Clash (PK—please keep reading!!)

Clash (PK—please keep reading!!)

The martial academy's front courtyard.

The moment Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran appeared, they spotted Li Qing at a glance—tall and slender, her ponytail exposing a long, swanlike neck.

Among all the disciples of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, Li Qing was the only female disciple.

She naturally stood out like a crane among chickens. In particular, Li Qing was quite tall; by Jiang Ning's estimate, she was at least 1.7 meters.

After all, Li Qing was only half a head shorter than him.

As for why the entire Blue-Wave Martial Academy had only one woman who had taken a master and entered the academy, that was not difficult to understand.

Practicing fist techniques damaged the skin on one's hands and produced many calluses.

That was a drawback most women found hard to endure.

Moreover, all entry-level disciples of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy could only learn one fist technique: the Five Animals Fist.

Naturally, few women were willing to take a master at the Blue-Wave Martial Academy. No woman wanted her soft, fair hands to become rough and covered in calluses.

Most women who practiced martial arts focused on leg techniques and weapon techniques instead. Those looked far more graceful and did little damage to one's figure.

No matter the world, a woman's love of beauty was something she could never escape.

As for why Li Qing's hands remained so fair and smooth, without much callusing even after practicing fist techniques, Jiang Ning did not know. But he guessed that Li Qing must have used some extremely precious secret medicine to care for her hands every day.

At this moment, the martial academy's front courtyard seemed to have just gone through a minor disturbance.

A burly man had drawn the attention of every disciple in the courtyard.

This man looked exceptionally tough and capable, especially his arms, which were truly extraordinary. With his left arm hanging freely at his side, it reached all the way to his knee.

With such an arm span and such exceptional bones, he was a martial arts genius born for fist training.

An inch longer, an inch stronger.

The length of his reach gave him no small advantage in fist techniques.

The man patted Xiao Peng on the shoulder. "Junior Brother Xiao, not bad. As expected of the true disciple Master accepted today. Junior Brother Xiao truly has high comprehension. At such a young age, you have already grasped the essence of Tiger Form Fist at the major mastery stage. I think that one day, Junior Brother Xiao will surely catch up to me."

Xiao Peng spoke with an excited expression. "Thank you for your encouragement, Senior Brother Zhao. Experiencing Senior Brother Zhao's Fierce Tiger Force has benefited me greatly. When my fist techniques achieve success someday, I will not forget Senior Brother Zhao's guidance today."

Watching Xiao Peng and Zhao Hu surrounded by the crowd, Cheng Ran could not help feeling a little sour.

He muttered under his breath, "That Xiao Peng sure knows how to put on a show. While I was away, he took the chance to curry favor with Senior Brother Zhao Hu and have Senior Brother Zhao Hu guide him."

"Senior Brother Zhao Hu has perfected Tiger Form Fist, and his Fierce Tiger Force flows as freely as he wishes. His guidance will surely give Xiao Peng some insight. That will widen the gap between us again."

"Damn it! Competing with him for that final spot in the Inspection Office just got even harder!"

Jiang Ning patted Cheng Ran's shoulder. "Keep it up, Senior Brother Cheng. I believe you can surpass Xiao Peng."

Cheng Ran clenched his fist. "I will definitely surpass him."

Outside the martial academy.

Tap, tap, tap—

A black carriage came from the distance. As it approached the Blue-Wave Martial Academy, it gradually slowed.

"Whoa—"

Under the watchful eyes of the two disciples at the academy gate, the carriage slowly stopped before the entrance.

The next moment.

The driver exerted force through his waist, springing from the carriage like a mantis shrimp before landing on the ground.

He swept aside the carriage curtain. "Master, we have arrived at the Blue-Wave Martial Academy."

Then the front of the carriage sank slightly, and a middle-aged man around fifty years old, with a goatee, bent over and stepped out of the carriage.

Under the gazes of the academy's gatekeeping disciples, he approached the two of them.

"Please trouble the two young brothers to announce me. Liu Zhixiang, manager of the Four Harmonies Trading Company, has come to pay a visit."

The Four Harmonies Trading Company?

The two disciples exchanged glances. One of them respectfully addressed Liu Zhixiang, the goateed man of around fifty.

"Manager Liu, please wait a moment. I will report to our Academy Master at once."

After that disciple hurried into the martial academy.

Tap, tap, tap—

The sound of another carriage galloping came from the street corner in the distance.

The rapidly approaching carriage inevitably drew their attention.

More than ten breaths later.

"Whoa—"

As the driver pulled the reins, the entire carriage stopped in front of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy.

Then.

The carriage curtain was swept open, and a man in a black brocade robe, with a topknot crown on his head, stepped down from the carriage.

A man built like an iron tower followed him down.

"Liu Zhixiang, your Four Harmonies Trading Company has crossed the line," said the man in black brocade robes and a topknot crown, his expression calm.

The goateed Liu Zhixiang glanced at the man in black brocade robes, then at the muscular, iron-tower-like man behind him.

The corners of Liu Zhixiang's mouth lifted slightly. "What? Nephew Zhou, is your appetite that big? Since when did Wang Jin's Blue-Wave Martial Academy become your, Zhou Xing's, territory?"

"Taking Zhang Tiesheng under your wing was not enough? You want to swallow all the talented disciples of the Blue-Wave Martial Academy in one gulp as well?"

Faced with Liu Zhixiang's questioning, Zhou Xing gave a mocking smile.

"If you stretch out your hand too far, be careful it gets chopped off!"

With that, Zhou Xing brushed past Liu Zhixiang, with Zhang Tiesheng, the iron-tower-like man behind him, following closely after.

Watching Zhou Xing's departing back as he passed by, Liu Zhixiang's face turned first green, then white, becoming extremely unsightly. To be rebuked by a junior of the younger generation, even with few people present to witness it, still made him feel he had lost all face.

Zhou Xing!

Hmph!

He hoped Zhou Xing would truly remain this arrogant later!

Thinking of the powerful figures whose interests were tied to the Four Harmonies Trading Company, Liu Zhixiang was immensely confident.

He now hoped Zhou Xing would truly dare to make trouble. Only then could he borrow that power to properly teach this junior a lesson.

At the martial academy gate.

The remaining gatekeeping disciple saw Zhou Xing arrive and immediately lowered his head in salute.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou!!"

He then saluted Zhang Tiesheng behind Zhou Xing. "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang!!"

Zhou Xing patted the gatekeeping disciple's shoulder. "Work hard. I hope that one day, you can become my true junior brother!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhou!" the gatekeeping disciple replied excitedly. Then, watching Zhou Xing's retreating back, he clenched his fists.

On the other side.

Inside the martial academy.

Zhao Hu swept his gaze over the crowd, his eyes briefly lingering on Li Qing. A trace of admiration flashed through them without his noticing.

"Junior brothers, I just said I would demonstrate Fierce Tiger Force for you. Please follow me."

At those words, everyone immediately followed with excited expressions.

"Come on, let's go take a look too!" Cheng Ran said.

Jiang Ning nodded as well.

At this moment.

Zhao Hu's gaze inadvertently swept over Li Qing. Seeing that Li Qing had fallen behind the crowd but was still following them, his heart immediately filled with delight.

Being able to catch the beauty's attention made him rather happy.

Martial artists possessed vigorous qi and blood and abundant energy, and he was at the age when young men were drawn to women. Naturally, he had feelings for Li Qing as well.

(End of Chapter)