Fighting

Liu Yuanzhou turned to look and immediately noticed a man of eighteen or nineteen. He was tall and powerfully built, with knotted muscles across his chest and arms, his black jacket stretched so tight it seemed about to burst. Yet his features were somewhat delicate—phoenix eyes, fine brows, and a small mouth—forming an enormous contrast with his large, muscular body. He was clearly the one who had spoken just now.

"Hmph, I wondered who it was. So it's Young Escort Chief Gao. Even your precious self came to a place like this?" Liu Yuanzhi sneered mockingly.

"I'm just a crude martial man. How could I be as noble as you, Master Xiucai? Tsk, tsk, look at those skinny arms and legs of yours. A gust of wind could blow you away." Gao Fei deliberately looked Liu Yuanzhi up and down, clicking his tongue.

"Hehe, do you know of a beast called a bear? Its limbs are well developed, but its mind is simple." Liu Yuanzhi was sarcastically calling him a bear.

"Hmph. Weakling." Gao Fei merely snorted.

Liu Yuanzhi was about to retort when Uncle Ma spoke up. "Enough. Shut up, both of you. If you want to quarrel, do it somewhere else. Don't hold up my business."

Seeing Uncle Ma's dark expression, Gao Fei and Liu Yuanzhi both turned their faces away and fell silent.

As the disturbance subsided, Liu Yuanzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He truly feared that if they came to blows, his cousin's build would definitely put him at a disadvantage. Judging by Gao Fei's physique, he clearly practiced martial arts, and Liu Yuanzhi was not confident he could beat him either.

"Brother, let's go. You still said you'd take me shopping." Liu Yuanzhou tugged at Liu Yuanzhi's clothes and spoke softly.

Liu Yuanzhi nodded and followed Liu Yuanzhou toward the exit. As they passed Gao Fei, he did not even spare him a glance.

"What a coward," Gao Fei suddenly said.

Liu Yuanzhi stopped short, turned, and snapped, "Did you eat shit? Your mouth reeks!"

"Pretty boy, just a pretty boy. A coward." Gao Fei curled his lips in contempt.

"You—you—I'll fight you to the death!" The words "pretty boy" seemed to have stepped right on Liu Yuanzhi's tail. He rolled up his sleeves and charged at Gao Fei.

Liu Yuanzhou hurriedly wrapped his arms around his cousin's waist, feeling bitter inside. Your strength isn't fighting. Wouldn't rushing up there just be asking for humiliation?

"Oh? You want to fight? Hahaha, come on, come on! Get up here and hit me! I'll only use one hand. If I use the other, I'm a bastard!" Gao Fei hooked a finger at him and laughed loudly. He had successfully enraged Liu Yuanzhi and secretly rejoiced, waiting for him to charge over so he could humiliate him.

With that provocation, how could Liu Yuanzhi remain rational? Though he devoted himself to the books of sages, he was still only seventeen or eighteen, at the age when his blood ran hot.

Seeing a fight was about to break out, the diners around them hurriedly scattered, clearing out an open space as they began to cheer them on.

Held around the waist, Liu Yuanzhi could not break free no matter how he struggled. He was so anxious that he stomped his feet repeatedly.

Gao Fei stared at Liu Yuanzhou with an unfriendly expression and narrowed his eyes. "Where did this thing come from? What the hell is it to you?"

Though Liu Yuanzhou deeply resented Gao Fei, he piled a smile onto his face. "What kind of hero are you, bullying a scholar? If you've got the ability, trade a few moves with me." He glanced at his cousin, then continued, "As his cousin, I'll stand up for him. Got a problem with that?"

Liu Yuanzhi quickly said, "Second Child, I won't fight anymore. Let's go. Don't lower ourselves to the level of someone like him." He knew Gao Fei's background inside out and knew that he possessed genuine martial skill. He was afraid his cousin would suffer.

"Fine, then let's trade a few moves." Gao Fei agreed at once, afraid Liu Yuanzhou would change his mind. It had not been easy to get a chance to humiliate Liu Yuanzhi. Even if he could not beat Liu Yuanzhi himself, injuring his cousin would still be satisfying.

