Xiao Chen walked out with Su Xiaomeng in tow, and not a single person dared to block their path.
The Korean coaches all looked terrible. Park Zeren was the strongest among them, yet he still got sent flying with a single move. If even he couldn't stand up to Xiao Chen, the rest of them didn't stand a chance.
Many of the female students stared at Xiao Chen's retreating figure, their eyes sparkling—wasn't he just too handsome?
Some of the male students were equally impressed. So this is real Chinese kung fu? Compared to it, South Korean taekwondo suddenly looked like one big… joke.
"Brother, do you take disciples?"
Someone finally couldn't help but run after Xiao Chen, speaking in awe.
"Huh?"
Xiao Chen froze. Take disciples?
"Brother, I want to learn real kung fu from you. Please teach me!"
"Don't you want to learn taekwondo anymore?"
"No way! That stick-style stuff isn't nearly as strong as people say. Didn't you send that guy flying with one kick?" the boy said, glancing with disgust at Park Zeren, who was still sprawled across the mat.
"…"
"Brother, please take me! I don't care how much the tuition is! I want to become strong like you and be a righteous hero someday!"
A hero? Kid, did you just wake up? Xiao Chen muttered inwardly, but he still smiled. "Sorry, I don't—"
"Brother!"
"Take me too!"
"Handsome guy, your kung fu is amazing—teach me!"
A whole crowd of students—boys and girls—swarmed him and Su Xiaomeng.
Xiao Chen was stunned. Has anyone considered the Koreans' feelings right now?
Sure enough, when he turned around, the Korean coaches' faces were pitch-black… Park Zeren even coughed up another mouthful of blood.
"Xiaomeng, is this your boyfriend? He's too handsome—can you introduce me?"
"Yeah! Xiaomeng, your boyfriend is amazing at fighting. Can you lend him to me for one night?"
Several girls who were close with Su Xiaomeng squealed in excitement.
Su Xiaomeng was dumbfounded. When did this guy become my boyfriend? And since when was he so popular?
"Everyone… quiet down a little…" Xiao Chen's head throbbed. The noise was like a bustling marketplace.
The crowd finally calmed down and stared at him.
"I really don't take apprentices. And my skills aren't enough for that anyway… Chinese martial arts are deep and profound—learning just a tiny bit can already be powerful."
"That's right! It's way better than taekwondo. That guy bragged so much about his sixth-degree black belt but still got knocked out with one kick!"
Another student shouted proudly.
Hearing that, Park Zeren—who had just managed to get up—spat blood again and collapsed.
He regretted everything. If he had known Xiao Chen was so strong, he'd never have acted tough! Now he was the fool.
"Hey, don't look down on taekwondo too much," Xiao Chen said politely. "It may not be that strong, but it's at least pretty nice to watch."
Even as he said it, he inwardly thought taekwondo was worthless.
"Yes, yes! It's like a monkey performance!" the boy who first approached him nodded vigorously.
This kid has potential, Xiao Chen thought.
"Anyway, I really don't take students. But there are plenty of martial arts schools in Longhai. Real ones, not those money-grabbing ones. Didn't that taekwondo coach brag about kicking four of them out?"
"Brother, how do we know which ones are real?"
"Uh…" Xiao Chen was about to say he didn't know when a name suddenly popped into his mind. He hesitated, then gave them an address. "Try that place. You'll learn something genuine."
"For real? Is the master there as strong as you?"
"Stronger. He's the real deal."
"Okay! Let's go check it out!"
"But I'm warning you," Xiao Chen added seriously. "Chinese martial arts require real hardship. To get anywhere, you'll have to put in dozens—maybe hundreds—of times the effort of taekwondo."
"Huh? That intense?" Some of their faces fell.
Xiao Chen smirked. Modern kids couldn't endure hardship. If one-thirtieth of this group lasted six months, it would be a miracle.
"Handsome guy, forget martial arts—just protect me instead?"
"Yeah! What's your phone number? Want to go out tonight? I don't have to go home!"
A girl called out boldly.
Xiao Chen's mouth twitched. Girls these days were… straightforward.
Su Xiaomeng's face darkened. Feeling uncomfortable, she grabbed his hand. "Let's go."
"O-okay."
Xiao Chen let her pull him away—then switched around and took her hand instead.
"Handsome guy! My number is—remember to call!"
A few minutes later, they had escaped outside the building. Xiao Chen took a long breath.
"Heh."
Remembering what the girls said, he couldn't help but grin. Girls in China are so open now… I like it.
"You look proud. What, planning to go on a date with those little brats?" Su Xiaomeng snapped.
"No, no! I don't even know them!"
"Since when does knowing someone matter?" she huffed.
"Xiaomeng, please. Brother Chen here is not that kind of man!" Xiao Chen said righteously.
"Tch. Not a man casually—just casual."
"…"
"All men are the same," she muttered.
"…"
Xiao Chen was speechless. Has this girl been heartbroken? She's like a tiny jaded adult.
No, impossible—she's too young.
"Hey, let go of my hand! Pervert!"
"…You pulled me first…" Xiao Chen sighed. Forget it. She's a kid.
"Xiaomeng, since we're not learning taekwondo anymore, where to now?"
"You sure you're not coming back?" she glanced at the building.
"Do you think it's useful?"
"It is! I'm a third-degree black belt. I can't beat you, but I can take down a few punks!"
Xiao Chen paused. Fair point. For normal people, taekwondo was plenty strong enough—at least for self-defense.
"I'll teach you something better when I have time—simpler than taekwondo but far more practical."
"Will I be able to beat you after learning it?" she asked seriously.
"…No! And if you don't want to learn—"
"I'll learn, I'll learn!" she quickly said. Then she grinned. "But anyway, after how badly you beat Park Zeren, I can't show up there again."
"…"
"He deserved it, though. Watching you kick him was so satisfying!" Su Xiaomeng said happily, skipping toward her Maserati.
Xiao Chen stared after her. So she really used me as a weapon… this girl is dangerous.
But he wasn't mad—the Korean guy had it coming.
"Let's go! Why are you dawdling?" Su Xiaomeng rolled down the car window.
"Oh, right."
Xiao Chen got in and looked at her.
"What are you staring at me for? I know I'm beautiful, but don't get lost in it."
"Be honest… you have a grudge against Park Zeren?"
"Not a grudge—he just annoys me. He keeps trying to hit on me, and during taekwondo lessons he'd 'accidentally' touch me. Also, his superiority complex drives me crazy. Acts like he's above all Chinese."
"…"
So she was using him as a gun.
But Xiao Chen didn't mind. That guy definitely needed a beating.
"Let's go shopping, then eat something! I need a beauty nap in the afternoon, and we'll go racing tonight!"
She stepped on the accelerator, and the Maserati roared toward Longhai's famous pedestrian street.
They parked and wandered around.
One hour passed.
Two hours passed.
Xiao Chen was carrying over a dozen bags—snacks, clothes, random trinkets… Su Xiaomeng wandered aimlessly, buying anything that caught her eye, whether from a name-brand store or a street stall.
"Xiaomeng… can we rest a bit?"
Xiao Chen finally cracked. He felt more exhausted than after a ten-kilometer run—mentally exhausted.
"What? Already tired? Young man, your body's weak!"
She strutted on without stopping.
"I… my kidneys are still recovering…" he mumbled.
But then he saw the next shop she walked into—Victoria's Secret.
Wasn't that… a lingerie store?
"Xiaomeng, wait for me!"
Suddenly his mind wasn't tired anymore, and his kidneys felt perfectly fine.