Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation

At the back of the classroom, Cui Yu saw this scene unfold and quickly patted a few of his rowmates, repeatedly muttering:

"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!"

"He's going after Miao Zhe!" Cui Yu was both shocked and thrilled, happiness came so unexpectedly, didn't it?

Compared to others, Cui Yu was more aware of what kind of person Miao Zhe was.

Speaking of class 8's most untouchable figures, the first is Jiang Ning, the uncrowned king of class 8.

The next in line were Wu Xiaoqi, Song Sheng, Pang Jiao, and Miao Zhe.

If you crossed any of these people, you were bound to face serious consequences!

And there was Shen Xu, who Cui Yu couldn't stand, actually picking a fight with Miao Zhe.

At that moment, Shen Xu slapped Miao Zhe hard across the face, and the entire class, like a massive machine, came to a sudden halt, everyone's gaze turning towards the classroom door.

After getting struck on the head, Miao Zhe had already identified who had hit him based on the sound.

It was that peddler.

Miao Zhe's expression darkened as he slowly turned his head to meet Shen Xu's unyielding face.

"What are you looking at? You bumped into my girlfriend, and today you're not leaving this door without giving me an explanation!"

Shen Xu had already torn off his usual facade of smiles, revealing the thuggish image beneath.

"Explanation?"

Miao Zhe spat out two words, a vein twitched on his forehead, and with lightning speed, he struck out with a claw, "swoosh" scratching across Shen Xu's face.

Wang Longlong from the back of the classroom exclaimed in shock:

"Holy shit, Foshan Shadowless Claw!"

Watching this scene, Cui Yu felt vindicated, yet somewhat annoyed.

Feeling vindicated because Shen Xu was scratched, but annoyed because he himself had been caught by Miao Zhe like this before…

At the front of the classroom.

Shen Xu was scratched by a claw, hardly believing it. How long had it been?

How long since someone had dared to lay a hand on him, and was there ever a fight where he wasn't the one kicking others around?

Suddenly, Shen Xu, like a king whose dignity had been affronted, punched with ferocity at Miao Zhe, sparking a powder keg that exploded into a great battle!

The two tangled and fought at the front of class 8's classroom!

The students of class 8 watched in stunned silence.

Guo Kunnan from the back hesitantly suggested:

"Should we break it up?"

After all, Miao Zhe was one of their own, being attacked in front of so many by someone from another class, wouldn't that look weak for class 8?

Cui Yu said, "Miao Zhe might not lose."

He'd faced Miao Zhe several times and never gained the upper hand; Cui Yu fancied himself as having a bit of fighting talent.

But for some reason, when previously fooling around with Miao Zhe, he simply couldn't avoid Miao Zhe's claws!

Moreover, after Pang Jiao's strong performance at the New Year's Eve party, the fact that Miao Zhe could fight on par with the over one hundred sixty pounds heavy Pang Jiao clearly showed his fighting ability wasn't lacking.

Today, class leader Huang Zhongfei was absent on leave. Additionally, with Miao Zhe's poor popularity, despite the huge fight, no one in the class stepped forward to intervene, not even a word of persuasion.

At this moment, the class bell rang, its melodious ring like a battle hymn, cheering on the scuffling pair in its prolonged toll.

In the front of the classroom, in the midst of the fray, Shen Xu and Miao Zhe fought their way from the classroom door to the lecture podium and then behind the multimedia equipment.

The students in the front row stood up to see, while those at the back had their view blocked.

Wang Longlong, anxious, said: "Who cares about breaking it up? Hurry up and watch!"

He quickly found himself a good spot, and a whole crowd from the back row craned their necks eagerly to watch the spectacle.

The atmosphere on the scene was electric, like a pop star's concert.

Xue Yuantong, sitting towards the front in the south, looked at the commotion ahead and told Jiang Ning:

"They're fighting."

As Xue Yuantong said this, her eyes were fixed on Jiang Ning.

She used to despise fighting, especially in class. In middle school, she often got caught in the crossfire – bumping into desks, dropping books, shattering water cups, and the like.

Now, though, she didn't feel the insecurity she used to have. Being by Jiang Ning's side, no matter how fiercely others fought, she would not be affected.

"Yeah, they've started," Jiang Ning responded with equal nonchalance.

His seat allowed him a clear view of the two combatants, even the expressions on Shen Xu's girlfriend's face at the classroom door were visible to him.

