Chapter 21: Metamorphosis

  Qiao Yuncai's mouth was agape, unable to speak for a long time. He didn't expect that Zhao Heng not only had superb martial arts skills but also played computer like a master. Song Qingguan was even more excited, originally having a natural talent for computers since childhood, he was enough to look down on many so-called hackers in Huahai, and the fact proved it.

  But compared to Zhao Heng, Song Qing felt a gap.

  He wanted to thank and ask questions, but Zhao Heng waved his hand and let the two take a bath and sleep. Song Qingguan had several words on the tip of his tongue, but he held back, thinking that there would be plenty of time in the future. As for Zhao Heng lying in bed, he couldn't help but sigh, never expecting so many things to happen as soon as they left Lujiazhuang - not only did a heroic dog rescue a beauty, but also got entangled in a complicated web of gratitude and resentment.

  But he never regretted what he did, and was always willing to lend a helping hand to those who were weak!

  Perhaps it was the shock of exhaustion, or perhaps it was the sense of security brought by Zhao Heng, but after washing up, Song Qingguan fell asleep on the bed, snoring loudly. Before falling asleep, he didn't forget to thank Zhao Heng again and again for his help. Only those who have experienced life-and-death difficulties can understand the preciousness of someone lending a helping hand.

  Qiao Pangzi was already fast asleep, looking quite relieved; Zhao Heng remained slightly awake, glancing at the doors and windows before falling asleep. Although the school was safe, his nerves were still on edge, after all, in these times, being cautious could keep you safe for a thousand years, otherwise, it would be easy to get knocked down and sink into the Huangpu River.

  Nothing happened overnight.

  At half past five the next morning, the two were still sleeping, but Zhao Heng had already gotten up to wash and exercise. He didn't wake them up too early, planning to go out for a run first, after all, he couldn't forget his daily intense training. He didn't bring the two with him because Qiao Yuncai and Song Qingguan's physical condition was different from his own, making it difficult for them to withstand high-intensity exercise.

  He locked the dormitory door tightly and handed over two catties of snacks to the administrator on the first floor, asking him to pay attention to the movements of 701. He left a phone number before leaving the dormitory with peace of mind. Although Uncle Feng said he no longer needed to train as hard as before, Zhao Heng still insisted on getting up early to exercise.

  The sky is still dark, and the light is a bit blurry.

  ZHAO Heng wore a loose-fitting white sportswear, first jogging two laps on the small roads in the campus. His running route was different from others, always choosing to jump on the rugged cobblestone road. After warming up his body, ZHAO Heng rushed out of the school gate and looked at the signpost preparing for a 20-kilometer urban cross-country run.

  The morning mist was like a thin gauze, carrying the refreshing moisture, sweeping through the roads and buildings, the lush green grass by the roadside condensed with sparkling dew drops, making it even more vibrant and refreshing. Everything indicated that the morning was beautiful. Zhao Heng left school at his own pace and then ran towards the distance.

  With steady footsteps and even breathing, he exuded a youthful vitality.

  Just as he was passing through an intersection, a domestically-made Panda car waiting for the red light in the same direction rolled down its black window and poked out its head to gaze at Zhao Heng who was gradually moving further away, muttering to itself: "I didn't expect this kid still had the habit of morning exercise, it's really rare, he's indeed a good sapling."

  A man with a buzz cut pulled out a cigarette and lit it, but didn't light it up. He then let out a soft sigh towards the front: "Although this guy only met Du Ziyuan briefly, who knows if he won't win her heart in the future? Should I continue to get in touch with this kid? Maybe I can get news from the Du family through him?"

  "A newborn with some physical strength doesn't need to worry."

  After his voice fell, a fiery sunglasses woman with a good figure stood up from the co-pilot seat, and a hint of disdain was drawn at the corner of her mouth: "That day, I didn't investigate clearly and thought he was Du Ziyuan's acquaintance, so I let you stare at him. Now that it's clear, he's just a freshman, and all his experiences can withstand scrutiny."

  The woman's fingers tapped against her long legs, a faint smile on her face: "Why waste your time on him? Do you really think Snow White would fall in love with a dwarf? The Du family is the real dragon head of Huahai, and Zhao Heng is a phoenix man who flew out of the mountain village. Everyone's path is different, how can they intersect?"

  "Yes, with different paths, how can there be an intersection?"

  "How can there be an intersection?"

  "Are you thinking of her again?"

