Dorm leader Xiao Wu, defeating Tang San

"Little San, let's each take half of this quilt!"

Duan Qingya had just entered Dorm Seven when he saw Xiao Wu discussing how to divide the quilt with Tang San.

But after a busy afternoon, Duan Qingya had no interest in getting involved in their affairs. He headed straight for his bed to collect his things and wash up.

Just as Xiao Wu was about to draw a dividing line between herself and Tang San, she suddenly noticed the unfamiliar face of Duan Qingya.

He reminded her of the person Wang Sheng had mentioned earlier that day—the one who had defeated him but refused to become the boss.

"Stop right there! You're the new student Wang Sheng said arrived this morning, aren't you?"

"Even though I'm the boss of Dorm Seven now, I haven't beaten you, so my title doesn't quite match my standing. That means I want to spar with you!"

At Xiao Wu's words, everyone else in Dorm Seven turned to Duan Qingya, who was holding a basin, ready to wash up.

After a busy day, Duan Qingya had no desire to entertain Xiao Wu's challenge. All he wanted was to finish washing up and go to sleep.

"Sorry, I'm a little tired today. How about we spar another time when we're free?"

"No! You're just looking for an excuse not to fight. I bet that's how you fooled Wang Sheng this morning, but I'm not falling for it!"

Seeing Duan Qingya try to decline, Xiao Wu, who was eager to establish herself as the boss, immediately grew unhappy.

Hearing her say that, Duan Qingya realized there was no avoiding this match.

But Xiao Wu took things too seriously. If he held back during the match, she would surely keep pestering him;

If he didn't hold back, he would surely have to shoulder the responsibilities of being Dorm Seven's boss.

"You're a girl. I won't fight you! The guy sharing your bed looks pretty strong too. Why don't I spar with him instead?"

"If I lose, you won't have to fight me or work up a sweat, right?"

Xiao Wu, who had just finished bathing, began to hesitate at Duan Qingya's suggestion.

It was getting late, and taking another bath really would be a hassle. But having Tang San fight in her place would undermine her authority as the boss.

"Sister Xiao Wu, agree to it! I'd like to exchange a few moves with our new classmate too."

Tang San, who had been standing silently nearby, naturally saw her concerns and spoke up without hesitation to help her out.

With those words from Tang San, Xiao Wu now had a way to step down gracefully.

"Since you want to exchange moves with our new classmate, Little San, I'll reluctantly let you fight in my place!"

"But remember, don't let it spoil our friendship!"

Xiao Wu even put on an approving expression and patted Tang San's shoulder.

Watching Tang San and Xiao Wu act out their little performance in front of everyone, Duan Qingya was so speechless that he felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

"Could you please hurry? I've been busy all day. I'm really tired and would like to rest!"

Duan Qingya set down his basin and stepped into the sparring area Wang Sheng and the others had cleared, gesturing for Tang San to hurry.

Tang San wasn't angry or annoyed by his urging. In his eyes, aside from Xiao Wu with her grappling techniques, no one here could last more than a few exchanges against him.

This wasn't boasting or looking down on Duan Qingya and the others. It was the confidence his previous life's Tang Sect Secret Arts gave him.

Once Tang San entered the sparring area and was ready, Xiao Wu signaled for Wang Sheng to announce the start.

"Begin!"

Knowing that Tang San possessed the Tang Sect Secret Arts, Duan Qingya had no intention of underestimating him.

After facing Tang San for a second, he struck first, driving a punch at his face.

Tang San hadn't expected Duan Qingya's punch to come so quickly. He froze for a moment, missing the best opportunity to dodge.

Realizing this, Tang San inwardly cursed:

Damn it! I can't take this head-on now. It looks like I'll have to use Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon to redirect his attack!

What surprised Tang San even more was that Duan Qingya shook his arm once and canceled out the pull on his fist.

Bang!

Seeing Tang San block with his arm and retreat to reduce the force at the very instant he attacked with the back of his hand, Duan Qingya couldn't help taking a little interest in him.

His match with Wang Sheng that morning hadn't given him the feeling of a real fight at all!

Feeling the throbbing pain in his arm, Tang San became completely serious. He understood that the person before him was no weaker than himself.

Next, Tang San intended to take the initiative and control the pace of the attack, lest Duan Qingya lead him around by the nose.

Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

Tang San unleashed both Tang Sect Secret Arts at once and charged toward Duan Qingya. He didn't want to drag this out any longer; if they continued, a patrolling teacher might discover them.

Noticing the change in Tang San's speed and movements, Duan Qingya immediately pushed his perception to its limit.

Seeing Duan Qingya stand still, Tang San didn't let down his guard. He circled straight behind him and thrust a palm toward his back.

Just before Tang San's strike landed, Duan Qingya turned sideways to evade it and raised his elbow toward Tang San's face.

Unable to pull his arm back in time, Tang San could only bend at the waist, letting Duan Qingya's elbow sweep past his face, and seize the chance to strike Duan Qingya's side with his palm.

This time, Duan Qingya didn't dodge. Just as Tang San's palm was about to touch him, he caught Tang San's wrist, twisted through his waist, and swung him up into the air.

Held fast by Duan Qingya, Tang San had no time to adjust his posture.

Just as Tang San braced himself to be slammed hard into the floor, Duan Qingya suddenly released him, giving him a chance to adjust his body and land safely.

The moment he landed, Tang San assumed a defensive stance. Though he didn't understand why Duan Qingya had let go, he didn't lower his guard.

Bang, bang, bang!

"Do you know what time it is? Why is Dorm Seven still so noisy? Hurry up, wash, and get into bed! Don't you have classes and cultivation tomorrow?"

The patrolling teacher pounded on the door and shouted into the room.

Hearing the patrolling teacher's voice, Wang Sheng and the others jumped in fright. No longer daring to watch the pair, they hurriedly dragged their beds back into place, climbed in, and pretended to be asleep.

With the patrolling teacher's interruption, Duan Qingya and Tang San could no longer continue their match.

"Looks like we can't keep fighting. Let's call it a draw today! Even if we fought for another half hour, we might not settle it."

With that, Duan Qingya picked up his basin and went to wash up without waiting for Tang San's reply.

"Little San, why did that guy stop fighting? Neither of you won, did you?"

Distracted by the scraping of beds around her, Xiao Wu hadn't heard exactly what Duan Qingya said, so she walked over to ask Tang San.

"Um... he said we should call it a draw and stop fighting."

That was what he said, but Tang San understood that if Duan Qingya hadn't let go just before the patrolling teacher arrived, he would have had a chance to defeat him.

"A draw, huh! That means he's pretty impressive too. I just don't know why he doesn't want to be the boss."

Those words from Xiao Wu jolted Tang San into realization.

Why had Duan Qingya let go before the patrolling teacher even arrived? He had deliberately tried to make their match a draw!

At that thought, Tang San fell silent.

He realized he had fallen into Duan Qingya's trap from the very beginning.

Duan Qingya had deliberately chosen to fight him not only to avoid the overly serious Xiao Wu, but also to stall until the patrolling teacher came and interrupted them.

More importantly, from the moment Duan Qingya chose him, he had never believed Tang San could defeat him quickly. Perhaps Duan Qingya was even confident he could hold the upper hand.

Looking up at Duan Qingya as he washed, Tang San was once again shaken by someone from this world.

The grand elder had been right. As a disciple of the Tang Sect, he had to remember: beyond every great person stood someone greater, and beyond every heaven lay another heaven!