Dan Kaiquan looked back at Jiang Ning, and Bai Yuxia also turned her head. Today, with the class leader absent, it looked like no one could take charge.

Ma Shicheng, who had been engrossed in his game, was disturbed; he looked up at the throng of people crowded at the front, frowning.

Wang Longlong, who was watching avidly from atop a desk, noticed him and called out eagerly:

"Brother Ma, Brother Ma, this is great, they're really going at it!"

"What's going on?" Ma Shicheng had been so engrossed in his game that he only realized the class was in disarray and couldn't see what was happening.

"Miao Zhe and Shen Xu started fighting, wow, it's exciting! Seven Star Mantis Fist – Shen Xu just used a Seven Star Mantis Fist move!"

"Oh, my god, Miao Zhe got hit, is Miao Zhe alright? Stand up, Miao Zhe!" Wang Longlong clenched his fists, trembling.

"Miao Zhe wasn't taken down, Miao Zhe has unleashed his signature move, the Foshan Shadowless Claw. This claw is as fast as lightning, and like the tide, relentless, one move flowing into the next, Shen Xu can't defend at all, and the tide of battle looks like it's quickly turning."

Ma Shicheng looked utterly baffled: "What's happening?"

"Brother Ma, no time to explain, let me narrate for you!"

Wang Longlong grabbed a book and rolled it into a makeshift megaphone:

"Shen Xu seems to be in trouble, just at this critical moment, Shen Xu suddenly kicks out a 'Nanshan Kick.' This so-called 'Nanshan Kick,' once delivered, makes the entire Nanshan Elderly Care Home quake three times!"

"Miao Zhe stays calm and collected, his claws forming a Tai Chi symbol – my goodness, he's forming seals, what's he going to do?"

"Oh lord, he's unleashing the ultimate·Foshan Shadowless Claw – a flurry of claw shadows turns that kick into nothingness."

Wang Longlong's voice carried to the entire back row, and everyone turned their attention to him.

Shen Xu and Miao Zhe were now fighting close to the water dispenser, and Wang Longlong seized the chance to continue his commentary:

"Shen Xu kicks against the chalkboard wall, what's this? Could it be the legendary Buddha Jump Wall technique?"

"But the kick misses!"

"Still, Shen Xu is no match, and at this moment, Shen Xu suddenly bellows 'I grasp the sun and the moon and pluck the stars, in this world, there's no one like me!' In the blink of an eye, a warrior in armor embodies him, instantly transforming into imperial armor!"

"Shen Xu goes all out in attack, causing Miao Zhe to fall back repeatedly!"

Ma Shicheng was confused, "Longlong, what the heck are you narrating?"

Wang Longlong's face changed, Brother Ma didn't like this?

He held the microphone and changed his narration style. His voice instantly became deep:

"Miao Zhe and Shen Xu fought to the edge of the podium, with the great path completely worn away. They trampled all the paths under heaven with their feet, one claw lashing out, and thousands of worlds sprang into and out of existence!"

"At the end of the immortal road, who stands at the peak? Upon seeing Miao Zhe, the path becomes void!"

Guo Kunnan said, "That's too fake, not real, not thrilling; I want something more aesthetic."

Wang Longlong: "Miao Zhe placed a hand on Shen Xu's face, sliding over his skin, Shen Xu's almond eyes slightly closed, he let out a delicate cry, breathing like an orchid, 'Hey, what are you doing?'"

"Even Buddha would be tempted in the face of such a creature, Miao Zhe pressed forward, about to take him in one fell swoop, but then Shen Xu suddenly struggled with sobs, Miao Miao Zhe, lost in bliss, thought Shen Xu had submitted to him, he chuckled..."

On the podium, Shen Xu, hearing this, grew furious and withdrew in a flash, abandoning the fight, and shouted at Wang Longlong:

"Can you fucking stop talking!! Damn it!"

Wang Longlong gave a dry laugh and awkwardly put down the book microphone.

After this disruption, neither Miao Zhe nor Shen Xu gained the upper hand, and a truce was called between them.

Shen Xu didn't want to stay in Class Eight, having become the butt of the joke because of that chubby boy's narration earlier.

If he stayed any longer, he would only be further ridiculed, so Shen Xu left with his girlfriend.

Miao Zhe looked at him twice, fell silent for a moment, and then also left.

...

During the last period of evening self-study, almost everyone in Class Eight had a smile on their face, the room abuzz with laughter and chatter, except for Miao Zhe.

