All for the Sake of Staying Alive

It was past eight, nearly nine, by the time Wang Teng left the police station.

Before that, he had called home and told his parents that he had arranged to go out for dinner with his classmates that night.

In reality, he had been taken to the police station to give a statement.

Fortunately, Wang Teng was the victim. Once the police understood what had happened, they let him go.

Criminal Police Captain Yang Zhenchao personally escorted Wang Teng to the entrance and handed him a cigarette.

"Want one?"

Wang Teng did not stand on ceremony. He took it and put it between his lips.

The two lit up and began puffing away outside the police station.

"Learning to smoke at such a young age?" Yang Zhenchao joked with a smile.

"Don't mention it."

Wang Teng sighed and shook his head.

Yang Zhenchao did not press the matter. Instead, he said seriously, "Those robbers had drifted into East Sea City from other cities. They had committed quite a few major crimes before and were all wanted."

"You must have noticed too. They were all vicious criminals, and every one of them had several lives on their hands."

"Getting rid of them was entirely an act of eliminating harm for the people, so don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Wang Teng immediately felt much better.

So they really were all bad people. If I hadn't been forced into it, how could a good student with all-round moral, intellectual, and physical development have been so ruthless?

"..." Yang Zhenchao was speechless.

This kid seemed a little shameless!

He felt that all his concern had been wasted and said irritably, "Once we finish the procedures on our end, we'll send you the reward money and a commendation banner!"

"Huh? You're giving me reward money and a commendation banner?" Wang Teng was a little surprised. He hurriedly waved his hands. "No need. I can't accept either the money or the banner."

"You really don't want it? These robbers had been wanted for a long time and still hadn't been caught, so the reward is quite substantial—one hundred thousand." Yang Zhenchao thought Wang Teng did not know the amount and explained.

"No need. I'm not short on money," Wang Teng said calmly.

"Not short on money?" Yang Zhenchao was speechless. This kid sure talked big.

"Then donate the money to your police station. You're public servants and work so hard. Consider it a small token of my appreciation," Wang Teng said.

"Then I'll thank you on behalf of the entire police station." Yang Zhenchao was immediately filled with respect.

"Oh, right, Captain Yang. Before those robbers took me away, I left my car parked on the road. Could you check whether it was impounded by the traffic police?"

Wang Teng suddenly remembered the supercar he had left by the roadside.

"Sure. I'll make a call and ask."

Yang Zhenchao made a call, said a few words, and had Wang Teng provide the license plate number. The answer came quickly.

"It really was taken back. Come on, I'll take you to retrieve it." Yang Zhenchao hung up and spoke.

"Okay." Wang Teng nodded and followed him.

"Speaking of which, you were really a bit ruthless."

As they walked, Yang Zhenchao suddenly turned to look at him.

"It was my first time encountering something like this, so I didn't know how to hold back," Wang Teng said helplessly.

"Compared to you, I was far worse when I killed someone for the first time. I nearly got myself killed, and luckily, a senior stepped in to save me." Yang Zhenchao sank into reminiscence.

Then he said with some emotion, "You're so young, yet you're already an Advanced Martial Apprentice. Your strength even surpasses mine. In less than two years, you may well become a martial warrior!"

"You flatter me, Captain Yang. I just got lucky," Wang Teng said modestly.

Before long, they arrived. After signing the paperwork and retrieving the car, Yang Zhenchao looked at the supercar before him and said helplessly, "No wonder you don't care about one hundred thousand. You really aren't short on money."

Wang Teng got into the car and waved to Yang Zhenchao.

"Captain Yang, thank you for today. I need to go home, or my parents will worry."

"No need to be polite. I forgot that you're still a high school student. Hurry home." Yang Zhenchao nodded.

As he watched the supercar drive away, a man in his thirties walked up beside Yang Zhenchao and asked, "What's that kid's background? You, Yang Zhenchao, even made a personal trip for him."

"He has no particular background, but he's an Advanced Martial Apprentice. Today, he killed five desperate criminals armed with Rune Guns using only his bare hands," Yang Zhenchao said.

"An Advanced Martial Apprentice!"

The man was shocked. "He's only seventeen or eighteen, right? He's already an Advanced Martial Apprentice, and he could kill five desperate criminals armed with Rune Guns with his bare hands? He's that strong? Where did this genius come from?"

