Chapter 11: Making a Friend

Zhao Shangang was a man of his word; he repaid his debts and honored kindness.

He was also someone marked by hardship!

He lost his father at twelve, left with only his mother and younger brother. Several years ago, his mother suddenly lost her sanity, becoming the village laughingstock. She almost lost her life a few times during her deranged episodes. Zhao Shangang, while still in his teens, had to shoulder the burden of this ill-fated family alone.

Covering his mother’s medical costs, paying for his brother’s schooling…

The difficulty of these past few years was hard to imagine.

After scrimping and trying countless doctors offered no cure, Zhao Shangang was nearly driven to despair. At his wits’ end, he sought out Cheng the Blind, a complete stranger. Then came that night’s events—seemingly accidental, yet perhaps precisely calculated by Cheng the Blind; the inevitable unfolded. That youth, judging by his uniform likely a student at the township middle school nearby, under the dim light of the quiet, dark street, used an almost uncanny method to effortlessly cure his mother. Then, brisk and unburdened, he left without even leaving his name…

Early the next morning, after breakfast and settling his mother back to rest, Zhao Shangang went to Dongwangzhuang Township Middle School.

His heart was filled with profound gratitude and awe now.

It wasn’t quite time for classes yet. Students were streaming through the school gate, chatting, laughing, walking or pedaling bikes in lively groups.

The campus bustled with youthful energy, happy figures everywhere.

The appearance of Zhao Shangang made Li Qiang, the school’s sole security guard who was also part of the village police station’s patrol unit, palpitate nervously. If it were any other local troublemaker causing issues, he’d dare to step forward, shout a few words of reprimand, try to warn them off, or even forcibly remove them.

But facing Zhao Shangang, Li Qiang felt rather intimidated.

“Shangang, what brings you here to play?” Li Qiang smiled, walking up to him.

“Oh.” Zhao Shangang waved a hand dismissively and forced a casual smile. “I’m here looking for someone…” He paused, suddenly remembering the warning his mysterious benefactor had given before leaving the night before, and changed tack. “My brother, he came home for the break but isn’t there now. I thought maybe he came back here, looking for him about something.”

Li Qiang, of course, didn’t buy this explanation and offered a nervous laugh. “Shangang, the school’s full of kids studying. Do me a favor, don’t scare them.”

Zhao Shangang frowned, annoyed. “Nonsense! Would I bother bullying kids?” he retorted.

“Right, right,” Li Qiang hurriedly agreed.

“Don’t worry,” Zhao Shangang spat on the ground. “Just having a look around. Ill be off soon… no trouble.” With that, Zhao Shangang swaggered his way into the school grounds.

Li Qiang shook his head helplessly.

Zhao Shangang wandered along the edge of the playground, looping around the row of classrooms at the southern end. He didn’t spot his benefactor. Suddenly it occurred to him that his savior must be a boarding student. Thinking this, he quickly stopped two students to ask for directions to the boys’ dormitory and strode off purposefully.

By now, the sight of Zhao Shangang on campus had stirred up fervent chatter among many students, in classrooms and the open grounds. It was like fans spotting a celebrity:

“Hey, see that? That’s Zhao Shangang!”

“He’s fierce! One guy, one knife, took on the Ten Brothers single-handed, chased them down the street hacking!”

“That time at the Nandou Village Fair was crazier! He chased someone right into their house! No one in the whole family dared make a sound… Damn, who for miles around dares cross him?”

“I heard about that fight at the city construction site – even wilder! He was covered in blood, couldn’t even move, but still grabbed hold of one guy and ripped a big chunk right out of his leg! Scared the crap out of the whole crew, like fifty guys froze.”

“And another time…”

…

Junior high students in their volatile, rebellious youth harbor an almost feverish adulation and blind worship for raw, aggressive dominance.

Meanwhile, Su Chunfeng had just finished breakfast and was putting away his dishes in the dorm. He picked up his Chinese textbook and began reading aloud as he headed out. Stepping through the arched gateway of the small dorm courtyard, he caught sight out of the corner of his eye of Zhao Shangang striding determinedly towards him from a distance. Frowning, before the eagerly waving Zhao Shangang could even call out, Su Chunfeng quickly stepped aside to stand against the wall, head down, pretending to be engrossed in his book.

Zhao Shangang was momentarily puzzled but immediately understood. He adopted a casual demeanor and walked slowly over to stand beside Su Chunfeng. He was just about to speak when he heard Su Chunfeng whisper urgently, “Wait for me outside school!”

“Oh,” Zhao Shangang acknowledged without breaking stride, simply walking past Su Chunfeng.

Anyone watching would only see two strangers briefly passing each other.

Only after Zhao Shangang disappeared around the corner ahead did Su Chunfeng turn and make his way nonchalantly towards the school gate—he definitely didn’t want anyone associating him with Zhao Shangang.

Zhao Shangang had too high a profile locally, especially among the impressionable junior high kids, who held him in an almost unreachable esteem. If Su Chunfeng was seen talking with him, news would spread like wildfire through the whole school. The crucial point was that the miraculous recovery of Zhao Shangang’s mother wouldn’t escape Wang Qimin, who was from the same village. Wang Qimin would surely recognize a mage’s intervention. Having already observed Su Chunfeng for some time, if suddenly Su Chunfeng was spotted befriending Zhao Shangang – combined with his mother’s instant cure and the unexplainable magnetic anomaly at school that very morning…

Wang Qimin would inevitably suspect Su Chunfeng, a young man who clearly showed innate talent for esoteric techniques.

Harboring these thoughts, Su Chunfeng, brows knitted, walked out the school gate. Without breaking stride, he passed right by Zhao Shangang standing outside.

Seeing this, Zhao Shangang realized his visit had been too abrupt.

