Light

Light

Zhang Xinglie continued, "Regrettably, many people treated me like a freak."

"Ever since I was little, my brain has been different from most people's."

"I always stubbornly pondered one question after another, and I had to think each one through to its deepest layer. In my early elementary school years, even during exams, I couldn't be bothered answering questions that looked ridiculously simple. That was a waste of time."

"Because I spent so much time lost in thought—or rather, because I used my brain for thinking instead of everyday activities—I couldn't do many things."

"I couldn't tie my shoelaces properly, buttoned my clothes wrong, and didn't even know to wipe my nose when it ran. No matter how you looked at it, I seemed like an idiot incapable of taking care of himself."

"But in truth, I simply did not care. I had never cared about such things since childhood."

"Instead, I thought some people were truly stupid, always doing meaningless foolish things. Adults included. I could not even be bothered saying another word to them. Later, I learned that old married couples were like this too."

The crowd burst into laughter, especially the adult alumni.

"I was strange, but compared to me, Zhou Leng was strange too—perhaps even stranger than I was."

"Because he never thought there was anything wrong with my poor shoelaces. He would help me wipe my nose, and he said he thought I was amazing."

"He thought I was smarter than everyone else."

"Whenever someone mocked me, he would always stand beside me and glare furiously at them."

"So don't be fooled by the fact that I was Eighth Middle School's senior disciple. In first and second grade, I was only Zhou Leng's little brother."

"Even now, I do not understand why he was so strange. Think about it: so many adults and children thought I was strange, as if the whole world had passed a judgment upon me as immutable truth. Yet he was just a child, and he did not care about it at all."

"Thinking back, it was as though I was scorning this world. But when this world beat me up, there was nothing I could do. Zhou Leng, however, dared to resist."

"I was a little moved at the time, but I still thought he was an idiot—a strange idiot."

Some people laughed.

"Later, I gradually grew up. More accurately, I began actively correcting my instincts and using reason to learn how to survive in this world. Little by little, I became more and more normal."

"To me, these things were not difficult. It only depended on whether I was willing to learn them."

"By around fifth or sixth grade, I had become a little genius. In both the academic exam and the martial path, I excelled at everything. By sixth grade, I had swept through all the nearby elementary schools without finding a single worthy opponent."

"The adults and children who had once treated me like an idiot completely changed their attitudes. No one dared laugh at me anymore. Do you think Zhou Leng became my little brother?"

"He was still that strange idiot. His studying was clearly ordinary, and his martial path was ordinary too, yet he never followed me around like those so-called little brothers."

"In his eyes, I would always be the companion he had grown up with—the friend named Zhang Xinglie."

"Whether I was surrounded and attacked while my nose was running, or beating up a group of older students by myself, I never changed in his eyes."

"Other than that one strange point, he was utterly ordinary."

"His family circumstances were ordinary. I had never seen him take pills."

"His personality was ordinary. During normal times, he did not know how to deal with people either, and he did not have much emotional intelligence."

"His studying was ordinary. His grades were generally fine, neither high nor low."

"His martial path was ordinary. He had a slight edge, but he could not be considered a genius."

"No one around him held any expectations for him."

"But I thought he would definitely become different someday."

"I did not know why I thought that, until Principal Lu called me and told me that West Sea Martial University had revoked Zhou Leng's supplementary admission eligibility."

"I was beside myself with rage."

Zhang Xinglie narrowed his eyes slightly.

"At first, I did not understand why I was so angry. When I was little, people mocked and insulted me, yet I never got angry. I had encountered so many things, and none of them had made me angry."

"I sat there and thought and thought, but I could not figure it out."

"Until I woke up the next day, and finally understood."

Zhang Xinglie slowly swept his gaze across the audience.

"Because when I was at my most ordinary, even most clumsy, his eyes pierced through the towering walls woven together by countless people and saw the light upon me."

"Now, when his light had clearly begun to bloom, he was being blocked dead by the wall that was West Sea Martial University."

"I suddenly realized: was it possible that everyone actually had light within them, only for it to be blocked as well?"

"That was why I returned from Xiong City and stood here."

"Only so that more people could see the light on Zhou Leng."

"And so that the light of more ordinary people could be seen."

Principal Lu applauded vigorously.

Whoosh...

Nearly everyone applauded with all their strength, the sound far surpassing any previous round of applause.

