Chapter 3

6:00 PM, Classroom on the second floor of No. 2 Middle School

Li Shuang ran downstairs, where two groups of people were standing on the school playground. One group consisted of about seventeen or eighteen people led by Gao Qiang, while the other group had around ten individuals under the command of San Yan. Gao Qiang was squatting on the ground, tilting his head and smoking. Upon seeing Li Shuang return, he flicked the cigarette butt away, stood up, and asked, "Lao Fei, where is Dong Ge?"

The leader's expression changed suddenly, but he quickly forced a smile and said, "Well, brother, I will remember this punch you taught me. Hehe!"

Seeing that Xie Wendong had no intention of making a move, Sanyan spoke first, "Brother, can we start now?" Xie Wendong nodded in response.

The three-eyed individual dared not look down upon the frail youth before him, as an instinctive feeling told him that this person was not simple. Whether in intellect or courage, he was not inferior to the old-timers who had been navigating society for a long time

Xie Wendong was focused on solving problems on the paper, without raising his head, he said: "Hmm, let him wait for a moment, I will finish this problem first"

Li Shuang broke the silence and said to the person next to him, "Damn, what are you still dawdling for? Hurry up and take Brother Qiang and the injured brothers to the hospital!" Upon hearing this, the others quickly lifted Gao Qiang and his injured subordinate. Gao Qiang pushed away the person who came to help him, struggling to stand up and said, "I can walk by myself! Lao Fei, did you just call me Brother Qiang? It's like giving me a slap on the back and then offering me a sweet date!"

Xie Wendong looked around and said, "This place is quite nice. I don't have much free time. I think I'll do it now!"

The next day at noon, in the restroom of the Second High School

Not long after the words were spoken, a chaotic sound of footsteps echoed in the corridor. Before long, seven or eight people entered the classroom. Li Shuang shouted, "I will take the lead!" and swung a stick at several others. The group that came in next saw Li Shuang taking action and without a word, surrounded the people brought by Gao Qiang and began to kick them violently.

Li Shuang opened his hand and, glaring, said: "I f*** your mother, Gao Qiang, do you think I am afraid of you? Don't think that just because you know a few people, you can act tough with me!" Gao Qiang chuckled and replied: "You got guts, kid. After school today, you and that basket wait for me in the classroom. If you dare to leave early, I will break your legs!"

What happened to the three-eyed one? It's not human. If one drinks too much, they vomit; if one eats too much, they have diarrhea! Gao Qiang's words elicited a burst of laughter. Li Shuang laughed heartily and said, "You old ghost, you have so many words."

"Alright, Dong Ge. I admire you, from now on you are my elder brother!" Gao Qiang felt that the person before him was not only ruthless but also very intelligent, and he believed that he would become an extraordinary figure in the future

Dai Tou looked up and down at Xie Wendong, thinking to himself: Damn, is there no one left in the Second Middle School? They found a malnourished person to be the leader. Xie Wendong did not miss the contempt that flashed in his eyes, standing there with a smile.

Sanyan took a box of 'Honghe' cigarettes out of his pocket, pulled out two sticks, and handed them to Xie Wendong. Xie Wendong smiled and said "Thank you," taking one stick and putting it in his mouth. Li Shuang, who was nearby, walked over and lit the cigarettes in the mouths of Xie Wendong and Sanyan. Sanyan glanced at Li Shuang and said to Xie Wendong: "This kid really knows how to handle things!" After a pause, he continued, "Brother, you mean to say, what do you want to do?"

Xie Wendong lowered his head, his slightly long hair obscuring his eyes, and a cold voice escaped from the corner of his mouth: "If you are wise, it is best to swallow your pride; Li Shuang has his own choices."

Xie Wendong walked slowly on his way home, reflecting on the events of the past few days. How could he avoid being bullied by others? The only way was to be stronger than them. But how could he become stronger? He needed to be ruthless enough. The notorious troublemakers within the school had basically been brought under his control, leaving only external factors to contend with. Xie Wendong decided to establish his own power, centering it around the current No. 2 High School, and to recruit some local delinquents. These individuals were relatively young and fought without restraint; to put it bluntly, they were sufficiently ruthless. With youthful passion and a blind admiration for heroes, they could easily be manipulated. At present, Xie Wendong's intellect far surpassed his actual age, even outshining some adults.

