C11 My Hero

"It's impossible, the target is Tan Jingyao, so how could he not have made a move on him?"

He had received intelligence that Tan Jingyao was to be murdered within the next couple of days, so he had people keep watch over Lu Xuanxin and the rest. If Lu Xuanxin took any action, they would be ready to respond.

Thus, he arrived here shortly after Lu Xuanxin left, intending to inform Tan Jingyao and then leverage the combined strength of Tan Jingyao and his allies to confront Feng Yuxiu.

But now, Chen Fan had informed him that the assailant had already made an attempt on Tan Jingyao's life. How could that be?

Chen Fan shrugged helplessly as he looked at Zhou Qianlong, saying, "If the assailant's goal is to win the martial arts competition and claim the title of the best in the martial world, and knowing that Tan Jingyao is weaker than him, would he still resort to murder?"

That made sense, but it still seemed impossible!

Mairong was weaker than the assailant too, so why would Feng Yuxiu want to kill him?

Was it because Mairong had a poor relationship with the assailant, leading the assailant to spare Tan Jingyao and instead eliminate Mairong?

These thoughts swirled in Zhou Qianlong's head, muddling his thoughts and leaving him unsure of what to do next.

Chen Fan, in no rush, simply watched Zhou Qianlong and suggested, "If I were you, I'd check with the other Masters of Leg Techniques to see if the culprit might be among them. They are all renowned for their leg techniques. What if the culprit has altered his plan?"

It seemed somewhat far-fetched, yet the current situation deviated from his expectations.

The plot had shifted; suddenly, nothing seemed impossible.

Zhou Qianlong looked up to meet Chen Fan's gaze, both men staring at each other, their faces devoid of emotion.

In an instant, the living room atmosphere turned awkward, silent as if a fight could break out at any moment.

Observing the tension, Tan Jingyao stood up and gestured towards the door, then turned to Zhou Qianlong and said, "That person has already sought me out. I survived, just as Prof. Wang predicted. If you've got the time, perhaps you should check on the others. They might still be in danger."

Upon hearing those words, Zhou Qianlong, whether he believed them or not, had no choice but to accept them as truth. He stood up and fixed his gaze on Tan Jingyao.

After a moment, Zhou Qianlong raised his hands and respectfully cupped his fists towards Tan Jingyao, saying, "If that's how it is, then I won't waste any more time here. I'll take my leave now!"

With that, Zhou Qianlong lowered his hands and turned to head out the door, promptly exiting the premises.

Once Zhou Qianlong had departed, only Tan Jingyao and Chen Fan remained in the living room. Tan Jingyao turned to Chen Fan with a puzzled look and took a seat.

"I've always wanted to ask Prof. Wang something. Why didn't you tell him about Xiahou Wu? And how did you know that the killer would target me today?" he inquired.

"The answer is straightforward," Chen Fan replied, resting his hand on the table and tapping it thoughtfully. After a pause, he elaborated, "Consider this: without knowing the identity of the person in question, how could I possibly reveal anything about Xiahou Wu? What if he decided to harm Xiahou Wu?"

"Even though Xiahou Wu was heavy-handed and killed someone during a martial arts contest, he wasn't a terrible person."

"As for how I knew the killer would come after you today, that's even simpler. The killer's after the Masters of Leg Techniques. Even though you, the King of Northern Kicks, have retired, your influence and renown persist. You're undoubtedly the first target. Naturally, we would rush to your aid the moment we got wind of any danger."

Chen Fan felt a twinge of unease as he spoke; he hadn't anticipated Tan Jingyao's level of caution, even over such a straightforward matter.

Tan Jingyao nodded in understanding, then stood and made his way to the staircase. He paused briefly at the entrance to the basement, then went in and emerged with a bottle of fine liquor, which he placed on the table.

Sitting down next to Chen Fan, Tan Jingyao took a hearty swig from the bottle, sighed deeply, and expressed his frustration, "Master of Leg Techniques... What truly defines a Master of Leg Techniques? That title was never my ambition. All I've ever sought is peace and tranquility, which is why I left the martial arts world behind. But it seems there are still those who refuse to leave me be."

Back in the day, Tan Jingyao was young and brimming with energy, much like Feng Yuxiu. Confident in his strength, he went around challenging people. Victories brought him great joy, while defeats left him deeply saddened. His behavior, however, alienated many.

As a result, he was forced to watch someone die before his eyes, powerless to help. The pain of that experience was his alone, a burden he had never before felt so profoundly.

Not wanting to drag others down with him, he chose to step away from the martial arts scene and live as an ordinary person. This decision brought a certain peace; no one dared to confront him, and troublemakers stayed away. Life became so tranquil it was almost too much so.

Yet, he hadn't anticipated this turn of events, leaving him at a loss for words.

Upon hearing this, Chen Fan turned to look at Tan Jingyao. Reading his expression, Chen Fan held back his intended remarks and stayed silent.

He couldn't fathom the extent of Tan Jingyao's troubles and imagined how tough it must be for him.

In everyone's heart lies a personal martial arts world. As a child, Tan Jingyao dreamed of heroism, but dreams are seldom easy to fulfill.

Observing Tan Jingyao's look of dejection, Chen Fan eventually asked, "So what's on your mind? What are your plans for the future? Will you continue as an artist or as a Master of Leg Techniques?"

"Let's not talk about being a master," Tan Jingyao replied with a wave of his hand and a resigned look. "Just look at me—I've become so weak. I can barely perform my leg techniques without being a burden."

"I haven't given it much thought. I'm past the age of chasing heroics. I just want to keep doing what I love, to pursue my passions."

Tan Jingyao was haunted by the past; his recklessness had led to consequences he could never have imagined.

Chen Fan nodded in understanding, took a swig from the wine bottle on the table, and then stood up. He clapped Tan Jingyao on the shoulder and said, "No one in this world is perfect. If you don't feel like doing something, nobody can force you. But if you believe in your heart that you're a hero, then you'll always be one."

Become your own hero!