Chosen: Beyond Fate

Zhou Cheng’s face twitched again and again. He said nothing.

The looks in the eyes of the people around them grew even more stunned. This bastard had come all the way here just to show off, hadn’t he?!

Ji Jue was not interested in explaining whether or not this was really his first time playing with it. After all, it was just a toy.

Now, Ji Jue could roughly understand why Professor Ye had never brought one of these out for him to use. It was way too childish, something you had no business playing with once you were out of kindergarten.

Whether it was because of Deus Ex Machina or Ji Jue’s workaholic nature, this thing was not difficult at all. A kindergarten-level spirit matter lock like this had stopped qualifying as textbook material or exam practice back when Ji Jue started learning the Dissociation Technique.

Wait. Thinking about it that way, what kind of hell-difficulty life was he living?!

Ji Jue felt that, at his age, he had endured far too much pressure and homework that no apprentice should have to bear. Don’t tell me you people spend every day just playing games, as if you’re constantly on vacation?

Some things only hurt once you had something to compare them to. Ji Jue looked at how relaxed everyone seemed and suddenly felt a sharp pang of envy. But since no one was bothering to hide it anymore, there was no need for him to play the gentleman either.

Ji Jue leaned back in his chair without a care and asked curiously, “What’s the matter, everyone? Why is no one talking? Is it because you don’t like it? If you’ve got any other tricks, some opening intimidation, a little show of force... feel free to bring them all out.”

He was already getting impatient.

Zhou Cheng’s face stiffened for a moment, and then he forced a smile. “It’s only a game. Everyone was just joking around. We can all take this chance to get to know each other. Who knows? Maybe we’ll be looking out for each other in the future.”

Behind him, the woman who had been watching coldly from the sidelines had grown restless. “This is so damn boring! Why are you wasting your time talking to him?”

She glanced at Ji Jue, making no effort to conceal her disgust. “Honestly, what has this world come to? These days, it feels like any amateur can walk into a workshop and call themselves a craftsman.”

“Right back at you.” Ji Jue yawned, utterly unconcerned.

The fat man beside her sneered. “Don’t tell me he got in with that face of his? Maybe he’s here as someone’s boy toy.”

“What about you? Did you get in with your ass?” Ji Jue asked with a smile. “Having a tight rear counts as an advantage. No need to be embarrassed about it. After all, with a face like yours, I’d have a hard time finding any other merits on you.”

The fat man’s face flushed red. “You bastard, you’re fucking asking for it! Why don’t you crawl back into whatever gutter spawned you, you oversized maggot?”

“Sorry, who are you again?” Ji Jue sounded thoroughly uninterested. “Before picking a fight, please at least announce your name.”

“I—”

“Forget it. Petty, scheming trash like you should spare me the introduction. I’d rather not have my ears polluted.” Ji Jue waved a hand dismissively, paying no attention to the angry and indifferent faces around him. “I’m not interested in dealing with people uglier than me.”

So this was locker-room bullying, huh? He had seen far too much of that growing up. It was just... Why did people always assume that a kid with no family or connections had to be an easy target?

Wonderful. Let’s all hurry up and push him around so we can squeeze a little emotional satisfaction out of his tears! Unfortunately, not a single person who thought that way had ever succeeded.

Ji Jue sighed, pinching his chin. “To be honest, there’s something I don’t quite understand. We’ve clearly only just met, so why is everyone so hostile to a newcomer?”

No one answered. Only a few cold and disgusted sneers counted as replies. Ji Jue didn’t expect these people to kindly enlighten him, but he could look for the answer himself.

“I imagine there must be some reason.” He raised his hand, his fingertip passing slowly from one face to the next. Realization slowly dawned on him. “Don’t tell me it’s because your workshops, or maybe your elders, all got their asses handed to them by my teacher?”

In an instant, everyone’s expressions grew even uglier. That included Zhou Cheng, who had been forcing a smile and trying to maintain his composure all along. He gritted his teeth.