He trailed Su Chunfeng at a distance, all the way to a little pump house nestled amongst waist-high green wheat stalks in the quiet fields east of the school wall.

“Who told you to come find me?” Su Chunfeng looked displeased.

“Sorry…” Zhao Shangang said with heartfelt sincerity. “I mean what I say! You saved my mother. I, Zhao Shangang, will repay this debt as your most loyal servant, forever!”

Su Chunfeng waved his hand irritably. “No need. Don’t come looking for me again!”

Zhao Shangang hesitated. “I can guess… Benefactor, you don’t want anyone knowing about your… special skills. Don’t worry about that. We could call each other brothers…” Not letting Su Chunfeng refuse, he pressed on. “In the future, I promise not to come bothering you often. But you’re studying at Dongwangzhuang Township Middle School. If ever… I mean anytime you need my help, just say the word. This one, Zhao Shangang, would brave any fire or blade!”

Hearing this, Su Chunfeng’s thoughts began to stir.

Starting over this time, he knew he needed connections. He couldn’t live withdrawn from society, cultivating in solitude like his last life. Even after stepping into the Jianghu of Esoteric Arts, being the inheritor of the Secret Arts meant walking essentially alone alongside his master.

This idea made his expression soften considerably. He sighed. “Some things… really aren’t easy to explain to you…”

“I won’t ask!” Zhao Shangang declared firmly. “And I swear on my life, it’ll be kept secret!”

“I believe you.” Su Chunfeng nodded. “You should be able to tell I don’t want anything back. I was moved by your filial devotion then. So… yes, we can be friends. But for my peace and to shield your family from any trouble, this matter ends here. Don’t mention it again. And remember this: if a similar situation arises, even for you, I won’t step in.”

Zhao Shangang’s heart clenched. He gave a bitter nod. “Alright. Fine.”

Su Chunfeng understood Zhao Shangang’s lingering fear. He reached up and patted the older youth’s broad shoulder. Gazing frankly into the eyes of the young man who was never destined for an ordinary life, he offered reassurance: “Be at ease. Your mother’s illness won’t return.” With nothing more to say, Su Chunfeng turned and started walking away.

Zhao Shangang stood, rooted, amidst the wheat fields, watching Su Chunfeng’s departing back. Strangely, the young man seemed to embody the quiet maturity of a man in his thirties or forties.

“Hey, brother!” Zhao Shangang suddenly called out. “Forgot to ask your name?”

“Su Chunfeng.”

Su Chunfeng answered without turning back.

He knew that their paths were bound to diverge. There was no sense forming a close friendship now with someone who, while unquestionably loyal, was also fiercely proud. If he ever found himself unable to meet Zhao Shangang’s demands, it could breed resentment, making him seem the faithless one.

Therefore, with someone like this, a destined superficial friendship, it was vital to maintain distance. Keep the mystique intact. Keep Zhao Shangang eternally grateful and perpetually in awe.

…

Time slipped by, flowing into late spring, early summer.

Temperatures rose day by day. Wheat in the fields turned golden. Harvest was little more than a week away.

Afternoon.

Muffled thunder rolled. A light rain began to fall, pattering softly.

Under the curtain of fine drizzle, Dongwangzhuang Township Middle School campus, vibrant green, bloomed with brightly colored umbrellas.

Students moved about – some hurrying, some strolling leisurely – amidst constant laughter and chatter.

Inside the bustling noise of Class 14’s homeroom, Su Chunfeng sat at his desk, head bent, furiously working through a set of practice test questions.

More than a month had slid by since his second birth. He reveled in his reclaimed school life—meals, sleep, classes, studying, morning exercise. Occasionally playing ball with classmates, sharing idle chatter with his two attractive female deskmates, and especially deepening his connection with Wang Haifei…

Ah, the bliss of youthful years!

Occasionally, past memories surfaced unbidden. He couldn’t help scolding his former self inwardly: Back then… why did I despise such a carefree, untroubled existence? Wallowing in foolish games, hurting my parents’ feelings? Truly unaware of the fortune I possessed!

Back home, his father, Su Cheng, had driven south with Uncle Chen Shunhe the previous week in their newly purchased Combine Harvester, heading for regions where the wheat ripened earlier. On the weekend at home, Su Cheng mentioned that his dad and uncle had called Li Zhichao’s house to reach Xiao Yu’s father, Li Sheng, and ask him to pass word home: all was well. An old army buddy of Su Cheng’s was helping them settle in. They’d already started fieldwork, so the family shouldn’t worry.

At school, the changes in Su Chunfeng had gradually earned back some approval from teachers and classmates alike – that kid‘s really turning over a new leaf seemed to be the general feeling.

At the back of the classroom, a group of boys clustered, loudly boasting about their fighting prowess, their ‘numerous tough buddies’ back in their villages, and how some senior relative or elder brother was ‘the undisputed boss’ around their parts… Yao Xinbo was the most enthusiastic braggart: “Seriously, not boasting, in our village? Everyone knows my third uncle! No one messes with our family! My buddies back there? Each one’s meaner than the next, all trained fighters!”

Wang Liqiu, hair slicked in a side-part with a cigarette dangling from his lips, sneered dismissively. “Big talk! Never saw you stand your ground for real. Before anyone even lays a finger on you, you’re on your knees blubbering! How’s that look? Pretty lame.”

His words ripped through the noisy chatter, instantly igniting loud laughter across the room.

Wang Liqiu was a local Dongwangzhuang Village lad, naturally aggressive and proud, notoriously difficult to restrain. Notorious for wielding bricks chasing after teachers. Though only in his second year of junior high, he’d forged a reputation as the school’s bully du jour, his infamy fast catching up to Dong Chuliang, the universally acknowledged ‘number one bully’ reigning over Class 14 in the third year.