Are you not a good student? Have you ever seen a fight?
The private restaurant of Mr.Tao the Taotie had a fascinating decoration style. It looked like a disco as well as a bar. At the same time, it could presently drift into the TV drama and pass it off as a pornographic massage room, if you change it into the dimly red fluorescent light tube. It just wasn’t like a typical standard restaurant. Lin Jing stood at the door for less than two seconds before being forcefully driven to retreat by a group of wild dancers. He planned to retreat to the ground before calling Ji XingLing, yet, when he was going upstairs with his schoolbag, he happened to walk onto another group of people going down there, or rather and to be exact, it was another group of drunken monsters.
“I don’t want to go to the Monster Management Committee for a meeting anymore. Every time I have to copy out many petty rules, which make me really annoyed to the point of death.” The erroneously glamorous beast kicked off her high heels and shoved them into the arms of the Chang Gui1next to her, when her hazy, dimmed eyes raised, “Hey, when did Old Tao have a handsome little guy here, who is underage and working as an illicit employee?”
“Sorry, excuse me, please.” Lin Jing hurried his steps, and moved sideways a bit to go upstairs, yet, his schoolbag was jerked by the ChangGui beside him, “What are you running for? Didn’t you hear someone asking you?”
“Don’t, don’t scare the little brother.” The blackmail beast2was sizing him up and down, and smiling maliciously, “How much does Old Tao give you a day ah? Why don’t you follow and work for me?” She said while bringing her blood-red eyes with her drooped fluffy ears closer. She wanted to touch the other’s face.
Lin Jing had no objection to her bizarre cosplay style, but he had strong objections and a plus point on “a strange big sister was going to stroke him with her hand that just took off her shoes”. However, he was dominated by sheer force of numbers, and only a fool would make a face-to-face confrontation then and there. He maintained his composure by turning his head sideways to avoid her, then suddenly, he yanked his schoolbag back and ran upstairs to escape them.
However, as you know, life is full of suspense, and everything is unpredictable. Lin Jing wasn’t foolish, but the next second, the fool was coming.
As soon as Ji XingLing walked out of the restaurant, he saw Lin Jing was being blocked by a group of scoundrels, and he suddenly flew into a rage. He rushed up to grab the chang gui in quick steps, and punched backhandedly, “You’ve got great fucking nerve!”
Little Teacher Lin, who had successfully reached the top landing stairs and regained his freedom immediately, “···.”
The sound waves in the restaurant were too strong, so Old Tao and Little Tao didn’t know that a fight was taking place in the stairwell for the time being. Although the Qilin clan‘s ability to deter evil beasts was innate, when a juvenile Qilin faced seven or eight adult evil beasts simultaneously, it was still evident that he would be at a disadvantage. The other party might have really got stupid drunk, and couldn’t remember in time that, there was often a father behind the cub. They were going to strike violently by shoving Ji XingLing around rudely to the middle. Lin Jing promptly finished dialing 110, then just single-handedly picked up a chair and was about to go down to help, but he collided head-on with the schoolbag that Ji XingLing flung away. It smashed and made Lin Jing stagger back two steps, and he almost fell into the raised flower bed on the sidewalk.
The next second, there was a “bang” sound reaching his ear, and the iron door at the entrance was tightly closed.
“Ji XingLing!” Lin Jing’s mind was blazing with anger, and then, he raised his foot to kick the door twice, ruthlessly. Seeing that the door didn’t even budge an inch, he took out several decorative bricks from the flower bed behind him, lifted his hand, and threw it with all his might, severely smashing the glass transom window above the iron door, and was intending to step on the chair to get in.
“What are you doing!” A screeching berated voice suddenly sounded behind him.
The other party was a middle-aged man in his fifties, who was in a suit and leather shoes with glossy hair, such a criterion appearance of a successful person.
“My friend was being surrounded by a bunch of rogues inside.” Lin Jing stuffed the bricks into his schoolbag, not intending to waste more time here.
