Chapter Fifty-Four: Entering the Fray

Chapter Fifty-Four: [Taking the Field]

The burly man, emboldened by his advantage, pressed forward with a face full of murderous intent, striding toward Xiao Qing. She struggled, pushing herself up with trembling arms, her breathing ragged, and her once-beautiful face now pale as death.

“Stop!”

“Damn it! This is too much!”

“Hell! I’m furious now!”

Most of the boys nearby began to clamor, some even rolling up their sleeves, ready to charge forward. Seeing such a delicate girl like Xiao Qing get knocked down by a brute awakened the natural sympathy men feel for beauty—especially when it’s a beauty from their own school.

While others were still cursing, Second Young Master Xu sprang into action, shouting as he rushed forward and delivered a flamboyant flying kick toward the burly man's back. The crowd cheered, recognizing one of the school’s prominent figures making his move.

Yet before their cheers faded, the burly man spun around, crossing his arms in front of him. Xu’s kick landed squarely on those arms—yet the brute barely wavered, while Xu was sent flying backward, crashing to the ground.

“Who told you to intervene?” Xiao Qing had already managed to get up. Her face was grim as she glared coldly at Xu, who was now sitting on the ground. “When martial artists spar, you can’t break the rules!”

Her words came between labored breaths, leaving Xu dumbfounded.

The burly man flexed his fists and charged again. His punch swept toward Xiao Qing—she, clearly exhausted, staggered aside, but the wind from the blow nearly caught her. Even in this strange state, her experience and instincts remained: she managed to lift her right hand, and as the fist grazed her cheek, her fingers clamped onto his wrist.

Her movements were slow, but the precision of her grip spoke volumes about her expertise and awareness. Yet the burly man merely sneered, raised his arm, and flung Xiao Qing aside once more.

“So, you know a little of the grappling arts,” he sneered. “But you’re out of strength, aren’t you?”

This time, Xiao Qing landed and could not rise, her body trembling.

“Do you admit defeat?” the man’s eyes gleamed.

Xiao Qing, lying there, let out a cold laugh. “Ha! You think you’re worthy?”

“Tough talk for a girl lying on the ground,” the burly man snickered. “Right now, you can’t even get up—unlike me!”

A flicker of fury shone in Xiao Qing’s eyes. She had never experienced such a strange situation—her skills intact but unable to use them, being humiliated by a third-rate thug. For someone as proud as Xiao Qing, submission was out of the question.

“My demand isn’t excessive. Go over, bow to our Young Master Ma, admit you’re outmatched. Maybe, out of pity, he’ll even…” The brute, oblivious to the situation, was still posturing for his master.

Xu, still sitting on the ground after a nasty fall—his lack of true martial training had left him with a twisted ankle—could only sneer, glaring at Young Master Ma. “Ha! Ha! Splendid, splendid! Young Master Ma, you’re quite arrogant, aren’t you? In Kede Academy, someone dares to show off in front of me, more arrogant than me!”

Ma’s face was livid. Though he feared Xu Yifan’s family background, he refused to show weakness before the crowd. “Xu, this has nothing to do with you! We mind our own business. Why meddle? Do you think you can rule over everything here?”

“I have no time for your nonsense.” Xu’s tone was frosty. “Touch her, and someday I’ll break one of your bones. That’s my promise. If you dare, try me.”

When it came to family background, Xu Yifan’s family had influence in both the legal and illegal worlds—his father was prominent and his elder brother was the notorious ‘Red Cloak.’ Ma, seeing the gathering crowd and their increasingly hostile glances, felt his confidence waver. After all, students at Kede Academy were no easy lot; the place was full of hidden talents. To provoke the wrong person could be disastrous.

Already, Ma’s resolve was weakening, but he stiffened his neck for a last show of bravado. “Fine! I don’t want to hurt anyone. But today, I’m here to challenge your club. By the rules, my man won. So this girl should dissolve the club!”

He paused, his eyes shifting. “Don’t tell me this is school, not the martial world. Others can say that—but Xiao Qing, you wouldn’t say such a thing, would you?”

As expected, Xiao Qing’s face was ashen, unable to reply. She was too proud to cheat—her martial family heritage wouldn’t allow it. But to admit defeat, to have her club smashed on its opening day, would be a shame too great to bear.

At that moment, a clear voice rang out: “Who says we’ve lost?”

Chen Xiao pushed through the crowd, striding into the circle. He first went to Xu, patting him. “I’ve told you before, don’t leap about in a fight. When you jump, you expose all your weaknesses. Your waist isn’t strong enough, you can’t change moves mid-air. Against a stronger opponent, you’re asking for trouble. But you never listen, always trying to show off.”

Xu laughed, exchanging a glance with Chen Xiao—their brotherly bond evident. “Careful, that guy’s tough.”

Chen Xiao nodded, reaching into Xu’s bag and pulling out the club membership application—already filled out, missing only the signature. Calmly, he took out a pen, signed his name, and turned to Young Master Ma. “Ma, look closely: I’m also a member of this martial arts club!”

“So what?” Ma, intimidated by Xu Yifan, had no respect for this fallen aristocrat. “Your president already lost…”

“You used a relay fight against a girl—how honorable is that?” Chen Xiao said loudly, his disdain clear. “Even if our president lost due to exhaustion, our overall record is eight wins and one loss.”

His words were reasonable and defended Xiao Qing. Though many students looked down on Chen Xiao, his defense of Xiao Qing won him considerable support.

“See? I’m part of this club.” Chen Xiao waved the application. “If you get to use a relay, so do we.”

Ma’s face darkened. “So, Chen Xiao, you want to fight?”

Chen Xiao’s contempt was unmistakable. “Obviously. Why else would I come out—just to chat with you?”

With that, he calmly took off his coat and set it, along with his backpack, aside, then helped Xiao Qing to her feet.

“You’re not his match,” Xiao Qing said, recognizing the boy who’d once tried to chat her up and followed her. She didn’t know his skill, but…

As Chen Xiao helped her up, a faint blush colored her cheeks, then she grew serious. “He practices Hung Gar and has trained in iron body techniques. You haven’t learned martial arts; I’m afraid…”

Chen Xiao rubbed his nose, lowering his voice. “Actually, I’m sorry. Both Xu and I have kept something from you… That guy who keeps telling you about someone who beats him up in school all the time with bruises and swollen noses… that’s me.” He pointed at himself, then, avoiding her reaction, strode to the center.

Facing the burly man, Chen Xiao knew his old skills weren’t enough to win.

But…

If even a car couldn’t kill me, surely his fists aren’t harder than a car!

(Recommended~~~Collect~~~Another chapter tonight!)