Chapter 82: Eighteen—The Age of Blossoms

For reasons unknown, the gene warriors shivered involuntarily as they saw Tang Shen’s smile once more. An inexplicable sense of fear rose within their hearts—a real, genuine fear of a high school student.

Recalling the events and connecting them to Tang Shen’s words, they could not help but see the cause and effect clearly. In truth, they knew of Liu Xin’s problem; they had heard Liu Xin insult Tang Shen but had simply pretended not to. As fellow gene warriors, their attitude toward ordinary people was much like that of giants gazing down at ants, as if from another plane entirely; they hardly paid them any mind.

But now, a chill crept up their spines, icy terror stabbing at the backs of their heads. They realized everything had unfolded according to Tang Shen’s calculations. From beginning to end, Tang Shen had played the part of the weak, the victim.

Gene warriors had their own rules—even though they stood above ordinary people, order dictated that they could not kill wantonly. If they did, those on a higher level would mete out punishment.

Liu Xin had been the first to provoke, to insult, the first to harbor killing intent and to strike, and he had aimed to kill. In other words, Liu Xin died a miserable death, but it was entirely his own fault. Even if the Investigation Bureau arrived, they would find no trouble with Tang Shen.

“Of course.”

“Of course, we can testify.”

“We all saw it clearly—he made the first move.”

In an instant, the gene warriors grasped the sequence of events. They surrendered decisively, plastering their faces with smiles, as submissive as they could possibly be.

It seemed absurd, yet it happened right here. Who could have imagined that an experienced gene warrior would be crushed—no, stomped to death—by a high school student who had not yet awakened? A one-sided annihilation!

Some among them were even weaker than Liu Xin—who would dare step forward and provoke this harbinger of calamity?

They had never seen anyone, barely eighteen, an ordinary youth not yet awakened, calmly crush a gene warrior’s skull underfoot with a smile, then turn to ask if they would testify for him.

Cold-blooded! Scheming! Brutal! Terrifying! Profound!

These words flashed through their minds, each a descriptor for the youth before them. They could almost see the shadow of a formidable power rising.

Which strong one has not killed? Which strong one has not climbed atop a mountain of corpses?

The question: Who would offend a future super-power?

Moreover, this “powerful one” was already stronger than they were. They murmured internally that even if they joined forces, they might not prevail.

So, a person must read the situation. When the time comes to yield, yield. Better yet, make friends. Yes, make friends—at least leave no bad impression.

One tall and thin gene warrior spoke up immediately: “I never liked Liu Xin. He had problems for years, got cheated on, and now blames others. He deserved to die!”

The other three gene warriors cursed inwardly. He had beaten them to the punch. Normally he seemed cold, but now his flattery was faster than theirs.

They hurried to follow suit.

“Yes, yes, exactly—Liu Xin deserved to die, he was mentally unstable anyway.”

“You did well, sir! Look at him, ugly as sin, and wouldn’t let people speak the truth, shameless.”

“That’s right! You did the right thing, sir, I wanted to applaud. You weren’t wrong at all—when the Investigation Bureau arrives, I’ll testify for you, just for the record.”

“I’ll testify for you too.”

“So will I.”

“So will I.”

...

In the entire gymnasium, apart from these four gene warriors, there was silence. Everyone’s necks seemed gripped by invisible hands, staring dumbly at the scene before them.

Had anyone ever seen four gene warriors groveling and flattering a mere ordinary person? And just moments ago, this “ordinary” person had crushed a gene warrior’s skull beneath his heel.

Had anyone witnessed such a spectacle—four gene warriors fawning over a student?

Now, all the faculty and students in the gym could boast: We’ve seen it with our own eyes, and we know that student—and he has no background at all, save for his stunning looks and stellar grades.

Events a student would never even dream of were now unfolding before their eyes.

The lofty image of gene warriors shattered completely, along with these four cowards who knew when to grovel.

Those who had envied Tang Shen, waiting to see him humiliated, no longer dared to mock him. Especially those who thought Tang Shen was merely a pretty boy—their heads hung low. Each time their eyes strayed to the headless corpse and the exploded skull on the platform, their stomachs churned and twisted.

Many students had long wanted to vomit, but none dared make a sound.

Bai Xue, who was always treated with respect by gene warriors at home because she was the eldest daughter of the Bai family, now found herself in a situation that defied understanding.

Whoosh!

A figure darted from outside the gym, appearing at Bai Xue’s side, dressed like a character from The Matrix, his face full of deference: “Miss, I’m here! What do you need me to do?”

Bai Xue’s expression was complicated as she glanced at Tang Shen’s back. She had thought she understood him, but now she realized she never had.

She took a deep breath and spoke softly, “It’s fine. Just stand aside for now.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

The gene warrior, who doubled as driver and bodyguard, retreated with a puzzled look, casting a curious glance at the cold corpse on the platform—it seemed vaguely familiar, but he did not concern himself with it. Bai Xue’s call had seemed urgent, unlike her usual self. He had thought she was in danger, but the scene was entirely unexpected.

Bai Xue’s feelings were tangled. She hardly recognized Tang Shen, yet felt a surge of excitement.

What girl does not idolize the strong?

She idolized strength too. She had resolved to say those words to Tang Shen, partly because he had bested her for three years, partly because she desperately hoped he would awaken, proving she had not misjudged him.

Of course, selfishness played a role—she did not want to let go of the beauty of that first stirring of the heart.

When is the best time in life?

The answer: at eighteen.

When is the best time for love?

The answer: at eighteen.

When is the most impulsive age?

The answer: at eighteen.

When is the most rebellious age?

The answer: at eighteen.

Is there any time more beautiful than eighteen? How many times can one act on impulse in life? How many times can one dare to love and hate with abandon?