Unprovoked Malice

Power was simply an innate instinct.

Xiao Xiao remembered those words deeply. They were the most valuable advice Ruan Ruan, an old-timer, had given him.

Of course, aside from that innate instinct, a certain amount of personal effort was still necessary. It never hurt to think things through more carefully.

He scribbled on the delivery form, listing his reactions and strength one by one, and seriously considered the path most suitable for him. For a moment, he found it difficult to decide.

In fact, after thinking it over for an entire night, he had a fairly good understanding of his current state.

His biggest problem was that his thoughts were too active, while his body was too clumsy.

Strictly speaking, after being strengthened by the Violence Factor, his physical fitness and agility were already outstanding in the eyes of ordinary people.

Yet when his mind entered a state of frenzied activity, his body felt like a wooden puppet with rusted joints.

Leaving aside the other enhancement paths, Xiao Xiao was certain that if he could gain even greater control over his body, his strength would improve significantly even if he could only keep up with ten percent of his thoughts.

But could improvement in this area really be achieved through mechanical labor?

Just as Xiao Xiao was thinking, he suddenly felt a shadow approaching and blocking the view before him. He looked up and saw Huang Mao scratching his head with a grin:

"Kid, let's switch. I'll handle the registration, and you go help out at the warehouse. How about it?"

Xiao Xiao looked up at him and shook his head. "Don't want to switch."

Huang Mao had not expected him to refuse. His expression immediately darkened as he said angrily, "Why not? Do you know how much I suffered yesterday, unloading cargo for you until ten at night?"

Xiao Xiao frowned. Looking at Huang Mao's deeply dissatisfied face, he slowly said, "Wasn't it you who chose to do it?"

Huang Mao was instantly rendered speechless.

If they really argued, there was indeed nothing to argue about. But Xiao Xiao, who was usually taciturn and only knew how to work, had suddenly talked back to him, and for no reason, the anger inside him began to burn hotter and hotter:

"Are you asking for a beating?"

"..."

Xiao Xiao merely looked up at him indifferently.

It was only a calm stare, but when Huang Mao remembered how frightening Xiao Xiao had looked while working earlier, he was actually startled by that gaze. He muttered resentfully, "Fine, you're really something. I'll remember this. Just you wait."

"..."

Xiao Xiao could not be bothered to answer him. It was obvious that Huang Mao was all bluster and no bite. He was not even as fierce as a husky.

He continued sitting silently at the warehouse entrance, registering the workers, enviously watching everyone bustle about, and pondering how he could improve himself more effectively.

As for Huang Mao, who had been talked back to, he stormed off to work.

He did not take the matter too seriously. He merely cursed a few times behind Xiao Xiao's back to vent his anger. But just as he was about to put on his gloves and move some goods, he suddenly heard a low laugh beside him:

"That Huang Mao is such a coward..."

"Haha, he's always been all bark and no bite. Where would he get the guts?"

"He even brags that he knows people from the Biker Gang. Look at that pathetic state he's in. He can't even afford a motorcycle, so how could he know them?"

"..."

"Who was that?"

Huang Mao's fury suddenly erupted. He turned around and glared viciously.

But when he looked over, everything around him was clean and orderly. Everyone was busy with their own work, and no one was looking at him.

Yet the moment Huang Mao turned back, he suddenly felt countless gazes boring into his back, filled with mockery and contempt. "That Huang Mao is beyond saving..."

"How disgusting. A man who's fallen this far might as well find a rope and hang himself..."

"..."

Listening to the clear, dense murmurs and snickers around him, Huang Mao could not hold back again. He whipped around, wanting to see who was making sarcastic remarks about him.

But there was still no one. Everyone at the busy dock was working, and hardly anyone had the time to speak.

Yet Huang Mao could always clearly hear someone snickering and belittling him. The voice was like an earthworm, constantly burrowing into his ears and throwing his mind into chaos.

A fierce and twisted rage surged within him, burning hotter and hotter. Suddenly, his body shuddered, and his eyes visibly reddened.

"What does he think he is?"

Huang Mao suddenly raised his voice and cursed viciously through red eyes. "Just watch. I'll deal with him as soon as work ends today."

The workers nearby were startled. They all turned to look at Huang Mao, whose eyes were bloodshot and who had inexplicably begun shouting.

"Don't look at me like that. I said I'm definitely going to deal with him today..."

Huang Mao glared viciously at the people around him and rasped, "No, not just deal with him. I'm going to..."

"I'm going to kill him."

"..."

"Little Xiao, what's going on?"

