You Are the Void

Fine, this is for the best. With Jiang Nian's own imagination acting as an endorsement, it won't seem too abrupt when Wang Ji improves to a Prospective Martial Artist in a few days.

Jiang Nian's expression remained quite excited. "What is your name? How old are you?"

Wang Ji replied, "Instructor, my name is Wang Ji. I am 17, a senior in high school."

Jiang Nian clapped his hands in excitement. "17! Good! Good! You must practice your Stance Training and Cannon Fist well! Here, take down my number; if you have any questions, you can come find me anytime! Come, come, I'll take you to get your Advanced Student Certificate processed right now!"

The overly enthusiastic Chief Instructor Jiang Nian left Wang Ji feeling a bit overwhelmed. Having no choice but to familiarize himself with the facilities in the Advanced Student building, Wang Ji eventually left the Limit Martial Hall.

It was still early, only around 8:00 PM, and the streets were at their liveliest.

Jiangnan Base City had a population of over 100 million. Even the subsidiary Yangzhou City had a population exceeding 20 million! That was equivalent to the population of the urban area of Shanghai in his previous life, yet Yangzhou City, enclosed by walls, had an urban area of only 1,000 square kilometers. Sounds large, doesn't it? It was only one-sixth the size of Shanghai!

The population density was easy to imagine. It was definitely higher than Hong Kong in his previous life!

However, this also created a distorted form of prosperity. Walking through this dense and bustling Yangzhou City, the level of prosperity he felt exceeded any super-large city from his past life.

As Wang Ji strolled along, he suddenly felt a sense of belonging to this world. This was a real world; there was no need to feel alienated.

Thinking this, Wang Ji checked his location and headed toward the place where his sister worked. He would go see her; it would be a small surprise. His sister, Wang Yan, had a pure and delicate appearance, enough to be considered a school-beauty level stunner. Otherwise, she wouldn't have attracted the constant harassment of second-generation socialites like Liu Tao. For a beautiful woman, even without specialized skills, finding a job with decent pay was a breeze.

For instance, at the milk tea shop where his sister currently worked, the boss paid her 20% more than the other clerks and allowed her to work only from after school until ten at night. After all, a beautiful young clerk was a surefire way to increase foot traffic, wasn't it?

Beauties were always treated with preference.

"Huh? What is this?"

Just as Wang Ji reached the entrance of the shop, he saw a yellow-haired thug loitering outside. In an instant, his rage erupted! This was one of the thugs who usually followed Liu Biao.

These bastards had actually followed her all the way to her workplace! They were courting death!

Looking at the milk tea shop, the foot traffic was clearly lower than usual. His sister, Wang Yan, was holding back tears, her face full of frustration. Wang Ji clenched his fists. "Liu Biao, you bastard!"

Before long, a middle-aged man who looked like the shop manager hurried into the shop. Wang Ji followed him inside.

"Wang Yan, look..." The middle-aged man looked at Wang Yan with a troubled expression. Wang Ji had just entered and heard this conversation.

Wang Yan held back her tears and said dejectedly, "Manager... I... I'm sorry, I've brought trouble to the shop..."

As she spoke, Wang Yan bowed to the manager.

"Sigh... I... I really am sorry, but this is just a small shop. If it were ordinary thugs, I could just call the police and it would be resolved. But this person... it's said that his family members are Martial Artists. You know, Martial Artists are big shots; we ordinary folks can't afford to provoke them. Even in this society ruled by law, if a Martial Artist wants to cause trouble for our shop, it's effortless. They could just make a call to some department... I really have no choice."

Wang Yan couldn't help but let her tears fall. "It's not your fault, Manager. I'll resign right now."

"I am truly sorry! I'll pay you for the full month for the 13 days you worked this month! That's 3,600 in total! I'll transfer it to your account immediately! I am truly sorry!" the middle-aged man said apologetically.

Wang Ji spoke up, "Sister!"

"Xiao Ji?" Wang Yan wiped her tears. "You saw it all?"

Wang Ji smiled. "I saw it! Don't worry, Sister. I'll find a way."

