Chapter Fifty-Three: Xiao Qing's Defeat

Chapter Fifty-Three: Xiao Qing Defeated

“I practice Hung Gar!”

The opponent who stepped forward spoke with a booming voice, his stature burly and imposing. Yet his eyes carried an unsettling chill, a hint of coldness lurking in his gaze.

Xiao Qing remained impassive, retreating half a step and raising her hand in a starting gesture. “Please.”

With a sudden burst, the burly man stomped the ground fiercely, launching himself forward with vicious intent. His fists flew in a textbook left-right swing, aiming from both sides at Xiao Qing.

Her left hand held up in a loose guard, seemingly just a casual wave of the arm, and two muffled thuds followed. So effortlessly, she deflected his blows.

Her opponent seemed prepared for this, twisting his body and pressing forward, clearly determined to engage Xiao Qing in close combat. He had observed her previous matches and recognized her agility; with such a nimble opponent, if he couldn’t close the distance, he’d have no chance at all.

Yet, Xiao Qing, as if sweeping away her earlier ethereal footwork, ceased retreating. Her opponent’s fists and feet struck, but she no longer dodged—she raised her hands to block.

Her speed was unmistakable. No matter how fiercely he attacked, her movements were precise and unhurried, each action crisp and clear, calmly warding off every punch.

The burly man’s arms were likely as thick as Xiao Qing’s delicate thighs, her fists and forearms slender as toothpicks in comparison. The crowd watched their limbs clash, worry flickering in their hearts—such a frail girl, did her arms not ache?

In moments, they exchanged over a dozen blows. The burly man grew increasingly ferocious, his fists roaring like tigers, while Xiao Qing continued to fend off everything with her left, her right hand always behind her back.

Gradually, cheers surged around them. Everyone could see Xiao Qing’s effortless defense, dissolving all his attacks with a single hand. The man’s face was steel gray, relentlessly aggressive, his thoughts a mystery.

This man was a senior enforcer from the crime syndicate run by Young Master Ma’s father, notorious for underground fighting and ruthless strikes. Over the years, his iron fists had ended the careers—and lives—of countless opponents.

Seeing Xiao Qing calmly parry his assault, the man showed no sign of panic. Suddenly, his eyes flashed, and he twisted forward, pressing himself against her chest.

This “taking advantage” move drew curses from the watching boys. Xiao Qing’s brow arched in response.

His maneuver exposed his chest, leaving it completely unguarded. He seemed willing to take a few hits just to get close.

Xiao Qing frowned—being a woman, she would not allow such close entanglement. Her left palm feinted forward, then swiftly changed to a fist, her index knuckle protruding as she jabbed lightly at his chest.

Bang!

The muffled sound was heard by all. The man winced, yet uttered not a word, his body merely twisting aside. His waist strength was formidable; even as he staggered, he still lunged toward Xiao Qing.

He switched from palm to elbow, retracting his right fist, and with a sudden sidelong advance, raised his elbow high and brought it crashing down on Xiao Qing’s shoulder.

Now, they stood almost face to face.

Xiao Qing was slightly surprised—she hadn’t expected his resilience to be so exceptional. But though startled, she remained composed, her footwork about to shift into her signature, willow-like agility.

Yet, at that exact moment…

No one seemed to notice, but Chen Xiao, standing outside the circle, caught a subtle detail.

As Xiao Qing twisted to retreat, her foot suddenly faltered, her usually calm gaze flickering out of focus for an instant. In that blink, her aura seemed to dissipate.

Her movement was only half-complete—the first part fluid and effortless, but then her body abruptly stiffened. Something had happened, though no one knew what.

With the distance so close, Xiao Qing could not afford distraction. The man’s eyes lit up, immediately sensing her vulnerability, his elbow smashing down, his whole body lunging at her.

Xiao Qing, not knowing what had happened, stumbled, her steps chaotic, the spiritual energy that once filled her vanishing in an instant. Yet she was still a master; in her haste, she threw herself backward, collapsing to the ground.

With a thud, her body hit the mat, and she rolled quickly to the side.

The man’s elbow struck down.

The floor of the gym was covered with thick mats, like those used for gymnastics, to cushion fighters. But the man, with his full weight and arm, crashed down, his elbow hitting the surface—Xiao Qing’s final roll barely saved her, the elbow landing just behind her, smashing into the mat.

Crack!

Everyone heard the sound.

They saw the mat suddenly split as if torn apart; even the solid wood beneath fractured into several pieces.

Such power!

Many in the crowd cried out in shock.

Xiao Qing looked more disheveled than ever, her former grace vanished. Even as she rolled aside and stood, her movements appeared swift, but Chen Xiao noticed a hint of desperation.

Xiao Qing had just stood up, her expression odd, retreating seven or eight steps to quickly widen the gap. Her brows knit, and she made an unconscious gesture—shaking her head, glaring hard, her mind seeming lost.

At this moment, her heart was full of confusion and alarm.

Just now, in a flash, a sharp pain stabbed deep within her mind, as if an invisible needle pierced her brain. Her spirit suddenly faltered, her head foggy, her vision dimming, as if all her vitality drained away.

Her body felt limp, all she wanted was to collapse and sleep.

She retreated two more steps, nearly losing her balance—now, many in the crowd realized something was wrong.

…

On the rooftop, Phoenix’s face suddenly turned pale. She gasped, her body sinking to the ground, no longer able to float. Her frame went soft, nearly sitting down, finally gripping the railing to remain upright.

Sweat beaded on Phoenix’s forehead, her body trembling as if she might collapse at any moment.

“What…what’s happening to me…” Phoenix wondered in shock, then remembered something.

Could it be…could I really be unable to meet her? If we draw too close, then…

…

Xiao Qing’s steps grew increasingly erratic, like someone drunk. She had no idea what had happened—everything blurred before her eyes. She rubbed her eyes, but her opponent’s figure split into two.

The man watched with curiosity, unable to understand what was happening to the fierce girl. Soon, he realized this was no act—she was genuinely affected. A cruel smile crept onto his lips, and with a shout, he charged again.

Stepping and twisting his waist, he threw a wide, open punch straight at the faltering Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing bit her lip hard. The punch was coming—on any other day, she would have dodged it easily. But now, her legs felt heavy, almost foreign. Helpless, she took a deep breath, raised her arms to block.

Bang!

Before everyone’s eyes, Xiao Qing was sent flying backward by the man’s punch. Her slender body landed, barely managing to stand, arms crossed before her chest, but she was clearly on the verge of collapse. Pain marked her beautiful face—a sight that made many of the watching boys’ hearts drop. At once, shouts erupted.

“Something’s wrong!” Chen Xiao’s expression changed; he saw Xiao Qing’s sudden loss of composure. Quickly, he stowed his device in his bag and pushed through the crowd.

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