ll have a proper talk with Pei Youguang myself.”

Xue Jing said softly.

The class bell rang, and homeroom teacher and Chinese instructor, Du Shiwei, entered the room.

As the new semester commenced, a palpable sense of enthusiasm washed over the school grounds. Students, bustling with energy, dashed across the corridors, their laughter echoing off the walls. Classrooms sprang to life as teachers prepared their lesson plans, eager to dive into the curriculum.

Among the lively students, Xue Jing navigated his way toward his seat, his mind still contemplating the rumors about Pei Youguang. He couldn't comprehend why such tales clung to Pei like shadows, refusing to fade away.

Meanwhile, Pei Youguang, known for his enigmatic presence, seemed indifferent to the whispering voices around him. His eyes occasionally met Xue Jing's, and an unspoken understanding passed between them, as if acknowledging the challenge of transcending societal expectations.

In contrast, the Geography Teacher sought to inspire his students with grand tales of distant lands, while the Gym Teacher’s whistle orchestrated a symphony of movement in the sports field.

A Pretty Sophomore Girl, often seen with a Talking Cat at her heels, became an emblem of the beauty of high school life. The Unnamed Bald Old Man, with wisdom etched in his every wrinkle, walked the halls with a knowing smile, his presence a staple of the school’s tradition.

Yet, within this vibrant school atmosphere, a sense of competition loomed large. Would Xue Jing unravel the truth behind Pei’s mystique, or would the weight of expectations stifle his curiosity? As the day progressed, each student became more than a mere player in this academic theater; they transformed into integral parts of a collective dream driven by youthful ambition.