Everyone Is Non-Human Except Me [Rebirth] Chapter 5

Wei Huan had faced peril after peril since his rebirth and hadn’t seen a single familiar face—until now. Though the person before him could hardly be called an old friend—perhaps more of a rival—Wei Huan couldn’t hide the emotional stir within him.

The escape, the chaos after returning—everything felt like a dream. Only when he saw this person did he truly feel grounded: he really had come back.

As the only heir in nine generations of the Nine Phoenix clan, and someone who inherited abilities from both his father and mother, Wei Huan had always been seen as someone born on the fast track to success. Ten years ago, just beyond this very red gate, his once smooth-sailing life ran into its first roadblock.

“Hey, isn’t that Wei Nine from Beiji Tiangui? Look at that show-off.”

“With a background like that, being flashy is expected. A military lineage—if it were me, I’d be walking sideways too.”

“Tch, he only acts tough because he inherited bloodlines from powerful demons and holds the status of the Nine Phoenix clan. If he didn’t get those powers from his parents, he’d be just like the rest of us.”

“Well, still… there aren’t many demons who can inherit powers from both parents. He’s got both, y’know.”

“Shhh! Quiet down, he’s coming…”

Everyone was here for the entrance to Shanhai University. Most approached the massive gate cautiously, hearts pounding, praying it would let them through. But not Wei Huan—he didn’t even bother retracting his wings. He simply soared through the air like he already owned the place, more at ease than even students who’d been admitted long ago.

“Demons comparing themselves to him will just drive themselves mad.”

“Sigh… guess I’m out of luck again this year.”

Wei Huan spun midair, then hovered in the sky, his black wings outstretched. “Yang Sheng, hurry up!”

A handsome youth followed from behind, landing lightly on the ground and tucking away his dark blue wings. “Ah Huan, you should come down too. You’re drawing too much attention.”

Though Wei Huan wanted to keep showing off, he glanced at Yang Sheng—his childhood friend—and eventually landed, his wings vanishing into his shoulder blades. “What’s wrong with flying? We’re aiming for Fuyou Academy, where we’ll soar up 90,000 li! This height’s nothing.”

“Sure, it’s nothing, but you’re already attracting hate.” Yang Sheng shook his head. “If your parents find out, they’ll scold you again.”

Yang Sheng was far more level-headed than Wei Huan—not quite uptight, but still a balance to his friend’s antics. Wei Huan had always been a troublemaker; his parents often asked Yang Sheng to keep an eye on him. But this little ancestor never listened.

“Let them talk. I’m at Fuyou now—far from home and out of reach. They can nag all they want.”

Yang Sheng sighed. “You’re guaranteed a spot in Fuyou. I still haven’t been placed.”

Wei Huan knew the reason well. Yang Sheng was from the Bifang Bird lineage. Unlike the wind-aligned Nine Phoenix clan, Bifang were more aligned with fire. But Yang Sheng didn’t inherit his father’s fire-manipulating powers—he took after his mother and could command wind, summoning gusts from thin air.

Shanhai wasn’t like other demon academies. After enrollment, students would be assigned by the Tree of Aptitude to one of four academies:

Fuyou (wind)

Yansui (fire)

Shangshan (water)

Jiahui (wood)

Each school trained students based on their unique talents.

To ease Yang Sheng’s worries, Wei Huan slung an arm over his shoulder. “Don’t sweat it. I hear Yansui’s no fun anyway—strict rules, and fire demons are hot-tempered. If you join Fuyou, we’ll be together the whole time. Who knows, maybe we’ll both become combat instructors after we graduate.”

“You’re not going to the frontlines?”

Wei Huan waved a hand. “Nope. Let someone else risk their life. I’m the last of the Nine Phoenix line—I value my life.”

“So you’re gonna have a whole nest of baby Nine Phoenixs someday?”

“Absolutely. With genes like mine? I’m marrying the prettiest demon and having enough kids to fill a train car. Otherwise I’d be letting down my ancestors and all the maidens who’ve secretly pined for me. I tell you—now that I’m enrolled, Shanhai’s campus heartthrob? That’s me.”

Yang Sheng looked to the sky. “If you ever die, it’ll be from smugness.”

Getting past the gate was just step one. To truly be admitted, new students had to pass the entrance selection exam. Three rounds in total: a written test, then a knockout-style combat match for those who passed the first round, ending with one final winner.

Wei Huan was aiming straight for first place. From the moment he dreamed of entering Shanhai, he’d already prepared his victory speech a thousand times over.