Xie Wendong nodded and asked, "Have you brought everything?" Li Shuang replied, "Brother Dong, rest assured, everyone has a weapon in hand."

Holding the cue, Sanyan forcefully struck the arranged balls apart, "Brother, how are things at school? I shouldn't really be inquiring, but since you are forming a gang on my turf, it seems a bit excessive not to even give a heads-up."

"Lao Fei, I heard that you let that useless guy in your class cut his face. Is that true?" A tall guy with a cigarette in his mouth tilted his head and asked Li Shuang. Li Shuang maintained a serious expression, "If you dare to call him useless again, I will beat you to death!"

Haha, what my brother says is all the truth!" The three-eyed gaze turned cold, "Does my brother mean to kick me out of this place?"

Alright, let's do it this way! You choose the day, okay?" said the three-eyed one confidently

Xie Wendong, who had fallen to the ground, suddenly grabbed the ankle of the foot pressing on his face with his left hand, causing Gao Qiang to be momentarily stunned. Xie Wendong then took out a decorative knife with his right hand and stabbed it into Gao Qiang's thigh. "Ah!" Gao Qiang let out a scream akin to that of a slaughtered pig, covering the wound on his leg and retreating several steps. Xie Wendong stood up, walked over to Gao Qiang, and swung his fist, striking him in the face. Gao Qiang's subordinates, seeing the blood, were somewhat at a loss.

The tall individual raised an eyebrow and pinched the flesh on Li Shuang's face, shaking it back and forth: "Basket, do you know who you are talking to?"

Xie Wendong tossed his clothes to Li Shuang and whispered, "This is the best solution. We are weak, and we cannot compete with the Three-Eyed Gang!" He then turned and walked towards the center of the billiard hall. Li Shuang and Gao Qiang simultaneously touched the knives at their waists, thinking that if the boss were in danger later, they would strike that bastard first. Seeing that they both made the same gesture, the two exchanged a knowing smile, and everything was understood without words.

Li Shuang swallowed and said: "Goodness, it's a lie to say I'm not nervous! The other party is a three-eyed being!"

Xie Wendong smiled and said, "I dare not say to give a way out! Since the conversation has come to this point, I see that there are only a few options to choose from?" San Yan leaned on his cue and looked at Xie Wendong across the pool table: "Oh? What do you mean?" "Either you leave, or I leave, or we merge."

"Damn, what a piece of trash, does he really think he is something!" shouted a person wearing yellow sunglasses

Xie Wendong said, "Alright, go find those reliable individuals for me to take a look at." Li Shuang responded with an acknowledgment and ran outside.

Xie Wendong did not speak, and Li Shuang exclaimed loudly: "This is our boss!"

San Yan was taken aback, unable to believe that these words were spoken by him. He looked up and down at Xie Wendong again. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him; he barely stood at 1.7 meters tall and was quite thin. What kind of person was this to dare to say such things

"Xie Wendong." Xie Wendong replied as he put the knife into his pants pocket

Xie Wendong placed a decoration blade against his neck and said: "You now have two choices. One is to be hanged, the other is to follow me. Choose for yourself."

"One-on-one! You and I, whoever wins will take the position of the boss." A glint of cold light flashed in Xie Wendong's eyes

Xie Wendong had never played billiards, but he still took the cue without hesitation and said, "Alright. Even if I can't play, I have to give it a try; otherwise, I would be disrespecting San Yan Ge." San Yan squinted his eyes and replied, "Hmm, brother, I love to hear that!"

Li Shuang and Gao Qiang nodded in unison and said, "Understood, Dong Ge!" They felt that the boss's words were indeed reasonable; if the boss had not come to fight just now, despite their side having more people, they might not have necessarily gained an advantage.