After slowly enduring the workday at the dock, Xiao Xiao felt extremely guilty accepting the five hundred yuan he had earned that day. He also felt deeply ashamed at having lost another opportunity to train.

Still, his mood was rather good.

Slacking off was of course wrong, but slacking off felt great.

However, just as he happily finished work, changed his clothes, and prepared to go home, one of his coworkers approached him nervously and said, "How did you offend that Huang Mao? That guy's gone crazy. He was just calling people to ambush you, and none of us could talk him out of it. It seems he called that Biker Gang that causes trouble in the streets. Be careful later, and hurry out through the back of the west gate..."

"Huang Mao?"

Xiao Xiao was instantly surprised. He had not expected that man to have such backbone, actually finding people to deal with him.

But was that really necessary?

"Ah, you young people have such tempers. Listen to me. We're all honest people trying to make money. Why provoke those hooligans..."

"Leave quickly today, then talk to the Foreman tomorrow..."

"..."

His coworker gave him a few more well-intentioned warnings before hurrying away, leaving Xiao Xiao to change clothes while thinking.

By now, he had freed himself to some extent from the troubles caused by his panic disorder. Yet sometimes, he still felt that there were many things in this world he could not understand.

When he had come to the dock, he had only wanted to work and make money. He had never caused any trouble.

So why had Huang Mao always disliked him and kept provoking him?

Huang Mao seemed to harbor some kind of malice toward him. But where had that malice come from? How had it grown to the point where he was determined to teach Xiao Xiao a harsh lesson?

Was it because of the influence of the city's will?

However, when his points had reached zero, he had indeed felt all kinds of malice. But now he had nearly six hundred points, precisely when the city's goodwill toward him should have been at its strongest.

Then why was he still encountering this sort of thing?

Frowning, he let out a quiet sigh. Unable to figure out the reason, he supposed that perhaps the arrival of certain kinds of malice was simply unreasonable in itself...

If that was the case, what should he do?

Xiao Xiao thought of the First Edict of the Outsider that Yang Jia had told him about.

After a moment of thought, he took out his phone and called Ruan Ruan. "Can I get into a fight?"

"A fight?"

Ruan Ruan was startled and immediately said, "Time, place... What should I wear?"

Xiao Xiao felt awkward and hurriedly said, "No, no..."

Ruan Ruan was clearly surprised. "I can't exactly go naked, can I?"

"?"

Xiao Xiao was completely dumbfounded. "What does that have to do with anything?"

He quickly explained, "It's not a group fight. I've run into a little trouble, and I wanted to ask whether we can fight these... natives?"

"Oh, so I'm not included..."

Ruan Ruan's voice immediately became less friendly. She drawled lazily, "Why couldn't you? Just don't kill them."

Xiao Xiao was a little worried. "What if I accidentally kill them?"

Ruan Ruan answered listlessly, "You'll lose points. Killing natives who haven't split open deducts points. It's not as if you have no experience with this. Little Four said you had a lot of fun conducting human-killing experiments..."

"?"

Xiao Xiao suddenly felt that his reputation had been tarnished again. He hurriedly explained, "What human-killing experiments? I was joking at the time..."

"Sure, I understand..."

Ruan Ruan laughed understandingly. "Just like how I believe you've never fed dog meat to dogs..."

"..."

After hanging up, Xiao Xiao was still left with a head full of questions. Did she believe me or not?

Still, he understood the Outsiders' attitude toward conflicts with natives.

As long as they did not die, it was fine. As long as they were not caught, it was fine.

Even if he really killed someone, there was nothing to be done. He currently had nearly six hundred points, which meant he had six slots in hand?

His mind slowly settled, and he began to look forward to the appointment after work.

If he had suddenly developed violent emotions under ordinary circumstances, he would not have chosen to do anything to Huang Mao, because he could tell that there was merely something wrong with his emotions.

But since Huang Mao had persistently issued him an invitation, and Xiao Xiao had already analyzed the situation while perfectly calm, there was no need to hesitate any longer.

Instead, he had to take it seriously and give it his all.

After all, this was also a rare opportunity to verify his abilities...

Time passed by bit by bit at the dock. Huang Mao cast several glances toward Xiao Xiao. Not only had he called someone outside right in front of Xiao Xiao, he had also circled back to Xiao Xiao's side several times, seemingly keeping an eye on him so he could not escape early. Finally, night fell, and the workers had packed up and were preparing to leave. Excited, Huang Mao immediately hurried over.

When he reached the warehouse entrance, he saw Xiao Xiao, who had already changed his clothes, quietly waiting for him.

Their gazes met, and Xiao Xiao gave him a friendly and sincere smile.