Chapter 75: On the Schoolyard, Better To Be the Bully Than the Bullied

This year's enrollment was small, or perhaps it was because Zheng Mu and his crew of S-level professionals stood out.

Unusually, Qin Zhi took them all through the enrollment process, handed out their personal documents, and assigned them to classes and dorms before taking off.

"Man, it sounds like Southwest Military University is pretty hardcore," Cai Shengkun mused, following the directions on his paper and eyeing the signs on the campus, which felt more like a city.

Zheng Mu nodded in agreement.

Everywhere they looked, there were billboards and stores.

Yet, these stores were a bit unusual.

"Murloc Guild - World's Best Fresh Fish Stew"

"Blood Wind Guild - Custom Swords and Weapons"

"Yufei Guild - Cloth Armor Central"

The place was just like any other commercial street, except every shop here was guild-affiliated.

Zheng Mu quickly grasped the situation.

What's the point of a guild? To gather local forces and build a power base for self-protection and to exploit others.

But without enough perks, why would anyone put in the effort for the guild or join up in the first place?

After joining a guild, members got more resources than the school originally gave them every month. Otherwise, what would be the point of the guild?

And that's how this strange guild-backed commercial street came into existence.

Extra earnings for the guild meant more loyalty from guild members.

"Strange place," Zheng Mu remarked. "Seems like it's hard for a lone wolf to get ahead in peace at Southwest Military University."

Zheng Mu and Cai Shengkun paused at a crossroads, where a crowd had gathered around a square arena. Two opponents were duking it out.

A light screen overhead showed the match details.

[B-level Hynix Qiu Huo vs. A-level magician Ye Sang]

[Betting: 1000 contribution points]

Well, that was quick. They'd already stumbled upon a betting match.

Qin Zhi had told them earlier that not only were guild challenges unavoidable, but individuals in the same class couldn't decline challenges either. Refuse more than three betting fights in a month, and you'd get your resources wiped out.

Cai Shengkun was clearly nervous, not because he was afraid of being challenged, but because...

It looked like they were being singled out.

"Are you guys new here?"

A muscular guy sauntered over, gave Zheng Mu and his crew a once-over, and asked.

Zheng Mu frowned but nodded.

"What's up?"

At that, the guy broke into a creepy, eager grin.

"Let me introduce myself. I'm Guo Mingpeng, a level 38 B-class boxer. Since you're new, you probably haven't joined a guild yet. How about joining our Iron King Guild? We've got plenty of perks and contribution points, and you won't have to worry about getting pushed around on campus."

But Zheng Mu had already seen through Guo Mingpeng's act, reading the true intentions behind his fake smile.

"Sure, there are perks to contribute, but they're not freebies.

They might even find ways to hog all the resources that should be theirs.

Plus, you won't get bullied on campus, but they conveniently left out the part about excluding themselves from that promise.

"Sorry, we're not interested," Zheng Mu replied, steering Cai Shengkun away.

The rejection didn't prompt any further persuasion. Instead, the guy just watched them leave, his eyes filled with greed.

"Boss, I don't think that guy's gonna let it slide. I bet he's got us in his crosshairs," Cai Shengkun worriedly said. Zheng Mu merely nodded in agreement.

They finally reached their dorm building, D Dormitory in Weiguan Campus. It was a pretty nondescript place.

Given Southwest Military University's low enrollment, the dorms weren't packed.

Zheng Mu and Cai Shengkun's dorms were next door to each other. The accommodations weren't exactly stellar.

They were single apartments, equipped with basic utilities and internet access.

Zheng Mu frowned. The place didn't hold a candle to his base vehicle. Plus, it was so small that if he called Tifa and the others for assistance, they'd be tripping over each other.

Not to mention, there'd be no space for his mechanical creations.

"Man, Southwest Military University sure likes their competition," he mused, thinking about Guo Mingpeng and all those avaricious eyes along the way.

Zheng Mu walked over to the balcony. The view was decent, with a glimpse of the shimmering sea in the distance.

His gaze hardened.

"That's it. If I want to peacefully work on my projects and improve, I need to show them I'm not to be messed with," he said to himself. If he were in the wilderness, he'd deploy his base and take on anyone who dared to challenge him.

Even this campus wouldn't stand a chance.

But that approach wasn't appropriate here.

"Right now, I can only use Optimus Prime, the T-800, and Licker," he pondered.

At that moment, he realized he was running low on mechanical creations.

The T-800 and Licker would be sufficient against newcomers, but against the seasoned students at Southwest Military University, they'd fall short.

Maybe because of all his solo battles, he instinctively forgot one thing.

In a team battle, it's not just about facing multiple opponents.

The T-800 and Licker might not stand a chance against the pros here in a one-on-one scenario, but in a group, they could cause some real damage.

In fact, very few on this campus could survive a face-off against his team in the arena.

As Zheng Mu pondered how to solve all his problems once and for all, the special phone he'd just received rang.

It was Leng Bingyue calling.

"Zheng Mu, we're in trouble. Someone's trying to strong-arm us into joining their guild..."

Zheng Mu's eyes instantly chilled. After finding out where they were, he ended the call.

"What a bunch of pushy jerks."

Zheng Mu couldn't help but smirk. This place was starting to grow on him.

When Cai Shengkun found out that the newcomers, including his boss's girlfriend, were being targeted, he was livid.

"We took down the top universities in the Bone-swallowing Desert. These punks are nothing!" he spat.

By the time Zheng Mu and company reached Leng Bingyue and the girls' dorm, there was already a crowd.

Zheng Mu quickly spotted Leng Bingyue and Jiang Lanlan in the crowd, but there was an unexpected face too - He Xiangyun.

