"She's a very passionate person," Nie Qingkong said, not wanting Xia Qingyu to misunderstand. "We're just friends."
"Friends who hug and embrace?" Shi Xingwu pursed his lips. "I still think you're going downhill, kid."
"Never mind me, how did you guys end up here?" Nie Qingkong knew that with Shi Xingwu around, explaining would only make things worse, so he changed the subject. "Shi Xingwu, is your dad Vincent's long-time friend who's been through life and death with him?"
"Yeah," Shi Xingwu replied casually. "This is just a friendly match, a sparring session."
"I see…" Nie Qingkong's gaze deepened, as if contemplating whether there was any value in the relationships here, if it could create opportunities for him, and if it could help his adoptive father resolve matters smoothly.
Just seeing Nie Qingkong's expression, Xia Qingyu knew he was up to something.
Was this Nie Qingkong always plotting, never intending to do anything good?
He had plotted against Miao Tong before, and now he was setting his sights on Shi Xingwu?
While Shi Xingwu was indeed simple and naive, it didn't mean that everyone around him was clueless and would let Nie Qingkong plot against them!
The first day's friendly match was merely a formality, with both sides sending out their more capable disciples to make an appearance and get acquainted.
The format was more about performance than actual substance, just for entertainment.
While everyone was engrossed in the performance, Xia Qingyu found an opportunity to call Nie Qingkong aside privately.
Initially, she had no intention of interacting with Nie Qingkong, acting as if they had never met.
After all, Nie Qingkong had no intention of genuinely interacting with them.
But if Nie Qingkong was going to plot against Shi Xingwu, then things would be different.
Xia Qingyu hadn't had many friends over the years, and she genuinely considered Shi Xingwu and Li Xiaozhong her close confidantes. She didn't want her friends to be used by someone like this.
Seeing Xia Qingyu calling him out, Nie Qingkong ran through hundreds of possibilities in his mind.
Would she miss him after his long absence?
Would she be angry with him? Blame him for leaving without a word?
Would she express her longing for him?
Would she…
Nie Qingkong had considered everything, except that Xia Qingyu would actually come to warn him about that fool Shi Xingwu!
"Shi Xingwu might not be the brightest, but he's not a fool for you to bully! Using people so readily, aren't you afraid of karma? You'd better stay away from him! Don't bring your dirty schemes to him!" Xia Qingyu said, before turning to leave. "Take care of yourself."
Suddenly, her wrist was grabbed, and she was pulled back with immense force. Her wrist was pinned against the wall behind her by Nie Qingkong. "After so long, this is all you have to say to me?"
"Long time no see, perhaps we'll never see each other again." Xia Qingyu looked directly into Nie Qingkong's eyes. "Nie Qingkong… Oh, is that name fake too? Then what should I call you? Tarik? Or Young Master?"
She had asked Li Xiaozhong to investigate last night, and it turned out this old classmate's identity was quite extraordinary.
Hearing Xia Qingyu accurately state his identity, Tarik wasn't surprised.
Over such a long period, Xia Qingyu and Li Xiaozhong had established their own information network, accurately grasping every fluctuation in the global economy, which allowed them to achieve the myth of invincibility in the stock market.
He was in charge of the financial sector within the organization. It wasn't difficult for Xia Qingyu and Li Xiaozhong to investigate his identity.
However, delving any deeper would not be easy.
Excluding some external factors he didn't want to face, he had to admit that the combined abilities of Li Xiaozhong and Xia Qingyu were so impressive that even he would be tempted to recruit them.
"A name is just a code word. Or are you upset that I lied to you?" Tarik met Xia Qingyu's gaze.
These eyes, he had seen them countless times in his dreams, sometimes smiling, sometimes annoyed.
"Tch." Xia Qingyu scoffed, her actions expressing her thoughts.
She jabbed her elbow forward and then raised her other hand to strike Tarik under the armpit. Before he could react, she cleanly executed a shoulder throw, tossing him aside.
The move was fluid and seamless. Tarik felt as if his entire world had flipped over.
By the time he regained his senses, he was lying on his back on the ground, his head aching slightly, and the sky above was a brilliant blue with white clouds drifting by.
"Did you think I'd be as easy to bully as before?" Xia Qingyu crossed her arms, her voice cold. "If I can't reason with you, then I'll have to use physics! If you dare to lay a hand on anyone close to me, I'll make you regret it! Hmph!"
With a snort, Xia Qingyu turned to leave. A few steps later, she saw Xifu standing there, looking utterly astonished.
Xia Qingyu shot Xifu a glare and continued walking without stopping.
Xifu, who was as beautiful as a doll, watched in shock as Xia Qingyu walked past her.
That woman from Country Z… How dare she!
Xifu had come out to see what was going on between Xia Qingyu and Tarik after seeing Xia Qingyu call him away.
She knew there were plenty of women who wanted to steal Tarik away from her.
That woman from Country Z was no exception. Those seductive little tricks were all things she had long mastered; she wouldn't lose!
She and Tarik had grown up together. No one understood Tarik better than she did, and no one's relationship with him was closer!
With these thoughts, Xifu could hardly believe her eyes when she saw Tarik cornering Xia Qingyu right in front of her.
Tarik…
Tarik was actually being so intimate with a woman!
And then, in the next instant, that woman threw Tarik with a shoulder throw.
And Tarik…
"Ha." Tarik, lying on the ground, burst into laughter. He slowly sat up, his gaze fixed on Xia Qingyu's retreating back.
Indeed, people who were alive and kicking like this were the most interesting.
He accepted this birthday gift.
In Tarik's eyes, there was a possessiveness that even he hadn't noticed.
Xifu witnessed this scene firsthand, and a deep sense of unease surged within her.
The person she had liked since childhood seemed to be slipping away from her!
No!
Absolutely not!
Xifu bit her lower lip, her eyes sharp and cold.
She would absolutely not let this happen.
Turning her head, Xifu looked at Xia Qingyu's back, her gaze somber.
This woman… must die!
The moment this thought formed in Xifu's mind, she felt her neck tighten. A hand reached out from behind her and grasped her throat.
Before Xifu could even react, a suffocating sensation spread through her entire body.
"Xifu, be a smart person and don't cross my line." Tarik knew Xifu too well. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "You can't afford the price for touching her."