Chapter 15: You think you can just quit because you say so?
Xu Shuyan assumed Ning Chen must be jealous when he saw her chatting with other boys.
But when Ning Chen left right after finishing his meal without even glancing at her, she was furious again.
"Hmph, Ning Chen, I don't believe for a second that you aren't moved by me at all."
"Unless you're a eunuch!"
"Keep up the act!"
Xu Shuyan watched Ning Chen’s retreating back, convinced that he was definitely jealous and just bottling it up inside.
"Junior, what would you like to eat? Let me get it for you."
Xing Xufei looked at her with a beaming smile.
Xu Shuyan felt a wave of nausea and instantly reverted to her cold, aloof expression. "No need, Senior. I have hands of my own."
Xing Xufei: "..."
During lunch, Ning Chen noticed that Xu Shuyan, sitting three tables away, kept looking at him, so he sent her a WeChat message.
"Why do you keep looking at me?"
When Xu Shuyan received the message, her pretty face turned beet red in an instant.
How did he know…
"Who’s looking at you??? Narcissist!"
After sending the message, Xu Shuyan was fuming. How could there be such an annoying guy in this world?
"Oh my god, Shuyan, are you chatting with Big Brother Dali?"
Jiang Tang leaned in, excited. "Let me see what you two are talking about!"
"Nothing!" Xu Shuyan blocked Ning Chen immediately.
She expected Ning Chen to show signs of annoyance or disappointment, but the latter seemed not to notice at all and continued eating quietly.
Just then, a group of people walked into the cafeteria.
A burly youth with a buzz cut was dragging a bespectacled boy by the collar, stopping not far from Xu Shuyan.
"Find that Ning Chen for me, now! I have business with him!" the burly youth threatened.
"Ye-yes, Brother Jinfu!" the bespectacled boy looked terrified.
"Damn it, I go away for a few days for a competition, and something this big happens in the club..." The burly youth stood with his hands on his hips, followed by a group of tough-looking guys.
"Are they here to cause trouble for Ning Chen?"
Xu Shuyan felt a secret jolt of alarm.
She had originally just wanted to watch a show, but seeing their menacing expressions, she knew this wasn't a small matter.
After unblocking Ning Chen, she hurriedly sent a message:
"Hey! Did you provoke someone you shouldn't have? They're here to cause trouble for you. You should leave through the back door quickly."
Just as the message sent, the bespectacled boy from the second clinical class suddenly spotted Ning Chen. "Brother Jinfu, he… he is Ning Chen!"
"I got it."
The burly youth led his group straight toward him.
Students along the way scattered, none daring to cross them.
"It’s the president of the Sanda Club, Jiang Jinfu!"
"What is he doing?"
Some sophomores and juniors recognized the burly youth.
He was the Sanda Club president and had won several municipal championship trophies for the school.
"You’re Ning Chen? Come with me. I have something to ask you!"
Jiang Jinfu walked over and slammed his hand down in front of Ning Chen, shaking the tray so hard the soup splashed out.
"..."
Ning Chen hated it when people interrupted his meals.
However, he didn't blow up immediately. Instead, he looked up and said, "Whatever it is, say it here."
"Fine!"
Jiang Jinfu said bluntly, "My brother, Zhao Lipeng, was beaten into the hospital by a group of people a few days ago. He has over twenty fractures and needed dozens of stitches. Do you know who did it?"
"How would I know?" Ning Chen was confused.
"Don't lie to me!"
This time, Jiang Jinfu sent his food tray flying. "I had people check. You provoked some punks outside the school and deliberately used Lipeng's name. Was it you?"
"He was the one who came looking for trouble with me first," Ning Chen said.
"So, you’re admitting it?" Jiang Jinfu sneered, arms crossed.
"Yeah. What do you want to do about it?" Ning Chen looked indifferent.
The area fell silent.
Hundreds of students stared wide-eyed.
"That kid is so reckless!"
Xing Xufei of the track team said with a strange expression, "He actually dared to do something like that. He’s finished. Even I wouldn't dare provoke Brother Jinfu."
"He’s in deep trouble now."
Several other track team members shook their heads as well.
Among the Qingzhou University student body, there was no one Jiang Jinfu didn't dare to cross, except for Senior Brother Duan and Senior Sister Wen from the Ancient Martial Arts Club. Moreover, he was known for being righteous and had many followers.
"Shuyan, what should we do?"
Jiang Tang looked at Xu Shuyan anxiously.
"He actually dared to mess around like this, I give up!"
Xu Shuyan also had a headache, so she quickly took out her phone. "I know a few teachers; I'll contact them first to see."
