Chapter 65: Force and Speed Double A, Corridor War God

It's a pity that the protagonist treatment he'd imagined—small-time thugs causing trouble, forcing him to reveal his Second Stage Rioter Form, then beating them ruthlessly to their knees—never fell to Qin Shi.

Perhaps because the low houses deep in the alley weren't worth much, his side was unusually calm and peaceful.

Occasionally he heard neighbors from across the door or next door gathering together, whispering about whose husband had been beaten yesterday, whose household had water and electricity cut off today.

"The renovation and demolition hasn't even got its eight characters in place, yet all sorts of demons and monsters are already rushing out to stake claims and suck blood."

Returning to the shed house, Qin Shi pulled the light switch; dim light spread out, illuminating the narrow space that wasn't very spacious.

The home was empty and desolate; his youngest sister Qin Lan had been arranged by him to stay at a female classmate's home.

Lately, Old Factory Street had become increasingly chaotic; during the day he followed Lao Liang to train, or went out for part-time work, and might not be able to look after his sister.

Simply let her leave the vortex, so as to avoid inviting trouble upon herself.

"Only by strangling dangerous sprouts in the cradle can all future troubles be eradicated."

Qin Shi sat in the house; although he'd just wolfed down Super Protein, he still habitually lit the stove to heat up rice and eat a couple of mouthfuls, adding a bit of human warmth.

"Counting the days, Big Sister should be back soon."

He lowered his head to shovel rice while letting his thoughts wander.

Although Hengzhou's Xinxing Development had existed for several thousand years, because it lay in the Borderlands and because of the sudden External Blockade afterward, its overall development level had always lagged behind.

Let alone Chao Yixian Xingzhengqu like Haizhou and Yuezhou, even compared to Hezhou and Yangzhou—young Xinxing that mainly provided Strategic Materials and were positioned as "Homeland" or "Pasture"—it was still inferior.

"Hengzhou's resources are usually concentrated; the super-large Central City, as the heart, swallows eighty percent, then the remaining few Urban Circles divide it up; as for the Satellite Cities built around the Urban Circles, they serve as Blood Bags."

Qin Shi recalled something the teacher had casually mentioned during class at Zidi Xuexiao.

Once-glorious Dangyang East Suburbs had almost been upgraded to an Urban Circle, but for some unknown reason it was changed to Tai'an; the old district around Old Factory Street didn't even get Satellite City treatment.

"Think of it for the better: at least it's stronger than Bi Lei Cheng, isolated out there."

Qin Shi wiped his mouth; the administrative unit levels of Hengzhou Xinxing were roughly divided into Central City, Urban Circle, Satellite City, and Bi Lei Cheng.

The first three still had complete planning for education, medical care, and livelihood security.

The last, Bi Lei Cheng, was more like a border outpost, with relatively harsher conditions.

"Keep training!"

After finishing the hot rice and slightly increasing his satiety, Qin Shi took off his upper garment and stood in the relatively spacious courtyard.

Outside the Shantytown alley, the piercing noise from excavators and electric drills continued, carrying very far, utterly indifferent to whether it disturbed residents' rest.

Or rather, they probably intended through this method to make those stubborn Nail Households who refused to submit obediently fall in line.

Old Martial Arts Level 5 (12/60)

Old Martial Arts Fighting Method Level 4 (33/50)

Nourishing Spirit Technique Level 1 (1/20)

"Added a Nourishing Spirit Technique; there's something new to grind."

The 【Muscle Memory】 Achievement, combined with the data-based trait, enabled Qin Shi to always find the most suitable training method fastest, improving his proficiency in mastering "Skills."

This was also the key reason he left everyone in the dust on the Old Martial Arts path.

"As long as grinding doesn't kill me, I'll grind to death! With my astonishing wisdom and absolute self-discipline, grinding out a First-Rank Academy should be no big problem!"

Qin Shi took a deep breath, his Qi Sense circulating endlessly, and began his daily training course.

Fifteen sets of training methods: Standing Stake Loosening Tendons, Zhou Tian Circulation, expending stamina, condensing Qi Life Force;

Fifteen sets of fighting methods: basic fist and foot techniques, offense and defense moves; when exhausted to the point of inability, he'd go to bed to sleep, and incidentally do Combat Retrospection.

"The Stela doesn't give me a 【Time Management Master】 Achievement—truly unreasonable!"

