A Punch and a Nap

That woman's sharp gaze locked onto Ling Yun as well.

"Hello, Ling Yun."

Her voice was clear and bright, carrying a hint of laughter.

"I'm Zhao Ruixue. Wang Qinghe's free combat coach, and also your class's Physical Education Teacher."

The Zhao Ruixue standing before Ling Yun was none other than his Physical Education Teacher.

She was strikingly beautiful, capable, and, on top of that, an out-and-out Sugar Mama. Ling Yun knew that very well.

In his previous life, every time school let out, he would see her casually slide into that conspicuous Mercedes G-Wagon and drive off. The sight had filled his younger self with envy.

"Teacher Zhao..." Ling Yun's heart stirred slightly as he asked a question he had always been somewhat curious about. "When you chose the class representative for physical education after military training, why did you pick me right away? As I recall, we didn't have much interaction back then."

"When they selected the 'Outstanding Military Training Cadre' to go onstage, I noticed you. As for why... First of all, you really looked energetic. You stood out in the crowd."

At his words, Zhao Ruixue's eyes curved slightly. Her answer was frank and direct.

"Of course, looks alone aren't enough. I also heard your Drill Instructor privately remark that you had an absurd amount of strength, and that you could even break the world record for pull-ups. Strong and energetic—you were perfect for the job! What do you think? Your teacher has a pretty good eye, right?"

She paused, looked at Ling Yun's subtle expression, and added,

"Damn, as expected of the world of face-con..."

Ling Yun complained helplessly inwardly, but the explanation in the second half was quite honest.

"Coach," Wang Qinghe cut in at the right moment, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Junior Ling Yun wants to join our Boxing Club, and he wants to participate in this year's free combat competition!"

"Oh?" Zhao Ruixue raised her brows, carefully sizing Ling Yun up again. Her smile deepened. "Of course! Strength is a great foundation for boxing. Ling Yun, you're welcome to come and give it a try!"

She agreed readily without asking another question.

"Thank you, Teacher Zhao."

Ling Yun nodded in thanks.

"What are you thanking me for?" Zhao Ruixue waved her hand, teasing him with a familiar air. "You're my 'personal class representative for physical education.' We're practically family!"

The three of them were chatting when the referee began calling the next group of contestants to the ring.

Ling Yun glanced over and said to the two women, "Teacher Zhao, Senior Schoolmate, it's almost my turn. I'll go get ready."

"Go on!"

Zhao Ruixue nodded.

Watching Ling Yun stride toward the ring, Zhao Ruixue turned to Wang Qinghe and asked with interest, "Qinghe, who do you think will win this match? Zheng Chenyang is the top seed among the club's male members."

"Junior Ling Yun will definitely win."

Wang Qinghe's answer was decisive, without the slightest hesitation.

She had personally witnessed Ling Yun's inhuman skills and had no doubts about the outcome.

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed through Zhao Ruixue's eyes before turning into amusement. "Interesting. It seems you think highly of this junior. Then your teacher... will bet on Ling Yun too!"

As the two spoke, Ling Yun and Zheng Chenyang had already stepped onto the center of the ring.

"Junior," Zheng Chenyang said as he rolled his wrists, wearing a smile that looked concerned but was actually provocative. "There are no eyes on a boxing ring. You can still climb down now. If I accidentally hurt you later, your senior won't be able to live with himself."

Ling Yun merely looked at him calmly without even raising his eyelids.

Since transmigrating, this was the first time he had met someone so good at putting on an act.

Fine. Today, I'll teach him what it means that there's always someone better.

Seeing that Ling Yun completely ignored him as though he were nothing more than a clown, an evil fire suddenly flared in Zheng Chenyang's chest. His expression darkened.

The referee stepped forward and quickly reiterated the rules. After the two exchanged fists symbolically, the whistle blew!

"Begin!"

Zheng Chenyang lunged forward almost the instant the whistle sounded, like an enraged bull. His right fist cut through the air and shot straight toward Ling Yun's face, intending to score a knockout in one blow!

The speed was so fast that several club members below the ring let out startled cries.

Yet in Ling Yun's perception, the ferocious attack was as slow as a crawling snail.

