Era of Mist

Chapter 166: Chapter 165: We’ll Meet Again in the Jianghu

Shi Tiexin, however, shook his head. ”I know all that. And I’m not apologizing to them, I’m apologizing to you. They did it for themselves, but you’re different. You do it for everyone.”

”Of course! I’m just that great, aren’t I? But there’s even less need to apologize to me.” The bald man raised a thick palm. ”Remember what I’ve stressed to you time and again? One punch to fame. One punch to fame. It means you land one Cannon Fist, and he’ll learn why the flowers are so red!”

Shi Tiexin couldn’t help but laugh.

The bald man clapped Shi Tiexin on the shoulder—right on the sore spot.

”You don’t need to worry so much, to carry so much weight. Cannon Fist is about courage and valor; once you strike, there are no regrets. Little Stone, you’re still too weak right now. You have to travel light. Only when you’ve gotten stronger, much stronger, can you start shouldering these burdens again, one by one. But for now, you little brat, just focus on taking care of yourself!” ℯℯ𝑙.

”Besides, you think I’m just sitting here helpless?” The bald man turned his head, his face greasy and cunning. ”I figured out a fucking solution ages ago! First, I’ll throw some money around to hire people and build up some hype for you. Then, we’ll piggyback on the trend, package it, and push it out. After that, I’ll stuff some cash into social charities, human rights organizations, and the like, get them to beat the drum for us. And just like that, we’ve got a controversy brewing!”

It dawned on Shi Tiexin. ”You were the one who brought those reporters?”

”Of course! Who’s going to promote you if you don’t grease their palms? And another thing, He Chong says he’ll starve us out, and we’re supposed to just let him? Who the hell is that little bastard, anyway? Does he even have any standing in his own family anymore?”

That was true. He Chong had spent so much money and effort, but because Shi Tiexin had beaten him so badly, it was impossible for him to compete for third or fourth place. As a result, the final rankings placed him at fourth, with no chance at the Celestial Golden Light.

The key was that he had made a complete fool of himself in the minor county-level tournament, and now his reputation was in the gutter.

”What’s more, forget him—even his old man is a nobody in the grand scheme of the Star Engineering United Group.” The old baldy chuckled. ”You have no idea. If we play our cards right with this championship title of yours, we can actually make a huge improvement to the employment situation for our orphanage!”

Speak of the devil. Just as Zhang Quan was nitpicking, the second wave of companies arrived to recruit.

This time, there were more company representatives, and their expressions were much friendlier. They brought a number of reporters with them, a whole crew for photos and video. In front of the cameras, these representatives were all from conscientious companies, great humanitarians helping orphans overcome their difficulties. It was a win-win for both fame and fortune for them and the Orphanage.

Meanwhile, Zhang Quan, who ”happened” to be in the same shot, was framed as a villainous figure with shifty eyes and a pointy chin, and the images quickly spread online.

”Causing trouble on my turf? You’re really pushing your luck!” Situ Zhennan snorted coldly, his arms crossed. ”My old comrades are all over the world. All my back-alleys lead to Rome!”

Seeing that the old baldy was as cunning as ever, Shi Tiexin finally felt relieved.

Having grown up here, he truly didn’t want to bring any disaster upon the Orphanage because of his actions.

Shi Tiexin thought of something else. ”About that young master of the Si Family...” After laying the groundwork for the past few days, Shi Tiexin felt it was time to help the old baldy make a connection.

But the old baldy immediately refused. ”I know about that young master. Just keep it as a personal friendship. You don’t need to introduce him to me.”

’No need?’

”In this entire Orphanage, you’re the only one he has any time for. That connection can’t be made, and there’s no need for it.”

”Oh, right. The director of the Mu Yuan District’s Bureau of Education came by earlier. As a commendation, he brought you a complete set of secret manuals for the second layer of the Six Great Heart Techniques. The quality is so-so, but it’s better than nothing. Come get them from my office later. Also, some of the proper academies have called me, hoping you’ll enroll with them.”

Shi Tiexin asked, ”Are there any scholarships?”

