Jiangzhou University

The moment Xia Yunjie stepped through the university gates, he felt a wave of cool, refreshing air wash over him. It was as if the bustling, chaotic world outside had been left behind. The campus was filled with lush greenery—trees and lawns everywhere—offering a sense of tranquility. The buildings were modern but modest in height, blending harmoniously with the serene environment.

Attending a university or finding a job here must be such a pleasant experience, Xia Yunjie mused as he soaked in the secluded and peaceful atmosphere of the campus. He found himself liking the university setting more and more.

However, he quickly dismissed the thought as unrealistic. For someone like him, attending university or settling down with a conventional job was nothing but a daydream. After a leisurely walk around the lake, Xia Yunjie decided it was time to head home.

Just as he walked away from the lake, a sharp, urgent cry broke the calm: "Help! Help! The boat flipped!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Xia Yunjie spun around and dashed back toward the lake with ghostly speed. Despite the broad daylight, his movements were so swift and eerie that they would have startled anyone who noticed. Fortunately, most of the few people on campus had their attention fixed on the commotion by the lake.

In the blink of an eye, Xia Yunjie reached the lakeshore. In the middle of the lake, an overturned wooden boat floated upside down. Nearby, several arms thrashed wildly in the water, and heads briefly broke the surface before sinking again. A male student from a nearby boat had already jumped into the water, swimming desperately toward the closest victim. He managed to grab her hand, but the panicked girl clung to him like a lifeline, wrapping her arms tightly around him. The inexperienced rescuer was quickly overwhelmed, and both began sinking together.

Onlookers by the shore and in the boats screamed in terror. Even those preparing to dive in hesitated, their faces turning pale at the sight.

At that critical moment, a loud splash announced Xia Yunjie's dive into the lake.

Xia Yu, son of Gun, was an ancient witch known for taming floods, endowed with unparalleled mastery over water. Since Xia Yunjie's bloodline awakened at the age of nine, he had inherited this same affinity.

As soon as he entered the water, Xia Yunjie felt an indescribable sense of kinship. The lake's water elements seemed to come alive, dancing joyfully as if welcoming their king. Through this bond, Xia Yunjie immediately grasped the situation beneath the surface.

There were five people in the water, all girls. Including the male rescuer now being dragged under, there were six victims in total. The boat, designed to hold no more than four passengers, had likely capsized due to overcrowding and the girls' playful antics.

But there was no time to dwell on the cause. Assessing the situation in an instant, Xia Yunjie swam straight for the sinking pair who were locked together.

"Look! Look how fast he's swimming!" someone on the shore exclaimed as Xia Yunjie sped through the water like a fish.

Before the words even finished, Xia Yunjie reached the scene and dove underwater.

A hush fell over the lakeshore. Everyone's hearts were in their throats as time seemed to stretch endlessly. In reality, only a few seconds passed before Xia Yunjie resurfaced, holding two heads above the water with one hand supporting each person's chin.

"Wow! He's amazing!" The crowd erupted in cheers as Xia Yunjie, swimming with the speed and grace of a fish, brought the two victims back to shore. Helping hands reached out to pull the pair onto dry land as Xia Yunjie turned and headed back toward the accident site.

Seeing how deftly Xia Yunjie had saved the first two, the crowd breathed a collective sigh of relief. Even those who had been wrestling with whether to jump in themselves felt their burden lifted.

Xia Yunjie quickly reached the overturned boat again and dove beneath the surface. Underwater, the four remaining victims were still struggling, but their movements suggested they could hold on for a bit longer.

This time, without worrying about being seen, Xia Yunjie used his abilities. With a swirl of his hands, two chains of water shot out, wrapping around two of the victims and pulling them toward him. Grasping each by the chin, Xia Yunjie surfaced once more, casting a glance at the other two still in the water. I'm sorry, he thought to himself. With so many people watching, I can't use my full powers. You'll have to wait a little longer.

The crowd cheered again as Xia Yunjie emerged, carrying another two victims. Helpers onshore quickly pulled them out, and Xia Yunjie dove back for the last pair.

Despite Xia Yunjie's incredible speed, the last two girls had swallowed a considerable amount of water. When they were finally pulled ashore, their stomachs were bloated, their faces pale, and their lips tinged blue. Thankfully, their pulses were faint but steady—they were still alive.

"Quick! Perform CPR!" someone shouted, noticing the unconscious state of the two girls.

The mention of CPR caused a stir among the male onlookers, especially since the two victims were quite attractive. A bold young man stepped forward, volunteering eagerly, "I'll do it!"

"Do what? Have you ever learned how to perform CPR?" A stout, heavyset girl stepped in, pulling the young man aside. Clutching her ample chest, she declared, "Let me handle it!"

She was already moving toward one of the unconscious girls, lips puckered and ready to begin. The crowd, unwilling to witness what felt like a travesty, averted their eyes.

"There's no need for CPR in their current condition," Xia Yunjie interrupted hastily, stopping the heavyset girl in her tracks.

As he blocked her, Xia Yunjie couldn't help but muse, Why is it that when I think of Red Sister or Yan Sister, I feel a rush of excitement, but watching this girl lean in makes my skin crawl?

"Really? Are you sure?" the stout girl asked, ready to argue, but her tone shifted when she recognized Xia Yunjie as the hero who had just rescued everyone. Batting her eyes, she said coyly, "Oh, I see. You're the hero, after all. If you say so, I trust you."

Xia Yunjie shivered involuntarily and quickly replied, "I know a little about emergency aid. Let me try first."

The crowd, impressed by Xia Yunjie's earlier feats, seemed to trust him implicitly. Even the stout girl reluctantly stepped aside, muttering, "Alright, fine. Go ahead."

Smiling politely, Xia Yunjie grabbed one of the unconscious girls by the ankles, lifted her upside down, and rested her stomach on his knee. He began firmly patting her back and abdomen.

As Xia Yunjie worked, the crowd suddenly stirred. "Step aside! Professor Feng is here! They'll be fine now!" someone shouted.

Through the crowd emerged an elderly professor with silver hair, rosy cheeks, and sharp eyes. He was none other than Professor Feng Wenbo, the esteemed former dean of the university's medical school and a titan in the field of traditional Chinese medicine.

Professor Feng's sharp gaze fell on Xia Yunjie, his hands paused mid-motion. Recognizing the young man's calm and confident demeanor, Professor Feng seemed momentarily stunned. Even as he approached, his eyes remained fixed on Xia Yunjie's hands.

"Hey, hero! Professor Feng is here! Let him handle it!" the stout girl urged.