CHAPTER 48: CHAPTER 42: RADIANCE

Zhang Xinglie continued: "Unfortunately, many people consider me a freak."

"My brain has been different from many others since I was young."

"I stubbornly pondered one question after another, having to think them through to the deepest level. So much so that during the early years of elementary school, even in exams, I was too lazy to answer those questions that seemed ridiculously simple, thinking it was a waste of time."

"Because I spent a long time immersed in thinking, or rather, I used my brain for thinking rather than everyday actions, I couldn’t do many things."

"I couldn’t tie my shoes properly, button my shirt correctly, or even know to wipe my nose, looking like someone who couldn’t take care of himself."

"But in reality, I didn’t care at all, and I never cared about these things since I was a kid."

"On the contrary, I thought some people were really dumb, always doing meaningless stupid things, including adults, and I didn’t even want to waste a word on them. Later, I found out this is how old couples behave after marriage too."

Everyone laughed, especially the adult alumni.

"I’m very strange, but comparatively, Zhou Leng is also strange, even stranger than me."

"Because he never thought there was a problem if I couldn’t tie my shoelaces, he would help me wipe my nose, saying he thought I was great."

"He thought I was smarter than others."

"Whenever someone mocked me, he would always stand by my side, glaring at others."

"So don’t look at me as the eldest brother of the Eighth Middle School, in the first and second grade of elementary school, I was just Zhou Leng’s little follower."

"To this day, I still don’t understand why he was so strange. Think about it, so many adults and children thought I was weird, as if the whole world had passed some kind of judgment on me, yet he, just a kid, didn’t care at all."

"Now that I think about it, it’s like I scorned the world, but when the world hit me, I couldn’t do anything, yet Zhou Leng dared to resist."

"I was a bit moved at the time, but still thought he was a fool, a strange fool."

Some people laughed.

"Later, as I slowly grew up, I began to consciously adjust my intuition, using reason to learn how to survive in this world, and slowly, I became more normal."

"For me, these things aren’t hard, it all depends on whether I want to learn or not."

"Around the fifth and sixth grade, I became a little genius, excelling in both academics and martial arts. By sixth grade, I was unbeaten by any surrounding elementary schools."

"Those adults and children who used to think I was a fool completely changed their attitude towards me, and no one dared to laugh at me anymore. Do you think Zhou Leng would become my little follower?"

"He remained the same peculiar fool, with average academics, average martial arts, but he never followed me like those so-called little followers."

"In his eyes, I was always the partner who grew up together, a friend called Zhang Xinglie."

"Whether I had a runny nose and was besieged or was beating up a group of older students by myself, in his eyes, I hadn’t changed."

"Except for this bit being odd, he was very ordinary."

"His family background was ordinary, I never saw him take any pills."

"His personality was ordinary, he didn’t interact well with people, lacked emotional intelligence."

"His studies were ordinary, grades generally okay, neither high nor low."

"His martial arts were ordinary, somewhat of an edge, yet not a genius."

"Nobody around him had any expectations for him."

"But I felt he would definitely be different in the future."

"I didn’t know why I felt this way until Principal Lu called me, saying that West Sea Martial Arts Academy had revoked Zhou Leng’s supplemental admission qualification."

"I was outraged."

Zhang Xinglie squinted slightly.

"I initially couldn’t understand why I was so angry, because I wasn’t angry when I was mocked and insulted in my childhood, nor was I angry at many things I encountered."

"I sat and thought, over and over, unable to figure it out."

"Until the next morning when I woke up, I finally understood."

Zhang Xinglie slowly scanned the hall.

"Because, at my most ordinary and clumsy, he saw through the web of walls built by countless others, seeing the light in me."

"Now, when he is clearly already shining, he’s being blocked by the wall of West Sea Martial Arts Academy."

"I suddenly realized, is it possible, that everyone has light within them, also being blocked?"

"So, I came back from Xiong City and stood here."

"Just for more people to see the light on Zhou Leng."

"And for more ordinary people’s light to be seen."

Principal Lu clapped his hands vigorously.

Wow...

Almost everyone clapped with all their strength, the sound far exceeding any previous applause.

Xu Qingjin lowered his head, wiped the corners of his eyes, raised his head, smiled, and clapped.

