Chapter Twenty-One: Saving a Life!

Watching the out-of-control SUV hurtling toward him, Tang Zhen felt his scalp prickle. A profound sense of crisis surged in his heart, and his reflexes screamed at him to leap aside to safety. With his current reaction speed and explosive power, avoiding the vehicle should have been no problem. At the same time, he noticed two pedestrians lying on the ground behind the SUV, their faces covered in blood, their conditions unknown.

Just as he prepared to dodge, the screams reaching his ears caused him to abandon the idea in a split second. Directly in front of him stood three young women; at such a short distance, they stood no chance of escaping the runaway car. Tang Zhen could even see the driver’s bloodshot eyes and the terrified expressions of the girls before him. Under the current circumstances, if he stepped aside, the vehicle would strike and send the three girls flying in the next second.

They were at the prime of their youth, on the verge of a tragic and untimely end, yet he was the only one capable of saving them from this peril. There was no need to hesitate. In that fleeting moment between life and death, countless thoughts flashed through Tang Zhen’s mind. Finally, he let out a sudden roar, charged like lightning in front of the three girls, and thrust his palms forward.

In that instant, he mobilized every ounce of his strength, channeling it entirely into his hands. As a Level One cultivator, Tang Zhen possessed power far beyond that of an ordinary person; when unleashed all at once, it was terrifying. At the critical moment of crisis, the ultimate strength a human could exert was finally released by Tang Zhen without reservation.

"Boom!"

Following a thunderous crash, everyone was stunned by the scene before them. The scene the bystanders had anticipated—the girls being struck and sent flying—did not occur; instead, a miraculous turn of events unfolded. In the eyes of the three shaken girls and the shocked onlookers, Tang Zhen stood in a lunge, his palms pressed firmly against the front of the out-of-control SUV, having brought the vehicle to a dead, abrupt stop.

Only then did the three girls realize what had happened. Looking at the SUV less than half a meter away and then at the sturdy, mountain-like figure before them, they realized he had snatched them from the jaws of death.

"Wow, mister, you’re so cool!"

The tallest of the three, wearing a beige trench coat, was the first to react. She let out a scream of excitement, staring at Tang Zhen with eyes filled with utter adoration. Hearing her, the other two girls snapped out of their shock, looking at him with expressions mixed with gratitude and disbelief. Even the bystanders began to recover from their frozen state, whispering to one another in awe, speculating how Tang Zhen had managed to force the vehicle to a halt.

If the driver had hit the brakes at the critical moment, it might have been plausible, but looking at the state of the driver, it was unlikely he had been the one to brake. If Tang Zhen had achieved this through his own strength, it was truly terrifying. The SUV had already struck someone and, after restarting, was traveling at about 60 kilometers per hour. The impact force would have been at least three to four tons—enough to easily collapse a wall. To stop such a force with one's own power was simply beyond human capability. Such things were supposed to exist only in novels and movies, yet here it was, playing out in reality.

"Is he a superhero or something?" someone blurted out, receiving nods of agreement from those nearby.

While the onlookers murmured, Tang Zhen, the man of the hour, was in a bad way. "Damn, I overdid it," he cursed inwardly. He hadn't even noticed the reactions of the girls or the crowd, feeling only a bitter smile in his heart. His arms were numb, his body felt as if he might cough up blood, and his chest churned. His old, recently healed wounds threatened to flare up again.

Gritting his teeth, he slowly pulled his numb arms away, only to be shocked to see two deep palm prints indented into the car's metal hood. Seeing this sensational sight, Tang Zhen dared not linger, fearing that someone observant might investigate him. His secrets were far too startling to be exposed. He had to leave immediately, stay away from the chaos; if he vanished, no one would be able to find him. With that thought, he turned, lowered his head, and fled with lightning speed.

Watching Tang Zhen retreat as if running for his life, the others were confused, wondering why the heroic young man would act this way. The three girls, closest to the SUV, saw the palm prints on the vehicle. Having survived the ordeal, they looked at each other, their beautiful faces etched with disbelief. As they watched Tang Zhen disappear into the crowd, they were filled with intense curiosity.

