Cangmang Asks the Way 1: Guardian of the Lamp

The night was deep, and Zhou Zhenhua tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. The scene he had glimpsed outside the toilet earlier replayed in his mind—Cang Tianci, amidst the foul smell and swarms of mosquitoes, calmly working on his exercises. That thin back, like a needle, pierced the heart of this iron-willed coach. He thought again of his earlier decision: yes, he could create a study space for him in the storage room, and he'd have someone arrange it tomorrow. But this boy had an extremely strong sense of pride and an unyielding spirit; how could he get him to willingly accept his help? After much thought, he finally decided to force him to accept under the guise of "order" and "for the benefit of the sports school." Sometimes, dealing with such a stubborn child required a bit of "domineering" methods. With this thought, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly, and his chaotic thoughts returned to calm.

The next day, after training ended, Zhou Zhenhua stopped Tianci and bluntly asked if he could find him a quiet place to study. As expected, Tianci refused, saying, "Coach Zhou, really, there's no need. I...I have a way. I don't want to make an exception and cause you trouble."

"This isn't a discussion, it's an order." Zhou Zhenhua's face was stern, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Your time isn't just yours; it's also a valuable resource for the sports school. A balanced approach to both academics and athletics is the school's hallmark and the county's pride. Your current study method is not only inefficient, but the constant late nights and lack of energy will also drag down the morale and progress of the entire training team. Do you think I'm discussing how to be comfortable with you? I'm giving you a task—you must efficiently and healthily master both academics and athletics."

He paused, his tone softening slightly, but still firm: "I've already had the place prepared, and the key is with Uncle Geng. You have to go, whether you like it or not. This is for the overall benefit of the sports school, and it's an order."

He gave Tianci no further chance to refute and turned to leave.

Looking at Coach Zhou's tall and broad back, Cang Tianci couldn't help but recall the phone call he had with his father a few days ago, in which he asked about asking someone to bring him eggs.

The father paused for a moment on the other end of the line, then said in a trembling voice, "Tianci... Father... Father wanted to send it, but I haven't had time yet... Principal Zhou, he..."

At both ends of the phone, the father and son remained silent. Deep gratitude and sorrow were transmitted through the telephone line, eventually turning into the father's repeated admonitions: "Tianci, you must study hard, strive for excellence, and achieve the best results to repay Principal Zhou. Our Cang family will remember this kindness for a lifetime."

Thinking of this, Cang Tianci's eyes reddened, his throat tightened, and a warm current surged from his dantian, flowing throughout his body.

Grandpa Geng opened the storage room door with a click using an old-fashioned brass key, raising a cloud of fine dust that danced in the sunlight streaming in from the high window.

"Look, this is it." Grandpa Geng stepped aside and began to chatter on, "Principal Zhou cleaned it up himself, he was busy all afternoon. Look, he even found some wooden strips to level the table legs. He was worried about the safety of the light wires and the fan, so he personally supervised the exposed wiring and the cable channels I installed... Tsk tsk, I've been guarding this gate for over ten years, and I've never seen a principal care about his students like this."

Cang Tianci stood at the doorway, stunned. He stared at the cramped little room, only six or seven square meters, still piled with miscellaneous items. A small clearing in the middle held an extremely old but spotlessly clean desk, its legs carefully propped up with wooden planks. An old table lamp sat on the desk, its wires neatly secured along the wall in white conduits, leading to a power outlet outside the door. A brand-new ceiling fan hung from the ceiling, clearly recently installed.

In an instant, the buzzing mosquitoes in the toilet last night, the lingering suffocating smell, the itchy red swelling on the back of my hand... all contrasted sharply with the simple yet warm and welcoming space before me.

His eyes instantly welled up with tears, and his body trembled slightly with excitement. He seemed to see Coach Zhou's calloused hands, which were used to giving orders, clumsily yet meticulously leveling the table legs and securing the wires for him.

He turned abruptly, faced the direction of Zhou Zhenhua's office, bowed deeply, and remained silent for a long time. At that moment, Coach Zhou was no longer just his coach, but his mentor, a mentor he would protect for the rest of his life.

Grandpa Geng looked at him, sighed, and nodded with relief: "Kid, it's good that you know what's going on. Principal Zhou told you to focus on your studies here and not to worry. If you need anything, just let me know." The old man patted his shoulder and walked out with a limp.

