Chapter 7, Undercurrents (04)

Xu Tang reached out to pull Xu's mother, "Mom, please don't be angry, Xu Yang is just being playful"

Xu Tang brought the well-prepared meal into Xu Yang's room, while Zhou Xian had already put away the butterfly knife and was leaning against the balcony railing smoking. As dusk settled, a sliver of twilight still lingered in the western sky.

Zhou Xian's mother ultimately failed to achieve her aspirations and received only a pitiful amount of alimony. Later, there were rumors suggesting that Zhou Xian's mother fell into dire poverty and even began to engage in some illicit activities.

Xu's mother snatched the knife from his hand and forcefully threw it to the ground, then kicked Xu Yang's calf hard, saying: "Who did you learn this from? You learned it from a little thug!"

Zhou Xian was sitting cross-legged at the balcony door, sending a text message. Upon hearing Xu Yang's voice, he looked up and said, "Just leave it."

Zhou Xian understood what she meant, smiled, and said, "Xu Haitang, don't get the wrong idea. I enjoy my solitude and have no other intentions."

Zhou Xian took a puff of smoke and said, "As long as you understand, take it and play with it yourself—just don't bring it to school"

Is it fun? How can something involving a knife be called fun? Your father is gone, and he is the only man in the house. I have worked hard to support him through school, hoping he would strive for success, but instead, he is learning such lowly things from a woman of ill repute! Just wait until he causes a fatal incident and ends up in jail; then we'll see if it's still fun!" Xu's mother forcefully shook off Xu Tang's hand and strode to the door of the room. "Zhou Xian, our temple is too small to afford a great Buddha like you. I only have this one son, and I am counting on him to support me in my old age. Could you please show some mercy..."

Chen Shouhe is a legend in the small town of Duhhe, which is no larger than a bullet. He walked out of the mountains with nothing but his own two feet, built his fortune from scratch, and returned home in glory twenty years later, having purchased nearly half of the land in Duhhe.

However, no matter how tightly he concealed it, it was still discovered by Mother Xu

With a loud "bang," Xu Tang's shoulders instantly slumped. She pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes dark and somber, staring at the closed door, gripping the bracelet in her hand tightly.

Xu Yang smiled and said, "Many people know you"

He glanced into his room, hesitated for a moment, and walked to the door holding a slice of watermelon, "Xian Ge, would you like some watermelon?"

On that day, after finishing dinner, Xu Mu went out with Xu Tang to inspect the goods at other stalls. After walking for a while, she remembered that she had forgotten something. When she returned to get it, she happened to encounter Xu Yang standing in front of Zhou Xian, playing with a butterfly knife. Under the light, the blade glimmered, startling Xu Mu.

"Come here," Zhou Xian chuckled, taking out his butterfly knife. Seeing Xu Yang only approach a few steps, he added, "What are you afraid of? Your sister isn't afraid at all."

Zhou Xian's voice was calm and unremarkable, and Xu Yang could not discern any emotions from it. He did not dare to speak easily, yet he was reluctant to leave just like that. After hesitating for a moment, he scratched his head and said softly, "Could you teach me..." His voice gradually lowered, and by the end, the last few words were barely audible.

This thing is indeed beautiful; to kill someone, no tricks are needed

Xu Yang often sought advice from Zhou Xian during his free time. After several visits, he realized that this person was far less terrifying than everyone had described. Although it was not easy to gauge his emotions, he rarely displayed anger or impatience.

I know, Xu Yang insisted, "It's just for fun, I... I won't kill anyone"

Thank you

Zhou Xian first performed a basic pattern, then broke it down in slow motion and handed it to Xu Yang, "Give it a try."

Xu Yang hurriedly took a few steps forward

Xu Tang bit her lip and pushed the bracelet back, saying, "I only want cash"

After dinner, Xu Tang accompanied Xu Mu to stroll through the night market, while Xu Yang was in Xu Tang's room doing his homework. As the end of the semester approached, the homework assigned was minimal, and he quickly finished it. He then took the watermelon that had been soaking in cold water, cut it in half.

At that time, Zhou Xian's mother was a waitress at a guesthouse in the town. While Chen Shouhe was staying at the guesthouse, she took the opportunity to seduce him, resulting in a secret liaison. Chen Shouhe's wife was not to be underestimated; upon learning of this matter, she led several people to the town and successfully thwarted Zhou Xian's mother's ambitions to leverage her unborn child for power and wealth.

North of the bridge

Mother Xu, listening to the commotion in the adjacent room, heard Zhou Xian preparing to leave. She immediately opened the door and reached out to grab Xu Tang.

Wait a moment

The conservative mindset of Duhhe Town has turned such scandals, embellished with exaggeration, into a long-lasting topic of conversation during tea and meals

From then on, Xu Yang spent his time, apart from doing homework and preparing for final exams, practicing with the butterfly knife while carrying Xu Tang and Xu Mu. After practicing for three to four days, both his movements and momentum showed some improvement

Xu Tang glanced at him in silence and turned to leave

Xu Yang appeared to be deep in thought

Zhou Xian! Xu Tang quickly followed.

