After dinner, I decided to head out and continue my training.
In the morning, I'd run three laps around Dongshan Lake. At night, I ran back and forth along the Daning River.
For locals, the famous "scenic spots" of Xicheng District were basically just the river and the lake. Because of that, some people jokingly called themselves "Jianghu people"—"Jiang" meaning river and "Hu" meaning lake. Anyone who's ever read wuxia knows the Jianghu: a wandering world of martial artists, grudges, and drama. For normal people here, though, it was just a nerdy pun.
Since the whole district sat right by the water, it got pretty cold in the mornings and evenings. That meant fewer tourists.
And I preferred it that way. I liked places without people. My training was never something I did to show off.
If I couldn't become stronger than Ren Xiao Qin, I might literally die at her hands one day!
Tonight, I planned to run from the highway bridge tollbooth all the way to the pier under the old steel bridge.
A round trip was about eight kilometers. If I controlled my speed, I could finish in forty minutes.
Afterward, I'd go home and punch the sandbags.
When I say I'm doing something, I do it.
I didn't bother changing clothes. I was still in my school's sports uniform. I knew I'd sweat like crazy, so I'd just toss it in the wash and wear something else tomorrow. No PE class anyway. And even if we had to do morning radio exercises, standing in the back row made me basically invisible.
I loved the city's scenery at night.
Cold wind rustled through the willow branches along the river.The lights on the far bank flashed in gaudy, multicolored neon, but with the roar of the river between us, that noisy world felt distant.
Dark clouds swallowed the moon. A few streetlights along the embankment were broken; their flickers passed over me every few steps.
My heart felt calm.
It was like meditating.
And in that moment, I felt like a complete idiot for letting myself get worked up over stupid little things all the time.
The Earth was tiny, the universe was huge. No matter how difficult the choices in my life seemed… what meaning did they really have in the grand scheme of the cosmos?
None.Absolutely none.
Ah, humans — endlessly arguing, loving, and suffering on something not even a dust speck on a dust speck. How foolish.
This humble monk has transcended the mortal world.
Then, near the old steel bridge pier, I spotted a couple sitting on the riverbank.
They sat shoulder to shoulder, leaning into each other for warmth, whispering sweet nothings at the water.
The boy was wearing the uniform of 28th Middle School.
I wasn't close, but I knew they were a couple because their shoulder stripes were different colors—boys' and girls' uniforms always gave it away.
They were both young, probably first-years.
You're already flirting at that age? Whispering sweet words? On the riverside at night? And you dare block your upperclassman's jogging route, disturbing my meditative enlightenment on the supreme truths of the universe!? You delinquents are ruining society, lowering the national GDP, hindering world peace, and damaging cosmic perfection! Do you understand!? Believe it or not, I'll report you to the headteacher!
The boy said something that made the girl laugh.
The lighting only illuminated the boy's bright eyes. The girl, who had short hair and a gentle, quiet aura, smiled softly.
I'd heard of that "Couples Go Die Go Die Group," a bunch of internet weirdos who dedicated themselves to breaking up couples. There was also the FFF Inquisition — probably the same thing — who swore to oppose heterosexuality worldwide. (I wondered briefly what their position on homosexuality was.)
I suddenly thought:Should I become a representative of the FFF Inquisition?
All I'd have to do was stand before them with upperclassman authority, ask which class they were from, then demand how they dared violate the "100 Rules Prohibiting Intimate Contact Between Boys and Girls." They'd probably kneel and beg for mercy. And honestly, asking for some "compensation" not to tell their parents would be considered merciful.
However…
I had already achieved enlightenment. All living things were but insects before me. And what difference would crushing two bugs make to the universe?
I decided to let the two insects live.
I was magnanimous. Even if these bugs really stayed together, all they'd do was eventually produce a few more bugs.
Thinking that, I slowed my pace to avoid startling them.
I turned around and began jogging back.
Even though I didn't reach the pier like planned, I was only about fifty meters away.
Suddenly, behind me, I heard the girl scream:
"Don't—! Help! Help me—!!"
Huh? I look away for two seconds and you're already trying to assault your girlfriend!? Even if the riverside is quiet, you can't do something that'll ruin the school's reputation! Are you worthy of my compassion as a representative of the FFF Inquisition!?
