Force

Pei Youguang had a dream.

In the dream, he had a happy, perfect family. Though his father was as stern as ever, he had always been proud of him. His mother would secretly slip him pocket money behind his father's back, stroke his head, and tell him she loved him. His fellow disciples at the dojo looked to him as their leader. He became a Martial Artist prodigy renowned throughout the world, admired by all.

His father did not ignore him as though he did not exist. His mother was still alive. He was no longer constantly treated as a foil to his genius older brother who had gone to Inner Ring City, nor had he endured repeated humiliation at the dojo until he could not bear it any longer and ran away.

Everything was so wonderful.

"..."

His father in the dream seemed to be saying something to him. Pei Youguang tried his hardest to hear it clearly, but he could never make out a word.

His father repeated himself many times, seeming to grow impatient, before slapping him across the face.

Smack!

Pei Youguang woke up, his right cheek burning hot.

"Hey."

Xue Jing crouched down and looked at Pei Youguang, who was lying on the ground with his eyes open but still somewhat dazed. Then he gave him another slap. Smack. The handprints on his cheeks were now symmetrical.

"You're Pei Youguang, right? You were looking for me? What is it? Go on."

Xue Jing spoke in a cool tone.

Pei Youguang: "..."

After fully waking up and realizing his situation, Pei Youguang fell silent for a moment before forcing out an awkward smile. "N-No... it's nothing now."

Xue Jing nodded. "Good. Nothing's good."

"But now that you have nothing to say, I've got something to ask you."

Pei Youguang touched his nose, which had been sunken into his face, and sucked in a breath from the pain. But upon hearing Xue Jing's words, he hurriedly said, "Go ahead, go ahead."

He was not a tough guy. Having suffered countless instances of bullying since childhood, he had long learned to humble himself and swallow his anger.

Although he had grown accustomed to throwing his weight around after entering the affiliated high school and had nearly forgotten his past, Xue Jing's two slaps had successfully awakened his muscle memory.

He did not invoke his family background to make threats again. Every student in the affiliated high school knew he had connections. Since Xue Jing still dared to beat him, it meant he was not afraid.

Whether Xue Jing had backing of his own or was simply bold, Pei Youguang was screwed either way.

He could only admit defeat.

Looking down at him, Xue Jing asked, "I heard you've killed someone? And bullied female students?"

Pei Youguang gave an awkward smile. "No, no. It's all rumors."

"Then what happened to that girl who transferred schools last semester?"

"...I was pursuing her, but I really didn't do that kind of thing. That classmate transferred because she got too scared herself. If I had really done it, the school couldn't possibly have left me unexpelled until now."

As he spoke, Pei Youguang glanced at his lackeys lying around him. After hesitating for a while, he whispered, "Please don't tell anyone, but I'm still a virgin."

Xue Jing backhanded him across the face.

Smack—

"I don't want to hear useless shit like that."

Pei Youguang covered the side of his face. "Yes..."

"Since you never did that, why didn't you clear things up?"

"Clearing it up might not have worked anyway, and... with those rumors around, everyone at school was scared of me... I thought it was cool..."

Xue Jing slapped him again.

Speechless, he said, "Are you brain-dead? You're taking the reputation of a rapist onto yourself?"

Pei Youguang did not dare talk back. "You're right."

"From now on, be a good student and stop doing all this pointless crap. Go home and write a self-criticism, clearly stating everything you did and didn't do. Tomorrow during morning reading, recite it ten times in front of the whole class. Have one of your lackeys record it, and I'll check afterward."

Pei Youguang said awkwardly, "Ah, well..."

Smack—

Pei Youguang covered one side of his face with one hand while repeatedly waving the other. "I'll write it as soon as I get back."

Xue Jing gave a grunt, then asked as if casually, "By the way, that punch you threw at the wall was pretty powerful. What was that about?"

Pei Youguang answered honestly, "I've practiced martial arts. For that punch just now, I used Force."

Xue Jing asked curiously, "Force? Is it something like the internal energy from martial arts novels?"

Pei Youguang nodded first, then shook his head. "Force can also be called internal force... It isn't some supernatural energy. It's a method of using Physical Strength. By mobilizing your muscles, tendons, bones, blood, breathing, and so on, making them work together, it's a technique for squeezing out the potential your body already possesses. That's Force."

Recalling what the old masters at the dojo had taught him, Pei Youguang explained.

"Put more scientifically, the essence of Force is kinetic energy. The organs throughout the body coordinate and move, accumulating kinetic energy, then release that stored kinetic energy outside the body through 'moves.' It's far more powerful than ordinary punches and kicks."

"I've heard that some powerful Martial Artists use Force in outrageous ways. They can supposedly punch through a tank's armor with nothing but flesh and blood. I don't know if it's true."

Xue Jing rubbed his chin without speaking.

Seeing this, Pei Youguang immediately understood and hurriedly said, "If you're interested, I can teach you. Although I only know some basic Moving Strength..."

Seeing how quick he was to catch on, Xue Jing patted him on the shoulder, his expression softening slightly. "Then I'll have to trouble you."

Pei Youguang cautiously said, "Not at all, not at all. But about writing the self-criticism and reciting it in class... could you let that slide?"

Xue Jing thought for a moment. "No. But you don't need to read it ten times. Once will do."

"..." Pei Youguang felt there was no difference between ten times and once. Either way, his "prestige" would be completely gone. What kind of concession was that? Still, he did not dare object and could only give a dry laugh. "Thank you."

"Alright." Xue Jing stood up.

"That settles it. I'll come find you to learn Force this afternoon or tomorrow when I have time. Study properly from now on and be a decent student. Don't let me hear that you've bullied anyone again."

Pei Youguang said, "I'll do as you say."

After Xue Jing left the dark alley, the lackeys around them who had been pretending to be unconscious slowly got up. They rubbed their heads and groaned in pain, all looking as though they had only just woken up.

"Hey, Brother Pei, where's that Xue... Senior Xue?"

Pei Youguang sat up, felt around in his school uniform pocket, and pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes. He wanted to light one, but found he was not in the mood. He sighed.

"From now on, call him Brother Jing."

The lackeys looked at each other and could only agree.

The scene fell silent for a moment. Pei Youguang's eyes turned thoughtful. He's never practiced martial arts, yet he has this kind of physical fitness... He should count as having the good natural build the dojo instructors talked about...

Just like my big brother...

Whether he had been beaten into submission or for some other reason, Pei Youguang had a feeling that Xue Jing was no ordinary man.

Words like "clinging to a powerful patron" and "the merit of backing a future ruler" flashed through his mind, but the limits of his knowledge and perspective left him unable to sort out the pros and cons for the moment.

After a long while, he shook his head.

"Forget it, I won't think about it. Anyway, getting on good terms with him is the right move!"

Pei Youguang decided to trust his instincts.

Please keep reading~