The newcomers appeared somewhat foolish; they were all friends of Li Shuang. Today, Li Shuang told them that someone was his boss and encouraged them to meet him. Upon meeting, they were greatly disappointed, as the person before them, Xie Wendong, had nothing remarkable about him. Out of respect for Li Shuang, they called Xie Wendong 'Brother Dong,' but they felt no admiration in their hearts. Unexpectedly, this seemingly ordinary person swiftly subdued Gao Qiang, making him obediently serve as a subordinate. Out of respect for Li Shuang, they called Xie Wendong 'Brother Dong' again, but they still felt no admiration in their hearts. It was only after witnessing this ordinary man defeat Gao Qiang that they finally acknowledged him wholeheartedly.

The school bell signaling the end of classes at No. 2 Middle School rang out. Instantly, the school gate was crowded with people. For some reason, the students rushed towards the already narrow school gate. The first one to come out shouted "YES!" as if they had just won a grand prize.

Xie Wendong smiled slightly and said, "I do not mean to blame you; I am merely reminding you that maintaining a clear mind at all times can help you avoid unnecessary losses"

Back in the classroom, Li Shuang recounted what had just happened to Xie Wendong. Xie Wendong asked Li Shuang, "Who is Gao Qiang? What does he do?" "He is the tall guy who used to hang out with me, the one who teamed up with me to rob you last time," Li Shuang said, cautiously glancing at Xie Wendong. Seeing that he was not paying attention, he felt relieved and continued, "That's Gao Qiang. He started getting involved in trouble since elementary school and has a group of followers. Now he is the leader of the delinquents in Class 6 of the third year of junior high."

Xie Wendong shook his head, "No need for that." Li Shuang did not dare to say anything else and placed the prescription under a desk, hoping the boss wouldn't keep it for himself. Before long, the tightly shut door of the classroom was kicked open. The sudden noise startled Li Shuang, and turning around, he saw Gao Qiang enter the classroom with seven or eight people. "Well, you two really have guts, actually waiting here for me!" Gao Qiang laughed loudly to the people behind him, "Haha—look at these two idiots!"

"No problem, just tell me the time and place, but I might not be free later." Xie Wendong responded very readily

Hehe, good

Xie Wendong said seriously: "If we truly want to establish ourselves here, we must first get through tonight. There may be dangers, but what is the point of being out here without courage?" Gao Qiang, upon hearing this, felt a flush on his face and nodded in agreement, saying, "Brother Dong, you decide what to do tonight, I will follow your lead!"

Xie Wendong is at home, with no changes; he remains an obedient and well-behaved son, the pride of his parents. At school, he is still the good student in the eyes of his teachers, an academic star. However, his reputation has spread around the vicinity of No. 2 Middle School, where the local delinquents are aware that a new tyrant has recently emerged—Xie Wendong, known for his fierce fighting skills, wielding a decorative knife as his weapon

After watching for a while, the person nodded and said: "Thank you, Boss Xie. Our elder brother has something to discuss with you. Are you free tonight to come out and gather?"

Xie Wendong nodded slightly, deep in thought and silent

The person nodded slightly and said, "Come to the 'Xinxin' billiard hall after school, our boss will be waiting for you there. What do you think?"

Xie Wendong arrived at the center of the crowd, ignoring the piece of knife in the other person's hand. He noticed an ordinary student wearing a uniform from the Second Middle School in the crowd, who, while rubbing his stomach, asked, "Kid, what are you doing?"

Xie Wendong paused for a moment and bent down to play ball

Xie Wendong slowly stood up and walked towards Gao Qiang, with Li Shuang following behind him. Gao Qiang, looking down at Xie Wendong who was half a head shorter than him, flashed a hint of disdain in his eyes, "You little brat have been quite arrogant lately, trying to steal my people. Li Shuang is just a basket; if you want her, I can give her to you. But I can't swallow this anger, so what do you suggest we do?"

Li Shuang stood at the back of the classroom, raised a chair, and forcefully threw it to the ground. A loud bang echoed in the corridor. The chair shattered into pieces. Li Shuang bent down to pick up a two-foot-long "square piece" and approached Xie Wendong's seat, saying: "Brother Dong, take this; it will come in handy if a fight breaks out."