The uncle was also deeply distressed about the problem of how present-day teenagers tended to raise their fists when they had the slightest disagreement. He handed over the briefcase, “Hold this. I’ll go take a look.”
Lin Jing reminded, “There are quite a few of them.”
Regardless, the uncle had wrapped his arms in a suit three or two times, to prevent and ward off the bits of broken glass from breaking through, then getting in. He was pretty agile – in fact, he could be unstoppable, and he could even fly directly, but, it was not inevitable that the divine beast could be overdone. Nevertheless, he required to be appropriately disguised, just so as to avoid frightening the little friend.
In the narrow stairway, Fei3and Huo Dou4suddenly drew out of their actual bodies. Just as they were about to plunge this ignorant cub before their eyes into the sea of flame illusion, they were frightened out of their wits by the blast of the clear resounding cry. The Chongming bird5roared in the wind, rolled the little Qilin under his own wings, and waved his wings again. All the monsters on the scene were completely panic-stricken and turned back to human form.
And Lin Jing also happened to be stepping on the chair, tiptoeing with half of his head out from the transom, “Ji XingLing!”
“···.”
The sound of a police car was faintly heard in the distance, and the middle-aged uncle opened the door, “Leave, run!”
Lin Jing didn’t understand. Wondered, why should he, as the victim, have to flee, when he even planned to wait until then to go to the police station to record a statement. However, Ji XingLing, who had a lot of experience in this area, Without demur, pulled Lin Jing in the opposite direction and threaded his way through and crossed two streets running before coming to a halt.
“No, wait, hold on a second.” Lin Jing puffed and panted while trying to shake him off, “We didn’t do anything wrong, so why are we running?”
“It’s going to be troublesome if you get in, not to mention that it’s going to be a waste of time, but also, the parents have to come and bail you out.” Ji XingLing, who sat on the ground, was terribly tired out, then he raised his head, and asked, “Hey, are you alright?”
“… alright.” Lin Jing looked at his wounded face, and automatically reduced the sound of “actually you didn’t need to charge up just now” altered into “thank you.
“I was careless too. I never thought that you might be unable to adapt to the environment there.” Ji XingLing, who grimaced in pain, stretched out his hand, “Help me up.”
In the one vs. eight brawl just now, although he didn’t gain the upper hand, he didn’t suffer either. He only got beaten up in the face and looked somewhat cut a sorry figure.
Lin Jing bought ice creams and towels from the convenience store, and made them into a simple and easy small ice pack temporarily, “Would you like to go to the hospital?”
“Abrasions, it’s not that bad.” Ji XingLing hailed the cab, “Let’s go home first.”
The taxi driver perhaps was accustomed to seeing delinquents. Without asking much, he stepped on the accelerator pedal the whole time, and it seemed he wanted to get these two unlucky bastards to their destination as soon as possible. The street lights illuminated the dapple shadow of a tree, and the elongated light continued to shine on the back row, making the compartment seem quiet all the more.
After a while, Ji XingLing couldn’t help but speak first, “Did it scare you tonight?”
“No.” Lin Jing turned to look at him, “I was wondering, why did you lock me outside there just now.”
“Aren’t you a good student? Surely you’ve never seen a fight.” Ji XingLing had thoughtlessly elaborated, “Flesh and blood are flying in every direction, not suitable for children.”
The cab driver was noticeably shocked and frightened, as resolutely as ever, stepped on the accelerator pedal again.
“It’s so noisy down there. I just thought of getting some air out of the street. I never thought I’d run into a bunch of drunkards.” Lin Jing said, “I’m sorry.”
“What are you apologizing for? Those people are not good things in the first place.” Ji XingLing, who leaned onto the back of a chair languidly, still had some indignation and vicious tendencies in his countenance by losing the fight, “It’s just right to teach them a lesson.”