Cang Tianci walked to the desk, his fingers tracing the rough yet clean surface, as if he could touch the heavy weight of care and expectation. He put down his backpack, straightened his back, as if facing a solemn ceremony. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The air still carried the scent of old things, yet strangely, it brought him peace. This small space of tranquility was a "dojo" that Coach Zhou had painstakingly carved out for him from the harshness of reality. It was different from the life-or-death struggle at the foot of the cliff, different from the power and speed of the ring, and different from the ascetic self-discipline in the toilet. It was a kind of protection, a kind of support, another compassionate manifestation of "Tao" in the human world. His master had said "the dojo in the mortal world," and this was it. Not only must one maintain one's heart amidst the filth, but one must also move forward in grace, never losing one's will, never failing one's expectations. He quietly incorporated this heavy warmth into the flow of his breath in his dantian, as if transforming it into a more stable and enduring power. Every inch of this space was his new dojo.

When the midterm exam results were posted, it was like a bombshell dropped on Jixian Middle School. At the very top of the list, Cang Tianci's name stood out, his total score dominating the first-year students by a landslide.

Mathematics: perfect score. Physics: near perfect score. Even subjects that were previously considered weaker, such as Chinese and English, achieved surprisingly high scores.

This achievement was hard for those proud and arrogant students in the gifted youth program to believe.

"My God! This score, is he even human?"

"Perfect score in math!"

"Doesn't he have to go to the sports school for training every day? Where does he find the time?"

For a moment, the corridors and classrooms were filled with shocked discussions. Some people stared at Tianci's name on the list, secretly clenching their fists; others whispered sourly, "Aren't athletes generally simple-minded and physically strong? How come he..."

Inside the office, homeroom teacher Xu Wenyuan adjusted his glasses, pointed at Cang Tianci's name, and said to the other subject teachers, "Look at this child, he's truly a gem. Calm-minded, hardworking, and his methods are on the right track." His usually stern and serious face was now slightly flushed with excitement. His previous worries about Cang Tianci's well-rounded academic and athletic abilities had completely vanished in the face of his outstanding results.

During the Chinese language test review class, Mr. Zhou, who was usually carefree and unrestrained, became unusually serious. He slowly picked up Cang Tianci's Chinese language test paper, turned to the composition section, cleared his throat, adjusted his glasses, and began to read Cang Tianci's composition aloud in his melodious tone.

The essay was titled "My 'Way'". There were no empty discussions between the lines, but rather the "hibernating dragon returning to its hiding place" in martial arts and the "accumulation of knowledge and the release of talent" in learning. It connected the father's hunched back on the ridge of the field with the sweat on the ring. The words were simple, but they had a tenacious power and a noble spirit that burst out of the paper.

The students listened intently; the classroom was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. After reading the last paragraph, Teacher Zhou paused for a moment, then looked at Cang Tianci with a complex expression, and slowly said, "This article has substance and vitality; it's a rare and excellent piece!"

At that moment, Cang Tianci became the dazzling star of the entire school. During breaks, students from other classes would pretend to pass by, peeking and trying to catch a glimpse of what this legendary "top scholar in both literature and martial arts" looked like. The students' eyes were filled with admiration, envy, and even a hint of looking up to him.

During the break, Song Wei excitedly patted his shoulder: "You're amazing, Tianci! I knew you could do it!" Her smile was like pure sunshine.

Amidst the noise, Tianci felt a calm gaze fall upon him. He looked up and met the eyes of his deskmate, Lin Ruoxi. Her gaze held both admiration and respect. She smiled at him and gave him a thumbs-up.

Not far away, Wang Xiuzhu looked at Cang Tianci with a sincere smile on her face. However, when she thought about the gap between herself and Cang Tianci, the light in her eyes dimmed slightly as she smiled.

Standing quietly outside the crowd, Lin Wanqing leaned on her cane. Her gaze followed Tianci, watching him being congratulated, watching him smile, watching his clear eyes respond. When Tianci finally crossed the crowd and met her eyes, she gently pursed her lips, giving him a smile more relaxed and brighter than usual. Then, she subtly pointed at him with her fingertip, then at her heart, and finally gave him a thumbs-up. After making this small gesture, she turned her head slightly, a blush creeping up her ears.

However, this dazzling glory, like sunlight, casts a deeper shadow the brighter it shines.

Zheng Tao stared at the glaring ranking below his name on the results board, his face so dark it could drip water. Third in the entire grade—this should have been a source of pride, but at this moment, it felt like a profound disgrace to him.

On what grounds?

How could a country bumpkin, a poor boy who used to stutter, steal the spotlight that should have been his? How much effort did he put in to maintain his authority as class monitor and become the focus of attention for teachers and classmates? He studied hard and even persuaded his father to use his connections to get new teaching equipment and books for the gifted program... Wasn't all he did just to gain the status of being the center of attention and that sense of entitlement?

But now, all the limelight has been stolen by Cang Tianci. The teachers are full of praise for him, and the classmates are talking about and admiring him in private. Even... even Lin Ruoxi, whom he secretly admired but who had always been indifferent to him, has started to show favor to Cang Tianci.

