Due to practical considerations, Luo Yang had no choice but to train Shuang Qiao and Hong Jiaxin with a heavy heart.
If it were An Yuying, Luo Yang would respect her choice. If she wanted to train hard, he would facilitate it; if not, he wouldn't force her.
After all, An Yuying didn't need the same level of martial prowess for her undertakings as Hong Jiaxin did.
Luo Yang, a man of temperament, was naturally displeased when he heard the burly man's words. His gaze turned icy, nailing the man's face.
At first, the burly man dared to meet Luo Yang's eyes, but gradually, he timidly lowered his head.
In Luo Yang's eyes, the burly man saw an air of death, which filled him with a deep sense of fear.
"Niu Zai, I can't do it," Qiao Zai Shui swayed.
"Little Sister Qiao, you can. I'm right behind you, what's there to be afraid of? Come on, kick him," Luo Yang instructed.
But Qiao Zai Shui couldn't keep up with the instructions; her foot wouldn't lift as intended.
Luo Yang's right hand supported Qiao Zai Shui's left thigh, pushing it upward, knowing full well her left foot couldn't strike out; his aim was simply to force the burly young man to make a move.
As expected, the burly young man swept a kick over, hitting Qiao Zai Shui's right calf.
Qiao Zai Shui let out a cry of pain, her face puckered and her eyes brimming with glistening tears, "Mom..."
Her voice was already tinged with the sound of tears.
Qiao Yousi stepped forward, waving her tiny fists lightly pounding Luo Yang's back, angrily saying, "Why are you tormenting my sister!"
In fact, Luo Yang had good intentions.
"Big Sister Qiao, let me tell you," Luo Yang whispered into her ear.
He only whispered one sentence, "To defeat Wang Yunxiong."
Having heard him, Qiao Yousi then comforted her sister, "Just do what Niu Zai says."
Qiao Zai Shui puffed her cheeks, feeling annoyed yet understanding the reasoning behind it, and thus made up her mind to go through with it.
At this moment, the burly man showed no compassion, his eyes glaring even more ferociously.
"Showoff!"
No sooner had he uttered the words than the burly man lifted his foot again, sweeping towards Qiao Zai Shui's calf.
Luo Yang, pressed tight against Qiao Zai Shui's back, with his hands around her waist, moved with her as they moved together.
Suddenly stepping back half a step, he neatly avoided a kick.
"Kick him."
As he spoke, Luo Yang's left hand tightened around Qiao Zai Shui's slender waist, while his right palm supported her rounded hip, as if she were sitting on a chair.
With the leverage provided, Qiao Zai Shui steeled her heart as well and lashed out fiercely with her feet, hitting the burly man squarely in the chest.
With a thud, the burly man fell to the ground, seated.
He had not anticipated Qiao Zai Shui's double-legged kick, and being caught off-guard, especially after just having kicked, he hadn't adjusted his balance and thus, when struck, he couldn't stay upright.
After getting up, the burly young man, fuming with rage, lunged forward, throwing a punch.
Luo Yang pulled Qiao Zai Shui down into a crouch, "Hit him!"
Before he had finished speaking, both Luo Yang and Qiao Zai Shui's heads angled forward, and with a bang, they again sent the burly man tumbling to the ground.
This time, it was actually Luo Yang who knocked down the burly man.
Even if Qiao Zai Shui had utilized her "Iron Head Skill," it wouldn't have achieved the desired effect.
Just then, the patrol police and security staff came dashing over.
Luo Yang and the man with sunglasses, among a few others, were taken to the police station to assist the investigation.
Not long after arriving at the station, Luo Yang surprisingly saw Guan Changxing come in.
Guan Changxing, equally surprised to see Luo Yang, approached him for a greeting, learned about the fight, and why Luo Yang had been brought to the station.
Straightaway, Guan Changxing left for a few minutes.
Upon returning to Luo Yang, the man with sunglasses was also beside him.
"Doctor Luo, you can leave now," Guan Changxing said.
Once outside the police station, Guan Changxing finally introduced the man with sunglasses to Luo Yang.
"This is my uncle's son, Guan Baiqiang. And this is Doctor Luo, the man who saved your grandfather's life. Go on and apologize to Doctor Luo!" Guan Changxing passed a cigarette to Luo Yang while instructing the young man in sunglasses.
