Rupture

Several more days passed, and in the blink of an eye, it was December 5th. Zhuang Jin and the other eight gradually adapted to the new month's training life.

Compared to the non-closed management they had as Martial Students, Formal Martial Artists had far more freedom. Even Tang Wentao only came by for the time it took to burn an incense stick each morning and afternoon, answered a few questions, then left. He did not bother with anything else, relying entirely on their self-discipline, and did not restrict them from coming or going.

If their training as Martial Students had been more like a tightly managed high school, then this month's training as Formal Martial Artists was probably equivalent to university.

Because the rules were lax, Jiao Kun had money on him again, and he had gone many days without relaxing, he finally could not hold himself back that afternoon and prepared to go out.

This time, he was not going alone. Qian Wende went with him—originally, the two had become somewhat distant over the matter of borrowing money, but somehow they had gotten mixed up together again recently.

That evening, when Zhuang Jin and the others returned from extra training at the Training Ground, they happened to see Jiao Kun and Qian Wende at the dorm entrance. The pair had just returned as well, arms slung around each other's shoulders, their faces full of satisfaction.

Xiong Lei asked, "Kun, Dezi, what did you two go out to do today? There's still an assessment at the end of the month, so put some thought into it!"

"Do what?" Jiao Kun ignored the latter half entirely. He opened his mouth, but for a moment, he was too embarrassed to say.

Qian Wende, on the other hand, waggled his brows and said, "Hehe, Brother Jiao and I went out for meat today."

Seeing Qian Wende's lewd expression, Lin Hong immediately understood. Seemingly joking, he said, "Dezi, don't go leading Brother Jiao astray, all right?"

Me leading Jiao Kun astray? Does he even need me to lead him?

Qian Wende scorned him inwardly, but naturally did not say it aloud. After all, Jiao Kun had treated him today. He merely said, "No way! I did a good deed. I went out with Jiao Kun today and let Brother Jiao have some real good meat, instead of getting fleeced like last time..."

Only then did Xiong Lei realize that this "eating meat" was not that kind of "eating meat." He immediately cursed, "Fuck, aren't you afraid of catching something?"

"Don't worry, it was safe. And taking a step back, we Martial Artists have strong bodies. We're not afraid of that."

As Qian Wende spoke, his eyes rolled, and he invited Xiong Lei, "Brother Xiong, you haven't had your first taste of meat yet, have you? How about next time Brother Jiao and I go out, you come too?"

He was clearly setting his sights on Xiong Lei, wanting him to pay next time.

Xiong Lei had not even considered who would pay. His attention was entirely on the matter of getting his first taste of meat itself. To be honest, he was genuinely tempted for a moment. But he was an honest, soft-hearted sort; put bluntly, he was indecisive. After hesitating, he ultimately shook his head. "Forget it!"

"Boss, come with us next time. I'll treat you?" Jiao Kun said to Xiang Qichen, perhaps wanting to return the favor because Xiang Qichen had lent him money before.

"I won't be going." Xiang Qichen waved a hand. Aside from being somewhat prideful, he had a fairly upright character.

Jiao Kun looked toward Lin Hong again and reached out to pat his shoulder. "Then what about you, Hong Zi?"

He and Lin Hong had entered on the same day, and their relationship was fairly good.

A trace of disgust flashed across Lin Hong's face, so faint it was nearly imperceptible. Without drawing attention to it, he dodged the hand reaching for his shoulder. Clearly, he felt Jiao Kun had touched who knew what and was dirty. He said nothing, only shook his head.

Zhuang Jin and Bi Kai watched the scene without speaking either.

Though they lived in the same dormitory, there were still degrees of closeness between them. For example, their little group was only on ordinary terms with Jiao Kun... Well, Wu Hao was the same. The three spared him the chance to invite them and spared themselves the need to refuse, turning to wash up instead.

After that day, several more days passed. By December 10th, Jiao Kun's itch returned. He decided to go out again, but did not want to go alone. When he called for Qian Wende, the fellow shamelessly said he "wanted to go, but had no money in his pocket." Only after Jiao Kun said he would treat did Qian Wende happily agree, and the two went out with their arms around each other's shoulders.

