261: You must repay my kindness

Shencheng Martial Arts University cafeteria.

Shen Bei held his tray, not having taken a single grain of rice or bought a single dish.

He sat down at a dining table with an empty plate.

Then, he picked up a braised fish from Qi Chuanyu’s tray.

He scooped some rice from Liao Zhongyang’s plate.

From Niu Yanben’s plate, he took some Mapo Tofu.

There were fried mushrooms on Du Ziteng’s tray, which he slid over.

His meal was complete.

Qi Chuanyu’s eyes widened, like a protective dog: “What the hell are you doing?! Not spending a single cent, and just eating ours?”

Du Ziteng looked heartbroken: “That was the last portion of fried mushrooms, you should have left me some!”

Niu Yanben slammed the table: “That’s not fair! Why did Liao Zhongyang only lose rice, while I had my Mapo Tofu taken away?!”

Liao Zhongyang rolled his eyes, scooped some rice from Niu Yanben’s plate, and put it on his own: “Hmm, that’s enough.”

Niu Yanben: ???

At this moment, Shen Bei coughed and said earnestly: “Did you all read your books into a dog’s belly? A life-saving grace should be repaid immediately.”

“You guys don’t have my level of awareness,” Shen Bei boasted, continuing, “I didn’t even ask you for a high gratitude gift; I’m just eating some of your food. Why are you making such a fuss?”

Qi Chuanyu showed a look of utter confusion.

He reached out and touched Shen Bei’s head: “He’s not even feverish, what nonsense is he talking about?”

“I suggest getting a CT scan,” Du Ziteng agreed.

Shen Bei was shoveling down the food.

He was truly hungry.

Last night’s battle with the Apocalypse Cult and the Headhunter Tribe had consumed a lot of his physical strength.

When he arrived at the military department, that woman Bai Wei didn’t even give him breakfast; he didn’t know if she forgot or did it on purpose.

Upon arriving at school, he encountered Wan Cheng Tian again, causing a commotion at the Xingchen Martial Arts Club, and Qiu Bu Ye appeared.

Shen Bei had been thoroughly exhausted and was already starving.

He had to admit, food not paid for by himself certainly tasted better.

Shen Bei grabbed the braised fish tail, put the whole fish into his mouth, and with a gentle pull, a fish skeleton cleaner than one eaten by a cat was pulled out.

Niu Yanben and his companions were all astonished!

“What a trick!” Niu Yanben gave a thumbs-up.

Shen Bei tossed the fish bones into the trash can, tilted his head back, chewed and swallowed, then took a sip of Liao Zhongyang’s egg drop soup to wash it down.

Shen Bei sighed in relief and said: “I said I am your savior, but you don’t quite believe it?”

“Believe my ass!” Qi Chuanyu rolled his eyes: “We were almost killed by you, okay?!”

Shen Bei turned to Du Ziteng and Niu Yanben, accusingly saying: “It’s you two who cause trouble!”

Du Ziteng: ???

Niu Yanben: ???

“Hold on—” Du Ziteng’s hand trembled slightly; he tried his best to suppress the urge to hit someone: “Explain it clearly, how is it that we caused trouble?”

Niu Yanben’s face was unpleasant; he reached into Shen Bei’s tray and scooped back a spoonful of Mapo Tofu: “Explain it clearly! Otherwise, don’t eat anything!”

Shen Bei suddenly put on a deeply emotional act: “Does this even need asking? Even a dog’s brain could figure it out. Wasn’t the Xingchen Martial Arts Club coming for you two?”

Du Ziteng stiffened his neck, looking unconvinced: “No, they were coming for you! You hit a member of the Xingchen Martial Arts Club.”

Qi Chuanyu also supported Du Ziteng: “Shen Bei, you’re being a bit much. We were just strolling on campus, and you were fighting, okay?”

Niu Yanben found Shen Bei’s counter-accusation unbelievable and cried out in anguish: “I never thought our leader would be such a scoundrel! The villain complains first, he’s so good at slinging mud!”

Shen Bei waved his hand and said: “Then let me ask you two, did you fight last time when you stood up for Zhao Long?”