Qin Shi closed his eyes, entering a hurried and violent breathing rhythm.

This was an effect that could only be displayed after the training method upgraded.

Every muscle group on the surface of his flesh was being pulled and tugged.

Once again presenting the sight of rippling water, constantly trembling.

The Large Tendons close to the Skin Membrane were like springs repeatedly stretching and contracting, occasionally emitting Snap Explosion sounds.

It was hard to imagine just how tyrannical a power was contained within this young Mortal Body.

"Suddenly exerting force in this mode, the power of the strike should be terrifying! Strive to become Force and Speed Double A, Numerically Invincible!"

Qin Shi wanted to find a sandbag or a Punch Force Testing Machine to see just how fierce he was now.

Using the bitch woman Lin Yunqing as a punching bag wasn't right either!

……

……

The next day, early morning.

Qin Shi fought a battle all night in his sleep, furiously battling a naked man in Four-corner Underwear with fifty Qi Life Force points.

Unlocking Fighter, mastering the Wind Fist Style Professional Skill, he clearly had room to fight back.

Not only did he get a chance to catch his breath, he even began looking for openings to counterattack.

"Wait till I develop some more!"

【Intermediate Achievement - Deep Sleep (28/30)】

Every morning when he opened his eyes, this line of text would flash on his retina, making Qin Shi feel very reassured.

He got up and busied himself for a while, taking advantage of his youngest sister not being home to clean up, wiping windows and stove, clearing dust from all corners.

His part-time job at the Youth Palace was on leave, and Midnight Palace had been closed for several days.

The previously hectic rhythm of life suddenly became leisurely.

This made Qin Shi, who had always been eager to be a Volunteer Dog, somewhat unadjusted, wondering what he should do.

"A Shi! Are you home!"

Just as he was pondering, Xie Yucheng's shout came from outside the house.

"How did you guys get here?"

Qin Shi opened the door to find Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng visiting together.

The two rode bicycles, their baskets holding several bags of fruit.

"Brother Ze asked Brother Yuan and me to bring things to the nursing home to pay our respects."

Xie Yucheng lifted his chin, gesturing for Qin Shi to sit on the back seat.

"Let's go together. Midnight Palace reopens tonight; we'll finish up just in time for work."

Qin Shi was slightly stunned. A few days ago he had run into Cheng Ze, and that boss of Beiguan Street had even told him not to take a part-time job anymore.

Why is he back at work today?

"The shantytown redevelopment project was snatched by Smiling Tiger Luo Ji, and Brother Ze is back to watch the scene."

Li Yuan was displeased. Working as a waiter at Midnight Palace, he made at most some tips, far less profitable than buying land and shops.

"Cheer up, Brother Yuan. Look at Biao Ge—every day he brings his little brothers to harass tenants, making the neighbors curse his spine, and his parents can't hold their heads up."

Xie Yucheng comforted him:

"If Brother Ze really takes on that big job, we might end up doing this kind of thing too."

Li Yuan said nothing.

"A Shi, let's go."

Xie Yucheng said.

"Fine."

Qin Shi jumped onto the back seat.

He wanted to inquire about the demolition news on Old Factory Street; being able to move out early would be best.

Going by that gold-rimmed glasses man's style of doing things, conflict was bound to happen sooner or later.

The children of workers living in Dangyang East Suburbs were all full of hot blood; who knew when things would blow up one day.

……

……

The nursing home was not far from Beiguan Street. Originally a social welfare institute for the orphaned, widowed, sick, and disabled, it could barely operate anymore due to funding cuts.

"Brother Ze put up the money to convert it into a nursing home, taking in brothers from the Yi Quan Society."

Despite facing Luo Ji's overbearing attitude last time, Cheng Ze's swallowing anger had disappointed many little brothers.

But Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng still regarded Brother Ze of Beiguan Street as their idol.

"Brother Ze said that as long as they bled for the Yi Quan Society and risked their lives, he, as their elder brother, would surely give them a good arrangement for their retirement path."

Li Yuan pedaled his bicycle, his eyes shining.

In the world of young people, the jianghu was full of righteousness and heroic passion.

"We're here, we're here."

Xie Yucheng braked, one foot propped on the ground.

"A Shi, help me take down the fruit."

"Sure."

Qin Shi carried two bags of fresh fruit, standing at the nursing home doorway.

