Era of Mist

Teng Chaoguo knew full well that no matter how wild or ruthless you were at Fengming First Middle School, there were certain absolute lines you could never cross. For example, the darling son of a certain provincial governor. Or a certain third-year "Celestial King." And especially, assaulting a teacher.

’Dare to touch a teacher? You think the school’s iron-fisted authority is just for show?’

But the fact that this Shi Tiexin had actually hit a teacher gave Teng Chaoguo a jolt of alarm.

According to the rumors, Shi Tiexin had assaulted the math teacher, Jia Guangsu. And who was Jia Guangsu? He was an elite math teacher at Fengming First Middle School who taught the elite Class 3 and, on the side, the honors Class 7. He had produced numerous graduates who went on to top-tier universities like Jinghua University and had even coached a former Beisu Province college entrance exam Champion Scholar. He was a treasured teacher at Fengming.

’Shi Tiexin dared to hit even someone like that?’

The rumors said Shi Tiexin had roared in the middle of class. ’Could it be that he finally snapped after all that silence, turning from good to evil, becoming a demon?’

Teng Chaoguo immediately changed his original plan. Instead of confronting him head-on, he decided to find a way to test the waters first—to "strike the mountain to shock the tiger." Coincidentally, Zhou Nan had lost him five packs of cigarettes. Those five packs couldn’t just be written off. ’If I don’t get five whole cartons back for them, I, Teng Chaoguo, will write my name backward!’

’But who should I demand the cigarettes from?’

’Shi Tiexin is a dirt-poor loser; he relies on scholarships just to load his meal card and eat. He definitely can’t afford five cartons of cigarettes. But there’s another good target in Class 28: the class president, Zhao Qingmiao. Zhao Qingmiao is a cowardly weakling, but his family’s financial situation is at least better than that of a fatherless, motherless bastard like Shi Tiexin.’

’Perfect. I’ll kill two birds with one stone—"strike the mountain to shock the tiger" and extort someone at the same time. How perfect is that!’

"Kid, I’m giving you one day to cough up the five cartons of cigarettes you owe me. Got it?"

Zhao Qingmiao was already starting to tremble. Five cartons of cigarettes... that was several hundred, almost a thousand yuan. That could be his living expenses for an entire semester. "I... I..."

"Got it?!"

SLAP!

"Got it?!"

SLAP!

"Fucking speak! Do you get it or not?!"

SLAP!

The slaps landed one after another. Zhao Qingmiao’s face was already swelling up, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Despair set in. His eyes, seeing stars from the blows, scanned his classmates, looking pleadingly at the boys he was usually on good terms with. But as his gaze passed over them one by one, all he saw were lowered heads and averted eyes.

’Someone...’

’Anyone...’

’Someone, save me!’

The entire student body of Class 28 just watched as Zhao Qingmiao was beaten and humiliated, a bitter taste in their mouths. No matter what, Zhao Qingmiao was still their class president. Each slap that landed on his face felt like a slap to the face of the entire Class 28.

The boys clenched their fists one by one, their breathing growing ragged. But who would dare to step forward and help at a time like this? The nail that sticks out gets hammered down. Anyone who stood up now would face the most brutal retaliation from the Black-Handed Hungry Tiger.

’Zhao Qingmiao, I’m sorry. We’re so sorry.’

’Just accept your fate. No one is going to stand up for you...’

CREAK... RATTLE... In the dead silence, the sound of a desk and chair scraping across the floor suddenly rang out.

Huh?!

’Is someone really standing up?!’

Everyone instantly whipped their heads around, even Teng Chaoguo stopped his slapping hand mid-air. They all looked toward the source of the sound. Zhao Qingmiao turned his head too, and through his astonished gaze, he saw a tall figure slowly rise from his seat in the third-to-last row by the window.

’It’s the new guy!’

’The guy who just got here today!’

This guy, who had seemed so terrifying, so detestable, so intimidating before, now seemed to be bathed in light, like a towering pillar supporting the heavens. He suddenly felt incredibly dependable.

Look!

’That brawny frame is filled with righteousness.’

’That solemn expression is filled with justice.’

’Those calm eyes are filled with courage.’

’Is he, this new student whose name they didn’t even know, really going to stand up for Zhao Qingmiao, for the president of Class 28, for their entire class?’

’He’s moving...’

’He’s moving!’

He stepped out from his desk and walked straight toward Teng Chaoguo—he was really going to face him!

Like a pillar supporting a collapsing mansion, like a force turning back a raging tide, the guy emanated an aura of immense, ultra-manly spirit. Step by step, unhurried, each footfall seemed to shake the very earth, as unstoppable as a roaring tidal wave.

Zhao Qingmiao’s eyes suddenly blurred as tears welled up. The tears obscured his vision, and he could only perceive Shi Tiexin as a towering giant. With every step closer, he seemed to grow even larger in Zhao Qingmiao’s field of view. In just a few steps, he had become so immense that he blotted out the sky.

THUD. Shi Tiexin stopped, halting just thirty centimeters from Teng Chaoguo. He loomed over him, his expression stern, looking straight down at him.

Every student in the class held their breath. The boys clenched their fists tightly, and the girls couldn’t help but cover their mouths.

’Is... is he really going to stand up for Zhao Qingmiao, who he just met?!’

Just moments ago, Teng Chaoguo had been posturing casually, but when Shi Tiexin stood directly in front of him, he couldn’t help but turn to face him squarely. Looking up at the gaze bearing down on him, Teng Chaoguo felt an inexplicable sense of being suppressed.

’This Shi Tiexin... he’s really different now!’

’But since when have I, Teng Chaoguo, ever backed down?’

Glancing left and right at his four lackeys, Teng Chaoguo’s courage swelled. He let out a cold snort. "Well, if it isn’t Champion Scholar Stone. What’s wrong? Stepping up now, what do you want? Don’t tell me you want to cover the five cartons for this loser..."

Shi Tiexin didn’t even wait for Teng Chaoguo to finish. He opened his mouth and stated his purpose in a commanding, concise voice.

Just two words.

"The restroom."

The... the restroom?

All the students thought they had misheard, but they soon realized it was no auditory hallucination. What had just happened was real.

’This new guy wants to go to the restroom with Teng Chaoguo!’

"The restroom?" Teng Chaoguo’s face suddenly twisted into a ferocious snarl. "Fine. Just fine. Champion Scholar Stone has really grown some balls, daring to invite me to the restroom? Excellent. Fucking excellent. Well then, let’s go. To the restroom!"

Shi Tiexin continued his domineering display. Again, just two words.

"Take me."

"Hahaha, excellent, excellent!" Teng Chaoguo laughed maniacally, then waved his hand. His four lackeys cleared the way, and they walked out of the Grade 10, Class 28 classroom with Shi Tiexin, disappearing from the students’ sight.

CLANG. Zhao Qingmiao fell back onto his stool, completely limp.

The voices of the Class 28 students erupted, the din boiling over.

"Tough. So damn tough. That new big bro is the definition of tough!"

"Everyone knows the reputation of the ’black toilet’ in the garbage classes. This big bro didn’t waste a single word. He just comes out with ’The restroom,’ then follows it up with ’Take me.’ That’s off-the-charts domineering!"

"He even overpowered the Black-Handed Hungry Tiger in terms of sheer presence. That so-called ’top dog’ of Class 28, Zhou Nan, isn’t even worthy of shining his shoes. This new dude is a real man’s man, the most hardcore of the hardcore!"