Promise!

Chapter 120, high death

Dongqiaowu, a prison cell on Fulin Street.

Gao Shi was arrested last night. Because the location of the ward was inconvenient and there were no prison cells, he was imprisoned on the nearest Fulin Street. At this moment, he was wearing prison clothes, with his hands and feet in shackles, huddled in a pile of dry grass, his eyes blank, thinking about what happened last night.

Now, Gao Shi has figured it out. It seems that he was abandoned as a pawn, and the real target is probably Zhuang Jin.

He thought of Zhuang Jin, and hope immediately welled up in his heart: 'Yes, Lord Zhuang is now the garrison commander of the Shen family's ward. Releasing me is just a matter of a word. From now on, I can follow Lord Zhuang and maybe even get revenge!'

Gao Shi was thinking this when he heard the noise. He turned around and saw that it was Zhuang Jin. He jumped up excitedly and instinctively bowed, looking down at Zhuang Jin. "Lord Zhuang, you've come! I was wrong yesterday. Those bastards from the Medicine King Gang are sons of bitches. They deliberately left me here... From now on, I'll follow you and listen to you... Please let me out. I've been here for most of the day..."

As he spoke, his stomach began to rumble.

Zhuang Jin opened the cell door, carrying in roast chicken, wine, and bowls and chopsticks, which he spread out on the ground: "Gao Shi, eat first!"

"Lord Zhuang, you're still thinking of me at a time like this? You've brought me food? Sir, please eat first, I'll pour you some wine."

Although Gao Shi was extremely hungry, he instinctively swallowed his saliva when he smelled the aroma, but he still subconsciously smiled and handed the chicken leg to Zhuang Jin, then poured him some wine before taking care of himself... Because he had been hungry for most of the day, he wolfed down his food and drank it in big gulps until he let out a burp after a while.

Zhuang Jin didn't stand on ceremony and sat down on the ground with Gao Shi, eating and drinking together. They occasionally clinked bowls together, just like the night before the martial arts actor recruitment last year.

"Lord Zhuang, now that we've finished eating, can we head out? I'm currently a Level Three Martial Artist, and a squad leader in the Medicine King Gang. Which street would you like me assigned to? Or, I could be your personal guard; I'm quite good at serving people!"

After Gao Shi finished eating and drinking, he picked his teeth with a chicken bone and said something. When he saw Zhuang Jin slowly get up, he also patted his bottom and stood up.

Zhuang Jin shook his head slightly and said, "Gao Shi, eat and drink your fill, it's time for you to get going."

"Let's... let's hit the road?!"

Gao Shi froze, not even noticing the chicken bone slipping from his hand while picking his teeth... He wasn't stupid; he had a slight suspicion before, but he just couldn't believe it, didn't want to believe it, and now his illusions were shattered.

He seemed completely flustered, stammering, "Lord Zhuang... no... I... I'm Gao Shi... you don't recognize me... I... yes, you gave me my name, have you forgotten what we were like before..."

"Do you still remember the night we parted last year? I brought you steamed buns, and you brought out chicken scraps and wine? The lofty stone in my heart died that night."

Zhuang Jin looked at Gao Shi, staring into his eyes: "I've investigated your actions over the past six months: extortion, bullying men and women, acting as an accomplice to evil... Gao Shi, do you still remember what you used to be like?"

What was it like before?

Gao Shi was stunned by these words, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head. After a while, he slowly straightened up, and the habitual fawning and obsequiousness on his face disappeared, replaced by a stubborn and mocking expression: "What was I like before? What am I like now? How did I become like this? Haha! Hahaha! Hahahaha!"

At this moment, he understood Zhuang Jin and knew he was going to die. He stopped begging for mercy and stopped being obsequious. It was as if he had torn off his disguise and revealed his true self. He was more like the little stone that Zhuang Jin knew.

Gao Shi didn't look at Zhuang Jin again, and said to himself, "Last October, you left. Hou Yong couldn't find you and asked me. I didn't know, so he beat me... It was this beating that made me go to the Medicine King Gang."

