Ch. 322 - Performance Art Is Not Illegal Right

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Wang Qian was about to speak, ready to dissuade Chen Shu from whatever he was planning.

But the man in question had already slung on his backpack and entered the ticket gate along with the others.

"Forget it. At least he's gone for now."

Wang Qian shook his head, then turned to the crowd behind him and announced:

"Comrades, we are safe!"

The crowd erupted in joy, shouting one after another:

"The Nanjiang Bandit is finally gone! I've waited for this day far too long!"

"Nanjiang City is at peace! No more living in fear!"

Everyone beamed with delight. The scene rivaled New Year's celebrations.

Especially the principals of the various high schools — Chen Shu had truly been devastating to their students' mental health.

Just then, the banner flipped over, revealing the message on its other side:

"The Bandit Leaves the City — A Nation Celebrates!"

...

Chen Shu could no longer see the crowd's cheers. The group had boarded the train heading to Capital City.

"Car 7, seat 7A..."

Dragging his luggage and backpack, Chen Shu found his seat without difficulty.

Their seating arrangement was two seats facing two, with a small table in the middle.

Chen Shu and his three companions sat together, while Xu Xiaoyu and the other two sat across the aisle.

After stowing his luggage and just sitting down, a voice immediately rang out from behind him.

"Brother Jiang, once we're in the Capital, you've gotta look out for us, alright?"

Two male students spoke with grins on their faces.

They were top students from Nanjiang First High, successfully admitted to a key university in Capital City.

And across from them sat First High's Jiang Tian and Lin Zixuan.

The compulsive poser Jiang Tian nodded and said, "Naturally, I will. As Nanjiang City's number one genius, I certainly won't let anyone bully you."

"Number one genius?"

The other three all wore strange expressions. You really could put on a show!

"I know. You're probably a little afraid of Chen Shu."

Jiang Tian's expression remained composed. He saw right through what the three wanted to say.

"Unfortunately, I never got to have a proper match against Chen Shu during the college entrance exams. A real shame!"

"..."

Just as the two sitting opposite Jiang Tian were about to speak, they suddenly spotted a familiar face appearing above his head.

Holy crap!

Both of their pupils contracted. Their expressions stiffened completely.

Chen Shu had rested his head on the back of Jiang Tian's seat and was listening to their conversation with great interest.

Meanwhile, Jiang Tian and Lin Zixuan had no idea whatsoever:

Disaster had already descended!

Xie Sunan and the others were likewise smiling wordlessly, keeping silent while silently mourning for them in their hearts.

"Doesn't matter, though. He's in the Capital too. Sooner or later, we'll have our chance to fight!"

Jiang Tian shrugged and said, "Once I reach Black Iron rank within half a year, I'll be able to toy with him with one hand."

"A tiny little bandit? Laughable! Truly laughable!"

Lin Zixuan, sitting next to Jiang Tian, felt more and more uneasy the longer he listened. A genuine fear even welled up inside him.

He had once challenged Nanjiang Second High all by himself, only to be brutally beaten by Chen Shu, and in the end, he was carried out on a stretcher.

It was no exaggeration to say that Chen Shu had become his lifelong nightmare.

Now, hearing Jiang Tian talk about Chen Shu with such contempt, although part of him found it satisfying, a sense of terror rose alongside it.

What if Chen Shu overheard? Wouldn't they be completely screwed?

"Old Jiang, stop talking."

Lin Zixuan shook his head and said, "I just think there's no need to provoke him unless absolutely necessary."

"That guy really is strong. And his methods are way too brutal."

Chen Shu lowered his gaze slightly and glanced at Lin Zixuan. He hadn't expected this one to have some sense.

Just at that moment of his gaze.

Lin Zixuan, as if sensing something, shuddered involuntarily and spoke up:

"He really is a bandit. I'm not afraid to admit it — I still have psychological scars to this day."

"Even right now, I feel like he's standing right behind me."

"..."

The two facing them had wooden expressions, wanting to warn him:

Your feeling is dead-on! The demon is right behind you!

"What's there to be afraid of?!"

Jiang Tian remained composed. "I admit he's my fated rival, but in the end, I will defeat him!"

One of the people across from him said, "Brother Jiang, I think you might want to look up..."

"Look up?"

Jiang Tian was somewhat baffled, but he looked up anyway.

A calm face appeared!

"Holy crap!"