Hu Yi clapped, tears streaming down his face.

Principal Lu moved his lips, loudly saying: "Please welcome Zhou Leng to the stage to receive his award. This award is not a Progress Award, but the school’s newly established ’First Zhou Leng Progress Award.’"

Wow...

Thunderous applause.

The three Innate stood up, followed by everyone else.

The classmates of the original class three looked at Principal Lu in disbelief; the Zhou Leng Progress Award meant that the names of every batch of students from the Eighth Middle School would carry on this name in the future.

"Go up and receive your award," Teacher Sun Xiong whispered.

Zhou Leng took a deep breath and walked up to the podium.

Principal Lu handed the ’First Zhou Leng Progress Award’ crystal trophy to Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie laughed heartily, passing the trophy to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng took it.

Their right arms raised, hands clapped together, and then clasped.

Principal Lu stood between them, and below the stage, the camera shutters clicked continuously.

The crowd cheered.

Principal Lu then took out a gift box and announced into the microphone: "As the first recipient of the ’Zhou Leng Progress Award’, upon the decision of the Eighth Middle School Committee, we specially award a Replenishing Essence Pill to Zhou Leng, to honor his six thousand-rank record improvement!"

After speaking, he handed the Replenishing Essence Pill to Zhou Leng.

Zhou Leng accepted the box, bowing in thanks.

Before stepping down, Zhang Xinglie approached the microphone again, a faint, confident smile on the corner of his lips.

"I can’t answer Principal Lu’s question, I don’t know if Zhou Leng deserves West Sea Martial Arts Academy."

The room fell silent.

"But I know, West Sea Martial Arts Academy doesn’t deserve Zhou Leng."

Zhang Xinglie finished speaking and walked off the stage with Zhou Leng.

Some people praised Zhang Xinglie’s boldness, some gently shook their heads, and others looked helplessly at Principal Lu.

The award ceremony ended, and Zhou Leng privately thanked Principal Lu.

After Principal Lu’s advice, he told Zhou Leng to see Zhang Xinglie off, so as not to miss his flight.

Thus, Zhou Leng accompanied Zhang Xinglie to the car.

"To Dragon Bay Community," Zhang Xinglie said.

"Not to the airport?"

"It’s been a while since I’ve been back, the relatives are all waiting, plus today’s flight to Xiong City is in the evening."

Zhou Leng said, "This time I’ve delayed you a lot."

Zhang Xinglie laughed, "No delay. Did I perform well on stage?"

"You did quite well in everything you do, it’s just that you praised me a bit too much," Zhou Leng said.

"No, I was controlling myself."

"Hmm?" Zhou Leng looked at Zhang Xinglie.

Zhang Xinglie sat grandly, looking ahead, seemingly lost in reminiscence.

After a while, Zhang Xinglie said, "You are familiar with Gao Haoda and the rest."

Zhou Leng nodded, knowing that Zhang Xinglie had his own friends, each passing into the Top Ten Martial Arts, often playing demonization sports together, with Zhou Leng occasionally joining.

"Half a year ago when you got sick, Gao Haoda, knowing our special relationship, asked why I didn’t share some pills with you to help you recover faster."

"I said, what’s lacking isn’t pills."

Zhang Xinglie turned his head, their eyes meeting.

Zhang Xinglie grinned broadly.

"What’s missing, is an opportunity."

"When you finished the entrance trial test and walked up to the podium in the name of Quan Jiu, when your light was seen, the opportunity arrived."

The car stopped.

Zhang Xinglie said, "Don’t worry about me, you still have a gathering to attend."

Zhou Leng got out of the car, helping Zhang Xinglie with his luggage.

Zhang Xinglie pushed his suitcase, walking a few steps, suddenly turned around, smiling brilliantly at Zhou Leng.

"Zhou Leng, do me a favor."

"Hmm."

"Promise me first."

"I promise."

"Please continue to climb the martial arts path, rising step by step on the rankings. Help me prove that West Sea Martial Arts Academy doesn’t deserve you."

"Okay!"

The lion-like majestic Zhang Xinglie laughed heartily, turned around, and walked away boldly, waving back at Zhou Leng.

Looking at Zhang Xinglie’s back, bright specks of fire danced in Zhou Leng’s eyes.