After sprinting for a while, Tang Zhen hailed a taxi once he was sure no one was watching. Enduring the pain, he closed the car door and headed straight home. Lying in bed, he felt excruciating pain in his arms and chest, as if his bones had been shattered inch by inch. The piercing agony kept him bathed in cold sweat.

However, he felt a sense of relief. Had he not absorbed the brain bead to advance to Level One and mutated his body, he might have been struck and killed or crippled by the car today. Not to mention that he had saved three beautiful, vibrant lives, so even if he were injured, Tang Zhen had no regrets. He swallowed a piece of Evergreen Ivy ointment; the bitter yet fragrant taste made him feel much better. As time passed, the pain subsided, and an exhausted Tang Zhen drifted off to sleep.

When he woke the next morning, he was amazed to find that his normal movements were no longer hindered. After a careful check to ensure his body was fine, his mind was put at ease. He marveled to himself that the Evergreen Ivy ointment was truly magical; such severe injuries had nearly healed overnight. It was a divine medicine indeed!

With his worries set aside, Tang Zhen checked the time and realized it was the day he usually made his monthly "repayment." He pulled out his phone to look for a contact, only to find that it wasn't working. He suddenly remembered that his phone had mutated; it was a wonder it could make calls at all.

"I've been so busy lately, how could I forget this?" Tang Zhen felt annoyed. No wonder he hadn't received any calls or messages whenever he returned—that was the reason.

Unable to use his phone, Tang Zhen went out to buy a new one and dialed a number from memory. "Hey, Uncle Sun, it's Xiao Yi! What are you busy with... Where are you... Alright, I'll be there right away."

After hanging up, Tang Zhen took a taxi to a shopping mall under renovation. Stepping out, he scanned his surroundings, found the entrance, navigated through the construction materials, and headed to the third floor. Following the directions he’d been given, he finally found Uncle Sun, who was covered in dust.

He called out loudly, and Uncle Sun, seeing him, wiped the sweat from his forehead and walked over. "Xiao Tang, you're here!" Uncle Sun, wearing tattered work clothes, smiled at him, making the wrinkles on his face more pronounced. Tang Zhen sighed inwardly; his foster father was truly a scumbag, cheating an honest man like Uncle Sun out of his hard-earned money!

Uncle Sun was a good man and their neighbor. When he and his sister were hungry as children, Uncle Sun would often invite them over for meals, treating them no differently than his own children. Later, his foster father had used honeyed words to swindle Uncle Sun out of his life savings, nearly driving the simple man to madness when he couldn't afford his daughter's college tuition. Every time Tang Zhen received his wages, he would set aside a portion for Uncle Sun—regardless of the amount, it was to ease his own guilt. This time, he had brought enough to pay off his foster father's entire debt.

As they were talking, a beautiful woman in professional, fashionable attire walked up the stairs, looking completely out of place in the chaotic environment. Behind her followed a dozen men, clearly deferring to her. Tang Zhen glanced at her; she was gesturing and speaking about the surroundings, while the men behind her took notes. Her drive made Tang Zhen smile; it seemed she was another woman who refused to be outdone by any man.

The construction site was noisy, making it hard to hear, so Uncle Sun led Tang Zhen to the exterior fire escape, where the world finally quieted down. Tang Zhen pulled the money from his pocket and handed it to Uncle Sun, asking him to count it. Uncle Sun was stunned, then tried to push the money back, insisting there was no rush. He knew how hard Tang Zhen worked, supporting his sister's education and paying off his foster father's debts. If his own situation hadn't been so dire, Uncle Sun would never have accepted the monthly payments.

"Uncle Sun, this money was yours to begin with; I'm just paying it back for my dad. Don't worry, I'm doing business now and I earn quite a bit each month." After much persuasion, Uncle Sun finally accepted the money, though he adamantly refused the extra "interest" Tang Zhen tried to offer as a gesture of gratitude. Uncle Sun sighed, cursing Tang Zhen's foster father for being a heartless wretch and pitying the two sensible children, Tang Zhen and his sister. Tang Zhen could only offer a bitter smile in response. What else was there to say?