Chapter 17

"Is this all you've got, yet you still boast about punching the spotted tiger in the Southern Mountains and kicking the dragon in the Northern Sea?"

As Qin Feng saw Li Tianyuan's pitiful state through the gaps between his fingers, he felt a mix of amusement and exasperation. The gloom of being locked in the labor education center also lightened a bit. With this guy's skills, the phrases "punching the nursing home in the Southern Mountains and kicking the kindergarten in the Northern Sea" would be more fitting.

However, the few boys who had been chasing Qin Feng were all weak and young. Seeing Li Tianyuan charge over like a ferocious demon, they scattered before he even made a move. But when Qin Feng saw who was behind Li Tianyuan, he couldn't help but feel a bit uneasy.

Previously, Qin Feng had appeared to be crawling around on the ground, but in reality, he hadn't been seriously injured. He had only taken a few punches and kicks on his arms and back. He just wanted to wait for the guards to come and disperse the children so he could return to the dormitory quietly.

But Li Tianyuan's arrival disrupted Qin Feng's plans. This guy wasn't good at fighting, but he was excellent at attracting enemies. The most people were chasing him.

"You're useless, stay back."

Just as Qin Feng was considering whether to crouch and protect his head again, Li Tianyuan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood and, in a hoarse voice, shouted at the crowd, "If you have the guts, come at me. He's new and doesn't know anything!"

As he spoke, Li Tianyuan recklessly charged at the crowd, which made Qin Feng, standing behind him, pause in surprise.

Over the years, whenever someone bullied his sister, Qin Feng would always stand in front of her. Now, Li Tianyuan's actions warmed Qin Feng's heart, and he began to view this big guy differently.

"Should I step in?"

Seeing Li Tianyuan being beaten to the ground in just a few moments, Qin Feng hesitated. Of course, no one could see his thoughts from his crouched, trembling position.

When Qin Feng saw a group of armed police running over through the gaps between his fingers, he immediately dismissed the idea and hugged himself tighter. Even if he didn't act, Li Tianyuan would be rescued from his dire situation.

Sure enough, with the sharp sound of a whistle, the armed police, armed with rubber batons, began to disperse the fighting crowd. These street kids were no match for the armed police. A few who were不服气 (unwilling to back down) were instantly knocked to the ground by the rubber batons.

A few minutes later, the originally bustling playground finally calmed down. Apart from the boys crouching on the ground, a few were lying on the ground. As the saying goes, "Two fists can't fight four hands." Those lying on the ground were naturally Li Tianyuan's subordinates.

"Send the injured to the infirmary."

An old police officer in his fifties appeared on the playground, his gaze sweeping over the crouching boys. He said, "Who can tell me what happened? Is anyone willing to take responsibility?"

Although the old police officer's voice wasn't very loud, no one dared to answer. The scene was so quiet that a pin could be heard dropping. Even those who were moaning in pain stopped, sensing the old police officer's anger.

"A bunch of cowards who can't take responsibility for their actions. Weren't you all so brave just now?"

The old police officer's words made a few of the ringleaders look up, but they immediately lowered their heads after a glance at him. Challenging the "King of Hell" was pure suicide.

The old police officer's name was Hu Baoguo. Before his current role, he had led a battalion in the Sino-Vietnamese War, earning great honors. He still had two bullet wounds on his body. When he got angry, the aura of a killer once made a boy wet his pants, earning him the nickname "King of Hell."

"Nobody wants to speak?"

Hu Baoguo glared and said, "Li Tianyuan, two days in solitary confinement. Everyone else, run fifty laps around the playground. No breakfast tomorrow. If you don't memorize the regulations, no lunch either."

"Director, isn't corporal punishment a bit excessive?"

Upon hearing Hu Baoguo's words, Li Fan, who was standing beside him, frowned. From a psychological perspective, corporal punishment only bred resistance and had little effect on the boys' reform.

"What corporal punishment? I'm just letting these boys burn off their excess energy. Look at them, they're all full of energy. Should I let them fight again?"

Hu Baoguo glared at Li Fan and said, "Do you know why the military has such strong discipline? It's through ideological education and intense training. If these boys are too tired to get up every day, do you think they'll have the energy to fight?"

"Alright, Director, you're right. I have a request, can you consider it?"

