Swift Wind Pavilion, Mysterious Notebook

Zhou Zhe opened the door like a walking corpse and saw a young girl with snow-white skin, wearing a gray long dress.

Zhang Miaoran.

She came from a wealthy family, excelled academically, was exceptionally beautiful, possessed an elegant demeanor, was athletic, and well-rounded in academics, arts, and physical education. Furthermore, she was pure and chaste, with no rumors of any romantic involvement with boys, making her a perfect goddess-like existence.

Honestly, Zhou Zhe had no idea why she would be here.

Their lives were like two parallel lines, seemingly never to intersect.

"..."

Zhou Zhe looked at her silently, opening his mouth as if to say something, but not knowing what to say.

Zhang Miaoran broke the silence first, handing him a gold card. "This is the only way I can help you right now."

With just a glance, Zhou Zhe recognized the card's purpose—a monthly membership to the Swift Wind Pavilion, with a face value of 180,000 yuan.

To Zhou Zhe, this was an astronomical sum!

And even then, don't complain about the price!

People with insufficient luck, slow reflexes, or lacking social connections couldn't get this item, no matter how much money they had!

The so-called Swift Wind Pavilion was a burgeoning industry that rose rapidly after the Cosmic Arena began its operations.

Its controller was the survivor of the first Earth generation, Lin Ye!

It was said that exceptionally gifted individuals could even learn the "Wind Control Power" from the Swift Wind Pavilion, ascend to the ranks of the extraordinary, and achieve the ability to fly!

Even those with mediocre talent could master various advanced combat techniques from alien civilizations through diligent training, allowing power to reside within the individual!

After all, the Deities chose Gladiators completely at random; they paid no mind to the chosen individuals' social status, wealth accumulation, or fame.

To them, the better the duelist, the more spectacular the performance they could deliver on His stage.

Therefore...

Even high-ranking officials frequently visited Swift Wind Pavilions across the country, striving to improve their overall personal strength—or rather, their ability to survive.

"Thank you!"

Zhou Zhe accepted the card without any hesitation.

In a life-or-death situation, machismo was out of the question.

He carefully put away the card and asked, "Why are you being so nice to me?"

Every effect has a cause; there's no such thing as unprovoked love in the world.

An investment in potential? Seeing a bright future?

No.

Zhou Zhe didn't believe he had anything worth investing in at the moment. If he were an investor, he would absolutely not engage in such a high probability of capital loss.

However, upon hearing this, Zhang Miaoran's reaction was somewhat peculiar.

Her face flushed slightly, and she appeared shy, as if she might turn and leave at any moment.

"Don't you know this yourself?"

Zhang Miaoran suppressed her shyness, her ear tips turning red. In the end, she stayed.

If she didn't say some things now, she might never have the chance.

After a long silence, she mustered her courage and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito's hum, "To me, there are only two types of people in this world: one is my family, like my parents, and like... you."

Having said that, Zhang Miaoran's speaking speed suddenly increased several times: "The other is everyone else."

"I was worried that after not seeing each other for so many years, you might have changed."

"But now it seems..."

"No matter how much time has passed, Zhou Zhe, you're still the same as you were seven years ago—just as gentle, kind, smart, and brave!"

The monthly card for the Swift Wind Pavilion was a very precious item, even in the eyes of Zhang Miaoran's parents. They were reluctant to use it themselves and kept it for their daughter.

The sudden praise left Zhou Zhe a bit stunned.

If he weren't about to fight aliens for his life in seven days, Zhou Zhe would have thought he was the protagonist of a romance manga.

Gentle, kind, smart, and brave?

Were these words really applicable to him?

Seven years ago...

At that time, he was just a naive kid, right?

However, with Zhang Miaoran's reminder, Zhou Zhe tried to recall and managed to remember some fragmented scenes—

A shy little girl was being bullied by three neighborhood brats. Because he couldn't stand seeing the strong bully the weak, he stepped forward and beat the three brats so badly their mothers wouldn't recognize them.

Having endured domestic violence, Zhou Zhe's pain tolerance and combat ability far surpassed his peers. Coupled with the accumulated resentment developed over time, a complete victory in the "duel" was to be expected.

Of course, the epilogue to this little story wasn't good.

Although he won the fight, his father, Zhou Yulin, to avoid paying medical expenses, like a furious rat, broke both of Zhou Zhe's legs in front of the "victim's" parents.

