Based on a monthly salary of 3000 yuan, Lang Yifeng owed Luo Yang a total of more than ninety thousand yuan, and it would take him more than two years to repay the debt.
After leaving the Lang Family, walking on the village path as bright as moonlight on the water, Hong Jiaxin, out of curiosity, asked Luo Yang why Lang Yifeng owed him so much money. Only after Luo Yang explained did she realize that Lang Yifeng was the biggest village ruffian in the Hongyun Brigade.
"Where will sister sleep tonight?" Hong Jiaxin suddenly asked.
She had wanted to ask this question earlier. When she first arrived at Luo Yang's home, she had noticed that there were no spare rooms.
"Squad leader, would you like to sleep at my house or at one of the villagers' homes? If you sleep at my place, then I'll have to sleep at one of the villagers', but we could also... heh heh, my bed is a double." Luo Yang chuckled.
"Dream on, sister will sleep alone in one bed, and you'll sleep under the bed! I'm going to tell my dad that you are trying to take advantage of me." Hong Jiaxin pouted her red lips and said.
As soon as she mentioned her dad, she felt sad again.
At night, she tried to contact her parents through phone calls and text messages but couldn't reach them, nor did she know how her parents were doing now. Given that the situation was very serious, she worried that something might happen to her parents.
He had wanted to tease her a bit, but hearing her voice suddenly become hoarse, he felt pity for her situation. He wanted to console her and divert her attention.
"I have a riddle for you, try guessing the answer," Luo Yang said. "There's a sport where one is above and one is below, the one on top exerts force, and the one below will be in pain, what sport is it?"
"Eh, that's not hard, I guessed it right away!" Hong Jiaxin curled her lip.
"Squad leader, you're that impressive? Let's hear it then," Luo Yang laughed.
Hearing him laugh, she became even more convinced of her assumption.
"Don't treat sister like a 3-year-old, alright. I knew what sport it was after hearing it only once," Hong Jiaxin said with a cold laugh.
"You've got a dirty mind. Squad leader, you're so lewd," Luo Yang chuckled.
"So what sport is it then?" she challenged.
"Fishing," Luo Yang laughed. "Squad leader, you have impure thoughts, always thinking about that sort of thing. I'm the one who's pure and innocent."
"Pure and innocent, my foot!"
Hong Jiaxin was embarrassed and with a coquettish cry, she gently kicked at him. Luo Yang leaped forward, evading the kick, and she chased after him.
"Squad leader, I hit the nail on the head, and now you're annoyed. See, you were thinking about it," he said.
"Sister won't let you off!"
Their laughter and playful shouting intertwined in the night sky. For a moment, she forgot her sorrows.
After frolicking for a while, Luo Yang suddenly stopped and turned around. Hong Jiaxin, not expecting him to halt so abruptly, bumped into him.
"Squad leader, be careful!" Luo Yang quickly steadied her.
He had promised the Hong Zhong couple to take good care of Hong Jiaxin, so he had to pamper her and ensure she wasn't hurt.
"Why are you blocking sister's way?" Hong Jiaxin panted.
At such a question, Luo Yang was at a loss for an answer.
With a chuckle, Luo Yang explained, "Squad leader, I suddenly wanted to talk to you, that's why I stopped. But think about it, if I hadn't caught you, you would have fallen. You should be thanking me. Of course, you don't have to thank me if you don't want to. I help others without leaving a name."
Hong Jiaxin forcefully pushed him away, saying, "It's clear you were in sister's way, and yet you want credit for it."
Knowing he did it on purpose, she felt annoyed and with a sudden kick, she tried again. Her foot nearly connected, but in a split-second flash, he sharply shifted his body and dodged to the side.
With three consecutive kicks failing to touch Luo Yang's clothing, her pride was wounded, so she decided to use both punches and kicks, determined to land a hit on Luo Yang before giving up.
Although Luo Yang had seen him fight valiantly against others and had accepted him as her teacher, she wanted to experience it firsthand to see just how powerful he really was.
That was one reason, and the other was her competitive nature. Seeing Luo Yang dodge her attacks with an easy smile, her fighting spirit was aroused. She secretly resolved to save face in front of him at all costs.
So, she gave it her all, utilizing every martial skill she had learned. Her punches were as swift as the wind, her kicks as fast as lightning, each move precise and methodical. Unfortunately, she still couldn't touch him.
What infuriated her most was that Luo Yang was still there, offering tips as if he were teaching a kindergartner how to do gymnastics.
"Squad leader, if only you could kick a bit faster."
"Squad leader, you should aim your punch a little to the left."
"Squad leader, you've already revealed a weakness in your approach."
"Squad leader, that move is too old. Look, if I just grab your foot and drag, you're bound to fall."
...
...
Hong Jiaxin was boiling with rage, longing to land just one punch or kick to shut him up. This small wish, however, was as difficult as ascending to the heavens. She had already tried her best, but she was far from being his match.
As she pursued him relentlessly, and they were nearing home, Luo Yang said with a laugh, "Squad leader, your results aren't bad either. If I'm first, you're second."
At school, when it came to academic subjects, Hong Jiaxin was always second to none.
Hearing Luo Yang call her second made her even more annoyed. Seeing him just two steps away, she thought if she leaped forward with all her strength, she'd most likely hit him and save some face, not letting him have the last laugh.
"I don't believe I can't kick you!"
Before her words had faded, she had already jumped up, aiming both feet at Luo Yang. If she managed to hit him, she could use the momentum to land safely; if she missed, her momentum spent, she would crash painfully onto the concrete, an excruciating fall guaranteed.
Seeing her risk a double-kick, Luo Yang was taken aback. General Hong Zhong had entrusted his precious daughter to him. If she got hurt, Luo Yang wouldn't have the face to see his old friend again.
Even if Luo Yang stood still, Hong Jiaxin couldn't possibly hit him.
After all, the essence of Shadow Fist was passive evasion. If the opponent didn't strike, Shadow Fist couldn't be fully utilized. But the instant the opponent moved, Luo Yang could drift effortlessly with the surrounding air currents, a feat of wondrous agility.
Just as she thought she was about to hit Luo Yang, she saw a blur, and kicked nothing but air. Hong Jiaxin was still in mid-air, more than a meter and a half above the ground, and she braced herself for the imminent pain of the fall, closing her eyes in anticipation.
Then, like a fleeting shadow, Luo Yang had moved to her side. With outstretched hands, he caught her securely.
"Squad leader, are you trying to perform acrobatics? Such a dangerous move, you really are reckless," he said with a laugh.
"I don't need your rescue!" She swung her little fists and hit his shoulder lightly.
"Your dad entrusted you to me, so I must protect you well. Oh, you're so cunning, making me catch you just so you can hit me. And you landed a hit!" Luo Yang pretended to be regretful.
At his words, Hong Jiaxin couldn't help but laugh. Having finally hit him, she felt satisfied.
The gap in martial skills between them was quite substantial.
Under normal circumstances, Hong Jiaxin would never be able to hit Luo Yang.
Without a little strategy, achieving her goal was indeed difficult.
"What are you doing? Put me down now!" Hong Jiaxin slapped Luo Yang's shoulder.
"Squad leader, I'm glad you're okay. You really scared me just now. What would I have done if you had gotten hurt?" he said, moving to put her down.
"If I fall, that's my problem. Put me down now. Do you hear me?" Hong Jiaxin giggled, playfully slapping Luo Yang's shoulder with her small palm.