"When I joined the Medicine King's Gang, I was a beggar, looked down upon by everyone... We beggars are weak and deficient in qi and blood... We learn martial arts slower than others... I refused to accept my fate, I refused to believe I couldn't become a master, I refused to believe that I, Gao Shi, would be stuck in the mud forever! I practiced martial arts with all my might... In twenty-nine days, I succeeded. Those who looked down on me became herb-gathering boys, and I bullied everyone who had ever bullied me! It was from here that I realized: those who bullied me could also be afraid, feel pain, and beg for mercy... I felt so good!"

"I thought things would get better once I became a formal martial artist, but I was wrong, terribly wrong. Formal martial artists are the same; the strong bully the weak, the powerful bully the incompetent. In the Medicine King Gang, once you become a formal martial artist, everyone is supposed to receive five qian of silver per month, but you can only collect three qian. The other two qian are for kickbacks... The first time I received it, I didn't know that. I asked why I was only given three qian of silver and refused to leave, so I got beaten up. Then they split my fingers and took my three qian of silver, slapping my face and telling me to 'learn a lesson'..."

"This... is the Medicine King Gang like this, and nobody's doing anything about it?" Zhuang Jin asked.

"Manage? Hahaha, I'll make a scene, I'll report it to the higher-ups, but they told me that's how the Medicine King Gang is. If you're capable, you can bully them back... After this incident, I learned that when you're inferior to others, you have to bow your head, just like when we were beggars asking for money. You have to flatter and fawn over them!"

"Later, I met Zhou Yuan. I called him 'Yuanzi,' and he called me 'Little Stone.' He said we were brothers, and I was very happy. I thought we were good friends... Once, during a night raid, I killed a martial artist, took a blow, and risked my life for six taels of silver. I was overjoyed. Zhou Yuan said he wanted to break through to a higher level, so I lent him all the money..."

At this point, Gao Shi's expression suddenly turned ferocious: "But after he broke through, he denied it. I said, 'You don't have money, you can pay me back later, we're brothers, right?' Zhou Yuan laughed loudly, beat me up, and stepped on my face, saying, 'You're useless now, so you're not a brother anymore. How can a second-level martial artist have a beggar brother? How can he have a beggar brother?'"

"From this point on, I learned that in this world, you can't trust anyone but yourself!"

He turned to Zhuang Jin and laughed, “It was from here that I understood everything you were saying. In this world, it’s not easy to be a human being. Some people are human, while others are grass, tools, or leeks! I also understand that to live well and comfortably in this world, you need to be heartless and ruthless… I’ve figured it all out!”

Gao Shi laughed, his laughter becoming increasingly unrestrained and exuberant: "From here on, I changed. I realized that whoever is above me, I'll do anything to please them. As long as they're happy, I'll bark like a dog and crawl like a dog! If they like women, I'll snatch them and send them to their bed; if they want someone's house, I'll kill their entire family and send them there... I fawned over those above me like a dog, and I practiced martial arts relentlessly... That's how I climbed up step by step... I knew that in this world, if I don't bully others, others will bully me..."

"You're wrong!" Zhuang Jin looked at Gao Shi, her eyes filled with regret: "You've taken the wrong path..."

"Wrong? Where did I go wrong? When I didn't understand these things, anyone could bully me. Now that I understand them, fewer and fewer people can bully me..."

"Wanting to improve yourself is fine, but people still need to have a bottom line and a conscience."

"Bottom line? Conscience?"

Hearing this, Gao Shi laughed until tears streamed down his face: "When I went to the Medicine King Gang and was still a martial arts student, when those people bullied and beat me, why didn't anyone tell them to have a bottom line or a conscience? When I was beaten and even had my three coins taken away because they were a bribe, why didn't anyone tell them to have a bottom line or a conscience? When Zhou Yuan took the money I risked my life for, and after breaking through, he didn't return it to me, and said those things while stepping on my face, why didn't anyone tell him to have a bottom line or a conscience? Huh?"

