Chapter 83: A Breakthrough in Physical Arts, A Farewell Gift (Part One)

Recognize me as your boss? Whatever, it doesn’t matter. I’ve always found him easy to order around anyway—taking on a little brother is nothing new. Just as he was feeling a bit parched from wolfing down all those skewers, Shi Tiexin grabbed the cup and took a swig without a thought. He didn’t care that steam was still curling from the liquid; he gulped it down in one go, wiped his mouth, and slammed the cup onto the table with a sharp clack. “He’s mine now.”

“Excellent! Such forthrightness!” Zhou Xiong was overjoyed, waving enthusiastically. “Boss, bring out your best food and drink! Tonight, it’s my treat—let’s feast!”

“Coming right up! I promise you’ll eat and drink your fill!” The vendor’s booming voice echoed through the room.

“Extra chili, extra cumin—make it fragrant!” Now that the ritual was complete and the title confirmed, Zhou Nan seemed to have let go of some hidden weight. He immediately became lively, bustling about, and soon returned carrying several fragrant skewers. “Big brother, these are fresh off the grill!”

With Zhou Nan’s new burst of energy, the other followers all loosened up, their earlier tension dissipating in a burst of laughter and banter. The group was soon spinning endless yarns and boasts, smoking, drinking, all rowdy and unruly. Shi Tiexin ignored them, focusing on his own skewers.

Before long, another wisp of primordial energy gathered within him, bringing the total to ninety-nine—remarkably fast progress. But then, considering the cafeteria’s sorry excuse for a meal set, the combined lean meat on five people’s plates probably still didn’t equal what was on one of these skewers. In just a short time, dozens had disappeared down his throat. Zhou Xiong must have quite a stash, but tonight, he was certainly going to bleed for this feast.

“Brother, now that Zhou Nan has acknowledged you as boss, you’re officially the leader of Class 28,” Liu Shufeng said, waggling his eyebrows at Shi Tiexin as if under some strange spell. “You have no idea what a sacrifice Xiao Nan has made.”

“Sacrifice?”

What sacrifice—blood spilled? Flesh lost? Bankrupt?

“Yeah, you might not know, but only class bosses are eligible to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings. Zhou Nan has always been fixated on this. By handing over the leadership of Class 28, he’s officially withdrawn from the succession race.”

“Oh…”

Damn, just more childish power games. He thought it was something major.

“Since we’re on the subject, let’s get to the second order of business for tonight,” Zhou Xiong said, setting aside his cigarette and flicking the ash with practiced ease. He looked at Shi Tiexin with a serious expression. “The senior is about to step down. After this exam, he’s especially optimistic about you. He’s preparing for the college entrance exam and can’t show up in person. Chen Yuanlong’s away at training. So, the two of us, as representatives, are here to invite you—to become the next of the Four Heavenly Kings.”

“Me?” Shi Tiexin was taken aback. “Why?”

“Because you’re the most formidable, Big Brother Tie!” Zhou Nan exclaimed excitedly. “You’re the wise one. While everyone else was racking their brains for some stunt, you quietly aced the whole school, tying with Senior Zhou, the King of the Seniors. No one but you could pull that off. If not you, then who?”

“Equal footing?”

“Right. The senior king is Zhou Zhengyang—the one who also got a perfect score, just like you,” Zhou Xiong said, his expression full of mystery. “Brother, the Four Heavenly Kings are responsible for overseeing and restraining all the delinquents of Fengming First High, but that doesn’t mean they’re just thugs. Zhou Zhengyang, top of his grade, is one of the Kings.”

“Zhou Zhengyang…” Shi Tiexin mused, considering the names: Zhou Nan, Zhou Xiong, Zhou Zhengyang. “Are you all related?”

“Maybe eight hundred years ago, but not now. Just a coincidence,” Zhou Xiong replied with a chuckle. “So, brother, are you in?”

The surrounding followers all wore eager, expectant grins. In their eyes, becoming one of the Four Heavenly Kings was the highest honor. Didn’t they see how many people would kill for the chance? Now that he’d been invited, surely Big Brother Tie would gratefully accept.

But to everyone’s surprise—even to Zhou Nan’s—Shi Tiexin refused without hesitation. “No.”

“No?!” The followers gasped. Zhou Nan, however, smirked knowingly. How shallow, he thought. Did they really think my big brother would just jump at the offer? Big Brother Tie is too shrewd for that.

Refuse first to show his stance, then after some back and forth, finally relent. That way, even among the Four Heavenly Kings, he’d stand out—not just another yes-man.

The followers each had their own thoughts. Zhou Xiong took a drag on his cigarette, trying to persuade him. “The title of Four Heavenly Kings has a long and venerable history—”

A long history?

“How long?” Shi Tiexin asked.

“...Two years.”

“Two years counts as venerable?” He scoffed inwardly. What a joke.

“For high school students, two years is plenty long. It’s a title with real weight, enough to rule all the delinquents in the school. So, you’re not interested?”

“No.”

Zhou Nan remained unruffled. Good, that’s the second refusal. One more and we’re about there.

“But why?” Liu Shufeng interjected, baffled. “The Four Heavenly Kings! How cool is that—why wouldn’t you want it?”

Shi Tiexin said nothing—Cool? It’s just kids playing at being gangsters. Why should I care? Besides, managing delinquents is a hassle. I’d rather focus on my studies.

But after a moment, Shi Tiexin remembered something and looked at Zhou Xiong. “You said the Four Heavenly Kings oversee all the school’s delinquents?”

“That’s right.”

“Does that include Teng Chaoguo?”

“It does.”

“Teng Chaoguo used to beat me, threaten me, extort me. Does that fit your so-called rules?”

Zhou Xiong fell silent, puffing on his cigarette.

Shi Tiexin’s face was set like stone as he spoke the longest sentence he’d uttered since arriving in this world: “If that’s the rule, then the rule is worthless. If it’s not, then the Four Heavenly Kings are worthless. So I won’t be one, and I won’t abide by your rules—I’ll make my own.”

Zhou Xiong was silent. Liu Shufeng was silent. The followers were silent. The air thickened with tension once more. Zhou Nan glanced around, uneasy. Boss, you’ve gone too far—how will you get out of this now?

“Your rules are…” Zhou Xiong began, but was abruptly interrupted by a voice from the side: “Young man, time to pay up.” A fat, greasy hand stretched out toward Zhou Xiong.

“Huh?” Zhou Xiong turned and saw the skewer vendor, all smiles, holding out his hand. “You’re treating, so you pay.”

“But we’re not done eating!” one of the followers protested.

Zhou Xiong, a bit irritated, waved him off. “Later—you’ll get your money.” What a time for this—couldn’t he see they were in the middle of something important?

But the vendor didn’t budge, still smiling. “No, I’d rather settle up now. I’m afraid I won’t get my money later.”

“Hm?” Something about those words gave Zhou Xiong pause, and suddenly the atmosphere around them seemed off.

With a slap, Liu Shufeng clapped a heavy hand on Zhou Xiong’s shoulder, face grave. “There’s killing intent in the air.”