An Outcast Opens His Eyes to the World

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull impacts rang out almost simultaneously!

The first was Qing He Miao using the momentum to fall sideways to the ground, cushioning the impact with his arm and the side of his body.

The second came as the attacker's calf was kicked and his throw disrupted, leaving him unsteady on his feet. He staggered and fell heavily onto his side!

A little dust rose.

Neither side paused for an instant.

The moment Qing He Miao hit the ground, he rolled sideways several times in succession to open up some distance, then rose into a crouch and looked toward his attacker.

"Oww, holy crap... Kid, your reactions are getting faster and faster, and you sure fight dirty!"

The attacker cursed as he climbed to his feet and dusted himself off.

With an Outcast's eyesight, Qing He Miao could see that he was a burly young man in ordinary sportswear: Deng Youcai, whom he hadn't seen in some time.

He rubbed his kicked calf. There was no anger on his face, only frustration and a hint of surprise.

"I remember you spend the whole year at school, kid, and barely even meet anyone in the circle. Where did you get those real combat skills? Tsk, tsk, is the gap in talent really that big?"

These days, never mind real combat—it wasn't easy even to see what other people in the circle could do.

Hadn't the Tang Sect practically been turned into a martial arts school?

As a result, the new generation, lacking practice, was often weaker than the older generation when it came to an actual fight.

Yet the kid before him had been fairly green when they first met, but over the past two years, his style had become increasingly different from theirs.

"Brother Youcai, some way to say hello... You even got my school uniform dirty. I'm afraid it won't dry by tomorrow."

Qing He Miao straightened up and brushed the dust off himself, then said helplessly,

"What brought you two to school to find me all of a sudden? Is something up?"

The sense that had let him recognize them at a glance in the crowd was the feeling of having an Immortal Family with them.

Although he had expected it, only now did his taut nerves relax.

As for his skills, he had naturally honed them in the martial arts world.

His attributes might not have changed, but his fighting style had become increasingly practical.

"Hehe, enough talk. I'll wash your uniform for you. How about another test of what you're made of, kid?"

Deng Youcai grinned and wanted to step forward for another exchange.

"That's enough, Youcai."

A much gentler voice came from the shadows at the other end.

Deng Youfu, also dressed casually but with a more refined and steady bearing, slowly walked out. He pushed up his glasses and nodded to Qing He Miao.

"Nothing in particular. We were passing by and thought we'd treat you to a meal."

"Sounds great. Where are we eating?"

Qing He Miao asked when he saw Deng Youfu appear.

"Ask him! He's treating today, so let's not hold back. We'll find a good place and really make him pay!"

Deng Youcai smiled, spread his hands and pointed at Deng Youfu.

"How about it? That last one didn't count. Why don't we get a proper workout in before dinner?"

"Forget it, forget it, Brother Youcai."

Qing He Miao smiled and waved a hand.

"Never mind using all the power Grandpa Gray lends you. Even with just your own cultivation of life and nature, I'm still no match for you right now. What's the point of fighting?"

"Damn it, that's what you say, but whenever I actually fight you, kid, it always feels like that's a load of crap!"

Deng Youcai said gloomily.

The defining feature of the Horse-Riding Immortal lineage was "inviting an Immortal Family."

When sparring with other sects, using an Immortal Family's power was only natural—a matter of relying on one's own abilities.

But if members of the same lineage, especially juniors like them, called on the Immortal Families behind them to fight in their stead whenever they competed,

wouldn't that turn it into a contest of the cultivation and backing of their respective Immortal Families?

It would make him look like he was bullying others by relying on his backing.

But that was precisely what frustrated Deng Youcai.

Without using an Immortal Family's power, his ambush just now had not only failed to gain him an advantage but had left him at a slight disadvantage instead.

He had a vague feeling that if their cultivation of life and nature were brought to the same level, he might really lose.

That left a slightly unpleasant taste in his mouth.

"Enough. All you ever think about is fighting."

Deng Youfu looked at his younger brother and smiled as he spoke to smooth things over.

"Let's not stand around here. Find a decent place and treat little Qing to a good meal. We can talk while we eat."

Only then did the three make their way around the campus to the front gate.

