Deviant: No Longer Human

*Ring!*

The familiar sound of the school bell echoed through the corridors, signaling the end of another day. Wang Xiao, who had been asleep for the entirety of the period, was roused by Chen Li.

"Brother Wang, it's time already!"

"Huh?" Wang Xiao jolted awake, rubbing his eyes, as he observed fellow students gathering their belongings and leaving one by one.

"It's over?" Wang Xiao sighed, beginning to pack his things as well.

Chen Li offered a wry smile. "Brother, sometimes I wish I had your luck, sleeping through the lectures like you do."

Wang Xiao clarified, "It's not luck, it's guts."

Chen Li didn't disagree, but compared to Wang Xiao, his own grades were quite poor. If a teacher decided to exact revenge by deducting internal marks, he'd likely fail.

Wang Xiao, on the other hand, consistently earned good scores on his tests. Even if a teacher were to arbitrarily deduct his internal marks, he could lodge a complaint with the school principal.

It had actually happened once during preschool, and the teacher in question was subsequently dismissed.

As long as a student consistently performed well in all tests, even the principal was opposed to docking their marks without just cause. Chen Li and Wang Xiao had been friends since their preschool days, sharing a bond that had remained constant throughout their educational journey.

A sudden commotion disrupted the classroom's tranquility as a towering second-year senior entered, his build slightly stocky, making him appear larger than his age, standing at a towering 5 feet 10 inches tall.

His name was Zhao Yang, a notorious school bully and a quintessential backbencher, flanked by two others, slightly less imposing in stature.

With a noticeable layer of fat and compared to Wang Xiao, Zhao Yang was a giant. Both Wang Xiao and Chen Li shifted their gaze as Zhao Yang halted right in front of Wang Xiao, an aura of tension enveloping the room.

"Are you Wang Xiao?" inquired Zhao Yang, his voice hoarse, giving off the impression of someone who smoked and drank.

Wang Xiao responded calmly, undisturbed as he locked eyes with Zhao Yang, "Do you need something?"

As Wang Xiao's red eyes met his gaze, Zhao Yang's eyebrows lifted, "Aren't you the red demon of the school?" he chuckled, the echo of his voice reverberating throughout the classroom.

Chen Li furrowed his brows, while Wang Xiao remained unperturbed, continuing to pack his bag.

"Hey, come here everyone."

"It's Zhao Yang!"

"He's picking a fight from our class."

"Who? From our class?"

"I-It's Wang Xiao!"

"Wang Xiao!?"

"Wang Xiao!?"

"How did the red demon end up in trouble with Zhao Yang?"

The classroom transformed into a makeshift arena, as students poured in from outside, eager to witness the unfolding confrontation.

Zhao Yang, a hint of surprise on his face, grinned menacingly. "You're quite famous, brat."

Wang Xiao simply nodded, placing his bag aside, ready to leave. But Zhao Yang halted him, placing his massive hand firmly on Wang Xiao's shoulder.

"Wait here, punk!" he barked.

"Damn!"

"Heavens, it's going to be a showdown between them!"

"Who do you think will win?"

"Isn't it obvious? The giant's got the upper hand!"

Zhao Yang's actions elicited a resigned sigh from Wang Xiao, with Chen Li standing steadfastly behind him.

Chen Li retorted, "Zhao Yang, are you here to cause trouble for us?"

Zhao Yang chuckled, "It's not me. It's this punk who started it, daring to humiliate Teacher Lei during the class."

"Go and apologize to her, and we'll consider it even!"

Chen Li's expression shifted upon hearing these words. It became evident that they were indeed gearing up for a confrontation.

This new revelation elevated the tension in the room, charging the atmosphere with a palpable intensity.

"Hey, brat, can't you hear me!?"

Frustrated, Zhao Yang gave Wang Xiao a slight push, causing him to stagger back, his back connecting with a nearby desk.

"Bam!"

The bench beside him toppled over with a swift motion, causing Wang Xiao to frown, his gaze steady as he looked up at the towering figure before him.

"This idiot, doesn't he know not to spout nonsense when he's about to fight and act with resolve?" Wang Xiao muttered under his breath, a hint of disappointment coloring his words.

"What are you whispering, brat!?" Zhao Yang retorted, clearly irritated.

"Face me already—"

Before Zhao Yang could finish his sentence, Wang Xiao sprang into action.

Whoosh!

With unwavering determination in his eyes, Wang Xiao's hands shot out unexpectedly, grabbing Zhao Yang's head with a firm grip, and then forcefully slamming it against the nearby wall.

*Boom!*

A resounding crash reverberated through the room, leaving everyone frozen in shock.

The brutality of the act was staggering.

The swiftness and intensity of Wang Xiao's response caught everyone off guard.

No one had expected such a ruthless, instantaneous reaction from him.

The imposing figure that was Zhao Yang lost all his bravado the moment his head slammed against the wall. *Thud!* He staggered, then crumbled to the ground.

"Argh!"

Groaning in pain, he held his head, the blood from his injury causing him considerable discomfort.

"Y-You bastard!"

Zhao Yang yelled, his hand now stained with blood from the wound on his head. His voice trembled slightly, revealing his weakness in the face of this unexpected turn of events.

Even his two lackeys were frozen, unsure of how to react. When the situation escalated into a real fight, these kids lacked the courage to intervene.

*Boom!*

"Ugh!"

In a swift motion, Wang Xiao extended his foot and pressed his shoe firmly against Zhao Yang's abdomen, exerting pressure that left Zhao Yang writhing in pain.

Wang Xiao's icy gaze bore into Zhao Yang. "Knowing they call me the Red Demon, why would you still choose to pick a fight with me?"

"Do you think the name 'demon' is just a joke?" Wang Xiao sneered, intensifying the pressure from his foot, eliciting a pained cry from Zhao Yang.

"Ugh!!"

The chilling spectacle left everyone in the room holding their breath, fear palpable in the air.

Before any teacher could intervene, Wang Xiao delivered a swift punch to Zhao Yang's face, *Boom*, and then stormed out of the classroom, Chen Li trailing behind him. The crowd instinctively made way for them.

Though he was relatively quiet in class, everyone knew Wang Xiao's reputation, and few dared to provoke him.

"This Wang Xiao is truly a demon," one student whispered.

"Haha," another chuckled awkwardly, "Did you forget the start of the year? He brought those guys to deal with Dong Kai. Did you honestly think Zhao Yang stood a chance?"

A reminder of that earlier incident prompted the people who might have expected Zhao Yang to seek revenge to shake their heads, feeling pity for him, and slightly shivering at the thought.

This wasn't the first time something like this had occurred.

Back when they were in the first year of junior high, there was a bully named Dong Kai who had attempted to provoke Wang Xiao outside the school gates just after the final bell rang.

In a twist of fate, some university students had appeared on the scene at that very moment, and they beat Dong Kai mercilessly until he was unrecognizable.

Dong Kai was also present in the classroom now, his face carrying a hint of ugliness as he recalled that humiliating day.

But to the junior high students, it remained a mystery how Wang Xiao had managed to befriend those university seniors.

This was precisely why, despite his reserved nature, no one in the class ever dared to trouble Wang Xiao. Even though Zhao Yang had heard rumors about the "Red Demon," he had dismissed them as exaggerations.

The tales circulating were indeed sensationalized, with some even suggesting that a group of mysterious men in black suits had been the ones to beat Dong Kai.