It was a sun-drenched afternoon. Shen Lan Ni leaned by the window, staring blankly at the hourglass, her eyes hazy, much like a cat.
Bang!
“Who is the coach?”
Peng Lin was only fourteen years old at the time.
“I am.” Shen Lan Ni frowned at the impolite fellow.
“A woman? Hmph, you must be the boss. Hurry up and call out the master you hired. I want to see what he’s capable of.”
Shen Lan Ni didn’t stand up but smiled, “Where do you come from, you wild child?”
“None of your business. I want to learn Taekwondo. Call out the master,” Peng Lin said, hands on his hips, looking every bit like a little ruffian.
“What do you want Taekwondo for?”
This was the only question Shen Lan Ni asked when taking on a disciple. Though she appeared disdainful, she secretly rather liked the prickly kid in front of her.
“Do I need to ask?” Peng Lin flexed his biceps, which were like small hills, and grinned, “Look, this physique of mine is a born prodigy for martial arts. Your Lan Ni Taekwondo Hall will surely be famous because of me. Hmph, why am I telling a woman so much? Just call out the master.”
Shen Lan Ni was utterly amused by Peng Lin’s words, her laughter shaking her body. It was the first time Peng Lin had seen such a beautiful smile, and he immediately blushed, but his mouth remained sharp.
“What are you laughing at? My name is destined to be known throughout the world.”
“Alright, alright, that’s interesting. But you still haven’t told me why you want to learn Taekwondo?” Shen Lan Ni suppressed her laughter, took a sip of water, and the sunlight shone on her hair, making it as bright and radiant as the evening glow.
For the first time, Peng Lin felt that there was such a radiant and captivating woman in the world. He blushed uncontrollably, his voice becoming stammering.
“Why should I tell you, tell you so much? You’re not likely to…”
Before Peng Lin could finish, Shen Lan Ni pointed to the various honor certificates hanging on the wall, as well as her fourth-dan black belt certification.
The photos on those certificates were of Shen Lan Ni herself, radiant and captivating, with fiery red hair like the evening glow.
“You… you are really the coach?”
“Of course, kid. Now, can you tell me why you want to learn Taekwondo?”
Peng Lin’s face flushed, and he said with a bit of embarrassment, “My mom says men should learn some dominant skills so they won’t be bullied, and won’t be timid when fighting!”
“You little rascal, you want to learn Taekwondo to fight?”
Shen Lan Ni burst into laughter again, making Peng Lin blush all over.
“What’s the fun in learning Taekwondo if you don’t fight?”
Shen Lan Ni suddenly said mysteriously, “That’s true, but if you’re going to fight, you should fight on the biggest stage. Spotlights, applause, cheers – those things are the best rewards and affirmations for you.”
She stood up and walked to the wall, pointing to a擂台 (leitai – fighting stage) in an old photograph, and said meaningfully, “Kid, do you see this? Don’t you want to come here and fight beautifully, honorably, like a man?”
…
These scenes flashed through his mind. The things he had once eagerly anticipated – spotlights, applause, cheers – were now surging towards him like a tide. The current擂台 (leitai) was the biggest stage he had ever been on, and after this fight, the world would be his oyster!
Everything Shen Lan Ni, his coach, had woven for him had become a reality. Was it not worth fighting with all his might, honorably, beautifully, and like a man?
Peng Lin felt an unknown strength surge within him. It was as if a ball of fire was burning in his丹田 (dantian – lower abdomen), blazing through heaven and earth, his internal organs filled with boundless power!
Xiao Chong, that copycat youngster, was an ability user and much more sensitive than ordinary people. He could feel the accumulated power in Peng Lin, whom he had pinned to the ground, finally erupting. He immediately channeled his energy and increased his force. He had only one goal: to reclaim the lost honor of Zigu City!
“Trash, stop struggling. You’re no match for me. Now, just say one thing: ‘I am trash, and our entire team from Aishen City is trash,’ and I’ll spare you!”
Peng Lin’s lowered head slowly lifted. His bloodied teeth were half-exposed, and his lips curled into a chilling smile, “Hmph, you crippled Lin Feng, do you think we’ll all be scared of you?”
He slowly pushed against the immense pressure, his legs trembling wildly, yet he managed to stand upright, inch by inch. The force that felt like Mount Tai pressing down was instantly dispelled by the surging power erupting from within him. He felt completely clear, his breathing controlled. He could even feel the Qi entering his body, an exhilarating sensation, like walking through a dense forest after a rain, the air warm and refreshing.
At this moment, Shen Lan Ni and Ren Yuan Hao, watching from below the stage, also noticed something significant.
“This kid, his Ren and Du meridians have finally fully opened!” Shen Lan Ni exclaimed with relief, like a mother watching her child.
“Don’t get carried away with blind joy. Your opponent is a bona fide ability user. We can’t predict what will happen next.”
As they were talking, Leng Zi Yu, from the already eliminated Yufang City team area, stared intently at the two on the擂台 (leitai) and murmured, “Such enviable abilities.”
“My dear wife, no need to be anxious. That ability will soon be yours.”
The man hidden behind Leng Zi Yu’s gaze was like a snake lurking in a cold, dark cave, his eyes emitting a chilling light.
Leng Zi Yu smiled and linked her arm with the man’s, her loss in the competition seemingly forgotten, “Husband, when do we make our move?”
“Of course, tonight. If that Xiao Chong wins this round, then Zigu City and Aishen City will be tied. Chu Tian Xiong will be able to save face, and there will surely be a victory banquet. At that time, when they are all drunk and unconscious, hehe~”
The man pulled Leng Zi Yu into his embrace, his laughter dry and chilling.
“Then, everything is up to you, my husband.”
“Just await the good news, my little beauty.”
The two became lost in a passionate kiss, while on the擂台 (leitai), the situation had subtly shifted.
After Peng Lin opened his Ren and Du meridians with the help of the dark gray miraculous medicine, the medicinal power continued to flow into his丹田 (dantian) through the extraordinary meridians, further strengthening his power. His abilities were now on par with a black belt. The two clashed, frequently employing internal martial arts techniques, fighting fiercely with back-and-forth exchanges.
Peng Lin’s confidence grew with each exchange. In the blink of an eye, the first round was nearing its end. However, just then, Xiao Chong, fighting and retreating, reached within three or four steps of the edge of the擂台 (leitai) net. He used the net’s elasticity to leap high into the air, spinning 720 degrees like a spiraling firework. His powerful leg technique descended like lightning, aiming to strike Peng Lin’s head.
“Die!”