Three-Eyed laughed and said while playing basketball, "Brother, you have quite the audacity, at least over ten thousand in a month!" The ball missed, and Three-Eyed continued, "Originally, this place was all under my control, but now with you as the second middleman, none of my little brothers can get in. Brother, don't you think you should give us a way out!"

Xie Wendong nodded and asked him: "How many people can you gather?" Li Shuang thought for a moment and said: "There can be about five or six reliable ones! The others are just some blustering fair-weather friends who will definitely be the first to run when the situation turns unfavorable."

Gao Qiang felt an inexplicable jolt in his heart upon hearing the cold voice, but upon seeing Li Shuang, who was smiling behind Xie Wendong, he cast aside a trace of weakness in his heart. "Are you pretending with me?" He grabbed Xie Wendong's hair and pulled it down, raising his leg and violently striking Xie Wendong's face with his knee. Xie Wendong knelt on the ground, blood flowing from his nose. Li Shuang shouted and charged towards Gao Qiang, but was pinned to the ground by several people who had come with him. He raised his leg and violently struck Xie Wendong's face with his knee. Xie Wendong knelt on the ground, blood flowing from his nose. Li Shuang shouted and charged towards Gao Qiang, but was pinned to the ground by several people who had come with him.

Haha! How lively it is!

Xie Wendong stepped back two paces after putting down Gao Qiang. At this moment, others also stood behind Xie Wendong with their hands raised. A clever student quickly brought over a stool; Xie Wendong glanced at him and smiled slightly as he sat down, crossed his legs, and gently traced his fingers across his face.

Li Shuang smiled awkwardly and said, "Qiang Ge, what are you talking about? From now on, we are brothers. Following Dong Ge to venture into the world is definitely the right choice. Come on, let me support you!" Li Shuang helped the swaying Gao Qiang, who swatted at his head and exclaimed, "Damn, you little brat...!" A group of people laughed and walked towards the hospital.

Gao Qiang thought for a moment and said: "Dong Ge, I don't think San Yan has any good intentions in seeking us out. Don't you think that..."

Xie Wendong stood up, patted Gao Qiang on the shoulder, and said, "Hehe! From now on, we are all brothers. What is mine is also yours!" After saying this, he walked out of the classroom. Gao Qiang watched the figure disappearing at the door, and the eager gaze that Xie Wendong had when he patted his shoulder lingered in his mind. At this moment, he felt a sense of inexplicable happiness.

"Dong Ge will come down later, let them wait for a while!" Li Shuang's overweight body was slightly out of breath

Xie Wendong certainly knows the meaning of "Three Eyes." "Are you asking who will take the position of the boss?" Three Eyes remained silent, merely nodding and squinting at Xie Wendong. "I originally had no right to compete with Three Eyes for the position of the boss, but if I give it up empty-handed, the brothers below will say I lack backbone. So, let me put it this way..." Three Eyes frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"

Xie Wendong grabbed Gao Qiang's hair and pulled his head up. At this moment, Gao Qiang was in a daze, one eye swollen and bruised, while the other eye looked hazily at the person in front of him and said: "Kid, this time I admit it, it's because I am not as ruthless as you. Do whatever you want, whether to beat or kill, I, Gao Qiang, will not be considered a human if I don't grunt in response!"

Gao Qiang wore a cruel smile on his face as he kicked Xie Wendong down once again. "What's wrong, have you given up so soon?" Gao Qiang asked, stepping on Xie Wendong's face, then turning to Li Shuang. "This is your worthless boss, now beneath my feet! Haha———"

San Yan was momentarily taken aback, then laughed again, "Brother Xie is a perceptive person! I like it! Haha!" He picked up a cue stick and handed it to Xie Wendong, saying, "Brother, are you interested in taking a shot?"

They were stunned, but Xie Wendong did not stop. With blood-red eyes, they attacked Gao Qiang with fists and kicks. Before long, Gao Qiang was beaten to a pulp, lying on the ground covered in blood. Taking advantage of the others' momentary daze, Li Shuang stood up, casually picked up the square piece of paper hidden under the table, and swung it at the head of the person who had just kicked him. That person let out a muffled groan and fell to his knees, clutching his head as blood flowed through his fingers. Li Shuang shouted, "Brothers, come out!" The person let out a muffled groan and fell to his knees, clutching his head as blood flowed through his fingers. Li Shuang shouted, "Brothers, come out!"

