Years Earlier - Middle School
The classroom buzzed with pre-class chatter. Sunlight filtered through dirty windows, casting long shadows across worn desks.
"Li Ming, let's eat some bread." A bleached-haired boy sat on the back of another kid. The kid trembled from the weight but was helpless.
Li Ming turned to him. "Hey Jian-zi, you're here. You're going to have a new partner soon."
The kid kept quiet. The bleached-haired boy, Wang Jun, hopped off his back and approached Li Ming. "Are you talking about the transfer student coming today?"
Li Ming nodded. "Yeah. That fat bastard dropped out of school." He pointed at the kid. "This scrawny bastard is useless."
Wang Jun was surprised. "Fatty dropped out?! Damn! You shouldn't have been so hard on him. He was rich at least."
Li Ming waved his hand. "Don't worry. The transfer kid will make up for him."
Just then, the teacher entered the classroom followed by another kid. He had a buzz cut and looked like easy prey.
The teacher cleared his throat. "A new student came today. Say hello."
The transfer student introduced himself. One might assume him to be timid, but he was completely confident. "I am Hou Qing. I'm from Chongqing."
After his introduction, the teacher pointed at the seat next to the bullied kid. "A student dropped out. You can sit there."
Hou Qing nodded and approached the seat. He sat next to the bullied kid.
Time passed. Neither of them talked until lunch. The bullied kid finally broke the silence. "Hi... I'm Zhang Jian."
Hou Qing nodded. He leaned back against his chair and closed his eyes. Zhang Jian nudged him. "I-It's lunch time. Do you want to go to the cafeteria?"
Hou Qing didn't open his eyes. He just shook his head. "No, I'm fine."
Just then, a slap rang across the room. Hou Qing opened his eyes to find Zhang Jian's head pressed against the desk.
Li Ming asked Zhang Jian, "Are you excited to have a partner? Shut up and get me some food."
Zhang Jian looked up at Li Ming and nodded. "O-Okay." He got up from his seat and began to leave. Wang Jun kicked him in the ass. "Don't forget about me, scrawny bastard."
Li Ming chuckled. "Don't worry about that. The transfer kid will bring you food." He turned to Hou Qing. "Won't you?"
Hou Qing looked unbothered. "If you want an answer, then no. I won't."
Li Ming grabbed his collar. "Someone here doesn't know their position."
Wang Jun came to the side. "Should we teach him his first lesson?"
Hou Qing sighed. "Look, I know where this is going. But trust me, you won't like it when I get angry."
Li Ming and Wang Jun laughed. "That's a good bluff. Now stand up and bring us food like a good boy. Otherwise—" Li Ming raised his hand.
Hou Qing sighed. "I don't want to trouble brother, but I guess you guys won't budge until I teach you a lesson."
Li Ming slammed his hand at Hou Qing. "What did you say, bastard?!"
But suddenly he flew and crashed into a desk, blood flowing from his nose. Wang Jun was both scared and furious. He threw a punch at Hou Qing. "Bastard!"
Hou Qing tilted his head slightly and the punch passed by him. He grabbed Wang Jun's extended hand and threw rapid punches at his face. Blood smeared his fist, but he didn't stop until Wang Jun went limp. Then he cleaned his fist with Wang Jun's shirt before tossing him aside.
All the other kids in the class were horrified. But one kid wasn't. He had stars in his eyes as he looked at Hou Qing's back. At that time, Hou Qing's back looked extraordinary to him.
From that day on, everyone in the class avoided Hou Qing. He became the undisputed leader of the classroom. But he never abused or bullied anyone.
---
A long time passed. On the terrace of the school, Hou Qing leaned against the railing as he looked at the boy in front of him. It was Zhang Jian. Zhang Jian held bread and milk in his hands.
Hou Qing sighed. "I don't think I told you to bring this stuff for me."
Zhang Jian scratched his head and smiled. "I brought them for you willingly."
Hou Qing closed his eyes for a moment. "Tell me, what do you want? You've been buzzing around me all this time."
Zhang Jian immediately set the food aside and bowed toward Hou Qing. "Please teach me how to become strong like you!"
Hou Qing sighed. "Why would I do that?"
Zhang Jian looked up, confused. "You're strong. And you even saved me that day. Please teach me! You're my idol!"
Hou Qing looked slightly embarrassed. "Cough... Idol?"
Zhang Jian nodded. "Yes, you're my idol. I just want to become like you. Strong."
Hou Qing never had a friend in his whole life. Everyone was scared of him. And those who weren't were scared of his brother. So when he saw someone befriending him for the first time, he was reluctant but ultimately happy. "Well, I can teach you. But I'll beat you up if you quit midway."
