Child King

I was already six. After entering the initial stage of Grain Abstinence last year, it felt as though I had returned to my childhood, interacting and playing with the children around me.

If a child possessed an adult's mind, it was undoubtedly painful. I had endured that pain for several years. Perhaps it was self-preservation, perhaps natural selection, but I did my utmost to grow accustomed to being a child, to think and live from a child's perspective. It seemed my state of mind had returned to childhood, carefree and untroubled...

Sigh, why had that little A Xing not come yet today? Judging by the time, he should have been here already.

"Brother Feng, Brother Feng, Sister Xiangyu is waiting for you outside. Hurry!" A child with big eyes and curved brows came running over, his face flushed red as he shouted and panted.

"Alright, let's go." I flipped down from the stone lion in front of the gate, landing with an elegant posture. I realized I was enjoying the feeling of being a child more and more; even my state of mind was increasingly becoming childlike.

"Brother Feng, Brother Feng, I'm here, over here! Come quickly, come quickly!" A little girl even younger than me wore a small purple padded jacket, with two horn-shaped braids and big blinking eyes. Her little face was rosy red as she jumped and waved from not far away.

"Xiangyu, where are you planning to play today? Laughing Forest Garden, or Dream Paradise?" I asked Xiangyu with a grin. I was exceedingly fond of her, even treating her as my own little sister. Mainly because my sister from my previous life had died when she was very young, I now poured all my care and affection into Xiangyu. Every time I saw her smile, I felt immensely happy and joyful.

"Brother Feng, I'm tired of both places. I don't want to go there. I just heard the adults saying how wonderful Yi Cui Tower is, and that there are lots of aunties to play with. It seems to cost a lot of money. Brother Feng, don't you have money? Take me there, please? Pretty please..."

Xiangyu looked at me, her jet-black eyes filled with pleading as both hands tightly clutched my hem and shook it without pause. This trick had never failed, but this time, there was no way I would agree.

"Brother Feng, I heard the adults say it's really fun too. Take us there!" Even little A Xing, who was only five this year, wanted to go there. Heavens!

What sort of place was Yi Cui Tower? It was a brothel. If Father found out that his most prized son, not yet six years old, had taken two even younger children to stroll through a brothel, he would beat me to death. Luckily, I found out early. Otherwise, if Xiangyu dragged A Xing there, it would become a joke.

"Xiangyu, no. You can't go to that place. If you go, your father will beat you." I spoke with a stern expression. If I did not put on a serious face, this girl would never let it go.

"Oh, I understand. I won't go. But why would Father beat me if I went?" Xiangyu looked at me in confusion, expecting Brother Feng, who knew everything and could do anything in her heart, to give her an answer. But this time, she was disappointed. Her Brother Feng froze for a moment, then answered gravely, "Don't ask. We're going to Laughing Forest Garden today."

"Oh, I understand." As she spoke, tears nearly flowed from her eyes.

The moment I finished speaking, I regretted it. How could I treat Xiangyu like that? Seeing that she was about to cry, I immediately took her hand. "Xiangyu, don't cry. It was Brother's fault just now. Don't be angry. You'll understand what Yi Cui Tower is when you grow up."

"Oh." Xiangyu wiped away her tears. She still did not seem completely happy. I sighed inwardly, but I believed she would forget about it after a while.

I could only tell Xiangyu jokes as we walked. Ha, Xiangyu had not even laughed yet when A Xing started laughing. Fortunately, Xiangyu began laughing soon after as well. Wow, the rain had finally passed and the skies had cleared. Even the sky seemed bluer, the air especially fresh, and even the beggar appeared to have gained some elegance...

"Greetings, Third Young Master."

"Greetings, Third Young Master..."

Ever since that day when I, as a five-year-old child, had knocked down more than a dozen little hooligans, all the children in Suzhou City had acknowledged me as the Child King. Naturally, these children worshipped me immensely when they saw me. Of course, my status was also an important factor.

Before us stood a group of children. "Third Young Master, I have important intelligence." A chubby boy in brocade clothes raised his right hand and called out. This fatty was my absolute supporter. Naturally, I also took especially good care of him.

