"I challenge you to a duel!" Before Xiang Ri could get closer, the man with the mustache had already stepped forward aggressively.
"A duel?" Though the man's Mandarin was far from fluent, Xiang Ri caught his meaning. A playful smirk danced on his lips. "Are you saying you want to duel with me?"
"Precisely!" The mustached man's face beamed with arrogance, mistaking Xiang Ri's reaction for fear. He cast a smug glance at the two beauties standing in the distance before returning his gaze. "Are you afraid? If you are, kneel and kowtow three times, and I might forgive your rudeness!"
"So, a lunatic, is it?" Xiang Ri studied the man for a moment and concluded that he was far from ordinary.
"What did you say?" The mustached man, already struggling with Mandarin, failed to grasp the term "lunatic" due to Xiang Ri's speed of speech.
"Ōshima-kun, he's insulting you," a short, obsequious companion clarified from behind him.
"You dare insult me?" Predictably, the mustached man erupted, yelling once more, "I challenge you to a duel!"
"This one's beyond saving," Xiang Ri muttered, rubbing his nose. Before the man could fully process the remark, Xiang Ri added with a resigned shrug, "Very well, I accept your challenge."
The mustached man was still puzzling over Xiang Ri's previous comment when the latter's acceptance of the duel snapped him out of his reverie. "Good! Since you've agreed, I have one more condition!" Without waiting for Xiang Ri's response, he pointed at Shi Qing and Chu Chu.
"If I win, these two—both of them—will be mine!"
A cruel smile curled at the corner of Xiang Ri's mouth. "And if I win?"
"Money! I'll give you a great deal of money!" The man seemed confident in this tried-and-true method, pronouncing the words with surprising clarity.
"Is that so?" Xiang Ri's smile deepened, taking on an enigmatic quality. He suddenly shifted tone, saying, "But I think you'd better save that money for your own coffin."
Before the man could react, Xiang Ri lashed out with a swift kick. Caught off guard, the mustached man felt a sharp pain in his abdomen as his body was sent flying backward.
Not waiting for him to hit the ground, Xiang Ri followed up with another kick from above, slamming the man into the earth. Then, planting his foot on the man's head, he declared coldly, "Dare to covet my women? Death awaits!"
Pressing down with force, he caused blood to gush even more violently from the already bleeding man. Despite his strength, Xiang Ri held back slightly, knowing it would be excessive to go too far in front of so many students.
The onlookers were stunned by the sudden turn of events. Those closest to the scene, particularly the short companion, retreated in terror, shrieking incoherently.
The members of the judo club, however, reacted differently. After their initial shock, they erupted into cheers, as if all the humiliation they had endured earlier had been avenged in that single instant.
Chu Chu clenched her fists. Though the sight of the man coughing up blood filled her with some pity, she quickly remembered how he had injured her beloved cousin and even dared to eye her moments ago. In the end, she felt he deserved his punishment.
Shi Qing's emotions were more complex. The earlier display by her "beastly teacher" had starkly reminded her of the gap between their abilities, leaving her disheartened. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a sweet warmth in her heart. That same "beastly teacher" had just admitted, in Chu Chu's presence no less, that she was one of "his women." While the term likely included Chu Chu, Shi Qing knew it also encompassed her.
Blushing furiously, her face and even ears seemed to radiate heat at the thought.
The only composed individual in the crowd was a ponytailed man who had remained silent until now. Casting a brief, indifferent glance at his fallen comrade, he turned his gaze toward Xiang Ri and addressed him. "Your strength is impressive, sir. Would you be interested in a friendly spar?"
"Your Mandarin is quite good," Xiang Ri remarked, moving his foot off the mustached man's head. "Are you challenging me as well?"
"No, sir," the ponytailed man replied. "Duels are the pastime of fools. I merely propose a friendly exchange of skills. As you might say in your country, a little guidance."
"You seem well-versed in our culture. But I'm afraid that if you get injured, it would be difficult to explain to the school."
"That's of no concern, sir! Even if we were to lose, I assure you we would say nothing to the school. Besides," the man added with confidence, "I, Mitsui Nagaharu, have never known the taste of defeat."
With that, he stomped heavily on the ground. A loud crack resounded as the floorboards beneath his foot shattered into several pieces.
