The Things They Dared Not Handle, I Would

"Young Master Wen is on which floor?" Mu Fan continued to ask calmly.

"Th-third floor, the premium VIP rooms," the man on the ground stammered.

"Which room?" Mu Fan slightly raised his head, narrowing his eyes toward the third floor.

"Room One. But he isn't there right now. You'll have to ask the Boss." The man on the ground had completely lost his nerve by now. When dealing with someone who liked to be ruthless, all it took was someone even more ruthless.

"Thank you." Mu Fan withdrew his gaze, lowered his head, and replied politely, making the trembling man freeze for a moment.

Then he turned and walked toward the entrance to the suspension elevator at an unhurried pace.

The ordinary trainee area next door had long since been stunned. There was actually such a fierce person in the martial arts gym? They did not know the details, but judging by this, this kid must have been close to the sparring partner who had been beaten crippled. It looked like he was here to settle the score. This was going to be good!

"He's so cool!" The female trainees who had come to work out watched Mu Fan turn and leave without any hesitation, their eyes practically glued to him as they began asking who this imposing sparring partner was.

A grudge must be avenged!

A kindness must be repaid!

They had known each other for only two days, but a bond of the heart could last a lifetime.

Under the Starry Sky, Mu Fan respected neither power nor wealth! Walking the path he wished to walk and doing what he wished to do—that was the faith that had kept Mu Fan alive until now!

The scene from when they had met just two days ago surfaced in Mu Fan's mind.

The burly man in black had looked at him with a smile and said, "My name is Man Kun. Good luck..."

..."Come over after you've eaten lunch. Don't be late."

Words possessed a strange kind of power. Sometimes emotions were hidden within them, only to be discovered after careful thought. Unfortunately for Mu Fan, the cruel reality of the martial arts gym was laid bare before him now. Once a person was gone, even the tea turned cold!

I'll find someone and get to the bottom of this first. Don't worry. If something really happened, I'll get it back for you.

The things they dared not handle, I would handle!

The people they dared not provoke, I would provoke!

The face you lost, I would win back!

The dignity he took, he would spit it all back out!!

An indescribable aura spread from Mu Fan as he stepped into the suspension elevator. The doors closed...

The blue light for the fourth floor lit up.

Chanisen's short body sank into a large leather chair. He tore open a box of cigars that had just been smuggled in. They were not as good as the ones used by the City Lord and those upper-class people, but commoners could not get their hands on them even if they searched a hundred times over.

He took a deep sniff and revealed a satisfied expression. With his left hand, he picked up an exquisite cigar cutter engraved with a half-nude woman from the desk before him. He slipped his right thumb and middle finger into it, then snipped with elegant precision.

He lit it, took a deep drag, and sat there in a haze of pleasure.

"Tsk, tsk. Just the scraps that slip through Young Master Wen's fingers are enough to keep me fed. Good stuff, indeed. I wonder which incense stick I burned to deserve this—Young Master Wen actually chose this place as his recent spot to unwind. Could it be that military academy admissions are about to begin?" Chanisen blew out a smoke ring, leaned back in his chair, and grinned.

"Poor Man Kun. You've been with the martial arts gym for years, but there's no helping it. Young Master Wen thinks you can fight, so you can only fight. As long as I can get in Young Master Wen's good graces, anyone can be sacrificed."

"Sigh, I need to think about recruiting more people. I'll promote a couple of the old hands downstairs to fill in for now."

Chanisen scratched his chin with his pinky, thought for a moment, and continued muttering to himself. "As for Man Kun... let him go home. Who should go up next? Young Master Wen has to leave me some people, or I won't be able to answer to the Boss either."

Just as Chanisen was talking to himself, a knock sounded against the solid wooden door.

"Come in." Chanisen did not even move his head from the back of the chair.

With a creak, the door opened, and Mu Fan walked in.

"Well, well. You're that kid who came the day before yesterday. Your name was... what was it again? Man Kun brought you here, right? What do you want?"

"My name is Mu Fan. I came to ask about Man Kun."

Chanisen's expression turned cold. "What do you want to ask?"

"I want to go see him," Mu Fan said calmly.

Only then did Chanisen's expression soften slightly. "Well, he was the one who brought you here, so it's only right that you visit him. He's at the Medical Hall at 117 East Street District. You can go see him. Anything else? If not, you can leave."

Mu Fan nodded. "Yes, one more thing. I want to be Young Master Wen's sparring partner."

Chanisen's face immediately darkened. He lifted his head from the chair back and stared at Mu Fan, his tone full of warning. "Kid, this is a martial arts gym. You're sparring partners. If you do this work, you should be prepared for it."

Mu Fan said calmly, "I won't fight back. I'm only a sparring partner."

The short supervisor continued staring at Mu Fan and slowly said, "Young Master Wen is a VIP. You, me, neither of us can afford to provoke him. If you don't want to do it, you can leave."

Mu Fan stared at him for a moment without the slightest fear, then nodded. "I understand. I'm going to see Man Kun." Then, without waiting for Chanisen to speak, he turned to leave.

Chanisen watched Mu Fan's back with cold eyes. The door opened, and Mu Fan tilted his head slightly as his voice drifted back. "Mr. Chanisen, if Young Master Wen needs another sparring partner and the martial arts gym happens to have no one available, call me."

The wooden door gently closed.

Inside the room, Chanisen's uncertain face flickered in and out of sight through the smoke. The scent of the cigar suddenly felt rather irritating to him.

