Era of Mist

"Did you hear? The new guy in Class 28 challenged Black-Handed Hungry Tiger to a one-on-one in the Black Lavatory!"

"No way! Since when does Black-Handed Hungry Tiger do one-on-ones? Don’t they always jump people as a group?"

"That’s the thing! The guy is taking on the whole group by himself!"

"Isn’t—isn’t that a death wish?!"

"Hard to say. I heard the guy has a powerful presence, not like a normal person. He might be an expert on Liu Shufeng’s level. Oh, and I asked around in Class 28—apparently, he only got into it with Black-Handed Hungry Tiger to stand up for the class."

"He’s that righteous? Or is it just a case of ’ignorance is bliss,’ and he doesn’t know how vicious Black-Handed Hungry Tiger is?"

"Who knows. But win or lose, that dude’s going to make a name for himself."

"What are you guys still doing talking here? Hurry, they’ve already gone to the Black Lavatory! Let’s go watch!"

"Let’s go, let’s go! We’ve gotta hurry, or we won’t get a good spot!"

The Black Lavatory was located outside, on the shaded side of the trash classes’ academic building, right next to a corridor. In the blink of an eye, heads popped out of the windows along the second and third-floor corridors, all craning their necks in anticipation. They watched as the group walked into the Black Lavatory. A few moments later, miserable screams echoed from inside, making it impossible to tell who was winning.

Everyone was on pins and needles, but no one dared to run down to the first floor to watch. Black-Handed Hungry Tiger’s vicious reputation was well-known, and if they angered him just by watching, it wouldn’t be worth the trouble.

Not everyone was afraid to go to the first floor, however. A few of the more established delinquents were waiting there.

The tall and slender Liu Shufeng stood off to the side, arms crossed, looking like a martial arts grandmaster. While striking a pose, he eyed the entrance to the Black Lavatory.

’When it comes to duels and brawls, I, Liu Chuanfeng of the Four Celestial Kings, am the most interested of all.’

Other notable delinquents from the trash classes were also on the first floor to watch. These guys gave Black-Handed Hungry Tiger a wide berth, but they considered themselves men of the "Jianghu" and thus qualified to be on the first floor.

Besides the delinquents, Zhao Qingmiao had also tagged along, peeking around nervously. He was indeed timid and cowardly, but he wasn’t a scumbag who didn’t know right from wrong or couldn’t repay a debt of gratitude. Shi Tiexin had challenged them to a fight to stand up for him, so no matter how scared he was, Zhao Qingmiao had gritted his teeth and followed, trembling.

’If Shi Tiexin gets ganged up on, then I’ll... I’ll! —At least I can get him to the school infirmary...’

’I’m so pathetic. Am I a hopeless piece of trash...’

Zhao Qingmiao sank into self-deprecation, but no one paid him any mind. Among everyone present, there was one person who absolutely wouldn’t miss this, his eyes glinting as he stared at the entrance to the Black Lavatory.

It was Zhou Nan.

The inside of the Black Lavatory was poorly lit, dark compared to the bright outdoors, so Zhou Nan couldn’t see what was happening. But no matter what, regardless of who won or lost this fight, he had to be the first to know the outcome so he could plan his next move.

’If Teng Chaoguo wins, everything will be fine. I’ll still be the boss of Class 28, Teng Chaoguo will get his cigarettes, and I’ll be able to mess with that Shi Tiexin however I want in the future.’

’But if Teng Chaoguo loses... No, impossible! How could he possibly lose?! It’s five against one! And in a place like the Black Lavatory, where there’s almost no room to dodge. How could Teng Chaoguo lose?’

’He’s probably in there crying for his mommy and daddy, forced to his knees to drink piss!’

’Hm? The sounds of fighting have stopped?’

’Heh, that kid’s all show and no go. Taken out in such a short time!’