Liu Yuanzhou released Liu Yuanzhi, revealed a confident smile, and said, "Brother, don't worry. I know my limits."

Liu Yuanzhi anxiously said, "Second Child, you don't understand. Gao Fei's family runs an escort agency. He's practiced martial arts since he was little. He's really formidable."

Liu Yuanzhou pulled him behind himself, waved a hand, and stepped into the open space, stopping five paces from Gao Fei.

Liu Yuanzhi stamped his foot and pushed through the crowd to Uncle Ma, hoping he would intervene and stop the fight.

Uncle Ma shook his head, signaling for him to wait and see.

Liu Yuanzhi and Gao Fei did not exchange another word. They stood still, staring into each other's eyes.

At this moment, Gao Fei also sensed that the boy before him was no easy opponent, so he put away his contempt.

Suddenly, the two moved almost simultaneously, both throwing punches at the other's chest.

With a bang, their fists collided, then instantly separated. Each retreated two steps, maintaining their previous standoff.

After this exchange of probing blows, Liu Yuanzhou understood Gao Fei's measure. Their strength was about equal, but Gao Fei was much slower.

Gao Fei, meanwhile, grew cautious. He did not have Liu Yuanzhou's eye for such things, but he knew his opponent's strength was no weaker than his own, so he raised his vigilance to the utmost.

"Ah!" Gao Fei shouted and attacked first. He rushed forward, swinging a right hook at Liu Yuanzhou's head.

Liu Yuanzhou ducked low and answered with a hook toward Gao Fei's kidney.

Gao Fei blocked with his left hand, while his right changed from a fist into a knife-hand strike that chopped toward Liu Yuanzhou's nape.

Liu Yuanzhou blocked with his right hand. Bang! Their four arms struck together, and both retreated two steps before facing off again.

"Ah!" Gao Fei shouted once more, launching both fists straight at Liu Yuanzhou's face. This move had a name: Ox King Horn Thrust, a stance from the Ox King Fist that Gao Fei had practiced painstakingly. Clearly, he had been forced to use his trump card.

Liu Yuanzhou did not dare underestimate him. He used the Plum Blossom Fist, dissolving the attack with Plum Blossom Fall before changing moves into Plum Blossom Flight, stabbing toward Gao Fei's eyes.

Gao Fei changed moves into Ox King Stamps Hooves, leaning his upper body backward and bending his knees to thrust upward at Liu Yuanzhou's groin.

The Ox King Fist was powerful and heavy, while the Plum Blossom Fist was nimble and tricky. The two exchanged seven or eight moves, neither able to gain the upper hand.

By the tenth move, Liu Yuanzhou clearly sensed Gao Fei's attacks slowing. Seizing the opportunity, he spun behind Gao Fei and lifted his leg in a side kick. Gao Fei could not react in time. The kick landed squarely on his backside, and he staggered two steps before pitching face-first onto the ground.

The Ox King Fist followed a fierce and forceful path and consumed enormous stamina. By the end, Gao Fei was already somewhat exhausted, supported only by a single breath of determination. Once Liu Yuanzhou knocked him down, that breath leaked away, and he lay sprawled on the ground, unable to rise for a long while.

Liu Yuanzhou had also expended a great deal of strength. He panted heavily as waves of pain spread through his arms and fists.

"Good!" The crowd of onlookers burst into cheers. It had truly been a splendid performance.

"Good!" Liu Yuanzhi jumped up excitedly. No one there was happier than he was.

"Ah~" At some point, two women had appeared at the edge of the crowd. One of them, bright-eyed and white-toothed, cried out in alarm when she saw Gao Fei knocked down.

Only then did Liu Yuanzhi notice the two women. A flash of delight crossed his face, and his eyes shone as he hurried over with a smile. "Jing Jing, why are you here?"

Yet Jing Jing, the woman who had cried out, merely shot him a reproachful look. She hurried over to Gao Fei, crouched down, touched his shoulder, and asked, "Hey, are you all right?"

Liu Yuanzhi was displeased and turned his gaze toward Uncle Ma.

