I Will Grind My Way To Godhood

Xue Jing and Li Ge had just reached the school gate when Li Ge suddenly tapped Xue Jing on the shoulder, his expression serious as he pointed to a student walking straight towards them.

"He's here! That guy's one of Pei Youguang's lackeys."

The newcomer sported semi-long hair and a casual demeanor as he walked, trying to make a statement by wearing his uniform sloppily. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone, his tie absent, and his sleeves rolled up to his elbows. In his hand, he held a cigarette, clearly believing that this made him look cool, his face displaying an air of smug satisfaction.

"Xue Jing, right? You know Pei Youguang, Pei's the man. He's looking for you. Come with me."

The student positioned himself in front of Xue Jing, trying to maintain his dominance despite his shorter stature by tilting his head back, speaking down his nose to appear more imposing.

"……"

Li Ge's expression grew even more somber. Although he had resolved to stand by Xue Jing out of loyalty, a profound sense of dread still echoed within him now that the moment of truth had arrived.

Xue Jing slightly lowered his gaze to meet the other's eyes, chuckling lightly, "Let's go."

This display of utter calmness left the student involuntarily registering a hint of surprise. Usually, any student summoned by Pei would tremble like a leaf. But Xue Jing could smile? Still, seeing Xue Jing behave so compliantly, he felt unable to say more and merely grunted in acknowledgment, leading the way out of the school gates.

Xue Jing and Li Ge followed him, this scene witnessed by many students. The originally bustling school gate turned eerily silent. It wasn't until the group gradually faded from view that discussion slowly began to ripple through the gathered crowd.

“Is that person Zhou Jun, Pei Youguang's lackey? Are they going to bully someone again?”

“Who's the person walking behind him? So good-looking.”

“You don't even recognize Senior Xue Jing? Have you wasted two years at the attached high school? He's the acknowledged heartthrob of the campus.”

“Looks like Pei Youguang wants to pick on him. What should we do?”

“Tell a teacher?”

“No way, Pei Youguang's family is so influential. Telling a teacher won't help, and he'll hold a grudge against us!”

The school gate was abuzz with endless discussions.

...

“Master Jing, maybe we should just run.”

On the path, trailing behind the student, Li Ge whispered quietly to Xue Jing.

“This is all back roads, with fewer and fewer people. They're definitely leading us to a deserted area. If something happens, we can't even call for help!”

Xue Jing glanced helplessly at Li Ge, who was brave yet clearly frightened, but still followed along. It was admirable how he persevered despite his fear.

Xue Jing pondered for a moment and said, “I have a favor to ask of you.”

Li Ge was taken aback, “What is it?”

"Do it like this..." Xue Jing whispered a few words before pulling out the phone from his pocket and handing it to him.

Li Ge took the phone and nodded.

The student leading the way paid no mind to the two "lambs to the slaughter" behind him, casually smoking and contemplating how to deal with Xue Jing.

The idea of bullying a student from the elite class, who normally seemed so untouchable, filled him with a twisted thrill.

Thus, the three of them walked into a dark alley.

Xue Jing lifted his eyes to take a look around.

It was a very old alley, with walls built of bricks and tiles, dark and severely oxidized, clearly marking its age.

Trash littered the ground, and there was a faint unpleasant odor. At the end of the alley stood five or six students dressed in affiliated school uniforms, most of them puffing on cigarettes. The plump boy leading them had his back turned, striking a pose, while his companions cast unfriendly glances towards Xue Jing.

As if awaiting the precise moment Xue Jing entered, the plump Pei Youguang slowly turned around, his small, triangular eyes locking onto Xue Jing. He took a deep drag from the cigarette dangling from his lips, then flicked it to the ground, extinguishing it underfoot.

"You're Xue Jing... aren't you."

As he spoke, the lackeys around him sneered, pulling out bats, sticks, and knives.

They were well-versed in intimidation tactics, and usually by this point, the students they called out would begin to beg for mercy, and some would even be scared stiff.

However, they realized this situation seemed different.

Xue Jing said nothing, calmly and methodically removing his suit-style school jacket and handing it to Li Ge, who stood behind him.

Then he unbuttoned the shirt's cuffs, slowly rolling them up to reveal his well-defined forearm muscles.