"Who knows? But... he's truly extraordinary. The next time we see him, we may have to look up at him," Yang Zhenchao said with a sigh.

The man nodded as though he felt the same way.

Wang Teng had no idea what the two men were discussing behind him. He drove straight to the Polar Star Martial Arts Academy.

After arriving at the martial arts academy, he went to the Second Floor.

Watching the trainees training passionately in the practice hall, the turmoil in his heart gradually settled.

He picked up a wave of attributes, then walked over to a sandbag and began practicing his punches.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Wang Teng needed an outlet to release the pressure that had built up inside him. He punched rapidly, his arms leaving afterimages as they hammered the sandbag.

Like it was caught in a violent storm, the sandbag swayed fiercely under the force of his fists.

Seeing his frenzied state, the trainees nearby could not help backing away several steps... How terrifying. Is this guy crazy? Better stay away from him!

As Wang Teng practiced his punches, the scenes of him killing the five robbers that day kept replaying in his mind.

If he were given another choice, would he still strike so ruthlessly?

The answer was... yes!

He felt uncomfortable, but he did not believe he had been wrong.

Those who killed would eventually be killed!

Moreover, in that situation, if he had not gone for a one-hit kill, he might have faced even fiercer resistance.

The other side had Rune Guns. One moment of carelessness, and he would have been the one to die. Mercy was not an option. Everything... had only been for the sake of staying alive.

After finishing his boxing practice, he began practicing swordsmanship and saber techniques!

Wang Teng did not want to stop for even a moment. He wanted to push himself into utter exhaustion. Only then could he completely release the pressure.

He trained until eleven that night.

Only after all the trainees had left did he drag his exhausted body back to his car and drive home.

When he returned home, his heart finally settled completely.

"Son, weren't you having dinner with your classmates? Why did you go to the martial arts academy to train again?"

Seeing Wang Teng covered in sweat and completely exhausted, Li Xiumei could not help asking.

"I went after dinner. Martial arts training is all about perseverance." Wang Teng smiled.

"You really are taking it seriously this time." Li Xiumei spoke with satisfaction.

"Go wash up. I'll make you a late-night snack. Come down and eat in a while."

Li Xiumei's concern brought warmth to Wang Teng's somewhat chilled heart. Smiling, he headed upstairs.

He took out a change of clothes, entered the bathroom, and turned on the faucet.

Cold water washed directly over his exhausted body, as though it would wash everything away.

After showering, Wang Teng felt lighter than ever, completely refreshed. He dried his hair and went downstairs.

"Wow, it smells amazing! Mom, what did you make?"

"Your favorite egg noodles. The broth was simmered with Star Beast Meat, and I added some Star Beast Meat too. Come eat." Li Xiumei came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl.

"No wonder it smelled a little different, but it smells even better." Wang Teng eagerly picked up his chopsticks and slurped down a huge mouthful.

"It's delicious!"

He swallowed it in one gulp, steam spilling from his mouth as Wang Teng could not help praising it.

"If it's good, eat more. Martial arts training uses up too much energy, so you need to replenish yourself," Li Xiumei said.

"Mm-hmm."

Wang Teng wolfed down more than half the bowl of noodles in just a few bites, then looked up and asked, "Mom, where's Dad? Why isn't he back yet?"

"Him? He's away on a business trip. He won't be back for the next couple of days," Li Xiumei said.

"Oh!"

Not long after, Wang Teng finished the noodles. He patted his satisfied stomach, stood up, and stretched lazily.

"I'm so full. Mom, I'm going upstairs. You should rest early too."

"Got it. I'll wash the dishes and then go to sleep," Li Xiumei replied.

Back in his room, Wang Teng took out his phone and checked it.

There were several unread messages on WeChat.

Two were from Bai Wei, asking what he was doing, and one was from Yu Hao. That kid wanted to train martial arts with him.

They had all been sent while Wang Teng was being held hostage, so naturally, he could not reply.

It was already so late, so he did not respond now either. He would deal with it tomorrow.

He then turned on his computer and browsed the internet for a while, watching idiotic netizens argue and complain. When drowsiness finally washed over him, he climbed into bed in a good mood, quietly wished himself good night, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

He did not know whether these two chapters had been written well. It seemed some people liked them while others did not.

Forget it. Let this chapter serve as a transition. The next arc would begin afterward.