Niu Yanben did not deny it: “Yes, we told you about it.”

“Then why didn’t you mention being arrested by the Martial Arts Management Bureau?”

Shen Bei’s single question caused Niu Yanben and Du Ziteng to widen their eyes, their expressions shaken.

Liao Zhongyang and Qi Chuanyu on the side were also a bit surprised.

Qi Chuanyu’s mouth twitched: “Martial Arts Management Bureau? You two went to the Martial Arts Management Bureau? You won’t have a tainted record, will you? That’s not good for you.”

Niu Yanben shook his head: “No, someone helped!”

The so-called record refers to a Martial Artist’s past deeds.

University records only mention good things, not bad.

However, the Martial Arts Management Bureau’s management files for Martial Artists are different; they only record bad things, not good.

This thing, if you say it’s useful, it’s really not very useful.

As long as a Martial Artist does not enter a national power organ, the Martial Arts Management Bureau file is useless.

If you say it’s useless, it can really choke you at critical moments.

If one truly wants to find a national unit to retire in, then the Martial Arts Management Bureau’s file is definitely a killer move.

At this moment, Du Ziteng asked: “Shen Bei, how did you know?”

“Nonsense!” Shen Bei put on a posture of having all matters of the world under his control: “I told Miller to go!”

“Hold on—” Du Ziteng stretched out a hand: “You’ve been exposed, haven’t you? You were still in the Changtu County Abyss then, how could you tell anyone?!”

Shen Bei: …

“Uh, is the timeline not right?” Shen Bei asked tentatively.

“Not right at all!”

Du Ziteng finally understood; Shen Bei was just showing off. He probably met Miller somewhere and then learned about the Martial Arts Management Bureau matter.

Shen Bei shrugged: “Then you two fighting with members of the Xingchen Martial Arts Club, that’s an undeniable fact, right?”

Regarding this, Niu Yanben and Du Ziteng stammered for a long time, seemingly trying to find an excuse to gloss over it.

But at this moment, Qi Chuanyu understood, tapping the table: “Don’t try to make excuses. Song Hongchao’s behavior clearly showed he has a grudge against you.”

Du Ziteng cleared his throat: “Alright, it was him. We just beat him up, that’s all.”

Shen Bei’s expression and tone were sincere and profound as he interjected: “See, the situation is clear. When I discovered Wan Cheng Tian was a member of the Xingchen Martial Arts Club, I immediately went to confront him. Why? Why do you think this is?”

Shen Bei answered his own question: “That’s because I, Shen Bei, am deeply loyal! I attracted the Xingchen Martial Arts Club to come out. Whatever they have, they can come at me, don’t make trouble for my brothers!”

“You saw the effect. I successfully drew their fire. Now Xiao Yong hates my guts. Does he still have time to bother you two?”

“I truly put in painstaking effort, I am truly compassionate! I should be honored in the imperial ancestral temple!”

“Now I eat some of your food, and you’re still grumbling. Touch your consciences and ask, does it hurt?!”

As Shen Bei spoke with emotion, his expression could not hide his sorrow; it was a mix of indignation and deep loyalty, making those who saw it sad and those who heard it weep.

It was as if a peerlessly good person had been wronged.

Even Zhang Yimou, upon seeing this performance, would offer him a cigarette and a drink.

For a fleeting moment, if they hadn’t known the truth, they might have actually been fooled by Shen Bei.

Qi Chuanyu’s face was stern, and he frowned as he asked: “You fought with Wan Cheng Tian because he occupied the dormitory, didn’t you? You selectively omitted that point.”

Shen Bei: …

The others all gave Shen Bei a disdainful look.

Do you really think we’re three-year-olds?

We were clearly implicated by you, okay!

“Now the division of responsibility is very clear,” Qi Chuanyu tapped the table, continuing: “Shen Bei bears the primary responsibility, and Niu Yanben and Du Ziteng bear secondary responsibility.”

“School just started today, and such a big mess has been made. Everyone, what should we do? Speak up.”

No one spoke.

What else could be done?

The others weren’t afraid of Xiao Yong; after all, with Shen Bei’s presence, even if it came down to a head-on clash, it would be Shen Bei’s problem.