"Speak. What is it?" I put on a cool expression, truly carrying the air of one in high authority. Unfortunately, my audience was a group of children. Hehe, but look at Xiangyu's worshipful expression. It really felt quite good! Hehe!

"Third Young Master, Ouyang Liang of the western district actually dared to raise his own banner. This is more than one can bear! When I, Pang Fei, learned of it, I immediately led all our brothers to beat him up. But his study companion was extremely formidable. He alone knocked all of us over. Third Young Master, you must avenge us! Just for daring to show no respect to Third Young Master, he deserves a beating!" Pang Fei looked filled with righteous indignation.

"Beat him! Beat him! He dared provoke Third Young Master, so we have to beat him...!" All the children chimed in.

I did not feel much about it. Quarreling with little brats would be far too beneath my dignity. But no matter what, he had challenged my authority. He still needed a lesson.

I immediately smiled. "A Fei, you did well this time, very well. Come, go with me and take a look. What kind of nerve did that Ouyang brat swallow to dare do this? I'll let him know that I cannot be offended."

Our group charged toward the western district with fierce momentum. The roadside vendors and passersby could not avoid us quickly enough. They all knew who these children were: children of the most powerful people in all of Suzhou City. The one in the middle, handsome and refined in his little white padded jacket, was the Third Young Master of the Zhang Family, one of the Four Great Families. That Third Young Master had single-handedly beaten more than a dozen little hooligans when he was five.

We charged straight through two streets and finally reached our destination—the little garden in the western district. This was one of our four great playgrounds, one each in the eastern, southern, northern, and western districts.

This was where we children played. To be honest, Ouyang Liang did not have much ability. He was absolutely terrible at fighting. Yet he had actually driven off A Fei and the others. It seemed this study companion was no ordinary child. I would have to take a careful look.

Passing through the flowerbeds, crossing the stone bridge, and walking through a gate, an open clearing appeared before us. There were only a few stone chairs at the side and over a dozen long stone benches. The clearing was covered in green grass, the place where we frolicked and played. In the center of the stone chairs stood a very imposing stone bench—my exclusive throne. Normally, absolutely no one sat on it, but today a child in red brocade sat there—Ouyang Liang.

He was exceedingly lean, but his face was very pale. He looked remarkably like his father, Old Ghost Ouyang. Old Ghost Ouyang was famous for being treacherous. Father had once said that the Ouyang Family was first-rate at business, but went too far in how they treated people. That determined they could never achieve great things. One look at Ouyang Liang told me that this brat was treacherous too.

At that moment, Ouyang Liang sat complacently on the throne, eating pastries and drinking top-grade Longjing tea. He watched the dozen or so children of the western district playing games before him, feeling immensely excited. At last, he could be like the Third Young Master—watching others play while he sat to one side wearing the airs of one in high authority. Ah! Would the Third Young Master come beat him up? Remembering how the Third Young Master had beaten more than a dozen adults by himself last year, he felt terribly afraid. But once he saw the older boy beside him, his heart settled again.

Who was this boy? He was so formidable that he made the Ouyang brat believe he could defeat the Third Young Master, who had beaten more than a dozen hooligans!

"Ouyang Liang, you're quite impressive. You've made yourself the boss. Ah, hahaha!" The moment the voice entered his ears, Ouyang Liang shuddered, and the pastry in his hand fell to the ground. His heart jolted. It was the Third Young Master. Fear began rising in him, but when he saw the older boy beside him, he calmed down slightly.

I walked through the gate. Seeing the Ouyang brat's appearance, I could not help looking down on him a little. He did not even have the courage to face me, yet he wanted to be the Child King? Dream on!

"Third Young Master, greetings. I, Ouyang Liang, am merely playing with the companions of the western district. I have no intention of becoming their leader. I hope Third Young Master will not misunderstand. I, Ouyang Liang, am exceedingly loyal to Third Young Master. Please do not listen to petty people stirring up trouble." Pressured by my bearing, Ouyang Liang could not help compromising. His face wore a fawning expression, and I felt a wave of contempt inwardly.