THUD, THUD, THUD. Amidst the sound of footsteps, a figure walked out from inside toward the entrance. Zhou Nan’s gleeful smile suddenly froze on his face. Because of his angle, he was the first to see the figure.

’N-no way...’

It was Shi Tiexin!

That silhouette, that height, and that eternally unchanging, dark, and unyielding aura... it really was Shi Tiexin!

How could it be Shi Tiexin?

Why was it Shi Tiexin?

Zhou Nan couldn’t wrap his head around it; he just couldn’t figure it out. A bookworm who dropped out of an elite class went into the Black Lavatory with five ruthless thugs. Why was Shi Tiexin the one to walk out?

THUD. Shi Tiexin stepped out of the Black Lavatory, and everyone on all three floors saw him. Gasps were heard one after another, and a buzz of discussion erupted like a disturbed beehive.

The victor had appeared!

But just then, Shi Tiexin suddenly stopped. He stood there at the entrance to the lavatory, paused for a second, and then turned around and walked back in.

He actually went back in!

What was he going in there for?

Everyone’s minds were filled with question marks—in fact, even Teng Chaoguo and his four cronies inside the Black Lavatory were just as confused. A fat guy lying not far from the entrance saw Shi Tiexin return and grunted timidly, instinctively shuffling his body away. The others also scrambled back in fright; not a single one of them stood up.

Shi Tiexin’s brutal beating had just now thoroughly terrified them.

’Don’t tell me he didn’t get his fill of beating us and came back for more?’

But under their terrified and bewildered gazes, Shi Tiexin ignored them and walked over to the urinal trough on his own.

’I was so focused on the fight, I almost forgot I had to pee.’ He had reached the lavatory entrance when his bladder reminded him that if he didn’t go now, he was going to spring a leak. It was too late to find another bathroom, and besides, he didn’t even know where one was. So, after a moment’s thought, Shi Tiexin turned back, deciding to just take care of it here.

’Hm... is this going to be a little embarrassing?’

’Whatever. When you gotta go, you gotta go. This’ll have to do.’

ZIIIP. The sound of a zipper being undone. Shi Tiexin pulled out a formidable weapon and aimed it at the dark urinal drum. The five men on the floor stared, wide-eyed and dumbfounded. For one, they truly hadn’t expected Shi Tiexin to just start pissing in front of them, under these circumstances and in this environment.

’On the other hand... H-Holy shit! That thing is fucking huge! Is its size really proportional to his height?!’

WHOOSH. A powerful stream crashed into the drum, its sound echoing.

The sound reached Teng Chaoguo’s ears, and his expression instantly twisted into a ferocious snarl. He got it. He got it now. ’This bastard is pissing in front of me to fucking humiliate me! He’s not pissing into the drum, he’s pissing all over my face!’

"S...son of a bitch..."

Teng Chaoguo’s expression was terrifying. He suddenly pulled a switchblade from behind his back. SHING! The blade flicked open. He hadn’t even had a chance to use it earlier. This time, Teng Chaoguo scrambled to his feet and lunged at Shi Tiexin’s back, stabbing toward his heart.

’Die!’

’I’m not even an adult anyway. If I kill you today, I might even get off scot-free by pulling some strings!’

Teng Chaoguo’s killing intent was palpable; he was actually trying to stab Shi Tiexin to death with a single blow.

But without even looking, Shi Tiexin sucked in a breath to stop the flow and spun around with a back kick. BAM! With a loud thud, his foot connected squarely with Teng Chaoguo’s chest and stomach. The kick knocked the wind out of Teng Chaoguo. Unable to catch his breath, his face turned beet red.

CRACK! A sharp pain shot through his wrist as the switchblade was knocked from his hand. Then, his neck was seized; Shi Tiexin had grabbed him by the scruff. Before he could react, Teng Chaoguo felt immense force on the back of his neck, and the pitch-black urinal drum in front of him suddenly loomed large.

SPLOOSH. Head over heels, Teng Chaoguo was thrown into the urinal drum by Shi Tiexin.