Lin Jing said, “uh-huh” and emphasized, “But it’s really amazing that you can fight so many at once.”
“···.”
——There was nothing in this world that could be inexhaustible, except for Little Teacher Lin’s “You are amazing” card.
Still, this time, it was probably because of a different mood. Ji XingLing felt that not only was it not exaggerated, but also it was even to the extent that it was a little pleasant to the ear, and had a little bit of feeling happy. His mouth just broadened into a grin, but the pain of the wound hurt so much that it made him gasp cold air.
Lin Jing also laughed, took the ice pack, and gingerly placed it next to the bruised side, “Don’t move.”
“……Ugh.”
The white alternating with the green sedan traveled its way through the city, and in every puddle of water splashed along the road, there were shadows of flowers and trees.
The two teenagers sat side by side in the back row of the car, while occasionally speaking in low voices.
It had nothing to do with the fight. As a matter of fact, it was a nice lovely autumn evening.
Because of the wind, the stars brightened all over the sky.
…
1301 of Jiang’An ShuYuan, when Ji XingLing returned home, Hu MeiMei had just finished answering a call.
“Auntie.” Lin Jing stood at the door with two schoolbags in his arms and preemptively said, “Today, I asked Ji XingLing to go out to eat. He saw a group of delinquents looted in the street, so he righteously and courageously rushed over to help, while he accidentally wounded his face.”
After he finished speaking, he added, “But he won and helped others get their wallets back.”
Young Master Ji looked bewildered. What kind of dramatic stage was this? Why didn’t you discuss it with me in advance if you wanted to make up a story?!
Lin Jing returned the schoolbag to Hu MeiMei with both hands, “Auntie, I’m sorry, I couldn’t restraint Ji XingLing back in time.”
When he said this, the corners of his eyes drooped slightly, his head slumped, looking crestfallen and resigned, and he had a well-behaved attitude of sincerely admitting his mistake.
“Well…it’s okay. It’s good that you both are not injured.” Hu MeiMei took a long time to contemplate and was compelled with a sentence.
“Then I’ll go back first.” Lin Jing glanced at Ji XingLing again, “You must pay more attention to have a good rest, goodbye.”
His eyes twinkled, and he perfectly portrayed “a common person whose heart was deeply touched after bearing witness to the hero acting heroically in just cause with his own eyes ”, and he was just only short of bowing 90 degrees to show respect. Hu MeiMei watched him return to 1302 all the way, and asked her son in a complicated mood, “You know it was Uncle Chongming who saved you, right?”
“I know.”
“You know he and Dad are good friends, right?”
“I know.”
“You know he’ll be calling to tell me about what happened tonight, right?”
“I know.”
Hu MeiMei was incomprehensible, “Then what’s the point of you making up this absurd story of righteousness and bravery?”
Ji XingLing also tried to weep, but failed to shed a tear. He really didn’t know anything about this.
“Come here. I’ll help apply some medicine for you.” Hu MeiMei took him to the sofa and sat down, and then urged, “Taotie’s store staff is very motley, don’t bring Xiao Jing there next time, so as to avoid accidents.”
“I’m used to eating there, so I didn’t think much about it.” Ji XingLing reflected for a moment and felt that tonight was a bit of an adventure, so he readily admitted his mistake, and said casually, “But every time I see Uncle Chongming, he’s all gaudy in his original body. I didn’t expect that he would be quite dark when he takes after a human form.” His face had a dark complexion, his suit was darker, and his seriousness was probably Niu WeiDong multiplied by n6, and that n tends to be infinite.
Ji XingLing’s phone on the sofa was buzzing.
Ke Da: How is the situation?
Ji XingLing replied with one hand while nibbling on the apple.
Brother Xing: It’s okay. Have you eaten yet?
Lin Jing replied with an “mhm”, and then sent pictures of a half, fried steamed bun.
What kind of poor meals is this? Ji XingLing called, “Your aunt isn’t there?”
