Chapter 17: The Dragon's Spear

As the number of monsters in the house increased, the survivors in the classroom decreased sharply.

A villager urged A-Lai to act quickly, unaware that A-Lai was anxiously assessing the situation. He observed the fight, spear in hand. The house was mostly filled with the elderly and young girls, ill-equipped to fight against the wolves.

They hid under the tables, bravely fending off the wolves' attacks. Their cries echoed with a sense of despair.

"These guys are multiplying rapidly. We must quickly close the door, or there won't be any left in the house!"

A-Lai felt a heavy weight in his heart as he sensed the situation inside the room becoming increasingly dire. With a swift movement, A-Lai scrambled onto the table. His spear turned into alive.

He took a deep breath, his gaze steely, and executed the move "Python Turns Over."

This maneuver mimicked a wild python attacking its prey; each spiral rotation of the spear resembled the massive serpent constricting the wild wolf tightly with its colossal body. With each coil, the grip tightened, as if intent on squeezing the very air from the wolf's lungs.

In the corner, Little Fly watched in disbelief as his grandfather fought valiantly at the front of the classroom. His clothes were torn, revealing lean yet muscular arms stained with blood. Yet, when his grandfather's strikes landed, a wolf's skull would crack or its ribs would cave in.

For the first time, Little Fly could not believe that this warrior was his grandfather. In this tense moment, A-Lai also realized that this seemingly ordinary old man was anything but simple. A plan quickly formed in his mind.

Without hesitation, he shouted, "Quickly, come out and jump onto the table!"

Then, he turned and rushed toward the door. The spear in his hand seemed to extend his very soul, creating a fan-shaped formation to guard the girls behind him, including that one special girl.

In that moment, he truly understood what his master had said, "The soul of a weapon is for protection, not aggression."

He turned towards the doorway. The spear in his hand seemed like an extension of his soul, each thrust filled with strength and determination. Although his movements were swift, each step appeared cautious and methodical.

His eyes scanned the room, searching for the best position for attack, knowing that one mistake could cost him his life.

"Grandpa, help me distract these creatures!" A-Lai shouted.

Little Fly's grandpa understood his intent instantly. Letting out a roar, he unleashed his full strength, landing powerful blows on the monster without holding back.

With equally powerful moves, A-Lai charged forward, reminiscent of an elephant's charge. Each powerful swing of his spear cleared his path, sending any obstacles flying through the air.

At the doorway, several wolves were either impaled by the spear as if nailed to the ground or retreated in terror, their eyes filled with fear.

A seemingly leading large wolf, its eyes glinting cunningly, attempted in vain to bite the spearhead. But Alai's spear moved like a live serpent, pausing suddenly.

In the moment the wolf hesitated to attack, a hint of ruthlessness flashed in A-Lai's eyes. This time, the spear moved like a dangerous sea monster lurking beneath the waves, patiently awaiting the passing fish before launching a sudden attack, akin to an arrow released from a taut bowstring.

It struck perfectly, piercing half a foot into the brain, instantly splattering red and white fluids, as the wolf let out its final, agonizing howl.

"Bravo!" cried Little Fly from the corner, unable to contain his admiration.

In this moment of tension, A-Lai's nerves grew taut. He took a deep breath, his body poised at the edge of the table, fully aware that the challenge before him was the true test. As the opportunity flickered by in an instant, he knew he couldn't afford to hesitate. Without a shred of doubt, he decisively stepped forward and leapt into the air.

Before him, several wild wolves gathered together in fear, unfortunately blocking his way to his target. Their hackles were raised, mouths wide open, and sharp white teeth bared at the boy.

Without delay, A-Lai executed a graceful leap, tapping the head of one wolf, then another. His steps were nimble and swift as he performed the ancient martial arts technique known as "Eight Steps to Catching Cicadas," demonstrating his light-footed agility.

Now before the door, with a swift kick, he slammed it shut and secured it firmly with a bolt. For the moment, it was safe. All that remained was to deal with the remaining monsters.

Little Fly's grandfather let out a long sigh of relief, praising, "Well done, Boy!"

Tears blurred the vision in the eyes of the girl in the corner. "A-Lai, come quickly, your wound has reopened! Let me change the bandage for you!" she called out.

"Just a second..." Alai exclaimed joyfully,"...please!"

Swinging his spear, he ignored the pain from his wound and the blood-soaked bandage. It was the first time the girl had spoken to him on her own.

Half an hour later, the classroom finally quieted down, but outside in the hallway, the monsters grew increasingly numerous, their dark figures looming. It seemed that several classrooms had already been breached by the monsters.

A-Lai's heart was racing, not from the close call with death, but from sitting still while the girl fixed his bandage. She was also breathing quickly, her face as red as an ripe apple. 

Little Fly couldn't contain his amusement at the budding romance, his giggles echoing in the quiet room. The girl shot him an annoyed glare. A-Lai, caught in the moment, found a smile tugging at his lips, his pain seemingly fading in the face of this shy affection. 

Outside the corridor, the monsters multiplied.

They chased after villagers who fled the classrooms, their screams echoing through the chaotic hallway. Panic intensified as the fourth floor became a battleground—a desperate scramble for survival.

On the fourth level, the villagers quickly blocked the upward path with various junk. They fought hard, using table legs and stools as weapons against the small beasts, not stopping until everyone was safe.

"Has the headmaster woken up yet?" An urgent voice called out in the darkness, full of worry.

"Yes, but his face is pale, and his breathing is weak." Another voice responded.

The headmaster had fallen down the narrow steps of the staircase while protecting the student being dragged away by the monsters. The student, eyes filled with tears, gently cared for him, trying not to panic.

Here's a simpler version: "What should we do?" A young villager asked, looking at the unconscious headmaster, "My wife used to slap me to wake me up when I was drunk."

The physics teacher slapped him on head, but looked worriedly at the headmaster, who seemed lost in thought with his eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed.

"The headmaster is a good man, but he's been through a lot,"

"He was a simple literature teacher who moved to the city for a better life. But his wife's actions stressed him out. She often spent time alone with male friends, saying she was returning a favor."

"Is she crazy?" The student asked, confused.

The physics teacher laughed, "The headmaster found out his wife didn't hide anything and didn't care if he was upset."

"Can a marriage like that last?" The student asked, shaking his head.

"No," the physics teacher said, "The headmaster said they fought a lot. His wife wanted to join a nude yoga club. He didn't like the idea, but she insisted and even took him there."

"Do city people really have that much fun?" The student asked, interested.

"Yes, it was new to me too. The headmaster said when he saw the club, he realized it was more than just yoga. 

"So what happened next?"

The physics teacher shrugged, "That's why our headmaster left the city and came to our village."

"Sir, are you making up stories again? Would the headmaster really tell you this?" Another student asked, skeptical.

"Psh, with my drinking skills, who can't I get to open up?" The physics teacher answered confidently.