Courage in the Face of Injustice

Page 1

It was Saturday, and with the holiday, there were more people heading into the city for leisure. Moreover, there were only two bus routes to An County, Route 5 and Route 10, and before Chen Jue even boarded, he saw a packed crowd inside the bus. Aside from middle school students in various uniforms, most passengers were elderly men and women in their fifties or sixties, as well as a few flamboyantly dressed middle-aged women. Everyone squeezed into the same carriage, the air thick and heavy.

Chen Jue swiped his e-wallet to board, and seeing there were no seats, he made his way to the back. Based on his past experience commuting to school, there were still about ten stops before reaching the city, and at least half a busload of people would still board. Better to leave space for those getting on later.

“It’s been so long since I’ve taken a bus like this! It’s really nostalgic!” Chen Jue looked at the familiar school uniforms, and among them, he even spotted uniforms from his old school, Longshan High.

Wait, it should be called An County Second High School now.

But after boarding, Chen Jue noticed quite a few people turning to look at him, clearly drawn by the almost flawless quality of his skin, much like the reaction he’d seen from Zhou Jingjing earlier.

“This uncle looks way too young!”

“His skin is amazing!”

People from rural areas often suffered from poor nutrition, many of the elderly wore a sickly pallor. Even the students, despite matching city kids in clothes and lifestyle, rarely had complexions that could compare to Chen Jue’s.

After all, a health index of 97% and a physique attribute of 1.57 weren’t just numbers—they embodied an ideal standard of humanity. With his recent martial arts training, Chen Jue’s presence had become more striking, making it only natural that he drew attention.

…

The bus ambled along, stopping and starting. When it reached a stop called Peach Immortal Village, three soldiers boarded, clad in army-green short-sleeve shirts. Each stood tall, at least six feet, their skin darkened from rigorous training, and their entrance drew many eyes.

Chen Jue glanced at the three soldiers, recognizing them as members of a nearby army unit. Back in high school, he’d occasionally encountered such soldiers on weekends, and after so many years, a casual trip into town brought another encounter.

The three soldiers chatted amiably after boarding, seeming approachable, but their military vigilance made them notice Chen Jue’s standout presence among the crowd. His appearance was striking, almost like a crane among chickens, especially as he stood at the back, drawing attention whether he liked it or not.

“Did you see that guy with glasses, looking all refined?”

“Yeah, he’s really fair-skinned!”

Page 2

“Is he a bit effeminate?” The three whispered among themselves, occasionally casting glances his way.

Chen Jue noticed their gazes and responded with a smile, prompting the trio to realize their impoliteness and quickly avert their eyes.

…

The bus continued its journey, and when it reached a suburban stop on the edge of the county town, a mix of students and adults poured off. But it wasn’t yet the bustling city center, so Chen Jue planned to ride two more stops.

As the bus started again, a middle-aged woman suddenly screamed, “Ah! My wallet’s gone! Someone stole it!”

Her shrill cry startled everyone, and instinctively, the passengers checked their own pockets.

“Auntie, I actually saw someone reach for your wallet… He looked really fierce, glared at me, and I was too scared to speak up, afraid he’d retaliate…” A middle school girl in uniform spoke, her face pale with fear.

The three soldiers rushed over, “Don’t be afraid, little sister. We’re here. Did you get a good look at the thief? What was he wearing?”

The girl nodded, stammering, clearly shaken, “He was wearing a black short-sleeve shirt, carrying a red plastic bag, not very tall, dark face, small scary eyes. He got off at the last stop.”

Having described the thief’s appearance, the soldiers urgently asked the bus driver to stop and open the doors. They intended to chase down the pickpocket who had just slipped away.

The bus had only left the stop by about three hundred meters; if they hurried, they might catch him.

The driver cooperated, pulled over, and opened the back door, letting them off.

But what the soldiers didn’t expect was that just as they stepped off, before they could even start running, a voice called out beside them, “Strength in numbers! I’ll join you!”

Turning around, they saw Chen Jue, the fair-faced young man, deftly slipping out through the window at the back of the bus.

After days of training, Chen Jue had grown bolder. With his martial arts skills, he was eager to act chivalrously. Once off the bus, he unleashed the momentum from mountain-climbing and intense grocery runs!

With a nimble leap, incorporating the agility of Eight Immortals Stance, he sped ahead, outstripping the three soldiers by several paces.

“Whoa! Did he just dismount with a flip?”

“A martial arts expert?”

“Did we just encounter a civilian practitioner?”

Wild and absurd thoughts flashed through their minds. They had assumed he was just a delicate, fair-skinned youth.

Page 3

But unexpectedly, he was so deeply hidden! They had truly underestimated him.

The three soldiers chased for over three hundred meters but couldn’t catch up to the seemingly soft-bodied Chen Jue!

Meanwhile, Chen Jue ran with sharp eyes and swift feet, energy surging through him, his powerful physique coming into play, and thanks to his recent training, he dashed three hundred meters without losing breath.

Behind him, the soldiers’ pace began to slacken, the gap widening to twenty or thirty meters.

When they reached the bus stop, Chen Jue spotted a nervous figure nearby.

The thief was waiting for another bus, planning to continue his crime spree, squatting at a kiosk entrance, smoking and feigning nonchalance, unaware the bus had stopped unexpectedly.

When he looked up and saw four figures approaching, some in uniform, he panicked and bolted.

“Black short-sleeve, red plastic bag—that’s him!” Recognizing the thief, Chen Jue’s spirits soared. He pushed off, accelerating even more.

Though Chen Jue’s strength and agility weren’t outstanding, his stamina was exceptional, and his martial arts training taught him how to muster force.

With a leap, like hurdling, he cleared a two-meter-wide greenbelt beside the bus stop and charged ahead, quickly closing the distance.

The thief wasn’t easy prey; as if he had eyes in t