The class soon split into groups. As expected, Kato Megumi was left out.
She had been standing beside Li Yu and Yukino Yukinoshita the whole time. Whenever someone came to invite Yukinoshita, they would unconsciously overlook Megumi.
This situation had given Yukino Yukinoshita a chance to see just how outrageous Kato Megumi's talent was. She was practically a born assassin.
"Everyone's in a group now, right? What about you three over there? How are you going to split up?" Shizuka Hiratsuka scanned the classroom, then let her gaze settle on Li Yu's group.
At her words, the class froze. Three? Everyone immediately looked toward Li Yu.
Where had she gotten three people from? There were clearly only two! That was what most of them thought at first, but they soon realized something was off.
"Wait! Why is there someone else standing beside them?" Some of the more perceptive students gradually caught on. Even then, they'd only noticed after concentrating.
Otherwise, they would have unconsciously overlooked the girl standing beside Li Yu.
Everyone was baffled by that comment. What nonsense was she talking about? There were obviously only two people.
The others still hadn't noticed Kato Megumi. That was how ridiculously powerful her talent was.
"All right, that student has a rather unusual talent. Come over here. I'll pair up with you." Seeing what was happening, Shizuka Hiratsuka immediately cut off the chattering students.
Then she asked Kato Megumi to join her. She intended to teach Megumi personally.
At the teacher's words, Kato Megumi hurried out. The students focused their attention, and only then did they manage to see her.
When they realized that there really was a classmate like that, they were stunned. How could she be so hard to notice? Was her presence really that faint?
"All right, get started. Practice with your partners!" Once Kato Megumi had joined her, Shizuka Hiratsuka called out and led her to an open space.
She began giving Megumi some one-on-one instruction. With a talent like hers, she ought to learn a few assassination techniques!
"Let's start, too." After Kato Megumi was called away, Yukino Yukinoshita turned to Li Yu.
Li Yu had no objections. The two of them found a spot in the spacious classroom.
Looking at Li Yu with a serious expression, Yukino Yukinoshita said, "Li Yu, I hope you won't hold back. Give it everything you've got!"
She was asking him to go all out right from the start, and she wasn't the least bit intimidated. Wasn't she worried he might hurt her?
But then Li Yu remembered what Yukinoshita had told him earlier about her talent. "No problem. Let's begin!"
As he spoke, Li Yu took up a fighting stance. Since she'd asked him to give it everything he had, what was there to hesitate about?
Yukino Yukinoshita also assumed her opening stance. They exchanged a look, and then Li Yu moved.
With a single step, Li Yu charged right up to Yukino Yukinoshita. His right hand clenched into a fist, and he swung it straight at her delicate face.
Intentional Bombing Fist!
When Yukino Yukinoshita saw Li Yu swing straight for her face, her expression turned green.
Was this guy doing it on purpose, or had it been an accident? If Li Yu hit her like that, wouldn't she end up black and blue?
Yukinoshita hurriedly shifted to Li Yu's right to dodge, then quickly reached out and grabbed his fist, ready to throw him.
But she'd underestimated Li Yu. She'd only just grabbed his arm when she felt a sudden shock run through it.
A burst of True Qi exploded from Li Yu's hand, knocking hers away. Yukinoshita was stunned.
How long had it been? Li Yu had already mastered a technique like that? And did this guy have an absurd amount of True Qi or what?
As Yukino Yukinoshita wondered about this, Li Yu had already adjusted his position and attacked again.
Li Yu spun sideways and whipped a roundhouse kick straight at Yukino Yukinoshita's head.
Yukino Yukinoshita had no choice but to draw on her strength to steady her stance and raise an arm to block.
A tremendous force erupted, leaving Yukino Yukinoshita's arm numb.
After that exchange, Li Yu quickly backed away and looked at Yukino Yukinoshita. "Are you all right?"
Hearing Li Yu's question and feeling the pain in her arm, Yukino Yukinoshita gritted her teeth. "I'm fine. Let's keep going!"
Seeing how unwilling she was to give in, Li Yu immediately understood. This girl really didn't want to lose.
In that case, Li Yu would have to step it up. With that thought, he attacked again.
He began demonstrating all the martial techniques he'd learned that day. Yukino Yukinoshita was soon struggling to keep up, reduced to taking a one-sided beating.
But she was making progress quickly, too. As she defended against Li Yu's attacks, she began refining her True Qi.
Perhaps the constant pressure from Li Yu had helped her refine her True Qi faster.
Under Li Yu's relentless attacks, Yukino Yukinoshita finally managed to refine her True Qi.
She became the second person in the class to refine True Qi. None of the other students had reached that stage yet.
The moment Yukino Yukinoshita refined her True Qi, Shizuka Hiratsuka immediately turned to look.
Seeing that Yukino Yukinoshita had only managed it under Li Yu's pressure amused her.
She had known Yukino for a long time in this world. She'd even been Yukino's homeroom teacher.
She knew the girl quite well. Yukino had always excelled at her studies, ever since she was little.
On top of that, she'd awakened a rather impressive talent. That was why Yukino Yukinoshita had always been a little proud.
But Shizuka hadn't expected her to start taking setbacks as soon as she arrived at a new school and joined a new class. Perhaps that wasn't such a bad thing.
With that in mind, Shizuka Hiratsuka said nothing and let Li Yu keep beating Yukino.
It would be best if he left her black and blue. That might knock some of the pride out of her.
She hoped Yukino Yukinoshita would learn that there was always someone better. Being too proud wasn't necessarily a good thing.
Yukino Yukinoshita had no idea what Shizuka Hiratsuka was thinking. Once she felt herself break through, she was thrilled.
Then she immediately counterattacked Li Yu. Using her talent to control her body, she covered her fist with the True Qi inside her and began trading blows with him.
"Bang, bang, bang!" The sound of their fight changed. Each collision rang out with a series of bangs.
It was the sound of their True Qi colliding. The commotion drew the attention of the students sparring nearby.
When everyone saw that Yukino Yukinoshita had refined her True Qi, they were stunned. She'd done it so quickly!
Before you continue