The students' gazes shifted towards the voice, and they saw a blonde student lounging against the back door of the classroom. He was nonchalantly juggling a ball of fire in his hand, exuding an air of confidence and authority. A group of admirers stood behind him, eyeing him with a mix of admiration and fear.
Anos recognized the student - Jayden, a spoiled rich kid and a formidable force in Orchid Flower Academy. Jayden was not only known for his wealth but also for his impressive strength and his association with John Gill, making him a tyrant in the academy.
Jack scurried over to Jayden, pointing accusingly at Anos. "Brother Jayden, that's Anos! He not only teased Sasha, but he also dared to hit me!"
Jayden snuffed out the ball of fire in his hand, his gaze shifting to Anos with a mixture of disdain and curiosity. Then, he turned to Jack, his voice dripping with mockery. "Anos? That trash? What's the use of you? You can't even take down a piece of trash like him?"
Jack hung his head in shame, not daring to utter a word in response to Jayden's scathing rebuke.
Jayden's gaze locked onto Anos, a sneer spreading across his face. "I heard someone teased sister-in-law Sasha. Now that Brother John is not around, who dares to mess with him?" He taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.
The surrounding students couldn't help but burst into laughter at Jayden's jab, but Anos's expression remained unfazed, his eyes fixed on Jayden with an air of indifference.
Sasha glanced over, her instincts urging her to defend Anos, but then she recalled how he had teased her earlier. Her expression hardened, and she thought to herself, Hmph! I don't care anymore!
Anos chuckled and strolled towards Jayden, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He reached out and adjusted Jayden's collar, saying, "Brother, you look familiar. What's your name again?"
Jayden's face fell, taken aback by Anos's brazen behavior. "You don't know me?" he asked, his voice icy cold, as he brushed Anos's hand away.
Anos grinned mischievously. "I know you, but I don't know your name!" He said, his tone dripping with sarcasm, his eyes glinting with defiance.
Jack sneered, "This is Brother Jayden, Jayden. He's a five-star Qi Building Realm expert from Sky Martial Court. Anos, you can be arrogant for now, but just wait for your death."
Anos slapped his forehead, feigning a sudden epiphany. "Ah, yes! Now that you mention the name, it all comes rushing back! I was puzzled why it sounded so familiar. Yesterday, I encountered a street vendor with a loudspeaker, touting 'Trash bags, trash bags, discounted price, three yuan for one, ten yuan for three.' So, our illustrious Brother Jayden has a secret side hustle as a trash bag salesman!"
Jayden's face turned beet red with rage, his eyes bulging in fury. The surrounding students gasped, shocked by Anos's audacity.
A snicker escaped Sasha's lips as she heard Anos's ridiculous comment. She couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. But, quickly regaining her composure, she suppressed her grin, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Anos chuckled, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Sasha, you look absolutely stunning when you smile."
Just then, a notification echoed in his mind: "Ding... You have successfully flirted with Sasha. Scumbag points + 10000. Mission progress: 70%."
With a effortless push, Anos sent Jayden tumbling into the trash can. "I told you, don't move!" he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of amusement.
Then, in a move that was both audacious and humiliating, Anos closed the lid of the trash can and sat on top of it, as if daring Jayden to try and escape. The message was clear: Anos was in control, and Jayden was nothing more than a nuisance to be contained.
The onlookers were left agog, their minds struggling to comprehend the sheer audacity of Anos's actions. Had he really just shoved Jayden, a formidable Five Star Qi Building cultivator, into a trash can and casually sat on top of it, trapping him inside? The implications were staggering.
Sasha's eyes widened in astonishment as she reevaluated her previous assessment of Anos's abilities. She had thought him to be a Five Star Qi Building cultivator at best, but now it seemed that was a gross underestimation.
If Anos could so effortlessly toy with Jayden, a cultivator of considerable strength, then his own cultivation base must be significantly higher - at least Seven Star Qi Building, if not more.
The room was silent, the only sound the soft hum of shock and disbelief. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Anos, their minds racing to understand the true extent of his power.
Sasha's eyes narrowed, her mind racing with the realization that she had grossly underestimated Anos. Had he been hiding his true strength all along, pretending to be weak to lull others into a false sense of security? But no, that wasn't entirely accurate - Anos's abilities were genuinely formidable, far surpassing her initial assessment.
As a Seven Star Qi Building cultivator, he was a force to be reckoned with, his power rivaling even the esteemed Sky Martial Court of Orchid Flower Academy.
Sasha's disdain for Jayden meant she felt no sympathy for his defeat, and she remained silent, her expression unreadable. Jayden's lackeys and Jack, on the other hand, seethed with anger, but their fear of Anos's prowess kept them mute. Who would dare confront someone who could effortlessly humiliate a Five Star Qi Building cultivator like Jayden?
Anos's sudden remark broke the tense silence, his voice nonchalant as he addressed Tom, who was still reeling from the shock. "Oh, right. Fatty, take out the things on my desk." The request was mundane, but the context made it surreal, a stark contrast to the intense drama that had just unfolded.
Fatty Tom snapped out of his daze, his eyes refocusing as he rummaged through Anos's desk. He emerged with a string of firecrackers, the kind notorious for their relentless, thousand-fold explosions. The room fell silent once more, but this time, it was a silence of foreboding.
As the onlookers gazed upon the firecrackers, a strange sense of sympathy washed over them, as if they instinctively knew that Jayden was about to become the focal point of Anos's mischief. Their eyes darted towards Jayden, filled with a mix of concern and trepidation, as if they were silently urging him to flee while he still could.
The air was heavy with anticipation, the firecrackers seeming to mock them with their innocent appearance, hiding the chaos that was to come. Anos's intentions were unclear, but one thing was certain - the next few moments would be unforgettable.
Anos grasped the string of firecrackers, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he lit the wick. "Wasn't the Mid-Autumn Festival just two days ago? I bought some firecrackers and set them off at home, but I still have some left.
Since the Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for reunions, I think it's fitting that we classmates gather together and set these off to wish each other safety and soundness." With a sly grin, he patted the trash can beneath him.
"Hey, aren't you a fire elemental?" Anos taunted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "This plastic bucket is the perfect fuel for you. Just set it ablaze, and you'll be free to escape!" Jayden, seething with rage inside the bucket, found himself begrudgingly agreeing with Anos's logic.
"Just you wait, I'll kill you when I get out!" Jayden bellowed, his voice muffled by the bucket. Anos merely chuckled, opening the lid and tossing the string of firecrackers inside. Then, with a flourish, he sat back down on top of the bucket, sealing Jayden's fate.
The air was filled with the deafening explosions of the firecrackers - "Pa pa pa pa pa!" - as the bucket erupted into a frenzy of flames and sparks. Jayden's terrified scream pierced the air - "Ah!!!" - as he was engulfed by the inferno.