Jiang Tian and Lin Zixuan were instantly rocked to their core. Their eyes filled with terror as they immediately tried to pull away.

But the seats were only so big. With the small table blocking them in the middle, there was simply nowhere to escape.

Chen Shu flipped over and nimbly dropped into the space between the two.

"Long time no see."

Chen Shu draped both arms around Jiang Tian's and Lin Zixuan's shoulders. His expression remained perfectly calm.

Both of their faces practically turned green, especially Jiang Tian's.

He was only eighteen years old. All he wanted was to act cool a little. Was that so wrong?

Lin Zixuan's hand kept trembling. He had just been talking casually, and now the nightmare had actually descended upon him?

"Chen... Brother Chen..."

Lin Zixuan let out a dry laugh, trying to salvage the situation somehow.

"Little Lin, not bad."

Chen Shu smiled. At least the kid knew fear — that was a good thing.

"Thank... thank you, Brother Chen..."

Lin Zixuan breathed a sigh of relief inside. Looked like he wasn't going to be targeted after all.

"Young Master Jiang?"

Chen Shu patted his shoulder and spoke amiably.

"..."

Jiang Tian's expression was so stiff at that moment that he was incapable of making any expression at all.

Chen Shu said, "Are you going to do it yourself? Or shall I do it for you?"

"Wha... what are you going to do?"

Jiang Tian now deeply regretted everything. It was all because he couldn't resist running his mouth.

"What am I going to do?"

Chen Shu smiled evilly and called out, "Dali!"

"Coming right up!"

Zhang Dali cooperatively handed over a urea bag.

"..."

The moment he saw the urea bag, Jiang Tian couldn't help but gulp.

Chen Shu said, "Going to put it on yourself? Or should I help?"

"I'll do it... I can do it myself..."

Jiang Tian's expression was one of pure hardship. He silently accepted the urea bag and pulled it over his own head.

A genius in the prime of his youth, tortured by a bandit to such a state...

"Hm? What's going on here?"

Just then, a train security officer passed by and asked warily.

A urea bag pulled over someone's head was far too conspicuous.

"Hel—"

The word had barely left Jiang Tian's mouth when Chen Shu patted his shoulder.

The words he had been about to speak were forcibly choked back down.

Jiang Tian said, "I'm just a college student doing a little performance art. That's not illegal, right?"[3]

"??"

The train security officer's mouth fell open. He glanced once, then ultimately shook his head and walked away.

What kind of freaks were crawling out of the woodwork these days?!

"Don't take it off, now."

Chen Shu nodded with satisfaction and returned to his own seat.

Xie Sunan and the others were all grinning. A few even whipped out their phones to snap photos for posterity.

It could only be said that Jiang Tian's luck was simply atrocious.

Cold sweat poured from Lin Zixuan's forehead. He had just skirted the line between life and death — truly chilling.

In his heart, he silently recited: Don't ask where the demon is. He's right there beside you!

Throughout the journey, the group chatted and laughed cheerfully.

Only Jiang Tian spent the entire trip in sweltering heat with a urea bag over his head...

The day passed quickly, and the train arrived smoothly at Capital Station.

Jiang Tian could finally let out a breath of relief. His nightmare was about to end...

At that moment, Jiang Tian felt stirring emotions inside him, like a bride on her wedding day — and the urea bag was his red bridal veil.

With a grin on his face, Chen Shu patted the guy on the shoulder and strolled away with style.

"Good work, Young Master Jiang! Next time, no more fronting!"

[1] Red Bridal Veil (红盖头): In traditional Chinese weddings, the bride wears a red cloth veil over her face (the gaitou) until the groom lifts it. The comparison of Jiang Tian's urea bag to a bridal veil is Chen Shu's final comedic jab — relief so profound it feels like a wedding, but your "veil" is a fertilizer sack.

[2] Lin Zixuan / Lin Ziyan (林子轩 / 林子言): This chapter consistently uses 林子轩 (Zixuan) for the Nanjiang First High student previously brutalized by Chen Shu. The glossary records this character as 林子言 (Ziyan) from Chapter 146. This may be an author inconsistency; the translation follows the source text of each individual chapter.

[3] Performance art (行为艺术, xíngwéi yìshù): In Chinese internet culture, claiming something is "performance art" became a meme defense for bizarre or borderline-illegal public behavior. The logic: you can't arrest me, it's art. Jiang Tian deploying this for wearing a urea bag on his head — and it actually working — is the peak of the absurdity.