Child King

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

If a child possessed the mind of an adult, it would undoubtedly be painful. I had endured this pain for several years. Perhaps it was self-protection, or maybe natural selection, but I tried my best to get used to my identity as a child, to think and live from a child's perspective. It seemed my mindset had returned to that of a child—carefree and worry-free...

Ah, why hasn't that little guy A Xing come yet? It's about time he should be here.

Brother Feng, Brother Feng, Sister Xiangyu is already waiting for you outside, hurry up! A small child with big eyes and curved eyebrows, his face flushed red, ran over shouting and panting.

Got it, coming! I did a backflip off the stone lion in front of the door, landing gracefully. I realized I was enjoying the feeling of being a child more and more, and even my mindset was developing toward that of a child.

Brother Feng, Brother Feng, I'm here, over here, come quick, come quick! A little girl even younger than me, wearing a purple cotton jacket, her hair tied in two little horns, big eyes blinking, her little face rosy red, was not far away, jumping and waving her hands.

Xiangyu, where do you want to play today? Laughing Forest Garden or Dream Paradise? I said to Xiangyu with a grin. I was extremely fond of Xiangyu, even treating her like my own little sister. Mainly because my sister from my previous life died very young. Now all my care and affection were poured into Xiangyu. Every time I saw her smile, I felt incredibly happy and joyful.

Brother Feng, I'm tired of those places, I don't want to go. I just heard the adults talking about how wonderful Yi Cui Tower is, and there are lots of aunties to play with. It seems like it costs a lot of money. Brother Feng, don't you have money? Take me there! Please? Okay?

Xiangyu looked at me, her big, dark eyes showing a pleading expression, her little hands gripping my clothes tightly and shaking them nonstop. This trick of hers never failed, but this time I absolutely wouldn't agree.

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

Yi Cui Tower was a brothel. If my father found out that his most proud son, not even six years old, had taken two even younger children to visit a brothel, he'd beat me to death. Luckily, I found out early; otherwise, if Xiangyu dragged A Xing there, it would have been a huge joke.

Xiangyu, no. You can't go to that place. If you go, your father will hit you. I said seriously. If I didn't put on a stern face, this girl wouldn't give up.

Oh, I see. I won't go then. But why would my father hit me if I go? Xiangyu looked at me with confusion, expecting her all-knowing, all-capable Brother Feng to give her an answer. But this time, she was disappointed. Her Brother Feng was stunned for a moment, then replied sternly: Don't ask. Today we're going to Laughing Forest Garden.

Oh, I see. As she spoke, tears were about to fall.

I regretted it as soon as I said it. How could I treat Xiangyu like that? Seeing her about to cry, I immediately grabbed her hand and said: Xiangyu, don't cry. That was my fault just now. Don't be upset. You'll understand about Yi Cui Tower when you grow up.

Oh. Xiangyu wiped her tears. She didn't seem fully cheered up yet. I sighed inwardly, but I believed she would forget about it in a little while.

I had to walk and tell jokes to Xiangyu along the way. Ha, Xiangyu hadn't even laughed yet, but A Xing was already laughing. Fortunately, Xiangyu laughed right after. Wow, the storm had finally passed. Suddenly, the sky seemed even bluer, the air especially fresh, and even the beggar seemed to have some presence...

Third Young Master, greetings.

Greetings, Third Young Master.

Ever since that day when, as a five-year-old child, I knocked down over a dozen little thugs, all the children in Suzhou City recognized me as the Child King. These kids naturally looked up to me with great admiration, and of course, my status was also an important factor.

Right in front of me was a group of children. Third Young Master, I have important intelligence! A chubby little boy in brocade clothes raised his right hand and shouted. This fatty was my absolute supporter, and of course, I gave him special attention.

Speak. What is it? I put on a cool expression, really looking like someone in a position of authority. Too bad the audience was a bunch of kids. Heh heh, but if you saw Xiangyu's adoring look, it really felt pretty good! Haha!

Third Young Master, that Ouyang Liang from the West City actually dared to raise his own banner. This is unbearable! When I, Pang Fei (Fatty), found out, I immediately led the brothers to go teach him a lesson. But his attendant is really strong—he beat all of us down by himself. Third Young Master, you have to get revenge for us! Just the fact that he dared to disrespect Third Young Master is reason enough to beat him! Pang Fei looked righteous and indignant.

Beat him! Beat him! How dare he mess with Third Young Master? We have to beat him! All the children chimed in.

I didn't feel much inside. Bothering with little brats was too undignified. But no matter what, he had challenged my authority, so I still had to teach him a lesson.

I immediately smiled and said: A Fei, you did well this time. Very good. Come on, let's go see what guts this Ouyang kid has to act like this. I'll make him understand that I am not to be trifled with.

Our group charged fiercely toward the West City. Street vendors and passersby scrambled to get out of the way. They all knew who these children were—the kids of the most powerful people in Suzhou City. The one in the middle, with delicate features and a small white cotton jacket, was the Third Young Master of the Zhang Family, one of the Four Great Families. That same Third Young Master, at just five years old, had single-handedly beaten over a dozen little thugs.

We rushed straight through two streets and finally arrived at our destination—the small garden in the West City. This was one of our four major play bases (one in the East City, one in the South City, one in the North City, and this one in the West City).

This was our playground. To be honest, this Ouyang Liang had no real ability—he was absolutely terrible at fighting. For him to have driven A Fei and the others away, that attendant must not be an ordinary kid. I needed to take a closer look.

