Repayment

Xiang Qichen was left dazed by Qian Wende's slap. His body swayed, and more than half his drunkenness vanished. Once he truly realized what had happened, disbelief came first, then the rage in his chest surged up with a whoosh.

Qian Wende had actually hit him?!

He had been hit by Qian Wende, who usually acted like his lackey, calling him boss at every turn and sucking up to him...?!

"Fuck your mother!" Xiang Qichen's eyes instantly reddened. He rushed forward with a kick and began brawling with Qian Wende.

This month, Xiang Qichen had focused on his Cultivation Realm. Though he and Qian Wende were both at the One Meridian Realm, his Inner Breath was countless times more refined. Qian Wende suffered badly, his face becoming bruised and swollen in just a few blows.

Jiao Kun, Lin Hong, Wu Hao, and Xiong Lei hurried over to pull them apart.

Jiao Kun was the closest and one of the parties involved, so naturally he could not stand by with his hands tucked in his sleeves.

Wu Hao remembered the favor Xiang Qichen had done him by fronting him money at the end of last month. Still, he had believed Xiang Qichen was in the wrong, so it had been awkward for him to speak. While he hesitated, things had already escalated to the point where Xiang Qichen and Qian Wende came to blows, so he naturally hurried over to stop them.

As for Lin Hong, after the teacup incident, he had followed Zhuang Jin and the other two, feeling that he owed them something. But it had not reached the point where he could join Bi Kai in throwing punches, so he planned to do something else instead.

There was even less need to mention Xiong Lei. He was simply the sort who liked to smooth things over.

With Jiao Kun, Lin Hong, Wu Hao, and Xiong Lei stepping in, Xiang Qichen and Qian Wende were soon pulled apart.

Xiang Qichen was still furious beyond measure, staring at Qian Wende as though fire were shooting from his eyes. Qian Wende, meanwhile, was bruised and battered and looked utterly miserable, yet his eyes held a trace of smugness. He felt that Xiang Qichen had beaten him well—having taken a beating for Zhuang Jin and chosen his side this once, their relationship would surely become much closer. It was worth it!

Zhuang Jin's expression was cold, giving away neither joy nor anger. At that moment, he stepped forward again, walking toward Xiang Qichen.

Bi Kai secretly circulated his Inner Breath as well, following close at his heels.

"Jinzi, calm down. The boss didn't mean it—he was drunk and spouting nonsense... Everyone, calm down. We're all in the same dormitory. What can't be talked out?" It was Xiong Lei who spoke, blocking Zhuang Jin.

Bi Kai looked at Xiong Lei in surprise.

Zhuang Jin was momentarily stunned as well. He looked at Xiong Lei. Do you know what you're saying? He slapped me across the face, and you're stopping me, telling me to calm down and just accept it?

He looked deeply at him, confirming that the one saying this was Xiong Lei, not Qian Wende.

At that moment, Zhuang Jin found it inexplicably ironic. Qian Wende, whom he usually looked down on and kept at a distance, had firmly taken his side, stepped up to slap Xiang Qichen, and gotten his face battered for it. Yet Xiong Lei, once the friend closest to him, was playing peacemaker, telling him to swallow his anger and let the matter rest.

Zhuang Jin stared into Xiong Lei's eyes, observing the fleeting expressions on his face, and suddenly understood. Perhaps Xiong Lei himself did not know what it meant to say and do this. He was merely instinctively trying to muddy the waters and smooth things over. But the truth was, when this conflict forced everyone to choose sides, he had planted his backside on Xiang Qichen's side.

And many times, choosing sides and knowing where one stood mattered far more than character or ability!

Under Zhuang Jin and Bi Kai's gazes, Xiong Lei instinctively felt a little guilty. Though he did not know why he felt guilty, he still wanted to say something.

Zhuang Jin suddenly smiled. "Fine, Xiong Lei. Today, I'll give you this face. Let this matter end here!"

With that, he turned and left.

Qian Wende's face was bruised and swollen, but he did not care in the slightest. He cast Xiong Lei a mocking glance, laughing inwardly at what a muddleheaded fool he was!

Then he secretly felt regret. If he had once shared the relationship Xiong Lei had had with Zhuang Jin, why would he have needed to do this? Though he had seized the chance just now to hit Xiang Qichen and side with Zhuang Jin, there would be repercussions—he had thoroughly offended Xiang Qichen.

But it was worth it!

Today, Zhuang Jin had broken through to the Second Meridian Realm, and Qian Wende finally felt that he saw things clearly. Zhuang Jin, who had kept such a low profile in the dormitory, was the one with the greatest potential, the one most likely to accomplish great things in the future! Xiang Qichen had only encountered the Second Meridian Bottleneck a few days ago, and each bottleneck was harder than the last. At this rate, Xiang Qichen might not even break through to the Second Meridian next month. His aptitude was nowhere near Zhuang Jin's. Qian Wende had truly misjudged before!

With these thoughts racing through his mind, Qian Wende called out, "Brother Zhuang," and hurried after him.

Behind them, Bi Kai looked at Xiong Lei and opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something. In the end, however, he said nothing. He merely sighed softly, patted Xiong Lei on the shoulder, and left.

Xiong Lei stood where he was, feeling as if he had done something wrong. Yet when he thought it over, he was like a monk six feet tall trying to touch his own head—utterly baffled. He shook his head. Forget it.

Wu Hao said, "Brother Xiang, drink less from now on," then followed the others out.