Deng Youcai had driven over in a domestic car that was neither new nor old, and he called the other two to get in.

The car pulled away from the school, passed through the county town's somewhat crowded streets and wound around several turns before finally stopping outside a brightly lit, bustling barbecue restaurant with a large sign.

It was just the time for a late-night meal, and plenty of people were seated both inside and out. The place was full of life, and the aroma of charcoal, cumin and chili washed over them.

They found a relatively quiet booth toward the back and sat down. Deng Youcai took the menu with the ease of a regular, ordered a whole assortment of things with a grand wave of his hand, and asked for several bottles of ice-cold beer.

Qing He Miao put his heavy schoolbag on the empty seat beside him. Only then did he have time to complain.

"Brother Youcai, can you two find me in a more normal way next time? Don't trouble the Immortal Family when there's no need. We're at my school. What if someone from the circle passing by sensed it? We don't want to bring on any unnecessary trouble, do we?"

Outcasts were rare, but the village where his family lived fell within the county's boundaries.

School, county town, village.

It was a clear trail, fairly easy to trace.

For all he knew, there might be other people in the know from the circle active nearby.

One less problem was better than one more.

"I'd like to find you normally! But you're like some old antique, kid. You don't even have a phone!"

Deng Youcai was holding a set of plastic-wrapped tableware. He tore the packaging open with a rip and retorted irritably,

"If I don't catch you at school, where am I supposed to catch you? Who knows which classroom you're in for evening study tonight? You can't expect me to search the whole teaching building room by room, can you?"

"Little Qing, Youcai's right about that."

Deng Youfu also tried to persuade him.

"Your talent for Outcast arts may be better than ours, but we Outcasts need to keep up with the times too. These days, not having a phone really is too inconvenient."

"Here, see this? The latest model, all touchscreen."

As he spoke, Deng Youcai pulled a smartphone with a screen protector from his trouser pocket and slapped it onto the table with the air of someone showing off a brick phone back in the day.

"Well? Never seen one before, have you? Want us brothers to get you one?"

"Forget it. I'll wait another couple of years."

Qing He Miao glanced at the Touchscreen Phone, which was quite popular at the time, and rolled his eyes, utterly unmoved.

"These things will be all over the streets, and the price will have come down. It'll be cheaper then."

He had come from an era when he'd rather order barbecue for delivery than go out to eat it.

And these two were trying to educate him about it?

If he'd been born into a wealthy family, he'd follow the latest trends too.

But wouldn't buying an electronic device stir up feelings in his family?

For him, it was a better deal to keep the atmosphere comfortable and get some more emotional value out of it.

So Qing He Miao turned the tables and jokingly suggested,

"The model my dad uses can double as a brick. I'm afraid it'll be discontinued and out of production in another couple of years. Buying one to keep as a collectible would make a pretty meaningful memento."

The Deng brothers were at a loss.

Even ordinary people could see that trend.

But how many could remain unmoved by the temptation before them and quietly wait for the future?

That state of mind—"remaining calmly unmoved and going with the larger trend"—was truly impressive.

In any case, it wasn't something one would expect at his age.

Chapter 60: An Outcast Opens His Eyes to the World

"Fine, I can't outtalk you."

Deng Youcai put his phone away.

"Then you should at least let your parents know, right? You're not going home this late at night."

"Well, there you go."

Qing He Miao pursed his lips.

"You two have phones. Help me call my parents and tell them I'm with you, and that I might be home a little late. Tell them not to worry."

After Qing He Miao entered high school, his school was in the county town.

With support from the Horse-Riding Immortal lineage, he attended County No. 1 High School.

Normally, most students from the countryside had to board at school.

But Qing He Miao wanted more freedom to arrange his affairs.

Although Qing Fu and Qing Mu didn't know exactly what method their son used, they knew he was capable of making the trip quickly enough to get to and from school on time.

So, at his request, since they could save on boarding fees,

his parents were happy to arrange for him to attend as a day student.

Deng Youfu nodded, took out his phone and dialed the number Qing He Miao gave him, then politely explained the situation.

The two knew of each other.

Qing He Miao's mother answered in a cheerful voice and gave him a few reminders before hanging up.