“Did you hear? The written exam results are out!”

“Yeah, over by the main building.”

Wei Huan, napping on the field, was shaken awake by Yang Sheng. “You did well on the written test.”

“Of course I did…” Wei Huan mumbled, half-asleep. “Obviously I…”

Then came Yang Sheng’s voice: “But the person who got first place—such a nice-sounding name. Really stands out.”

Wei Huan jolted up like a carp springing from water. “What did you say? I’m not first?”

Yang Sheng nodded. “Yeah. You’re second.”

“Second?”

What a joke!

Wei Huan rolled up his sleeves and shot up from the grass. After only a few steps, his black wings burst out, and he flew toward the crowd swarming around the main building. Hovering in front of a massive illusionary display—five meters tall—he stared at the ranking list projected in golden light.

His head froze right at the top line.

First place: Yun Yongzhou, 150 points.

Second place: Wei Huan, 149 points.

“Who docked me that one point?” Wei Huan turned mid-air, both angry and indignant. “And who the h*ll is this Yun Yongzhou?”

Yang Sheng flew up as well and yanked Wei Huan down hard. “I just asked around—this Yun Yongzhou is the youngest son of the Golden Crow Yun family.” As he said this, he started winking furiously at Wei Huan. “You guessed right, it’s that Yun family, the big one. They just moved to the demon capital of Kunlun Void from Penglai Sea last year. Whole family relocated—new position, new city.”

“I don’t care what background he has. Just got here and already acting this arrogant?” Wei Huan had never taken the written test too seriously, but now that someone had snatched first place from him, his fighting spirit surged. He clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked. “Yun Yongzhou…”

He glanced up at the name displayed above his own. “You better stay on top for a while. Because in the combat round, I’m not going easy.”

Wei Huan had an astonishing ability—almost like a verbal curse—to jinx himself. His words backfired so often his own face had become used to being slapped by reality.

“Aren’t you the one who was just talking big? What are you zoning out for now?” Yang Sheng shouted from the spectator platform. “Get it together!”

“…D*mn,” Wei Huan turned his head, eyes wide. “That Yun Yongzhou is way too d*mn good-looking.”

“I’ve got a horror story for you,” Yang Sheng said with a deadpan face. “Wei Huan, you’re in a match. A finals match.”

“Oh! Right, right, right…” Wei Huan slapped his own forehead. “Almost forgot.”

Wei Huan was a total sucker for good looks. He’d always thought he was the most handsome among demons—strutting around like he owned the place. In fact, he thought his original form wasn’t attractive enough, so he stayed in human form all the time. Who would’ve thought he’d run into someone better looking than him?

Yun Yongzhou walked out from the other side of the duel platform dressed in all black. As he stepped forward, the shadows slowly peeled away from his face until he was bathed completely in light.

His skin was pale, his features exquisitely fine—like a sculpture with no emotion. The only color on his face was the crimson flame-shaped family crest on his left temple: the Golden Crow mark, about the size of a thumbprint, faintly visible beneath his bangs, strikingly vibrant against his pale complexion. His irises were an unusually light shade, and under the sunlight, they looked like cold, translucent amber.

Yun Yongzhou gazed at Wei Huan, his expression indifferent and detached.

“This is the final round of the combat tournament! Rules remain the same—no spells in the first half; after the whistle, anything goes!” The dean, White Tiger Lin Zhengze, appeared as a holographic projection in the center of the referee stand. His tiger tail curled around a golden school flag as the demon drums on either side of the arena began to pound faster and louder. “Let the match begin! Let’s witness the birth of this year’s freshman champion!”

As the flag was waved down, the crowd erupted in thunderous cheers. For the spectators—especially the girls—this was a feast for the eyes. Everyone in Kunlun Void knew how handsome the Nine Phoenix family’s son was. And not only handsome—he had a great personality, could chat with anyone, and had been a school legend since he was young. But this little Golden Crow across from him was even more stunning. His whole demeanor exuded an aloof, ethereal aura—more like a deity than a demon.

This was truly a god-tier battle.

Wei Huan twisted his ankle, shook out his wrists, and grinned at Yun Yongzhou across from him. The other still wore a cold face and said nothing. That just made Wei Huan want to provoke him even more.

“Hey, are you so nervous you can’t talk?” Wei Huan beamed. His red top exposed a bit of his collarbone, which bore a blue nine-turn wind pattern—nine swirling lines interwoven into a circular demon mark. A unique trait of the Nine Phoenix clan.

