For the Sake of Living

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 he had arranged to have dinner with his classmates that evening.

In reality, he had been taken to the 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 saw Wang Teng to the entrance and handed him a cigarette.

"Smoke?"

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

The two lit up and began puffing away in clouds of smoke outside the police station.

"Learning to smoke at such a young age," Yang Zhenchao teased with a smile.

"Don't mention it."

Wang Teng sighed and shook his head.

Yang Zhenchao did not press the matter. His expression turned serious. "Those robbers drifted into East Sea City from other cities. They had committed plenty of major crimes before this and were all wanted."

"You probably saw it too. They were all vicious and savage men, each with several lives on his hands."

"Getting rid of them was completely a service to the people. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."

Wang Teng immediately felt much better.

"So they really were bad people. If I hadn't been forced into a corner, how could a good student like me, fully developed in morality, intelligence, and physical fitness, have struck them so ruthlessly?"

"..." Yang Zhenchao.

This kid seemed a little shameless!

He realized his worry had been entirely wasted. Somewhat irritated, he said, "Once we finish the procedures on our end, we'll give you the reward money and a commendation banner."

"Huh? You're giving me reward money and a banner too?" Wang Teng was rather surprised. He quickly waved his hands. "There's no need. I can't accept the reward or the banner."

"You really don't want them? These robbers had been wanted for a long time, but no one had caught them, so the reward was quite high—one hundred thousand in total!" Yang Zhenchao explained, thinking Wang Teng did not know how much the reward was.

"There's really no need. I'm not short of that little money," Wang Teng said calmly.

"Not short of that little money?" Yang Zhenchao was speechless. This kid sure talked big.

"Then donate the money to your police station. You're public servants working so hard for the people. 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 instantly 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 the traffic police impounded it?"

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

"Alright, I'll make a call and ask."

Yang Zhenchao made a call, said a few words, and had Wang Teng give him the license plate number. Soon, he had the answer.

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

"Alright." Wang Teng nodded and followed him.

"Come to think of it, you were quite ruthless when you made your move."

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

"It was my first time encountering something like that. I really didn't know my own strength," Wang Teng said helplessly.

"Compared with you, I was far worse when I killed someone for the first time. I nearly capsized in a gutter back then. Luckily, a senior stepped in and saved me." Yang Zhenchao fell into reminiscence.

Then he added with a sigh.

"You're already an Advanced Martial Apprentice at such a young age, and you're even stronger than I am. It looks like you may become a Martial Warrior in less than two years!"

"You're flattering me, Captain Yang. I was just lucky," Wang Teng said modestly.

Before long, they arrived. After signing the papers and retrieving the car, Yang Zhenchao looked at the supercar before him and said speechlessly.

"No wonder you don't care about one hundred thousand. You really aren't short of money."

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

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

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

Watching the supercar disappear into the distance, a man in his thirties walked up beside Yang Zhenchao. "What's that kid's background? You even made a personal trip, Yang Zhenchao."

"He has no special background, but he's an Advanced Martial Apprentice. Today, he killed five desperate criminals barehanded, even though they were armed with Rune Guns," 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 actually killed 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 incredible. The next time we see him, we may have to look up at him." Yang Zhenchao sighed.

The man nodded, seeming to feel the same way.

Wang Teng did not know about the discussion behind him. He drove straight to the Polar Star Martial Arts Academy.

After arriving at the Martial Arts Hall, he went up to the Second Floor.

Watching the students train with fervor in the training hall, the restless emotions in his heart gradually settled down.

He picked up a wave of attributes, then walked 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 threw punches rapidly, his arms leaving trails of afterimages as they slammed into the sandbag.

The sandbag swayed violently beneath his fist force, as though battered by a raging storm.

The students nearby saw his crazed state and could not help backing away several steps... How terrifying. Was this guy insane? Better stay far away!

As Wang Teng practiced, the scene of him killing the five robbers 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 think he had done anything wrong.

Those who killed would eventually be killed themselves!

Besides, in that situation, if he had not killed with a single blow, he might have faced even fiercer resistance.

They had Rune Guns in hand. One moment of carelessness, and he would have been the one to die. Mercy like a woman's kindness was not advisable. Everything... had merely been for the sake of living.

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

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

He trained until eleven that night.

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

Once he got home, his heart finally settled completely.

"Son, didn't you go out to eat with your classmates? Why did you run off to the Martial Arts Hall to train again?"

Seeing Wang Teng drenched in sweat and utterly exhausted, Li Xiumei could not help asking.

"I went after dinner. Martial arts training is all about perseverance," Wang Teng said with a smile.

"You child, you're really taking it seriously this time." Li Xiumei spoke with satisfaction.

"Hurry and wash up. I'll make you a late-night snack. Come downstairs to eat in a bit."

Li Xiumei's concern made Wang Teng's somewhat chilled heart instantly feel warmth. Smiling, he went upstairs.

He took some clean clothes, walked into the bathroom, and turned on the tap.

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

After his shower, Wang Teng felt an unprecedented lightness. His whole body felt clear and refreshed. He dried his hair and went downstairs.

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

"Your favorite egg noodles. The soup was simmered with Star Beast Meat, and I added 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's even more fragrant." Wang Teng eagerly picked up his chopsticks and slurped down a huge mouthful.

"It's delicious!"

He gulped it down whole, steam rising from his mouth as Wang Teng could not help praising it.

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

"Mm-hm."

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

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

"Oh!"

Before long, Wang Teng finished the noodles. Satisfied, he patted his stomach, stood, and stretched lazily.

"I'm so full. Mom, I'm heading upstairs. You should get some rest early too."

"Got it. I'll wash the bowls and 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, while 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 had not been able to reply.

It was so late now that he did not reply either. He would deal with it tomorrow.

He turned on his computer and browsed the internet for a while, watching the ridiculous netizens tear into each other and complain. Once drowsiness surged over him, he climbed into bed in a pleasant mood, murmured good night to himself, closed his eyes, and fell into a deep sleep.

These past two chapters, I don't know whether I wrote them well or not. It seems some people liked them while others did not.

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