Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1583 - 866: What If I Go All Out? (Part 2)

“How in the world did you break into the house this time?!”

Chen Siyu yelled out: “Divine justice descending!”

Lai Tianyou's residence had been breached, filling him with utter terror and a chilling dread. His voice quivered as he demanded, “What exactly do you want from me?”

Jiang Ning stated flatly: “Pay what you owe.”

Lai Tianyou fumbled hastily into his pockets, yanking out a handful of crumpled notes: “Here, take every bit of it!”

In that instant, he felt profoundly vulnerable, akin to a sewer-dwelling rodent thrust abruptly into the harsh light of day.

Jiang Ning commanded: “Give me your parents’ phone numbers. Dial them right away and confess everything you did today.”

Right there, Lai Tianyou crumbled completely; the very thought of alerting his folks was horrifying!

Should his parents learn of his deceitful acts, he’d be utterly ruined!

Overwhelmed by fear, Lai Tianyou pleaded desperately: “Please, don’t inform them? I messed up badly, I truly did!”

Jiang Ning remarked indifferently: “I let you off once before; remember when you were cursing me out on the forum? I told you to send me two hundred bucks monthly, yet I never enforced it.”

Lai Tianyou's features twitched; the memories flooded back to him vividly!

“You were the one all along!”

He scrutinized Jiang Ning closely and at last identified the familiar face.

This was the fellow who had dazzled everyone with his ‘Fire God’ performance at the New Year’s Eve gala, the one who had all the girls in class buzzing with excitement and admiration—a standout star at school!

Even the girl he secretly admired had lit up with a rare spark whenever Jiang Ning’s name came up, a glow he’d never witnessed in her before.

“It’s really you, all this time it was you!” Lai Tianyou's facial muscles spasmed, evoking emotions he’d never experienced, a existence he’d never truly known!

Beyond Jiang Ning, his gaze fell on two matching beautiful faces, both fixed on him with seething fury.

‘Indeed, without the lies, I’d never have gotten anywhere near them,’ Lai Tianyou mused inwardly.

It was only in the anonymous veil of the internet that he could boast freely, portraying himself as clever and dominant, sculpting an illusion of triumph.

But now, just like that skulking sewer rat, forever spying and coveting the joys of others, his facade had been ripped away, leaving him bare under the sun.

Lai Tianyou cupped a hand over his eyes, sighing deeply: “This glare from the sun is too intense.”

Jiang Ning found the remark odd, and the twins shared the same bewildered expression.

Abruptly, Lai Tianyou composed himself. Staring down the trio, he declared straightforwardly: “I’m begging you all, just keep my parents out of this.”

Jiang Ning scoffed: “Heh.”

Lai Tianyou inquired: “Do you realize who the most frightening folks are? It’s types like me—unremarkable on the surface, bespectacled, appearing harmless, indifferent to appearances, hands jammed in pockets as we stroll, preferring window seats on transport, constantly glued to phones or screens, forever quiet. We shy away from confrontations, yet nobody suspects the profound resentment simmering within, always teetering on the edge.”

“We’ve got nothing to lose; corner us, and we’ll drag you down with us to the end!”

His body began to quake once more, but his stare burned with fierce malice.

Chen Siyu jumped in alarm: “I’m terrified, sis.”

Chen Siqing echoed: “So scary!”

Jiang Ning delivered a sharp slap to his face: “You think you’re worth that?”

Lai Tianyou erupted instantly, his eyes darting wildly about the room. In a flash, he seized the computer keyboard and hurled it wildly toward Jiang Ning, much like any desperate everyman at bay.

Jiang Ning stood his ground without evading, countering with a straightforward, powerful punch that shattered the keyboard into flying fragments.

His fist cut through the debris, clutching Lai Tianyou by the hair and hoisting him off the ground.

Using his free hand, he roughly yanked a few power cables, looping them loosely a couple of times to bind Lai Tianyou against the door.

Although the twins had seen such displays before, they remained momentarily speechless in awe.

Even while restrained, Lai Tianyou kept bellowing hysterically.

That was until Jiang Ning snatched up the nearby scissors, locking eyes with him in an icy tone: “Yell some more, and I’ll start by wedging these under your fingernails, ripping off every single one from your ten fingers, then dousing the wounds with alcohol at the finish.”