I turned back—and realized I was completely wrong.
While I wasn't paying attention, four new figures had appeared on the embankment. They were ruffians in messy clothes and tilted hats. My useless junior was surrounded by three of them, getting kicked around like a soccer ball.
The boy was on the ground, covering his head, terrified to resist. The ruffians kept going. Someone flicked a cigarette butt into his hair. Someone else spat on him.
I could barely hear their conversation.
"Heh heh heh… picking up girls at your age? Not bad, kid!"
"Kneel! Look up again and your grandpa here will kill you!"
One punk wearing a cap called himself "Grandpa." He looked my age—maybe third-year middle school at most.
"Apologize! Say, 'Grandpa, I was wrong!'"
"I… I'm wrong…"
His voice was barely audible.
"Damn it! How dare you not call me grandpa! Kick him again! If he doesn't call me grandpa, toss him into the river!"
Another sneered at the girl.
"Your girlfriend's not bad. Why don't you lend her to us?"
The ugliest, most vulgar-looking one lifted her chin and grinned.
They'd separated the girl from the circle so she couldn't help her boyfriend. Seeing her anxious face seemed to delight them — they were savoring the pleasure of tormenting the weak.
Their behavior resembled the so-called FFF Inquisition, but at least the FFF guys were just harmless, pathetic otaku shouting "Burn all couples!" online. They cried and hid when they actually saw a couple in real life.
Even if the FFF were all bark and no bite, their moral level was still higher than these scumbags.
Being humiliated in front of a girl you like… that's a serious blow to a guy's pride.
Was trampling on someone else's dignity really that fun?
My original plan was to run eight kilometers as a warm-up, then go home and punch sandbags.
I'd only run four so far. Not ideal warm-up.But these sandbags definitely weren't as tough as the one I'd been beating on for the last three years.
Two of the ruffians grabbed the male student, clearly about to dunk him into the freezing river.
I shouted:
"Knock it off! You think bullying two kids is fun!?"
The four ruffians turned with confused expressions.
Before continuing, let me clarify something: the difference between "ruffians" and "hoodlums."
There is none.
People say hoodlums are lazy and ruffians stir trouble, but in reality, both terms describe human garbage.
Call them whatever.Shit is shit.
Seeing my school uniform, the guy in the cap smirked.
"Oh? Who the hell are you? Coming to protect your little juniors? Got guts, huh?"
I ignored him and stepped up the sloped embankment toward the walkway.
The slope was part of the riverbank, full of planted flowers. Sneakers actually had decent traction here.
I decided this would be the fighting spot.
Seeing me approach alone, the four ruffians rolled up their sleeves. They released the couple.
I shot the boy a glance. He reacted quickly, grabbed the girl's hand, and ran.
No one chased them. The ruffians focused on me, slowly closing in, realizing I wasn't here for polite conversation.
Moments like this were the only times I appreciated my vicious-looking eyes.
They weren't as dark or sharp as Shusha's, but they were distinct: narrow like surgical blades, pupils like black-red cold diamonds.
In short — not very human.
More like a wolf.
If I'd been born a wolf, I would've aimed to become the Arctic Wolf King—not to lead a pack, but just to stand alone atop some freezing summit, listening to snow whip past my ears.
For a moment, I felt a strange joy, as if I'd grasped some universal truth.
Of course, it was nonsense.I simply liked fighting.
When I reached my chosen position, I stood still and sneered as they encircled me.
Then I realized I'd miscalculated. Another ruffian stood behind the pier smoking. He looked sturdy, and judging by his posture, he was their boss.
So in total, there were five.
Seriously? Even the Five Tigers Punishment Squad needed a gang of five. Are these idiots scared to show up unless they're in full party formation?
Captain Guo Songtao of the basketball team could fight five at once easily. His physical ability was beyond normal; he might even play in the NBA someday. I couldn't copy his fighting style.
Among these ruffians, the boss and the guy in the cap looked strong.
Good.The stronger, the better.
I wanted to test whether I'd improved.
In a real fight, the outcome isn't determined by physical ability or numbers.
What matters most is momentum.
Since the age of six, I'd been brutally oppressed by the Little Tyrant. To one day defeat him, I learned that even if your body and skill fall short…
You can still rely on your ferocity.
Turn yourself into something inhuman.
Berserker mode.