Li Ge swallowed hard, feeling quite afraid, but he still followed Xue Jing's previous instructions. He took a few steps back, withdrawing several meters away, pulled out his phone, and switched to the video recording mode, aiming it at the group in the dark alley.

"..."

"Huh? What's this kid up to?"

Before Pei Youguang and his group could figure out the answer, Xue Jing suddenly crouched slightly, assuming a sprinter's starting position.

At that moment, Pei Youguang inexplicably recalled the wildlife programs he'd watched, particularly the scenes where a tiger would crouch and gather its strength before pouncing on its prey.

And then, he saw it.

The 'tiger' launched itself like a cannonball, charging directly towards them.

In the blink of an eye, Xue Jing shot forward like an arrow, covering the several meters between them in an instant. He swung his fist, landing a powerful blow on the face of the student at the front, producing a loud 'bang.' The student’s upper body violently jerked back, and he released his grip on his baseball bat, collapsing to the ground, unconscious without even a cry.

"Damn it, get him! Take him down!"

Pei Youguang yelled furiously, spurring his companions into action. They quickly regained their focus, brandishing their weapons as they closed in on Xue Jing.

Xue Jing's gaze remained calm, observing the sticks and knives coming at him at a 'slow' pace.

With the "Targeting" skill activated, Xue Jing realized that his vision had been greatly enhanced, both his static and dynamic sight.

Especially when he concentrated, his superior dynamic vision granted him an ability akin to 'bullet time.'

This is also the source of his confidence in his own combat capabilities. Physical fitness from working out and running doesn't necessarily translate to formidable fighting skills. When facing an opponent with a weapon, a single stab can immediately put him out of commission. However, with targeting, everything in front of him seems to slow down. This dynamic vision grants him the insight akin to a martial arts master, resembling someone wielding the Sharingan.

This is his main assurance for daring to face Pei Youguang and his companions alone.

Of course, his greatest assurance is still 'Twin Life'. The extra life it affords him provides the leeway to act recklessly, without fear.

Dodging several armed attacks with swift movements, Xue Jing finds an opening. His eyes glint as he leaps backward to evade, simultaneously throwing a precise punch that grazes under one student's chin.

The precision from targeting applies not only to projectiles but also to combat.

In fact, fighting is an activity that demands great accuracy. Although the punching distance is short, in the chaos of a brawl, accurately hitting an opponent capable of dodging is not easy.

Therefore, punching accuracy is a crucial metric in gauging a fighter's combat prowess.

Now, nearly inexperienced in actual combat, Xue Jing achieves an absurd level of punching accuracy thanks to the added benefits of his targeting skill.

Targeting skill, which seemingly only aids in throwing and shooting, actually terrifyingly enhances unarmed combat capabilities.

Struck under the chin, the student immediately feels his brain reverberate within his skull, the world spins, and he collapses limply onto the ground.

"Chen Hao, what are you doing? Acting over here!?"

The punch was so fast and concealed that no one noticed but Xue Jing who threw it and Chen Hao who received it. Pei Youguang only saw the opponent swing a bat that Xue Jing dodged, then immediately crumble like an actor, prompting a fit of swearing.

"Damn it, everyone back off, I'll handle this!"

……

The scene opened with a tense atmosphere.

Xue Jing, standing amidst the wreckage of the earlier confrontation, surveyed the aftermath with a quiet intensity.

Despite the chaos scattered around, his attention was singular, focused on the faint movements of Pei Youguang’s injured comrades attempting to regroup.

Each was no more than a shadow against the dimming horizon, yet to Xue Jing, they were targets highlighted with unwavering clarity.

His unique ability, 'Targeting', was a skill honed not only in combat but in understanding human intent.

This foresight kept him a step ahead, allowing him to move strategically against even the most unfavorable of odds.

Nearby, Chu Minyi approached cautiously, her expression a mix of admiration and concern. "You were incredible back there," she remarked softly.

Xue Jing offered a slight nod, his demeanor steady, yet inwardly he grappled with the burgeoning realization of what lay within him—both power and an unexpected sense of responsibility.

As twilight crept upon them, the lingering threat of Pei Youguang's regrouping forces loomed large, promising new challenges just beyond the next shadowed turn.