That evening, when Zhuang Jin and the others returned from extra training, they saw that Jiao Kun and Qian Wende had already returned. Qian Wende was even drinking water from the tea set Lin Hong had won in the drawing.

Zhuang Jin glanced to the side. Lin Hong's expression changed at once.

Everyone in the dormitory knew that Lin Hong was particular about cleanliness, even a little germophobic. They also knew that he liked this tea set quite a bit.

—After all, he had won it by drawing the Middle-Top Lot. To Lin Hong, this tea set was somewhat special.

At that moment, Qian Wende had his back to Lin Hong and did not see his expression. Still smiling, he said, "Brother Lin, I drank your water first. I'll fetch you some more later."

It was not just Zhuang Jin—Xiang Qichen had noticed Lin Hong's expression as well. As the dorm boss, he naturally would not let matters escalate and tried to smooth things over. "Dezi, it's not like you don't know Hong Zi likes things clean. You drank his water without even saying hello? Later, you'd better wash that tea set a few extra times..."

"No need."

Lin Hong stepped forward, picked up the tea set, and with a snap, threw it to the ground. Amid the crisp sound of shattering porcelain, tea splashed everywhere.

The entire dormitory fell deathly silent in an instant.

Only then did Lin Hong's cold voice ring out again. "Who knows what his mouth has touched? This thing is dirty. No matter how much you wash it, it's still dirty!"

Qian Wende was stunned for a moment before realizing what had happened. Even with his thick skin, his face turned green and purple, ugly beyond measure. "What do you mean by that?"

How could anyone insult someone like that?

He hadn't... Well, he might possibly, perhaps, have done it—but that did not mean Lin Hong could say it out loud!

Jiao Kun also felt that he had been cursed along with him, and his expression was equally unpleasant. "Hong Zi, even if Dezi did something wrong, we can just compensate you with a new tea set. There's no need to make your words so nasty, right?"

—Jiao Kun and Lin Hong had entered on the same day. Their relationship had even been somewhat closer than Jiao Kun's relationship with Xiong Lei. Lin Hong had also tactfully tried to persuade Jiao Kun more than once. But at this moment, with that one sentence from Jiao Kun, it was clear he had taken Qian Wende's side. The relationship between the two had plainly ruptured!

"Yeah, we're all brothers. What's the big deal? Just buy another one," Xiong Lei said as well, trying to smooth things over.

"Brother Xiong, lend me some money. I'll pay him back for the tea set!" Qian Wende said coldly.

Clearly, even with his thick skin, he felt humiliated by Lin Hong and wanted to settle accounts with him to salvage his pride.

"Fuck!" Xiong Lei cursed with a laugh, but still took out a qian of silver, seemingly hoping to muddle the matter over with this joking exchange.

Seeing the situation beginning to settle, Xiang Qichen spoke again. Without thinking, he said, "That's more like it. Dezi, take the money and compensate Hong Zi with a new tea set tomorrow. Hong Zi, apologize too for what you said earlier. We're still brothers, aren't we?"

"What gives you the right to act like some county yamen lord and give fifty strokes to each side?" Lin Hong sneered.

"You..."

"Do you think what I said was nasty? Then how about we apologize to each other?"

A killing blow!

His own boomerang came flying back into his face. Xiang Qichen choked up at once, his expression awkward. In the end, he simply said, "Fine, I was just full and idle, sticking my nose where it didn't belong, all right? Fucking kindness treated like donkey liver and lungs. I'm done meddling. Do whatever you want!"

The dormitory fell silent again.

Zhuang Jin stood at the doorway, watching it all coldly without saying a single word.

He saw it clearly. Everyone in the dorm had different temperaments. If not for the chance fate of sharing a dormitory, they would never have gathered together in the first place. The meal at the end of last month had barely patched everyone together, but that bond had been exceedingly fragile. Now, this one conflict had shattered that fragile balance, exposing the contradictions and tearing them apart.

Bi Kai stood half a step behind Zhuang Jin, silently watching as well. He did not involve himself and did not make a sound.

Wu Hao wanted to say something, but he was too clumsy with words and truly did not know what to say. Before he could think of anything, the matter was already over.

After that, not a word was spoken in the dormitory all night.