He Really Couldn't Beat Them

"Bravo!" A cheer from the crowd brought Li Yichen back to reality. He couldn't help wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes. Why am I crying?

Then Tang Ling'er's sword dance in the middle of the crowd captured his attention.

The sword in Tang Ling'er's hand seemed to come alive, dancing up and down.

Then she leaped into the air and swept her sword through a hundred and eighty degrees, slicing through the air with a whistle.

She landed in a full split, crisp and clean.

"Nice! That was way cooler than anything the dance students do." The students around her stared, transfixed.

"I'm done for. I've fallen in love with her," a boy said miserably. "But I probably couldn't beat her in a fight."

"If she'd go out with me, I'd gladly let her stab me once a day," another boy said, practically drooling.

Tang Ling'er pushed off with her legs, springing up from the ground, then glanced at Li Yichen.

Her lips curved slightly as she swung her sword around, pointing its tip straight at him. "Li Yichen, watch out!"

The sword in Tang Ling'er's hand streaked through the air, thrusting toward Li Yichen like a bolt of lightning.

"Ah!" Some of the girls immediately screamed in surprise.

Even Ouyang Xuanxuan felt her heart leap into her throat.

"Yes! Heaven finally has eyes! Stab that bastard to death!" Zheng Liang's eyes lit up. He gritted his teeth and couldn't help clenching his fists.

Startled, Li Yichen instinctively jerked his head aside while extending two fingers, catching the sword tip between them with a snap.

But Tang Ling'er's thrust was far more powerful than he had expected. His arm went numb, and his fingers ached so badly that he cried out, "You're fighting for real!"

"Hehe, that's what you get for being so good." The girl's eyes curved into smiling crescents, but she twisted her wrist, slashing toward Li Yichen's neck.

Li Yichen instinctively leaned back and flicked his fingers. With a ringing clang, Tang Ling'er's sword was knocked aside. He shifted his feet and used the momentum to spring five or six meters backward.

"Holy shit, is this really happening?" Everyone was dumbstruck. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought they were shooting a movie.

"Li Yichen, watch out! Here I come again!" The girl flicked her sword, spinning it into countless glittering flourishes as she charged at him.

Then her sword shivered, becoming countless points of silver light that rained down on Li Yichen.

"Haha, bring it on!" Li Yichen got into the spirit of things too. He rubbed his hands together and met Tang Ling'er's sword barehanded.

Clang, clang, clang... ding, ding... clang, clang! A rapid series of metallic collisions rang out.

Their movements grew faster and faster. The people around them couldn't make out their techniques at all, only two figures moving at lightning speed.

Just then, a shout rang out. "Junior Sister, I'll help you!" A figure immediately sprang out of the ranks and lunged toward them.

"Who asked you to help?" The girl pouted in annoyance, sweeping her sword upward and sending an invisible blade of sword energy flying toward him.

Senior Brother Huang's face went pale. He braced his feet and forced himself to a stop.

With a ripping sound, the sword energy tore a hole in his clothes.

Without even glancing at her senior brother, Tang Ling'er continued attacking Li Yichen.

Suddenly, the two of them leaped into the air...

"Holy crap, are those two about to fly?" Everyone below gaped, their jaws practically hitting the ground.

Clang, clang, clang...

The clash of metal kept ringing out in midair. Like aerial acrobats, the two fought furiously, yet somehow never fell.

"If anyone ever tells me martial arts masters don't exist again, I'll fight them!" a boy exclaimed heatedly, pointing at the two figures flying above. "Are those two fucking normal people?"

Zheng Liang's eyes nearly popped out of his head. Could any normal person fucking deal with that? He bitterly regretted agreeing to Han Wenqi and the others' request.

Neither of them had intended to fight to the death in the first place. Tang Ling'er had simply been annoyed that Li Yichen was making eyes at Ouyang Xuanxuan right in front of her.

As their aerial fight continued, their movements grew smoother, and a strange harmony gradually developed between their attacks.

Their techniques gradually fell into sync. In the end, they traded moves back and forth like a couple practicing swordplay together.

Just then, Tang Ling'er thrust her sword.

Li Yichen caught her sword hand, used her momentum to draw her into his arms, and gently wrapped an arm around her waist.

Tang Ling'er let out a soft little sound. Their eyes met, and a spark passed between them.

They landed lightly on the ground without making a sound. At that moment, they had eyes only for each other.

"Are they still going to fight?" someone muttered quietly.

The person beside him smacked the back of his head. "Shut up. Don't interrupt them... what if they're about to kiss...?"

"Mm..." To his surprise, everyone nearby nodded, looking thoroughly eager to see it happen.

Su Xiaoxiao also recovered from her shock. She looked at the pair in the middle, then at Ouyang Xuanxuan, whose eyes had already reddened, and chuckled. "You little rascal, you've got far too much luck with women. Even I'm starting to feel tempted."

Then she stepped forward, leaned her face between theirs, and said with a smile, "Could you two show a little restraint in public?"

"Oh!" Only then did they come to their senses and hurriedly pull apart.

Tang Ling'er glanced bashfully at the surrounding students, then blushed and said awkwardly, "I'm not feeling well today, so I'll head back first." After another glance at Li Yichen, she turned and ran.

Li Yichen thought he heard hearts breaking again. He rubbed his nose awkwardly.

"You little rascal, don't get carried away just yet. Could you go change first? Your butt's almost showing," Su Xiaoxiao reminded him with a smile.

"Huh?" Li Yichen quickly looked down at himself and was so mortified that he wanted to crawl into a hole.

His camouflage uniform had been reduced to strips, exposing his firm abs beneath.

That was hardly surprising. Tang Ling'er was wielding a precious sword, after all. Although it couldn't pierce his skin, his clothes weren't woven from heavenly silkworm silk, so of course they tore with every slash.

"Xiaoxiao, please keep an eye on things. I'll go back and change first." With that, he covered his backside and ran.

"Hehehe..." Behind him, Su Xiaoxiao laughed so hard she could barely breathe.

"Scorpion." Hao Shuai walked over just then, glanced at Li Yichen's retreating figure, and said, "This Li Yichen is no ordinary guy."

"Scorpion, I think he's really strong. I couldn't beat him," Savage Bear said, scratching his head.

"As if you could beat that little girl," Su Xiaoxiao teased.

"Looks like... I really couldn't." Dejected, Savage Bear squatted on the ground and traced circles. Not being able to beat Li Yichen was one thing, but being unable to beat a young girl too was a serious blow to his pride.

The eventful day came to an end, and night quietly fell.

In a ward at the infirmary, Han Wenqi listened to Zheng Liang's account and was stunned speechless.

Only after a long while did he ask, "Is Li Yichen really that strong?" If he was anything like Zheng Liang had just described, he wasn't human. He was superhuman.

"Absolutely true," Zheng Liang swore to heaven. "So many people saw it today. I wouldn't tell a lie that could be exposed that easily."

Then he reluctantly took out an envelope. "I really can't do what you asked. I haven't touched anything inside."

"Han, what are we supposed to do now? Are we just going to give up?" Song Yi asked, unwilling to accept it.

"Then don't blame me for being ruthless. You brought this on yourself." After a long silence, Han Wenqi finally spoke with a cold smile.