The mere description sent Lai Tianyou into a panic, his complexion draining to white; he instantly blurted: “Stop! My dad’s number is 139552..., and my mom’s is 184...”

Jiang Ning remained unfazed and continued, which broke him completely; he wailed in anguish: “Plus my grandpa and grandma, I’ll give you everything, I swear, just please stop—I beg you, I’ll spill it all!”

Jiang Ning grinned: “Is this the deep malice you boasted about just now?”

Lai Tianyou quivered in horror, dreading the torment, sobbing as he pleaded: “The girl I fancy is XX from our class, but she’s not the only one—I also have feelings for Yan Chuchen... Back in my childhood, I used to sneak peeks at the neighbor aunt bathing...”

The twins’ anger faded, replaced by amusement at his pathetic state.

They had fretted moments ago, wondering if he might snap darkly and lash out to turn the tables!

Jiang Ning surveyed the boy’s utter breakdown, losing all interest; he advanced and announced: “Okay, time to head out.”

Chen Siyu observed Lai Tianyou’s miserable sobbing and pondered aloud: “Sis, could he keel over from sheer fright?”

Chen Siqing mused briefly, then nodded firmly: “Let’s give him a boost!”

Chen Siyu pulled out her phone, capturing a few shots of Lai Tianyou: “Hang in there, or I’ll forward these pics to the girls you’re into.”

Lai Tianyou wept even more intensely.

...

Later on, Jiang Ning graciously turned down the twins’ enthusiastic offer for a steamy hot pot dinner.

He positioned himself outside their neighborhood entrance, basking in the twins’ admiring stares, before cycling back toward the river embankment.

His day had been hectic; after a meal at home, amid Tongtong’s wistful eyes, he set off solo along the asphalt path by the dam, hopping into Ding Shuyan’s vehicle en route to the High-speed Railway South Station.

On the evening of December 29th at 8 PM, Yuzhou South Station buzzed with throngs of passengers; as per holiday norms, numerous firms kicked off breaks the next day, forcing employees wary of early absences to grab this evening’s rides for family reunions elsewhere.

Jiang Ning shouldered a compact backpack, standing out oddly amid the crowds hauling suitcases.

In his previous existence, trips always meant lugging loads of baggage; traveling unencumbered now brought a fresh sense of delight.

Post-check-in, the vast hall teemed with bodies, a sea of shadowy figures.

Despite the approaching departure, Jiang Ning deployed his Divine Sense across the space, absorbing a torrent of jumbled perceptions into his consciousness.

He navigated directly to a secluded spot, where a statuesque figure with flowing long hair lingered poised, radiating a subtle air of sorrow.

Jiang Ning called out: “Hey there, Pei Yujing.”

Pei Yujing had been gazing downward at her feet, jolted into a startled “Ah!”; she whipped around her frosty expression only to meet Jiang Ning’s cheerful grin.

Pei Yujing’s folks had parted ways ages ago; over the winter holidays, she’d pitched in at her mother’s grill joint, laboring right up to early that day before freshening up to join her grandmother for the New Year.

Her nature was laid-back and yielding, poor at turning down requests—like getting roped into the sports event despite her athletic shortcomings. With her grandma’s kin urging her warmly and her mom coaxing softly, she’d consented.

“Hello, Jiang Ning.” Pei Yujing hastily gathered her scattered wits, offering a greeting.

Jiang Ning knew her inside out, aware that mingling socially weighed heavily on her.

He held his tongue.

Still, Pei Yujing shifted uncomfortably in the quiet; the stillness gnawed at her, particularly since Jiang Ning had done her a great favor, one she hadn’t yet settled.

Her thoughts in disarray, Pei Yujing stammered: “Jiang Ning, are you here tonight to board the high-speed train too?”

Jiang Ning responded with mock seriousness: “Nope, I’m here to outrun the train.”

“Oh, well, your legs must pack some serious power then.” Pei Yujing murmured, her mind foggy.

Jiang Ning: “Yeah, and your way with words is impressive as well.”

Pei Yujing protested swiftly: “No way, that’s not true at all.”

Once the exchange ended, silence enveloped them once more, mirroring moments from his prior life.

But in mere moments, Jiang Ning spotted the flush creeping over the girl’s cheeks nearby, her sleek, ebony tresses cascading nearly to her waist, as if blushing alongside her.