On the other side, Jiang Jinfu originally wanted to strike immediately and beat Ning Chen up in front of everyone to vent for Zhao Lipeng, but his underlings talked him out of it.
"Brother Jinfu, there’s too much surveillance here, don't be impulsive," an underling advised.
"Why don't we take him to our turf and teach him a lesson there?" suggested another.
"Fine!"
Jiang Jinfu suppressed his anger for the moment, pressed his hands on the table, and glared fiercely at Ning Chen. "Kid, dare to follow us to the Sanda Club activity room? We’ll talk about a few things..."
"Lead the way," Ning Chen said, standing up.
Jiang Jinfu and the other Sanda Club members were stunned; they hadn't expected this freshman to be so agreeable.
"Fine, you’re a man, I’ll give you that!"
Jiang Jinfu snorted coldly.
In front of so many people, it was indeed hard to make a move; the school had rules and regulations, after all.
But once they were on their own turf, he could do whatever he wanted, couldn't he?
Before long, Jiang Jinfu and his group brought Ning Chen to the Qingzhou University Student Activity Center.
The Sanda Club was a large organization with its own dedicated activity room, which was quite spacious—about the size of a standard basketball court.
"Get in, Junior."
A Sanda club member looked at Ning Chen with a smirk.
Ning Chen strode in, and the sound of the door being double-locked echoed behind him.
"I’m going to kill you, you bastard!"
The member who spoke earlier lunged at him, kicking toward his rear, his face twisting with malice.
But unexpectedly, Ning Chen grabbed his ankle with a backhand motion. Before the guy could react, Ning Chen swung him around like a club.
*Bang, bang, bang!* With a few dull thuds, the six Sanda club members, including Jiang Jinfu, were sent flying by the human-club and slammed heavily against the wall.
"Damn, he knows that trick? Everyone, attack!"
Jiang Jinfu shouted, scrambled up from the floor, and launched a front kick.
Ning Chen didn't use any flashy moves. He ignored the kick and raised his fist, raining down blows.
Within two moves, Jiang Jinfu couldn't handle it anymore; his forearms were swollen, and his face was covered in bruises.
The other members fell with a single punch, either suffering fractures or vomiting from internal injuries.
"Stop! Stop fighting!"
Jiang Jinfu was in so much pain he couldn't stand it; he felt sure his forearm bone was broken.
"You think you can just quit because you say so?"
Ning Chen slapped him again, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.
"You were acting pretty tough back at the cafeteria, weren't you?"
Ning Chen kicked him again, sending him flying into the door. The force was so great it broke the double-lock.
Jiang Jinfu rolled out into the hallway, his vision blurring from the pain, unable to breathe.
Chapter 16: Senior Brother Duan Shuliu
"Senior Brother Duan, reaching the top three in the provincial competition this time means your direct entry into the Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Hall shouldn't be a problem. Congratulations!"
"The Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Hall is one of the four major halls in the country. To be able to study at Longhu Mountain is an opportunity every martial artist dreams of. I'm so envious of you, Senior."
"When you make it big in the future, don't forget us juniors, haha."
On the second-floor hallway of the Student Activity Center, a group of people surrounded a youth like stars around the moon, showering him with flattery.
The youth was about twenty-four or twenty-five, tall and broad-shouldered with a determined face. He wore a white martial arts uniform, and his tiger-like eyes shone with a sharp chill.
Facing the flattery, he only nodded politely, not taking it to heart.
"I am going back to the martial arts hall to train. Qinglan, stay behind. Everyone else can return."
The Senior Brother looked at a young girl with a ponytail and a delicate, refined face, also wearing a white martial arts uniform.
Qingzhou University’s Ancient Martial Arts Club had a power couple.
Duan Shuliu and Wen Qinglan.
They were in the same class, both passionate about ancient martial arts, with exceptional talent. Before turning twenty-five, they had passed the Ancient Martial Arts Association’s certification to become official martial artists!
This time, they had represented Qingzhou University in the Jiangnan Provincial Martial Arts Competition, taking third and fourth place respectively.
The Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Hall was the largest and best in the country, but only those who reached the top three in a provincial competition could get direct entry.
Wen Qinglan had missed that chance, so she had been in a foul mood since they returned to campus.
Just as the fellow disciples were about to leave—
"BOOM!!!"
The door to the Sanda Club activity room was suddenly kicked open, and the lock flew off.
Jiang Jinfu rolled out, wearing a mask of agony, hunched over like a shrimp, his face twisted in pain.
"What’s going on?"
"How did Jiang Jinfu from the Sanda Club get beaten up like this?"
The dozen or so members of the Ancient Martial Arts Club frowned, and some went up to help him.
