Chapter 106: Hardline

Before Jennifer could answer, the professor pushed the door open and walked in. He looked somber, his hair slightly disheveled.

Standing at the lectern, the classroom’s chatter gradually faded into silence. Influenced by the professor’s expression, the students were reminded of the previous night’s fire, and a heavy, uneasy mood settled over the room.

"Today is the darkest day in the history of Devil’s Kettle. Believe me, I feel the weight of it as well. In a single night, we lost eight students, including Needy’s friend Arment, several parents, and our respected Spanish teacher. At this moment, you should set aside petty arguments and stand united to face the challenges ahead. We cannot let this tragedy defeat us. May God bless you all, children!"

Throughout the professor’s speech, Jennifer kept smiling, while the boy sitting in the front row wept in a state of near-collapse. His seatmate patted his back in comfort, and the professor handed him a tissue.

Gao Ning looked at her expressionlessly. "Jennifer?"

Jennifer turned her head. "Oh, so it’s you. You were the one who hit me on the road yesterday, weren't you? I remember it quite clearly!"

"Is that all the nonsense you have? Needy? What about my explanation?"

Needy looked around and whispered, "This isn't the place to talk!"

Jennifer gave Gao Ning a provocative look.

The corner of Gao Ning’s mouth curled up. "It seems what happened last night wasn't enough to teach you a lesson. No rush, we have plenty of time ahead!"

Seeing the look in Gao Ning’s eyes, Jennifer felt an inexplicable chill and instantly became guarded.

At a local motel, the members of the band Low Shoulder were sprawled out on the sofas, sleeping in a heap. The fire from last night and the subsequent ritual sacrifice of the girl had already been cast to the back of their minds. Before falling asleep, they had indulged in their usual debauchery, as they were accustomed to this decadent lifestyle. Usually, they would sleep until the afternoon, wake up to grab a bite, and prepare for another round of intoxication.

However, today was different. Four men in grey trench coats appeared in front of their room. The motel owner stood by the door, trembling. "This is the one. They’re all inside."

One of the men in the grey trench coat lifted his chin. "Open it."

The owner quickly complied. The man on the right gripped the door handle, bracing himself. The two men behind him drew Chicago Typewriters, chambered their rounds, and aimed at the door. The owner shuddered, nearly wetting his pants. He secretly regretted his madness from the night before, when he had taken the initiative to invite the band members to stay at his motel for free. He had hoped their fame would bring him some advertising and boost his business, but he never expected that they would bring such massive trouble before a single night had passed.

Earlier, three cars had roared into the motel, and over a dozen armed men in grey trench coats had stormed in, nearly scaring him to death. (Over the course of the night, Gao Ning’s gang of minions had grown by three.)

Kicking the door open, two of the men rushed in, weapons raised, staying alert. Once inside, they realized the band members had no sense of caution at all, sleeping soundly in a disorganized pile on the floor. One of the men gestured, and the others filed in. Each picked up two drunks and left quickly.

The owner watched stealthily from behind as the gangsters threw the five band members into the trunks of their cars and drove away. He breathed a long sigh of relief and hurried toward the phone to call the police. Just as he pressed the third "9," he looked up and was nearly scared to death. A man in a grey trench coat was still sitting in the lobby, looking at him expressionlessly.

The owner’s hand trembled, and he quickly hung up the phone. The man in the grey coat stood up slowly. He didn't speak; he simply took off his sunglasses, stared at the owner with emotionless eyes for a moment, and then slowly turned and left.

Sweat poured down the owner’s body, soaking his back. After a few seconds of silence, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and ultimately abandoned the idea of calling the police.

Back with Gao Ning, under the shadow of the professor’s grief, the chemistry class did not go smoothly. Little was taught, as most of the time was spent mourning the lost classmates. As soon as the bell rang, Jennifer jumped up, grabbed her bag, and prepared to rush out, but Gao Ning caught her wrist with lightning speed.

Jennifer let out a cry, her expression shifting. "Hey, you’re hurting me! What do you want? Let go of me, I want to go home!"

Gao Ning ignored her and said to Needy, "Behind the school playground, there’s an abandoned swimming pool. It’s quiet and undisturbed—a great place for a conversation."

With that, Gao Ning stood up and pulled Jennifer toward the exit. Jennifer struggled continuously, crying out for help from her classmates. High schoolers were at the peak of their hormonal volatility, and seeing a chance for a "hero saving the damsel" moment, several white boys’ eyes reddened, and they prepared to charge forward without hesitation.

Gao Ning kicked a lab table with such force that it went flying, slamming into the wall with a thunderous crash. Everyone froze instantly.

Gao Ning narrowed his eyes. "Don't get in my way, or don't blame me if I lose control of my strength!"

Taking advantage of their shock, he dragged Jennifer away. As they reached the door, Gao Ning tapped the back of her head, and her eyes rolled back as she fainted. It was fine inside the classroom, but if she kept screaming in the hallway, it would easily attract the school security. Gao Ning wasn't afraid of them, but he didn't want to cause such a scene just yet. As for the classroom, Gao Ning had already prepared a way to tie up loose ends.

Needy, stunned by Gao Ning’s strength and worried for Jennifer’s safety, grabbed her bag and hurried out while the others were still dazed. At that moment, the windows suddenly shattered, and a massive black bear burst in, roaring with a sound like thunder. Everyone was terrified, scrambling to escape, leaving only the black bear to wreak havoc in the chemistry lab.

Booming sounds echoed through the hallway. In less than a minute, the lab was reduced to a ruin. Before the school security guards could arrive, the black bear retraced its path and charged into the dense woods without looking back.

The boy who had been crying for his companions earlier was now just staring in a daze. The rapid sequence of events had left him unable to react. The professor, who hadn't gone far, rushed back, pushed open the door to the chemistry lab, and stood frozen.

"This, this is..."

The security guard laughed bitterly. "Professor, I wonder if there’s any insurance coverage for a bear break-in?"

"This..." The professor couldn't answer.

A small girl tried to speak, but a boy next to her quickly covered her mouth. Several other classmates shook their heads frantically and dragged her away. Gao Ning was too terrifying; until they figured out the situation, it was best not to provoke him.