A moment later, Lu Chen let go. His expression calm, he said, "You haven't broken anything. The swelling will go down."
He handed her back her shoes and socks, then stood and warned her, "Don't kick me again next time."
"I understand, Senior Brother Lu."
Mei Ying took them and answered sweetly, though a tightness lingered in her chest. She looked around, only to realize her sister and Wen Liangyu had vanished long ago.
"My sister is such an idiot." Mei Ying snorted in annoyance. "A few nice words from a man and she's completely taken in. She can't even be bothered to care that her little sister twisted her ankle."
Lu Chen's gaze swept across the silent woods. "What do you mean?"
Mei Ying pursed her lips in disdain. "Wen Liangyu is a well-known kept husband at the academy. His family is so poor they can't afford a pot to piss in. He cozied up to a female instructor who handles odd jobs, and only managed to stay at the academy because she supports him."
A trace of disgust flickered in her eyes. "He spent ages trying to butter me up. His words were sweeter than a song, but I wasn't falling for it. His family's poor, and he has no literary or martial talent worth mentioning. Apart from that face and his silver tongue, he's good for nothing."
The more she said, the angrier she became. "So when I turned him down and he realized he wouldn't get anything from me, he went straight to sweet-talk my sister!"
Lu Chen listened quietly. Mei Ying's words confirmed his suspicions.
Wen Liangyu really was an ambitious, unscrupulous schemer.
"Have you told Master's Wife or your sister about this?" he asked.
Mei Ying shook her head. "I mentioned it to my sister, but she didn't take it seriously. I haven't told Mother yet."
"I understand. Let's head back first," Lu Chen said.
The two followed their tracks back.
The woods grew quieter and quieter.
Suddenly, someone came stumbling toward them from behind. A closer look revealed Wen Liangyu. Whatever he'd run into, his face had turned green with fear, and he looked as if his soul had left his body.
But more importantly, where was Mei Dai, who'd been with him?
Lu Chen's hand moved faster than his eyes. He seized Wen Liangyu by the collar and demanded, "Where's Mei Dai?"
"She, she's got nothing to do with me... That big guy... suddenly showed up..."
Wen Liangyu spoke incoherently. He really did look scared witless.
Lu Chen's heart sank. He didn't ask anything else, but slammed Wen Liangyu to the ground and barked at Mei Ying, "Go find Master's Wife! Quickly!"
Mei Ying's little face went deathly pale. She nodded in a panic and turned to run.
Lu Chen darted off in the direction Wen Liangyu had come from.
He hadn't gone far when he heard Mei Dai's frightened scolding from up ahead, along with a thick, booming voice that sounded both foolish and dull.
In a clearing, Shi Jingang of the Iron Fist Martial Hall stood in Mei Dai's way like a wall.
Mei Dai had her back to an old tree, terrified.
Shi Jingang stared down at her, grinning foolishly.
"Heh heh, little lady, you're so pretty, like a fairy in a painting. I took one look at you and knew you were the one for me. Let's get married! I'm strong and can protect you. I like you!"
Mei Dai trembled with rage. "Y-you dare speak such nonsense! Get out of my way!"
"My master said if you take a fancy to someone, you have to marry her! Anyway, I like you! You're my wife now, so come along with me like a good girl!" Shi Jingang reached for Mei Dai's arm with his two fan-sized hands.
"You're asking for death!"
Lu Chen's right leg swept out like an iron whip, kicking hard at Shi Jingang's side!
"Bang!"
Shi Jingang's burly body staggered several steps, gouging deep furrows in the snow.
The foolish grin froze on his face, then turned to bewilderment. His eyes widened in surprise. "Hey! You're strong! You're a pretty-boy, but you've got some power!"
Lu Chen used the force of his kick to spin back, landing firmly in front of Mei Dai to shield her.
Still shaken, Mei Dai grabbed his sleeve. "Senior Brother Lu! What about Liangyu? Where is he?"