"What way could you possibly find? I'll just look for another job! I don't believe that in Yangzhou City, a thug like Liu Biao can cover the sky with one hand!" Wang Yan said stubbornly, wiping her tears.

Wang Ji agreed with a smile, though the hatred in his heart burned ever brighter. Just a few more days! I'll endure him for a few more days!

Wang Ji pulled his sister, Wang Yan, out of the milk tea shop.

"Yo! Kid! I thought you'd turned into a turtle hiding in its shell!" the yellow-haired thug said, arrogantly blocking Wang Ji's path.

Wang Ji frowned. "Provoking trouble in broad daylight! Do you think Liu Biao's father is a War God? That he can cover the sky with one hand in Yangzhou City? If you break the law in the street, can Liu Biao protect you?"

The yellow-haired thug was enraged. "You motherf—" As he spoke, he swung at Wang Ji.

Wang Ji was speechless; this little thug was a complete idiot without a brain! To protect his sister, Wang Ji shoved the fool aside.

"Bang!" The yellow-haired thug tumbled to the ground like a bundle of straw.

"Damn! Is he really that weak? Or is he trying to scam me?" Wang Ji was speechless.

"Scam your mother's..." the yellow-haired thug cursed.

"Looks like he's genuinely weak!" Wang Ji realized.

"Y-you..."

"What's going on here! Everyone stop! Public Security Bureau!" Two uniformed officers ran over quickly.

Wang Ji scanned the surroundings and happened to see Liu Biao sitting on a nearby leisure chair, wearing a cold, sinister smile.

"Damn! That bastard. This Liu Biao is truly devious!" Wang Ji frowned. He wasn't sure how the Yangzhou City Public Security Bureau operated or if they were corrupt. If there were special circumstances and this grandson Liu Biao played dirty... it might actually be troublesome!

Facing the two officers, Wang Yan hurriedly explained the situation. Nearby, several concerned bystanders also chimed in to help explain things for Wang Ji.

"Alright! Enough! We have heard what you all have to say. But we still need to pull the surveillance footage to investigate this clearly. Regardless of the issue, both of you must come back to the Public Security Bureau with us!" the older officer said. Both the thug and Wang Ji were eventually taken to the station.

Wang Ji frowned in thought, then quickly recited a phone number to Wang Yan and said, "Sister, if there's real trouble later, please help me make this call. Just say that Wang Ji has been taken by the Public Security Bureau and ask if he could help out. Try it when the time comes."

Wang Yan asked, "This... will it work?"

Wang Ji had no other options. "Give it a try! Maybe it will!"

From what he knew of Swallowed Star, Jiang Nian valued geniuses quite highly. But the uncertainty was too great. For the first time, Wang Ji felt things were out of his control. My strength is still not enough! Wang Ji felt a surge of ruthlessness in his heart. Once something happened, he would pay this debt back ten or a hundred times over sooner or later!

Wang Yan took out her phone and began dialing. The younger officer wanted to stop her, but was blocked by the older one. The younger officer thought for a moment and decided not to interfere.

It seems it is not the worst-case scenario after all! Wang Ji thought.

Public Security Bureau, interrogation room.

Wang Ji sat in the interrogation chair, his hands and feet restrained. One of the officers was speaking sternly, but Wang Ji remained silent throughout. Let's see, let's see just how far a second-generation martial artist like Liu Biao can interfere. Can he fabricate charges and have Wang Ji beaten or murdered right here in the Public Security Bureau? Or can he only exert a simple influence on the interrogation results?

As it stands, it seems the latter is more likely. At most, a few days of detention. It might be effective for scaring an ordinary kid, but trying to scare Wang Ji... Heh! Once I get past this hurdle... Wang Ji steeled his heart.

Just as he was thinking this, the door to the interrogation room was shoved open heavily. "Bang!"

Chief Instructor Jiang Nian walked in, accompanied by a police chief wearing a white shirt.

Jiang Nian slammed his hand onto the table in a fit of rage. "Bang!" With a thunderous sound, the table was reduced to mere pieces!

"What crime has my student committed? Is there any need to restrain his hands and feet?! You are confusing right and wrong, black and white! This is nothing short of lawlessness!" Jiang Nian roared.