Chapter 7, Strength

That night, in a bar, Cao Sen and his three companions gathered around a table drinking. Anyone passing by their table carefully maintained as much distance as possible, for these four appeared truly intimidating. Bald, with dark complexions, not only were their faces dark, but all exposed skin was the color of charred coal. To make matters worse, they wore black t-shirts and black pants, making them look like four ghostly figures in the dimly lit bar. The most striking aspect was when they laughed; their entire bodies blended into the darkness, with only a set of bright white teeth flashing in and out, creating an eerily bizarre scene.

"Alright, please do not bully us. Tell us how you saved Lan'er, and then how you fell into the flood and managed to escape." Jingjing stepped forward to mediate the situation.

"How did you all come here?" Cao Sen looked at the three girls in surprise

A dazzling light erupted among the four brothers, and after the thunderous sound faded, Cao Sen and the others completely transformed into African brothers

"It is precisely because that old man is formidable that I cannot stay; my mother wants me to return to her side." Wu Fang sighed heavily as she gulped down a drink, "I really don't want to leave Nanquan City."

"Heavens, I curse your second uncle!" Ding Haitao shouted with his head thrown back

Cao Sen, noticing Wu Fang's gaze, casually said: "Don't glare at me."

Cao Sen understood that it was a misunderstanding. His personality is strong-willed but not overbearing, and he smiled as he said, "Don't go, aren't you afraid of encountering ghosts on your way back?"

You also take care of his second uncle

My name is Ren Lan'er. Thank you for saving me this morning. I..." At this point, Lan'er could not continue speaking and began to sob softly. The betrayal of her boyfriend and the lingering between life and death made this fragile girl unable to hold back her tears when recalling the events of the morning

The oxygen between the chest and abdomen had been nearly exhausted, and the imminent death prompted Cao Sen to unleash his full potential, as images of those threads pulling him out of the mountain flood fleetingly crossed his mind. Thus, a miracle occurred; those threads seemed to come alive, wrapping around Cao Sen and throwing him onto the shore

Cao Sen's words nearly caused the two girls to fall into the mountain flood, and then they began to cry uncontrollably, as they truly did not know what to do next

The four boys exchanged glances again, and Tengfei recounted the events of the morning. When he reached the part about how Caosen escaped from danger, Tengfei invited Caosen to share the story himself

The four brothers exchanged a glance at the picture book, and in perfect harmony, they looked up to the sky, gathering their strength to let out the most masculine call of all: "Together, let's take on your second uncle!"

Wu Fang and Jing Jing were trembling with anger, while Lan Er cried even more sorrowfully

"I can't believe it, it's nothing." Guo Jing was surprised to find that they had already adapted to the lightning strikes; apart from a slight dullness and numbness in their bodies, there were no adverse effects.

"Hehe, is it that you can't bear to part with some handsome guy?" Ding Haitao said with a playful smile.

Wu Fang has quit. Liu Mei raised her eyebrows and glared with her beautiful big eyes, "What are you doing, Cao Sen? You think you look cool and manly like this, don't you? In reality, this is just childish!"

Whenever Wu Fang brings up work, she feels a headache. With a sigh, she said, "Alas, I may not be able to stay in Nanquan City and will have to return to my hometown."

Cao Sen raised his eyebrows, a sign that he was about to lose his temper. Guo Jing hurriedly pressed down on Cao Sen's hand and said to Wu Fang, "Please sit down, don't just stand and talk. You all take a seat." His tone was very polite, but he was pointing to another table with his hand.

They were struck by lightning! a boy shouted

Even though Cao Sen concealed his true experiences, the course of events can still be described as thrilling. Several girls were so captivated that they were pounding their chests in excitement. Jingjing looked at the four boys before her with admiration, saying, "You are all so great, truly impressive, more thrilling than a Hollywood blockbuster. It's a pity we couldn't experience it ourselves"

"No more words, hurry back to the city," Tengfei shouted

"Hey, don't go! What will we do if you leave?" Wu Fang said anxiously, stamping her feet

Cao Sen, being experienced, could tell from Lan Er's gaze that the girl had developed feelings for him

Tengfei could no longer bear to watch. He punched one person and said, "Be more courteous; they are girls. Moreover, they have been so frightened today. You all need to be gentler with them." He stood up to move chairs for the girls and get them drinks, ensuring that the three girls were settled comfortably.

"What, that guy just stands by and does nothing?" Guo Jing asked in surprise, originally thinking that Zhu Jianjun mistakenly believed that Lan'er had fallen into the flood and had no chance of survival, which is why he did not go to help.

Cao Sen found it somewhat amusing that Zhu Jianjun wanted to kill him for such a trivial reason. Isn't that a bit far-fetched? It must have been an accidental tug on his part. In moments of life and death, one may unconsciously exhibit strange and unusual behavior. This explanation seems the most reasonable.

