Chapter 10

Back in middle school, she'd been attacked by a creep on her way home. Armed with her wooden sword, she'd beaten him within an inch of his life.

And she'd loved it—the rush, the excitement.

She knew she had a violent streak, an irredeemable flaw. And Lin Feng? He felt like a kindred spirit.

Ding!

[Saeko's favorability +20]

"I'm Lin Feng, a transfer student in Class 2-B," he said, puzzled by the sudden favorability boost.

"You're the Saeko who won last year's national kendo tournament, right? I'm Rei from the spear club—nice to meet you!" Rei chimed in, stepping close to Lin Feng, practically staking her claim. Their proximity was way beyond normal classmates.

"I… I'm Takashi, Class 2-B." Unlike the confident hero of the original story, this Takashi hadn't bashed his rival's head in or won back his girl.

Now, he had no best friend, no girlfriend, not even a baseball bat—just a heart full of jealousy and resentment. He couldn't beat Lin Feng, so he settled for glaring at him like a scorned wife.

Saeko glanced at this pathetic version of Takashi and shook her head slightly, clearly unimpressed.

"What are you all doing?! Doesn't anyone feel the urgency here? 'Senior' my foot!" Saya, ignored until now, finally exploded.

"And Rei, quit playing the cute junior! If you hadn't flunked, you'd be in the same year as her!"

"What's that supposed to mean, Saya?!" Rei snapped, stung by the jab at her repeated year, and marched over.

"Stop treating me like an idiot—I'm a genius! If I put my mind to it, I wouldn't lose to anyone!" Saya rambled through tears, her words a jumbled mess.

She was the daughter of the biggest faction in the area, a 300-IQ prodigy, a sharp-tongued spitfire—but she was also a fragile girl.

In a crisis, she craved help and protection just like anyone else.

"Enough, Saya. You're safe now." Lin Feng wrapped an arm around her waist, patting her back gently.

Feeling his solid embrace, Saya broke down sobbing. "Wahh… my clothes are so dirty… I need to tell Mom to get them cleaned…"

Ding!

[Saya's favorability +20]

Though Hirano's death deviated from the original, Lin Feng had still crossed paths with Saya and Saeko, just like in the story.

After crying, Saya went to a nearby sink and splashed cold water on her face. It washed off the blood and helped her calm down fast.

Once she'd cleaned up and steadied herself, she noticed Takashi was still alive. For a moment, she felt a flicker of relief—until she remembered what happened earlier. In the classroom, he'd grabbed Rei and bolted without a second thought for her, his childhood friend.

Her expression chilled instantly.

Takashi had clearly known something was up outside, but his first instinct was to save Rei—Saya's life didn't even register.

His actions left her heart cold.

Then she noticed how close Rei was sticking to Lin Feng.

Wasn't Rei dating someone?

Wait a second.

Saya's eyes flicked to Rei's uniform, stained with dried blood. It looked brutal. And the way Rei was acting with Lin Feng—those wary glances she shot Saya's way?

That was the look of a girl sizing up a rival!

With her genius brain, Saya quickly pieced together what must've happened.

Looks like even without Nagayoshi, this blockhead still couldn't win back his childhood sweetheart.

After a quick discussion, the group decided to head for the school's mini-bus, used for competition trips. The keys were hanging in the staff room.

It wasn't far—just 100 meters.

They stepped out of the classroom, but on the way to the staff room, they spotted over a dozen zombies shambling toward them.

The zombies spotted the living and let out guttural roars, charging toward Lin Feng and the group.

To Saeko, these clumsy undead were nothing but a disorganized mob. With a graceful leap, she swung her wooden sword, sending one zombie's head flying.

But the road ahead was swarming with more and more of them.

Even with Saeko's impressive stamina, cutting down so many left her breathing hard.

Saya pushed up her glasses and spoke up. "We don't need to fight them head-on. These zombies only react to sound—they can't see. If we stay quiet, we can slip right past them. No need to kill them at all."

Not bad for a genius with a 300 IQ—she'd figured out the zombies' traits in no time.

She half-expected praise from the group, maybe even from Takashi.

But then came an unexpected jab.

"Hey, Saya, what if they can see? Why don't you go test it out?" Takashi snapped, his mood sour. It was a thoughtless dig.

Saya whipped around, glaring at him, her disappointment in this idiot hitting a new low.

"Saya's a girl. A real man should handle this." Lin Feng stepped forward with his bat, exuding righteous confidence. The implication was clear—he was the man here, not Takashi, who was just hiding behind the girls.

Takashi caught the jab instantly and regretted his careless remark. But proving his manhood by strolling through a zombie horde? No way he had the guts for that.

He wasn't the bat-wielding, zombie-bashing, confidence-oozing hero from the original world anymore.

Now, he was just a lovesick loser wallowing in self-pity.

"Lin Feng, why take such a dangerous risk?" Rei's face paled as she reached out to stop him. If Saya's theory was wrong, walking into that crowd was a death sentence.

"A good woman doesn't stop a man who's made up his mind!" Saeko's sharp gaze cut in, her sword barring Rei's path. She turned to Lin Feng. "May your martial luck prosper!"

Lin Feng nodded to the cool-headed senior, his expression turning serious as he descended the stairs.

His mission: slip silently past dozens of zombies, trek 100 meters to the staff room, and grab the keys from a drawer.

No question—this was insane. One slip-up, and he'd be dead.

The girls watched him approach the zombies, worry etched on their faces. All except Takashi, who looked downright eager—hoping Lin Feng would get spotted and torn apart.

But Lin Feng was about to disappoint him. He knew staying silent meant safety. His steps were steady, silent as a cat's, not a single sound betraying him.

Like a breeze, he wove through the zombie swarm with ease, never once drawing their attention.

In the staff room, a lone teacher zombie shambled about. Lin Feng crept up behind it and snapped its neck with a quick twist.

Then he rummaged for the keys. Distant student screams echoed, but saving them? Nah, not his problem.

He wasn't some saint—random people could die for all he cared.

Once he found the keys, he stepped out and spotted two figures at the stairwell corner—a guy and a girl, chased by zombies.

The guy got snagged by a zombie, pinned down, and ripped into.

The girl, hearing his screams, didn't look back—just bolted. She had a killer figure, curvy in all the right places, exuding a sexiness no high schooler should have.

She was fast, but four zombies were hot on her heels.

Spotting Lin Feng ahead, she yelled, "Hey, hot guy! Help! Save me!"

_______________

[T/N— It's my time to shine again muahahaha. The next chapter will be steamy.]

The ten chapter mass release has finished. Update Schedule can be referred to in the auxiliary.

1-3 Chapters a day at 4:30 PM GMT.

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