Chapter Thirty: Guidance Sought

Chapter 30: "Please Advise"

In truth, the Karate Club at Gide Academy had no real experts. The club president was a young man of average height named Jin Buhuan—nicknamed "Jin the Unyielding." He was straightforward and easygoing, the scion of a family that owned several automotive dealerships, and thus well-off. Though cheerful and somewhat careless, he was at least sincere, lacking the ingrained arrogance that so often marked the wealthy.

The club itself existed mostly for amusement; it was a way to pass the time, another activity among many. Jin the Unyielding was only moderately skilled, and most of the members—who drove luxury cars and wore designer brands—would never seriously apply themselves to mastering such rough, physical arts. Thus, for all the club's size, the only real instruction came from the occasional part-time coach hired from local gyms; the rest of the time, the students practiced halfheartedly.

Besides, the majority of the members were girls, drawn not by the art but by the presence of two dashing young men: Chen Xiao and the second young master Xu. Who among them truly cared to dedicate themselves to training?

As for the challenger from the Martial Arts Club—the one in the tight tank top—he was indeed something of a troublemaker at Gide Academy. Rumor had it his family had connections with the underworld, and he had a pugnacious, ruthless nature. His surname was Ma, but he had styled himself "Ma Yongzhen"—a touch of comedy, for Chen Xiao knew the real Ma Yongzhen of history had met his end in a hail of blades.

As for his martial skill... To be honest, Chen Xiao had visited the Martial Arts Club before and seen this "expert" in action—at best, the fellow could strike a few poses. It was said he had never received formal training, but had simply picked up a few street-fighting tricks from the gangsters in his family’s circle.

Still, among ordinary students, he was a formidable opponent. So when this so-called martial arts master issued his challenge, no one dared step forward to accept.

Jin the Unyielding, the Karate Club president, was a player himself—his skills unremarkable and well aware of his rival’s ruthlessness, he naturally declined to fight. For a moment, the atmosphere stagnated, and their confidence ebbed.

“Hmph!” Ma Yongzhen was plainly pleased with himself. “What’s this? Not one of you dares step up? In that case, write out your surrender for me! Starting today, take down your club’s sign and vacate this gym! Any of your members willing to switch clubs—we’ll welcome them at the Martial Arts Club!”

He swept a smug glance around, letting his eyes linger on the many young women in the opposing club.

He had long resented the Karate Club, jealous of their popularity, but had hesitated because of the presence of the second young master Xu—whose family was wealthier than his own, and whose brother was a notorious figure in the underworld. In Gide Academy, no one dared cross either of the Xu brothers.

But this morning, he had heard that the second Xu had withdrawn from the club! The news thrilled him. With Xu gone, only Jin the Unyielding remained—hardly someone to fear!

Jin looked troubled, scratching his head. “Young Master Ma, our club is just a casual gathering. There’s no need to take things so seriously, is there? We’re not a real dojo—just students, not some martial world adepts. Why not let it go?”

“Enough talk!” Ma snapped, eyes wide. “If you’re afraid, just admit defeat!”

“Fine, then we admit defeat.” Jin the Unyielding, known for his good temper, was unruffled. “As I said, we’re only in this for fun. If that means we can’t beat you, so be it—we’re not martial artists.”

Ma was caught off guard by this. After a pause, he said, “Well… then hand over the gym!”

Jin grinned, his good nature hiding a shrewd mind. “We have a contract with the Academy Board—six hundred thousand a year. We’re not planning to let it go.”

“You!” Ma’s face darkened. “So you lose and want to just walk away?”

Jin was growing impatient. “Why fight at all? Who wants to? It’s your thing if you love brawling, but let me make it clear: we’re students, not gangsters. We paid to rent this place for our own activities—what’s it to you?”

Jin’s words, though a touch shameless, left no room for argument. Ma was momentarily at a loss—this was not how he had imagined things would go! He had pictured himself challenging the club, besting their leader with a few punches and kicks, drawing the admiring gazes of the girls, and then absorbing the club into his own…

“So, do you admit karate is inferior to Chinese martial arts?” Ma ventured.

“Of course,” Jin said, with a hint of curiosity. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“Then why do you even practice karate?” Ma pressed, sensing he’d found a weakness.

“Are you out of your mind?” Jin shot him a cold look. “What does one have to do with the other? We’re just passing the time. Whether karate or Chinese martial arts is better—what does it matter? If we closed the doors and played tag in here, it would have nothing to do with you.”

“Forsaking our own traditions for some Japanese fad—shameless!” Ma spat, chin raised in disdain.

Jin regarded him with pity. “To us, karate is just a pastime—it’s not sacred. What we do in our free time is none of your business.”

