Thirty Years East of the River, Thirty Years West

"Uh."

The spectators around them looked pityingly at Gao Sheng as the medical staff quickly carried him away. That blow had probably shattered him inside. He'd punched his opponent so many times, and it hadn't even fazed him.

But he'd taken just one punch and gone flying, screaming before falling unconscious with serious injuries. Could there be a more brutal outcome? Xia Ping really was a demon.

"Damn it! Is there really no one who can punish this bully?"

"Look at that smug look on his face up there. I refuse to accept this!"

"What kind of cultivation technique did he practice? Why doesn't he get hurt no matter how much he's hit?"

"This makes no sense! A scumbag like him can make it into the top four? Is there no justice in this world?!"

The spectators wailed in dismay. They were so frustrated they could barely put it into words. They could only watch helplessly as the boy advanced step by step into the top four, with no one able to stop him.

The students of Class 16 of Grade 12 had gone numb. He'd made it into the top four already; it wasn't impossible that he might even win the championship.

"What kind of body-protecting technique is that? How can it be so strange and yet so powerful?" Homeroom teacher Qiu Xue's lovely eyes flickered with puzzlement.

Even with her discerning eye, she couldn't tell what technique Xia Ping had cultivated.

But she couldn't question him about it. After all, school was a place to teach and impart knowledge, not to force students to practice a particular technique. That was their own choice, and no one had the right to interfere.

Soon, the semifinal matches began.

As expected, Jiang Yaru easily defeated her opponent with her formidable strength and made it into the top four as well.

The other two semifinalists were also regulars in the school's top ten: a boy and a girl named Hong Yu and Zhu Erqin. Both were Martial Apprentice Sixth Heaven experts.

Xia Ping's opponent was Hong Yu, while Zhu Erqin would face Jiang Yaru.

Clang!

The bell rang, and both matches began at the same time.

But no one expected Hong Yu to step into the ring and immediately tell the referee, "I forfeit."

What?!

Everyone stared at Hong Yu in shock and disbelief. They hadn't expected him to make such a decision—to forfeit in the semifinals. Had he gone mad?

But Hong Yu had his reasons. After watching Xia Ping's earlier matches, he knew he was no match for him. If he went through with the fight, he'd probably end up like Zhou Tai'an and Gao Sheng, seriously injured and out for a month.

Since he couldn't win anyway, he might as well forfeit. The College Entrance Exam was only a few months away, and there was no point in getting injured here.

The referee was a little surprised too. "Are you sure you forfeit?"

"That's right. I forfeit." Hong Yu left the ring without hesitation. The referee had no choice but to announce the result.

And just like that, Xia Ping advanced to the finals without a fight.

Jiang Yaru soon defeated her opponent, Zhu Erqin, too. One punch sent her flying out of the ring, leaving her with no strength to fight back.

"No way. That kid really made it to the finals?"

"Damn, doesn't that mean he's guaranteed to win? Everyone knows he's a pretty boy and that something's going on between him and Jiang Yaru."

"Exactly! He'll just flatter her and whisper a few sweet nothings, and she'll forfeit. Then he'll have the school championship in the bag in no time."

"This is rigged! The couple's taking first and second place. What's even left to compete for?"

"I refuse to accept this! He gets the championship and the girl. He's getting all the benefits!"

"Don't worry. That bastard will get struck by lightning sooner or later."

The students cursed him furiously, unwilling to accept the outcome.

By then, Xia Ping and Jiang Yaru had stepped into the ring. At last, the final match had arrived, and everyone was watching. Whoever won would become the school champion and receive a prize of one hundred thousand Federal Coins.

Of course, the runner-up would also receive a prize of ten thousand Federal Coins. Third and fourth place would get five thousand and one thousand Federal Coins, respectively.

"Xia Ping."

Jiang Yaru looked at him with bright eyes, her expression curious. "I still can't believe that one day I'd be facing you in the ring. It feels so strange."

Based on Xia Ping's past results, he'd only been at the Martial Apprentice Third Heaven level. He hadn't even been qualified to enter the Fighting Tournament, let alone stand on the finals stage.

"Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never look down on a poor young man." Xia Ping stood with his hands behind his back, exuding the bearing of a grandmaster. His eyes seemed to see beyond the world's fleeting splendor. "Don't think I'm still the same as before. If we actually fight, even you, Jiang Yaru, won't be my match."

"It seems you really have changed."

Jiang Yaru could feel that Xia Ping's presence was completely different from before. He was no longer the big boy next door; now he was a martial arts expert who could stand against her in the ring.

Even martial arts experts like Zhou Tai'an and Gao Sheng had been taken out by a single punch, without any chance to fight back. She wouldn't underestimate that kind of strength. She'd have to take him seriously.

"Come on. Let me see how much you've improved." Jiang Yaru took her stance, radiating the formidable aura of a Martial Apprentice Seventh Heaven expert, like a towering mountain.

This was the true appearance of the genius girl who ruled the whole school. Once she started fighting, she was stronger than anyone.

"I forfeit."

Suddenly, Xia Ping turned to the referee and said.

"Forfeit?!"

Jiang Yaru was dumbfounded. What was going on? Where had that martial arts expert act gone? What about that look that said he absolutely wouldn't lose? And now he was forfeiting? Was he kidding?!

The referee was dumbfounded too, unsure what to do.

"Xia Ping, stop joking and fight me properly!" Jiang Yaru snapped. "I know you're strong. There's no way you'd forfeit just like that. Are you looking down on me, Jiang Yaru?"

She glared at Xia Ping, radiating such fury that she seemed like a ferocious tiger.

At that, Xia Ping rubbed the back of his head and looked worried. "Honey, don't be angry. We can fight another time, but be careful. Don't upset the baby."

"Of course, if you want to hit me, go ahead. I'm tough enough to take it. You've beaten me up plenty of times before. I'm used to it."

He patted his chest, showing off how sturdy he was.

Jiang Yaru was completely dumbfounded, her mind a muddle. She couldn't think straight and had no idea what Xia Ping was talking about. "The baby? What are you talking about?"

Her eyes were full of confusion.

Jiang Yaru didn't understand, but the students and even the teachers around them erupted in an uproar. They were all shaken, staring at Jiang Yaru with wide eyes.