“She’s here, but I don’t want her to know.” Lin Jing lowered his voice while unpacking the milk, “Otherwise, she will cross-examine me for a long time, and maybe she will even tell my parents about it. it’s troublesome.”
Five minutes later, the young master came to the door in person, under the guise of homework, secretly sent a box of claypot rice (Cantonese casserole rice), a box of fresh shrimp rice noodle rolls (Cheong fan), a box of wok-fried bok choy with Cantonese sausages, and a box of soup, all the foods were steaming hot.
Lin Jing was struck dumb by looking at it. Your backpack could really fit…
“It’s all made by my aunt. Although it’s reheated once, it’s so much better than this fried steamed bun.” Ji XingLing helped him move the remaining pieces of steamed buns to the side, “Then I’ll go back. You can eat slowly.”
“You have come to find me because of homework, haven’t you?”
“Hey, don’t you have any humanity? Why do I still have to do my homework after I’ve been beaten like this?”
“But when we were in the car just now, someone told me that he was fine.”
“I’m bragging, truly, my head is so dizzy right now. I even want to pass out on the spot.”
“Don’t pass out on my bed since you haven’t taken a bath. Okay then, you go back ba.”
“I simply won’t go back! I want to study!”
The young master stood by his word on this matter, took out his English book then and there, and threw himself onto Little Teacher Lin’s bed with a perfect posture.
Comfortable!
Lin Jing fell into a long silence as he looked at the arrogant slippers thrown and flew in front of him.
“Ji XingLing.”
“What?”
“Don’t even think of getting out of bed until you finish ten pieces of reading comprehension articles.”
“···.”
The author has something to say:
Each type of monster may have different records in different ancient books. If you want to know more about it, you still need to check the information yourself.
Translator's Notes
- Chang Gui ( 伥鬼 chāng guǐ ) – the Chang Gui is a kind of ghost in ancient Chinese legend. According to the legends, people devoured by tigers turn into ghosts, who then help tigers devour other people.
- Blackmail beast ( 讹兽 é shòu ) – The beast is one of the mythical beasts in ancient Chinese myths and legends; the Blackmail Beast is one of the better-looking divine beasts; it has a beautiful and charming figure with a graceful posture, it has a body shape like a rabbit, and the small one is adorable! And the beast is particularly popular everywhere, not only because it is good-looking, but also because it is particularly good at saying good things, so that people or animals like to stay by its side. But in fact, these good words spoken by the beast are not the truth. The beast is very apt to lie, the spiritual consciousness is relatively high, and can also speak human language, whether in the human world or with the animals that have one’s bread buttered on both sides (capable of achieving success one way or another). Its flesh is delicious, but after eating it, you can no longer speak the truth.
- Fei ( 蜚 fēi ) – the beast is one of four calamity beasts. It’s a Scourge beast. Fei was the God of Disaster. Fei looks like an ox with a white head, one eye, and a snake’s tail. He usually lives in a mysterious mountain. Fei would bring severe drought and plague wherever it goes.
- Huo Dou ( 祸斗 huò dòu ) – the beast is one of four calamity beasts. It has the shape of a black dog that can spew flames. Huo Dou is the assistant of the God of Fire, since it eats and excretes fire. Wherever this mythical animal appears, there will be a big fire, and many people will die. It is said that if a piece of a meteor hits a pregnant dog on a special day, her child will be a Huo Dou.
- Double-pupil Bird ( 重明鸟 chóng míng niǎo ) – Chongming (double-pupil) Bird or four-eye bird is shaped like a colorful rooster and howls like a phoenix. It has two eyes but four pupils, with two in each orbit. It often takes off its feathers for no reason. It is a strong bird that can fight against fierce animals, and dispel evils, using its magical howling as a weapon.
- “n” that tends to be used for the final number in a series -> “1+1; 1+2; 1+3…1+n”; or to represent a series n, n+1, n+2, …