Era of Mist

While Principal Liu was secretly labeling Shi Tiexin as "a man of great courage"—and adding a question mark—Shi Tiexin was standing in his new dormitory. If Principal Liu knew what was actually going through Shi Tiexin’s mind, he would have probably torn that label to shreds in an instant.

Because at this moment, he was the polar opposite of someone who was "unflustered by crisis" and "unangered by injustice."

He was both shocked and furious!

It just didn’t show on his face.

Ignoring the guy named Zhou Nan gritting his teeth beside him, just one look at the dorm room made Shi Tiexin so full of complaints they were practically pouring out of him.

First, the beds. The room had four steel-frame beds, but not the loft-bed-over-a-desk kind. These were super old-fashioned bunk beds. Who knew how long they’d been in use; the green paint was peeling off in patches, revealing the rust-covered steel pipes underneath. When he reached out and gave the frame a casual tug, it immediately wobbled as if on the verge of collapse, creaking incessantly.

Then there was the environment. The wardrobes were incredibly narrow, definitely not big enough to store anything. He hadn’t gotten a good look at the dorms in the Middle Ages Building for the elite classes, but he remembered that each of those rooms had its own bathroom and washroom. But there was nothing like that here. A dilapidated wooden window marked the end of the room. The study desks were also completely inadequate. A room for eight people had just two simple desks; the school probably figured the students living here wouldn’t have much use for them anyway.

And don’t even get him started on the smell. The stench of the latrines from the doorway, the reek of stinky feet inside the room, the odor of dirty clothes that hadn’t been washed in ages, and some unidentifiable fermented, musty funk—it was simply unbearable. Shi Tiexin curled his toes slightly, knowing the floor must be filthy too. He couldn’t tell if something had been spilled, but it felt so sticky he feared it would pull into tacky strings with every step.

Finally, he looked at his new bunk. It was piled high with all sorts of junk, apparently used by the others as a communal storage space. Roommate relations here were probably a nightmare.

A bleak, desolate feeling washed over him like a tide, and Shi Tiexin felt the overwhelming urge to start cursing his lungs out.

’Fuck!’

’Seriously?!’

’All I did was stand up and shout in class! It’s not like I hurt anyone or committed some great crime! And for that, they escort me to this dump like I’m some felon being exiled!’

’A moment ago, I was thinking this Cultivation Sacred Land must have strict rules, and since I got caught, I had it coming. If I don’t want to get kicked out, I should just suck it up. But that guy next to me just got caught with six packs of cigarettes! And he probably has two or three more cartons stashed away! No matter how big a deal shouting in class is, it can’t be worse than six packs of cigarettes, can it?’

’So how did that blockhead deal with it?’

’Not even a harsh word!’

’And those three from the Wind Disciplinary Committee! Fucking hell, they ransacked my stuff like a bunch of goddamn bandits, but when they got here, they didn’t even say a peep before turning tail and leaving. What does that tell you? It’s blatant favoritism! They’re targeting me!’

’Goddamn motherfuckers! You think I’m a pushover, is that it?!’

’And another thing, transferring me to the garbage class... this... this is fucking tantamount to a death sentence!’

During this period of his clashing consciousnesses, Shi Tiexin had gradually come to understand what the "garbage class" truly was. It was, quite simply, the dumping ground for all the dregs of Fengming First Middle School. His other consciousness had been completely obsessed with returning to the elite class. Instead, not only had he failed to return, he had taken a headfirst dive straight to the very bottom.

The other consciousness was shocked, furious, heartbroken, and despairing—filled with an indignation so profound it was beyond words.

At first, Shi Tiexin didn’t understand why the other consciousness felt such grief and indignation. But then, all at once, that grief, that resentment, that despair... felt so very familiar.

’Aren’t these the exact same emotions I felt today, when I was on the verge of death and drifting in and out of consciousness?!’

’So... that other consciousness and I... we’re kindred spirits, bound by the same fate...’

With that single thought, his mind suddenly felt clear. The conflict between the two consciousnesses, now bound by this shared grief and indignation, unexpectedly reached a delicate state of harmony and unity. The other consciousness, which had been resisting him all this time, suddenly went quiet. Shi Tiexin was abruptly filled with the sensation that he was finally able to take full control of this body.

His dizziness faded, the pressure in his head subsided, and his mind was no longer foggy. The other consciousness had ceased its struggle, temporarily handing over the reins for him to manage everything. A tickle rose in his throat, and Shi Tiexin suddenly knew: he could speak now.

’After this whole mess that’s dragged on from day to night, I can finally speak!’

"Ahem..." Clearing his throat, Shi Tiexin raised a hand to rub it, then turned his head toward Zhou Nan.

’Ugh, my body control is still a little off. The movements are a bit stiff...’

The scowling Zhou Nan just stood by and watched, with no intention of helping.

’That guy suddenly put two and two together. The only reason Zheng Big Head would show up here at this hour was because of this bastard! Motherfucker, I got six packs of cigarettes confiscated, and it’s all your fucking fault!’

’Son of a bitch, just you wait. If I don’t make you suffer so much you’ll be begging for death, then my name isn’t Zhou Nan!’

He gritted his teeth at Shi Tiexin’s back, sizing him up with a malicious glare. If it weren’t for the fact that Shi Tiexin was tall and imposing, a good half-head taller than him, Zhou Nan might have already puffed out his chest and swaggered over to start a fight.

But just as Zhou Nan was thinking about how to settle the score over his six packs of cigarettes, the big guy suddenly whipped his head around, revealing a cold, terrifying expression. The light from the overhead lamp was dim, casting deep shadows across his face and making him look as ferocious and horrifying as a demon.

With a guilty conscience already gnawing at him, Zhou Nan was startled and instinctively took a step back.

’Why’s this guy backing away?’ Shi Tiexin wondered. ’Ahem, my throat still isn’t working quite right. My voice is too quiet. I’ll have to get closer.’ So Shi Tiexin turned all the way around, took two steps forward, and asked, "Whose stuff is this on the bed?"

Yes, his first attempt at speaking was a success; he’d managed to say what he wanted. Of course, his voice was a bit raspy and his tone a bit grim, but those were minor issues. Overall, Shi Tiexin was quite satisfied.

The Zhou Nan opposite him, however, was terrified.

’He’s closing in!’

’And he’s talking with the voice of some TV triad boss who has countless henchmen and has killed more men than he can count!’

’Holy shit, this new guy is terrifying! His presence is even more intense than my own big brother’s! That intimidating Evil Qi makes it seem like he’s about to swallow someone whole. Even Brother Da Long from the sophomore year doesn’t have this kind of presence!’ Zhou Nan wasn’t brave to begin with, and harboring malicious thoughts only made him more cowardly. He was already starting to shrink back.

’Wait a second...’

’Personally escorted by the Square-Headed Devil...’

’Flanked by the three executioners from the Wind Disciplinary Committee...’

’This guy... don’t tell me he’s some kind of big shot!’