"Now you're telling me to have principles and a conscience? Bah!"

He spat, then wiped away his tears, his face contorted with rage as he demanded, "You say I'm wrong, but tell me, what am I supposed to do? Someone as unqualified as me has no choice but to resort to any means necessary, to harm people, to kill, to drink human blood... You get what you eat, in this world, if you don't eat people, people will eat you... So, I'm a beggar, I was born lowly, am I just destined to be eaten?"

"I won't! I'll eat people too! I'll show those who look down on me that I, Gao Shi, can also become a master step by step and make everyone who bullied me pay back!"

As Gao Shi spoke, tears streamed down his face. He looked at Zhuang Jin and roared, "To become a great man, I endured, I smiled obsequiously, I fawned over others, I even became someone's dog... They all laughed behind my back, treating Gao Shi like a dog... But am I despicable? Why not be a decent person and instead become someone's dog?"

"Yes! You're talented, you're noble, you're clean! You didn't have to be a dog to get to where you are today, standing here laughing at me. But let me ask you, if you were me, tell me, what would I do? Ah, tell me, what would I do?"

"I want to be a good person, but I can't! I just can't!"

Gao Shi swung his right arm, stomped his right foot hard on the ground, questioned and roared, and suddenly pounced on Zhuang Jin.

Zhuang Jin instinctively struck out with his palm.

boom!
Gao Shi was sent flying, crashing heavily against the wall before slowly falling. He was now barely breathing, and with difficulty, he turned his head to look at Zhuang Jin. At this moment, his eyes held endless complexity, just like when they parted, yet also a hint of relief: "Little mute..."

Zhuang Jin closed her eyes, raised her head slightly, and took a deep breath.

……

As Zhuang Jin emerged from the cell, she looked up at the sky. A chill ran through her as dusk settled and snowflakes drifted down.

The streets were sparsely populated, with only a few people hurrying back home.

Xue Yandao, the town magistrate of Fulin Street, came forward and said, "Lord Zhuang, it's snowing. Why don't you take my sedan chair back?"

He was somewhat arrogant, but he respected the strong, especially Zhuang Jin, his superior, who had led them to victory and brought other benefits. —Last month, in the medicinal fields outside the city, didn't Zhuang Jin kill an Iron-skinned Boar, a Black Goat, and two Perfected-Level Exotic Beasts? He obtained two Yellow-Grade Top-Grade Exotic Beast Leather Armors. Even the Shen family didn't have these in stock; they had to be pre-ordered. Zhuang Jin sold them to Xue Yandao and Duan Tao at market price.

"No need... Give the person inside a proper burial."

Zhuang Jin said this, tightened his robes, and stepped into the howling wind and snow. He walked on the gradually empty and deserted streets, leaving a trail of footprints.

At that moment, many thoughts suddenly came to mind, including the people he had met at the beginning of his transmigration: Gao Shi, Xiang Qichen, Xiong Lei...

The snow fell heavier and heavier, like goose feathers and reed catkins, boundless and rustling, each flake seemingly reflecting a human figure.

……

A small stall on Fuchang Street.

Xiang Qichen, with his stubble and weathered appearance, was quite drunk and boasting to his colleagues: "Just the other day, when our town magistrate, Lord Wei, went to apologize to Lord Zhuang, who was he with? It was me, Xiang Qichen!"

"Back then, I was in the same dormitory as Lord Zhuang, the garrison commander of our town. Need I say more? You might not believe it, but Lord Zhuang used to call me 'Brother Xiang'..."

……

They are both on the same street in the north of the city.

Xiong Dadan pointed at Xiong Lei's nose and cursed, "What can you possibly accomplish? You ruined your good relationship with Lord Zhuang! And now, you've ruined that promised Sang family girl too!"

Xiong Lei meekly accepted the scolding with his head down. As for his relationship with Zhuang Jin, he often regretted it, but he knew there was no going back.

As for that girl from the Sang family...