As the door of the bar opened, three exceptionally beautiful young girls entered. Among them, one appeared as if she had just recovered from a serious illness, her timid expression and delicate shoulders evoking a desire in the men who saw her to step forward and care for her tenderly

Buying a lottery ticket! The eyes of soaring ambition shine brightly

Jingjing looked at her friend Lan'er with disappointment in her eyes and let out a soft sigh. This Cao Sen is too difficult to approach. Why does he have to distance himself from girls like this

If Zhu Jianjun can disregard the life and death of his own girlfriend, then it is not out of the question that he would deliberately let Cao Sen fall into the flood. If this assumption holds, Zhu Jianjun must have his reasons. Cao Sen recalled what Teacher Hu had told him about competing for the quota of outstanding graduates, or rather, the quota for staying at the school. Teacher Hu had once said that his conditions were similar to those of Zhu Jianjun, and that a single quota would be chosen between the two of them. Could this be the reason?

He said that he would be so frightened that he would forget everything

I am not glaring at you; my eyes are simply large, and that is how they are!

Cao Sen and his brothers exchanged a glance, their expressions somewhat serious

Wu Fang, initially determined to leave out of anger, had to sit down when Lan Er and Jing Jing took their seats. She glared at Cao Sen with wide, puffed-up eyes.

Among the two girls, one is also in a coma, while Lan'er stares blankly at the heavy rain in the sky, murmuring to herself, appearing like a person in a daze

"Your grandfather is not very impressive, how could he not stay in Nanchuan City?" Ding Haitao asked

"Alright, I apologize." Again, it is said in a nonchalant tone

Our four black monkeys enjoy bullying the little monkeys the most Ding Haitao is not one to suffer losses

"What the hell, are you a cockroach? Can't you die like this?" Ding Haitao squeezed Cao Sen's face hard with both hands, causing Cao Sen to roll his eyes in response

Tengfei let Lan'er sit back in the chair, "We brothers do not fuss over such matters, so please do not stand on ceremony with us. Hey, how did you end up under that stone? Weren't you with Zhu Jianjun?"

These were the real situations that occurred at the time, yet Cao Sen was unable to convey them to the girls, as it sounded like fabricating a myth, and no one would believe it. Thus, he merely explained to the girls that after the thunder sounded, he was swept ashore by the shockwave, just like everyone else

Lan Er stood up again, bowed to each of the four brothers, and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

Um. Cao Sen did not hear what Wu Fang was saying and instinctively responded with a sound

The few boys in the cave could not dissuade Jingjing and Wufang, so they had no choice but to come out together to search. When they found Caosen and the others, the scene before them made everyone gasp in horror

Then you apologize

They were originally somewhat puzzled by the events that occurred in the morning. Why did Zhu Jianjun pull Cao Sen at that moment? If it hadn't been for that, Cao Sen would not have fallen into the flood. If it was intentional, there was no sufficient reason; the two had no grievances against each other. Why would Zhu Jianjun want to harm Cao Sen? Moreover, it takes more than ordinary courage to kill someone, especially one's savior.

Moreover, you cannot be indifferent to us. Wu Fang detests the way Cao Sen treats her so carelessly.

Cao Sen smiled and waved his hand, "Alright, I won't hold it against the girls. It's Lan'er, right? Don't take what happened this morning to heart. Besides, saving you wasn't solely my achievement; my brothers all played a part in it."

Wu Fang and the others were at a loss, unsure of how to treat the unconscious person. They surrounded Lan Er, hoping to find out what had just happened.

"Lan'er... Lan'er... what is wrong with you?" Jingjing cried out, holding the dazed Lan'er and shaking her body.

A girl has just experienced the heartlessness and betrayal of a faithless lover. At a moment of life and death, a man suddenly descends from the heavens to save her at the cost of his own life. How can this girl not be moved? How can she not be touched by such emotion?

Not far from the mountain flood, Cao Sen, Guo Jing, Teng Fei, Ding Haitao, and Zhu Jianjun lay scattered on the hillside, their bodies completely charred. Even after the heavy rain had washed over them, they still emitted wisps of smoke. Moreover, their hair stood up in a strange manner, and their limbs twitched uncontrollably as they remained unconscious.

Lan Er nodded slightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said softly: "Perhaps... perhaps he did not hear my cries for help"

In the morning, Lan'er discovered that her boyfriend, Zhu Jianjun, was having an affair with another girl. When she confronted them, she was beaten. Soon after, a heavy rainstorm began, and the three of them were too afraid to stay in the canyon, searching for a place to take shelter. Zhu Jianjun found a hollow in the mountain, but Lan'er did not want to stand with him, so she hid on a rock under a pine tree. Zhu Jianjun came over and urged her to take shelter in the hollow, but she refused, and they began to argue. In the midst of their dispute, they somehow slipped down to the rocks below. Lan'er shouted for Zhu Jianjun to save her, but she did not hear his response. Just as she was about to lose her grip, Cao Sen rescued her.

