Kiryu Kazuma had gained a new understanding of this status tag system.
It wasn't just experiences from this life that shaped it—memories and emotions from his previous life could also cross time and space to influence it.
That thought made him suddenly remember his past self.
Just like the lyrics in that old Zheng Zhihua song:
"Learning to tell lies, chasing fame and fortune...
Lost in reality, only realizing your weakness after the fact, needing alcohol to fall asleep."
Before becoming that kind of so-called "adult," Kazuma had once been a boy with a pure, passionate heart.
That passion still burned deep within him, hidden but alive.
If Kazuma could've chosen when and where to reincarnate, he would've picked sixty years earlier, landing on the soil of Huaxia.
In his past life, there was always one question he'd never been able to answer: If I had gone back in time, faced enemy bayonets and brutal torture, would I have held strong?
Under those extreme conditions, would I have become a hero… or broken, becoming a traitor, a collaborator?
By age thirty, he no longer had the confidence to answer "I would definitely be a hero."
But now—seventeen years old, with the wisdom of two lifetimes—Kazuma was certain.
He would become a hero.
And just knowing that… was enough to fill him with excitement.
Even more thrilling was this:
Every failure, frustration, regret, and lost dream he'd experienced before—under this world's system—would now become his strength.
The moments when he had been lost in reality… the dreams he'd been forced to abandon… all of it was now nourishment for his soul.
If the Kazuma of today were transported sixty years into the past, he would undoubtedly become a legend.
Unfortunately, he didn't get to choose when or where he reincarnated.
He had to make the most of his life, here and now, in a foreign land in 1980.
And right now, he was unleashing that strength without holding back—pressuring the formidable Nanjo Hiroshi!
Kazuma's gaze flicked to the status tag floating over Nanjo Hiroshi's head.
Yet… there was no further change.
—Strange. My "spiritual pressure" is practically overflowing. Why isn't it working? Am I approaching this the wrong way?
Meanwhile—just one thin wall away—Nanjo Masahito and the Asakura father and son were eavesdropping on the hallway conversation.
The Matsunoya building was constructed in a traditional Japanese style. One hallmark of such architecture was the lack of true interior walls—only the outer perimeter had solid walls, while the inner space was open, with rooms separated only by pillars and sliding paper doors.
In fact, the walls themselves were doors. If they wished, Nanjo Masahito and the Asakuras could simply slide them open and directly enter the corridor where Kazuma and Nanjo Hiroshi were facing off.
Nanjo Masahito nearly burst out laughing at what he overheard.
"Such naive, idealistic nonsense. And my daughter actually fell for this kind of man."
"Exactly," Asakura Yasuzumi chimed in. "Even if everything he's bragging about were true, at most he's just a stronger-than-average thug. Crushing him would be no harder than squashing a bug.
"Looks like Sumitomo Construction can't handle him either. If you'll permit it, Father, give me three days—I'll strip him of that dojo's ownership and send his whole family packing to Hokkaido. Let them cozy up with the bears!"
The elder Asakura—Diet Member Asakura Yasuhiko—sat with arms crossed, silent.
"Father?" Yasuzumi asked in confusion. "Just give the word—"
"Have you forgotten how I taught you?" Asakura Yasuhiko said coldly, shooting his son a sharp glance. "Watch carefully. Listen carefully."
Nanjo Masahito's gaze lingered on the elder Asakura's profile, his brows faintly furrowed.
—No. No way...
He shook off the sudden, troubling thought.
This is Asakura-sama. There's no way he'd be swayed by such childish words.
He must simply be displeased. I should say something to lighten the mood.
So Nanjo Masahito spoke up.
"Father, why waste time? Shall we just have the bodyguards toss them out? Better yet, let's head back inside and have the geisha perform a few songs for us."
But Asakura Yasuhiko shook his head. "No, this is fine. I'm rather enjoying the show."
This time, Nanjo Masahito's brows knitted together fully.
Back in the corridor, Kazuma decided to switch tactics.
He shook his head at Nanjo Hiroshi. "What a shame. You once possessed that same fiery spirit! But now you've long forgotten the ideals you once held."
"Don't act like you know my past!" Nanjo Hiroshi finally spoke. "You probably read some garbage about me in one of those cheesy 'success story' magazines."
"I've never touched that stuff!" Kazuma shot back. He genuinely hadn't read any of Japan's inspirational fluff—but he had gulped down plenty of such content in his past life.
Pointing behind him at old man Suzuki, Kazuma continued:
"My understanding of your past comes from Grandpa Suzuki here!
Compared to you, his heart remains pure. He still cherishes the hardships you once faced together!
"When he sought me out, he said… he asked me to awaken the sleeping dragon of the Nanjo family—"
Kazuma glanced again at the status tag above Nanjo Hiroshi. Yes—the tag was starting to react!
"When I first heard that request, I was completely panicked." Kazuma thumped his chest. "I'm no psychologist! I don't know how to unlock someone's emotional barriers! I didn't even understand why he entrusted this to me—why he had such expectations of me!
"The main reason I came here is because I heard from Grandpa Suzuki that my student was about to be pushed to the brink by your family! I couldn't stand by and do nothing!
"All this talk—this whole speech of mine—it's just because you disappointed me, Nanjo Hiroshi! I expected better of you, and I just needed to vent!"
As Kazuma spoke, the status tag above the old man's head began glowing brighter. The text now shimmered like fish scales—at any moment, it looked ready to morph into a miniature dragon and take flight!
Incidentally, the tag had originally featured bat-like wings reminiscent of a Western dragon—but now those wings had shriveled and vanished.
Almost there. Just one last push!
Kazuma was about to deliver that final blow when an angry roar came from behind him.
"Hiroshi! How long do you plan to stay muddle-headed?!" Grandpa Suzuki bellowed.
And right before Kazuma's eyes—the status tag exploded.
It.
Exploded.
It really exploded!
Grandpa Suzuki's voice rang out again.
"Even if the entire Nanjo Conglomerate collapses—we can rebuild from scratch! We can start the Hojo Conglomerate instead!
Don't you remember? As long as we work together, there's nothing we can't accomplish! The way you are now—Eriko will be crying in her grave!"
Kazuma's eyes remained locked on the space above Nanjo Hiroshi's head. From the flames of destruction, a new status tag emerged—reborn.
Phoenix of Rebirth.
...Wait.
Where'd the dragon go?
Did it turn into a roast chicken just because it was reborn through fire?!
(End of Chapter)