Then they saw Ning Chen walking out of the activity room slowly, running straight into them.
"Huh?"
Ning Chen scanned the group of students, his gaze finally settling on Duan Shuliu.
He was quite surprised.
Because the physical fitness of this kid in white had actually reached the First Layer of Body Tempering.
The First Layer of Body Tempering was the absolute bottom of the cultivation world; strictly speaking, it didn't even make one a real cultivator. But on Earth, this was a master, capable of taking on ten men at once.
And here, "ten" didn't refer to the elderly or children, but ten healthy, adult men.
Although Earth was lacking in Spiritual Qi, it was normal for a few people in the Body Tempering Stage to emerge. So, after a brief glance, Ning Chen prepared to leave.
"Stop!"
A short boy, seeing that Jiang Jinfu was badly hurt, immediately reprimanded Ning Chen. "Which school are you from? You’ve got a lot of nerve coming to Qingzhou University to pick a fight!"
"I am from Qingzhou University," Ning Chen replied.
"You’re from Qingzhou University?"
The short boy was shocked, then cursed, "What kind of crap are you talking? I'm from the Ancient Martial Arts Club here, and I've never heard of a character like you!"
"Could you please clean up your language?"
Ning Chen said, displeased, "I am a freshman in the second clinical class, named Ning Chen."
"What?"
Everyone was stunned. Even Duan Shuliu and Wen Qinglan exchanged a glance.
A medical freshman beat up the Sanda Club president like that?
Jiang Jinfu had won several municipal championships, after all.
"Sen-Senior Brother! Senior Brother, you’re back!"
At that moment, a Sanda club member limped out of the activity room, crying, "Senior Brother, you have to do something about this!"
"What exactly happened?"
Duan Shuliu’s brow darkened.
After hearing the Sanda club member recount the story, Duan Shuliu had a good idea of what had happened.
Although he wasn't part of the Sanda Club, all of Qingzhou University’s martial-related clubs—like the Sanda, Judo, Boxing, and Combat clubs—were led by the Ancient Martial Arts Club.
He was the "Senior Brother" recognized by all the students in the school.
How could he ignore something like this?
Immediately, as the Sanda members were helped to the infirmary, Duan Shuliu walked over, appraising Ning Chen with a look of appreciation:
"You have decent skills. Where did you learn them?"
"I was taught by my grandpa," Ning Chen replied impatiently.
"Grandpa? Which one?"
Duan Shuliu didn't understand. "Qingzhou Jiaotong or Binhai Jiaotong? Are you a transfer student?"
"What are you talking about? I was just taught by my grandfather," Ning Chen said dismissively.
Duan Shuliu: "..."
Wen Qinglan: "..."
"Haha, Junior, you really are humorous," Duan Shuliu chuckled, getting straight to the point. "Join the Ancient Martial Arts Club. China values martial arts; martial artists are the scarcest talent in today’s society. A good seedling like you..."
"Goodbye."
Ning Chen waved his hand and turned to leave.
"You!"
Wen Qinglan was furious. She stepped in front of Ning Chen, blocking him. "What is wrong with you, freshman? Our Ancient Martial Arts Club isn't just for anyone to join!"
"Do you know how high the average salary of a martial artist is? You could work yourself to death as a doctor for a lifetime and not earn as much as a martial artist does in a month!"
Ning Chen rolled his eyes.
He was just here to coast through university life. Doctor, martial artist—he didn't want to be either.
"Sorry, I really have no interest. Excuse me."
He reached out to push Wen Qinglan aside, but just as he was about to leave in style, a gust of wind struck from behind!
"Senior Brother is making a move!"
The members of the Ancient Martial Arts Club were excited.
Wen Qinglan was terrified and wanted to stop Duan Shuliu, but the latter had already reached the First Layer of Body Tempering, and his speed was simply too fast—
*Whoosh!*
Ning Chen shifted to the side, easily dodging Duan Shuliu’s kick, and said unhappily, "What are you doing? Have a death wish?"
"Good reaction time."
Duan Shuliu wore an appreciative smile, not realizing how punchable that expression looked to Ning Chen. "I am very fast. Among my peers, very few can dodge my attacks."
"If you move another finger, I’ll send you to the infirmary too, believe it or not?" Ning Chen pointed at him.
"Hahahaha!"
"What an arrogant kid!"
"He learned a few three-legged cat tricks and doesn't even put Senior Brother in his eyes? Are freshmen these days this cocky?"
The members of the Ancient Martial Arts Club laughed loudly.
Wen Qinglan looked at Ning Chen with disdain. This freshman might have good skills, but he had zero social intelligence and was far too arrogant.
