Era of Mist

The conflicted thugs in the back all froze. In just a few moves, another group was on the ground, yet that devil remained completely unscathed?

’We’re done. We’re so done. We were told he was just some poor student. Who the fuck knew he was a War God!’

"Go on, what are you useless bastards staring at? Get him for me!" Teng Chaoguo, unable to get up, howled from the ground. "Swarm him! Overwhelm him with your numbers!"

But this time, not a single thug charged forward. Even the ones who had been putting up a lively fight against Zhou Xiong and his crew suddenly started slacking off.

CLANG! One of them was the first to drop his bat. Without a word, he hoisted a groaning comrade off the ground and started to leave.

The others exchanged glances, then they too started dropping their bats, preparing to retreat.

Teng Chaoguo was stunned. "What are you doing? You trying to run? You gutless bastards, I paid good money for you!"

"Fuck your money! We came here to scare someone, not to die!"

"Do you take us for fucking morons? Charging headfirst into a fight we know we can’t win?"

"If you’re still alive tomorrow, you better believe we’re coming for medical expenses! You got this many of our brothers hurt, you’re not walking away without forking over tens of thousands!"

"Fucking arrogant prick, calling us useless? You’re the useless one, you piss-drinking piece of shit!"

The thugs spewed a stream of curses and then took off one by one. They weren’t Teng Chaoguo’s actual crew, just hired muscle he’d summoned with cash—thugs-on-demand. Now that the target had proven to be far tougher than expected, only an idiot would continue the fight.

Gazing at Shi Tiexin’s back, the thugs all felt he was someone they couldn’t afford to provoke. ’Better to shout a few curses to make it clear we’re not with that guy and then get the hell out of here!’

And so, Shi Tiexin, the false core within him now the size of a sesame seed, simply stood there. Like a tide parting before a rock, the thugs gave him a wide berth and scurried away.

In the pitch-black alley, all that remained were bloodstains, a complete mess on the ground, a slew of abandoned baseball bats, a despairing Teng Chaoguo, and, right, the long bench that had been thrown at the very beginning.

Shi Tiexin walked over, his steps measured and unhurried. He reached the bench, bent down, and picked it up. Hefting it in his hands, Shi Tiexin suddenly felt that this thing was surprisingly comfortable to wield.

’A long bench... definitely the best starting weapon!’

Then, his eyes swiveled, and his terrifying gaze locked onto Teng Chaoguo.

Teng Chaoguo was on the verge of tears.

"Get up."

Shi Tiexin gestured. Teng Chaoguo gritted his teeth, but he obediently stood up. Zhou Xiong and his friends watched from a distance. Only Zhou Nan, as a direct follower, ran over panting to stand behind Shi Tiexin.

Shi Tiexin looked down at Teng Chaoguo, then uttered two more irrefutable words.

"Kneel down."

Teng Chaoguo’s pupils contracted. He clenched his fists, his teeth grinding audibly, then shrieked, "Do you... do you people have any idea who I am? What my family is? If you push your luck today, I’m telling you, I guarantee I’ll leave you with nowhere to turn! I—"

"Well now, Young Master, are you an idiot?" Zhou Nan snorted, his face a mask of contempt. "We’re pushing our luck? You brought a mob here to kill us, and you say *we’re* pushing our luck? And as for having nowhere to turn, that’s even more of a joke. I’m just a street punk with a life that isn’t worth much. Getting expelled is no big deal to me."

"But you, Young Master, your precious future would be over. If you really dare to pull any dirty tricks, I’ll be watching you every single day, just like you were watching us. I guarantee it. I’ll follow you wherever you go, and I’ll find you wherever you hide. The second you’re alone, for even a minute... you can just wait to die, you bastard!"

Teng Chaoguo was rendered speechless. "I... You... I—!"

’Those with nothing to lose aren’t afraid of those who have everything. A man of wealth doesn’t court needless danger.’ He really had no reason to get entangled with these lowlifes.

But Shi Tiexin didn’t give him that much time to consider. His brow furrowed as he spoke again, "Kneel."

Teng Chaoguo’s face went pale, but he prepared to grit his teeth and stand firm. ’So what if I don’t kneel?’

Shi Tiexin seemed to read his mind. He slowly raised the long bench, his face as hard as cast iron. "Don’t kneel, and I’ll beat you to death."

Teng Chaoguo wanted to retort, ’Who are you trying to scare?’ but the words died on his lips. He looked at Shi Tiexin, at that imposing, ice-cold face, and suddenly realized the words he’d spoken were absolutely not a bluff.

’This guy... he’s a man of few words, and each one carries weight. When he says something, he means it. Look at those eyes—so merciless, so fearless, so resolute. He said he’d beat me to death if I don’t kneel... and he actually might do it!’