Passing through the flower beds, crossing the stone bridge, and going through a gate, an open space appeared before me. There were only a few stone chairs and over a dozen long stone benches nearby. The open ground was covered with green grass—this was where we played and fooled around. In the center of the stone chairs was a very imposing stone seat, my exclusive throne. Normally, no one ever sat there. But today, a child in red brocade clothes was sitting on it—Ouyang Liang.

He was extremely skinny, but his face was very pale, looking very much like his father, Old Ghost Ouyang. Old Ghost Ouyang was famously cunning. My father once said that the Ouyang Family was top-notch in business, but their conduct was too excessive, which meant they would never achieve great success. One look at Ouyang Liang, and you could tell he was also a sly one.

Ouyang Liang was sitting leisurely on the throne, eating snacks and drinking top-grade Longjing tea, watching the dozen or so West City kids playing games. He was extremely excited. Finally, he could be like the Third Young Master—watching others play while putting on the airs of a superior. Ah! But what if the Third Young Master comes to beat me up? Remembering how the Third Young Master had beaten over a dozen adults last year, he felt terrified. But then he glanced at the big boy beside him and calmed down.

Who was this boy? So strong. He actually made this Ouyang kid believe he could beat the Third Young Master, who had defeated over a dozen thugs!

Ouyang Liang, you're quite something, acting like the boss now. Ah, haha! The voice reached his ears. Ouyang Liang trembled, and the snack in his hand fell to the ground. His heart jumped—it was the Third Young Master. Fear began to creep in. But a glance at the big boy beside him steadied him a little.

I walked through the gate and saw that Ouyang kid's expression. I couldn't help but feel a bit of contempt for him. He didn't even have any guts, and he wanted to be the Child King? Dream on!

Third Young Master, greetings. I, Ouyang Liang, was just playing with the friends from the West City. I have no intention of becoming the boss. I hope the Third Young Master won't misunderstand. I am extremely loyal to the Third Young Master. Please don't listen to petty people stirring up trouble. Ouyang Liang, intimidated by my presence, couldn't help but grovel, a fawning expression on his face. I felt nothing but disdain.

Suddenly, a mischievous idea crossed my mind. Heh heh. I smiled and said: Ouyang Liang, I know you're loyal. Now, there's something I want you to do for me. Think you can handle it?

Of course! The Third Young Master's business is my business. Please don't be polite, just give the order. I, Ouyang Liang, will surely satisfy the Third Young Master. Ouyang Liang put on a generous air, his face full of smiles, secretly relieved to have gotten through this crisis.

I looked at his little act and sneered inwardly: Let's see if you're still smiling in a bit. I put on a warm smile and said: Ouyang Liang, it's nothing much. I just don't like the look of that pile of stones over there to the south. Move it to the north for me, and be quick about it. I glanced at the pile of stones and laughed inwardly. An adult would probably take a whole day to finish this. For Ouyang Liang, he couldn't even move those big rocks, let alone move them all. Ha.

Ouyang Liang looked at the pile of stones and furrowed his brow. Then he smiled and said: The Third Young Master can rest assured. I'll get it done beautifully. A Feng, this is all yours. Get it done, or else. Hmph! Ouyang Liang glanced at the attendant beside him and gave the order.

Lang Feng looked at his master, rage burning in his heart. But his mother still needed medical treatment. Suddenly, his mother's weathered face and withered hair flashed through his mind, and her endless nagging echoed in his ears: Xiao Feng, come home early. The mountain is too dangerous. Ah, remember, come back early. His heart ached.

A Feng, hurry up! What are you spacing out for? Ah! Ouyang Liang's eyes widened fiercely, extremely arrogant. Third Young Master, this lowly bone is a country bumpkin who's never seen the world. Please don't bother with someone like him. Hurry up! Ouyang Liang was respectful to me but immediately turned vicious to his attendant. Sigh, it seemed the Ouyang Family wouldn't rise again in his generation.

Lang Feng gritted his teeth and started moving the stones. I frowned slightly, then smiled again, looking at Ouyang Liang and saying with a grin: Ouyang Liang, I meant for you to move them yourself. That's how you show respect to me, don't you think? Ah, why aren't you moving yet? Didn't you hear me?

Ouyang Liang was furious inside. Zhang Xingfeng, you're just relying on your family's power and your martial arts. How can you be so excessive? Damn it. He glanced at Lang Feng not far away and recalled that scene: Lang Feng, bare-handed, had fought a fierce Siberian tiger for less than ten minutes before killing it. When Lang Feng came to pay respects, he was still covered in blood—the tiger's blood. A raging fire of anger burned in Ouyang Liang's heart. He hardened his resolve, looked at Zhang Xingfeng, and thought to himself: If you're ruthless, so am I. Hmph.

A Feng, this Third Young Master is famous throughout Suzhou City for his martial arts. Why don't you ask him for some guidance? Hurry up. Ouyang Liang looked at the Third Young Master, imagining the scene of him lying at his feet in a moment. Excitement surged in his heart. He said to the Third Young Master: Third Young Master, please teach this country bumpkin a lesson.

I looked at this Ouyang Liang, somewhat amazed. He was only seven years old, yet he could use such high-sounding words to achieve his goals. It seemed another little fox was emerging from the Ouyang Family. But I wasn't someone his little intellect could fool. A glint flashed in my eyes: Ouyang Liang, didn't you hear what I told you to do? Ah, why aren't you moving yet?

Lang Feng, make your move! Have you forgotten about your mother? Ah! Ouyang Liang said urgently, his tone extremely vicious.

Lang Feng trembled. Mother. He couldn't help but clench his fists. He thought to himself: I'm sorry. For my mother's sake, I have to hit you. He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed ahead—on Zhang Xingfeng.