That day, Guan Baiqiang was drunk and had not been at the hospital, unaware that it was Luo Yang who had saved his grandfather.
Now that he knew Luo Yang was a benefactor of the Guan family, the ferocity on his face dissolved immediately.
"Doctor Luo, I'm sorry. Please be magnanimous and forgive me this once," Guan Baiqiang suddenly became polite and submissive, like a lamb.
"It was all a misunderstanding. He's my disciple, I ask Brother Qiang to let him off this time," Luo Yang said, puffing on the cigarette.
"Doctor Luo, you can just call me Xiao Qiang," Guan Baiqiang said with a forced smile. "If I had known he was your disciple, the conflict wouldn't have happened. I swear I won't trouble him again."
Shi Long was stunned to see Guan Baiqiang acting so differently from his usual tough big brother persona.
"Shi Long, come here and apologize to Brother Qiang," Luo Yang beckoned.
"Brother Qiang, I'm sorry. Please give me another chance," Shi Long said, nodding and bowing.
Had it not been for showing face to Luo Yang, Guan Baiqiang would have kicked Shi Long away long ago.
"Okay, okay, okay," Guan Baiqiang waved his hand, "Doctor Luo, just call me Xiao Qiang, no need to call me Brother Qiang."
In reality, Guan Baiqiang was about 21 years old, while Luo Yang was only 16.
At this moment, for Luo Yang to call Guan Baiqiang "Xiao Qiang" was somewhat embarrassing.
"I'd still rather call you Brother Qiang," Luo Yang said with a smile.
"Doctor Luo, you can just call him Xiao Qiang. You are a great benefactor to our Guan family, and in your presence, we are all 'smaller ones,'" Guan Changxing said.
As both uncle and nephew were very modest, Luo Yang satisfied their wishes and addressed Guan Baiqiang as Xiao Qiang.
After some more polite exchanges, they finally parted ways.
After the car drove out of the police station's courtyard, Shi Long said excitedly, "Master, I never imagined a county town big brother like Brother Qiang would apologize to you. If word of this gets out, your reputation will soar."
"Don't go spreading today's events everywhere. If you do, you'll have me to answer to," Luo Yang said seriously.
No matter what, Guan Baiqiang was a figure to be reckoned with.
Everybody loves to save face.
With Guan Baiqiang's prestige on the streets, he naturally valued his face even more.
The news getting out would certainly cause him to lose face.
However, apologizing to one's benefactor, like Luo Yang, wasn't really something to be ashamed of.
Still, it was better to keep a low profile. Luo Yang didn't want to attract any new trouble.
"Master, I won't tell anyone. Master, I have a few friends who also want to become your disciples, is that all right?" Shi Long asked.
Owing to Shi Nan, Luo Yang didn't charge Shi Long any tuition fee.
"Sure, there's no real discount for the tuition anyway, it's only a few thousand yuan. Make sure you explain it to them clearly," Luo Yang reminded.
"I know, I'll tell them," Shi Long nodded.
Since the martial arts school couldn't open for business yet and he had finished what needed to be done in the county town, he thought about dropping Shi Long at home and picking up Shi Nan from the countryside.
Just then, Luo Yang's cellphone rang.
"only you, can take me to the Journey to the West..."
The call was from Shi Nan, who seemed in a rush to prepare for her trip to the countryside, as she was due to sing at Zhu Li's bar that night.
After answering the call, Luo Yang said, "Sister Nan, I'll be at your place soon."
But Shi Nan's voice was anxious, indicating something had happened.
"I need your help," Shi Nan said.
"What happened?" Luo Yang asked.
"My little sister just called me, saying a thug from her grade wants her to wait for him outside the school after classes; he might want to hit her. Can you help me teach that thug a lesson?" Shi Nan asked.
"Sure. I'll head over now. Tell your sister to give me a call. What's her name?" Luo Yang agreed.
At that moment, Shi Long eagerly answered—it was his sister too, named Shi Yun.
Learning that someone was bullying his sister made Shi Long furious.
After Luo Yang hung up, Shi Long said, "Master, let me handle it. If anyone dares to bully my sister, I won't let them off easily!"