But the small fry under the Xingchen Martial Arts Club were a bit annoying.

Of course, this wasn’t the most important thing.

More importantly, the Xingchen Martial Arts Club also existed at Beijing Martial Arts University!

Having a conflict with the Shencheng Martial Arts University’s Xingchen Martial Arts Club, who could guarantee that the Beijing Xingchen Martial Arts Club wouldn’t come to help?

Being challenged every day, wouldn’t their studies and Cultivation progress be delayed?

The few of them were all here to learn Martial Artist knowledge, Cultivate Martial Skills, and understand all things, not to fight.

Qi Chuanyu and the others looked at Shen Bei.

Their eyes shone with the clear gaze of university students.

Extremely naive.

Shen Bei wiped his mouth and said expressionlessly: “What else can be done?”

Qi Chuanyu tried to say: “How about… we just disband the Zha Tian Gang?”

Earlier, on the way to eat, Shen Bei passed by the school’s union, went in for three minutes, and registered the Zha Tian Gang within the school…

The speed was so fast that they suspected the principal had given him the green light all the way, primarily aiming to watch the excitement and not minding if things got big.

At that time, Qi Chuanyu and the others were so worried their teeth ached.

“You’re talking nonsense!”

Shen Bei’s eyes were fiery: “We finally managed to seize a frontline position named Zha Tian Gang in the Changtu County Permanent Dungeon.”

“Now you’re telling me that the Zha Tian Gang disbanded without firing a shot, scared away by the Xingchen Martial Arts Club?”

Shen Bei snorted, continuing: “Then let me ask you again, one day, if someone wants to pull down the flag of the Changtu County Abyss, and the Zha Tian Gang stands up, replacing it with their banner, will you also back down?”

A single question made the few of them immediately shout:

“How is that possible!”

“That’s an Abyss! Exclusively named, eternally enduring, we can’t just hand it over.”

“This cannot be tolerated.”

“Whoever pulls down my flag, I’ll pull out their hair.”

…

Shen Bei nodded in satisfaction: “See, isn’t that right? So, what are you afraid of? When soldiers come, we block them; when water comes, we cover it with earth. If the sky falls, the tallest one will hold it up.”

The few of them nodded simultaneously.

That was indeed true.

Anyway, Shen Bei would bear the brunt of it.

If the Zha Tian Gang really disbanded, what would happen to the Changtu Grotto?

It would be too embarrassing.

Shen Bei held his head high, concealing his arrogance, a smile on his face: “See, Liao Zhongyang has a lot of courage and confidence. Entrusting him to deal with the Xingchen Martial Arts Club is definitely the right choice.”

Liao Zhongyang: ???

“I don’t quite understand what you’re saying,” Liao Zhongyang scratched his head: “Didn’t you say, if the sky falls, the tallest one will hold it up? Aren’t you the leader of the Zha Tian Gang?”

Shen Bei said with deep regret: “Look, the theme and comprehension! I did say that if the sky falls, the tallest one will hold it up, and that refers to the tallest person among us.”

Liao Zhongyang: …

Qi Chuanyu almost spat out a mouthful of old blood: “Alright, is there anything else? If not, let’s go.”

“Oh, right,” Du Ziteng asked: “Shen Bei, where are you living now?”

Shen Bei hadn’t thought about it yet.

He didn’t want to live in the dormitory assigned by the school anyway.

Shen Bei needed a more private environment.

“Never mind that for now,” Shen Bei opened his suitcase and took out the military-exclusive cigarettes and alcohol inside: “Take some each. Later, bring some back for your grandfathers and relatives.”

Qi Chuanyu’s eyes widened, and he hissed: “Holy crap! It’s all military-exclusive! My grandfather struggled his whole life in the military and couldn’t accumulate as much exclusive supply as you’ve gotten! Where did you get this from? Did you raid the military department?”

“Shen Bei, this time I’m really going to break ties with you,” Du Ziteng smacked his lips.

Shen Bei scoffed: “I raided—hold on.”

A flash of lightning went through Shen Bei’s mind: “I know where I’m going to live!”