For Zhou Yulin, the outcome was good—not only did he perfectly achieve his goal, but he also extorted a sum for medical expenses and emotional damages from the brat's parents.

Afterward, Zhou Zhe had his legs in casts and used a homemade crutch for three months. It was a stroke of luck that he didn't end up with a permanent disability.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that his brain's automatic protection mechanism caused Zhou Zhe to actively block out the memory of this period!

If Zhang Miaoran hadn't brought it up, Zhou Zhe might never have recalled this incident in his life.

Who could have predicted back then that in just seven short years, the ugly duckling would complete her transformation and become the beautiful swan before him?

"Give it your all, and try to survive!"

The young woman turned her back, waved her hand, her voice trembling slightly.

"I sincerely hope... you can survive!"

Zhang Miaoran's figure disappeared at the end of his vision.

Zhou Zhe silently clenched the Swift Wind Pavilion monthly pass in his hand.

"There are still people in this world who care about me..."

"That's why..."

"I must survive!"

Zhou Zhe didn't notice that the notebook he had casually tossed aside earlier had its text gradually distort and merge into ink-blue lines, slowly forming a line of text—

[Host Codename "Respect", Character Model Locked, Handwriting Verification Successful, Soul Binding Complete.]

Forty minutes later.

In the prime location of the city center.

The area that used to house Le Song Fitness Center had, at some point, become a branch of the Swift Wind Pavilion.

Holding his membership pass, Zhou Zhe smoothly entered the facility.

"There are free buffets and lounges available for members."

Zhou Zhe walked around the Swift Wind Pavilion, familiarizing himself with the layout, and thought to himself, "Moreover, the Swift Wind Pavilion is open twenty-four hours. I don't have to go back to that so-called 'home' at all!"

Eat! Drink! Live!

For at least seven days, he didn't need to worry about any of these three things.

He silently thanked Zhang Miaoran in his heart.

If it weren't for her, he would probably still be distracted by other trivial matters right now, let alone being able to enter the Swift Wind Pavilion to study!

As Zhou Zhe was contemplating, a young woman in a uniform wearing flesh-colored stockings quickly approached him, a smile on her face and a gentle tone, saying, "Hello."

Her service attitude was excellent. She only faltered for a moment when she saw the black sword and shield brand on the back of Zhou Zhe's hand, a hint of sympathy and pity appearing on her face before she quickly regained her composure.

"My surname is Zhuang. Until your membership expires, I will be your personal assistant. You can call me Xiao Zhuang."

"Now, please follow me for a physical examination."

"Only by thoroughly understanding your physical data can we tailor a training plan for you."

Passing the climbing hall and the highly sci-fi gravity room, Zhou Zhe was placed inside a comprehensive human scanner, similar to a magnetic resonance imaging chamber.

Five minutes later, the test results were out.

Assistant Zhuang, holding a document, said seriously, "Although you haven't reached the minimum entry standard for a 'Wind Rider,' with enough effort, you can still enter the ranks of 'Superman' with the help of the 'Wind Element Body Tempering Technique.'"

"It's a pity, though..."

"There are dark injuries and blockages throughout your body, making it difficult for wind elements to circulate, especially evident in your tibias."

With such a body, let alone the power of wind elements, cultivating any other extraordinary ability would make him the worst of the worst.

Zhou Zhe nodded slightly, his tone calm, "I understand."

It was obvious that these were the marks left by his biological father, Zhou Yulin, seven years ago.

The former Zhou Zhe had also hated his father, unable to resolve the pent-up anger in his heart.

Now, Zhou Zhe felt nothing.

He had already made up his mind.

After this cosmic duel, even if he were fortunate enough to survive, he had no intention of returning to that so-called "home."

Assistant Zhuang's professionalism was high, and she immediately interjected, "You don't need to worry too much. As long as you can pass the trial for a probationary cosmic gladiator, your body will immediately recover to be healthier and purer than that of a baby."

Zhou Zhe didn't hear a word of this.

Because...

A familiar notebook, at some unknown time, suddenly floated before his eyes!

The subsequent developments will be quite interesting.

According to the outline, the protagonist will quickly complete the period of stealthy growth and then embark on a journey of causing trouble... oh no, of crushing opponents.

This is so cool.

Please give me some votes, sniffle! (T_T)