Chapter 35

The urban circle is always crowded and busy, unlike Old Factory Street where uncles and aunts enjoy the cool, housewives bargain for groceries, and workers call out to friends after their shifts — that atmosphere of daily life.

This place is more like a cold forest forged of steel; the people rooted here are like scurrying insects and ants, never getting a moment's idle.

"Ding-dong! Hongfeng Road arrived. Passengers heading to the Youth Palace, please exit in order from the back gate. Mind your safety……"

Qin Shi, bag slung over his shoulder, walked to the roadside — another day of his weekly part-time job as an assistant teacher.

Although he had broken through his physical limit and his life force had increased enormously — at Xin Yi High School that would be equivalent to rising from Scholarly Force Ninth Rank to Eighth Rank, from an ordinary Hongzhi Class student to a mid-level Elite Class student.

But as a poor kid from Old Factory Street, he still had to work when work needed doing.

The Youth Palace's free cafeteria benefits, together with the salary adding up to a full two thousand five, absolutely could not be lost.

This was Qin Shi's bottom line!

"Buying a computer for the youngest, the room and board fees due after school starts, online course fees, and the registration fee for the ranking examination…… every penny has to be split in two, otherwise I can't save anything."

Qin Shi thought of that "deposit" his eldest sister left behind, silently calculating.

Ever since he opened this brand-new life of his, he had contracted a kind of obsessive "strange illness."

He found it extremely hard to endure the day-by-day decreasing balance of funds in hand, with absolutely no sign of growth.

Once it appeared, his whole body felt prickly and itchy!

"Must make money, let the wallet bulge."

Under the blazing sun of thirty-odd degrees, Qin Shi strode into the Youth Palace, just in time to run into Zhang Ge, hair gelled, grinning foolishly at the air:

"Xiao Qin, you didn't see just now — the new Teacher Lin smiled at me, the sweet kind. You say, could Teacher Lin have taken a fancy to me too?"

Zhang Ge, you're a bit of a delusional confident man.

Qin Shi's nose twitched, catching the other's strong smell of cologne:

"It's possible. After all, the most outstanding hero in the Youth Palace is you, Zhang Ge.

Since ancient times, a treasured sword is gifted to a hero, a jade hairpin to a beauty. I feel if Zhang Ge you put in more effort, you'll surely blow the horn of victory!"

He spouted a couple of made-up lines, perfunctorily humoring him with a straight face.

Shaking off Zhang Ge's pestering, he went to the locker room, changed into casual wear, put on his baseball cap.

Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin, reporting for duty in grand style!

"Young people's spirit is just good. Xiao Qin's vitality makes us old fellows envious just looking at it."

The Mediterranean uncle holding a thermos stood in the second-floor corridor, laughing hehe.

"Uncle Wang, however old you are, you're still a few years younger than my dad — how can you say the word 'old'?"

Lin Yunqing climbed the stairs in flat heels; those straight legs under her pencil skirt were long enough to make mouths dry and tongues parched.

She held documents in both arms, standing posture dignified and intellectual, her gaze naturally falling on Qin Shi:

"Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin's life force development level is not low.

Even placed in Xin Yi High School, he'd be a top student standing out in the Elite Class."

As the Youth Palace person in charge, Uncle Wang exclaimed in surprise:

"I remember Xiao Qin told me before, his latest physical test score was just eight points — barely passing standard."

Improved this much in such a short time?

Lin Yunqing's beautiful eyes flickered, pondering the time point when Qin Shi became an assistant teacher.

How many days have passed in total until now?

How could it possibly improve this fast!

"About two weeks ago, he was only at eight points of life force. Now? At least twelve points and above."

Lin Yunqing grew more curious the more she thought — could Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin be a good seedling secretly cultivated by some Old Martial Arts school?

An ordinary inheritance absolutely couldn't achieve this degree!

Four points of life force sounds mediocre.

But even if you swap in a rich young master with superior family background and resources maxed out.