Xu Yang performed the action a few times and memorized it

I haven't really played much," Xu Yang scratched his head, feeling embarrassed to answer

The same applies to a knife; a human hand is not as sharp as a knife, but a knife is not as flexible as a human hand. If you wish to control it, you must not be controlled by it

Xu's mother cast a glance at Zhou Xian, let out a low hum, and walked out

"Exactly, it was you who brought him in. You tell him, 'Madam Xu looks at Xu Tang, 'Our Xu family does not owe him anything either. We have been quite benevolent these days. You ask him if he can move out right now..."

Zhou Xian extinguished the cigarette, picked up the black backpack by the bed, reached in to rummage around, and then grabbed Xu Tang's hand, stuffing the retrieved item into Xu Tang's hand, "Hand over the IOU."

"Help me collect the items, Fang Ju is waiting for me at the bridge head" Zhou Xian's tone was unusually calm

What? Speak louder

Zhou Xian seemed to be lost in thought, his gaze slightly averted, his fingers holding the cigarette motionless for a while

A knife is a weapon, and a weapon can harm both others and oneself; it all depends on how it is used. Zhou Xian pointed to a cigarette, "Have you ever been in a fight?"

Did you know me before

Xu Tang closed the bedroom door and took a step closer to Zhou Xian, "Zhou Xian..."

butterfly knife

Xu Tang looked down, and there lay a heavy silver bracelet, seemingly made of pure silver. At the current market price, it is estimated to be worth over 500.

After Xu Yang placed the watermelon on the table, he looked at Xian and hesitantly opened his mouth: "Xian Ge..."

What is the matter

Zhou Xian raised his gaze from the phone screen and looked at Xu Yang

Xu Yang felt a bit uneasy under his gaze and steeled himself to continue, saying: "Just, just teach a few moves casually"

Xu Tang called out, placing the bowl on Xu Yang's desk. Zhou Xian did not turn around, still gazing at the residential houses in the twilight, "Xu Haitang, where did you attend middle school?"

Zhou Xian did not respond, hastily gathered his belongings from the bedroom and stuffed them into his bag without care, zipping it up haphazardly, slinging it over his shoulder, and then strode out.

Zhou Xian shook his head, "I mean 'before', three years or four years ago"

Zhou Xian did not say anything further, turned around, walked in, and sat down at the table to begin eating. After taking a couple of bites, he noticed Xu Tang still standing beside him, looked up at her, and asked, "What is it?"

Xu Yang observed his expression and said, "I will head out first. If you need anything, just call me, Brother Xian."

Zhou Xian also taught a few more, and the difficulty gradually increased. In the end, although Xu Yang remembered the movements, he was unable to execute them freely. Even though he succeeded a few times, there was still a sense of constraint and stiffness.

Xu Yang immediately halted his steps, "What instructions do you have, Brother Xian?"

At this moment, Zhou Xian has reached the doorstep and has closed the door behind him

Xu Tang could not help but glance at Zhou Xian, who stood at the balcony door with an indifferent expression, his gaze as cold and desolate as an abyss, seemingly unaware of where it had landed, as if he had completely not heard the conversation among several people. Xu Tang's eyes swept to the cigarette held between his fingers, which had accumulated a long ash, ready to break at any moment.

The town of Duhhe has only two junior high schools, one located to the south of the bridge and the other to the north of the bridge

Fighting can be divided into offense and defense. In order to launch an attack, one's own weaknesses will inevitably be exposed to the enemy. The key lies in how to grasp the opponent's weaknesses while one's own weaknesses are exposed, seizing the opportunity to deliver a decisive blow

Xu Yang was taken aback, quickly ceased his actions, turned his head to see the fury burning in his mother's eyes, opened his mouth, and lowered his head as he walked up to her.

Zhou Xian remained silent. Xu Yang scratched his head, stood for a few seconds, and silently turned to leave the room

"Mother," Xu Tang grasped Xu Mu's arm and pleaded softly, "You and Xu Yang go out first."

Oh," Xu Yang suddenly realized, "My sister and I pass by your house on our way to school." Xu Yang pointed outside the balcony, "Right there, Xian Ge, you remember, you used to live there.

"Hurry up and go out, you are blocking the fan." Zhou Xian continued to focus on his meal.

A tightness gripped her heart, as if a heavy stone had been pressed down upon it

Before Zhou Xian became an active member of the "Qinglong Gang," rumors about him were closely related to his mother. Various versions of his background circulated in the streets, with the most widely spread one claiming that his father was the wealthy businessman Chen Shouhe, who has since moved to Lushan County.

At that time, Mrs. Chen was also pregnant with her second child, and in a fit of anger, she experienced a miscarriage due to the emotional distress

Want to learn

Xu Yang glanced at the butterfly knife in his hand, nodded, and turned to go out

Mom! Xu Tang reached out to pull Xu's mother

Xu Yangmeng nodded

Xu Yang fell silent for a moment and said, "Brother Xian, I understand."

Xu Tang was taken aback

Xu Tang paused for a few seconds, "Still, thank you."