Li Fan's gaze suddenly fell on Qin Feng, who was crouching on the ground. After some thought, he whispered a few words to Hu Baoguo. The old police officer looked at Qin Feng with surprise.

"Director, I don't accept this. They were so many, why am I the only one in solitary confinement?"

Just as Li Fan and Hu Baoguo were discussing something, Li Tianyuan, who had been beaten to a daze, seemed to regain his senses. He wiped the blood from his mouth, staggered a few steps forward, and shouted, "They should be in solitary confinement, Director. I request to be punished with running."

"Huh? Is this big guy's brain damaged?" Li Tianyuan's words made Qin Feng pause. Wasn't solitary confinement for two days better than running fifty laps around the playground? How could this guy not figure that out?

"How long have you been here, and how many times have you fought?"

Li Tianyuan's words made Hu Baoguo furious. Without regard for Li Tianyuan's bruised and battered body, he slapped him on the head and shouted, "Go to solitary confinement and behave. If you fight again, I'll skin you alive."

After hearing the director's words, Li Fan couldn't help but smile bitterly. He wondered why the higher-ups had assigned Hu Baoguo to this position. Did they think his war hero status would make the boys behave?

When the "King of Hell" unleashed his fury, the previously lively boys instantly wilted like frost-bitten eggplants. They stood up and lined up to start running, while Li Tianyuan was led to the solitary confinement room by a guard.

"Hold it, you... I mean you."

The "King of Hell" suddenly pointed at Qin Feng, who was standing at the back of the crowd, and said, "You also go to solitary confinement for one day. Follow him."

"Me?" Qin Feng was taken aback, pointing at his nose. "Report to the government, I... I didn't fight. Why should I be in solitary confinement?"

Qin Feng appeared somewhat dull, but his mind was sharp. He could guess that solitary confinement was not a good thing, seeing Li Tianyuan's miserable face.

"About this..."

Although Director Hu was domineering, he was not unreasonable. Hearing Qin Feng's words, he couldn't help but look at Li Fan, who was Qin Feng's squad leader. If Li Fan suggested putting Qin Feng in solitary confinement, even the director would have to give some face.

Seeing the director's gaze, Li Fan stepped forward and said, "Qin Feng, you fought on your first day in the juvenile center. One day in solitary confinement is already lenient. Do you have any objections?"

"No objections!"

To Li Fan's surprise, Qin Feng didn't say another word and obediently followed Li Tianyuan to the solitary confinement room, leaving Li Fan with his prepared words unspoken.

"Why are you picking on a kid?"

After Qin Feng and Li Tianyuan left, Hu Baoguo looked at his subordinate with dissatisfaction. He, the "King of Hell," was always fair. He had clearly seen that the kid hadn't fought.

"Director, Qin Feng is different from the other juvenile delinquents."

Li Fan, who had no say in the director's decisions, still patiently explained, "Do you know? He was sent here for killing five people. He also has martial arts skills. Do you think such a kid would be so obedient?"

From a psychological perspective, someone who committed such a heinous crime would generally be violent and unstable, with a twisted psyche. Qin Feng's calm and indifferent demeanor was highly abnormal.

Therefore, Li Fan deliberately wanted to put Qin Feng in solitary confinement to see if he would react impulsively to unfair treatment. If Qin Feng showed emotional instability, Li Fan could provide targeted psychological guidance.

However, Qin Feng was far more difficult to deal with than Li Fan had imagined. He obediently went to solitary confinement, making Li Fan's efforts feel futile, like hitting a wall of cotton.

"Huh? Is that so? You're quite clever, kid. Keep an eye on him, and make sure nothing happens."

Hearing Li Fan's explanation, Hu Baoguo was also surprised. He had initially thought Qin Feng was a good kid, but now he realized he was the top killer in the juvenile center. Indeed, one cannot judge a person by their appearance.

Although solitary confinement was unpleasant, running fifty laps around the playground was also exhausting. It took nearly two hours for the boys to finish, and they collapsed like dead dogs on the ground before being herded back to their dormitories by their squad leaders.

"Strong-willed, able to assess the situation, and with a foundation in Bajiquan. This kid is a treasure!"

After the crowd dispersed and the lights on the playground were turned off, no one noticed that the old man in the northeast corner, who was tending to his vegetables, had been standing there, deep in thought, looking in the direction of the solitary confinement room.

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