Chapter 28: The Li Siblings (Part One)

“Big brother, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and buy some more safflower oil, can’t you see we’re almost out?”

This was the first sentence I heard as I slowly woke from unconsciousness. The pain in my body had eased considerably, and now I could distinctly feel the burning yet cool sensation at my wounds—clearly the result of medicine being applied. I couldn’t help but open my eyes, and the first sight that greeted me was a pair of beautiful eyes brimming with care and sympathy. Those bright eyes, like a shining moon and as deep as black pearls, gazed steadily at me, and a delicate, fair face was fully revealed before me…

“Oh, you’re awake?” The girl before me, her voice tinged with excitement and happiness, called softly to me, prompting me to finally take in my surroundings.

This was a small room—truly small, so cramped it could hardly be called a room. It was shabby, at least a hundred times more dilapidated than my own home. The simple furnishings all spoke of poverty and hardship; it was clear I had been brought here by the burly man I saw before losing consciousness, rescued from those four thugs. And this was his home.

A warm feeling welled up in my chest, gratitude overflowing. Had that man not saved me, I might have spent a month or two in the hospital. Xia Jianren, the spoiled son of a powerful family, was arrogant and domineering, treating others with utter disregard. I was just an ordinary boy, without background or influence. Even if he killed me, his father and uncle could easily help him escape justice. Only now did I truly understand the dangers of society; in my reborn arrogance, I had recklessly challenged Xia Jianren without any real strength or sense of impending crisis. If not for the burly man’s intervention, I would surely be in the hospital right now.

“Cough…” Overcome with anger, I coughed violently. Grasping the hand of the girl beside me, who looked about seventeen or eighteen, I asked urgently, “Your brother—where is your brother? I need to see him…”

Seeing my pale face, the girl smiled gently. “Your injuries aren’t too serious, just superficial wounds. My brother went out to buy some safflower oil for you and will be back soon. Just wait for him here.”

I nodded slightly, noticing then that the girl’s complexion was somewhat sallow and her clothes were worn and cheap—this family truly had nothing. Grateful, I watched her as she gently tended to the wound on my forehead, managing a weak smile. “Thank you, and thank your brother as well.”

“No need for thanks. We should have taken you to the hospital, but… but my brother didn’t have any money, so we could only bring you home. But don’t worry, my brother often helps others and brings people home, so I know how to tell if injuries are serious or not. Rest here—when my brother gets back, he’ll send you home. You’ll still be sore tomorrow, but at least you’ll be able to walk around without much trouble.” She winked at me with a light laugh.

Relieved to hear my injuries weren’t serious, I relaxed. After all, those thugs had only used their fists and feet; aside from the two blows to my back and head, there were no weapons involved—just superficial wounds, painful but not severe. And with my mother working the night shift at the factory tonight, she wouldn’t worry if I didn’t come home, so I settled back onto the bed, letting the girl gently wipe the swelling and bruises on my body.

“Little sister, I’m back!” Just as I was about to ask the girl about her brother, a loud voice rang out from the doorway. She smiled sweetly, saying, “That’s my brother.”

As I nodded, the curtain to the bedroom was pushed aside, and in walked the man who had saved me. He had shed his workman’s clothes and now wore only a sleeveless undershirt, revealing his sturdy, muscular frame. I was just about to get up from the bed, but he strode over, laughing heartily, and gently pushed me back down.

“Haha, little brother, looks like your injuries are nothing serious. When I saw those four guys earlier, they looked like real scoundrels, so I stepped in to help. Seeing you safe, I’m relieved.” He clapped me heartily on the shoulder. I smiled wryly at him—if I didn’t know I’d been reborn in 1997, I might have thought I’d traveled back to ancient times and was face-to-face with a legendary outlaw. Yet, this burly man truly did radiate a heroic, larger-than-life aura.

“Thank you so much, big brother. My name is Xiao Qiang, a student at Fourth High in City C. Those four thugs were sent by a powerful classmate to rough me up. If it weren’t for you, I’d probably be in the hospital for a month. I’m really grateful.” I genuinely meant it. Though his family was poor, he was always willing to help others—such people are rare in today’s world.

“Hey, little brother, no need for thanks. We met today because of fate. My name is Li Dabiao, from the northeast of China. We northerners are straightforward—helping you was nothing, so don’t mention it.” Li Dabiao grinned broadly.

“That’s right, my brother loves helping people. Though we’re poor, being kind is our family’s tradition. Neither my brother nor I would ever ignore someone in need.” The girl chimed in with a smile.

I could only manage a forced smile, keeping my gratitude in my heart. Li Dabiao sat down and began chatting with me. His sister, seeing us engrossed in conversation, took the washbasin and went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. Through our talk, I learned that Li Dabiao had recently come to City C due to certain circumstances. His family had once been a renowned martial arts clan, famous in the north for their skills in fist and leg techniques. Sadly, with the advent of firearms, his family gradually declined, and by his generation, only he, his sister, and their mother remained. Though the clan had faded, their legacy of standing up for justice was deeply ingrained in his heart.

“Brother Li, are you visiting City C, or are you planning to stay?” He hadn’t said why he’d come, so I didn’t press, just asked with a smile.

Li Dabiao’s expression dimmed for a moment, but he quickly recovered, smiling. “Haha, I might stay for a while, but who knows when I’ll leave.”

I sensed that this forthright man had his own hardships and could only nod. “Well, Brother Li, whether you stay or go, you’ll always have a friend in me.”

As we continued chatting, I learned that the Li family was one of the three great leg-fighting clans in northern martial arts, known as the Whirlwind Li Leg. It was a major school. When Li Dabiao mentioned martial arts, it suddenly hit me—I now possessed nearly all the knowledge on Earth in my mind, so surely martial arts were included as well? The treasure was right in my head, yet I hadn’t thought to use it! Damn, the martial arts of all the schools in China were already stored in my mind, and I hadn’t realized it. If only I had practiced more—what a waste…

Now, I felt even more confident in facing Xia Jianren’s provocations. Seriously, if I focused on practicing these martial arts—though they were only external techniques and lacked the legendary inner energy training—I didn’t need to become a martial arts master. At least I could handle those thugs, right? The thought made me smile inwardly.

Soon, Li Dabiao’s sister finished preparing dinner, and we gathered by the bedside to eat. Looking at the steamed buns and vegetables in front of me, I couldn’t help but ask, “Brother Li, with your martial arts skills, why are you working at construction sites and living such a hard life?”

Li Dabiao glanced at me and sighed helplessly. “These days, everything depends on money. Martial arts count for nothing. I used to work as a security guard at a hotel, but I couldn’t stand the arrogance of those wealthy people, so I quit after a few days!” As he spoke, his eyes flashed with anger, and he took a fierce bite of the yellowed steamed bun.