Xu Qingjin lowered her head and wiped the corners of her eyes. Then she lifted her head, smiling as she applauded.

Hu Yi clapped, Tears Streaming Down His Face.

Principal Lu's lips moved, and he called out loudly, "Please welcome Zhou Leng to the stage to receive his award. This award is not an Improvement Award, but the school's newly established 'First Zhou Leng Improvement Award.'"

Whoosh...

The applause shook the heavens.

The three Innate Realm experts rose to their feet, and everyone else followed one after another.

The former Class Three students stared at Principal Lu in disbelief. The Zhou Leng Improvement Award—this meant that every class of Eighth Middle School students would speak of this name in the future.

"Go receive your award," Teacher Sun Xiong said softly.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath and walked onto the award stage.

Principal Lu handed the crystal trophy for the "First Zhou Leng Improvement Award" to Zhang Xinglie.

With a hearty laugh, Zhang Xinglie presented the trophy to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng accepted it.

The two of them raised their right arms, slapped hands, and then clasped them together.

Principal Lu stood between them. Below the stage, camera shutters clicked in rapid succession.

The crowd cheered.

Principal Lu took out another gift box and announced into the microphone, "As the first recipient of the 'Zhou Leng Improvement Award,' the Eighth Middle School committee has decided to specially award Zhou Leng one Essence Replenishing Pill in recognition of his record-breaking improvement of sixty thousand places!"

After saying that, he handed the Essence Replenishing Pill to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng accepted the gift box and bent down in thanks.

Before leaving the stage, Zhang Xinglie walked up to the microphone again, a wild smile lifting the corner of his mouth.

"I cannot answer Principal Lu's question. I do not know whether Zhou Leng deserves West Sea Martial University."

The entire hall fell silent.

"But I know that West Sea Martial University does not deserve Zhou Leng."

After speaking, Zhang Xinglie left the stage with Zhou Leng.

Some people below the stage marveled at Zhang Xinglie's dominance. Some gently shook their heads, while others looked helplessly at Principal Lu.

The Commendation Conference ended, and Zhou Leng privately thanked Principal Lu.

After giving him a few instructions, Principal Lu told Zhou Leng to see Zhang Xinglie off, lest Zhang Xinglie miss his flight.

Thus, Zhou Leng accompanied Zhang Xinglie into the car.

"To Imperial Dragon Bay Residential Area," Zhang Xinglie said.

"Not the airport?"

"It was not easy for me to come back this time. My relatives are all waiting for me. Besides, Feixiong City's flight is in the evening."

"This time, I delayed you quite a bit," Zhou Leng said.

Zhang Xinglie smiled. "It did not delay me. I did pretty well on stage, didn't I?"

"Everything you do is excellent. You just praised me a little too much," Zhou Leng said.

"No, I was holding back."

"Hm?" Zhou Leng looked at Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie sat with the imposing ease of a general, gazing ahead as if he had sunk into his memories.

After quite a while, Zhang Xinglie said, "You know Gao Haoda and the others too."

Zhou Leng nodded. Zhang Xinglie had his own circle of friends, every one of whom had been admitted to the Top Ten Martial Arts Universities. They often played Demonized Sports together, and Zhou Leng occasionally joined them.

"Half a year ago, when you fell ill, Gao Haoda knew we were particularly close. He asked me why I did not give you some pills, so you could recover faster."

"I told him that pills were not what you lacked."

Zhang Xinglie turned his head, and their eyes met.

Zhang Xinglie grinned.

"What you lacked was an opportunity."

"When you completed the Opening Term Test and stepped onto the award stage in the name of Full Nine, when people saw your light, that opportunity arrived."

The car stopped.

"You still have a gathering to attend. Do not worry about me," Zhang Xinglie said.

Zhou Leng got out of the car and helped Zhang Xinglie take his luggage.

Pushing his suitcase, Zhang Xinglie took three steps, then suddenly turned around and looked towards Zhou Leng, revealing a brilliant smile.

"Zhou Leng, help me with something."

"Mm."

"Promise me first."

"I promise."

"Please keep climbing the path of martial arts, rising step by step in the rankings. Help me prove that West Sea Martial University does not deserve you."

"Alright!"

Lion-like and mighty, Zhang Xinglie laughed loudly, turned around, and strode away. With his back to Zhou Leng, he waved a hand.

Zhou Leng watched Zhang Xinglie's retreating figure. Within his eyes, tiny sparks of fire leaped.