Chapter 9: Unyielding as Stone, Iron Resolve (Part Two)

Zhou Nan had originally planned to stir up some trouble and establish the proper hierarchy in the dormitory. But now, a wave of timidity washed over him and he decided to wait and see. His imposing manner immediately deflated, and with downcast eyes he mumbled in a small voice, “I… I don’t know whose it is, maybe it belongs to everyone…”

Shi Tiexin frowned, his expression growing even more rigid.

What did he say? The voice was too soft! His hearing wasn’t what it used to be either, so he leaned in a bit closer.

Shi Tiexin stepped forward and, forcing the words out from his throat, said, “What did you say?” His tongue stumbled, and he couldn’t even get the last word out.

He felt he was speaking quite normally—but Zhou Nan was now sweating with fear!

Terrifying!

What did I say?

He’d never heard someone speak in such an intimidating way before! Well, maybe he had—those brutes in TV dramas, fierce generals or wild monks, always glared and barked out questions like this right before a big fight. So terse, so imposing, so perfectly fitting!

Looks like this big shot is angry!

But what did I do to offend him?

Could he know I was planning to go up against him? No, that’s impossible—am I really so easy to read? Or is this guy so sharp that he’s already seen through my nature as a troublemaker?

“I—I, uh…” Zhou Nan’s eyes darted around, then suddenly, inspiration struck—he seemed to grasp what this big shot wanted. He darted out, scrambled up onto the bed, and began hurriedly clearing things away like a lackey: “Please, just a moment, let me tidy this up for you! Take a seat, make yourself comfortable, I’ll have it sorted in no time! Really, how could anyone take someone else’s bed? When those little rascals come back, I’ll be sure to teach them a lesson!”

Shi Tiexin raised an eyebrow. Oh? So proactive—this wasn’t how he’d expected things to go. He’d intended to keep a low profile and observe for a while, but were his dormmates really this enthusiastic and harmonious?

Since they were being so friendly… he decided to sit down and let Zhou Nan get on with it.

He hadn’t had dinner that night, and now he really was feeling a bit weak.

So Shi Tiexin sat himself down grandly on the lower bunk opposite, arms folded, and took a short rest. Zhou Nan, meanwhile, bustled about on the upper bunk, gritting his teeth in secret curses while sneaking glances at Shi Tiexin below. To Zhou Nan, Shi Tiexin resembled a slave driver in a labor camp: inscrutable, unyielding, and immovable as a mountain.

This guy really doesn’t look easy to deal with.

Could it be that my status as “Big Brother Nan” of Class 28 is about to be toppled by this guy? Absolutely not.

I’m still planning to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings in my second year!

Damn it, I’ll have to think of a way to get rid of him…

These thoughts raced through his mind, but his hands didn’t slow. He quickly cleared away the clutter, spread out Shi Tiexin’s bedding with unusual care, then patted and smoothed everything until it was surprisingly neat and clean. As for the other bundles, there was no place for them in the cramped dorm, and Zhou Nan didn’t want to overdo the lackey routine, so he just left them for now.

Large bags on the floor, smaller ones on the bed, and a few personal items—Shi Tiexin gave a grunt of approval, then climbed up and flopped onto the bed, falling asleep in moments. The clash of consciousnesses had been exhausting; he was simply too tired for small talk, and as soon as his head hit the pillow, he was out.

This time, nothing short of the sky falling would wake him. At last, his mind settled down. The two battling consciousnesses gradually sorted themselves out—one took control, while the other became frozen in some corner of his mind, needing either time or special conditions to thaw.

The benefit: he wouldn’t suffer a mental overload from taking in too many memories at once.

The downside: even inert, the frozen consciousness still exerted some influence. After all, blood clots can cause strokes—why would a mental “clot” have no effect?

Specifically, no matter how tumultuous his inner world, Shi Tiexin’s face would rarely show any expression, and his tone of speech often lacked subtlety. His eyes didn’t move nimbly, and unless he focused, his hearing wasn’t very sharp. In short, his senses were a bit dull.

Other than that, there was nothing.

At Fengming No. 1 High School, there were three sessions of night study, running from seven to nine thirty-five. At nine thirty-five, the school day ended, the lights in the teaching building went out, and great crowds of students streamed out of the academic area. Some diligent students would head to special study rooms or continue working in the dorms, but in this ancient, decrepit building, home to the worst classes, such studiousness was virtually nonexistent.

Even before nine-thirty, a few students were already sneaking back early, skipping class and laughing as they raced to the dormitory. These vanguards would make a ruckus in the hallways, then disappear into the night, off to who-knows-where. Minutes later, the dormitory erupted into chaos.

Stomping up stairs, slamming doors, shouting, cursing, sneaking cigarettes, the air becoming ever more foul. Some students rushed off with basins to the communal sinks to wash clothes—water supply in this ancient building was poor, and if you weren’t quick, the taps would dribble out in fits and starts like a dying man’s bladder. The location of a tap was hotly contested territory.

Shi Tiexin’s room, of course, saw its share of arrivals—several boisterous students burst in, talking loudly. Zhou Nan, glancing coldly at Shi Tiexin sleeping on the top bunk, wished the noise would grow even louder and wake the bastard up.

But Shi Tiexin slept on, oblivious, dead to the world.

The other dormmates were surprised to see him. On the one hand, a newcomer always attracted attention. On the other, new arrivals usually made a point of being humble, greeting everyone and maybe even bringing a small gift to smooth their entry into the group. But this guy? He just slept, completely unconcerned with anyone else.

“Hey, why are there things on my bed?” a bespectacled boy asked, pushing up his glasses and pointing at his bunk in confusion. “Whose stuff is this? Why’s it on my bed?”

“Mine!” Zhou Nan immediately smacked the boy on the head and yelled, “What’s your problem, huh? Got a death wish, you little punk?”

The boy shrank back without a word, head down and fists clenched, not daring to resist. The others simply watched in silence.

Their reactions restored Zhou Nan’s confidence—he still held sway here. Mimicking Shi Tiexin, he sat on the lower bunk with his arms folded, but however he shifted, he couldn’t muster the same unshakable presence. Growing increasingly frustrated, Zhou Nan shot a sideways glance at Shi Tiexin on the upper bunk, steeling himself.

Fine, be arrogant for tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll find out everything about you. If you’re just putting on a front… I swear I’ll crush you!