Zhang Jian's eyes lit up and he nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! Thank you!"
That day, both Zhang Jian and Hou Qing made their first friends. Though both lived opposite lifestyles, their friendship was one of a kind.
---
Few Years Later - High School
Several guys lay around them. Desks and tables were broken. Zhang Jian breathed heavily. "These third year guys weren't so strong after all."
Hou Qing sighed. "I don't understand. Why is there always trouble wherever we go?"
Zhang Jian smiled as he handed a tissue to Hou Qing. "The strong attract trouble. When an elephant walks through the road, it's normal for dogs to bark."
Hou Qing took the tissue and cleaned his fist. "It seems we've come a long way."
Zhang Jian chuckled. "I've grown stronger now."
Hou Qing chopped him on his head. "You're still weak."
Zhang Jian covered his head. "Damn, you bastard! It hurts."
Hou Qing smiled. "You're even cursing me now."
Zhang Jian snorted. "You're the one I learned from."
Hou Qing laughed. "Is that so? I guess I've been a bad influence on you. Let's pack up. I have to go home early. My brother will be coming home today."
Zhang Jian nodded. "By the way, who is this brother of yours? I've never seen him with you."
Hou Qing stopped in his tracks. A memory flashed through his eyes. A tall and broad back standing before two bodies. Blood flowed from the bodies. One might find this memory horrifying, but to Hou Qing, his brother was his protector. The man who pushed himself into hell to pull Hou Qing out.
His brother turned to him, blood on his knuckles, breathing hard. "Don't worry, Qing. I'll handle this."
Hou Qing smiled at the memory. "My brother has been busy all this time. Today, he'll finally return."
Zhang Jian raised his eyebrow. "What brother is so busy that he couldn't meet his brother all these years?"
Hou Qing slung his arm around Zhang Jian's neck. "You won't understand. Let's leave now."
They walked together through the broken classroom, stepping over groaning students. Zhang Jian kicked one aside casually. "Hey, when your brother comes back, can I meet him? I want to see what kind of person raised someone like you."
Hou Qing was silent for a moment. "Maybe."
---
Present Day - T Group Headquarter
Hou Qing looked down at Zhang Jian's broken body. His oldest friend. His first friend. The person who saw a friend in him when everyone else avoided him like a plague.
His jaw tightened. His fists clenched. Rage burned in his chest.
Zhang Jian had followed him into the Red Dragon. Had walked beside him through blood and violence. Had never once questioned. Had never once abandoned him.
And now he lay broken because Hou Qing wasn't there to protect him.
He had failed.
Hou Qing stepped forward. His footsteps were slow. Each one echoed through the ballroom.
He stopped ten feet away. He looked Baki directly in the eyes.
"I should have personally killed you," Hou Qing said. His voice was quiet. "You have no idea what you've done."
Baki smiled. "You're making me seem like the villain."
Hou Qing closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, his body was already in front of Baki, his fist raised in a punching motion.
A wide grin appeared on Baki's face. He also raised his fist.
Their fists collided.
The shockwave exploded outward. The floor cracked beneath them.
Both men were pushed back. Hou Qing slid several feet. Baki stumbled once but held his ground.
"I'm addicted to this feeling," Baki said. He grinned wider.
Hou Qing didn't respond. He stepped forward and threw a rapid series of punches. Left, right, left, right. Each one aimed at Baki's face and chest.
Baki blocked the first two with his forearms. He weaved under the third. The fourth grazed his shoulder. Hou Qing followed with an uppercut. Baki leaned back just enough. The fist passed inches from his chin.
Hou Qing kept pressing. He threw another combination. Three punches, then he cupped his hands together and slammed them down toward Baki's head.
Baki rolled to the side. The double-fist strike hit the ground. The marble cracked. Chunks flew up.
Baki countered immediately. He delivered a jumping uppercut that caught Hou Qing under the jaw. Hou Qing's head snapped back. Baki followed with a second uppercut while still in the air. This one hit Hou Qing's chest.
Hou Qing was lifted off his feet. He flew backward but twisted in midair and landed on his feet, sliding back.
"Even after all this time, he's this strong?" Hou Qing muttered.
He stepped forward and delivered a soccer kick aimed at Baki's midsection. Baki caught his leg with both hands. Hou Qing immediately jumped with his other leg and delivered a knee strike to Baki's face.
Blood burst from Baki's nose. His grip loosened. Hou Qing followed with a high kick while still airborne. The kick connected with Baki's temple.
Baki stumbled. Hou Qing landed and immediately grabbed him by the collar. He pulled Baki forward and delivered a headbutt. Their foreheads collided with a crack.