“Are you fighting or not? Admit defeat and hand over the gym!” Ma raised his voice, beginning to bluster. “Everyone, your president has admitted defeat! Clearly, karate is far inferior to our national martial arts! There’s no point staying here—if you’re interested, join our club! Join now and the first six months are free for men, a whole year for women!”

But for all his shouting, the crowd only looked at him as if he were mad.

Chen Xiao, unable to watch any longer, stepped up beside Jin the Unyielding. Jin’s eyes lit up—he knew Chen Xiao was skilled. He tugged at Chen’s sleeve and whispered, “Why didn’t you come over sooner? If I’d known you were here, I wouldn’t have given in. He’s no match for you.”

Chen Xiao shrugged. “What’s the point of fighting over such nonsense?”

He stepped forward, addressing Ma politely. “Excuse me, may I ask a question?”

Ma glanced at him, his gaze dismissive. “You? Hmph, the famous Bicycle Prince.”

Chen Xiao touched his nose; he hated that nickname. “I just have a question.”

“Go on. I hear you’re pretty handy yourself—care to test yourself against me?” Ma was eager for a fight.

Chen Xiao smiled innocently. “Sorry, I’m just a student. Fighting isn’t for me.”

He paused, then continued with a gentle smile. “According to you, practicing karate instead of Chinese martial arts is unpatriotic… Then, if we were to play poker together, would you burst in with a box of mahjong tiles and force us to give up cards for mahjong instead?”

Ma was struck dumb, speechless.

The club members burst out laughing. Many of the girls, seizing on Chen Xiao’s words, began to tease Ma, their laughter and mockery ringing out.

Ma’s face flushed red, veins bulging on his forehead as he glared at Chen Xiao. “Kid! What good is your sharp tongue? If you’re a real man, settle it with your fists!”

Chen Xiao stepped back, waving a hand lazily. “I told you, I have no interest in meaningless fights. Besides, does being good at fighting really matter? We’re students, not hired thugs.”

“You—you look down on martial arts!” Ma tried to twist the argument.

Unfazed, Chen Xiao rolled his eyes and smiled. “Tell me, do you alone represent all of ‘martial arts’?”

Ma was close to apoplexy, but Chen Xiao only smiled pleasantly. “Alright, Young Master Ma, let’s just say I admit defeat. You’re the best fighter at Gide Academy—the undefeated champion. You can tell everyone that, and we won’t object. Will that do?”

Around them, the girls laughed.

Exactly! Who cared about such things? Here at Gide, students might compete over who was wealthiest, who drove the finest car, who wore the rarest furs, or who had the most attractive partner—but fighting prowess? That meant nothing.

Ma was at a loss—he had, in a sense, won, but it brought him no satisfaction.

At that moment, the gym doors swung open, and a slender, striking figure entered. Her hair was tied in a playful side ponytail, she wore casual sportswear and running shoes, and as she stepped in, she asked in a soft voice, “Excuse me, sorry to interrupt. Could you tell me who is the strongest fighter at Gide Academy?”

As soon as she entered, she drew the gaze of nearly every young man in the room, and even among the girls, many couldn’t help but look on with envy and admiration.

Chen Xiao looked at the girl, opening his mouth to say “Phoenix,” but swallowed the words. She no longer acknowledged that name, and he had no right to call her so.

“Is it you?” The girl walked to the front, her gaze passing over Chen Xiao without recognition, finally settling on Ma. “Is it you? Are you the strongest at Gide Academy?”

Ma certainly looked the part, his muscular arms showing in his tank top. Such a stunning beauty staring at him left him momentarily dazed—her gaze was so compelling it seemed to blank out his mind. He nodded without thinking. “Uh, yes! I’m the president of the Martial Arts Club—”

His words were met with a chorus of derision from the karate girls—not that they cared to argue with him, but he was getting far too full of himself.

“Excellent.” The girl, who looked so much like Phoenix, smiled—a smile so radiant Ma nearly lost his composure. Yet Chen Xiao, watching, felt a pang of foreboding.

Sure enough…

“Very good.” The girl’s smile was satisfied. “I’ve just been to the Taekwondo, Judo, and Kickboxing clubs—unfortunately, all cowards, not one with real skill. Not one could withstand two punches. But since you claim to be the strongest, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”

With that, she bent to place her white Apple laptop on the mat, slipped off her running shoes, then turned and gave Ma a formal martial artist’s salute.

“Ninth-generation disciple of the Xiao family’s Southern School—Xiao Qing.” She raised her head, those enchanting eyes now sharp as blades. “Please advise!”

She stepped back half a pace, her stance steady, hands spread in a poised, fluid guard—the classic opening posture of a true master.

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