A sense of defeat, a profound sense of defeat and crisis, gnawed at Zheng Tao's heart like a venomous snake. For the first time in his life, he felt his position was being challenged so severely, and the challenger was someone he had never taken seriously before.

Anger burned like a red-hot iron, searing his heart. He pinched his palm hard, forcibly suppressing his anger, thinking: How can I put this country bumpkin's arrogance to rest?

He really wanted to directly confront Cang Tianci and use his family's influence and his position as class monitor to crush this ungrateful jerk. But then his father's admonition, "A wise man does not stand under a crumbling wall," echoed in his ears. Getting involved personally and getting himself covered in mud wasn't worth it. Right in front of him were Zhao Xiaohu and Wang Yaowu, two ready-made, eager "knives."

As school was ending, Zheng Tao bumped into Cang Tianci in the corridor. Despite his disgust, he offered a sincere congratulatory message: "Cang Tianci, congratulations! That's an amazing achievement. It seems that the training at the sports school hasn't affected your studies at all; in fact, it's given you more energy. That's a phenomenon worth exploring."

His smile was polite, and his tone even carried a hint of inquiry. But the moment Cang Tianci's eyes met his, he deliberately activated the Hidden Dragon Technique, and his mind became clear. He clearly "discerned" a deliberately suppressed chilling aura from the other party's polite demeanor.

Tianci understood perfectly well, yet remained completely unmoved. He had seen too many of these hypocritical tricks in Xiqiao Village and at Jixian No. 1 Primary School. He simply met the other's gaze and replied in the same calm tone, "Thank you, just lucky. Squad Leader Zheng, you flatter me." With that, he left first.

Zheng Tao stood there, his smile froze slightly, and the coldness in his eyes deepened.

Cang Tianci's amazing achievement not only stirred up a huge wave in Zheng Tao's heart, but also dealt a devastating blow to Wang Yaowu, who was sitting in the back row.

On the list, his name was almost at the very bottom, creating a stark contrast with Cang Tianci's glaring name, like heaven and hell.

His fists clenched so tightly under the desk that they cracked, and his chest heaved violently with suppressed anger.

In Xiqiao Village, he was the village secretary's son, the king of the kids, and a "king" who could push Cang Tianci into the pond at will without anyone daring to intervene. But here, he became a nobody with the worst grades, ignored by everyone, while the "stutterer" he once trampled underfoot suddenly became a figure on cloud nine, receiving endless adulation.

This dramatic fall from grace, from the heights of success to the depths of despair, felt like a dull knife constantly slicing at his pride. It wasn't just a defeat; it was a complete denial of all his past sense of superiority.

"It's all his fault! If it weren't for him, how could I have looked so bad?"

"How could he... he must have cheated!"

A wicked thought grew wildly. He needed to see Cang Tianci fall, as if only then could he catch his breath.

His gaze instinctively searched for allies, first looking at Zheng Tao, who had already left, and then landing on Zhao Xiaohu, whose face was equally ashen.

Zhao Xiaohu's situation was even worse. Having entered through connections, his grades this time were not only at the bottom of the gifted class, but also below average even in the regular class. The pressure from his father and his deep anxiety about his own learning abilities made him desperately want to find an external outlet.

He leaned closer to Wang Yaowu, his voice low and venomous: "Yaowu, did you see that? What makes you think you can do this? Just because you're good at pretending? Who knows what shady methods you might have used... I noticed Brother Tao's expression was off just now too."

Wang Yaowu was already seething with anger, and Zhao Xiaohu's words were like gasoline poured on a flame. The two exchanged a glance, both seeing the same jealousy and destructive desire in each other's eyes.

Just then, Zheng Tao, who had already gone downstairs, returned, seemingly having forgotten something. He glanced at Wang and Zhao huddled together, paused for a moment, then casually walked over, took two cans of imported cola from his elegant handbag, and handed them to them, his tone as indifferent as if discussing the weather: "Oh, they're still here. Want some? A relative brought them from home, they're just so-so."

Watching Wang Yaowu and Zhao Xiaohu accept the Coke with a flattered expression, Zheng Tao continued with a half-smile, "It's really disappointing to see these irrelevant people jumping around like this. The atmosphere in this gifted youth class needs a serious overhaul, don't you think? Brute force won't work; we need to use our brains and make it 'legitimate'." After saying this, he gave the two of them a meaningful look and turned to leave.

Wang Yaowu and Zhao Xiaohu held the can of ice-cold cola as if they were holding a tacit approval and order from "the higher-ups," and the evil thoughts in their chests grew wildly like poisonous vines that had been watered. At this moment, a three-way alliance with Zheng Tao as its invisible core, each harboring their own ulterior motives, became clearer and more dangerous.

The autumn sunset cast long shadows of them, which intertwined and twisted against the wall, resembling a restless monster.