In the pause between those few words, Wei Huan had already surged forward with the wind, stopping with his nose nearly brushing Yun Yongzhou’s.

The spectators were stunned by his explosive speed.

“D*mn, he’s fast!”

“You didn’t see Little Nine Phoenix’s earlier matches? All ended in a flash—some opponents were knocked out before he even used a single spell.”

“So cool! Go Little Nine Phoenix!”

Facing such a formidable opponent, Yun Yongzhou didn’t budge. He simply locked his pale amber eyes on Wei Huan’s cocky grin. Wei Huan’s wind lifted the fringe over Yun Yongzhou’s forehead, revealing the red family crest on his temple.

“You not talking because I stunned you with my looks?” Wei Huan shamelessly raised his eyebrows. “I know I’m handsome, but do you have to stare that hard?”

Yun Yongzhou’s brows twitched slightly. His sharply defined lips pressed together, eyes filled with hostility—clearly disgusted by Wei Huan’s reckless flirting. He launched a heavy punch, which Wei Huan narrowly dodged.

“Whoa, that was close! No hitting the face!” he said.

But the next punch stopped just an inch from his brow, the force of it ruffling his hair and revealing his bright, youthful features.

Even while dodging, Wei Huan still cracked jokes. “Ah, now I understand what ‘using beauty as a weapon’ means. It’s okay, you’re so good-looking—I forgive you.” The next second, he stepped back, putting distance between them. So far, he hadn’t made a single move of his own.

“Hey…” Wei Huan walked backward with hands on his hips. “How about we make a deal? You smile at me, call me Brother Huan, and I’ll let you have three free hits again. Deal?”

That one word—“let you again”—seemed to hit a nerve. Yun Yongzhou’s brows knit tighter. Without a word, he stepped in with a side kick.

Wei Huan had wanted to talk more, but the sudden aggression left him momentarily speechless. He twisted his body to dodge, but it was a flurry of left-right flying kicks. He scrambled to block with his arms while running his mouth.

“Wow, impressive! So strong! Good-looking and good at fighting—amazing!”

He was genuinely surprised. He had thought this guy was just a lucky bookworm who topped the written test. He didn’t expect him to be just as good at close combat.

The kick, padded with an ankle guard, stopped mere centimeters from Wei Huan’s face. He ducked low to dodge, his waist arcing through the air before landing with a barely steady footing.

“Whew! Close call—you’re really strong! Where’d you learn that kicking technique? Can you recommend me a teacher?”

Wei Huan grew increasingly talkative, while Yun Yongzhou’s attacks grew faster and fiercer. Every move carried a ruthless edge, and all Wei Huan could hear as he dodged was the sharp wind trailing behind each strike.

On the viewing stands, the spectators watched the two on the dueling platform—one in red, one in black, one attacking, one defending. Kicks, throws, sweeps, and dodges flowed like water, so fast that only two flickering shadows remained in their eyes.

Wei Huan, who had only been dodging without striking back, seemed completely unaware of how close he was to the edge of the platform. Caught off guard, his foot slipped halfway off the platform, and his body tilted backward, losing balance.

“Oh no! He’s going to fall!”

“It’s over! He’s going to lose!”

The audience held their breath, the entire venue fell silent. It felt like time itself froze in that instant.

Just as Yun Yongzhou pulled back his leg, he saw Wei Huan smirk at him.

Wei Huan, with his foot half off the edge, suddenly kicked off the platform’s border, using the force to flip his body upward. His right hand grabbed Yun Yongzhou’s shoulder, using it as leverage to flip over him, landing steadily behind his back.

The whole movement was quick, light, fluid—completely unexpected.

Even Yun Yongzhou paused for half a second, slightly narrowing his eyes. From behind him came Wei Huan’s teasing voice:

“D*mn, you almost pushed me off.” Wei Huan exaggeratedly patted his chest. “Good thing I snapped out of your beauty spell just in time.”

Hearing the cheers from the crowd, Wei Huan immediately puffed out his chest, sucked in his stomach, straightened his arms, and mimicked a gymnast saluting in all directions, blowing kisses. “Thank you! Thank you all!”

Yun Yongzhou turned to face him, frowning, his gaze growing colder and more dangerous.

But Wei Huan still acted like nothing was wrong, tilting his head. “I realize now, even when you don’t smile, you still look really good.” After saying that, he suddenly sighed, lips puckered like a kid.

“Sigh, if my future wife is even half as good-looking as you, I’ll be totally satisfied.”