Baki's eyes glinted green for a moment. Hou Qing pulled him over his shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
The floor shattered on impact. Dust rose up.
Baki seemed completely fine. He rolled away as Hou Qing tried to stomp on him. He pushed himself up quickly.
"This is fun," Baki said. He wiped blood from his nose. "Let's play more!"
Hou Qing said nothing. He charged forward.
Baki met his charge. He delivered a high roundhouse kick to Hou Qing's head. Hou Qing raised his arm to block. The kick hit his forearm with tremendous force. Hou Qing slid back.
Baki followed immediately with a crescent kick. Hou Qing ducked under it. He delivered two quick punches to Baki's ribs. Both connected. Baki grunted.
Hou Qing grabbed Baki and pulled him close. He delivered two knee strikes to Baki's midsection. Then he flipped Baki over his shoulder. Baki crashed onto his back.
But Baki immediately rolled backward and came up in a fighting stance.
He rushed forward suddenly. His movement was fast. He delivered an overhead axe kick. Hou Qing crossed his arms above his head to block. The heel hit his forearms. The force drove Hou Qing down slightly.
Baki's heel came down again in the same motion. It hit Hou Qing a second time. Hou Qing's knees bent from the impact.
Baki jumped back and delivered a long roundhouse kick. Hou Qing swayed to the side to avoid it. Baki followed with a second roundhouse. Hou Qing swayed again. Baki threw a third roundhouse kick. This one caught Hou Qing on the shoulder.
Hou Qing stumbled. Baki pressed forward. He delivered a punch to Hou Qing's chest. The punch sank deep. Hou Qing gasped. Baki followed with an uppercut to the chin. Hou Qing was launched into the air.
But while airborne, Hou Qing twisted his body. He came down with both fists cupped together. The double-fist strike aimed at Baki's head.
Baki raised both arms to block. The strike hit his guard. The force drove him down. His feet dug into the floor.
Hou Qing landed and immediately threw a spinning hook. Baki leaned back. The punch missed by inches. Hou Qing continued with a stomach blow. This one connected. Baki doubled over slightly.
Hou Qing delivered a punch to the jaw. Baki's head snapped back. Hou Qing spun and threw another punch with all his power. It hit Baki square in the face.
Baki flew backward and crashed into a pillar.
Li Xiu watched from the side. She took another sip of her drink. "My, my. This one is much better."
Baki pushed himself off the pillar. Blood ran down his face. He stood there for a moment. His body was covered in cuts and bruises. The knife wound in his gut still bled.
Then something changed. Death Concentration—thanks to this ability, Baki Hanma was able to boost his body's reflexes. For the first time, he experienced this when he fought against King.
"I haven't had to do this in a while," Baki said quietly.
Hou Qing felt something wrong. The air around Baki had changed. He charged forward immediately.
He threw a punch at Baki's face. From Baki's perspective, Hou Qing looked slow. Baki moved his head slightly. The punch missed. Hou Qing threw another. Baki shifted. The punch passed by his ear.
Hou Qing threw a rapid combination. Left, right, left, right. Baki moved with minimal effort. Each punch missed by inches.
Hou Qing stepped back. "What the hell?"
Baki rushed forward. He delivered a punch to Hou Qing's chest. Hou Qing raised his arm to block. The punch hit his guard. The force was tremendous. Hou Qing slid back several feet.
Baki followed immediately. He delivered an uppercut. Hou Qing leaned back. The fist grazed his chin. Baki followed with a roundhouse kick. Hou Qing blocked with his forearm. The impact made his arm go numb.
Baki didn't stop. He delivered another roundhouse. Then another. Then another. Three kicks in rapid succession. All three hit Hou Qing. The last one sent him stumbling.
Hou Qing tried to counter. He threw a hook. Baki's body swayed. The punch missed. Hou Qing threw an uppercut. Baki tilted his head. The punch passed by.
Baki's fist came up. It hit Hou Qing's jaw. Hou Qing's head snapped back. Before he could recover, Baki delivered a second punch to his chest. Then a knee strike to his midsection.
Hou Qing doubled over. Baki grabbed him and delivered two knee strikes to his face. Blood exploded from Hou Qing's nose. Baki kicked him away.
Hou Qing flew back and crashed into a table. The table shattered. He rolled through the debris and came up on his feet.
He wiped blood from his face. "What did you do?"
"Boring question. Let's continue our fight," Baki said calmly.
Hou Qing gritted his teeth. Blood dripped from his nose and mouth. His breathing was heavy. But his eyes showed no fear. Only determination.
He rushed forward again.