A Common Courtesy (2)
When he wasn’t transformed into a dragon, his physique was, at best, an average human who was slightly weaker than average, so he couldn’t afford to be embraced with the full force of a strength system.
Shi An was finally able to catch his breath and looked up.
He saw that the ward had been filled with strength-system students for some time and more were coming in that direction when they heard the commotion, a steady stream of tall, muscular men pouring into the ward, looking spectacular.
They were all wounded in some way or another and bandaged and they were all students from the strength system of the Ability Academy and some were even from other academies.
At this moment, they all had one thing in common. Their moist eyes and excited expressions said it all.
Shi An: “…”
His eyelids twitched and he suddenly had a sense of foreboding.
“Student Zhao She and Wei Bocheng already told us everything.” One of them spoke slowly, with tears in his eyes. “You chose to stay behind and face the enemy’s attack to let them leave and notify the others, saving people…”
Shi An: “…”
No, I let them go then, mainly because they were in the way. In order for me to exert my full strength I had to find some sort of excuse to chase them away.
“Especially, facing such fiendish enemies…”
Shi An: “…”
I was a bit more fiendish toward them.
“—Such a noble and selfless act… Such an act of fearless courage… I’ve never seen something like this before!” The student finished a whole paragraph full of emotion.
Shi An: “…”
I am speechless.
The others nodded their heads in agreement.
“In the future, you can look for me anytime you come to our place!” One of the students, who was 2.1 meters tall, patted his chest and said boldly, “As long as it is something I can help with, you can say it!”
Another burly man, 1.9 meters tall with a full beard, raised his thick palm, patted Shi An on the back, almost causing him to stagger, and said emotionally, “I’m ashamed. I was boasting to them earlier that the quality of the contestants sent by the Ability Academy this time was so poor that I could have killed them with one finger, but now it seems I’ve misjudged them, misjudged too far! I have to apologize to you–”
“That’s right, me too,” another strength trainee said. “I’m sorry, bro!”
“That’s right. You’re very strong!”
“Even though this academic exchange has been interrupted, we have agreed that you’re the winner this time!”
“Since you’re the winner, you must be treated like one!”
“Right!”
Shi An felt his ominous premonition being fulfilled step by step.
He took a seamless step back and stammered. “No… no need…”
But as if they hadn’t heard him, the crowd came forward in unison and lifted him, tossing him hard into the air.
“Shi An! Shi An! Shi An!”
Shi An: “…”
Save me.
In the end, Zhao She came forward and stopped the over-enthusiastic approach of the other strength trainees. “Everyone, calm down. Shi An has just returned and hasn’t recovered fully yet. Everyone should return to your ward first–”
Finally, the overly enthusiastic welcome ceremony ended.
The ward also finally reverted to silence.
Zhao She scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. “I didn’t know they would be so excited… How are you? Are you all right? Were you injured anywhere?”
Shi An finally recovered from the dizziness he had just experienced.
He shook his head and said, “… No.”
Hilarious, not even hurt.
Even the only wound on his body was cut by himself.
Immediately afterward, Zhao She briefly told Shi An about his and Wei Bocheng’s actions after Shi An left. He still regretted that he hadn’t brought help in time, looking very guilty.
“Oh, right. After we left, how was the situation in your place? How did you get out of danger?”
Shi An thought for a moment and said, “Roughly… I found a place to hide and waited for help?”
Zhao She breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank heavens that you’re all right. If not, I…”
The young man before him smiled as he narrowed his eyes slightly. His soft hair was gilded with a layer of pale gold. He looked pure and harmless like an angel that had fallen to the earth and his voice was soft and gentle. “Don’t worry. Since I said I could deal with it, I wouldn’t lie to you.”
Zhao She looked at Shi An emotionally.
My God, he was so kind and strong. What a good boy!
Winter in the Aiwen District was a time of short days and long nights.
As they chatted, it was getting dusky outside.
Zhao She escorted Shi An outside, but before he could take a few steps, Shi An seemed to think of something and turned his head toward Zhao She somewhat hesitantly, asking, “Right, you guys… Such an act like kissing, is it some kind of courtesy?”
Zhao She was stunned, obviously not expecting Shi An to ask this question.
He thought for a moment and said, “Yes. In some places, kissing is a very important courtesy.”
Zhao She looked at the young man in front of him suspiciously. “But why are you asking about this?”
Shi An seriously shook his head. “It’s nothing. I’m just casually asking.”
He breathed a sigh of relief in his heart.
Thankfully, it was all right as long as it was a courtesy.
He was the one who had reacted too much before, so it seemed that he would have to return the courtesy properly the next time he saw Mu Heng.
