The bug-fighting boy

Green Sea City, a vacation destination where the sea, trees, and light rail blended together, still preserved many traditional customs.

At the center of Red Leaf Park, which bordered Emerald Mountain to the east and the Green Sea to the south, a huge crowd had gathered. A long banner hung between two trees.

A girl squeezed into the crowd. Just as she spotted the large words "Bug-Fighting Tournament" on the banner, a tremendous cheer erupted around her.

"Lu Ran won again!"

"Wasn't he the winner last year, too?"

"That's right, and he won every match hands down!"

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, a boy of about sixteen or seventeen stood up in the center of the competition area, watched by a bald old man who could hardly accept what had happened.

"Thanks for the match," he said with a smile.

Bug fighting was one of Xia Country's traditional folk competitions, also known in the north as cricket fighting.

Just moments earlier, at the Bug-Fighting Tournament held in Green Sea City's Red Leaf Park, Lu Ran and his prized fighter had overwhelmed a host of experienced veterans to claim the title of Insect King.

And this was hardly his first championship.

"You little brat!" The old man kept scratching at the few sparse hairs left on his head, staring irritably at Lu Ran across from him.

Ever since this Lu Ran had started entering the Bug-Fighting Tournament, he had never lost a single match. How was that fair?

How could a teenage kid have more cricket-fighting experience than a bunch of old-timers like them?

"Just good luck." Lu Ran laughed.

But then, as if he had sensed someone watching him from the crowd, he suddenly stiffened.

"Well, everyone, I'm heading out!" Lu Ran's expression changed. He quickly packed away his prized fighter, hurriedly squeezed through the crowd, and headed outside.

Before he could get far, however, someone took a shortcut and blocked his path.

She was young as well, tall and pretty, with long dark brown hair tied in a ponytail and a pair of slender, fair legs. She radiated youthful energy, but her expression was anything but friendly.

"So you asked for time off just to enter this Bug-Fighting Tournament? Why didn't you answer my calls?" Fang Lan folded her arms across her chest and waited for Lu Ran to explain.

"I was concentrating on the matches, so I put it on silent." Lu Ran pursed his lips.

"You're about to start your final year of high school, you know." Fang Lan rubbed her Sun, a headache coming on.

"Come on... I'll go back to extra classes tomorrow," Lu Ran said helplessly.

"I'm pushing you for your own good!" Fang Lan glanced at the jar in Lu Ran's hand. "Still, first place again... not bad. Green Sea City is a major bug-fighting hub. Any old man you meet in a park has decades of experience. I heard you completely wiped the floor with them again."

Lu Ran smiled. "Sometimes, you can't rely on experience alone. Talent is what matters most."

"That wasn't a compliment!" Fang Lan said angrily. "I'm telling you to put that energy into studying first. Once your college entrance exams are over, you can fight bugs however you like."

"I know, I know." Lu Ran waved a hand. "But I'm not that interested in bug fighting anymore anyway. There's no challenge to it."

"What do you think about me trying hunting? My ancestors were hunters. Maybe I've got those genes, too..."

He fell into thought. Hunting, or capturing and killing game, was currently done mainly to make use of the country's wildlife resources, control wildlife populations, and maintain the balance of natural ecosystems. Of course, none of those purposes had anything to do with him. He simply had a naturally combative pet at home that needed somewhere suitable to express its instincts.

There were still quite a few places in Xia Country where hunting was legal.

As he thought, Lu Ran opened the jar containing the Insect King and simply released the expensive insect. Just as he had said, this game offered no challenge anymore.

"Hunting..." Fang Lan stared blankly at Lu Ran. "You're not thinking of turning that Silly Husky of yours into a hunting dog, are you?"

"What part of it resembles a hunting dog, apart from its looks?"

Lu Ran shrugged. "I can train it. It loves fighting too much, and constantly suppressing that urge isn't good for it. But there's no point talking about it anyway. A hunting license is pretty hard to get."

"I hope you're joking," Fang Lan said, speechless. But soon, as if something had occurred to her, she fixed her eyes on Lu Ran. "Wait. You still haven't let that go? Are you getting ready to go there?"

"No. Even if I did go, couldn't I just pay to hire a professional team? What would be the point of going to all this trouble? Right?"

"But..."

"Come on, let's go. It's going to rain," Lu Ran said hurriedly, unwilling to continue the subject.

"Huh?" Fang Lan blinked and looked up at the clear sky. There wasn't even a dark cloud in sight...

"That's what the weather forecast said." Lu Ran waved a hand and set off toward the park exit ahead of her.

Just kidding. The insects in the park actually told me.

Before long, dark clouds filled the sky over Green Sea City. With a downpour looming, Lu Ran and Fang Lan entered a restaurant, both to take shelter from the rain and to get lunch.

"I'm leaving for Magic City to start university the day after tomorrow. Why don't you move into my place? You're about to start your final year of high school. Let my parents cook for you so you don't have to order takeout every day. It's not healthy."

Holding her tea and taking small sips, Fang Lan continued, "My parents have brought it up several times already."

"I'll be fine on my own. Thank Mom and Dad for me." Lu Ran also drank some tea to moisten his throat.

"Call them your godfather and godmother!"

"Fine, fine. Thank my godfather and godmother for me," Lu Ran said. He and Fang Lan had grown up together. Her parents were close friends of his parents, and after Lu Ran's parents had been confirmed dead, the Fang family had adopted him.

Once he could basically take care of himself, however, Lu Ran had moved out to live alone. His parents had left him a large sum of money, enough to cover an ordinary life.

"I'm done trying. I'll let them talk you into it themselves." Fang Lan knew she couldn't persuade Lu Ran. She understood his temperament all too well.

To put it nicely, he had a mind of his own. To put it bluntly, he was rebellious, and not just over little things like this, but over everything.

"Don't worry. I can take care of myself. Just wait for me in Magic City. I'll come join you next year, and then I'll be counting on you to look after me, esteemed senior!"

"Get accepted first." Fang Lan crossed one fair leg over the other and leisurely scrolled through her phone. She was an excellent student and had gained admission that year to Southern First University, Magic University, with outstanding results. Because of her parents' professions, she had chosen to major in veterinary medicine.

Although Lu Ran's grades were good too, getting into Magic University wouldn't be easy. The coming year would be crucial.

"Piece of cake." Lu Ran didn't think it would be difficult. He just hadn't decided what major to apply for yet... though it would probably have something to do with animals, too.

For example...

"Beast tamer?" Fang Lan said.

"What? What beast tamer?" Lu Ran froze and looked at her.

There's a major for that? Wouldn't it be called animal science?

When Fang Lan suddenly spoke, Lu Ran initially thought she was talking to him. But a moment later, he realized she was looking at her phone and talking to herself.

"I came across a post. I'll send it to you," Fang Lan said.

Soon, Lu Ran's phone received the link Fang Lan had sent.

He opened it. The post was titled, "Help! Do you believe supernatural phenomena exist in this world?"

Huh?

Lu Ran frowned at the title.

If you encounter ads such as "Are you a real person?", simply ignore and close them. Do not scan any QR codes or send text messages!