C1 Unfriendly People

On a summer night outside a residential complex, a young man in his twenties leaned against his motorcycle, a cigarette in one hand and a bottle of alcohol in the other, scrutinizing each person who exited the complex.

His name was Lee Fei. His education might not have been extensive, but don't be mistaken—he wasn't heartbroken. He was there to collect a debt.

Three months prior, his good friend Shen Xuecheng had approached him for a loan to open a hotpot restaurant. He had the location picked out but was short on funds and hoped Lee Fei could help.

Lee Fei was initially reluctant and his better judgment told him to refuse—after all, he was hardly well-off himself, with meager savings in the bank.

However, Shen Xuecheng warmly invited him to see the restaurant space and shared his vision for its promising future, even treating him to a meal. Convinced of Shen Xuecheng's solid family background and his ability to repay, Lee Fei eventually agreed to the loan.

Lee Fei handed over his credit card with a 100,000 yuan limit to Shen Xuecheng, not realizing it would become a nightmare. The first month, Shen Xuecheng made payments on time, but by the second month, problems arose. Not only did Shen Xuecheng miss payments, but he also maxed out the credit card. Lee Fei was unable to pay off the 100,000 yuan debt.

Debt collectors bombarded him with calls and messages, disrupting even his parents' lives. A lawyer warned that if he failed to settle the debt, he would be sued and could end up in jail.

When Lee Fei reached out to Shen Xuecheng for an explanation, he was initially met with excuses and eventually, Shen Xuecheng blocked his number and avoided any meetings.

After some digging, Lee Fei discovered the hotpot restaurant was actually someone else's property—it had all been a scam by Shen Xuecheng.

As it turned out, Shen Xuecheng had become addicted to online gambling and had been deceiving all the friends he could over the past few months.

At the very least, others had gotten Shen Xuecheng to write them a promissory note, but Lee Fei had no proof whatsoever. He resolved to confront Shen Xuecheng and settle the matter of the overdraft once and for all; he couldn't let it drag on any longer.

The summer weather was stifling, and even at night, Lee Fei was drenched in sweat. The relentless mosquitoes only added to his misery. Just then, a man and a woman emerged from the neighborhood. The woman was strikingly beautiful with a model's physique, while the man, despite being quite a bit shorter, was dressed to the nines.

They seemed to have just finished dinner and were heading out for a walk to aid digestion. Upon spotting the man, Lee Fei silently approached and blocked their path, beginning to say, "Xuecheng, I..."

Shen Xuecheng cut him off, "Can't you see I'm busy? Let's talk tomorrow."

Lee Fei's anger flared. He grabbed Shen Xuecheng's collar and shouted, "You jerk, you've been dodging me for days. Do you have any idea what I've been through?"

His raised voice drew the attention of onlookers.

Shen Xuecheng brushed off his hand, looking distressed, "This is designer wear. Don't ruin it."

The woman, growing impatient, pointed at Lee Fei and asked, "Ah Cheng, who is this?"

"Just a friend. Don't mind it. Go on ahead and wait for me, will you? Be good," Shen Xuecheng replied soothingly to the woman.

She scoffed and walked away.

Turning back to Lee Fei, Shen Xuecheng said with annoyance, "What's with your impatience? It's only a hundred thousand yuan. I'll pay you back tomorrow, principal and interest. You've been drinking, haven't you? Cut it out."

Lee Fei extended his hand, insisting loudly, "I want it now."

"You want, want, want... what do you want?" Shen Xuecheng retorted contemptuously. "I'm laying it out here. Either sue me in court or just wait patiently at home. When I feel like it, I'll pay you back."

With that, Shen Xuecheng disregarded Lee Fei's livid expression and turned to catch up with his girlfriend.

Lee Fei stepped forward and seized Shen Xuecheng once more, declaring, "You're not getting out of this. If you don't pay me back today, you're not going anywhere."

Without looking back, Shen Xuecheng retorted, "Get lost. You're someone who's never seen real money in your life." After his words, he spun around and shoved Lee Fei to the ground, hurling insults as he continued toward his girlfriend.

