Rules

That day, Sanshou class ended.

Chen Feng took a shower and changed clothes in the locker room.

Lin Hao stood nearby, still talking about the earlier topic.

"What do you know about the rules for this Core Disciple assessment?"

"What?" Chen Feng put on a loose black short-sleeve shirt and dried his head with a towel.

"Free-for-all."

Lin Hao grinned. "Everyone fights at once, and the last one standing gets the spot."

Chen Feng was surprised to hear this.

He had assumed it would be one-on-one matches, similar to boxing rules.

"Alright, I'm only telling you because we're tight, so don't go blabbing it."

Waving his hand, Lin Hao saw his curiosity but didn't explain.

He turned and walked away in a few quick steps, a baseball bag slung diagonally over his shoulder.

"This guy."

Raising an eyebrow, Chen Feng already had a sense that Lin Hao was no ordinary person.

He even felt that the other might have known the free-for-all assessment rules all along, just never said anything.

Only now, sensing that Chen Feng's strength wasn't weak, did he finally tell the truth.

"Free-for-all it is, then."

"Five days left. I can still get stronger."

Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn't dwell on it further.

After the supermarket incident and defeating Zheng Qiang, confidence had quietly taken root in his heart.

As long as it came down to fists, he wasn't afraid of anyone in the entire Sanshou training class.

He packed his clothes into a carry bag, planning to leave early and take his shift at the supermarket.

Tap, tap!

Just as he was about to leave, Xu Dongtai walked in.

The burly figure brushed past, and Zhou Xin beside him averted his eyes.

Remembering the day he had glared and provoked Chen Feng, he still felt a bit of fear inside.

Expression calm, Chen Feng wasn't familiar with the two and didn't intend to interact much.

"Chen Feng."

Suddenly, just as they passed each other, Xu Dongtai stopped in his tracks and spoke first.

Chen Feng halted and turned his head to look.

"Did not expect you were hiding it this deep."

"If it weren't for today's sparring, you'd probably have kept it hidden until the assessment, right?"

His tone was low, carrying more weight than usual.

But Chen Feng sensed a trace of malice in it.

Mostly coldness, mixed with suspicion.

Clearly, Xu Dongtai mistakenly believed that Chen Feng had been hiding his strength from the start, planning to spring a surprise in the final assessment and snatch the spot.

Shaking his head, Chen Feng didn't want to answer.

The other had already made up his mind; even if he explained, it would be useless.

Besides, why should he explain?

With that, he stepped forward and quickly walked out of the locker room.

The sound of footsteps faded into the distance. Xu Dongtai stood still, his face dark as water, his displeasure quietly concealed.

He hadn't expected the other to dare ignore him.

For a moment, he wanted to stop him and teach him a proper lesson right there in the locker room.

"Dong Ge."

Seeing this, Zhou Xin beside him barely dared to breathe, only cautiously probing, "This guy Chen Feng doesn't know his place."

"How about we round up a few people and teach him a lesson one night?"

"Do you think Coach Lu is an idiot?"

Xu Dongtai turned his head and shot him a glare, his sullen, impatient expression like he was looking at an idiot.

"Yan Wu Academy hates underhanded moves and harming fellow disciples."

"If we do it, I'll never set foot in the academy's core again."

His tone dark, Zhou Xin choked on his words and dared not make another sound.

"Don't bother with this matter anymore."

"The weak hide; the strong have never feared anything."

Speaking impatiently, Xu Dongtai withdrew his gaze and said in a low voice, "I saw his strength today. He's still holding back some tricks, but at most, he's at the Amateur Fourth Dan level."

"Five days. Hah, when the assessment comes, I'll crush him with my own hands."

[The vehicle has arrived at the station. Please alight from the rear door in an orderly manner.]

On the street, the bus slowly pulled into the stop.

Carrying the bag of clothes, Chen Feng took out an Energy Bar, bit into it, chewed, and swallowed, replenishing the energy spent from boxing practice.

A crisp crunch sounded softly as he glanced left and right with wary eyes.

It wasn't just because of the thug incident, but also because of Xu Dongtai in the locker room.

Though he thought the likelihood of being ambushed was low, he was still more cautious than usual.

Just in case, he wanted to go even further.

Tap, tap!

Then, with steady steps, he crossed the intersection under the traffic light, following the crosswalk through the crowd to the other side.

The Yong Le Fu supermarket sign appeared before him, and he clocked in on time again.

"You're here, Xiao Feng!"

"Mm, Aunt He, Aunt Zhang."

"Good kid, such a sweet tongue. I heard from Sister Zhang—you were really something last night!"

He Xiuping, though past fifty, was well-preserved, her eyes bright.

Her voice was gentle as water, and her praise made Chen Wei smile helplessly.

"Aunt He, I just did what I had to do."

"Mm, that's true, but not everyone can do it."

With a warm smile, Aunt He continued praising him for a while longer.

If she hadn't been in a hurry to pick up her grandson, she might have kept chatting for quite some time.

"That's just how Xiuping is, Xiao Feng. Don't mind her."

Watching Aunt He drive off in her Flying Speed Brand sedan, Aunt Zhang, who had been standing nearby, said with a smile.

Her experience last night had left her in a Momentary Lapse, and even now, recalling it sent a chill down her spine.

That thug had only wanted to rob her, but what if?

If she had accidentally angered him or he had seen her features, the danger would have been just as great.

Thinking this, Aunt Zhang's attitude toward Chen Feng grew even warmer, and she said earnestly, "Xiao Feng, I really have to thank you for yesterday."

As she spoke, she specially bought a box of Superman Brand Energy Bars and set them aside.

"I don't know much about martial arts, but my son told me this stuff is good for the body and helps with boxing and fitness."

"It's just a small token from Aunt Zhang. Please accept it."

Her attitude was sincere and earnest, so Chen Feng had no choice but to nod and accept.

"Thank you, Aunt Zhang."

"Pfft, I should be thanking you. What are you thanking me for?"

They chatted idly, and soon Chen Feng slipped into a red employee vest and stood at the checkout counter.

Finally, with the sound of footsteps, Li Hongxia, who was taking over the shift, arrived.

"Sorry, Sister Zhang, I'm late again."

Li Hongxia was still wearing her yellow delivery uniform, sweat dripping down her sallow face.

Besides her, there was a young girl.

She looked about sixteen or seventeen, dressed in a light-colored long skirt, carrying an old pink backpack.

Her long black hair was tied back with a white clip, bangs covering her forehead. Her skin was fair, her features delicate, and she seemed quite well-behaved.

"It's fine, Hongxia. Just a few minutes. I'd be idle at home anyway."

"Oh, Xiao Yao's here too?"

"Yes, Xiao Yao, say hello."

Li Hongxia quickly urged the girl beside her.

"Aunt Zhang."

The girl spoke, her voice a little soft.

"Ah, what a good girl." Aunt Zhang nodded with a cheerful smile.

"This is Brother Chen Feng, a colleague of Mom's."

"And this is my daughter, Xu Yao. Just call her Xiao Yao." Li Hongxia quickly pulled Xu Yao over and introduced her to Chen Feng with a smile.

She had heard roughly about what happened last night, and now her gaze toward Chen Feng carried more goodwill and respect than before.

"Hello, Brother Chen Feng."

Xu Yao hurriedly called out, looking a bit shy.

"Hello, Xiao Yao." Chen Feng smiled and nodded.

His 1.8-meter frame was even more robust, and under the lamplight, faint shadows lurked behind him.

Seeing this, Xu Yao nodded timidly, her body instinctively shrinking back.