"What are you going back to the city for?" Guo Jing asked with interest

Tengfei sighed, saying, "Ah, our Sen Ge is really something... Normally, it's one thing to be tough on girls, but why are you putting on airs now?"

"You talk too much, just like a black monkey." Wu Fang retorted

Thank you all, you risked your lives to save me, I truly do not know how to express my gratitude. Lan'er spoke with tears in her eyes, addressing "you all," yet her charming gaze was solely fixed on Cao Sen, containing a multitude of emotions.

The four brothers huddled together and burst into laughter once again, leaving Wu Fang and the others utterly perplexed. Could it be that they were so overjoyed after narrowly escaping death that their minds had gone awry?

Jingjing explained the situation on behalf of Lan'er

The three brothers Guo Jing also woke up, and upon seeing Cao Sen sitting aside and chuckling, they were all pleasantly surprised and howled like wolves as they rushed over to embrace each other in a group.

Wu Fang murmured softly, "This doesn't even sound like something a person would say"

Thunder rumbled and lightning flashed across the heavens and the earth, with bolts striking accurately upon the heads of the four brothers. The strong light emitted by the lightning rendered their youthful bodies almost transparent.

Hehe, it's nothing. Cao Sen revealed his only white tooth and said, "Let's go, we are going back to the city to buy lottery tickets!"

Wu Fang's face turned red as she stood up to leave

Cao Sen was rendered speechless, while Teng Fei and Guo Jing burst out laughing, spraying beer everywhere. Even Lan Er laughed, stealing a glance at Cao Sen's single eyelid.

Cao Sen was pressed to the bottom of the water by the explosion of thunder, and despite trying every possible method, he could not climb to the shore. At that moment, the mudslide had fully erupted, and the powerful current held Cao Sen firmly at the bottom. While an ordinary person might despair, Cao Sen would never give up. His strong will to survive unleashed a tremendous power within him. In an instant, Cao Sen seemed to see scenes he had never noticed before. He discovered many transparent threads, each with a distinct direction of flow. These threads existed amidst the mountain flood, rolling stones, and fierce winds and rains, with the threads in the mountain flood being the densest and thickest. He wanted to grasp those threads, but he grasped at nothing.

"Let’s go, brothers. We don’t need to pray anymore. With our lives, no one can take them from us. Our lives are in our own hands!" Cao Sen spoke with great passion

Cao Sen frowned and said, "Alright, thank you. You have said it, and I have heard it. Just do what you need to do and don't create any more trouble here."

Upon hearing this question, Lan'er began to cry again

Did Zhu Jianjun not tell you? Teng Fei asked curiously

"Hehe, what do you want Sen Ge to do for you?" Ding Haitao asked with ulterior motives.

Wu Fang and others were left dumbfounded and horrified as they beheld four skeletons enveloped in a dazzling white light. Each bone of the skeletons trembled from the electric shock, yet they continued to curse with their mouths wide open, madmen, four complete madmen

Hehe, it's because I can't bear to part with your good teeth, and you don't even look in the mirror; when you smile, it looks like a ghost!" Wu Fang teased the four brothers, "And speaking of ghosts, my heart, which was once frightened, is feeling uneasy again. Tonight, you all have to take us back to the dormitory!

Ding Haitao let out a laugh, shaking his head as he looked at the ceiling, displaying an unwelcoming demeanor

The four brothers stood up as if nothing had happened, no longer paying attention to Wu Fang and the others, and began to walk down the mountain on their own

He coughed once to change the subject, "How is your work going?"

I brought Lan'er here to thank you for saving our lives" Jingjing said, lowering her head

The thunderstorm finally ceased, and the four brothers collapsed onto the ground, gasping for breath with their mouths wide open. Wisp after wisp of blue smoke escaped from Zhang's mouth, and there was not a single part of their bodies that was not emitting smoke.

Ha ha, all of us brothers are alive

Cao Sen was the first to wake up, looking around in confusion, then glancing at himself. Damn, what a tough life; falling into a mountain flood, being struck by lightning, and yet remaining unscathed. From now on, I will no longer be called Cao Sen; I will change my name to Little Strong.

Why are you all silent? If we are not welcome, we will leave and not be a nuisance here. This afternoon, we called your dormitory, and the people there said you went to a bar, so we searched for you one by one. We ran to so many bars, and you all... are still like this? Wu Fang felt wronged. How have we offended you? You don't give us a good face, you use words to trap us, and now you ignore us. Are we really that annoying?

Jingjing held onto Wu Fang, and Wu Fang took the opportunity to sit down

To everyone's surprise in the bar, these three beautiful women walked straight towards the four ruffians

Zhu Jianjun also woke up, turned over, and sat up, looking blankly at the four laughing people

Lan Er remained completely unaware, staring blankly at the sky