The scrutinizing gaze of Mr. Zhou pierced through Xia Chen like a laser, as if his entire life was laid bare for all to see. Xia Chen's heart pounded in his chest as he stood frozen, the intensity of being under Mr. Zhou's scrutiny much different from previous encounters. It was like the transformation from a gentle elderly figure to a fierce warrior. Kai, who had witnessed the sudden change, couldn't help but be taken aback, but instead of being scared, he couldn't help but feel a hint of approval creeping up within him.
"He's strong. I can feel it in my bones," Kai mused, his lips curling into a slight smile.
As Mr. Zhou continued to gaze at Xia Chen, his stare turning more beastly by the second, Xia Chen's legs began to tremble, his body drenched in nervous sweat. Every fiber of his being urged him to collapse, to surrender as he often did before, but the worried gaze of Mae Ling compelled him to grit his teeth and withstand the invisible force Mr. Zhou exuded.
"I-I want to be stronger... I don't want to be pathetic anymore... Please, teach me, Mr... No, Master Zhou," Xia Chen said as he managed to mutter amidst the struggle.
Determined, he met the eyes of Mr. Zhou with unwavering resolve. His mother, sister, and fiancée flashed across his mind, whom he thought he didn't deserve as he was pathetic. But with the opportunity presented by his Senior Brother before him, he would cling to it even if it were as thin as a needle.
Mr. Zhou raised an eyebrow, his voice resonating with depth as he asked, "Are you sure about this?"
And then he added, his voice resonating like thunder, "The path you wish to tread is fraught with trials and hardships. Your life may be in more danger than when you were merely subjected to bullying."
Xia Chen's tears welled in his determined eyes as he responded, "Yes! No hardship or danger compares to the pain of being weak, unable to protect my family. I refuse to beg for help again and rely on someone or beg my enemies just to save my ass. I can no longer bear this frustration that tears me apart. Please, Master Zhou..."
Mr. Zhou remained silent for what felt like an eternity, causing Xia Chen's heart to sink.
Finally, a smirk tugged at the corners of Mr. Zhou's mouth. "Alright, kid," he said, his tone laced with grudging admiration. "I'll take you under my wing. But don't think I'll go easy on you. Training will be tough, and if you slack off, I won't hesitate to kick you out."
A rush of relief washed over Xia Chen as he nodded vigorously. "I understand, Master!"
"Good," Mr. Zhou replied, a hint of pride in his voice. He extended a hand to help Xia Chen to his feet. "Don't thank me yet, though. The real challenge lies ahead."
Xia Chen's eyes shimmered with gratitude. "I won't let you down."
"Hahaha! I like your guts, kid!" Mr. Zhou said proudly to his new disciple.
He then looked at Kai and continued, "You have a good eye, Kai."
"Nah, it just so happened that he's Mae Ling's brother. I helped him, but I only took a glance at his bravery earlier when he faced that delinquent guy. I didn't know he would go this far, though, without wetting his pants," Kai said.
He then looked at Xia Chen and continued, "Good luck, little brother. From here on, you're on your own. I just opened your path, but it all depends on you now. I'll protect your little sister so you can train diligently."
Xia Chen's gaze shifted to Kai, his sister's boyfriend, who had been there to witness everything.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. Without your help, I wouldn't have had the chance to train under Master Zhou. I promise to repay you in the future." Xia Chen said, as his voice resonated with sincerity.
"Consider it as payment for accepting my relationship with Mae Ling."
"But still, it was all thanks to you that I can even think of having a master to teach me Martial Arts. Thank you," Xia Chen said, his voice choking a little.
Kai waved his hand, dismissing this act of gratitude, as he is doing it for Mae Ling and his own gain. But still, being thanked for doing a favor for someone still gives Kai a tinge of satisfaction.
"Alright! Let's get this show on the road," Mr. Zhou exclaimed, gesturing for Xia Chen to follow him. They made their way to the back of Mr. Zhou's house where he had set up a training ground just for this purpose.
Xia Chen couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness. This wasn't going to be a walk in the park.
As they walked, Xia Chen couldn't contain his curiosity and asked, "Where are we going, Master?"
Mr. Zhou chuckled and replied, "On the training ground at the back of the house. I have already prepared it. You need more determination from now on, as this was not a joke." Mr. Zhou said as he continued to walk, followed by Xia Chen, but his knees were still a little weak.
From a distance, Mae Ling shouted encouraging words to her brother, filling him with determination.
"Good luck, big brother! You can do it!"
Xia Chen clenched his fist and raised it high, assuring his sister that he was ready for the challenge.
Once they were a safe distance away, Mr. Zhou brought up a surprising question, "Do you want to follow Kai?"
Taken aback by the sudden question, Xia Chen couldn't help but ask in return, "Why do you ask, Master?"
Mr. Zhou's face grew serious as he explained, "If you want to follow him, I need to adjust your training. That brat is a monster with Mr. Rick as his Master. Even I don't know the extent of his achievements in the future." And he reminded him, "You need to be ready."
Hearing this, Xia Chen gulped. He doesn't care how hard the training is as long as he gets stronger. Nonetheless, hearing his Master's high praise, he wondered how strong his Senior Brother was, but at the same time, he felt even more relieved.
"Thank goodness. Now that he's dating Mae Ling, I don't have to worry about her safety." Xia Chen muttered under his breath,
Mr. Zhou overheard Xia Chen's comment and couldn't help but laugh. "Kid, with that monster by your sister's side, your worries should be directed towards his enemies. Hahaha!"