"Junior Ning Chen."
Duan Shuliu couldn't help but laugh. "You took down the entire Sanda Club by yourself. As the Senior Brother of all the martial arts clubs at Qingzhou University, I can't just let you walk away."
"Then what do you want?" Ning Chen asked flatly.
"Let’s have a spar," Duan Shuliu smiled. It was time to let this kid understand the gap between a martial arts enthusiast and a certified martial artist.
"Fine." Ning Chen immediately raised his fists.
"No, no, not here. It's too crowded. Let's go to the martial arts hall. It's spacious and we can actually stretch out."
Duan Shuliu looked at Ning Chen’s highly unprofessional stance and felt a bit like mocking him; the kid clearly had no formal training.
"Fighting is such a hassle."
Ning Chen looked unhappy, but he followed Duan Shuliu and the others to the martial arts hall on the fifth floor.
Chapter 17: With such flashy moves, I thought you were at the Golden Core Stage
The martial arts hall was large, spanning two floors and including spectator stands.
When Ning Chen followed Duan Shuliu in, quite a few people were training.
There were wooden dummies, plum blossom poles, punching bags, and various types of equipment. There was even an weapons rack, though the blades inside were unsharpened and used for decoration.
"Senior Brother!"
"Good to see you, Senior Brother!"
"Senior Brother, you’re back from the competition? We all heard—congratulations on the direct entry to the Dragon and Tiger Martial Arts Hall!"
Everyone came over to greet him.
Ning Chen remained expressionless and said directly to Duan Shuliu, "Hey, are we fighting or what?"
"Who is this?"
A dozen or so Ancient Martial Arts Club members looked at this clueless freshman with confusion.
"Fight, of course we are fighting."
Duan Shuliu sneered. Was this kid really so impatient to get beaten up?
Afterward, the news that Duan Shuliu was going to spar with a freshman caused an uproar in the hall!
"Him? Sparring with Senior Brother? What a joke!" a girl sneered.
"With that build, he’d fall with one punch from me," several boys remarked.
"Don't underestimate him. This kid isn't simple," Wen Qinglan said quietly, watching Ning Chen and Duan Shuliu standing on the stage. "He took down the Sanda Club all by himself; he’s a trained fighter."
"That good?"
The girls' eyes changed as they looked at Ning Chen.
"Those Sanda Club losers!"
"Sanda is garbage. How can it compare to our ancient martial arts?"
The boys, however, remained unconvinced.
"Watch how Senior Brother teaches him a lesson!"
"I bet he can't even take one hit from Senior Brother."
At this moment.
In the spectator stands on the second floor.
An old man sat with his cane, silently observing the stage below.
"The Duan family boy is really regressing. He’s actually sparring with a freshman. Isn't he afraid of tarnishing the reputation of their family's Baduanjin?" The old man shook his head.
The Duan family was a prominent family in Qingzhou. Their ancestral "Baduanjin" originated in the Northern Song Dynasty and had a history of over eight hundred years; it was a rare and effective body-tempering exercise in this day and age.
Back in the day, the old master of the Duan family practiced it for over sixty years, neglecting food and sleep. He was just a hair’s breadth away from breaking through to become a legendary Grandmaster, but unfortunately, he had passed away from old age in the end.
As he thought about this, the match below began.
Duan Shuliu didn't want to bully Ning Chen, so he insisted on letting him have three moves.
"You should go first. Otherwise, if you lose later, I reckon you won't be satisfied," Ning Chen said. He was just too lazy to move.
"Hahahaha..."
Below the stage, the club members burst into roars of laughter.
"I haven't met someone as arrogant as you in years."
Duan Shuliu snorted, a flicker of anger rising in his heart.
"Fine. Fists and feet have no eyes—be careful!"
After saying this, he exerted force through his back, and his muscles and bones let out a sudden *crack-crack-crack*, like popping beans.
Just listening to the sound, one could tell how terrifying the power hidden within his body was.
"A rooster shaking its feathers, muscles and bones resonating in harmony."
Wen Qinglan evaluated, "Looks like Senior Brother is angry. This kid is in for some trouble."
"Challenging Senior Brother—isn't that just asking for death?" the fellow disciples sneered.
At this point, Duan Shuliu’s eyes had changed, becoming fierce and powerful.
He sank his knees, and his body shot forward like an arrow released from a string, pouncing toward Ning Chen like a leopard.
Such speed was impossible for an ordinary person to react to, but in Ning Chen’s eyes, Duan Shuliu was moving as slowly as a snail.
"With all those poses and looking so cool, I actually thought you were at the Golden Core Stage."
Ning Chen chatted idly while swinging his fist out.