Teng Chaoguo felt it, clear as day. So-called killing intent... it was real.

His teeth chattered. CLICK. CLACK. CLICK. "You... you’re insane," he said, his voice trembling with disbelief. "Aren’t you afraid of the consequences?"

A rare smile stretched across Shi Tiexin’s stony face. The smile was even more terrifying than his usual expression. "Ever heard of the Juvenile Scumbag Protection Act?" He raised a hand, pointed a thumb at his own chest, and stated a fact that was easy to overlook. "I’m a minor. I can commit crimes without consequence."

Teng Chaoguo’s pupils dilated then constricted, his face flushing red then draining to a ghostly white. His mind was in utter turmoil. A moment ago, he had used that very threat against others; now, he was reaping what he had sown.

Shi Tiexin suddenly raised the bench high, his patience clearly worn thin, ready to bring it crashing down.

His legs gave out. THUD. Teng Chaoguo scrambled to his knees. In that instant, as his knees hit the pavement, he was utterly terrified, utterly pathetic. He had never valued the lives of others, but today, he was forced to value his own.

Life, after all, is precious.

Looking at the kneeling Teng Chaoguo, the ball of consciousness condensed in his spiritual domain let out a faint, satisfied laugh.

THUMP. The long bench was planted upright on the ground. Shi Tiexin turned to see Zhou Xiong and the others approaching. Zhou Xiong stared at Shi Tiexin, who now had Teng Chaoguo kneeling before him, his expression a mixture of shock and admiration. "Thank you," he said suddenly. "If it weren’t for you today, we would’ve been screwed."

"Don’t bother. If I weren’t here, none of this would have happened."

"It’s complicated, so let’s drop it. It’s your choice not to join the Four Celestial Kings. I’ll go talk to Brother Zhengyang, and we’ll just find someone else. But regardless, you’re a total badass! You’ve got guts!" Zhou Xiong turned to the four followers behind him. "From now on, all of you, and that includes the guys who aren’t here today, no matter your age, you will address Brother Shi respectfully as ’Big Brother Tie.’ Got it?"

"Yes, sir!" The four followers, completely won over, bowed in unison to Shi Tiexin and shouted, "Big Brother Tie!"

CLAP. CLAP. CLAP. A round of applause came from behind them. The owner of the kebab stand was clapping with a grin, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

TING-A-LING... A series of chimes echoed in his mind, like wind chimes or a music box. The sound was melodious, beautiful, mysterious, and magnificent.

A line of text appeared in his field of vision.

[Destiny Mission 1: Unbowed by Might.]

[COMPLETE!]

That mysterious diagram flashed before Shi Tiexin’s eyes once more. The time to return to his original timeline was approaching. This fantastical journey had its gains and losses; he’d made some achievements but also stirred up a lot of trouble. ’I suppose I’ve made things rather difficult for Champion Scholar Stone,’ he thought.

’What about the final exams? Will he be able to test back into the elite class? Will Teng Chaoguo retaliate? I heard his family is quite influential; will he be so humiliated that he resorts to dirty tricks?’ Shi Tiexin didn’t know, and for the moment, he couldn’t do anything about it.

His true self was only a fifteen-year-old boy, and he had only been here for ten short days. How could he possibly consider the distant future?

Regardless, he had left Champion Scholar Stone with the cultivation methods for Heart Skill Thought Qi and Essence Qi of the Force Arts. This world was so marvelous, and Heart Skill Secret Manuals were so cheap, that it made him feel that even if he weren’t in the Heart Technique Sacred Land, even if he were expelled from Fengming First Middle School, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

’The world is vast. Even roadside kebabs are bursting with Essence Qi, and the secret manuals in tiny bookstores are priceless treasures. In a world this grand, what is there to fear?’

Still, Destiny Mission 2 had to be completed. Even now, having just finished Destiny Mission 1, Shi Tiexin could already sense a completely new and different state of being.

When all was said and done, this journey of his was coming to an end. The rights and wrongs, the gains and losses, were all set in stone. ’Will I be able to come back here someday?’ Shi Tiexin didn’t know, but for some reason, he felt that he probably could.

HUM... HUM... The diagram flickered into existence, piece by piece, as if heralding something.

Shi Tiexin took one last, satisfied look at his various attributes. ’It’s time to go back. Back to my own timeline. Time to face life’s challenges as a new me!’

WHOOSH— The diagram flared with brilliant light in his consciousness. Two points of light in two parallel timelines suddenly connected, and a consciousness shot back across this transitional bridge in an instant. Shi Tiexin’s primary consciousness plunged into infinite darkness, as if sinking into the deepest of dreams.

In dreams, I knew not I was a guest,

A fleeting dream in the dead of night,

And suddenly, I was home!