Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

The classroom door was closed, leaving only a few designated group leaders conducting cross-checks inside. Some students in the corridor whispered among themselves, some craned their necks to peek into the classroom through the windows, while others remained silent with serious expressions.

Time passed slowly, each second seeming to drag on endlessly. The occasional rustling of drawers being opened and books being turned echoed from the classroom, tugging at every nerve in the corridor.

Suddenly, the classroom door was violently pulled open from the inside!

Li Hao walked out looking troubled, holding a gleaming silver pen in his hand. He glanced at Cang Tianci with a evasive look and said hesitantly, "That... pen... was found in Cang Tianci's bag."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Xiaohu burst into a tremendous wail. He rushed over, snatched the pen, and cried out as if he had lost his parents, pointing his finger directly at Cang Tianci: "My pen, it really is my pen! Cang Tianci, why did you steal my pen? I thought you were a good person, but it turns out you're a hypocrite who says one thing and does another."

Wang Yaowu immediately jumped out, his face full of "righteous indignation," and loudly chimed in: "Well, Cangtianci, you always pretend to be honest, but it turns out you're so dishonest."

Zheng Tao then "hurriedly" walked out of the classroom, his face filled with "heartache" and "disbelief." He stood between the two sides and said to Cang Tianci in a heavy tone, "Cang Tianci, this pen was indeed found in your bag. The evidence is irrefutable. How...how could you do such a thing?"

Cang Tianci quickly realized that this was indeed a conspiracy against him. He felt a surge of blood rush to his head, and anger gripped his heart. His fists clenched, his knuckles cracking slightly, and a burning rage almost drove him out of control. But the dormant dragon energy in his dantian surged like a volcano, transforming into countless icy threads that coursed through his meridians, forcefully locking down every muscle about to erupt, suppressing his raging fury into a cold, deep pool. His mind went blank for a moment before becoming exceptionally clear. He took a sharp step forward, his gaze sweeping over Zheng Tao, Zhao Xiaohu, and Wang Yaowu like lightning, and declared resolutely, "Nonsense! I didn't take it! This is a frame-up!"

His imposing presence caused Zhao Xiaohu and Wang Yaowu, who had been shouting the loudest, to instinctively take a half-step back.

Just as Tianci was about to argue again, he heard Song Wei loudly retort, "Impossible, Tianci is definitely not that kind of person."

"This is so strange, everything was fine during PE class just now."

"Could there be a mistake?"

……

A chorus of doubts arose, and the situation didn't unfold as Zheng Tao had anticipated. However, some students, looking at the gleaming silver pen and the "conclusive" location of the discovery, revealed a hint of suspicion and distance in their eyes as they looked at Cang Tianci. The seeds of doubt had begun to sprout.

Just then, a delicate yet exceptionally clear voice cut through the noise like a sharp blade:

"I can prove that something is amiss."

It was Lin Wanqing. Due to her mobility issues, she had been leaning against the corridor wall alone. At this moment, her pale face flushed with excitement, her hands gripping her cane tightly, but her gaze met everyone's without fear as she clearly stated:

"When we gathered for PE class, I was slow and was the last to leave. I clearly saw Wang Yaowu, who had already reached the door, suddenly turn around and go back into the classroom. He didn't come out for a while—he looked flustered and even glanced back into the classroom."

Boom—These words were like a boulder thrown into a still lake, instantly creating ripples. Returning to the classroom + a flustered expression + a delay—these pieces of information, while not directly proving framing, instantly drew immense suspicion towards Wang Yaowu.

Wang Yaowu's face turned deathly pale in an instant. He hadn't expected anyone to notice his unusual behavior, especially not the usually silent and timid Lin Wanqing. He jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, pointing at Lin Wanqing and roaring angrily, "Lin Wanqing! You're talking nonsense! You're slandering me! What makes you think I'm acting suspiciously? Can't I go back to get something? I... I left something behind, what evidence do you have to prove I framed you?"

"Did I say you framed me? I was just stating what I saw. Why are you so eager to jump out and take it personally to prove your innocence? Are you hiding something?" Lin Wanqing's voice was still not loud, but it was as firm as a nail driven into the ground.

"You...you cripple!" Wang Yaowu was so choked that he couldn't catch his breath. Enraged, he pointed at Lin Wanqing and cursed her viciously.

The instant he uttered the word "cripple," Heaven intervened. Everyone saw only a blur before a figure flashed before Wang Yaowu's eyes like a ghost. Wang Yaowu felt a sudden tightness in his wrist, an immense pressure piercing through his joints and reaching his tendons, as if several red-hot steel needles had simultaneously pierced his wrist bones. He felt as if his wrist bones were about to crack, his entire arm aching and numb, utterly powerless.

He couldn't help but cry out in pain, and then struggled violently, but it felt as if his hands were welded into iron hoops, and the more he struggled, the more painful it became.

"Let go! You fucking let go!" Wang Yaowu grimaced in pain, his other hand instinctively wanting to throw a punch, but when faced with Cang Tianci's cold eyes and the chilling aura emanating from him, his fist hovered in mid-air, and he dared not move.

"Apologize to her, now, immediately." Cang Tianci's voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority.

"I...I..." Wang Yaowu's forehead was covered in cold sweat. The sharp pain in his wrist and the chilling look in Cang Tianci's eyes filled him with fear. He looked around—Zheng Tao looked away with a gloomy expression, as if he had nothing to do with him; Zhao Xiaohu lowered his head, his eyes flickering; Song Wei's cheeks were puffed up with anger; Lin Ruoxi had somehow appeared at the front of the crowd, her delicate brows furrowed; Wang Xiuzhu stared at him in disbelief, her eyes filled with disappointment. Lin Wanqing's eyes, which usually held a hint of timidity, were now burning with an unusual rage as she stared at him without flinching. The other classmates looked at him with a mixture of astonishment, disdain, and even a trace of pity.