Even soaking in the cultivation hall every day, hiring a dedicated sparring partner, a nutritionist planning three meals, a meditation master hypnotizing sleep.

Investing so much time and money, it still takes about two months.

And that's on the premise that the other party's own talent is decent.

"Looks like last time's guess was right — Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin's fragrance really is Old Martial Arts secret medicine tempering.

He completed a body limit breakthrough in two weeks — truly makes one green with envy."

Lin Yunqing's beautiful eyes swiveled, growing even more interested.

An Old Martial Arts force hidden in Old Factory Street?

Their background originally shouldn't be weak.

Might even have kinship ties with the Three Great Schools that have endured Iron Fist.

"Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin……"

Lin Yunqing leaned forward, resting on the railing, her lips with only a touch of tinted lip balm parting slightly:

"Truly like a delicious little pastry. If one were to beat him until he kneels, trample the pride of being an Old Martial Arts sole seedling, smash the last remaining hope.

A cute boy like Assistant Teacher Xiao Qin would probably cry for a long time, right?"

……

……

"See? Xiao Qin, Teacher Lin smiled at me again!"

Zhang Ge, organizing sandbags and soft mats together with Qin Shi, suddenly got excited.

"You say, should I ask her out for a meal and a movie later?"

Qin Shi didn't raise his head, focused entirely on the work:

"Go after her boldly, Zhang Ge. I'm your strongest support."

Zhang Ge hesitated; yesterday he had seen Lin Yunqing's car, the valuable Han Hai Conqueror.

He immediately felt himself diminished by a notch, unable to aspire to such heights.

"Xiao Qin..."

Zhang Ge wanted to consult Qin Shi, but then saw several hoodlums in leather jackets and jeans with dyed hair rushing into the Youth Palace.

They waved enrollment flyers in their hands, shouting in unison that they wanted to sign up for Teacher Lin's martial arts class.

"What's going on?"

Zhang Ge was bewildered.

The Youth Palace's martial arts class was divided into Basic and Advanced Classes, only for elementary school students.

These young men who looked at least sixteen or seventeen certainly didn't seem like the target audience.

"They're probably here for Teacher Lin."

Qin Shi glanced outside; a flashy convertible sports car was parked opposite, with a young man wearing sunglasses and designer clothes leaning against the car door, exuding a tense sort of nonchalance.

Simply put, it was affected nonchalance meant to attract attention.

"A classic scene of a rich young master pursuing a beautiful, wealthy woman?"

Qin Shi enjoyed the spectacle; a young, single lady like Teacher Lin, who drove a million-yuan car and had a decent, leisurely job, surely wouldn't lack suitors.

With so many, a few show-offs were inevitable.

"What's going on?"

Lin Yunqing was disturbed by the sudden commotion and lightly frowned.

"Little brats causing trouble. Teacher Lin, don't be afraid, I'll chase them away."

Zhang Ge puffed out his chest, feeling he had seized a perfect opportunity to play the hero, and strode toward the noisy hooligans.

"Know what place this is! Teacher Lin's Advanced Class only takes middle school students under fourteen..."

As a graduate of a prestigious university in the Taian Metropolitan Area, Zhang Ge's Life Force Development Level was naturally not low, at least around twelve points.

But just as he reached the hooligans, the red-haired tattooed brother raised his hand and slapped him, fast and accurate like a shell from a cannon.

Slap!

Sending Zhang Ge flying, glasses and all!

"We're here to take classes with Teacher Lin, what's it to you, four-eyes!"

That slap was heavy, swelling Zhang Ge's cheek and nearly making him stumble and fall.

Qin Shi, not far away, raised an eyebrow; this "red-haired ghost" was a trained practitioner at the entry level.

His punches and kicks were crisp, and his movements were neat.

"Xiao Qin! Call the police, call the police quickly! Arrest all these brats..."

Humiliated in public, Zhang Ge instantly turned red with rage and roared angrily.

The hooligans chewed gum, seeming fearless, and instead laughed mockingly:

"Four-eyes is mad!"

