Chapter 72: Metamorphosis
At noon, Huang Meizhen went to dentistry, and in the afternoon she would help out at dentistry.
Chen Wuhong, on the other hand, changed into a set of clothes and limped out of the house. His left leg still hurt a bit when walking, but fortunately it was not serious.
He now desperately wanted to know whether that Chen Wujun was the family’s second son.
After going downstairs, Chen Wuhong felt that even the rotten stench of the Walled City carried a sweet fragrance.
Having been cooped up at home for several months, he was about to go crazy.
But because of the last incident, he now kept his eyes peeled and ears pricked when walking, fearing another mishap.
After going downstairs, before he reached Long Jin Road, he heard hurried running footsteps and cursing voices from behind.
“Kid, where are you running to?”
Chen Wuhong’s heart pounded wildly, and he wanted to bolt.
But he immediately realized they might not be chasing him. Turning his head, he saw a yellow-haired guy running over, with three people chasing behind.
“Get out of the way!” The yellow-haired guy ran right up to him and shoved him to the ground.
“Damn!” As Chen Wuhong fell to the ground, someone stepped on his ankle, then another kick.
“Stop right there!” One of the pursuers happened to step on his ankle.
Chen Wuhong rolled on the ground in pain, his face twisted in agony.
“Last time like this, this time again, what a coincidence… Second Son!”
A flash of insight struck Chen Wuhong’s mind, and he suddenly understood.
It was always like this; he was no fool.
No wonder the second son was always so concerned about his leg—it was clearly his arranged men!
In the evening, Chen Wujun returned home.
“Where’s big brother?” Seeing the eldest son not in the living room, Chen Wujun casually asked.
“He’s in the room, his foot got injured again! Don’t know if he ran into a ghost, he’s been getting hurt lately…” Huang Meizhen said while serving dishes, thinking about finding someone to check on the eldest son.
“I’ll go take a look!” Chen Wujun nodded and entered the room.
He saw big brother Chen Wuhong lying on the bed, eyes filled with resentment staring at him.
“Was it you? It must be you!” Chen Wuhong’s first sentence was a question, the second an affirmation.
Chen Wujun closed the door, smiled and said: “What happened to your foot? So careless?”
“Don’t pretend!” Seeing the smile on Chen Wujun’s face, Chen Wuhong’s pent-up anger exploded, and he growled in a low voice:
“Don’t think I don’t know—it was you who sent them! Believe me, I’ll tell Mom and Dad right now? That He Tu’s Chen Wujun is you!”
Chen Wujun still wore a smile, his eyes fixed on big brother: “Why so angry? Big brother, I’m doing this for your own good!”
Then he bent down, staring intently into big brother’s eyes, the smile fading from his face, eyes full of ferocity: “I’m afraid one day I’ll beat you to death!”
Looking into Chen Wujun’s eyes, big brother felt like a basin of ice water poured from head to toe, making him shudder all over. His full heart of anger deflated like a punctured balloon, vanishing without a trace.
“I’m doing this for you, for Mom and Dad.” The ferocity in Chen Wujun’s eyes faded, and he said mildly, patting big brother’s chest.
“Isn’t this nice? Eating hot meals at home every day, watching television, keeping Mom and Dad company…”
“Second son, can you let me off? I won’t gamble anymore, I really won’t… If I do, throw me off the roof…” Chen Wuhong pleaded pitifully.
“I don’t believe you!” Chen Wujun said lightly.
“But don’t worry too much. In a while… you should be able to go out.”
In a few months, he’d find a way to get more money and send their parents out of the Walled City.
Then he wouldn’t be able to control big brother anymore.
“Stay home and rest properly these days. What did the doctor say this time?”
Chen Wuhong just gritted his teeth and stared at Chen Wujun, saying nothing.
Chen Wujun shrugged, opened the door and left, casually adding:
“Rest properly.”
“How’s big brother’s foot? So careless?” After leaving the room, Chen Wujun acted like a good younger brother again.
“The doctor said his ankle is badly injured, strained tendons and bones, at least two months to recover… Tomorrow I’ll get Aunt Liu to check him, see if he ran into something evil…” Huang Meizhen said worriedly.
Chen Hanliang also found it eerie—he got injured every time he went out, like something was targeting him—so he didn’t object.
“After Aunt Liu checks, I’ll go to Tian Hou Temple to pray and get a talisman.”
……
Over the next few days, Chen Wujun continued martial arts practice during the day and went to the martial arts school at night.
The Cold Steel Combat book at home had nearly been flipped to pieces by him.
He thought that if he had studied this hard in school, he wouldn’t have skipped high school.
But back then, those schoolbooks made him sleepy the moment he looked at them; he couldn’t keep his eyes open.
These martial arts books, however, he could immerse himself in completely, reading for hours.
Three days before the match, he finally stopped martial arts practice. He didn’t even go to A Yue’s, instead standing on the rooftop, staring blankly at the distant city center.
Two days before the match, Chen Wujun stood on the rooftop, extending five fingers and peering at the city center through the gaps, as if his palm could grasp it.
He felt he could do it, just needed some time.