“Was the theory they took such pride in refuted until it was worth nothing? Or was some work they poured their hearts and souls into treated like garbage? Or maybe they were just losers so insignificant they didn’t even deserve to have their names remembered? Hmm. Don’t tell me it was all of the above?”

Ji Jue nodded, so pleased with himself that he laughed out loud. “It’s fine. It’s normal for beaten dogs to bark and pick on kids. I understand. When the masters have unfinished business, the apprentices have to do the work for them, right?”

He paused, then let out a regretful sigh. “After all, if your elders saw my teacher, they probably wouldn’t even dare open their mouths, would they?”

Bang!

Across the table, Zhou Cheng could no longer restrain his anger. He slammed his fist, and spirit matter burst outward. “Motherfucker! You’d better watch your damn mouth!”

“Hmm? Did I say something inappropriate?” Ji Jue asked back, confused. “There’s no need to overreact. After all, in my eyes, everyone seated here barely counts as material. When you speak to offcuts, do you bother watching your tone?”

Behind Zhou Cheng, the furious woman was trembling with rage. She forced her words out through clenched teeth. “As expected. That wench raised nothing but a mad dog. Bastards like you really need to be taught some manners!”

Boom!

Everyone’s vision blurred as a flash of silver passed before their eyes.

Two people crashed into a wall. After the wild gust swept through the room, the woman was gone. So was the fat man beside her, the one who had been running his mouth. Both had been sent flying backward and were now buried deep into the wall.

Some people groaned, others screamed. Crimson blood sprayed forth. As dust scattered in the air, thick blood gushed from the woman’s face. In the midst of her terrified screams, gashes split toward both corners of her mouth as the flesh curled outward.

“Tch...” Ji Jue lowered his eyes and looked at the strand of silver light hanging from his fingertip. It was as thin as thread, and its end curved like a fishhook, with a small torn piece of flesh caught on it. His brow furrowed.

After all, it had only just been forged, and he had not had time to adapt to controlling it. That was why it still lacked finesse in the smallest details. He had intended to cut her tongue off completely.

Zhou Cheng turned back in shock. The moment he realized what had happened, he flew into a rage. “Ji Jue!!! You actually dare start a fight here?!”

“I think, at this point, there’s no need to waste any more words.” Ji Jue slowly pushed himself up. With a curl of his finger, the mercury inside his toolbox surged, flowing out in a bright, radiant stream. He looked around the eerily quiet room, then asked, “Before we go through the motions and start fighting for real, I’ll ask this just once. Does anyone want to back out?”

Someone swallowed faintly. Quite a few people who could not be bothered to get involved took two steps back. Some simply opened the door and left, though no one knew whether they wanted to avoid trouble or were rushing off to report the matter and call for help.

None of that mattered. Ji Jue looked at the dozen or so opponents still left in the room, all united by a common hatred, and nodded in satisfaction. What was it that Professor Ye used to say again?

His gaze shifted to Zhou Cheng, who was right in front of him. Suddenly, he broke into a bright smile.

Zhou Cheng had no time to react. He was about to open his mouth and say something, perhaps throw out a few harsh words, but Ji Jue had already charged forward without warning. With his speed boosted by Transcendent Vision, Ji Jue closed the distance instantly, his cold expression filling Zhou Cheng’s entire field of view.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ji Jue swung his hand.

Smack!

The slap was so powerful, Zhou Cheng’s jawbone shattered at once.

His vision went black. He staggered and nearly fell, but Ji Jue grabbed him by the collar and flung him without a drop of mercy toward the fat bastard who was still screaming, sending Zhou Cheng into his stomach like a meteor. The impact made the fat bastard’s eyes bulge as if they were about to pop out of their sockets before he completely passed out.

Amid the flying dust, Zhou Cheng heard Ji Jue’s voice from not too far away. It sounded as though he had just remembered something.

“Right, I remember now. ‘Endure the humiliation, bear with it, and prioritize the greater good.’” Ji Jue smiled warmly and assured the apprentices, “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you all learn exactly what that means.”