Li Shuang struggled to get up, but four or five people were pressing down on his hands and feet. "Gao Qiang, I curse you..." Before he could finish his sentence, he was kicked in the face by someone nearby, causing Li Shuang to cough and spit out a mouthful of blood

"You remember your mother!" Gao Qiang had been holding back for a long time, and seeing the other party's leading demeanor stirred something within him. He cursed and kicked the other person in the abdomen. The man bent over and stepped back a few paces, requiring his subordinates to support him. At this point, San Yan's subordinates were truly incensed and drew their knives. Li Shuang and Gao Qiang's men also pulled out their weapons from behind them. A confrontation was imminent, with everyone glaring and searching for their opponents. Just then, Xie Wendon walked out of the teaching building with his hands in his pockets, unhurried and calm.

At this moment, Xie Wendong came down from the second-floor corridor, and everyone put away their smiles, standing straight on both sides of the staircase, bowing together and saying: "Hello, Brother Dong!"

Haha—"Three-eyed Haha smiles" "Do brothers keep their word?" "Hehe, if one doesn't keep their word, what is the point of standing up for anything!"

Gao Qiang wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked at the subordinate lying on the ground, and asked, "Brother, what is your name?"

Alright, it's settled. In fact, Xie Wendong had long wanted to meet this three-eyed ruffian, but he had never found the opportunity. He did not expect that today he would take the initiative to approach him. Watching that group leave, he said to Li Shuang and Gao Qiang: "You two were too impulsive; you need to change in the future." Gao Qiang lowered his head and said nothing, while Li Shuang replied loudly: "Brother Dong, they were too arrogant. If they hadn't insulted you first, I wouldn't have acted."

Li Shuang laughed and said, "Well said, well said!" Then he fixed his gaze on the one who was taken away and said, "Bring the little brother out first and teach him well, do you understand? Don't just spout nonsense. Damn!"

Xie Wendong stood confidently in front of San Yan, showing no signs of nervousness, as if everything was under control. The billiard hall was silent, with everyone watching the two individuals standing in the center of the arena. An invisible pressure permeated the air

"Well, let's go. Now we can finally meet the legendary Three-Eyed!" said Xie Wendong half-jokingly. Everyone looked at the relaxed Xie Wendong, feeling even more at ease, and they chatted and laughed all the way to the 'Xinxin' billiard hall

Be careful! San Yan no longer holds back, throwing a punch at Xie Wendong. He steps back to evade the punch, but then receives a kick to the stomach from San Yan, causing Xie Wendong to tumble. Just as he is about to get up, San Yan does not give him the opportunity, delivering another kick to his stomach. His body slides two meters on the ground before coming to a stop. Li Shuang, unable to contain himself any longer, prepares to draw his knife, but Gao Qiang stops him, whispering, "Wait a moment!" Li Shuang, frustrated, stomps his foot, sweat pouring down.

The three-eyed man was also sizing up Xie Wendong, nodding and saying: "You must be the recently famous Xie Wendong, right?"

Xie Wendong and his companions arrived at 'Xinxin', where the billiard hall was completely empty, having been booked exclusively by San Yan. San Yan was holding a cue and playing billiards with a younger associate. Upon seeing Xie Wendong and his group enter, he laughed heartily and welcomed them over. The billiard hall was quite dimly lit, and it was only when he approached that Xie Wendong could clearly see San Yan's appearance. In his early twenties, about 1.78 meters tall, with a crew cut. The first impression of this person was that he was very open and cheerful, always smiling.

Xie Wendong had watched others play and knew how to play. He picked up the cue and aimed at the number 6 ball, saying: "I am also a 'newbie' in this, and there are some things I still need Brother San Yan to guide me on" The ball did not go in

Xie Wendong took off his shirt, and neither Li Shuang nor Gao Qiang expected things to turn out this way. Li Shuang, feeling somewhat worried, asked: "Brother Dong, are we really going to have a one-on-one fight? San Yan is famous for his fighting skills!"