The pain and the scornful stares of others finally shattered his last shred of pride. He lowered his head and forced out a few words through clenched teeth: "I...I'm sorry..."

"Speak louder. Who are you apologizing to? Why are you apologizing?" Cang Tianci slightly adjusted the force in his hand, and the piercing soreness suddenly intensified.

Wang Yaowu's knees buckled in pain, and he almost knelt down on the spot. He no longer cared about saving face, and cried out in a tearful voice, "Lin Wanqing, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have scolded you. I was wrong."

Cang Tianci then let out a cold snort and released his grip. Wang Yaowu recoiled as if burned, staggering back a few steps before cowering behind Zheng Tao, whose face grew increasingly gloomy and unpleasant.

"Tianci, well done!" Song Wei was the first to shout out.

Lin Ruoxi coldly swept her gaze over Zheng Tao and Wang Yaowu, and said disdainfully, "Bullying the weak and speaking ill of others are the real acts that damage the reputation of the class. There are many suspicious points in today's matter. It is too hasty to make a judgment based solely on a pen of unknown origin." After speaking, she turned around and walked into the classroom with her head held high, leaving behind only a cold and aloof figure.

Wang Xiuzhu looked at Cang Tianci protecting Lin Wanqing with a complicated expression. He sighed softly and said in a low voice, "Wang Yaowu is too...too much."

At this moment, Lin Wanqing stared blankly at the tall, upright figure blocking her path, her eyes welling with tears. She seemed to have returned to that afternoon two years ago, the same scene, only the bully had changed from Zhao Xiaohu to Wang Yaowu; only before, she had been passively protected by him, but this time she was being attacked while protecting him. Looking at this mountain-like figure standing before her, her heart was filled with mixed emotions. The pent-up grievances and fear, now overflowing with gratitude, intertwined, making her want to cry. But she couldn't cry. How could she weep in front of these evil people? She couldn't let Cang Tianci worry about her.

The other female students in the gifted youth class, witnessing this scene of a hero rescuing a damsel in distress, also showed expressions of admiration and excitement, and their gazes toward Cang Tianci were filled with even more affection.

Zheng Tao witnessed everything, his anger surging. His meticulously planned scheme not only failed to completely ruin Cang Tianci's reputation but almost backfired. Now, that idiot Wang Yaowu had caused trouble again, with Cang Tianci publicly "rescuing the damsel in distress," which actually boosted his prestige among his classmates, especially the girls. What annoyed him even more was Lin Ruoxi's words, which seemed to have a hidden meaning. He suppressed his anger, coughed, and stepped forward to smooth things over: "Alright, Wang Yaowu has realized his mistake and apologized. As for the pen... it seems there might be a misunderstanding. Everyone, stop crowding around and prepare for the next class."

Watching this scene, Zhao Xiaohu felt as if he were transported back to the past—that day, he too had been subdued in public, forced to apologize to this cripple he despised. That humiliating moment overlapped with the present, old and new grudges intertwined, and a surge of rage rushed to his head. He wanted to rush forward and tear Cang Tianci to pieces. But as he raised his eyes to look at Cang Tianci with hatred, taking a step to act, a sharp gaze shot towards him, filled with warning and restraint. That gaze came from Zheng Tao, standing opposite him. Zhao Xiaohu jolted awake, his hatred-blinded mind instantly clearing—wouldn't his impulsive actions now confirm that we had framed Cang Tianci? If this got to the school, wouldn't our good reputation be completely ruined? He should endure it; revenge wasn't something that could be achieved overnight.

He forcibly suppressed the roar that was about to burst out, swallowing back the overwhelming resentment and humiliation, and quickly echoed, "Yes, yes, it's a misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!" After saying that, he half-dragged and half-pulled the still trembling Wang Yaowu, and slunk out of the crowd.

The storm had temporarily subsided, but Cang Tianci's heart was far from calm. He watched Zheng Tao and the others leave in a disheveled state, then glanced at Lin Wanqing beside him, her eyes red-rimmed but her gaze resolute, and at the admiring, supportive, and even thoughtful looks from his classmates. A sudden realization dawned on him:

"It turns out that not all truths in this world can be explained in the sunlight. When faced with those who are deliberately framing others and acting unreasonably, gentle forbearance and futile arguments can sometimes only embolden them and allow corruption to spread. When kind words cannot correct evil deeds, and when the rules themselves can be maliciously distorted into shackles, only by demonstrating the power and determination to deter evil can we protect the people and things we cherish, and carve out a peaceful haven in the turbid current. Literature clarifies principles, and martial arts protect the Way. Today I understand that the word 'martial arts' is not just about winning in the arena or being brave and fierce, but also about having a steadfast heart and sharp hands, daring and having the ability to cut off the evil hands reaching out to the innocent at crucial moments, and protecting the inviolable bottom line and dignity. This power must be like the energy of a dragon in hibernation, hidden deep in the abyss, yet striking with thunderous force; it must also be like the subtlety of a finger pointing to the heavens, precise and restrained, not for harming others, but only for protecting justice."

This profound realization, like another clear engraving, has been integrated into his martial arts beliefs, deepening his understanding of "power."

The sunlight outside the corridor finally moved slowly to his feet, carrying the crisp, cool temperature unique to autumn.