Li Wei woke up before the alarm.
For a moment, he didn't move.
He listened.
The apartment was silent except for the faint hum of the refrigerator and distant traffic outside the old building.
Small.
Cold.
Peeling paint near the window.
This was home.
He sat up slowly. His ribs throbbed in dull waves, but it was manageable now.
Manageable meant usable.
He closed his eyes.
Darkness folded inward.
[.Martial Abyss System.]
[Host: Li Wei]
[Strength: 8.9]
[Agility: 7.1]
[Endurance: 11.2]
[Mental Resistance: 15.0]
[Techniques:]
— Basic Tiger Fist (Perfected)
— Flowing Crane Palm (Perfected)
[Abilities:]
— Burst Acceleration (Passive)
[Growth Multiplier: x1.2 — 29 Hours Remaining]
[Active Mission:]
— Investigate the Truth Behind the Accident (Progress: 0%)]
He opened his eyes slowly.
Investigate.
That meant money.
Information wasn't free.
He stood and walked to the small kitchen corner. Opened the cupboard.
One instant noodle pack.
Half a bag of rice.
No meat.
He stared at it for a few seconds.
Then closed the door quietly.
At school, the training hall felt different today.
Not loud.
Not mocking.
Just… aware.
Rank 201.
It wasn't impressive.
But it was movement.
And movement attracted attention.
As he walked past the ranking board, someone blocked his path.
Wang Lei.
Rank 180.
"You're climbing fast," Wang Lei said casually.
"Not that fast."
"You fought Rank 3 yesterday."
Li Wei said nothing.
Wang Lei leaned slightly closer.
"You copying people?"
The tone wasn't friendly.
It wasn't hostile either.
It was probing.
Li Wei held his gaze calmly.
"I'm learning."
Wang Lei studied him for a moment longer, then smirked.
"Then learn this."
He stepped back.
"Challenge. After class."
Around them, whispers started again.
Li Wei nodded once.
"Okay."
No hesitation.
No refusal.
Inside—
Hunger stirred.
Not for food.
For pain.
For growth.
Classes passed slowly.
Math formulas blurred on the board.
History lectures echoed without meaning.
When lunch break came, Li Wei didn't go to the cafeteria.
He went to the rooftop.
Sat alone.
Drank water.
Ignored the emptiness in his stomach.
Footsteps approached.
He didn't need to look up.
Lin Yuxi sat down beside him.
She placed a small container between them.
"Eat."
He blinked.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
He stayed silent.
She opened it.
Rice.
Vegetables.
Egg.
Simple.
But warm.
"I made extra," she said casually.
That was a lie.
He could tell.
He hesitated.
Pride hurt more than punches sometimes.
But hunger was real.
He took it quietly.
"Thank you."
She didn't look at him.
"You don't need to starve to get stronger."
He almost smiled.
If only she knew.
He ate slowly.
Carefully.
Not wasting a single grain.
She watched him from the corner of her eye.
"You fight like someone who has nothing to lose," she said softly.
He paused.
For a moment, memories surfaced.
Fire.
Sirens.
Cold pavement.
His uncle's voice:
"You think you deserve this family name?"
He swallowed.
"I just don't want to be weak."
She nodded faintly.
But her gaze lingered.
As if she knew that wasn't the full truth.
After school.
Main arena.
Students gathered in a loose circle.
Rank 201 vs Rank 180.
Not dramatic.
But interesting enough.
They bowed.
The bell rang.
Wang Lei attacked first.
Aggressive.
Explosive.
Li Wei didn't dodge.
First punch landed clean against his shoulder.
[.Martial Abyss System.]
[Pain Absorbed: 34 Units]
[Strength +0.12]
[Endurance +0.3]
Second strike.
Low kick to thigh.
[Pain Absorbed: 21 Units]
He staggered back.
Not fake.
Not fully intentional.
Just enough.
Wang Lei pressed harder.
"You think surviving Rank 3 makes you special?"
Another heavy strike to the ribs.
Pain flared.
Hot.
Bright.
[Pain Absorbed: 67 Units]
[Strength +0.25]
[Endurance +0.6]
Li Wei's breathing stabilized.
His vision sharpened.
Wang Lei used Whirlwind Kick again.
Li Wei had only partially analyzed it before.
Now—
[.Martial Abyss System.]
[Analyzing Technique…]
[Whirlwind Kick — 64%]
The next kick came.
He let it graze instead of fully land.
Pain—but controlled.
[Whirlwind Kick — 100%]
[Technique Permanently Learned]
Something inside him aligned.
Wang Lei went for a finishing combination.
Li Wei stepped forward instead of back.
Flowing Crane Palm redirected the force.
Basic Tiger Fist followed through.
Clean.
Precise.
Wang Lei stumbled.
Shock flashed across his face.
Li Wei pivoted.
Executed Whirlwind Kick.
Perfect angle.
Perfect timing.
Wang Lei fell.
Silence.
The bell rang.
Instructor Zhao stepped forward.
"Winner—Li Wei."
The ranking board flickered.
Rank 180 / 250 — Li Wei.
Whispers intensified.
"That's not luck anymore."
"He's improving too fast."
"Was he hiding strength before?"
Li Wei stepped off the platform quietly.
He didn't celebrate.
Didn't smile.
Inside—
[.Martial Abyss System.]
[Victory Against Higher Rank Confirmed]
[Rival Devourer Protocol Activated]
[Bonus Strength +0.8]
[Bonus Agility +0.5]
[Growth Multiplier Extended: +24 Hours]
His heart beat heavily.
Not from exhaustion.
From acceleration.
He was climbing.
Too visibly.
He needed caution.
As the crowd thinned, Instructor Zhao called out.
"Li Wei."
He turned.
Zhao studied him for a long moment.
"You're changing."
"Yes, Instructor."
"Be careful."
That was all.
No accusation.
But warning.
Be careful.
About what?
Strength?
Or attention?
That night, instead of going home directly, Li Wei stopped at a small internet café.
Old computers.
Dim lights.
Cheap hourly rates.
He sat down and searched.
His family name.
Company records.
Accident reports.
The official statement still said:
"Brake failure. Rain. Loss of control."
But something caught his eye.
A financial transfer.
Two days before the accident.
Massive.
From his father's company.
To a private account.
Account holder:
His uncle.
Li Wei's fingers tightened.
The system stirred.
[.Martial Abyss System.]
[Investigate the Truth Behind the Accident]
[Progress: 5%]
Five percent.
So it was real.
Not paranoia.
Not imagination.
Someone had moved money before his parents died.
Why?
Payment?
Bribe?
Insurance setup?
His chest felt tight.
Not from injury.
From memory.
That night.
He remembered his father arguing on the phone.
"You think I don't know what you're planning?"
Planning.
Not arguing about markets.
About something personal.
Something dangerous.
Li Wei leaned back in the chair slowly.
The path ahead split into two.
Grow stronger quietly.
Or dig into the past now.
Both required power.
He closed the browser.
Left the café.
The night air was cold.
Streetlights flickered above.
His stomach growled faintly again.
He ignored it.
Pain.
Hunger.
Loneliness.
All fuel.
Tell me
If you were him, would you focus only on climbing ranks first?
Or risk exposing yourself by investigating early?
And what do you think Lin Yuxi will do if she realizes he's hiding more than just strength?
If this chapter pulled you deeper, drop your thoughts below. Add it to your collection so you don't miss what's coming. Your powerstones and reviews decide how fast Li Wei rises.
Chapter 5… someone important starts watching him.