58: Chapter 58 Humans and Non-humans

Chapter 58: Human and Non-Human

In the underground parking lot.

The broken light tube flickered, alternating between light and dark.

Reflecting the unusual glow hidden deep within Fang Cheng's eyes.

As Zheng Haokang locked eyes with him, a wave of regret suddenly welled up in his heart.

Perhaps... was this powerful, mysterious opponent before him also one of those monsters?

Fang Cheng lowered his gaze slightly, then nodded and replied,

"I have indeed met some very strange people. I wonder if they're the same as the monsters you mentioned?"

Hearing this, Zheng Haokang immediately let out a sigh of relief.

His gaze toward Fang Cheng softened considerably, as if he had finally found someone he could open up to.

He simply squatted down on the ground, breathing slightly to calm his mind.

Then he looked up at Fang Cheng:

"You've probably heard about the Xishan explosion, right?"

When Zheng Haokang mentioned this, Fang Cheng's memory instantly flashed back to that dawn when he was practicing Pull-ups in the torrential rain.

"It was probably half a month ago..."

Regardless of whether Fang Cheng was listening, Zheng Haokang continued on his own:

"I went on a trip to Xishan with a friend to unwind back then, staying overnight at Gufeng Temple. The mountain atmosphere was quiet and peaceful at first, but in the middle of the night, we were woken up by an earth-shattering noise."

"The entire temple seemed to be shaking, and many roof tiles fell off. Thinking it was an earthquake, we quickly ran out of the dormitories along with the monks."

"When we looked up at the night sky, we saw flames soaring high into the air. Shockwaves rushed over from afar, snapping and knocking down rows of trees."

"The explosion site was a few kilometers away from the temple, but we could still feel its massive power."

"But that wasn't even the most shocking part..."

At this point, Zheng Haokang's eyes and voice grew even darker:

"It started raining in the early hours that morning. I saw a few figures emerge from the wildfire, chasing and fighting each other as they approached the temple."

"No, they shouldn't even be called humans. They ran as fast as bullets being fired, could collapse a wall with a casual bump, and send an opponent flying into the air with a simple wave of their hands. That's simply impossible for an ordinary human to achieve."

"My friend didn't dodge in time, was hit on the head by flying debris, and died right on the spot."

"And those monsters... it was like stepping on an ant while walking; they didn't even spare us a glance..."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but frown deeply.

This level of physical strength was probably several times more terrifying than Majima Goro in his berserk state.

"Even when the police questioned us later, they merely classified it as a special case and forbade us from spreading the word."

Zheng Haokang raised his head and gave him a deep look:

"You are indeed stronger than me, but in the eyes of those monsters, you're nothing more than a slightly stronger ant."

Fang Cheng's expression remained calm, and he did not reply.

Zheng Haokang continued speaking, venting his long-suppressed emotions.

"More than ten years ago, I was still a clueless child. Because I watched too many kung fu movies, I made a vow to become a powerful and invincible Martial Artist like the protagonists in the films."

"I trained diligently every day, inching closer to that goal, until I stood on the fighting ring, holding the championship trophy high with both hands, excitedly shouting that I was the king of the world!"

"Looking back now, how childish and ridiculous that was..."

Zheng Haokang shook his head with a sigh, looking at Fang Cheng with a defeated expression.

"No one around me can understand my decision to retire."

"Since you've seen those monsters, you should understand how I feel right now."

"For ordinary people like us, no matter how hard we train every day or how desperately we strive, it's impossible to reach that transcendent level."

"A dream is like a target. It can be far away, but if you can't even find the target at all, what's the point of drawing the bow every day?"

Listening to Zheng Haokang bare his heart, Fang Cheng could feel the intense unwillingness in his words.

After thinking for a moment, he stepped forward and extended his hand to him.

Zheng Haokang looked at Fang Cheng's palm, stunned for a moment.

"I understand how you feel and respect your choice."

Fang Cheng firmly grasped Zheng Haokang's right hand and pulled him up from the ground.

"Mr. Zheng, from now on, let me fulfill your dream for you—challenging those so-called monsters and reaching the peak of this world!"

Saying this, under the combat star's incredulous gaze, he patted his shoulder, turned, and walked away.

Leaving behind only his back, which left Zheng Haokang unable to calm down for a long time.

...

Night fell.

Carrying his bag on his back, Fang Cheng followed the crowd out of the staff exit.

Standing at the entrance of the shopping center, he looked out at the scenery.

Countless threads of rain poured down along the light, like a giant silver curtain enveloping rows of skyscrapers.

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On the wet sidewalk, vibrant colors shimmered like fish scales.

Those were the shadows of neon lights projected onto the street from nearby buildings.

As shoes stepped through, ripples stirred in the puddles, like a dream shattering.

A couple snuggled together under a single umbrella.

Around them were many commuters hurrying home from work.

Fang Cheng opened a black umbrella and walked slowly, passing through the curtain of rain and the crowd.

At the building by the intersection ahead, an LED wall displayed advertisements.

A group of young people gathered in the rain, cheering as their favorite anime characters appeared.

Why do humans love fantasy?

Perhaps because it is a path to another world.

Lightning flashed faintly in the sky, illuminating the gloomy night.

It was as if gods were looking down, gazing at the mortal world through the clouds.

Fang Cheng closed his umbrella, boarded the crowded bus, and took a seat in the unpopular front row.

The glass was blurred, and the wipers swayed back and forth relentlessly.

Occasionally, the road ahead and the taillights of traffic were clear, only to be blurred again by rain the next second.

Fang Cheng quietly stared at the rainy night city, where hazy lights flickered like a dream.

Suddenly, he felt that this world was so real.

In the past, he always felt a sense of loneliness, unable to see the road ahead clearly.

But now—

Fang Cheng raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping across the unfamiliar faces of the passengers on the bus, as he whispered to himself:

"Right around me, there are actually many unimagined peers existing..."

Fang Cheng hadn't been disheartened like Zheng Haokang, nor had he lost the drive to keep climbing higher.

On the contrary, a strong sense of anticipation reignited within him, making him eager to plunge back into high-intensity training.

How could one enjoy the view of looking down upon all other mountains if one did not stand atop the highest peak?

A faint blue light screen slowly emerged before his eyes.

The vehicle's TV screen flickered with clear audio, broadcasting the evening news.

"...In light of the mysterious 'black rain' phenomenon widely reported among citizens recently, our reporter has specifically rushed to the area surrounding Xishan to conduct interviews and investigations, striving to uncover the truth."

"However, meteorological experts analyze that the so-called black rain may be related to the forest fire triggered by the previous explosion. A large amount of vegetation ash particles accumulated in the troposphere, forming atmospheric pollution that fell with the rain..."