It was noon. After leaving Chanisen's office, Mu Fan went straight down to the first floor.

It was time to eat. Mu Fan silently walked to the cafeteria. Because of what had happened at the Training Field, some of those who had witnessed it instinctively avoided him. This kid was practically a Humanoid Ferocious Beast.

"Ten boxes." Seeing that no one came forward to collect food, Mu Fan walked straight to the serving window.

"Hold them tight." A tall stack of meal boxes was handed into Mu Fan's arms.

Sitting there, Mu Fan finished one box in four bites. Before long, the stack of meal boxes had been laid out flat across the table.

At that moment, a strong arm braced itself against the table and appeared in front of Mu Fan.

Mu Fan looked up. It was Jerff.

Jerff held five boxes of Nutritional Meal in his arms and grinned.

"Kid, I heard about what happened just now. Sounds like you went to see Mr. Chanisen, but Chanisen just informed me that I'm going this afternoon. So you won't get a chance this afternoon."

Jerff's words were not exactly pleasant, but Mu Fan understood what he meant from his tone.

Stay out of this. It's not your turn yet.

He was a rough-looking man with a warm heart. Mu Fan nodded inwardly.

"Mm." Mu Fan did not say much more.

Jerff patted him on the shoulder, then went to the back to eat and chat noisily with a group of people.

Mu Fan quickly finished the boxed meals in his hands, wiped his mouth, and headed outside.

Behind him, the cafeteria remained packed with voices and full of liveliness...

Without changing clothes, his back still torn and exposed, Mu Fan walked out of the martial arts gym.

"117 East Street District." Mu Fan repeated the address in his heart, then quickly found his way to the Medical Hall after asking around.

"Hello, how may I help you?" A young girl in medical robes asked him at the front desk.

"I came to see Mr. Man Kun. He was brought here."

"Oh, please wait while I look him up for you. Um... found him. Room 11. Turn right, walk straight ahead, and it's the fifth ward."

Following the directions, Mu Fan walked over and pushed open the door. He saw Man Kun propped up against the hospital bed.

"Mu Fan, kid?" Man Kun was somewhat surprised to see that the person entering was Mu Fan. Then he gave a bitter smile. "Even you know about it... sigh."

Mu Fan looked at the once-cheerful burly man. His face was full of desolation, his left leg encased in a thick plaster cast, and all he could do now was lie in bed with a bitter smile.

"I heard them talking, so I came to see you." Concern flashed through Mu Fan's bright eyes.

Warmth flowed through Man Kun's heart. He had worked at the martial arts gym for three years, rising from the bottom to become a regular employee. He had met all kinds of people, yet he had never expected that the one to visit him in the end would be this kid he had known for only two days.

"My leg is broken. They've already given me initial treatment, and I'll be fine after resting for a while." Before Mu Fan could ask anything else, Man Kun took the initiative to explain. Then he forced a smile and said, "The martial arts gym will give me disability compensation. I've been here a long time, so it probably won't be too little, right? Hahaha..."

Mu Fan cut him off directly. "I applied to Chanisen to become Young Master Wen's sparring partner."

"Haha... what? You're going to be his sparring partner? No!!" Man Kun's laughter abruptly stopped halfway through. He became agitated, his fingers unconsciously clutching Mu Fan's arm.

"Absolutely not! That's Young Master Wen! The compensation from the martial arts gym is enough to keep me going for a while. Don't go. He's not someone you can afford to provoke!" Man Kun had not expected this kid to say such a thing. The burly man's eyes were moist now. Some people could know each other for ten years and still not compare to a chance acquaintance. No matter what, he could not drag Mu Fan down with him.

"Chanisen refused, but I'm still going," Mu Fan said as though he were talking about something unrelated to himself.

"Young Master Wen is preparing for military academy selection. He's the only son of Luoqie Star's Second Councilor!! None of us can afford to provoke him!" Seeing how determined Mu Fan was, Man Kun became even more agitated.

"I won't provoke him. I'm only going to be a sparring partner. Jerff is going this afternoon, but I feel like... Chanisen will arrange for me soon." Mu Fan had seen Chanisen's expression earlier, and he had a feeling that his turn would come quickly.

"You!... Young Master Wen has at least a Level Fifteen physique!! How can you fight him?! Jerff will be in danger too!" Man Kun was frantic.

"It's fine. I'll protect myself," Mu Fan reassured him.

In his anxiety, Man Kun blurted out his words as quickly as possible. "If Young Master Wen is satisfied, the martial arts gym is satisfied. If Young Master Wen isn't satisfied, both you and I will suffer! Listen to me, don't go. He hits far too hard!!!!" Man Kun looked at his broken leg, pain flashing through his eyes.

Mu Fan smiled and patted his shoulder. "Mr. Man Kun, rest well. I believe Young Master Wen will be satisfied." His resolute eyes met Man Kun's. "And please believe me too. I'm leaving now. I still have sparring practice this afternoon."

Mu Fan pressed both hands down on Man Kun, who was trying to get up. An irresistible force burst from his lean body, pinning Man Kun firmly to the bed. Then, without waiting for Man Kun to speak, he waved and walked out of the ward.

Man Kun, such a burly man, watched Mu Fan's departing back as tears welled up in his eyes.

Once the door closed, Mu Fan's smile vanished.

Who was born nobler than anyone else? Who was born to be humiliated?

If I did not even dare do something like this, how could I venture out...?