He did not even raise his guard. He merely shifted his feet slightly, and his figure flashed like a ghost. Everyone's vision blurred for an instant, and he had somehow appeared right inside Zheng Chenyang's reach!

"What...?!"

Zheng Chenyang's pupils contracted sharply. The pressure rushing at him and the opponent's breath so close to his face made every hair on his body stand on end!

His mind went blank, and his body had no time to activate its instinctive defense.

Ling Yun gave him no chance to react.

Power burst from his waist and hips as he twisted and drove his shoulder forward. A lightning-fast, thunderous uppercut surged upward!

His fist struck with pinpoint accuracy against the unprotected soft underside of Zheng Chenyang's chin.

"Bang!"

A dull impact rang out, harsh enough to make one's teeth ache!

Zheng Chenyang's entire head snapped backward and upward, and both feet left the ground in an instant.

His body seemed to be "floating" upward, carried by a terrifying force. It traced a brief arc through the air before crashing onto the ring like a heavy sack of sand!

He did not even groan. His eyes rolled back, and he was knocked unconscious with a single punch.

Instant kill! KO!

The entire Boxing Club fell into a deathly silence.

Several seconds later, incredulous cries finally erupted from below the ring:

"What the hell?! What just happened?!"

"Did my eyes play tricks on me? Big Brother Zheng... got knocked out with one punch?"

"Nonsense! Big Brother just fell asleep, didn't he?!"

"Brothers, I... I forfeit! This competition is life-threatening! We're not even on the same level!"

"I forfeit too! What's the point of fighting this monster?!"

After the shock came collective panic.

The remaining club members looked at one another, their faces filled with horror and despair.

Against such an overwhelming monster, competing for a spot? This wasn't a competition. It was suicide!

Almost without hesitation, the remaining contestants raised their hands to forfeit.

The competition had not even officially begun, yet it had already ended ahead of time.

On the other side of the spectator stands, Wang Qinghe and Zhao Ruixue reacted completely differently.

A smile of expected victory played at the corners of Wang Qinghe's lips as she calmly applauded. She had seen Ling Yun perform even more outrageously, so this scene was well within her expectations.

Zhao Ruixue, meanwhile, was completely petrified. Her mouth hung slightly open, her eyes were wide, and she stared fixedly at Zheng Chenyang sprawled on the ring. Then she abruptly turned toward Ling Yun, who was walking down from the ring. Her expression was as though she were watching a prehistoric tyrannosaurus rampage into a kindergarten.

"Too... too brutal!"

A huge storm surged through her heart. This explosive power, this speed... Forget the Provincial Champion—at Ling Yun's level, even if he entered the UFC as a professional, he could probably beat those famous fighters senseless!

I struck gold! In this free combat competition, forget the Provincial Champion. Even the National Champion will belong to our school!

The enormous surprise instantly overwhelmed her.

Having easily ended the fight, Ling Yun acted as though he had merely done something trivial. He calmly walked down from the ring and returned to the two women.

Meanwhile, the unconscious Zheng Chenyang was soon carried away on a stretcher by the school doctor, who had rushed over after hearing the news. The sound of the ambulance siren faded into the distance.

"Incredible! Absolutely incredible!" Zhao Ruixue finally came back to her senses. Excited, she patted Ling Yun hard on the shoulder, her eyes gleaming as though she had discovered a priceless treasure. "As expected of my 'personal class representative for physical education'! I like you more and more!"

She smiled like a child who had found some candy.

Seeing Zhao Ruixue's excitement bordering on insanity, Ling Yun helplessly rubbed his shoulder as if it hurt. "Teacher Zhao, if there's nothing else, can I head back to the classroom?"

"Sure, sure, sure. Go on back!"

Zhao Ruixue waved cheerfully, then seemed to remember something. She blinked and added with a mischievous smile,

"But you can't escape me! See you in fourth period! We still need my 'personal class representative for physical education' in PE class later!"

Her tone made it sound as though she had caught him by the handle.

Ling Yun nodded, then gestured to Wang Qinghe. "Senior Schoolmate, I'll be going now."

"Mm. Take care, Junior."

Wang Qinghe smiled as she replied.

Watching Ling Yun's departing back, the smile on Zhao Ruixue's face grew even brighter, as though she could already see the future National Champion waving to her.