"Next match, school team’s Leo Walters against Arthur Fletcher from Class 9, Grade 12!"

"You’ve got ten minutes to warm up!"

The loudspeaker echoed in the resting area under the glaring lights.

Arthur stood there, eyes blank, looking around in a daze.

Did I... time travel?

Floods of memories surged into his head, and he quickly got the gist—

This was a world where martial arts ruled everything.

The body he was in? Previously owned by a quiet, dull student with average talent. Family's fine, he even had a childhood sweetheart by his side.

Looked good on paper. In reality? Miserable.

And now, he was about to fight in some school-level martial arts match...

"Arthur! You're up against my boyfriend this round. You don't stand a chance, got it? Hurry up and forfeit already!"

A sharp female voice cut through his thoughts.

Arthur rubbed his temples, raising his eyes.

At the door stood a girl in a blue floral dress, hands on hips. Her delicate face full of annoyance, eyes locked onto him.

In that moment, Arthur’s dazed eyes sharpened. More memories surged in.

Melinda Adams. The so-called childhood sweetheart from his predecessor's life.

But this girl was nothing like those sweet and caring childhood love stories. Nope.

Melinda's hobby? Berating the old Arthur every chance she got. She’d act all high and mighty, spouting twisted logic like it was truth.

To put it simply—she was a full-on PUA boss in a martial world skin.

Arthur's brows furrowed tight.

What kind of messed-up reincarnation setup saddled him with this?

"Hey! Arthur! I'm talking to you!"

Melinda’s face darkened at his silence. Her voice turned cold, full of disgust.

"Leo's already a school team reserve. He’s a Stage One, Tier Five cultivator. You just barely reached Tier Three two days ago. How’re you supposed to survive against him?

I’m telling you to back out—it’s for your own good. Understand?!"

"And then what?"

A stabbing headache flared up again. Arthur rubbed his temple, trying to stay focused.

From his recovered memories, today was the Cangyun First High’s School Sparring Event—school team members testing themselves against students.

The big draw of this event? Win or lose, everyone got a hefty spirit herb subsidy.

The old Arthur had worked hard just to get this rare chance. Supposed to be a lucky break.

But fate screwed him over—he ended up drawing Leo Walters in the matchup.

According to the rules, if one forfeits, the other gets double the herb reward and a nice bonus on their academic files.

A rule designed to keep students from running away scared.

After all, in a world crawling with monsters threatening humanity, anyone too scared to even fight a school match had no place out there.

So, Melinda showing up now, pushing him to give up?

Yeah. She didn't care about his future one bit.

"Disgusting."Arthur Fletcher's brows furrowed, a wave of disgust rising in his chest.

"What are you staring at? Hurry up and withdraw!"

Melinda Adams barked as she saw Arthur still holding onto his token. She frowned. Normally, a word from her and Arthur would roll over obediently.

What’s wrong with him today?

"I’ll say it again. Leo needs rare herbs to break through. Your subsidy goes to him."

Her face darkened. She reached for his token with a commanding gesture. "Hand it over. Now."

“Idiot.”

Arthur sneered, forcefully shaking off her hand.

That submissive, spineless version of himself? Buried.

Why the hell should he keep taking this abuse?

No normal person would.

Just then, a virtual screen flashed before his eyes.

[Ding!]

[Detected hostile speech towards childhood crush of over ten years! Evil Points +500!]

[Evil Deed System Activated!]

[In a high-martial world, power is used to crush the weak!]

[Perform system-approved evil deeds to gain Evil Points!]

[Current Martial Skills:]

[Wind-Reversal Fist: Proficient

78%

]

[Sky-Piercing Spear: Novice

36%

]

[Current Evil Points: 500]

[You may inject points into skills to increase mastery.]

[Note: Your infamy is virtually nonexistent.]

What the...

Arthur blinked, then a wicked grin tugged at his lips.

A cheat system? Looks like fate’s finally throwing him a bone.

...

“I—Idiot?!”

Melinda’s eyes widened in shock. She hadn’t seen this coming.

Her polished face went blank for a beat, then flushed red with rage.

“You dare talk to me like this? Arthur, are you insane? I’m warning you—don’t waste my time! Give me the token!”

She practically shrieked, voice sharp, “Or I’ll never speak to you again! You think I won’t?!”

Arthur snorted inwardly. What a bonus.

He waved the panel off with a flick. A mocking curve lifted at his mouth.

“You think someone like you gets to decide if I win or lose? Use your brain—if you’ve got one.”

[Insulted your crush of ten years, Evil Points +300!]

...

Melinda stared, dumbfounded. Her expression froze solid.

This was... surreal.

He called me... trash?

This bastard actually called me trash?!

She trembled, lips quivering. Rage racked her frame.

“Y-You... How dare you insult me?!”

“Calling you trash is putting it mildly,” Arthur said coldly, brows slightly knitted.

"Just watch. I’ll get on that stage and beat your boyfriend into the dirt."

"And as for you? Better go see the healers—your head’s really not right."[Your harsh words towards your childhood crush of ten years have earned you +200 Evil Points!]

"My mind’s just fine, thanks."

Arthur Fletcher’s cold stare, like he was looking at an idiot, instantly set Melinda Adams off. Her face flushed red, chest heaving like she might explode any second. She stared him down, jaw clenched, forcing herself to stay calm as she finally snapped:

"Keep running that mouth. Step in that ring, and Leo Walters will crush you so hard you’ll forget who you are."

Every word dripped with disdain and threat.

She turned on her heel and stormed out of the rest area. On her way to the spectator stands, rage boiled hotter in her gut. She gritted her teeth—furious.

"That standoffish loser has no clue how much I've looked after him all these years!"

"Ungrateful bastard."

"Thinks he can beat my boyfriend? What a joke. He'll be lucky if he leaves with all his limbs."

…

Back in the rest area, Arthur watched her leave without a word. Then, he casually pulled out his phone and blocked all her contacts.

No need to waste time on someone whose brain barely works.

He called up the system interface, eyes landing on the new number:

[Evil Points: 1000]

A decent haul—thanks to roasting Melinda good and proper. The system had high standards, clearly. He figured the big gain had a lot to do with the fact that this body had been head over heels for her for ten years. All that emotion flipped in one moment? Boom.

Like planting a seed only to get a rock to the face years later.

Less than five minutes until the match started. Arthur’s gaze flickered, mind running fast. The memories he inherited were clear: he had no chance against Leo. Not even close. Logic told him to hold on for a few rounds, then surrender. Lose with some dignity and still get the spirit medicinals as compensation.

That’s what his predecessor planned.

But every time he recalled Melinda’s smug face, something in his gut twisted with anger.

"I'm not that pushover anymore."

He hated people like her and Leo, deep down. Backing down here would eat away at him forever. No sweet words could cover that kind of disgrace.

"I've been ordered around enough in my last life. No way I’m playing the weakling now."

"Today — I show them."

A tight, cold grin curled at his lips. He lifted his hand, and a pale-blue screen flickered into view.

"Backpedaling’s for nobodies. Fear of losing? That’s where gamblers die."

"System — go all in."

Buzz!!

Evil Points burned fast as both martial skills surged in proficiency on the screen, numbers climbing madly.