Ling Fan thought he was dead.
But the pain in his back, arms and legs brought him back to reality. He realized that this kind of pain was different from that caused by organ failure, such as heart failure. He had been suffering multiple organ failure in the past ten years.
The pain showed that he was being punched and kicked. So, maybe he was still alive...
"This guy is physically weak. Be gentle with him. We'd better not cripple him. Otherwise, we'll be in trouble," came a man's sharp voice, in which there was a note of dark pleasure.
"Humph! It doesn't matter even if we cripple him. He's a stupid guy. No one cares about him."
"You two go search him. I can't believe that he doesn't have any money on him."
"Okay."
Seeing someone approaching him with a stick, Ling Fan unclenched his fist without hesitation.
"Shit! You've been holding your money in your hand." The man gave Ling Fan a kick and snatched the money from his hand.
"Bro, do you know what? He has only a coin."
"Only a coin? Damn it! You're wasting my time. Come on, guys, let's give him a sound beating."
Then they began to give Ling Fan bashes and kicks again.
Ling Fan lay prone on the ground with his head buried in his hands.
He was undergoing a beating. Strangely enough, the expression in his eyes changed from timidity to calmness. He even seemed a bit excited.
He had spent ten years in the prison. Those days were long, flat and empty. Most of the time Ling Fan kept thinking back to his past over and over again. He remembered every detail of what had happened, everyone he had met and every word they had said to him. He even had vivid memories of the faces of those guys who had sneered at him...
Although it was just a very ordinary day in his short life, Ling Fan remembered it very well.
It was 3:48 p.m. on Wednesday, May 17th, 2017. In other words, he had been transported back to a time when he was just a sophomore in high school 11 years ago.
At this point, he was being attacked by a gang of youths, for he refused to pay protection money.
He didn't know why he luckily returned to life after death. Anyway, he was very thankful to be alive again, although he was now just a 17-year-old student who gave the impression of being weak and cowardly. What was more, misfortune had not yet befallen him when he was 17.
Ling Fan believed that there is nothing better than to be alive. If it hadn't been for this belief, he wouldn't have had the courage to struggle to survive in the prison.
The thought of his years in prison filled Ling Fan's heart with mixed emotions. He trembled and burst out laughing.
His hysterical laughter chilled the gang and sent shivers down their spines. Shocked and puzzled, they stopped hitting and kicking him.
"Gosh! Is he crazy?"
"That's enough. Bro, we've taught him a lesson. Let's go."
The leader of the gang raised his voice and said, "Humph! Maybe he's trying to deceive us by pretending to be insane." He became a bit nervous.
He looked down at Ling Fan, who was lying on the ground laughing loudly, and said, "Hey, pal, don't try any tricks. Otherwise, I'll beat you to death."
They were about to run away when Ling Fan suddenly stopped laughing and hauled himself to his feet.
They turned to look at Ling Fan. They felt that Ling Fan was a changed man... He used to be very afraid of them, but now he seemed fearless. Although they couldn't tell why, they got a bad feeling.
"Humph! You seem to be all right. I think we are merciful to you. There's no need to thank me. Remember to take more money with you next time. Come on, guys, let's go."
They were preparing to leave.
"Wait a minute," Ling Fan suddenly said.
"Have I given you permission to leave?"