"Brother Kun's move was so cool!"

"Hit him well..."

Seeing signs that the disturbance might turn into a riot, Lin Yunqing tilted her head, her beautiful hair falling like a waterfall over her shoulders:

"You all want to take the martial arts class for make-up lessons?"

"Yeah! Long Sao!"

The hooligans smiled cheerfully, calling her "Long Sao," which reminded Qin Shi inexplicably of the class belle from his past life who was pestered by outside thugs.

"Where is your Long Ge?"

Lin Yunqing wasn't angry, still speaking in a gentle, soft tone.

The leading red-haired Akun raised his hand and pointed outside the window:

"Long Ge wants to invite Teacher Lin to a meal, please grant him face."

Lin Yunqing didn't move her gaze, her bright eyes curving like a crescent moon, as if smiling:

"If you don't grant face, does that mean you won't leave?"

Red-haired Akun put his hands in his pockets and tilted his head up, thinking himself very handsome:

"Give us some face, Long Sao. Last time we met once at Guojin Center, Long Ge couldn't eat or sleep, just thinking about you, Long Sao."

Lin Yunqing smiled even more happily, her lips curling:

"My classes are quite expensive per term, you know."

Red-haired Akun shrugged:

"Long Ge isn't short of money; as long as Long Sao is willing to walk out this door, no matter how many classes you open, we'll buy them all."

Lin Yunqing nodded:

"Assistant Teacher Qin, please take these few to pay the registration fee at the front desk, ten classes each."

Qin Shi led this group of killers to the front desk with a friendly face, and out of the corner of his eye saw tattoos on their arms, which were actually black fists with clenched five fingers.

"Could it be related to Brother Ze's Yi Quan Society?"

After the registration and class entry process was finished, Lin Yunqing said again:

"You injured my colleague; you have to pay medical expenses, right?"

Red-haired Akun had a carefree, arrogant expression, tossing out more than ten hundred-yuan bills from his leather jacket and throwing them in front of Zhang Ge:

"Go see a doctor, four-eyes! Next time you try to play the hero, remember to practice more!"

Lin Yunqing seemed as if she wouldn't get angry, always maintaining a fragile image, turning her head to look at Qin Shi, who was trying hard to lower his presence:

"Assistant Teacher Qin, could you take them to the conference room? I'll be there shortly."

This woman wouldn't be using me as a human shield, would she?

Qin Shi's heart skipped a beat; following the conventional plot progression, he would most likely be dragged into it, inexplicably becoming a hypothetical love rival, targeted in all sorts of ways by that Long Ge.

"Women really are the source of trouble..."

While smiling and providing service, Qin Shi secretly pondered: if Teacher Lin made any overly intimate moves later, he would immediately turn tail and run.

Leading the group of delinquent youths into the conference room, after waiting about five minutes, Lin Yunqing pushed the door open and entered.

This elegant female teacher had already changed into a pink sportswear set convenient for movement, and her flat shoes had become running shoes.

"Teacher Lin..."

Qin Shi hurriedly stood up, preparing to run away.

"Assistant Teacher Qin, help me take off my glasses, and close the door while you're at it."

Lin Yunqing instructed.

Without waiting for Qin Shi to agree, she handed over that pair of frameless glasses.

Then, facing the group of delinquent youths, she asked with a smile:

"Students, please stand up; Teacher is about to start class."

For some reason, the delinquent youths sitting sprawled on the sofas or long table all stood up consciously.

Red-haired Akun stepped forward, still smiling cheerfully, but before he could speak, his face tightened!

A fair fist shot out like a tank shell, striking his head askew, knocking it against the wall.

Immediately after, five fingers clenched hard, grabbing that head of red hair, and slammed it down heavily!

Thud!

Finally, with his head pinned down, that face filled with utter terror was pressed hard against the wall surface, dragged all the way across, leaving shocking blood traces.

"Dragon's wife? Wife your mother!"

(Chapter End)