Chapter Fifty-Four: The Insolent Juvenile Delinquent

Dormitory building.

A dormitory housed four people.

Liu Yu, Zhao Bin, and two other young boys.

Although Zhao Yu was only thirteen years old, he was tall—about one meter seventy—and his body already showed several patches of muscle. Zhao Bin appeared slimmer, but he was still one meter sixty-five in height. Nowadays, with good nutrition, boys matured rapidly; though only twelve or thirteen, their height shot up quickly. While still less powerful than grown men, they were already stronger than most adult women. It was this advantage that allowed the two of them to kill Teacher Li Lianyu.

Liu Yu barked coldly, "Fetch my foot-washing water."

Among the two other boys, the weaker one stiffened involuntarily.

"What’s wrong, don’t want to?" Liu Yu sneered. "You better know your place. I’m here for murder, you’re just here for robbery. I’m naturally several ranks above you. If you don’t bring me the water, I’ll kill you later. Anyway, I’m not yet fourteen, so there’s no criminal responsibility for murder."

Hearing this, the frail boy could only stand up and fetch Liu Yu’s foot-washing water.

Seeing this, Liu Yu burst into hearty laughter. It was only his second day at the reform school, but thanks to his status as a murderer, he automatically held the highest position in the class, already the undisputed leader. He felt that ever since he became a murderer, whether adults or teachers, their gazes carried a hint of fear. Life like this was far better than the miserable days of junior high. A murderer, after all, was the king.

Liu Yu said, "Zhao Bin, how long do you think we’ll have to stay here at the reform school?"

Though Zhao Bin was a year younger and smaller, he was shrewder. "If we behave ourselves on the surface, we’ll probably be out in a year."

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"A year, huh," Liu Yu mused. "Let’s try to get out even sooner. If we don’t stay a full year, I still won’t be fourteen, and you’re only thirteen. We’ll both still be under fourteen—this is a rare golden period; whatever we do in this time, there’s no legal consequence. Should we commit another crime, make a big score, and get rich? I don’t want to be poor any longer."

"You mean," Zhao Bin’s eyes lit up, "Find a wealthy person, kill him, and hide his money. Then we’ll be rich. Brilliant idea, Yu!"

"Ha ha." Liu Yu was already fantasizing about a bright future. "Afterwards, with money, as we grow older, we’ll recruit more kids under fourteen, and become local bosses. Those so-called South Deer, North Horse, East Bear, West Wolf, their gangs are useless. Their men get punished for murder, but ours—kids under fourteen—can’t be prosecuted. Once we cut down those big shots, we’ll be the new bosses."

"Great idea, Yu," Zhao Bin’s eyes shone brighter. "I feel this year at reform school could be our opportunity."

"This place is like prison, what opportunity?" Liu Yu was skeptical.

"Why are people sent here? Everyone's here for committing crimes. We can be the top dogs, recruit younger followers, and when we get out, we can take down East Bear and West Wolf, become real bosses," Zhao Bin said, pounding the table with excitement.

Liu Yu thought it over, "Yeah, damn right. I’ve heard from ex-cons that doing time gives you credentials and connections. Mixing in reform school is the same—credentials and connections."

The two, fired up, almost wanted to toast to their future.

...

Just then, a rough, raspy voice sounded, "I hate to interrupt the visions of two future bosses, but I must regretfully inform you both—you’ll die by my hand today."

Liu Yu and Zhao Bin looked over and saw, in the shadows, a figure wearing a bizarre mask, depicting a strange long-haired man.

The teacher of all generations—Confucius.

This time, the mask was unmistakably that of Confucius. For those who had killed a teacher, wearing such a mask was a pointed mockery.

The figure was, of course, Shen Ye.

Shen Ye had already scanned the two boys with the Eye of Justice.

Above Liu Yu’s head appeared: "Zhao Yu, thirteen years old, a young hoodlum, murderer of Teacher Li Lianyu, regularly beats classmates, has raped a girl. Sin value: ten."

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Above Zhao Bin’s head appeared: "Zhao Bin, twelve years old, a young hoodlum, murderer of Teacher Li Lianyu, regularly beats classmates, raped a girl together. Sin value: ten."

Tsk tsk, these two boys—only twelve and thirteen—had already raped a girl. Unbelievable. But since this hadn’t been exposed, it seemed the girl hadn’t dared to report it, letting them get away with it. All the more reason for Shen Ye to resolve to kill them.

Liu Yu, seeing Shen Ye’s appearance, couldn’t help but laugh, "Look at this guy, he’s hilarious, wearing a weird mask."

"Yeah, the mask even has a big beard, looks really dumb," Zhao Bin nodded, laughing uncontrollably.

Shen Ye, amused, replied in a hoarse, altered voice, "Tsk tsk, I’ve heard an old saying: ambition does not depend on age. Now I finally understand what young prodigies are. When I met local bosses like Ma Guosheng and Lu Youwei, they were all nervous. But you two kids—seeing me, not a hint of nerves, still laughing. Not bad, not bad."

"I thought that killing two kids wouldn’t mean much. But your crimes leave me no choice."

"But now, you’ve brought me amusement."

Though only thirteen, Liu Yu often mixed with local thugs, so he knew well about the four bosses of N County—South Horse, North Deer, East Bear, West Wolf. He also knew South Horse, Ma Guosheng, and North Deer, Lu Youwei, had both fallen to a certain Chopstick Demon. It was said this Chopstick Demon was ruthless.

His heart tightened, "You’re the Chopstick Demon, killer of countless men."

"Bingo, you guessed right," Shen Ye praised. "But you’re mistaken. What do you mean, killer of countless men? I’m much maligned. I haven’t killed many. And I guarantee, every person I’ve killed deserved it. Like you two."

Liu Yu, hearing the man admit he was the Chopstick Demon, couldn’t help but gasp. It was said this demon was a formidable expert; even Lu Youwei, who had a gun, was killed by him.

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