Miao Zhe sat at his desk, looking at the laughter on his classmates' faces and the strange looks they occasionally threw his way.

For a moment, Miao Zhe felt like he was a joke, just entertainment material from a fight he had, surrounded by classmates.

A sense of sadness crept into his thoughts.

Then he snuffed out these thoughts. Miao Zhe was lonely, he disdained blending into the atmosphere of his classmates. He found such friendships meaningless; after all, high school would pass in the blink of an eye.

He never envied others. Miao Zhe's father had many friends, but what good were they, aside from asking his father for drinks and loans?

As a child, his father emptied the household's money to lend to others, leaving him and his mother to starve.

In elementary school, he couldn't even afford the school fees.

After his parents divorced, Miao Zhe lived with his mother. Without a father, he was often bullied, treated as a laughingstock just like now.

Miao Zhe refused to admit defeat; he quietly sharpened his nails into points.

During a fight, he clawed three people, reveling in their cries. From that day on, Miao Zhe was awakened.

After that, not many dared to bully him.

As long as anyone dared to provoke me, I'd claw them. Then I'd be invincible, never harmed, just like today. Shen Xu who sold stuff, so what?

Wasn't he still repelled by me, his face all scratched up?

Miao Zhe was lonely, but not lonely!

Evening self-study ended.

Miao Zhe returned to his rented room, switched on the light, and sat at the desk.

He picked up his phone and opened QQ to send a message: "Yun Ni, are you there?"

"I am."

Seeing Yun Ni's reply, Miao Zhe smiled knowingly. He and Yun Ni had agreed not to affect their studies; usually, they only chatted after school at noon and after evening self-study.

Looking at those two words 'I am', Miao Zhe felt a warm sensation.

The fight with Shen Xu today, the physical injuries he suffered were negligible. What truly hurt was the sight of Shen Xu leaving with his girlfriend.

At that moment, he felt especially lonely.

But now that Yun Ni was there, he was no longer alone.

He typed: "Yun Ni, let me tell you something funny, there was a fight in my class today."

Yun Ni: "What a coincidence, there was a fight in my class today too."

"Ha ha, that's a coincidence; I can't believe there are fights in the high schools of Nan City!" Miao Zhe was surprised by the luck he and Yun Ni shared. It was fate!

"Mhm, even in Linzhou where it's more developed than Nan City, there are fights. What a coincidence!" Yun Ni replied.

Miao Zhe: "This shows we are of one mind. I read online that there might be a member of the opposite sex in the world who is like oneself; I think you, Yun Ni, might be my other self."

"Oh, you are so annoying~"

Miao Zhe: "Heh, heh, heh."

At that moment, Miao Zhe received an official QQ notification that his Yellow Diamond had been renewed for three months.

Yun Ni: "You topped up my SVIP last time; this is me repaying you."

Touched by the symbol of the Yellow Diamond, Miao Zhe felt moved. Yun Ni was truly wonderful, a gracious girl who knew gratitude!

Such a girl, he would not miss.

Yun Ni: "Yun Shu, I'm feeling a bit unwell today."

"Where do you feel uncomfortable? Can I help?" Miao Zhe was worried; he dreaded the thought of Yun Ni getting hurt.

"It's nothing, it'll be fine in a few days."

"Ah? Are you sure you don't need my help?" Miao Zhe felt a sense of helplessness.

"Really, no need. I'm going to sleep now; a good night's sleep should help. I'll talk to you in the morning, and you remember to go to bed early."

Yun Ni signed off with: "Good night."

After sending that message, Yun Ni logged off.

Miao Zhe knew that Yun Ni must really be feeling unwell. She was always decisive and straightforward, delicate yet generous, never lying.

Miao Zhe stared at the screen, his eyes momentarily lost in thought.

She must be trying not to worry me, going to sleep, right?

She's too kind.

Moved, Miao Zhe opened Yun Ni's QQ Space. Her space had little traffic, sparse status updates, clean.

Just like her.

Miao Zhe made his usual round in her message board. Good, no other boys had invaded this territory.

Miao Zhe left a message:

"Hayao Miyazaki once said, if it's raining in the city you're in, I really want to ask if you've brought an umbrella. But I hold back, because I'm afraid you'd say no, and I'm powerless to help, just like how I love you but can't provide the companionship you want."

"Good night, Yun Ni."