Zhao Mingyu's prior taunts now seemed like a bad joke. In fact, with just two well-placed kicks, the city's taekwondo champ was sent reeling, spitting blood and passing out cold. It was only because Qin Xuan had held back; otherwise, ten of Zhao Mingyu wouldn't have stood a chance. One swift kick from Qin Xuan, and it would've been game over.
"Qin Xuan, it's just a friendly spar! Why'd you go all out like that?" Wang Xiao came charging over, his voice shrill with anger. Obviously, he was trying to make a scene.
That's when the crowd snapped back to reality, and chaos erupted. Immediately, some quick-witted onlookers wasted no time dialing 120 for an ambulance. After all, seeing Zhao Mingyu down and bleeding badly was quite a shock.
"Too hard?" Qin Xuan shot Wang Xiao a cool, indifferent glance. "What if that killer kick he aimed at you had landed? How do you think you'd be feeling right now?"
Wang Xiao's face fell, and he stammered, lost for words. If that kick had connected, he'd probably be in worse shape than Zhao Mingyu was currently sprawled on the floor.
Nevertheless, Qin Xuan strolled over to He Yu, hands casually tucked in his pockets, and flashed a winning smile. "I came out on top."
He Yu stared at him, dumbfounded. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought Qin Xuan would emerge victorious. Sure, she couldn't stand Zhao Mingyu, but she had to give credit where it was due; he was a cut above the rest. Compared to Qin Xuan, Zhao Mingyu had always seemed like royalty.
Now, in the blink of an eye, Qin Xuan had demolished her perception with two powerful kicks. Subsequently, her thoughts started to race.
"Even if you won, did you have to go that hard on him? He's spitting blood..." He Yu started in on her usual nagging routine, but then she caught Qin Xuan's amused, knowing look and froze mid-sentence.
"I get it. I'll lay off the lectures," she said, clamping a hand over her mouth, looking adorably sheepish.
Beside her, Xiao Wu let out a soft chuckle. " Congrats on your big win!"
Zhao Mingyu didn't deserve an ounce of pity. That tornado kick of his? It would've been curtains for an ordinary Joe.
Qin Xuan gave a nonchalant shrug and headed for the gym exit. Then, he tossed over a reassuring comment.
"Xiao Yu, don't sweat it. That guy won't be darkening the school's doorstep until after the college entrance exams. You can breathe easy; he won't be bugging you again."
His calm, reassuring words floated over, and He Yu's heart skipped a beat. Suddenly, an outlandish thought crept into her head. 'Could it be that Qin Xuan went to town on Zhao Mingyu for my sake?'
Suddenly, her heart felt as if it had been jolted by an electric current.
"He Yu, your brother's really got your back," Xiao Wu said with a warm smile.
"No, he... he did it for you," He Yu stammered, flustered, stubbornly refusing to admit the truth.
Xiao Wu just smiled gently, watching Qin Xuan's retreating figure and musing inwardly.
'Qin Xuan, what other secrets are you hiding?'
Word that Zhao Mingyu had been thrashed by Qin Xuan spread through the school like wildfire. Inevitably, it caused quite a stir.
Zhao Mingyu, the city's taekwondo star, had fallen?
Most folks hadn't even bothered to watch the fight. In their minds, Qin Xuan was a goner for sure. But this curveball of an outcome? It was a bitter pill to swallow.
Plenty of people were gobsmacked when they got wind of the news. Since when could Qin Xuan fight like that? His classmates, in particular, were floored. The seemingly harmless Qin Xuan had a mean streak, apparently, kicking Zhao Mingyu until he was coughing up blood.
In a pool hall just outside the school gates, Wang Xiao burst in, looking like a deer caught in the headlights after dropping Zhao Mingyu at the hospital.
"Master Lu, Master Lu! We've got a major problem!"
Lu Yunfan was in the middle of a game, cue in hand. At the sound of Wang Xiao's panicked voice, he frowned, clearly irritated.