"Ladies, check it out. Our Sea Dragon Guild is top-tier here on campus, and the benefits are out of this world. You'd only get resources worth 5,000 contribution points from the school a month, but with us, you start at 10,000."

"That's right, cutie, our boss, Jie, even came personally for you. He's the biggest shot in the kitchen district. You won't regret joining us..."

Surrounded by a large group, Leng Bingyue and the others were trapped.

Zheng Mu's expression was icy, and Cai Shengkun immediately brandished his weapon.

"Move it!" he barked. "Ever heard of not blocking the road?"

Cai Shengkun might not be as strong as the seasoned students at Southwest Military University, but after following Zheng Mu through the Bone-swallowing Desert, he knew how to command respect.

His words were enough to scatter the crowd, despite him clearly wearing a newcomer's uniform.

On seeing Zheng Mu, Leng Bingyue and the others visibly relaxed. Even Luo Lanlan, who seemed ready to snap at someone, stopped.

"Big brother Mu, you're finally here. These guys were trying to bully me!"

Zheng Mu's stern face twitched a bit. Looking at Jiang Lanlan, who had rushed into his arms, he cleared his throat and lowered his voice.

"That's good, but next time, let's talk things out, okay?"

Jiang Lanlan's sudden outburst had startled him; it was almost like a surprise attack.

Zheng Mu gave Leng Bingyue a reassuring look and quickly scanned the rest of their group. Most of the girls from their class were here.

He turned his attention to the red-haired man referred to as Jiege. He wasn't in a newcomer's uniform, and he exuded a powerful aura.

"So, you're the president of the Sea Dragon Guild? The top guild in the Lieutenant Campus? You got the guts to declare that all over campus?"

Jiege scowled, "Who do you think you are, kid?"

Zheng Mu had no time for chit-chat. He just stood there, his gaze steady.

Seeing Zheng Mu's calm demeanor and the reactions of beauties like Leng Bingyue, Jiege scoffed.

"I'm not the president, but my brother is. I'm Wang Jie, the vice president. And last year, our Sea Dragon Guild was number one in the Weiguan Campus guild league!"

Hearing this, Zheng Mu nodded. If he's got a legit claim...

"Tomorrow, I'll be setting up our guild here on campus. In a month, I'll issue a guild challenge to you. You up for it?"

"What?"

Wang Jie was taken aback, as were the other members of the Sea Dragon Guild and the onlookers from other guilds.

Seeing that Zheng Mu wasn't joking, Wang Jie found the newcomer's audacity amusing.

"Are you kidding? Do you think you're some S-rank pro?"

A member of Wang Jie's entourage chimed in, "Brother Jie, we both know the Southwest Military University doesn't attract S-rank folks."

Hearing this, Wang Jie looked at Zheng Mu with even more disdain. If he's not S-rank, he must be A-rank at best. And Jie himself was also A-rank, probably of a higher level than Zheng Mu.

He sneered, losing interest in the girls.

"Kid, let me teach you a thing or two as your senior. Sure, you want to talk about a guild war? No problem. Here at Southwest Military Officer University, it's all about strength.

His crew chuckled at his comment.

"But challenging a guild isn't as simple as saying you're up for it. You need contribution points, got it?"

"You have no contribution points as stakes, and you're challenging our Sea Dragon Guild? You think we've got nothing better to do?"

Before Wang Jie could finish, a shout came from outside.

"Contribution points? We got 'em!"

Everyone turned to see a large group of newcomers in lieutenant uniforms. They must've numbered over a thousand, completely encircling the dormitory.

It was Sang Luo, Gu Ming, and others who had rushed over after hearing from the girls. Heng Shanhe led the newcomers, who greatly admired Zheng Mu, right into the crowd, pushing aside the veterans.

These newcomers were unlike anything the older students had seen – reckless, united, daring.

With Wang Jie silenced, no one dared to make a move.

What was once the Sea Dragon Guild cornering the newcomers had become a face-off between two armies.

"Boss, if you're setting up a guild, we're all in!" Heng Shanhe called out, echoed by a chorus of agreement from the crowd. They knew Zheng Mu was not someone to be trifled with. If the news of his performance in the second round of university assessments were out, these old-timers wouldn't dare to stir up trouble.

Zheng Mu nodded, turning to the stunned Wang Jie. "We've got 2,000 people here. If each of us contributes 5,000 points per month, that's 10 million points we can put on the line. Can your Sea Dragon Guild match that?"

Even a seasoned vet like Wang Jie was left speechless. A 10-million-point wager was unheard of, even on the main campus.

Zheng Mu frowned. "Call your big brother. You're not the one making the call here."

Without a word, Wang Jie hurried off to consult with his elder brother.

"Zheng Mu, you're really forming a guild?" Leng Bingyue asked, her hand resting casually on Zheng Mu's arm. Even as she spoke, she sent a clear warning glance at Jiang Lanlan, who was clinging to Zheng Mu's other arm.

Zheng Mu, caught in the crossfire of envious glances from old and new students alike, felt a bit overwhelmed. But he nodded in response to Leng Bingyue's question.

"Yeah, I am. This place is a real mixed bag, and there are plenty of jerks around. I'm concerned about the possibility of us being bullied, so I made the decision."

"It's better for us to band together and be the biggest, maybe the only, guild calling the shots!"

Leng Bingyue and the others were left speechless by his declaration. Even Heng Shanhe, who'd initially been on the chopping block, seemed moved.

With Zheng Mu's power, was he really worried about getting pushed around? Not at all. So, he was doing all this for them.

"Boss, meeting you is the luckiest thing in my life. Heng Shanhe, you're a real friend to us!"

"And as for the Sea Dragon Guild, let's show them we're not to be messed with!"