C19 Tian Le

"Your goddess? Who might that be?"

Zhang Nan had an inkling it was Murong Wan, but he didn't let on. Instead, he feigned ignorance and inquired.

"Humph, cut the act. It's common knowledge that I, Tian Le, am smitten with Murong Wan. Are you really going to stand there and claim you didn't know?"

Tian Le said with a snort.

"I honestly had no idea. If I had, I certainly wouldn't have left Murong Wan's side."

Zhang Nan replied with a grin.

Tian Le nodded, his smile broadening. He was about to offer some words of praise when he caught the flaw in Zhang Nan's statement. "What did you just say?"

"I stand by my words. If I had known Murong Wan was your goddess, I would have brought her straight to you, just to see you seethe."

Zhang Nan burst into laughter.

The bystanders erupted in laughter at his comment.

"Kid, it looks like you're itching for a fight."

Tian Le moved to grab Zhang Nan.

"What's going on here? You know that fighting is forbidden on academy grounds, right?"

A teacher intervened just as Tian Le was about to lay hands on Zhang Nan.

Seeing the teacher, Tian Le quickly withdrew his hand and explained, "You've got it all wrong, Teacher. I wasn't starting a fight; we were merely having a friendly debate."

The teacher glanced at Zhang Nan, who nodded in confirmation. "Yes, Teacher, we were just discussing an issue."

"Ah, a discussion. Well, next time keep it down. You were so loud I thought a brawl was breaking out. I rushed down here to check."

With that, the teacher walked away.

"Care to settle this in the combat pit?" Tian Le challenged, a sneer on his face.

"Nope."

Zhang Nan replied and headed off to his dormitory.

"Zhang Nan, you coward! You won't even accept my challenge. How do you expect to stand beside Murong Wan?"

Tian Le yelled after him.

"A challenge? For what reason? Are you offering a reward?"

Zhang Nan turned to Tian Le with a questioning look.

"Yes, name your price. Whatever you ask for, it's yours if you win."

Tian Le exclaimed loudly. In response, Zhang Nan chuckled and retorted, "Alright, if that's how you want it, put up 100,000. If you've got the cash, we'll fight. If not, then let's just drop it. You're simply too poor."

Feeling insulted by such a remark from someone he considered beneath him, Tian Le bellowed, "You little punk, how dare you call me poor? Fine, 100,000 it is. I'm curious to see what you're capable of to be so bold as to challenge me."

With that, they made their way to the combat pit. By this time, word of Zhang Nan's 100,000 wager had spread, and a crowd had gathered to witness the fight.

The teacher overseeing the combat pit addressed them, "Remember, the fight ends when a point is made. There's no killing allowed here."

Zhang Nan nodded in agreement. "Don't worry, teacher. I'll spare his life," Tian Le said, grinning confidently.

"Begin," commanded the teacher.

Zhang Nan wasted no time, charging at Tian Le and launching a Thunderclap Palm strike. Tian Le sidestepped the attack and countered with a shout, "Stone-Breaking Fist!"

Realizing that Tian Le had evaded his Thunderclap Palm and was ready with a countermove, Zhang Nan quickly backed away.

Their skills missed their marks, leaving both fighters empty-handed. Tian Le, seeing Zhang Nan retreat, hastened his pace to launch another attack.

"Phasewalk," Zhang Nan whispered.

With the Phasewalk activated, Zhang Nan's speed surged, allowing him to swiftly outpace the pursuing Tian Le.

Tian Le, left in the dust, could only watch and roar, "Zhang Nan, is running all you're good for? Don't you have the guts to face me directly?"

Hearing this, Zhang Nan merely smiled and once again summoned the power of the Thunderclap Palm. This time, Tian Le stood his ground, having challenged Zhang Nan not to dodge. To do so himself would be utterly humiliating.

"Stone-Breaking Fist!"

Tian Le unleashed his Stone-Breaking Fist once more.

"Boom!"

Their fists collided, and Tian Le was sent hurtling through the air, crashing down outside the ring.

Picking himself up from beneath the stage, Tian Le immediately cried out, "Teacher, I accuse Zhang Nan of cheating. He must have taken a pill when you weren't looking. There's no other way he could be so strong."

Zhang Nan heard this and let out a cold laugh. "Is strength all you felt? Take a look at your hand."

Tian Le inspected his hand to find the surface scorched black.

"What is this?" Tian Le asked, his voice tinged with panic.

Zhang Nan replied with a hint of exasperation, "What do you think? It's the result of our clash, the additional effect of my skill. I'm not just strong; I have lightning at my disposal too."

Tian Le fell silent, realizing that Zhang Nan hadn't cheated; he was simply outmatched.

"Well, I lost," Tian Le sighed, turning to leave.

"Hold on," Zhang Nan called out.

"What now?" Tian Le asked, sounding resigned.

"My winnings? Wasn't there a promise of 100,000 yuan if I won? Give me the money, then you can go."

Zhang Nan said, grinning.

Tian Le let out an embarrassed chuckle, pulled out a card, and tossed it to Zhang Nan. "Here's my card. It's got the full 100,000 yuan, no password needed."

With that, Tian Le walked away without a backward glance.

Zhang Nan quickly pocketed the card and exited the combat pit.

The instructor, witnessing Zhang Nan demanding the wager, said with resignation, "Please present your stake."

"Why? I won it fair and square," Zhang Nan protested.

"The academy has a policy against all forms of gambling. You've broken the rules, so the academy must confiscate your winnings. The money still belongs to the original owner."

Zhang Nan shook his head in frustration and asked, "How come I wasn't aware of this rule?"

The elder pointed to the combat pit's regulations.

Zhang Nan indeed found the rule listed there and, with a reluctant shake of his head, conceded, "Fine, fine, I'll comply."

He then handed the card over to the instructor.

After the teacher took the card, he called out, "Next, please."

Zhang Nan stepped out of the combat pit and made his way back to his dormitory.

Come evening,

Murong Wan arrived at Zhang Nan's dorm room. Upon seeing him, she lamented with a woeful expression, "Zhang Nan, my dad tricked me. He never showed up, and I rushed all the way to Central Square for nothing."

Zhang Nan chuckled and advised, "I think you should head back now. The competition runs all day and night, so your turn could come at any time. Don't waste a whole day waiting. It would be a shame if you finally got your chance and weren't there; you'd automatically forfeit."

Upon hearing Zhang Nan's suggestion, Murong Wan resignedly replied, "Fine, fine. Then you owe me one. I don't want to sit there alone, constantly being hit on by people."