Scourge of the Undead 09

"What the hell is an enema?" someone whispered to their companion, who looked equally clueless. "Is it some new kind of potion?"

"And what’s a rabies vaccine?"

But everyone could tell Fang Zhiyi was insulting Rhein.

Rhein’s hands trembled. He had imagined countless scenarios—Fang Zhiyi accepting his duel, or running away in shame—but he never expected to be cursed at! Some of the words were unfamiliar, but the venom in them was unmistakable.

"You... you stupid waste of space... you..." Rhein stumbled over his words. Insults weren’t his forte.

"I’ve seen toilets in bathrooms, but never one in someone’s mouth. Repeating the same garbage—did you just evolve into a human and forget how to talk? Out of the four words ‘scene evoking emotion,’ you’ve mastered two. Don’t get it? Fine, I’ll carve it on your tombstone! You mutt! If you’ve got nothing better to do, go home and dig your brain out of the toilet. Mouth bored? Go lick a urinal. Stop embarrassing yourself here!"

Gasps erupted from the surrounding students. No one had ever heard such creative insults before. Some even pulled out paper to take notes.

With a roar, Rhein drew his sword, ignoring the academy’s rules, and swung at Fang Zhiyi. Fang Zhiyi dodged effortlessly, eyeing the magic-infused blade with amusement while never letting up.

"You’re really just trash, huh?"

Rhein channeled his magic, certain he’d finish off this infuriating pest. But Fang Zhiyi gave him no opening, weaving through his strikes with surprising agility—though the swordplay clearly strained him.

The crowd buzzed with amazement—not just at Fang Zhiyi’s nimble evasion, but at his ability to shred Rhein’s dignity without a single vulgar word. By now, Rhein had been verbally reduced to a microbe.

Magic condensed visibly on Rhein’s blade, a testament to his fury. As he swung again, Fang Zhiyi spotted Vivian and abruptly stopped dodging. Seizing the moment, Vivian rushed forward and shoved Fang Zhiyi aside. Rhein panicked, but his momentum was unstoppable.

"Ah—!"

The commotion ended swiftly. Academy guards arrived, restraining the enraged Rhein while medics tended to the injured Vivian. Gritting through the pain, she smiled at Fang Zhiyi. "Don’t worry, I’m fine."

Fang Zhiyi remained expressionless. Vivian assumed he was just stunned.

The investigation concluded with Rhein’s expulsion. Fang Zhiyi should’ve faced suspension, but Vivian’s testimony reduced his punishment to a mere warning. It made him reflect on the perks of influence.

When the knight commander’s son was sent home yet again—this time expelled—the man nearly exploded. How had Rhein messed up so quickly? Rhein, fearing his father, pinned all blame on Fang Zhiyi.

Learning his rival was just some slum kid, the commander’s eyes narrowed.

With Vivian injured and Rhein gone, Fang Zhiyi pranced around the academy like a triumphant monkey, jumping into every class and volunteering for every chore. Though his magic was weak, his sudden enthusiasm charmed the faculty, who now schemed to keep him as a permanent apprentice. Vivian’s favoritism didn’t hurt either—most treated him kindly, at least superficially.

Only Ross was genuinely happy for him, relieved Fang Zhiyi might finally land steady work.

Their chat was cut short when Professor Li Mei summoned Fang Zhiyi to clean the mage tower. Normally an apprentice’s task, today’s shift had mysteriously fallen ill. No one feared this "magic-deficient waste" would understand the advanced spellbooks anyway.

By his next break, Fang Zhiyi headed home, planning to check on Lily’s family—only to learn of recent horrors. A dozen men from the capital had come searching for him. Finding him absent, they demolished his home. Lily’s father intervened and was beaten severely.

Staring at the wounded man, Fang Zhiyi turned slowly to Little Hei, who shrugged. "I can’t watch everyone all the time." Catching Fang Zhiyi’s glare, he added hastily, "I’ll look into it."

Silent, Fang Zhiyi rose, apologizing to Lily and her mother before vowing, "I’ll make this right."

Lily’s mother paled. "Don’t do anything reckless. We’ve reported it to the guards."

Fang Zhiyi exhaled. He already knew who was responsible. With a strained smile, he said, "I’m heading back to the academy."

Meanwhile, a healed Vivian returned, annoyed Fang Zhiyi hadn’t visited. Then again, palace gates were hardly accessible to a slum kid.

With this incident over, her plan could finally begin. Using Fang Zhiyi, she’d repel the beastmen invasion, boost her reputation, and pin the blame on the necromancers. Thinking of her betrayers, her expression darkened.

But Fang Zhiyi never came back—or so Ross told her. He’d cleared out his dorm, taking even the bedsheet. Staring at the barren room, Vivian sensed her schemes unraveling.

In the Neke family territory, the brooding lord debated siring another heir when a servant burst in.

"My lord! Outside! It’s—!"

"Spit it out, or I’ll cut your tongue!" the lord snapped. The servant gulped. His master had grown even crueler since the young master’s disappearance.

"The young master—he’s returned!"

The lord bolted up, his bulky frame moving with unexpected speed.

"But..." The servant eyed the silverware on the table. Maybe fleeing was wiser.

Stepping outside, the lord knew today was cursed.

Before his castle stood ranks upon ranks of the undead. Even a fool could feel the darkness radiating from them.