In the soil bank of the mine tunnel, facing the static nighttime sky in the west, the dark red animal metropolis recedes into the distance. The starlight in the sky above the Eastwood Grand District is dim, as if covered by an infinite layer of gauze. In this subtly fluctuating light, Xu Le's blurry figure twists and stretches, following a predetermined routine. He searches his feet, twists his waist, sinks his body, throws punches, turns his wrists, and elbows...
Feng Yu, standing by silently, watches calmly without uttering a word. It has been over a year, and the young man performs flawlessly, without a single mistake in this set of movements. Even the angle at which his fingertips curve shows no deviation.
This set of movements seems simple and not quite like gymnastics, as it lacks the precision associated with that discipline. Moreover, the pace is extremely slow, resembling a dance. The problem lies in how it compares to the performances of the esteemed Highwood song-and-dance troupe – this dance seems somewhat rigid in comparison.
It is not a clumsy rigidity but a refined one, like reinforced plexiglass used in a control room or the unyielding stones beneath the sod of Eastwood Star. Its hardness remains constant, and each movement is executed with such precision.
This "stiff" dance can be broken down into ten movements, with every two movements following opposite directions. When Xu Le finally retrieves his right foot after a serious tread and squats in a peculiar posture, the set of movements comes to an end.
Though it may seem uncomplicated and not physically demanding, Xu Le's face is covered in a veil of perspiration, revealing a flush under the nighttime sky of Eastwood Grand District. Sweat soaks his clothes, dripping down from the bottom of his vest, clearly indicating the amount of energy he has exerted in such a short span of time.
Xu Le breathes slowly, unable to speak for a while. The young man possesses a somewhat slender physique, but at this moment, he exudes a latent strength, giving him an appealing silhouette. One wonders how his body will develop in a few years when he reaches adulthood.
His silence is not only due to exhaustion but also because all of his more than 600 muscles are now occupied by a soreness that makes even his little finger reluctant to move. Each myofibril seems to be pulsating, expanding and rubbing together, like the friction between metal and china clay, causing an excruciating toothache.
Following the pain, an involuntary shiver courses through Xu Le's body, originating from his heart and radiating outwards through his muscle fibers and connective tissues, making every part of his body vibrate as if struck by a drum. It feels as if an invisible force is gliding across his skin, searching for tiny protrusions, only to vanish. The trembling extends to his legs, causing his pant legs to shake in the tranquil night.
Xu Le does not understand why his faint muscles generate heat and produce a sensation of friction. He also does not know that it is due to the intertwining of two filamentous proteins within his myofibrils. Naturally, he is unaware of the significance behind these muscle tremors, but he remembers the repair shop boss's firm words to bear the pain and learn from this trembling agony.
...
...
After changing into dry clothes and taking a shower, the exhausted Xu Le, his complexion pale as if he were seriously ill, wearily climbs back up to the mine tunnel and sits next to Feng Yu. Feng Yu pays him no attention and casually gazes at the crystal screen on his knee. The pale blue light illuminates his face, accentuating the repair shop boss's rugged yet gentle appearance.
"I can't confirm whether Bao Longtao recognizes me online," Xu Le says, his voice tinged with exhaustion. With just one glance, he knows that the boss has secretly infiltrated the federal police service system and obtained all the information about the governor's office and police station from the last time he asked Li Wei and the group of orphaned children for help on Bell Tower Street.
Being able to penetrate the official network system indicates that the boss is not an ordinary person, but Xu Le has grown accustomed to these surprises brought by the seemingly ordinary repair shop boss over the past two years. Therefore, he is not surprised; in fact, he finds it less of a pleasant surprise.
Sometimes Xu Le speculates that the boss must have committed a significant offense during his time in the army, given his exceptional talents. Perhaps he is a military deserter. In the two years they have spent together, Xu Le has never truly understood the boss and has always felt like he encountered a hidden, exceptional character in the market, reminiscent of a character from a movie or soap opera.
However, Xu Le has no desire to dig into the boss's past. On one hand, he is genuinely uninterested, focusing on studying machine repair. On the other hand, he is somewhat wary and fearful of Uncle Feng Yu's mysteriousness, sensing that he is stepping into a dangerous territory. Xu Le is well aware that beneath the seemingly harmless facade, the repair shop boss harbors a cold and ruthless nature.
In other words, Xu Le understands clearly that Uncle Feng Yu is a brutal and ruthless person, and he does not want to risk his own life.
"It seems that the information department and production section of the Hexi Province television station are involved, as well as the district committee under the governor," Feng Yu remarks, looking at the scrolling text and images on the crystal screen. He smiles and continues, "At this moment, Bao Longtao is probably too preoccupied to associate with a young orphan like you."
If an ordinary person were to hear their conversation, they might think that the two of them are involved in a massive political conspiracy within the repair shop, promoting a hidden agenda. However, Xu Le knows that, as unimportant individuals, they have no interest in upper-level affairs. Getting involved in such matters would only be a fool's errand.
The familiar music begins to play, and the screen displays the image of the familiar little girl with purple hair. Seated side by side on the hillside, the middle-aged man and the young man engage in their nightly leisure activity. The sound of applause and laughter accompanies intermittent suctions of air.
Under the pale reddish nighttime sky, the invisible lines of electric waves, signals, and radio frequencies silently weave and transform into a colorful picture, entering the world of Eastwood Grand District, enriching the dreams of countless people.
A dark red streak cuts across the sky, accompanied by a faint thunderous sound, signifying the decreasing frequency of military patrols in outer space. A few stray cats roam within the rocky structure of the mine tunnel's electronic fence, relying on humans for their sustenance. They eagerly search for the food remnants left behind by the two human figures, paying no mind to their solitary presence.
...
...
In another corner of the city, a group of lonely orphans led by Li Wei walk silently and purposefully. Li Wei's hand is firmly grasping a sturdy metal stick, exuding a strong sense of confidence.