His mobile phone rang. Chen Wujun answered and heard Sha Jiu’s voice: “Jun Zai, come downstairs! To Dongzheng Road.”
Chen Wujun went downstairs and out of the Walled City, where he saw Sha Jiu’s luxury car parked by the roadside.
“Senior Sister, where to?” Chen Wujun asked after getting in the car.
“Taking you to see the view! Have you ever looked down from Fei E Mountain?” Sha Jiu smiled, lit a cigarette, and tossed the cigarette case to Chen Wujun.
“No.” Chen Wujun lit a cigarette while speaking.
“Then you should.” Sha Jiu laughed.
The car drove to the parking lot on Za Shan Road. After they got out, a few people nearby were hiking and playing.
The two immediately drew lots of attention.
Chen Wujun had grown to 1.75 meters tall, his muscles straining his shirt, giving an impression full of explosive power.
Sha Jiu, though in flat shoes, was half a head taller than him. In suit pants and shirt, her legs looked even longer. Her short hair and the heroic air on her face made her look very dashing.
They followed the path all the way to the top of Fei E Mountain, where there was a protruding platform, a famous suicide spot.
The view here was extremely grand: Xiang Lu Peak ahead, the port and vast sea in the distance, overlooking half the city center below, with high-rises everywhere.
The entire East District 9 North Port area was within view.
Standing here, Chen Wujun felt his mind broaden, his spirits lifted. A mountain breeze blew, refreshing his heart.
“How is it? Nice view, right?” Sha Jiu looked at the scenery ahead and turned her head with a smile.
“Indeed spectacular.” Chen Wujun found himself lost for words beyond “spectacular.”
“East District 9 is like a chessboard in some people’s eyes. Those big shots are over there… manipulating this chessboard of East District 9.” Sha Jiu pointed at Xiang Lu Peak ahead, eyes narrowing slightly.
That was the core of East District 9 North Port, where the top people of East District 9, politicians and foreigner tycoons, all lived.
In East District 9, foreigners held the highest status.
Huayan people like them, whether in politics or otherwise, faced restrictions.
Even wealthy tycoons with vast fortunes had far less status and influence than those foreigner tycoons.
“The world is pretty unfair. They were born with everything—wealth, status. They turn their hands to clouds, cover them to rain, while to them we’re just struggling small fries, invisible even.”
“Even Xin Ye, those Dragon Heads, and those rich guys are mere ants in their eyes.”
“I often think… East District 9 is so big, there should be a place for me too!”
Sha Jiu spread her arms as if to embrace North Port ahead. Her meaning was clearly not East District 9, but Xiang Lu Peak opposite—she wanted to become a big shot, to control the chessboard.
“Senior Sister, you will!” Listening to Sha Jiu’s bold words, Chen Wujun felt a surge of ambition.
He felt there should be a place for him too.
“Of course!” Sha Jiu laughed heartily and patted Chen Wujun’s shoulder, then sat on the platform edge, hundreds of meters of drop below.
Chen Wujun stood there gazing into the distance.
Before, he had only seen that tiny patch of the Walled City, gazing afar from within it.
But standing here, his perspective broke out of the Walled City for the first time—not looking up from the Walled City rooftop as before, but overlooking East District 9’s city center.
The gambling duel two days away was just a small stumbling stone compared to all this.
After standing for a long time, Chen Wujun had an epiphany. His foot twisted and hooked into Azure Dragon Probing Claw stance, then moved nimbly. Each palm change made his sleeve snap in the air like wind-whipped flags.
Sha Jiu turned her head, smiling, eyes narrowed as she watched Chen Wujun practice punching.
With Chen Wujun’s movements, his Swimming Dragon Palm gradually revealed a fearless, all-conquering grandeur.
Chen Wujun practiced continuously for an hour before slowly stopping.
He didn’t speak, just stood there looking into the distance, occasionally practicing Swimming Dragon Palm again.
Gradually, Chen Wujun’s Swimming Dragon Palm turned that grandeur into a domineering “die if you block me.”
Until evening, when the two headed back.
“Senior Sister, you’ll definitely become a big shot!” Chen Wujun said as they walked.
I will too.
Sha Jiu grinned, revealing sharp teeth, her smile carrying a bloody edge.
“By the way, Jun Zai, did you hear a big player pressed twenty million on Yu Wei recently?” Sha Jiu suddenly asked.
“I heard, don’t know who. Do you, Senior Sister?” Chen Wujun said.
“Uncle Wu!” Sha Jiu said playfully.
“Looks like he thinks I killed Old Ghost Bing’s whole family!”
“Then he deserves to die. He’s so close to Old Ghost Bing, might as well go join him!” Chen Wujun narrowed his eyes and said matter-of-factly.
Sha Jiu’s eyes showed approval.
She brought Jun Zai here today hoping his mentality would break through before the gambling battle.
Jun Zai never disappointed her.
She liked Jun Zai’s mindset; it suited her perfectly.
Chen Wujun returned to the Walled City and went straight to the rooftop. But instead of gazing at the distant city center, he repeatedly practiced Swimming Dragon Palm on the rooftop, his eyes growing brighter, his aura stronger.