Called a nursing home, it was actually a rather dilapidated tube building, with a white-background black-letter plastic sign hanging at the doorway reading "Old Factory Street Nursing Home."

Looking inside, one could see several middle-aged people who had nothing to do with "old," gathered together sunbathing.

Without exception they all had disabilities—either missing a hand or a lame leg.

"Tooth Uncle, it's me, A Cheng! Brother Ze sent me to bring fruit!"

Because the doorman was hard of hearing, Xie Yucheng shouted very loudly.

"Fruit! Yes, bringing fruit!"

Li Yuan also shouted at the top of his lungs.

Qin Shi helplessly pulled out golden-yellow oranges from the bag, tore off two sheets of paper to wipe them clean, and handed them to the hard-of-hearing doorman.

"Go on in. A child this young speaks without a sound……"

The doorman peeled the orange skin, muttering.

The three went upstairs, placed several large bags of fruit at the front desk, and asked the caregivers to distribute them later.

Then Li Yuan took out two thick envelopes from his bosom, looking toward the corridor:

"Brother Ze asked me to hand this month's money to Dean Shen."

Xie Yucheng nodded:

"Go ahead, Brother Yuan. We'll wait……"

His words had not yet landed when noisy movement sounded from downstairs.

Over a dozen people surged into the nursing home in a black mass, heading for the dean's office.

"What are you doing?"

The male caregiver stepped forward to question them, but was shoved away.

"Brother Ji already warned the Shen surname to close the door. Using Brother Hao's money to support a bunch of cripples—Brother Ze is really too good at taking advantage!"

The leader, a yellow-haired man, wore a look of unbridled defiance, spat a mouthful of saliva, and said:

"This piece of land isn't bad. Brother Ji plans to set up a dog fighting arena; hurry up and scram!"

Qin Shi stood at the stairs and spotted several familiar faces, such as Red-haired Akun who had appeared at the Youth Palace; he had been beaten up by Lin Yunqing, and his head was still wrapped in bandages.

"Brother Ze hasn't agreed……"

The male caregiver wanted to argue, but was kicked down by the leader yellow-haired man.

The latter had trained in Sanda and the like, knocking the man down with a standard whip kick.

"Let Brother Ze guard the nightclub and retire in peace; whether Old Factory Street will have a figure like him afterward is uncertain!"

The yellow-haired man sneered; in the shallow logic of bottom-layer thugs, whoever had the harder fist spoke louder, whoever had greater momentum was more imposing.

Cheng Ze's earlier retreat had caused his reputation and standing on Beiguan Street to plummet.

The yellow-haired man's arrogant words angered quite a few people, and a bald man wearing a prosthetic limb stepped forward to scold:

"Little bastard, who are you talking about! When I was boxing, you were still playing in the mud!"

Even with one leg amputated, the bald man's body was still flexible; in a few steps he flashed before the yellow-haired man, his fist rising from below toward the chin.

"Old bastard!"

The yellow-haired man's reaction wasn't slow either; he took a retreat step, shrank back, and avoided the uppercut.

Immediately both hands clasped the bald man's shoulders, his heel muscles tightened, he bent his knee and drew in his leg, striking with heavy force!

This was a common knee technique in close combat, like knife like axe, with strong killing power.

The bald man was ultimately a prosthetic limb user, not so agile in maneuvering; his lower ribs felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, his waist bending like a shrimp.

The yellow-haired man followed up with an elbow strike, smashing into the back of the bald man's head, knocking him flat to the ground.

"Let you go wild! Let you bark like a dog!"

He was still not satisfied, kicking several times viciously until the other man's head was broken and bleeding before stopping.

"The Yi Quan Society belongs to Brother Ji; Cheng Ze is nothing!"

The violent action intimidated the other old-timers who still wanted to step forward.

The proud and satisfied yellow-haired man led his little brothers, striding toward the stairs, preparing to drag out the man surnamed Shen for a beating.

"Kid, where are you from? Good dog, don't block the way, move aside!"

The yellow-haired man tilted his head, side-glancing at Qin Shi leaning against the corridor side.

"I'm just saying."

Qin Shi shook his neck, mouth corner hooked:

"How could everyone in this world be smart people with brains! There should always be some zab fish with no eye for effort jumping out, letting the protagonist step on them a few times, that's only right!"

(Chapter End)