Section Five: Never Give Up!

The principal gazed at Tang Tian before him with utter disdain. Having just endured a fierce battle with Amory, Tang Tian was covered in mud, his face bruised and battered. The principal felt like a fool—how had he ever allowed such rubbish to remain at Ander Academy for five years?

It was all the fault of that damned old Cen! Cen couldn’t be allowed to stay either…

A ruthless glint flashed in the principal’s eyes. For now, the most important thing was to appease the Zhou family’s wrath. He suddenly remembered that, years ago, the only reasons he’d agreed to let Tang Tian remain were Old Cen and Shangguan Qianhui. Shangguan Qianhui had been the top expert at Ander Academy at the time—the academy’s prestige during those years had all been earned by her.

Well, Shangguan Qianhui was gone now…

“Tang Tian, you don’t need to come anymore starting tomorrow.” The principal announced coldly.

Tang Tian was stunned, completely at a loss. “Why?”

“Why?” The principal found the question laughable, his expression wildly exaggerated. “You actually ask why? My God! In all my years as principal, I’ve never seen such a useless student as you. Look at yourself—fighting, brawling—you’re nothing but a thug! Scum like you only serve to tarnish Ander’s reputation, making it utterly putrid! Get out. From this day forward, you are forbidden to set foot in Ander again…”

The principal felt an indescribable satisfaction as he vented all his pent-up frustration. The only thing that still irked him was Tang Tian’s defiant expression, as if he didn’t care at all.

“Let me tell you, trash like you won’t be taken in by any school. Get out! Five years of training and you’ve only mastered the basic martial arts? Clearly, your brain is full of dung! You’ll be stuck in the slums forever, filthy and chaotic, surrounded by others just like you!”

Raising his chin, the principal looked down on Tang Tian with utter contempt, his eyes brimming with scorn. “And Cen will leave with you! That wretched old man—his greatest mistake was meeting you, and now he’ll pay the price for it…”

The principal’s tirade was abruptly cut off.

A battered hand clamped around his throat.

Tang Tian, who had seemed so indifferent just moments before, now resembled an enraged lion. Every hair on his head stood on end, his eyes bloodshot, veins bulging on his forehead, twisting his face into something terrifying.

Stunned by the sudden turn, the principal’s mind went blank.

The hand around his neck was like an iron vise, drawing his face ever closer.

With Tang Tian’s vicious, fearsome face filling his vision, the principal’s legs began to tremble uncontrollably, terror overwhelming him.

This lunatic! He’s gone mad! He actually dared lay hands on the principal!

The other teachers in the office were just as dumbfounded by what was happening.

“How dare you insult Teacher Cen!” Tang Tian was utterly transformed, his expression savage as he dragged the principal’s bloated body toward him as though hauling a dead dog.

Tang Tian’s roar was low and thunderous.

The fury in Tang Tian’s chest raged like a wild storm, spreading in all directions. Of everyone at Ander, Teacher Cen was the one he respected most. And this damned fat man actually dared insult him!

Courting death!

Tang Tian’s grip tightened.

Bang!

Tang Tian’s forehead crashed solidly into the principal’s face. A piercing shriek rang out, and blood sprayed everywhere.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The principal was completely stunned by the assault, as was everyone else, shocked into silence by Tang Tian’s wildness.

Tang Tian released his grip, and the principal collapsed to the floor like a sack of rotten flesh.

Blood covered Tang Tian’s face, but he didn’t care. His fierce gaze swept over the other teachers, who were so cowed by his aura they could only stare helplessly as he left.

With a cold snort, he strode toward the door.

“How dare you assault—” one teacher began, voice trembling as he tried to suppress his fear.

Tang Tian suddenly turned, his blood-smeared face and sharp, ferocious gaze so terrifying the teacher instantly swallowed the rest of his words.

Though every teacher present was far stronger than Tang Tian, the sheer savagery he displayed left them speechless.

Without another glance at any of them, Tang Tian turned and walked out.

Students along the way were so frightened by Tang Tian’s grim expression that they instinctively made way for him.

As the anger in his heart slowly faded, seeing the familiar trees and grass, realizing he would never return, Tang Tian was suddenly overcome with melancholy. Biting his lip, he held his head high, struggling to maintain his usual look of indifference.

Even if I must leave, I, Tang Tian, will leave with my head held high!

Just as he stepped out the school gate, an aged voice called after him.

“Tang Tian!”

His whole body stiffened. He turned to see—Teacher Cen. He mumbled, “Teacher…”

For the first time, shame welled up inside him. If not for him, Teacher Cen wouldn’t have been expelled from Ander. Cen had cared for him so much, yet he’d only brought endless trouble upon his teacher.

But Cen’s deeply wrinkled face showed no trace of sadness, merely a kindly wave of his hand. “Don’t blame yourself. I’ve been wanting to retire for a long time.”

