C4 They Were Blocked by the Bully

An hour had passed.

"The Medical Saint Scripture is incredibly intricate, blending the arts of healing and martial prowess. I've passed muster in the Doctor Tao, but I'm not even a novice in Martial Tao. To even begin, I must first refine my body and eliminate impurities," he mused in astonishment.

Body refining involved rigorous exercise to cleanse the body of accumulated impurities and to clear the meridians.

This phase, the Body Refining Period, was essential for establishing a solid foundation in one's practice.

It seemed he would have to intensify his physical training moving forward.

Springing from his bed, he peered into the mirror. His reflection beamed back at him, brimming with confidence. "I will vindicate myself to everyone!"

If it had been just yesterday, he might have hesitated to assert such confidence. He had been accused of violating hospital protocols, of causing harm instead of providing aid. But now, his confidence was unwavering.

Someday, his name would be cleared of all wrongdoing.

Knock!

In the midst of Zachary's burgeoning enthusiasm, a knock interrupted his thoughts at the dormitory door.

He opened it to find the dorm supervisor with a grim face. "Zachary, isn't it? You haven't moved out yet? You've been expelled and can't stay here any longer. The school has informed me that you need to leave by today!"

"That quickly?" Zachary's brow furrowed. He had been expelled just the day before, and now they were already pushing him out. The school seemed eager to get rid of him. "Ma'am, is there any chance I could stay a few more days? I haven't found a new place to live yet."

"No! The school's decision is final, and I can't change it," the supervisor replied with impatience. "Pack up your things and leave immediately!"

"Okay, I understand. I'll pack my things right now and then I'll be gone."

Resigned to his fate, Zachary had hoped to stay a little longer to find a new place, but it was clear that wasn't going to happen. Not wishing to be a further nuisance, he hastily crammed his clothes, books, and everything else he could take into his suitcase.

After packing, he stood at the doorway, surveying the empty dorm room one last time, and let out a sigh.

His roommates must have known about his expulsion, yet they had been conspicuously absent for the last couple of days, probably avoiding him deliberately.

With a wry smile, he shut the door, took hold of his suitcase handle, and made his way out.

Stepping out of the dormitory and onto the familiar campus grounds, he was enveloped by an unexpected tranquility. He had braced himself for a poignant longing to linger at the school, yet as he departed, his emotions remained undisturbed.

As he walked, some recognized him and began pointing and whispering, their faces contorted with mockery.

In the past, such derision would have ignited his temper, but now he strode through the crowd with an air of indifference. It seemed the Heritage of the Medical Saint had transformed his perspective, enabling him to regard their scorn as insubstantial as clouds drifting across the sky.

Swish!

Upon reaching the school gates, a group abruptly obstructed his way.

"Move aside, don't block my path!" Zachary asserted, attempting to bypass them. But they shifted their stance, thwarting his exit once again.

Zachary's expression subtly shifted as he came to a halt, eyeing them. What were they up to?

"Look who it is, the reject who got expelled," the leader taunted, eyeing Zachary with a look of contempt. Observing Zachary's inexpensive attire, his smirk grew even more disdainful.

"Exactly, kicked out of the dorm and now he's slinking away with his tail between his legs," another voice added, dripping with derision.

"Let's not forget, this is the 'scholar' who thought he was above Centinela Hospital's policies. A mere dorm is nothing to him; surely some VIP is about to invite him to a swanky hotel stay," another jeered, his words laced with biting sarcasm.

With his removal from the school roll, it was evident Zachary could no longer reside in the dormitory.

The jibes about a VIP invitation were clearly ironic. Zachary's current plight stemmed from offending such a figure. An 'invitation' from them was likely to be anything but hospitable, let alone an offer of luxury accommodation.

Zachary felt a slight clench in his heart as he averted his eyes. "That's your business, not mine. I'm leaving, so step aside."

The young man gazed at him, pointed, and erupted into laughter. "Hey, did you see that? This guy doesn't take me seriously."

Another youth scoffed, "Do you even realize who you're speaking to, kid? With that tone, you're asking for trouble."

Zachary's gaze flickered, then he spoke firmly, "I'm well aware of who you are—one of Medical University's infamous bullies, Rury."

Rury looked at him with a sneer, unfazed by the confrontation. "Quite bold, aren't you, kid? Do you not realize I could crush you with a mere flick of my finger?"

"Rury, when have I ever caused you trouble?" Zachary clenched his fists, a wave of annoyance washing over him. During his time at the university, he had been a loner, dedicating his time to his studies and seldom interacting with his peers, much less stirring up trouble with a thug like Rury.

The word around campus was clear: those who crossed Rury lived to regret it. He was the quintessential rich kid with powerful connections, known for picking on students from less affluent families.

There was a story about a student, the son of street vendors, who could barely afford his university fees. He was introverted and timid, and for reasons unknown, he ended up on Rury's bad side. Rury had his goons tie the student to the rooftop and terrorized him with threats of being thrown off. The poor soul died from sheer fright.

The incident became common knowledge throughout the school, but Rury, with his family's influence, swept it under the rug and continued his malevolent ways.

Now, with Zachary expelled, Rury, true to his nature, couldn't resist the chance to trample on someone already down.

"You've got guts, talking to me like that," Rury remarked coldly, his arrogance palpable as he looked down at Zachary.

"I'm no match for you, and I'm not about to pretend I am. I'm just a poor kid without any backing. You won't benefit from troubling me, so why persist?" Zachary's gaze flickered, knowing full well that standing up to Rury would only bring him trouble.

Rury laughed heartily, his face contorted with scorn as he gazed at Zachary. "You think you can just walk away? Beg me, and perhaps I'll let you leave!"

"What?" Zachary's expression turned stormy, his anger ignited by the sheer audacity. This guy was beyond contemptible!

With a disdainful smirk, Rury planted his feet apart and gestured mockingly at the ground between them. "Crawl through here, and maybe, just maybe, I'll consider letting you off the hook."