After a night of rest, Xia Tian woke up feeling completely rejuvenated. It was only six o'clock, and he planned to go for a morning run before heading to school. After changing into a loose tracksuit, he went downstairs.
His cousin and the girl next door were still asleep.
Ever since the necklace's treatment, Xia Tian felt his body had become lighter and stronger. Before, he could barely manage twenty push-ups, but this morning he did a hundred in a row without any sign of fatigue.
When he arrived at a park not far from his home, Xia Tian began his warm-up exercises. To his surprise, every movement felt effortless—no exercise seemed difficult anymore.
Just then, he noticed an old man in the distance watching him.
When their eyes met, the old man smiled faintly and nodded. Xia Tian nodded back politely and continued exercising.
"Young man, you're in great shape. Were you in the military?" the old man asked as he walked over.
"No, I'm only nineteen," Xia Tian replied, continuing his movements.
"It's rare to see such good physical condition without military training," the old man praised, nodding approvingly. Then, he began practicing Tai Chi beside Xia Tian. The old man's movements were slow but gave off a mysterious aura.
"Young man, how about a spar?" the old man asked suddenly.
"I'd rather not," Xia Tian said. He knew his body had grown much stronger, and if he really sparred with the old man, he might accidentally hurt him.
"What's wrong? Afraid of hurting me?" The old man smiled, then lightly kicked a stone pier beside him. The heavy stone—easily over a hundred pounds—slid five or six meters across the ground.
Xia Tian was stunned. That was definitely not something an ordinary person could do.
He had heard legends about "Martial Forest" masters before, but he had always dismissed them as fiction. Yet the man standing before him was clearly one of them.
Then again, if Xia Tian's eyes could use Clairvoyance, perhaps nothing was impossible.
He had never fought anyone before, not even once. Now that he had finally met a real Martial Forest master, his hands itched with excitement.
"Please enlighten me, Senior," Xia Tian said respectfully.
"Good—neither arrogant nor impatient. That's rare," the old man said with a satisfied nod, taking his stance.
Xia Tian didn't know any martial arts, so he simply threw a straightforward punch. The old man didn't move his feet at all; he merely pushed lightly with his hands, sending Xia Tian flying. Caught off guard, Xia Tian twisted midair and landed neatly on his feet with a somersault.
"What agile movement," the old man praised.
Xia Tian no longer dared to underestimate him. The old man hadn't even taken a step, yet he had effortlessly deflected his attack.
This time, Xia Tian feinted, then aimed low. But the old man saw through it instantly—his right foot intercepted the sweep, his right hand grabbed Xia Tian's arm, and with a smooth motion he flipped Xia Tian over his shoulder.
"So powerful," Xia Tian muttered, supporting himself with one hand as he rolled to his feet. "It's like he has no weaknesses—no matter where I strike, he can counter perfectly."
Just then, Xia Tian's Clairvoyance activated automatically. Countless trajectory lines appeared in his vision—paths predicting the old man's movements. Seeing them, Xia Tian's eyes lit up. He threw a punch directly into one of the blind spots, forcing the old man to retreat.
More trajectories appeared in his mind. When the old man's Tai Chi remained still, it was nearly flawless; but once he moved, more openings emerged.
Xia Tian seized the moment and launched a rapid series of attacks. The old man found himself constantly forced back, unable to counter.
"No more, no more," the old man said hurriedly, raising his hands. Xia Tian immediately stopped.
Xia Tian felt exhilarated. Sparring with the old man had been incredibly satisfying. Even without martial arts training, his Clairvoyance had allowed him to perceive weaknesses that others couldn't see.
The old man, meanwhile, was astonished. He knew his Tai Chi well—though he wasn't a true Martial Forest master, even several trained soldiers together couldn't touch him. Yet this young man, clearly untrained, had broken through his defense.
"Young man, what's your name?" the old man asked.
"My name is Xia Tian."
"Xia Tian—very good. You can call me Fan Lao. I wonder, how did you manage to break my Tai Chi just now?" Fan Lao asked curiously. At first, Xia Tian had seemed ordinary, but later his every strike had found a weak point.