  The girl's fingers paused slightly as she tapped, her voice flat: "Don't think about it anymore, so many years have passed, and thinking about it again is just a beautiful misunderstanding. Your identity has destined you to make sacrifices, cherish the present and do your own thing well! Start your panda (car), take me to the riverbank 20 kilometers away."

  The man woke up and stepped on the accelerator, roaring away.

  Although there were no pedestrians in the early morning, there were still many vehicles whizzing by, but for Zhao Heng who was running forward on the road, it didn't pose any obstacles. He ran quickly and effortlessly on the road, occasionally taking a deep breath and then exhaling slowly, allowing his heart to clear up with each breath like a mirror, relieving fatigue.

  Exercising is actually addictive. People who have been exercising for years, if they don't exercise one day, will feel stiff and unexpanded in their muscles and bones, it's an inexplicable awkwardness and discomfort. After exercising, the blood flows smoothly, the spirit is refreshed, fatigue is gone, and the entire mental outlook is renewed.

  Zhao Heng was one of those people who got more spirited the more he ran, dashing through main streets and alleys, weaving in and out of stationary vehicles. Then Zhao Heng embarked on the final stretch along the riverbank, by which time he had already run over ten kilometers, his body fully stretched out, with only two kilometers left to go, now a pure enjoyment, as he strolled leisurely along the riverside.

  As he stepped over a threshold, a panda car screeched to a halt in the distance.

  "My god! What the...!"

  It was still the young man waiting for the red light, looking at Zhao Heng who was greeting the sunrise not far away. His eyes scanned over the time on the car and revealed a hint of shock: "Twenty kilometers in half an hour? Ten minutes faster than our off-road speed! What kind of person is this kid? Running so mysteriously?"

  Professional athletes run twenty kilometers in fifty minutes.

  The woman in the passenger seat also looked surprised, she was very clear that from Huahai University to the riverbank, even if taking a shortcut, there were still eighteen kilometers away. This kid actually ran it in more than half an hour, this speed could knock down the world long-distance running champion. She smiled wryly and replied: "He probably hitched a ride!"

  The man with a buzz cut pulled out another cigarette, his eyes calm:

  "Do you think he might be hitchhiking?"

  Zhao Heng was wearing a tracksuit with no pockets, and it was easy for them to tell that he had no money on him. The woman let out a long sigh, then turned her head and said: "Let's not bother with him for now, even if he runs fast, it has nothing to do with us. Get off here, you can take the next few days off to rest."

  "Hmm!"

  The man with a buzz cut put down the woman with sunglasses and slowly calmed his emotions. When he looked up to find Zhao Heng again, he found that the kid had already disappeared. He was slightly stunned and looked around but didn't see him anywhere. He sighed and shook his head, but as he prepared to back out of the parking space and go home, his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

  He shifted gears, stepped on the gas and headed towards Hua Hai University.

  More than half an hour later, the inch-headed man who had just parked his car in front of the hospital opposite Hua Hai University hadn't even pulled out the key when he saw a figure running over from afar. At a glance, he immediately realized it was Zhao Heng, whom he had seen by the river. The latter was jumping over two flights of stairs with a relaxed face and then rushed towards the campus in a leisurely manner.

  The bald-headed man stared with his mouth agape: "This kid... is too perverted."

  Then he made a decision for himself: to get to know Zhao Heng! This kid was worth getting to know, just as he was about to turn the car around, several people rushed out of a nearby hospital and ran to the side of the panda car, one of them staring at Zhao Heng with wide eyes, then shouting to the man in the middle: "Fei Hu Ge, it's that kid!"

  "It was the kid on the train who hurt us, he's a student at Hua Hai University."

  The man in the middle took two steps forward, opened his eyes, and clenched his fists slightly, making a cracking sound: "It's really his back, good! Good! As long as we have this kid's whereabouts, let's hurry up and report to Master Zhang, and let him find a few good hands to take down this kid. Since the establishment of our Qing Bang, we haven't been humiliated like that night."

  "Hurt people, rob money, rob things, bandits..."

  The Flying Tiger brother, whose left hand was wrapped in gauze, let out a low growl of anger and frustration, and kicked the Panda car with a fierce expression. He then led several brothers who had been lying down for a day to leave with an air of killing intent. After they got into a van and left the hospital, Jiang Changlong slowly rolled down the window, and a hint of a smile flashed across his mouth as he said:

  "Who would have thought that the renowned Qing Bang also suffered a loss at the hands of that young whippersnapper."

  He tapped his fingers on the armrest and muttered to himself: "Perhaps I should give him a reminder."