"Ah!"
Guo Hao let out a stifled cry of pain, his back, arms, and shoulders all throbbing with pain, especially his shoulders which sent waves of piercing agony.
It made lifting his arms to a significant extent an impossibility.
"You!"
Guo Hao's eyes fixed on the figure approaching step by step under the sun ahead. The backlight made the figure's facial features seem dark and profound, carrying with them an inexplicable sense of oppression. Shock and fear mingled in Guo Hao's eyes—he was astonished at the formidable strength Bai Xiao had revealed, and terrified that he was no match for him and might face a severe beating next.
Guo Hao gritted his teeth, pushed off with his back, and attempted to run toward the door.
Yet, just as he had forcefully shut Bai Xiao's wardrobe door with one hand earlier, another sinewy arm now pressed against the cabinet door upfront.
Bang!
A robust figure blocked the way, trapping Guo Hao inside.
Then, with a bang, Guo Hao found himself grasped harshly by the collar by Bai Xiao, hauled up so that his back slammed once again against the wardrobe.
Guo Hao stood on tiptoes, gasping for breath, his face contorted with remorse and fright. He had completely lost the arrogant posture he had at the start, and all the jealousy and haughtiness had wilted like bean sprouts.
"You... what do you want to do?"
There was a trace of trembling in his voice. Guo Hao tried to appear composed, but the cowardice in his eyes gave him away—a classic case of bullying the weak and fearing the strong.
Bai Xiao looked into Guo Hao's eyes, disappointment on his face.
He had thought Guo Hao would remain defiant to the end, in which case Bai Xiao might have still had some respect for him. But now, Guo Hao's current state was disappointingly weak.
Bai Xiao had entirely lost interest in him.
He regarded Guo Hao, a hint of scorn in his pupils.
"Now, do I qualify to join the elite class?"
Guo Hao fell silent, his eyelids drooping, silent.
"Haha..." Bai Xiao let out a cold laugh, "I know what kind of person you are..."
His sharp gaze pierced directly into Guo Hao as if a bright blade plunged deep into the latter's heart: "You need the admiring gazes of girls, you need their praise, their cheers, to prop up the sense of superiority in your heart, to support you every day in your combat skill practice. But I, I do not!"
"This is the difference between you and me, do you understand?"
Thump, Guo Hao's feet hit the ground.
Bai Xiao turned and left without any hesitation, not even looking back.
In the changing room, only the sound of Guo Hao's gasping and sobbing remained.
...
In training hall number two, only a trio remained—a man and two women.
Under the persistent curiosity and questioning of Li Xuefei and the short-haired girl, He Hao eventually succumbed to feminine wiles and revealed the real reason Guo Hao had stormed out.
"Brother Hao has gone to teach Bai Xiao a lesson!"
"Xuefei, just wait and see. Brother Hao will show you how he uses all sorts of combat skills learned from the training class to thoroughly beat Bai Xiao into submission!"
A smug expression crept over his face as he boasted about Guo Hao.
"Ah? Guo Hao went to fight someone?!" the short-haired girl exclaimed.
"Why would Guo Hao go after Bai Xiao? Did Bai Xiao provoke him?"
Li Xuefei, who had a soft spot for Bai Xiao, quickly pressed for answers.
"Heh, Bai Xiao is so arrogant and reclusive, always acting cool. Brother Hao just can't stand such pretentiousness, strutting around as if everyone owes him a debt of tens of thousands. That type... they are just asking for a beating!"
He Hao exaggerated Bai Xiao's flaws, speaking confidently.
"This..." Li Xuefei recalled her encounter with Bai Xiao that morning, his strong physique and muscles, and couldn't help but murmur to herself, "Can Guo Hao really beat Bai Xiao?"
"What are you talking about!" He Hao clicked his tongue and raised an eyebrow, starting to defend his boss Guo Hao: "What is Bai Xiao? He used to be invisible in class, jujutsu jujutsu can't be learned, boxing boxing can't be learned. Only sandboxing seems alright, but it's all for show."
"Brother Hao previously tested his boxing strength at 72kg, higher than anyone else in class. Plus, with the boxing and jujutsu he has trained in, fighting Bai Xiao is just like playing with kids for him. What's Bai Xiao considered?"
Just as He Hao was fervently belittling Bai Xiao, with a sharp and spiteful tone.
Outside Training Hall No. 2, a tall young man with a sullen face staggered as he stepped inside. Guo Hao's expression was beyond ugly; it was like dark clouds accumulating with flashes of lightning and thunder.
Around his eye sockets, one could vaguely discern a circle of tear-stained red marks.
"Guo Hao has come back," Li Xuefei whispered.
"Sigh, Brother Hao is back, we were just talking about you."
"How was it? That kid Bai Xiao must have been taught a harsh lesson, probably even cried. Such a poser, with no real strength, acting like he's so strong and aloof. Haha..." He Hao chuckled with satisfaction.
He turned his head before he had time to grasp the situation properly.
Then saw a fist suddenly enlarge before his eyes, hitting him directly in the eye socket. "Ah!" He Hao cried out in pain, falling to the ground.
After that, Guo Hao, who had just beaten up his own lackey, mounted He Hao and began to punch him ferociously. It was as if he wanted to release all the fury he had held back from Bai Xiao onto He Hao, making him bear the brunt.
"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"
Guo Hao growled lowly.
"Ah! Stop hitting me! Brother Hao, it's me! Don't hit me!"
He Hao protected his face with both hands, crying out in pain and begging for mercy.
To the side, Li Xuefei and the short-haired girl were startled and hurriedly retreated to a corner of the training hall. They watched befuddled as Guo Hao beat He Hao.
Why was Guo Hao hitting He Hao?
It's simple, the things He Hao said had deeply wounded Guo Hao.
Earlier in the locker room, his pride had been crushed by Bai Xiao, and the mask hiding his ugly jealousy was brutally torn off.
After Bai Xiao left, Guo Hao finally cried alone.
And He Hao's derogatory talk about Bai Xiao, claiming that Bai Xiao was reduced to tears by Guo Hao, was a stark contrast to the truth, even producing a huge mockery for Guo Hao.
It was he who had been beaten, he who had been beaten to tears!
Moreover, when Guo Hao had just come down the corridor, he had also heard the other things He Hao said to belittle Bai Xiao. This made him burn with shame, utterly humiliated! If Bai Xiao was as trashy and low-level as He Hao had described, then him, easily defeated by Bai Xiao within a few moves, would that not make him the trash amongst trash?
Added to the humiliation and rage previously inflicted by Bai Xiao's harsh insults,
Guo Hao's blood rushed to his head, and he lost all reason.
Savagely beating He Hao.
...
Meanwhile, in the chaotic scene of the White Bird Martial Arts Hall training hall, while Guo Hao was in a state of impotent fury, on the bus returning from Pujiang District to Xuanshan District.
Bai Xiao sat quietly in the backseat by the window.
A blue canvas bag rested on his knees, and his elbow was propped on the windowsill.
The window was open, with his black fringe hair fluttering in the wind.
He quietly enjoyed the cool breeze and the passing city streetscape.