409: On Warriors and Ordinary People

In the morning, Shen Bei found delivering packages quite arduous; he had to argue with customers to get them to come out of their communities to pick up their deliveries, if not outright beg them.

However, in the afternoon, Shen Bei candidly told a customer: “Don’t force me to unleash my True Qi and slap you while I’m at my happiest.”

And just like that, a miracle occurred.

The customer, not even bothering to put on pants, immediately came down to collect the package, looking utterly terrified, and then fled as soon as he had it.

Shen Bei realized that while a Martial Artist’s threat level was common within Martial Artist circles,

when directed at ordinary people, the sense of oppression was overwhelming.

Yet, Shen Bei never once believed that Martial Artists were superior to ordinary people.

Like others, he rarely revealed his identity as a Martial Artist.

But the fact remained that status and Rank existed, whether you acknowledged them or not, they were undeniably there.

Shen Bei could ignore it, but ordinary people could not.

Perhaps some might wonder, since this world isn't devoid of supernatural powers, what difference does it make if others know one is a Martial Artist?

The government wouldn't suddenly imprison them in a laboratory, nor would evil scientists, as described in some web novels, casually perform “dissection research,” followed by “slice experiments,” and then, when there’s nothing left to slice, preserve them in formalin as specimens.

A series of intellectual research moves would flow seamlessly like that—it wouldn't come to that.

One must know that Martial Artists in this world are much like “car accidents”; although ordinary people rarely encounter them in daily life, and there’s even a small group, such as rural folk, who have never seen a Martial Artist in their entire lives, Martial Artists are still active in various regions of this world, flourishing everywhere, too numerous to count.

Although Changtu County has many Martial Artists, these Martial Artists all maintain a normal mindset.

Because ordinary people generally still harbor a “sense of distance” towards Martial Artists.

This is by no means a difficult phenomenon to understand.

Even when speaking to a muscular man who works out all year, ordinary people can't help but be three points more polite; if the latter is holding a knife, an axe, or even a handgun, they must be even more polite, fearing to provoke him.

The power of a Martial Artist is even stronger than the muscles and weapons of the “latter,” and even stronger than a handgun.

Their mere presence in the same room as ordinary people is akin to holding an invisible blade to the ordinary person's throat; doing anything would be but a flick of a finger, and ordinary people can only passively accept the “outcome” and the “fate” altered by that outcome.

Most Martial Artists ensure their own safety and believe they would not harm ordinary people, or even consider such things.

However, ordinary people understand that no matter how much goodwill a Martial Artist expresses, the vast disparity in power between them remains unchanged.

Often, Martial Artists can speak freely, while ordinary people only dare to choose words that won't make the former angry in response, creating the illusion that “we are conversing as equals,” when the truth is quite the opposite.

Equality of spirit is built upon equality of material.

Ordinary people having to summon courage to speak as equals with a Martial Artist is, in itself, the greatest inequality.

Perhaps, it’s better to say that ordinary people fear Martial Artists because their healthy animal instincts are at play; if they weren't afraid, that would be a form of pathology.

Although theoretically, anyone in this world has the potential to become a Martial Artist, “theoretically” is ultimately a rather cunning word, easily giving unrealistic hope to those with lower talent.

And in this society, only a small fraction of people ultimately manage to become Martial Artists.

One who stands out from the crowd, if not loved, will surely be alienated—this was Shen Bei's understanding after growing up.

It was an understanding he had even before he became a Martial Artist.

In fact, according to Shen Bei's observations, this statement is not limited to Martial Artists; it also applies to a certain extent to people who are exceptionally good-looking, exceptionally talented, or exceptionally strict with themselves…

Through these insights, Shen Bei's state of mind became a little clearer.

After a day's work was done.

Shen Bei returned to the express delivery company.

Handed over his work, settled his wages.

And left.

The owner of the express delivery company even invited Shen Bei to continue working tomorrow.

After all, he was a Martial Artist.

And he worked quickly and efficiently, which was rare for someone of the Martial Artist class.

Shen Bei merely waved his hand.

Whether he would continue delivering packages tomorrow depended on what the settlement panel said.

If he couldn't achieve his goal of increasing the range of his Instant Shadow Return to Origin Pact, why bother working?

Shen Bei had no time to waste.

Returning home.

Jian Tong had bought Shen Bei several new clothes.

Shen Bei loved Jian Tong's wifely qualities.

Knowing he disliked shopping, she would buy all the clothes, have him try them on one by one, keep the suitable ones, and return the rest.

As for whether the merchants would comply?

Do they dare to bare their fangs?

Jian Tong was also a Martial Artist!

Class existed.

Afterward, Shen Bei accompanied Jian Tong to watch a soap opera.

Shen Bei kept yawning.

Jian Tong's lips twitched, revealing a somewhat forced smile: “You’re distracted, what’s wrong?”

Shen Bei chuckled: “I went to Qi Chuanyu’s house today, he wasn’t there, but the old man revealed some news to me…”

Shen Bei recounted the incident of the Mind’s Eye Potion in the capital.

After listening, Jian Tong was silent for a moment, then grabbed some potato chips and crunched them: “The terms ‘new faction’ and ‘old faction’ mostly reflect the police’s lack of confidence.”

Shen Bei nodded: “If they had the ability to destroy it, they wouldn’t have coined these terms. My fear is that these two terms will become permanently fixed, and then we, the old faction Martial Artists, will become pigs raised by the new faction Martial Artists.”

“Don’t worry, it will definitely be eradicated.”

Jian Tong didn’t seem to be deliberately joking; her attitude was serious, her eyes earnest, and her tone solemn: “Our country will not allow such a subversive existence.”

“The problem now is when it can be resolved.”

Shen Bei spread his hands: “Once the matter escalates and the secret formula for the Mind’s Eye Potion spreads, ordinary people will become red-eyed.”

In Shen Bei's view, although ordinary people were vulnerable,

there was strength in numbers.

If they couldn't play fair, they would play dirty, which was also impossible to guard against and very annoying.

Didn't the original Shen Bei rely on insidious tricks to take down You Wuchang?

The black market was not just for Martial Artists; it was also for ordinary people.

“Why worry so much?”

Jian Tong didn't take it to heart: “Oh, by the way, I ordered takeout.”

No sooner had she spoken.

The takeout arrived.

Jian Tong had ordered hundreds of yuan worth of takeout.

Opening it, Shen Bei's mouth twitched.

“Grilled chives, lamb kidneys, grilled oysters, grilled testicles…”

Shen Bei pointed strangely at the table full of nourishing foods and asked, “What are you trying to do?”

“Stop talking nonsense, eat quickly, then we’ll get to work.” Jian Tong’s face was a little flushed, but she still spoke shamelessly.

“No…” Shen Bei stepped back two paces: “You’ve tasted the sweetness, haven’t you?”

“What, are you no longer capable?” Jian Tong questioned.

“Damn it!”

Shen Bei patted his waist: “Who says I’m not capable!”

Shen Bei grabbed a lamb kidney and started eating.

Jian Tong served him from the side: “Eat more, eat more.”

What else could he do…

A man can't say he's not capable!

But I have to say, it was damn nourishing.

The firepower was fierce, and Jian Tong truly soared repeatedly.

…

The next day.

Shen Bei had just woken up from bed.

The daily settlement panel arrived as scheduled…

“How I'll do odd jobs today depends entirely on this!”