Surrounded by judgmental stares, Lee Fei was filled with a mix of injustice and rage. [I can't stand this anymore.]

Overcome with anger, Lee Fei charged at Shen Xuecheng, tackling him to the ground and raining down punches on his face. Caught off guard, Shen Xuecheng was powerless to retaliate and was soon knocked out cold.

His girlfriend stood by, unsure of what to do until Lee Fei got up; then she began to scream for help.

Lee Fei didn't spare another glance at the friend lying on the ground. The woman's loud cries for help sent a wave of panic through him. He rushed back to his motorcycle and sped off down the southern road.

Eventually, he pulled over by the riverbank. The river, reflecting the serene and delicate moonlight, flowed endlessly. Lee Fei gazed at the tranquil water, feeling an urge to leap into its depths.

The money wasn't recovered, and now, with a battered face, he'd likely owe even more. It was just his luck.

"What are you looking at, young man?"

Lee Fei turned to see an elderly man, probably in his sixties, standing behind him, his visage clear and sharp, dressed entirely in black.

"It's none of your business," Lee Fei replied curtly, not in the mood for conversation.

The old man chuckled. "Haha, seems like you're in a bit of trouble."

"I've got a lot on my plate. One jump, and it all ends," Lee Fei remarked flatly.

After a moment, he laughed at himself, realizing that talking was pointless and that it was time for action.

"Meeting here must be destiny. Let me lend you a hand. Hold on..." The old man fumbled in his pocket and exclaimed, "Ah, here it is."

He pulled out the object and opened his hands to reveal it.

A black book adorned with peculiar runes lay before him.

Beside it was a round rod, its surface a tapestry of black and white. At its apex, five triangular crystals were set, one faintly glowing.

Lee Fei, holding the items, couldn't hide his surprise. "What are these?" he inquired.

"Just take them, you're running out of time," the old man insisted, pressing both items into Lee Fei's hands. "I won this book from a fellow in the west. Keep it safe. It's not overly useful, but it might offer some assistance."

"This round rod is something I crafted out of boredom. It's unnamed, but if you hold it and perform a certain action, you'll be transported to another world."

The old man then demonstrated: he spread his arms wide, placed his left hand on his hip, and positioned his right fist before his forehead. He concluded the sequence with a swift clap of his hands.

Could this old man be out of his mind?

The old man's peculiar actions left Lee Fei feeling quite bewildered. Just then, the sound of urgent sirens pierced the distance.

Lee Fei's gaze sharpened. The moment had arrived.

"Why are you hesitating? Grab the round rod and do the action, now! Do you want to end up behind bars?" the old man pressed.

Biting back a retort, Lee Fei decided that jumping into the river seemed like a better option. He pocketed the black book and leaped from the riverbank.

He hit the water with a resounding splash, sending waves scattering.

The river's embrace was immediate, washing away the remnants of his inebriation. Beneath the seemingly placid surface, the current raged. After gulping down several mouthfuls of water, Lee Fei was filled with regret; this was a dreadful way to die.

The old man shook his head. "It's not too late to change your mind. Do it now, or you'll drown soon enough."

Feeling the current about to drag him away, Lee Fei clung to the old man's bizarre advice. With no other options in sight, he decided to give it a shot.

And so, he spread his arms wide.

Lee Fei's body suddenly plunged into the river, causing bubbles to surface with a gurgling sound.

The initial trial was unsuccessful.

Lee resurfaced, wiser this time. He took a deep breath and sealed his lips.

Grasping the round rod in one hand, he stretched out his arms with effort, only to sink back into the water. Holding his breath, he methodically completed each remaining movement. With a final clap of his hands, he felt enveloped in a bright light, his vision filled with whiteness, and his body felt incredibly light.

Seconds later, as the light faded, Lee Fei vanished without a trace.

The old man chuckled to himself, "Hmm, next time I'll add a diving motion to the design. It should make it even more entertaining."

Several police cars arrived at the riverbank, and the officers stepped out one by one. Aside from a lone motorcycle, there was nothing else in sight. The old man who had been by the river had mysteriously disappeared.