Tang Tian hung his head like a child who’d done wrong.

“Tang Tian!” Cen’s tone suddenly turned stern. “Raise your head!”

Tang Tian instinctively looked up.

Cen gazed at the rebellious youth before him, seeing a reflection of his own younger self. The same defiance, the same arrogance, the same stubbornness and unwillingness to admit defeat.

Such is youth!

His expression softened, and he spoke with sincere, gentle encouragement. “Don’t give up!”

Tang Tian’s nose stung, and tears streamed down his face. Instantly, the gloom in his heart vanished, sunlight pouring through, warming him to his very core.

He forced his head high, eyes blurred, and replied loudly like a soldier, “Teacher, I won’t give up!”

With that, he turned and fled in embarrassment.

How shameful… Crying like this…

That blurry, warm figure would be etched in his heart forever.

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At home, Tang Tian collapsed backward onto his bed.

His surging emotions gradually calmed, replaced by a sense of loss. Five years of routine, ended abruptly—of course he felt adrift.

Expulsion was now a foregone conclusion. After assaulting the principal, no amount of pleading would help. Not that Tang Tian regretted it for an instant—if he had to do it again, he would. Now that he’d calmed down, though, he realized something was off. He’d spent five uneventful years at school—why was he suddenly expelled today? Someone must be pulling strings from behind the scenes.

He swore in his heart: if he found out who was behind this…!

Thinking back, he remembered those new students from the morning. Could it have been them? Tang Tian made a mental note. It wouldn’t be hard to find out—the sort of people they were, they’d surely boast if they’d managed to get him expelled.

Now that he wouldn’t be going to school, what would he do?

As long as he was enrolled, Starwind City provided a student stipend. It wasn’t much, but enough to live on.

No other academy would admit him now—without the stipend, he’d have to find work.

After a moment’s thought, Tang Tian decided he’d start looking for a job tomorrow. Washing dishes or whatever—it didn’t matter, as long as he could support himself.

He would work and train at the same time. He refused to believe that the numbers on the back of that bronze card were meaningless.

That was his goal—even now, he had never thought of giving it up.

A goal pursued for five years—what reason was there to abandon it?

Having made up his mind, Tang Tian felt unburdened. After the exhausting fight with Amory and the chaos in the principal’s office, he was utterly spent.

Still, he made himself apply the ointment Amory had given him to his wounds before sleeping.

Once finished, he could hold out no longer and fell into a deep slumber.

Everything else could wait until I wake up!

When Tang Tian awoke, it was already deep into the night—hunger had roused him.

He found something to eat and filled his stomach.

After a good sleep, Tang Tian had put all the chaos of yesterday behind him. His single-mindedness returned, and he felt invigorated again.

With a few crisp punches, he grinned with satisfaction.

That dumb ox might be stupid and sly, but he wasn’t a bad person. The ointment he’d given worked wonders; the strain in his waist from yesterday’s fight was completely gone, and the wounds on his hands and forehead had already scabbed over.

Thinking of Amory, Tang Tian recalled the strange state he’d experienced during their fight.

His body had reacted even faster than his mind.

How odd.

It was the first time he’d ever encountered such a thing. Yesterday, he’d been too exhausted to dwell on it, but now, recalling that peculiar state, it seemed truly mysterious. He frowned, thinking hard, but couldn’t make sense of it.

Forget it, no sense worrying about it.

He knew himself well—he wasn’t dumb, but he certainly wasn’t especially smart. If he couldn’t figure something out, he simply let it go.

Having decided not to dwell on it, he promptly forgot the matter altogether.

He took his stance and began his daily practice—this period was focused on the basic Fist Technique.

From the first movement, he noticed something different.

His movements were light and fluid, and with a single thought, the entire basic Fist Technique flowed from his hands like water.

He didn’t even need to check the numbers on the back of his bronze card—he knew he’d performed the basic Fist Technique flawlessly!

Again!

Perfect!

Once more!

Ten times in a row, all perfect. Normally, after such a performance, the bronze card would judge that his mastery of the basic Fist Technique was complete.

This surprised Tang Tian—by his own experience, he’d estimated it would take another week to perfect the basic Fist Technique.

After five years of training in basic martial skills, he was an expert at gauging his own progress.

Still, he didn’t think much of it; his current problem was deciding which basic martial skill to train next.

He scratched his head in confusion.

Completely oblivious, Tang Tian didn’t realize that as he practiced, the numbers on the back of the bronze card were rapidly changing.

…

999,998!

999,999!

1,000,000!

As he completed the final round of the basic Fist Technique, the number leapt to 1,000,000! Above the number, a river of light suddenly gleamed, swelling at an incredible speed into a dazzling radiance.

Brilliant light engulfed Tang Tian in an instant.