The streets by the school way too quiet for late afternoon, honestly. You'd expect the usual chaos—kids yelling, bikes clattering, some dude hawking fried tofu from a cart. But nah, not today. Instead, the sun was sliding down behind those hulking high-rises, throwing these long, crooked shadows across the battered sidewalk. It was like the world was stretching out, waiting for something to happen. Li Wei hustled along, backpack bouncing off one shoulder, still replaying yesterday's basketball mess in his head on repeat. The jade pendant he wore pressed warm into his chest—a weirdly reassuring feeling, like, "Hey, buddy, you got something special cookin' inside now." Not your average after-school walk, let's just say.
A few paces back, Zhang Jie was basically stress-eating his own words, clutching his notebook like a life preserver and mumbling. "Wei… you sure this is the way? This alley's got, like, horror movie energy."
Li Wei didn't answer. The jade had his senses cranked up to eleven. Every little thing—the slap of distant footsteps, a plastic bag tumbling along, even the wind whistling between buildings—put him on edge. The city, usually buzzing, felt like it'd just taken a big ol' breath and was holding it. Creepy, man.
Then—bam. Trouble, right on cue.
Wu Jian showed up, leaning against a rusty railing like he belonged in a gangster flick, wearing this grin that just screamed "bad news." He had his usual two muscle-bound sidekicks in tow, looking ready to flatten someone for fun. The way they looked at Li Wei? Not friendly. He could practically feel the tension buzzing in the air. Things had definitely escalated—especially with Chen Guang's name in the mix. That guy didn't mess around.
"Looking for trouble, Wei?" Wu Jian called out, stepping up with that trademark smirk. His voice—man, it grated, all sharp and smug. "Chen Guang says you've been acting all big-shot lately. Showing off in front of the school. Maybe you need to get put in your place."
Zhang Jie totally froze, and you could almost see his nerves vibrating. "Uh… Wei… maybe we just turn around—" But before he could finish, Wu Jian lunged, grabbing Zhang's shoulder and spinning him around like he was nothing.
"No running this time, loser. Pay up. And forget about calling anyone for help. You're on your own here."
Li Wei's heart kicked up a gear. The jade got hotter, almost like it was alive. He moved in front of Zhang without a second thought, basically shielding him. The air between them felt thick, buzzing with energy. He could sense the jade pushing him—stay cool, stay sharp, don't let these guys rattle you.
"Let him go," Li Wei said, his voice steady. Not loud, not shaking. Just—solid. Like he meant business, but wasn't gonna start yelling about it.
Wu Jian just about cackled, the sound bouncing around the alley. "Or what? You're gonna stop me? You're just one kid. Two of us—nah, three. Show me what you got, tough guy."
Didn't even wait for an answer. Wu Jian swung at him, fist slicing through the air. But Li Wei? He just… moved. No hesitation, no panic. Sidestepped like it was nothing, the pendant's warmth guiding every muscle. Honestly, it felt like he'd been training for this moment his whole life, and he didn't even know it. Wu Jian's punch missed by a whisker, momentum carrying him forward.
The other two jumped in, trying to box Li Wei in. But he didn't lose his cool. He ducked and weaved, bouncing on his toes. Every time a fist came his way, he just blocked or redirected it—like he could see what was coming before it even happened. The jade's energy made it all feel easy, like riding a bike you never knew you could ride.
Zhang Jie's voice cracked from behind him—part awe, part panic. "Wei… dude… what are you even doing right now?!"
Li Wei kept his focus, eyes sharp. "I… don't know," he admitted, barely above a whisper. "But I'm not letting them hurt you. Or anyone."
Things got even messier after that. Wu Jian's attacks got wild, desperate—he was swinging at air more than anything else. Li Wei started noticing little details: the shift of a foot, a twitch in someone's shoulder, the split second before a punch. The jade felt like it was tuning him in to every move, helping him stay one step ahead.
Even with three guys coming at him, Li Wei wasn't getting tired. He took a couple hits, sure—bruises started blooming on his arms, his legs—but it barely registered. The jade was doing something, dulling the pain, keeping him springy. Every dodge, every counter just flowed, like he was dancing instead of fighting.
Wu Jian finally lost it. "What is this—how're you moving like that?!"
Li Wei just waited for the right moment. Wu Jian lunged again, reckless. Li Wei sidestepped—quick, light—and gave him a shove, sending him stumbling back into his own pals. They all nearly toppled over each other, and you could see it on their faces—they finally got it. Brute force wasn't gonna win this one.
One of the sidekicks even muttered, almost under his breath, "Man… you're not normal."
Li Wei didn't answer. He just stood there, breathing heavy, but feeling weirdly calm. The jade's warmth pulsed quietly, like it was proud or something. He glanced at Zhang Jie, who looked like he'd just seen someone pull off a magic trick. Li Wei offered a small, lopsided grin—yeah, things were changing. But for once, he didn't feel scared about it. Not one bit.