Suddenly, a mischievous idea flashed through my mind. Hehe. I smiled. "Ouyang Liang, I know you are loyal. Now I have a matter I'd like you to handle for me. I wonder if you can do it?"

"Of course I can. Third Young Master's business is my business. Please do not stand on ceremony, Third Young Master. Just give the order. I, Ouyang Liang, will certainly satisfy Third Young Master." Ouyang Liang put on a bold and forthright appearance, his face full of smiles as he secretly rejoiced at having escaped this crisis.

Looking at his little act, I laughed inwardly. Let's see whether you can still smile in a while. A gentle smile appeared on my face. "Ouyang Liang, it's nothing much. I just find that pile of stones in the south unpleasant to look at. Move it to the north for me. Make it quick." I looked at the pile of stones and secretly laughed. Even adults would probably need a day to finish moving them. As for Ouyang Liang, he could not even lift those large stones, much less move them all. Ha.

Ouyang Liang looked at the pile of stones, his brows furrowing. Then he smiled and said, "Rest assured, Third Young Master. I will make it perfect. A Feng, these things are all yours. Get them done for me, or else... hmph!" Ouyang Liang glanced at the study companion beside him and ordered.

Lang Feng looked at the master before him, fury surging in his heart. But his mother still needed treatment. Suddenly, his mother's weathered face and dry yellow hair appeared in his mind, and he seemed to hear again her ever-repeated reminder: "Little Feng, come back early tonight. The mountains are too dangerous. Ah, remember, come back early." His heart twisted with pain.

"A Feng, hurry up. What are you standing there dazed for? Ah!" Ouyang Liang's eyes widened sharply, his manner extremely arrogant. "Third Young Master, this lowborn wretch is a mountain farmer and has never seen the wider world. I hope Third Young Master will not lower himself to argue with such a person. Why aren't you hurrying up?" Ouyang Liang looked respectful toward me, but immediately turned vicious toward his study companion. Sigh, it seemed the Ouyang Family could not rise to greatness in his generation either.

Lang Feng gritted his teeth and began the task of moving stones. My brows furrowed, then I suddenly smiled as I looked at Ouyang Liang. "Ouyang Liang, I told you to move them personally. Only then can you show your respect for me, don't you think? Ah. You brat, hurry up and move them. Didn't you hear me?"

Ouyang Liang was furious inside. Isn't it just because your Zhang Family is powerful and your martial arts are strong, Zhang Xingfeng? You're going too far. Damn it. He looked at Lang Feng not far away and recalled that scene: Lang Feng had fought a vicious northeastern tiger barehanded for less than ten minutes before killing it. When Lang Feng had come to see him, his body had still been covered in blood—the northeastern tiger's blood. A towering rage ignited in Ouyang Liang's heart, and he steeled himself. Looking at Zhang Xingfeng, he thought, If you are heartless, do not blame me for being unjust. Hmph.

"A Feng, this Third Young Master is renowned throughout Suzhou City for his superb martial arts. Go ask Third Young Master for some instruction. Hurry up." Ouyang Liang looked at the Third Young Master, imagining the scene of the Third Young Master falling at his feet shortly. Excitement surged through him as he said, "Third Young Master, please teach this country bumpkin a lesson."

Looking at Ouyang Liang, I felt somewhat amazed. Ouyang Liang was only seven this year, yet he already knew how to use such grand-sounding words to achieve his goals. It seemed another little fox would appear in the Ouyang Family. But I was not someone his little intelligence could fool. A glint flashed in my eyes. "Ouyang Liang, didn't you hear what I told you to do? Ah, hurry up and go!"

"Lang Feng, why aren't you making a move? Have you forgotten your mother? Ah?" Ouyang Liang said rapidly, his tone exceptionally vicious.

Lang Feng trembled. Mother. He could not help clenching his fists. I'm sorry. For my mother, I have no choice but to hit you. He drew a deep breath and fixed his eyes on the figure before him—Zhang Xingfeng.