Girls with a hint of heroic demeanor often possess a unique allure. However, when that hint becomes overwhelming, it can drive people to avoid them entirely. Take, for instance, the "woman who isn't quite a woman" now standing before Xiang Ri.
"Weren't we supposed to do this tomorrow?" Xiang Ri frowned as he addressed Chu Chu.
Before Chu Chu could respond, her words were hijacked by a figure of ambiguous gender standing nearby. "I moved in today—what's your problem?" the voice rang out, sharp and belligerent.
Once, Xiang Ri might have countered such provocation, but now, in his somber mood, he lacked the energy. He waved to his disciple, who had just stepped out of her room. "Xiao Qing, come here."
"Teacher, what is it?" Shi Qing cast him a puzzled glance. Knowing her "beastly" teacher, she found his unusually mild demeanor perplexing. Moments ago, her friend had spoken to him in such a disrespectful tone, yet he hadn't shown the slightest anger—a rare phenomenon worth analyzing. Suspecting a possible scheme, Shi Qing remained rooted to the spot, wary of falling into his trap.
Xiang Ri's voice dropped lower, tinged with uncharacteristic earnestness. "Xiao Qing, come here. I just want to hug you properly."
His words instantly flushed Shi Qing's face crimson. Lost in her embarrassment, she failed to notice the melancholy in her teacher's expression. Feeling both flustered and slightly annoyed, she protested, "Teacher…"
While she'd been hugged before, the presence of Chu Chu made her hesitate. It wasn't just shyness; it was a nagging sense of worry. After all, Chu Chu was the legitimate girlfriend here, while her own role was far more awkward. Officially, she was the disciple, yet in secret, she had crossed boundaries that should never be breached. This duality filled her with guilt towards Chu Chu, though an irresistible force seemed to compel her to continue.
She had worried Chu Chu might take offense at her teacher's words, but to her surprise, Chu Chu showed no trace of displeasure. Instead, she even chimed in, "Sister Qing, just go over. Xiang Kui's been acting weird ever since he came back—always wanting to hug someone."
Chu Chu's remark made Shi Qing finally notice her teacher's odd demeanor. His forlorn expression and peculiar behavior tugged at her heart. She hurried over. "Teacher, what's wrong?"
To Shi Qing, her teacher was a carefree soul, someone who rarely let anything trouble him. Yet now, he seemed deeply wounded by some invisible blow.
"I'm fine," Xiang Ri murmured, reluctant to elaborate. He pulled his disciple into a tight embrace, resting his head gently on her shoulder.
The masculine warmth of his presence made Shi Qing feel increasingly uneasy, her cheeks burning even brighter. She glanced cautiously at Chu Chu, only to find her expression calm, without a hint of jealousy. Only then did she finally relax.
But Chu Chu's composure didn't mean everyone else found the scene acceptable.
An Xin glared venomously at the trio's intimacy, particularly at the disabled man basking in the affection of two women. She itched to grab a chair and flatten him, but the thought of his formidable strength held her back. Instead, she turned her attention elsewhere, shifting her irritation to Shi Qing. "Qing Qing, I can't carry all this on my own. Could you give me a hand?" She gestured toward two large boxes on the floor.
Shi Qing wanted to step forward and help, but her movements were completely restricted by her beastly teacher's tight grip. She could only respond helplessly, "An An, you'll have to manage on your own. If it's too heavy, just make two trips."
An Xin was instantly filled with rage, tempted to unleash a torrent of curses—directed, of course, at the certain crippled man. If not for his return, she would have been the one enjoying the bliss of a shared romance by now. Damn it! She cast a venomous glare at the obliviously content crippled man, her eyes full of resentment, before reluctantly dragging the two heavy boxes to the room recently assigned to her.
That afternoon, when it was time for class, Xiang Ri declined to go, citing discomfort. Chu Chu and Shi Qing both sensed that something was troubling him, yet no matter how they probed, he refused to share his thoughts. Left with no other choice, they could only remind him to take care of himself before heading to school, worry etched on their faces. Even the androgynous figure returned to her own campus for lessons.
Lying on his bed, for the first time, Xiang Ri's thoughts weren't consumed by the usual "bed-related activities." Instead, he reflected on the limits of his immense strength, realizing that not everything was within his control.
Take today's ambush, for instance. The attackers were nothing more than ordinary individuals without any extraordinary abilities. Yet armed with weapons, they managed to pose a threat even to someone dozens of times stronger than themselves. What use was raw power? Wouldn't it be far safer to carry a gun every day?
Glancing at the thick bandages covering his right hand, Xiang Ri let out a heavy sigh. What good was unparalleled strength if he still ended up grievously injured? Though his body was far tougher than that of an ordinary person, it was still flesh and blood—not steel. It could bleed; it could break. If only his strength could extend beyond his body…
Suddenly, Xiang Ri's entire body tensed, and his eyes lit up with newfound inspiration. "Extend beyond the body?"
Yes, that was it! If his strength could project beyond his physical form, there would be no need to rely on direct contact to smash through walls, and his fingers wouldn't have been fractured. If his power could extend outward, those assassins earlier would have had no chance to escape, and that tragedy—Xiao Wan's departure—would never have occurred!
As these thoughts surged through his mind, Xiang Ri clenched his fists tightly and sat upright with a determined breath.
In the past, back when he was known as the "White Tiger," he had pondered this very question. He had experimented with countless methods, hoping to achieve the legendary martial arts feat of injuring foes from a distance, but every attempt had ended in failure.
Of course, those days were different. Back then, his greatest thrill was close-quarters combat, where he could revel in the blood-soaked chaos and the visceral rush of carnage. The idea of becoming a true martial arts master had never truly captivated him. Moreover, as the leader of his faction, his days were consumed by endless social engagements, leaving little time to delve into harnessing his inner power.
But now, everything had changed. Xiang Ri felt an unprecedented sense of urgency and danger. From the ambush earlier today, it was clear the attackers weren't aiming at him as a mere afterthought—he had been their primary target. Based on the foreigner's confession, their resolve to eliminate him was no less fierce than their determination to assassinate a queen.
To face future ambushes, assassinations, and even deadlier encounters, Xiang Ri had never been so desperate to grow stronger. And above all, one thing mattered most: he would never allow any harm to come to the women he loved!