A collective gasp arose from the crowd. This man was evidently no ordinary opponent. Concerned glances shifted toward Xiang Ri. Though they knew his strength, the sight of the ponytailed man's display left even his staunchest supporters doubting his chances—especially given that one of his hands was still injured.
Chu Chu, deeply worried, attempted to step forward and halt the "friendly sparring," but Shi Qing caught her arm and reassured her. "Don't worry, Chu Chu. The teacher can handle this." Shi Qing was the only one in the crowd who had unwavering confidence in Xiang Ri, and her belief was not unfounded. Having once witnessed the "beastly teacher" pierce through thick wooden boards with a mere finger, she regarded the ponytailed man's abilities with little concern.
Xiang Ri, however, set aside a trace of his earlier disdain. He hadn't expected the ponytailed man to possess such strength. While still leagues behind him, the man was formidable enough to injure an ordinary person with ease.
"Impressive strength. It seems you've put in a great deal of effort," Xiang Ri remarked.
"You are correct," the ponytailed man replied with a touch of pride. "I've been training in martial arts since the age of three. It's been a rigorous eighteen years of practice. I imagine you've also trained for many years?"
Xiang Ri's heart stirred, and he spun an elaborate lie. "Not quite. In fact, I've only been training for three years."
"Three years?" The man didn't voice his disbelief, but his expression spoke volumes—he was skeptical.
"I know you don't believe me," Xiang Ri continued, his tone taking on an air of mystery. "But our country has a long and ancient history—five thousand years, to be exact. With so much time, it's only natural that certain extraordinary techniques would be passed down."
"Are you referring to inner strength?" The ponytailed man's expression was hard to read, teetering between mockery and genuine curiosity. "I've read your country's wuxia novels. Inner strength is depicted as incredible—capable of making people fly or inflicting damage from a distance. Are you suggesting you've mastered such techniques?"
"Exactly," Xiang Ri replied, shocking everyone present with his audacious claim. Though absurd to most, Shi Qing appeared thoughtful, as if pondering the possibility.
Xiang Ri pressed further. "In fact, I can harm you while standing right here." To the others, his words sounded nothing short of fantastical.
"Then I'd like to see for myself," the ponytailed man replied with a serious expression. Whether he truly believed it or not, only he knew.
"You'll get your chance," Xiang Ri said cryptically, a meaningful smile playing on his lips. "Shall we begin?"
Though Xiang Ri's "Vacuum Punch" was not his full strength, it was powerful enough to create a dent in reinforced concrete walls—a feat beyond ordinary humans. Recognizing the ponytailed man's earlier display of skill, Xiang Ri refrained from underestimating him.
"From this distance, are you confident?" The ponytailed man gestured, marking the space of about five meters between them.
"Yes," Xiang Ri assessed the gap, recalling his practice sessions where such a range posed no challenge. "Be ready—I'm about to begin."
"I'm ready," the ponytailed man declared, remaining still. Internally, he dismissed the existence of "inner strength" as fiction and was curious to see what Xiang Ri would attempt.
"Brace yourself!" Xiang Ri cautioned again, noting the man's lack of preparation. He feared causing a fatal incident at the school. Despite the man's apparent skill, a lack of proper defense could lead to catastrophic injury.
For the first time, the ponytailed man felt a flicker of tension. Xiang Ri's grave expression didn't seem feigned. Adjusting his attitude, he adopted a more serious stance.
"Here I come!" Xiang Ri bellowed, clenching his fist. Under the crowd's breathless watch, he suddenly roared, "I'll tear you apart!" and delivered a punch.
With a thunderous "bang," the ponytailed man, who had stood motionless moments ago, was flung backward as if struck by a speeding truck. For a second or two, he seemed to glide in the air before crashing heavily onto the ground.
He coughed violently, spitting out a mouthful of crimson, before struggling to his feet. His face betrayed a mix of shock and terror. "So, inner strength truly exists in this world," he muttered, before collapsing once more.
The onlookers were numb with astonishment. From the moment the ponytailed man was hurled into the air, their eyes had widened with disbelief.
Had they not witnessed it firsthand, they wouldn't have believed it possible. No visible force had struck the man—no truck, no object—yet he was launched as if by an invisible hand.
Could inner strength truly exist? It was the unspoken question on everyone's mind.
As realization dawned, the crowd's gaze toward Xiang Ri shifted. Men and women alike now looked at him with a newfound fervor.