Lu Chen frowned inwardly but answered evenly, "He's fine. He went back first. It's dangerous here. Go now and find Master's Wife!"
"But..."
"Go!" Lu Chen's voice hardened.
Mei Dai bit her lip. Terrified, she gathered up her skirt and hurried back the way she'd come.
"Hey, don't go, wife!" Shi Jingang cried in alarm, striding after her.
"Your opponent is me." Lu Chen shifted to block him again, his gaze icy.
Shi Jingang flew into a rage, clenching his huge fists until his knuckles cracked. "Pretty-boy, you dare steal my woman! I'll beat you to death!"
Lu Chen said coldly, "She's Master's Wife's daughter. You harass her in broad daylight—do you really think the Wen'an Martial Arts Guild has no one to stand up for her?"
"The Wen'an Martial Arts Guild? Pah!" Shi Jingang spat in contempt. "They're all a bunch of weaklings and cowards! Not a man among them! Who said I was bullying her? I like her, and I'm going to marry her! Back in my village, all the wives and girls are crazy about me. They want to sleep with me and have my babies! She's lucky I picked her!"
Lu Chen sneered. "Save that good fortune for your own mother."
Shi Jingang was too dull-witted to realize he'd been insulted. He only shouted, "I'm done arguing with you, pretty-boy. I have to go find my wife!"
He took off after her, with Lu Chen close on his heels.
They soon returned to the area near the arena.
Mei Dai and Mei Ying had returned to Master's Wife's side and were weeping in their mother's arms.
The moment Shi Jingang saw them, his eyes nearly popped out of his head. His mouth was practically watering as he grinned foolishly. "Goodness! There are three lovely ladies! Hahaha, they're all mine. I'll take them all!"
"Outrageous!" Master's Wife snapped, her face livid as she shielded her daughters and glared at Shi Jingang.
Mei Dai had already tearfully told her mother and the others what had happened in the woods.
The Wen'an Martial Arts Guild had already been fed up with the out-of-town martial halls swaggering around at the arena. Now, with this disgusting incident on top of it, everyone's anger surged.
Old Master Du, standing nearby, was so furious his whiskers stood on end. He shouted, "Shi Laohei, is this how you teach your disciple? Madam Mei Luo is the master of a martial hall, and your disciple has shown her no respect at all!"
Mei Luo was Master's Wife's name.
The dark-faced master of the Iron Fist Martial Hall ambled forward, his tone haughty.
"My disciple has a once-in-a-thousand-years physique and a bright future ahead of him. Hall Master Mei, so what if your daughter's pretty? She's going to end up in a man's bed sooner or later. Letting her become Jingang's concubine is an honor for your family."
"Master Shi, mind your words. Your disciple's outstanding martial skills are no excuse for speaking so recklessly. If you insult my daughter again, do not blame me for showing no restraint. My Plum Blossom Martial Hall is not someone you can humiliate at will," Master's Wife said furiously.
Shi Laohei glared and brazenly challenged her. "What? You don't like it? If you're unhappy, have your disciple fight mine in the arena. Dare you accept?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Lu Chen stepped forward and stood firmly in front of Master's Wife.
"Chen'er, don't!" Master's Wife's expression changed. She hurried to tug at his sleeve. "He's a one-Seal martial artist. Your foundation is still shallow. You can't beat him."
Lu Chen said indifferently, "What's a one-Seal martial artist? Killing him would be no harder than slaughtering a stray dog."
"You brat, what did you say?" Shi Laohei's face darkened. "You haven't even grown all your hair, and you haven't formed a Seal, yet you're making such a bold claim? You've got guts. Let's go to the deathmatch arena right now. Do you dare?"
Shi Jingang joined in, shouting, "Pretty-boy, all you can do is run your mouth. If you've got the guts, meet me in the arena. I'll tear you apart alive!"
"Go back and tear your mother apart," Lu Chen spat.
Before you continue