Lin Hong said nothing. He looked at Xiang Qichen, then at Xiong Lei, and thought of Qian Wende, who had just gone out. He shook his head slightly. Some people have the moon from a tower near the water, yet still manage to push a perfectly good relationship away. They cannot tell where they stand, use their own goodwill to wipe someone else's ass, and afterward are still muddleheaded enough not to know what they have lost. Yet others, though clearly distant, can make a prompt decision when opportunity comes and squeeze through the smallest crack to attach themselves!

How could such a contrast not make one sigh?

Still, he was not particularly close to Xiong Lei, so he said nothing and went out to wash up.

After all that commotion in the dormitory, Xiang Qichen had sobered up completely. He was filled with resentment, unwillingness, regret, and lingering fear. If Xiong Lei had not stopped Zhuang Jin just now...

He looked at Xiong Lei, opened his mouth, and said, "Second Brother, earlier... thanks!"

"Ah, it was nothing. Boss, you were just drunk. Just talk it out with Jinzi afterward," Xiong Lei said, waving a hand as though it did not matter.

"Kunzi, thanks to you too," Xiang Qichen added.

Jiao Kun did not reply. His expression was unpleasant. He liked having fun and did not take Martial Practice all that seriously, but he still understood how the world worked.

Fuck, he had only stayed in the dormitory and had a few drinks with Xiang Qichen. Who could have known that once Xiang Qichen got drunk, he would curse Zhuang Jin as though he had lost his mind?

I wonder whether Zhuang Jin will hold a grudge against me too. He's already at the Second Meridian Realm—who knows how far he'll go in the future? It would have been one thing if I simply failed to earn his favor, but instead I went and offended him.

As anger welled up in his heart, he also developed a strong dislike for Xiang Qichen. What was wrong with him? Why drink when things had been fine? Even if he drank, did he not know his own limit and had to get himself drunk? And even if he got drunk, could he not keep that filthy mouth of his shut? He had dragged Jiao Kun down with him!

It could be said that after tonight, the small favor Xiang Qichen had earned with Jiao Kun by lending him money last month and paying in advance for the end-of-month meal had not merely been completely worn away. Jiao Kun had also developed quite a grievance against Xiang Qichen.

Outside.

The cold wind made Zhuang Jin exceptionally clear-headed. Thinking back to what had happened, he had not been lying—he truly had spared Xiang Qichen today for Xiong Lei's final bit of face. Otherwise, with a Second Meridian Realm Martial Artist fighting a One Meridian Realm Martial Artist, it would have been like a father beating his son!

As for the consequences of hitting Xiang Qichen?

Xiang Qichen had started it with his cheap mouth, and he was only at the One Meridian Realm, offending someone above him. Zhuang Jin, meanwhile, had broken through to the Second Meridian Realm today and displayed aptitude and potential far beyond Xiang Qichen's. Along with connections such as Chang Hetong, Ping Yongfeng, and Tang Wentao, so long as he did not kill Xiang Qichen or beat him severely, at most he would receive a couple of harmless reprimands!

"Ah!" He sighed softly. Yet that sigh was not for Xiang Qichen, because he had long known they were not walking the same road. He was lamenting his relationship with Xiong Lei.

Thinking back on everything between them... They had met on registration day. After entering the Shen Family Outer Courtyard as Martial Students, Zhuang Jin had decisively offered benefits when collecting bedding, avoiding a possible disaster. During those days, Xiong Lei had deferred to him in all things and suppressed his own nature. That had been fine enough.

But after Xiong Lei became a Formal Martial Artist before him, his mindset changed, and he placed himself in the leading position again—which was perfectly normal. Among Martial Artists, the accomplished came first and aptitude reigned supreme; there was nothing to criticize in that.

Yet from then on, Xiong Lei began exposing his true nature. He ignored advice and traded beds with Qian Wende, perhaps even believing he was doing Zhuang Jin a favor. Qian Wende took advantage of him, but even after Zhuang Jin told him privately, he still would not listen. He meddled in other people's affairs and tried to muddy the waters and smooth things over... He no longer listened to Zhuang Jin, instead handling everything according to his own temperament and his own methods.

Zhuang Jin was not the sort of person who knew another was wrong yet still followed along, clinging to the tail of their steed. In a relationship, if both people wanted to take the lead and act according to their own natures, they would gradually drift apart, until they finally reached this point today.

"How fickle and deceitful the changes of the human heart are!" Zhuang Jin sighed, letting go of some of his lingering entanglement. "So be it. If we cannot walk together, then we are not traveling the same road!"

Nor would he be unable to move on or unable to let it go. Besides, he asked himself and found that he had not wronged Xiong Lei in the slightest.

Yes, when he registered, he had relied on Xiong Lei and his father to avoid a possible problem. But when they had been Martial Students, he had helped Xiong Lei often—whether it was collecting bedding, reminding him to hide his own progress to avoid provoking jealousy and inviting trouble, or telling him not to become tangled in romantic matters and to focus on Martial Practice... After becoming Formal Martial Artists, he had also repeatedly warned Xiong Lei not to be a sucker or meddle in other people's Karma. Xiong Lei simply refused to listen.

Until today, Xiong Lei had once again involved himself. Whatever his motives, he had ultimately chosen a side. Then Zhuang Jin might as well give him this final bit of face. From this day onward, all debts between them were repaid, and there would be nothing left to dwell upon!

Enough, enough. In the end: what has left me cannot be kept from yesterday. Letting go of the thought, Zhuang Jin nodded to Qian Wende, Bi Kai, and the others who had caught up, and went to wash up with them.