Era of Mist

Zhao Qingmiao was instantly filled with an admiration like one gazing up at a towering mountain. ’Look at him! Look at Brother Tie! Now *that’s* what you call tough! That’s what you call having a backbone! He doesn’t copy, he doesn’t just take it, and it’s not that he won’t do it—he’s waiting to pick it up again and do it himself later on!’

’I’m sorry, Brother Tie! I was wrong! I shouldn’t have lumped you in with those ordinary slackers who don’t turn in their homework. To think I just thought you were simply not doing the assignment... that’s an insult to you! Your principles, your character, your perseverance—they’re all miles beyond those slackers! No, miles beyond even me!’

In that instant, Zhao Qingmiao felt that Shi Tiexin was not only brave and righteous but also pure and noble. He had never—Zhao Qingmiao felt he had never met such a towering, majestic figure. He felt a powerful charisma he had never experienced before. As Shi Tiexin sat there, he seemed to glow in his eyes.

"Big Bro!" Zhao Qingmiao’s eyes were shining like a true fanboy’s.

"Move it, move it." Someone shoved the emotional Zhao Qingmiao aside. It was Zhou Nan. The kid hadn’t shown his face all morning, but now he came rushing over, full of excitement. He ignored everyone else and sidled up right next to Shi Tiexin, looking mysterious and eager to spill the beans. "Brother Tie, I just got some big news!"

’This kid is so secretive. What kind of big news has him so worked up?’

Shi Tiexin was a little curious, but he also figured nothing good ever came from a dog’s mouth, so he wasn’t keen on wasting time on Zhou Nan’s gossip. In the end, he just gave a noncommittal "Oh?" that made him seem utterly inscrutable.

But Zhou Nan was bursting to talk, unable to hide his excitement. "I heard that the third-year, King Zhou, just came back!"

’A third-year? King Zhou? Heh, just as I thought—what the hell does that have to do with me?’

So, Shi Tiexin calmly took out his Supplementary Study Manual, preparing to continue reading aloud.

Out of politeness, he replied, "Oh."

’See? I’m practically a model of civility.’

"Brother Tie, you don’t understand! Among the current Four Celestial Kings, the third-year King Zhou has the highest status in the ’jianghu’! The college entrance exams are about to start, so for him to come back to campus at this time... it can only be for that one thing!"

Zhou Nan considered "that one thing" to be very important. He even stared intently at Shi Tiexin’s face, trying to gauge his opinion on "that one thing." ’Is he brimming with confidence? Is he determined to win?’ If this guy was truly determined to win, then how could he, Zhou Nan, possibly compete with this big Stone?

But to his surprise, Shi Tiexin’s face showed no reaction whatsoever.

"Oh..."

That was Shi Tiexin’s only response before he went back to carefully studying his flashcards.

’This guy... is he that calculating? He’s not giving a single thing away. He really is the ambitious figure I took him for!’ Zhou Nan felt a sense of defeat. Compared to Shi Tiexin, who was brimming with the air of a big shot, he really was lacking. He then turned his head to look out the window, his gaze drifting toward the sports field as his mind began to wander.

’The Four Celestial Kings... so impressive, so commanding...’

While Zhou Nan was lost in his daydream, four people were indeed gathered at the highest point of Fengming First Middle School’s sports field.

This so-called highest point was a viewing platform on the east side of the field. When the school held sports meets or general student assemblies, the school leaders would stand on this high platform to issue their grand pronouncements and take in the entire scene. Of course, the place was usually empty. But according to the "jianghu" legends of the slackers in the trash class, ordinary people weren’t allowed up here at all.

This was a spot reserved exclusively for the Four Celestial Kings, a place nicknamed—Celestial-King-Mountain.

Of course, nicknames are just made up by people. And the person who’d come up with this cringey, wannabe-cool nickname was on the viewing platform right now. With one foot on the railing, hands in his pockets, a long jacket tied around his waist, and a skull earring, he struck a "lonely at the top" pose. It was none other than the first-year Celestial King, Liu Chuanfeng—er, Liu Shufeng.

Alongside him were three others. They were sitting, standing, and squatting, and each had a distinctive air about them.

The one standing had his arms crossed and was powerfully built. His muscles bulged, nearly bursting the seams of his tight black tank top. He was tall and burly, with a scowling, fleshy face and an aura of Evil Qi. He was the very personification of the term "Cross-Training." This was the second-year Celestial King, Chen Yuanlong, also known as Brother Da Long.

The one sitting had one foot propped up high beside him. He was clearly a young student, but he exuded the weary air of a seasoned gangster. He had a chin full of evocative stubble and eyes that held the profound weight of a past too painful to recall. Combined with the full trifecta of smoke, liquor, and permed hair, he looked just like a triad boss.

This was the other second-year Celestial King, Zhou Xiong, also known as Brother Xiong.

The third one, who was squatting, was even more eye-catching. He was in the posture of an Overlord’s World-Conquering Squat...

"What are you doing!" A roar echoed from the distance. The voice was followed by the sight of a large, square head. "Class is in session! What are you all doing up here!"

It was the Square-headed Baleful Star, Zheng Kaoming!

There was no time to introduce the last person. Everyone sprang into action in an instant. Liu Shufeng combed his hair, fixed his clothes, took off his earring, and put on his glasses—a flurry of moves as fierce as a tiger. Just when he thought his own actions were lightning-fast, he turned his head and saw that the other three rascals were even faster!

A moment ago, every single one of them had an "I’m the baddest motherfucker around" look on their face, but in an instant, their entire image changed. They were suddenly as well-behaved as students at an English salon.

The Overlord’s World-Conquering Squat instantly turned into a humble migrant-worker squat. The person in question popped his head up and hastily explained, "It’s nothing, it’s nothing! We’re just up here for a bit of self-study!"

Zheng Kaoming was left speechless.

’How stupid do you think I am?’

But after giving the guy a long, hard look, Zheng Kaoming surprisingly didn’t press the matter. He just left them with a "Be safe" and walked away.

Once the Square-headed Baleful Star was gone, the group quickly reverted, once again gathering their menacing "I’m not someone to be trifled with" aura.

"Brother Yang, you’re amazing. Even the Square-headed Baleful Star has to give you face." The one with the smoke, liquor, and perm offered a cigarette. The one who had been in the Overlord’s squat took it, a calm expression on his face. "Hah. He just shows me a little respect, that’s all. It’s not worth mentioning, not worth mentioning."

Even though the guy was clearly just trying to act cool, Liu Shufeng and the other two didn’t interrupt him. They just let him smoke in silence, his eyes quietly scanning the campus as if he were reminiscing about something, recalling something, saying goodbye to something.

When he finished one cigarette, Chen Yuanlong offered another, and the man took it. After the second was done, Liu Shufeng offered a third. The three of them took turns offering him a cigarette, and he took turns smoking them. For a time, no one spoke, as if they were performing some important ritual.

When the last cigarette was finished, the man tossed the butt to the ground. "COUGH, COUGH! Smoked too much, my throat’s killing me. COUGH, COUGH!" Once he’d coughed his fill, he stood up nonchalantly. "I’m leaving this time, and I won’t be back. As for my position... spread the word for me. Just say I’m not designating a successor. Let them fight for it!"