Chapter 001: The Young Shepherd

Difficult to withstand, completely powerless to resist

"Go ahead and speak." Zhang Chen displayed an expression akin to a cat playing with a mouse. This was a game they often played, where they were the cats, and Li Mu Yang was their designated little mouse. "Rest assured, we will not mock you."

How could Li Mu Yang's slender arms and legs possibly withstand Zhang Chen's steel fists and iron arms

Has this guy taken the wrong medicine

"You are immature." Li Mu Yang repeated the earlier statement. Although it consists of only four simple characters, its impact is astonishing

Bang

Everyone thinks this way

Li Mu Yang actually knocked Zhang Chen flying with a single punch

clang clang

Zhang Chen's expression darkened, and he glared at Li Mu Yang with a fierce look in his eyes, speaking slowly and deliberately: "Do you want to die?"

Zhang Chen ran closer and then threw a punch at Li Mu Yang's face

Li Mu Yang rubbed his eyes and secretly wiped away the water stains at the corner of his mouth with his sleeve

Li Mu Yang suddenly opened his eyes, looking bewildered at the several classmates standing in front of him

Zhang Chen displayed a smug smile on his face, looking at the loathsome dark face that was so close, filled with disdain.

Li Mu Yang ruffled his disheveled hair, which had become messy from sleep, and said: "It's quite casual to utter such threatening words -- I have a question to ask: the Naihe Bridge sees people crossing every day, how many of them have you personally sent over?"

Li Mu Yang stood still, looking as if he were stunned and staring at the book.

His action elicited even more exuberant laughter from the onlooking classmates

"Zhang Chen, could you please refrain from insulting pigs? Although pigs are lazy and spend their days sleeping, at least they are plump with big ears and have snow-white skin, looking adorably silly. Now take a look at Li Mu Yang, dark and thin, resembling a piece of burnt charcoal. How can he possibly be compared to a pig?" The robust Yang Jun said with a sarcastic tone, eliciting laughter from everyone.

A warm breeze caresses the face, the grass is green and the flowers are red

What happened?" Li Mu Yang looked confused. "What do you want to do?"

"Li Mu Yang, we just wanted to come and see you—see how you have been sleeping," Zhang Chen said, brushing aside his long bangs with his hand, looking down at Li Mu Yang, who was sitting in the grass. "Did you sleep well today?"

At the back of the crowd, a beautiful girl with long hair, dressed in a white floral long dress, slightly raised her eyebrows, clearly displeased with them bringing the flames of war upon herself

At this moment, Li Mu Yang resembled a small boat tossed about in the vast ocean, a trembling lamb before the Tiger King, needing only a fierce wave or a sudden pounce to be utterly destroyed on the spot.

A month ago, he had a delightful conversation with the tall beauty Xu Shirui from Class 9 while enjoying a seafood buffet at the rotating restaurant of the Beijing Grand Hotel. Two weeks ago, the elegant goddess Zhang Xinqi from Class 3 invited him to review their studies together at a café after school in preparation for the college entrance examination, to which he gladly agreed. Just now, the all-round academic star Cui Xiaoxin from Class 1 stopped him and expressed a desire to invite him to watch the movie "Titanic" together in the evening. While he verbally said he would think about it, deep down he was not really prepared to refuse.

The more he thought about it, the more lost and sad he felt. Zhang Chen wanted to find something to vent his anger and happened to see Li Mu Yang sleeping soundly in the corner.

This pitiful little mouse dares to play with the cat

Li Mu Yang looked at Zhang Chen thoughtfully and said, "You are immature"

Moreover, because Li Mu Yang is extremely fond of sleeping, he sleeps during class, sleeps after class, and even sleeps while going out for leisure activities. Everyone has given him a nickname: 'God of Sleep'

Today, Zhang Chen is in a very bad mood because he just secretly confessed his feelings to Cui Xiaoxin, but was rejected. With only one month left until the college entrance examination, the students in the class will soon be parting ways. If he cannot establish a normal romantic relationship with Cui Xiaoxin now, he will likely have to watch this delicate flower drift away and disappear from his life.

"Not bad." Li Mu Yang nodded with utmost honesty. He indeed had a very comfortable sleep, but the unanswered question still made him anxious—should he go to the movies with Cui Xiao Xin or not?

This made Li Mu Yang particularly angry; what should have been a family secret had been leaked and become known to the world

Li Mu Yang and the books are the treasures of the class, serving as mascots

Around the pupils, which resembled ink stones, the sclera began to spread with a dense network of blood vessels

"What?" Zhang Chen's eyes widened in disbelief, struggling to accept the reality before him. "What did you say?"