"What's got you all hot and bothered?" he snapped, shooting Wang Xiao a withering glare.
Wang Xiao's face paled. He swiped at the sweat beading on his forehead and hissed in a low voice, "Qin Xuan laid into Zhao Mingyu! Badly!"
Lu Yunfan's jaw dropped. Qin Xuan had taken down Zhao Mingyu? Was this some kind of sick joke?
Zhao Mingyu could mop the floor with a dozen hooligans single-handedly. His championship title wasn't just for show.
Qin Xuan had managed to injure him? That was like something out of a fairy tale.
One look at Wang Xiao's stricken face, and Lu Yunfan knew he wasn't spinning yarns.
Lu Yunfan's face clouded over. First, Liu Ming had gotten roughed up by Qin Xuan that morning, and now this? His blood was 沸腾.
Where on earth did this kid get the nerve and the skill?
"What's wrong? Trouble in paradise?"
Across the table from Lu Yunfan, a young man with a buzz cut, cue stick in hand, flashed a wry smile.
This was Mo Yunsheng. He and Lu Yunfan went way back, all the way to high school. Not only that, he had a small army at his beck and call and ruled the roost around these parts. The pool halls and arcade joints near school? All his turf.
Lu Yunfan's face was a mask of grim determination. He glanced at Mo Yunsheng and shook his head. "Nah, just some punk acting up. I've got it under control."
Mo Yunsheng ambled over, slapped Lu Yunfan on the shoulder. "Need a hand, just holler. Around here, my word is law."
Wang Xiao's eyes widened. This Mo Yunsheng was the stuff of legends in their school. With a crew of at least a hundred under his belt, he was the boogeyman everyone feared. And he doesn't give the time of day to just anyone; only a SELECT few could claim to be in his inner circle.
With that, Mo Yunsheng laid down his cue and sauntered off.
Lu Yunfan stood silent for a moment, his expression gradually softening. By the end, he was even sporting a smug smile.
"Master Lu, what's the play?" Wang Xiao asked, his voice quivering with unease.
"We?" Lu Yunfan let out a scornful laugh. "That Qin kid's in way over his head, and he doesn't even know it. Do we need to lift a finger? I don't think so."
"Trouble?" Wang Xiao echoed, confusion knitting his brows.
"Zhao Mingyu's the golden boy of Han Feng Dojo. That Qin punk messed with Han Feng's prized pupil. You really think the dOJO's gonna let that slide? And get this: Zhao Mingyu's old man is the police chief. Even if Qin Xuan manages to dodge the dOJO, he won't get past daddy dearest."
Wang Xiao's eyes lit up like Christmas lights. The more he heard, the more excited he got. "You're right! That Qin kid's toast. He's just a nobody boarding student. For the police chief to squash him? It'd be like swatting a fly."
Lu Yunfan's smile was icy. The chill in his eyes could freeze water.
Qin Xuan, you think you can cross me? You've got another thing coming.
Xiao Wu? She's way out of your league. I'll make sure you regret the day you ever set eyes on her.
"Wang Xiao, scoot over to the Han Feng Dojo and spill the beans. After that, we can just sit back and enjoy the fireworks." Lu Yunfan crouched low, lined up his shot, and with a resounding crack, sank the ball cleanly.
"On it!" Wang Xiao scurried toward the door like a rat fleeing a sinking ship.
The instructors at Han Feng Dojo were the cream of the crop in the city's adult taekwodo scene. And Li Xisheng, who mentored Zhao Mingyu? He was the undisputed champ of the provincial martial arts tourney. His strength was the stuff of nightmares. Word on the street was he could pulverize a ten-finger-thick slab of blue brick with one palm.
Even if Qin Xuan was a decent fighter, he was no match for the dOJO's heavyweights, especially the fearsome Li Xisheng.
Qin Xuan, you're a dead man walking.
A glimmer of glee flashed in Wang Xiao's eyes, and a self-satisfied smirk curled his lips.