Gao Qiang felt displeased and thought, "Damn, look at your fat appearance. Can't you lose some weight? You start panting like a pig after just a few steps."

"Are you challenging me? Go to hell! Why don't you look in the mirror and see your own bear-like appearance!" He turned to the one sitting there, Xie Wendong, and said: "Kid, come here!"

I wouldn't dare to give advice; we are all cooperating with each other!" One of the three-eyed players scored a goal, "Recently, have you made quite a bit of money at school, my brother?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shuang felt a surge of blood boiling within him. He walked up to the man and, without any warning, threw a punch at his face, sending the sunglasses flying far away. The subordinates of San Yan were taken aback by the sudden attack, showing no regard for face. They all placed their hands inside their clothes, grasping the concealed knives. The leader inside waved his hand to steady his subordinates and said to Li Shuang: "That little brother is new and doesn't know better, please excuse him"

Li Shuang and Gao Qiang were not as happy as the others in the crowd. Li Shuang asked Gao Qiang, "Brother Qiang, what time is it?" Gao Qiang looked at his watch, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "It's just after school, what time do you think it is? Why are you so anxious? I can handle anything that comes my way."

The Xinxin Billiards Hall is located on the left side of the Second Middle School, and students from the school generally come here to play billiards. Firstly, it is close to the school, and secondly, the prices are affordable, at 0.5 yuan per game. (However, the tables are a bit worn!)

There are too many who do not have anything, all are poor students, earning only a few hundred yuan a day!" Xie Wendong wiped the tip of the rod

I said to merge, as this would benefit everyone and no one would suffer losses. " Xie Wendong said, spitting out the words.

Xie Wendong chuckled and fixed his gaze on the Three-Eyed Brother: "There is no need for you to intimidate me, since I am here, I am not afraid of you. In a shootout, we might not necessarily lose. However, this is not beneficial for anyone, is it"

In the teaching building, on the stairs between the first and second floors, more than twenty students are standing on both sides. Each of them has their hands in their pockets and a cigarette in their mouths. Regardless of whether they can smoke or not, they at least feel that they look cool this way. When they see a beautiful girl passing by, they whistle and cheer, "What a catch, what a catch, she's really stunning! So pleasing to the eye!" "Get lost, what kind of eyes do you have? You look like the second aunt of Zhu Bajie! Haha!" "Damn..."

Xie Wendong remained silent, sitting indifferently in his seat. After listening, Li Shuang felt a surge of anger rise to its peak, "Gao Qiang, if you are a man, then let's have a one-on-one duel. Whoever loses will be the other's son"

On that day, Xie Wendong was attending class as usual, listening attentively to every word the teacher said. He believed that regardless of his circumstances or future endeavors, culture would always be the most important. Having an exceptional mind was far more practical than possessing a strong body. After class, Li Shuang ran in from outside and whispered in Xie Wendong's ear, "Brother Dong, the subordinates of San Yan want to see you"

Haha! Merging? Well, that's a good idea. It has its benefits. "The three-eyed one rubbed the cue stick in his hands and said: 'However..."

Li Shuang stared into his eyes and said, "I will wait for you, I just fear that you will not come."

At this moment, the three-eyed man instructed his subordinate to move the billiard table to the side, and then he turned on all the lights in the room. Instantly, the room was brightly lit. He also took off his jacket, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and prepared himself. He found it quite amusing that he was about to face off against a half-grown boy, wondering if it would be embarrassing to go out like this

Xie Wendong chuckled: "The Three-Eyed Brother already knows my little brother's name, I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse for my little brother"

Li Shuang nodded and quickly ran out. San Yan, whose real name is Zhang Zhidong, is a notorious thug in the area around No. 2 Middle School, known for his reckless fighting. Once, during a brawl, he was left with a two-inch-long scar on his forehead. At first glance, it gives the impression of having three eyes. This is how San Yan got his name.

I can't believe it, do you think I don't want to lose weight? It's easier said than done!" Li Shuang glanced at his impatient three-eyed subordinate and said, "You all wait a little longer, our boss will be down shortly.