Zhang Chen's body soared high into the air, then fell heavily into the grass nearby.

Li Mu Yang is considered an oddball in the class, as his skin is pitch black, resembling a piece of charcoal, which is why everyone likes to call him 'Black Charcoal' or 'Black Boy'

With a height of 1.78 meters and a strong, sturdy physique developed from frequent basketball playing, he runs with an imposing presence, exuding vigor and energy, appearing as if he could easily knock the frail and thin Li Mu Yang aside with a single charge

The sound of a resounding clash of metal echoed.

At the edge of the corner by Sunset Lake, a dark-skinned youth is lying in the grass, soundly asleep

With just one month and seven days remaining until the college entrance examination, the school organized this lakeside activity. The purpose is to allow students to relax and then approach the exam with the most vigorous mental state, ultimately achieving success.

Groups of young people are running and jumping in the grass, some singing and dancing lightly, while others are wrestling and playing games. Laughter and joy abound, creating a lively atmosphere

Hit him

Li Mu Yang's heart was filled with a violent rage, as if there were some dissatisfaction that needed to be vented, with an overwhelming sense of grievance that was difficult to express

Li Mu Yang reached out to block

Li Mu Yang's face turned from black to red, his head lowered as he shyly said: "I cannot say."

Zhang Chen shouted loudly and charged ahead, rushing towards Li Mu Yang.

However, even this little mouse dares to retaliate against its own ridicule? This has never happened before.

Even when he is asleep, the expressions on his face remain rich and varied. First, there is joy, followed by shyness, and then a kind of hesitant entanglement and shame

The sound of a pin dropping could be heard throughout the venue, except for the gentle swaying of the distant willows and the unromantic chirping of insects

Did you dream about our class's beautiful Cui?

Bang

An old iron bucket was kicked into the lake by someone, causing it to ripple on the surface a few times before it sank with a "gurgle".

"Li Mu Yang, weren't you going fishing?" The chubby boy with a flat head picked up a simple fishing rod made of bamboo that was propped up by the lake and said with a smile, "It seems like you haven't caught much; the bucket is empty, and you haven't caught a single fish? What a pity! Just a moment ago, everyone was saying that Li Mu Yang must have had a good catch after fishing all afternoon, and we could have had a feast of fish tonight. You are really disappointing us, aren't you?" What a pity! Just a moment ago, everyone was saying that Li Mu Yang must have had a good catch after fishing all afternoon, and we could have had a feast of fish tonight. You are really disappointing us, aren't you?"

At a glance, it appears as though the pupils of the eyes are enveloped in red ink. The pitch-black pupils resemble the black hole of the sun in the sky, surrounded by vast swathes of red bloodstains rising and falling.

I cannot say." Li Mu Yang shook his head again

At the moment of impact, the smile on Zhang Chen's face froze, and then he felt an overwhelming force surging towards his fist from the book.

Li Mu Yang's clenched fist bore a thin layer of scales on the back, resembling a piece of transparent fish scale. The scales shimmered with a purple hue, transforming the small patch of black skin on the back of his hand into a purplish-red color

As the college entrance examination approaches, every student is on high alert, striving to gain admission to their dream university

Some people say that Li Mu Yang is a good-for-nothing

Due to his dark complexion and enduring sleep, Li Mu Yang became a well-known figure in the school. Whenever anyone saw him, they would say, 'Hey, that's our school's black coal,' or 'He might be sleeping; he can sleep from the first class in the morning to the fourth class. Even when the teacher hit the blackboard so hard that it cracked, he still didn't wake up'

Ah

Li Mu Yang only wanted to herd a single sheep, never considering herding a flock of sheep

Thus, the excessive romantic entanglements have caused him considerable distress. He does not wish to become a playboy.

Some gasped in surprise, while others were so frightened that they closed their eyes

Li Mu Yang -- -- I think you shouldn't be called Li Mu Yang, you should be called Li Dead Pig instead? You sleep in class, you sleep after class, you even sleep during class outings. Are you able to sleep even more than a pig?'' A handsome boy with a haircut resembling Rukawa Kaede said mockingly, deliberately raising his voice to attract the attention of the surrounding classmates

What did you dream about

Initially subtle and faint, barely visible to the naked eye. However, it quickly connects into a vast expanse, becoming increasingly clear and terrifying.

When everyone is in a good mood, they tease him; when they are in a bad mood, they bully him