Uncle Ma frowned and called out, "Jing Jing, come here. What kind of behavior is that for a young woman?"

Jing Jing looked at Uncle Ma and coquettishly said, "Father~"

Uncle Ma's face remained taut. Clearly, acting cute would not work. Jing Jing pouted, reluctantly stood up, lowered her head, and walked over to Uncle Ma.

At this point, Gao Fei was so ashamed and enraged that he wished he were dead. He climbed to his feet, burrowed out of the crowd, and ran off without even leaving behind a parting remark.

Liu Yuanzhi pulled Liu Yuanzhou over to Jing Jing and said with a showy air, "Jing Jing, this is my cousin, Liu Yuanzhou. What do you think? Isn't his martial arts amazing?"

Jing Jing glanced at the two of them, snorted coldly, and turned her head away. Clearly, she was unhappy. She waved to the woman who had been with her, and the woman approached with graceful steps.

The woman's gait was elegant, and her expression tranquil. She was like a lotus unstained by the slightest dust. Liu Yuanzhou could not help staring in a daze.

The woman smiled at Liu Yuanzhou, showing her teeth. Only then did he snap out of it. He did not dare keep staring, and his face reddened as he lowered his head.

"Father, she's my closest sister at the Embroidery Club. Her name is He Ye." Jing Jing introduced her friend to her father.

The Embroidery Club was a group Jing Jing had formed with several sisters to study embroidery. It was quite renowned among the women of Yan Province City. Many women had joined after hearing of it, and it had now grown to more than twenty members.

He Ye gave Uncle Ma a respectful curtsy. Uncle Ma hurriedly returned the courtesy and exchanged a few polite words with her.

"Hello, He Ye. My name is Liu Yuanzhi. Jing Jing must have mentioned me to you." Liu Yuanzhi stepped forward and greeted her with an easy, familiar smile.

He Ye froze for a moment. At last, she answered seriously, "Mm, she hasn't mentioned you. I've only heard Gao Fei's name."

Liu Yuanzhi turned to stone, looking so ashamed he wished the ground would swallow him, utterly bereft of hope.

Liu Yuanzhou was stunned. He Ye really was straightforward.

With a snort of laughter, Jing Jing finally could not hold it in anymore. Taking her friend's hand, she said to Liu Yuanzhi and the others, "We're leaving. The Embroidery Club has an event this afternoon."

Watching the two women's receding backs, Liu Yuanzhi wore a thoroughly dejected expression.

After bidding Uncle Ma farewell, the two of them wandered about at leisure.

"You definitely like Jing Jing," Liu Yuanzhi suddenly said.

"Alas, I'm afraid the falling flowers may have feelings, while the flowing water has none." Liu Yuanzhi's face was full of sorrow.

Gao Fei hurried through the gates of the Adverse Wind Escort Agency and came to a training ground.

At that moment, beneath the Big Willow Tree in the training ground, seven or eight bare-chested youths of fifteen or sixteen lay in the shade, taking a brief rest.

"Xiao Peng, come here for a moment." Gao Fei called to one of them.

All seven or eight youths woke with a start and sat up to greet Gao Fei. Xiao Peng was a short, skinny youth. He nimbly got to his feet and ran over to Gao Fei.

Gao Fei turned and left the training ground, entering a room. Xiao Peng followed him inside.

"Xiao Peng, help me investigate someone. Liu Yuanzhi's cousin, I think his name is Liu Yuanzhou," Gao Fei ordered in a low voice.

Xiao Peng naturally knew Liu Yuanzhi and was also aware of the grudge between the two. He nodded, then could not help asking, "Did that kid provoke you, Brother?"

Gao Fei impatiently waved a hand. "Go investigate already. Stop talking so much nonsense."

Xiao Peng said no more and turned to leave.

"Kid, if I don't avenge this grudge, I swear I'm not a man." Gao Fei thought hatefully, unconsciously clenching his fists. When had Gao Fei ever suffered such a loss? Thinking of his bedraggled state being witnessed by the person he liked made his heart throb with pain again and again.