"I was just lucky, purely by coincidence. If we sparred again, I wouldn't be able to take even one move," Xia Tian said modestly, unwilling to mention his Clairvoyance.
"Talented and humble—a good combination," Fan Lao said, nodding in approval. "I know my own abilities well. If you ever have the time, visit Green Forest Manor. Just say you're looking for Fan Lao."
"Thank you, Senior. I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."
After leaving the park, Xia Tian ate breakfast at a nearby diner, then bought two portions for his cousin and her friend. When he returned home, as expected, they were still asleep. He left the food in the living room, changed his clothes, and headed to school.
Xia Tian attended Jianghai High School, the top school in Jianghai City. He had been admitted purely on his own merit, and his grades were consistently among the top ten in his year.
With the college entrance examination only twelve days away—and after missing half a month of school—he went to report to his homeroom teacher. Because Xia Tian had always been an excellent student, the teacher didn't make things difficult for him and allowed him to return to class.
At this stage, most teachers no longer supervised students closely. Classes were mainly for self-study and mock exams.
When Xia Tian entered the classroom, he immediately noticed Wen Ya, the class's study committee member—and his ex-girlfriend. He had never understood why she had chosen to be with Xu Shaocong, that spoiled rich kid.
But that was all in the past. Wen Ya had broken up with him long ago. She noticed Xia Tian's return as well. After their breakup, Xia Tian had disappeared, and Wen Ya had felt guilty, even fearing that something might have happened to him. Seeing him now, safe and well, she felt relieved.
She came from a poor family. When she first met Xia Tian, she believed that if they worked hard together, they could build a better life. But then she met Xu Shaocong—and came to understand the power of money. Even if she and Xia Tian worked tirelessly for a lifetime, it couldn't match Xu Shaocong's annual spending.
She had never lived a life of luxury before, but now she was enjoying it. Studying hard and finding a decent job suddenly seemed meaningless. Xu Shaocong could easily arrange a high-paying position for her, and she could earn tens of thousands a month.
Once she married him, she would be set for life. Her parents wouldn't have to toil anymore, and even her younger brother's future would be secure.
For all that, she had chosen to leave Xia Tian. Though he had treated her well and worked hard, he simply couldn't give her what she wanted.
Xia Tian no longer dwelled on her. He knew their paths had diverged completely.
"Wen Ya, look what I brought you—French breakfast," someone called as they entered the classroom. It was Xu Shaocong, carrying a luxurious meal. He placed it on Wen Ya's desk, then caught sight of Xia Tian.
"Oh, isn't this Xia Tian? I thought you'd killed yourself over lost love," Xu Shaocong sneered.
"Shaocong, stop talking," Wen Ya said quietly.
"Hmph. Can't even keep his own girlfriend. What's the point of being good at studying?" Xu Shaocong said disdainfully, glancing at Xia Tian.
"Alright, Shaocong, let's eat. Don't start anything," Wen Ya said. Though they were no longer together, she didn't want Xia Tian getting into trouble because of her.
"Oh my, Xu Shaocong, you dare act so arrogant in my class? You must be tired of living," a sharp voice came from the doorway.
It was a tomboyish girl with a strikingly bold presence, dressed in a way that screamed street gangster.
Her name was Huo Lazi. Xia Tian had no idea if there was actually a surname "Huo" among the Hundred Families, but he usually stayed far away from her. In fact, no one in the entire school dared provoke her. Rumor had it her family had underworld connections—and a few students who had crossed her had mysteriously disappeared.
"Huo Lazi, you and I don't interfere with each other. I advise you not to stick your nose in," Xu Shaocong said. Though he normally avoided her, he couldn't afford to lose face in front of Wen Ya.
"And what if I do?" Huo Lazi smirked. Two attractive girls flanked her as she strutted into the room, heading straight toward Xia Tian. Her presence was commanding—like a legendary gang boss.
"Hey, you stepped on my foot," Xia Tian said, looking at her.