”The other academies offer a little something, but the Civil Engineering First Academy doesn’t. Think it over. Just give me an answer within three days, and I’ll contact the academies for you. Don’t forget to get some reporters for a photoshoot then. I’m going to hang your picture on the wall in the Orphanage’s main hall, so every year during the Qingming and Hanshi festivals, everyone can...”

’The hell does he mean, Qingming and Hanshi! Is he planning to hang a black-and-white portrait of me?!’

But Situ the Bald paid him no more mind, turning to greet the company representatives with a beaming smile.

Before all the witnesses, the Orphanage director’s hand clasped a representative’s, and they didn’t let go for a long moment. They turned their heads to the reporters in unison. The reporters’ cameras went CLICK, CLICK, CLICK as they posed for a while before finally releasing their grip. They shared a knowing smile, and the director, reeking of backroom deals, led the group on a tour of the Orphanage.

’Which school should I go to?’

Shi Tiexin began to mull it over.

「Three days later, at the entrance of the Orphanage.」

”Big Brother Tie, it’s time for me to go.”

Little Dog took off his security guard uniform, transforming back into the young master of the Si Family.

Looking at the high-spirited Little Dog, Shi Tiexin thought for a moment before finally speaking up. ”Xiaosi, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you.”

”What is it?”

”The first day we met, the restaurant was full of people, and there were several others in security uniforms. Why did you come up to me?” If he hadn’t met Si Chongtian, his life as a security guard might have been much harder, with less time to practice his calligraphy.

Without that shout from him, he wouldn’t have coincidentally connected with Tao Zhongming. Then he wouldn’t have gotten that side job, wouldn’t have participated in the calligraphy competition, and the difficulty of paying off his debt would have been even greater.

Everything that followed would have changed.

So, with so many people there at the time, why did Si Chongtian choose to approach me, Shi Tiexin, with his tray first?

”Huh?” Hearing this, a bunch of question marks seemed to pop up over Si Chongtian’s head, as if he didn’t understand why Shi Tiexin would ask such a thing. ”Fate, I guess.”

’Fate?’

Little Dog scratched his head and added, ”Actually, it might be because you had the same kind of aura as me.”

Shi Tiexin subconsciously wanted to take a sniff. What scent did he and this Little Dog share?

”Thinking back, even though the room was full of people, I still noticed you right away. It wasn’t for any other reason, just that you seemed more... more like my kind of person. Just like my classmates at the academy.” Little Dog thought about it carefully, then nodded seriously. ”Yes, that’s right. It was the feeling of being with a fellow student, someone striving to learn at the Heart Technique Sacred Land.”

Understanding dawned on Shi Tiexin.

’So that’s how it was.’ Everyone has their own special instincts. This is especially true for students who haven’t been exposed to the wider world; they prefer to interact with other students. Compared to the bleak, struggling, despairing, and slickly cynical laborers, the scholarly aura he had picked up from the Champion Scholar Stone made Little Dog—a top student himself—see him as a kindred spirit. That’s what led to everything that followed.

THWACK! Si Chongtian forcefully clapped Shi Tiexin’s shoulder—the sorer one, again. ”Big Brother Tie, I’ve thought for a long time that you deserve a wider sky, a bigger stage, a better lot in life.”

Shi Tiexin’s face twitched. ’Why does everyone like to pat my injured shoulder?’

”Big Brother Tie, you are a true Martial Artist. I look forward to the day we can truly face each other in a fight!” Si Chongtian suddenly stood straight and solemn. He clasped his fist forcefully, his eyes burning. ”Until we meet again in the Jianghu!”

Shi Tiexin’s heart skipped a beat. He then seriously clasped his fist in return. ”Until we meet again in the Jianghu!”

Little Dog left, his departure free and easy, clean and decisive.

Shi Tiexin glanced back at the Orphanage building behind him, then at Little Dog’s retreating figure ahead. Right now, he could indeed only follow in Little Dog’s footsteps. But he was sure of it—one day, he would catch up to him and face him in a fair and square fight.

His mind was made up. The matter of scholarships was no longer a consideration.

Shi Tiexin’s hand slipped into his pants pocket. In it was a letter of recommendation—a special prize from the calligraphy competition.

’A first-rate gang in this city?’

’Excellent. This will be my next stage after leaving the Orphanage, after leaving Mu Yuan District!’