C1 Dragon into Jianghai

In March, Jianghai City was brisk with a hint of chill, yet the spring breeze was gentle and warm.

A vibrant young woman hurried toward the train station exit, appearing to be in her early twenties, with skin as radiant as freshly peeled water chestnuts, her hair jet-black, and her eyes brimming with vitality.

"Xia Xingchen!" A sudden roar, like that of a tiger, erupted, startling the girl into a shiver.

"T-Tantrum...?"

Tantrum emerged from a corner, his face clouded over, pulling his thin black jacket tighter around him.

Three days prior, Tantrum had been booted out by his grandfather, who insisted it was high time he found a wife. With nowhere else to turn, Tantrum reluctantly boarded a train to seek refuge with his childhood friend, Xia Xingchen, in Jianghai City.

But when the train pulled in, Xia Xingchen was nowhere to be seen for an hour, leaving Tantrum to endure the biting wind. By the time she arrived, he was nearly at his boiling point.

Noticing Tantrum's sour mood, Xia Xingchen quickly adopted a dazed, endearing look and giggled nervously, "Ha, Tantrum, it's been ages, and you haven't changed a bit—still as dashing as ever..."

"Really?" Tantrum scoffed.

"Absolutely, still handsome!" Xia Xingchen bobbed her head earnestly, like a pecking chick.

Tantrum let out a dry laugh and gave her a playful smack on the back of her head. Then, without regard for her pouting, he slung an arm around her shoulders, leaning heavily on her slight frame, and grumbled, "You left me in the cold for an hour. If it weren't for our old times' sake, you'd be done for today!"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, Tantrum. Forgive me, please," Xia Xingchen pleaded, her face the picture of appeasement.

"Damn harlot!" Suddenly, a jarring voice cut through, seething with anger, "Xia Xingchen, at school you play the icy, aloof queen, yet here you are, debasing yourself in another man's arms. I've pursued you for so long, what does this bumpkin have that I don't?"

The voice belonged to a young man clad in a black suit.

He was quite the looker, with a hint of arrogance that seemed to come naturally, though his pallid complexion revealed an underlying frailty. Trailing behind him was a burly man with a fierce glint in his eyes.

"Tao Yu, what's this about? You've been following me?" Xia Xingchen's brow furrowed. Gone was her previous docility towards Tantrum as she spoke with a frosty edge.

"How else would I have known you were here to rendezvous with some wild man if I hadn't followed you?" Tao Yu's face twisted in distaste as he scrutinized Tantrum. He had pursued Xia Xingchen for a year to no avail, and seeing her now, cozy in Tantrum's embrace and looking up at him adoringly, ignited a furious jealousy that made him want to lash out violently.

"Who is this guy?" Tantrum inquired, looking down at Xia Xingchen.

With a furrowed brow, Xia Xingchen explained, "He's a notorious playboy from our school named Tao Yu. He's been after me for ages, constantly badgering me to no end." Her use of three descriptors in quick succession made it clear just how repulsed she felt. "I would have been here to meet you on time, but he wouldn't leave me alone. It took forever to shake him off."

Tantrum nodded, suddenly understanding why he had been left to endure the biting cold at the train station for an hour. The real culprit was right in front of him, and with Tantrum's fiery temper, this was something he couldn't let slide.

Releasing Xia Xingchen's hand, Tantrum approached Tao Yu with a steely gaze. "Didn't you know that Xia Xingchen is under my protection?"

"Damn! Are all hicks this bold now?" Tao Yu's face darkened. He spat out in disgust and scoffed, "Do you even know who I am? Are you looking to get yourself killed?"

"It doesn't matter who you are, bullying Xia Xingchen is off-limits," Tantrum retorted with a sneer.

"To hell with you, kid. If you have any sense, you'll stay away from Xia Xingchen. Here in Jianghai, I've got a hundred ways to make you disappear!" Tao Yu's face twisted into a menacing snarl, clearly not taking Tantrum seriously at all.

"Really? Let's see about that." Tantrum advanced towards Tao Yu with deliberate steps.

Before Tantrum could get any closer, the hulking figure at Tao Yu's side lunged forward, blocking his path with an icy glare. "Beat it if you value your life!" he barked.

Standing nearly 1.9 meters tall, he towered over Tantrum by a good half head and tipped the scales at well over 200 kilograms, built like a bear and as immovable as a barricade in front of Tao Yu.

Tantrum had that deceptive build—slim in clothes but surprisingly muscular underneath. Next to the burly man, however, he seemed almost childlike.

"Daniu, I want you to hit him hard. I'll cover for you if anything goes south. Teach this hick a lesson. Here in Jianghai, whether you're a tiger or a dragon, you'd better learn to keep your head down!" Tao Yu commanded with an icy edge.

Daniu smirked at Tantrum. "The boss is upset, and that's bad news for you." With that, he lunged, his arm, thick as a tree trunk, shooting out to seize Tantrum's shoulder.

A flash of fury crossed Tantrum's face as he bellowed, "Back off!"

His right leg whipped out in a lightning-fast kick, striking Danui's waist before the man could react. The hulking figure, all 200-plus kilograms of him, was suddenly paralyzed, then sent hurtling backward, crashing to his knees in agony before Tao Yu.

Tao Yu's eyes widened in shock at the abrupt turn of events, staring at Tantrum as if he were a creature from another world.

With a scoff, Tantrum stood tall. Years of training in ancient martial arts with his grandfather had given him the confidence to take down even a real bear.

He grabbed Tao Yu by the collar and delivered two sharp slaps to his handsome face. Teeth flew, and Tao Yu slumped to the ground, out cold.

Brushing himself off with a composed air, Tantrum warned, "Consider this a minor lesson. Harass Xingchen again, and next time it won't be so easy. Now get lost!"

Stunned and clutching his face, Tao Yu pointed at Tantrum, his eyes wide with terror. "You! You dare hit me...?"

"I've already hit you, and you're still questioning my nerve? I told you to scram—did that not register?" Tantrum chuckled, delivering a swift kick to Tao Yu's rear, then pursued him to land two more.

Tao Yu was kicked into a pitiful display, rolling on the ground and wailing in agony. Assisted by a burly man, he fled in a sorry state, wetting himself in fear. Once he was gone, Tantrum, with Xia Xingchen still in shock by his side, hailed a cab and they sped off into the distance.