A figure subconsciously appeared in his mind. Although the other person was already married, he was moved and offered his blessings at the time, but he still couldn't let go or forget her!
……

Fujing Street, Jiao Family.

Jiao's mother complained, "Didn't your roommate solve the stall problem last time? Why can't you ask him for help this time?"

"My goodness, they refused to help us to our faces that time, but only helped us afterwards, just to avoid us getting involved. How could your son have the face to go back to them?"

As Jiao Kun spoke, he knelt down with a thud: "Father, Mother, it was my fault for being playful back then. I admit it, I know I was wrong, but please don't force me anymore!"

……

The Lin family residence in the north of the city.

Lin's father said thankfully, "Hong'er, you don't know how many families' businesses have changed hands so much in this change of ownership of the North City Street... Our restaurant is only possible because of your position as the street keeper of the Shen family, otherwise..."

"I was also lucky to meet a benefactor."

As Lin Hong spoke, he thought of Zhuang Jin. Back in the dormitory, he wasn't as decisive as Qian Wende. It was only when Zhuang Jin was in his third year of high school that he seized the opportunity and got close to him. Now, he benefited from this and broke through to the fourth year of high school, becoming a street garrison commander. This was something he wouldn't have dared to imagine a year ago.

"Yes, a person's fate in life is unpredictable. Some people work diligently and tirelessly their whole lives, yet achieve nothing, while others meet a benefactor, seize an opportunity, and soar to great heights..."

……

A restaurant on Funing Street.

Qian Wende sat in the main seat, eating meat and drinking wine heartily, enjoying the flattery of his colleagues. Although he was subservient to Zhuang Jin like a servant, he was quite a figure outside.

"Captain Qian, I'd like to propose a toast to you!"

"And me... By the way, Brother Qian, you have such good judgment. How did you decide on Lord Zhuang back then?"

"Yes, tell us about your relationship with Lord Zhuang!"

……

"How did I identify Brother Zhuang? Brother Zhuang is the kind of person who stands out from the crowd at first glance, like gold mixed in with sand... The first time I saw Brother Zhuang, my heart skipped a beat. This man has extraordinary talent and is definitely not an ordinary person..."

Qian Wende dared to boast, and these people dared to believe him, listening with great interest: "Later, in our dormitory... the night Brother Zhuang broke through to the second level of cerebral palsy, in our dormitory, only that bastard surnamed Xiang from Fuchang Street was talking bad about Brother Zhuang, so I went up and slapped him across the face..."

……

Bi family.

When Bi Kai returned, he found that his family had a guest, who was Chang's cousin—Chang Hetong's son.

Seeing the other person approaching with gifts, looking so apprehensive and cautious, he felt incredibly conflicted.

Chang Hetong claims to be his uncle, but the two families are actually quite distant. Back then, when he participated in the martial arts actor recruitment, his family tried every means to get close to him and beg to visit him. Now, the tables have turned, and it's the other party's turn to come and curry favor with his family.

Bi Kai knew who was responsible for this; he himself was only a small part of the reason, and the majority of the blame lay with Zhuang Jin. At this moment, he felt a deep sense of regret and emotion.

……

Wu family.

Wu Hao returned with the things he bought: roast chicken, braised meat... Seeing his younger siblings' happy faces, the maturity he displayed in the outside world was gone, replaced by the same innocent and honest smile he had back in the dormitory.

Father Wu patted his shoulder: "Just a few months ago, when you were in the south of the city, we were worried sick every day... Now things are better, you have a benefactor helping you. You must remember the kindness, never forget your roots, and work hard!"

"Father, I understand." Wu Hao nodded earnestly.

……

The boundless white sky is like a heavy curtain of mist covering the heavens. In the distant horizon, above the ninth heaven, the wind and clouds change, just like the people in this world, seemingly constantly changing, yet in the end, it seems that nothing has changed. Crystal-clear pieces fall one by one, billions upon billions, endlessly rustling, covering countless mountains and rivers, until in the end, only a vast expanse of white remains, truly clean.

……

(End of this chapter)