C21 They All Want to Try You!

"Qiqi, do we really have to go? What's the fun in that?" On the campus's checkered path, two girls bundled up against the cold made their way toward the House of Iron Fist.

"Yeah, I don't see the point either. Let's just leave," said the girl in front, attempting to lead the other away.

But after a couple of steps, she couldn't pull her friend any further.

"Why have you stopped moving?"

"Well, after giving it some thought, Qiqi, with your love for gossip, how could you pass up such a major event? Even though I find it pointless and uninteresting, I've decided to go with you—for my bestie's sake!"

"Hmph, saying one thing but meaning another," the girl huffed as she moved ahead.

"It's just like at dinner yesterday; you claim you don't want to go, yet your actions tell a different story."

"Who, who said that!" The girl behind her blushed a deep red, her body shaking. "I, I did have a tiny, tiny bit of intention not to go!"

"It's clearly just their personal vendetta! Why drag in the pretense of a campus beauty showdown? This guy is really looking for trouble...! Since when did I acknowledge him as my fan? He certainly can't speak for all my fans!"

After finishing her rant, the girl lowered her head and murmured,

"If you're going to stir up trouble, at least pick on someone weaker. If a weakling represented Shangguan Xian and I defeated him, wouldn't that reflect well on me, Baobao? Then, treating me to a meal or even getting an autograph wouldn't be out of the question..."

"But no, you had to go after Zhao Qi, their top fighter! Zhao Qi can spar with my brother Lan Qi and has even earned his praise. If you lose, isn't it my reputation on the line? Mocking me for having a small chest... As if being brainless has anything to do with chest size!"

"Yes, it's a personal grudge. And who was it that was bad-mouthing the other's fans in the comments section of their personal feud? Even if it was just a grudge, you've certainly escalated it to a major conflict between the campus beauties!" Lan Qi shot a glance at Lin Baobao.

"That was an accident! Baobao is normally such a lady. It's their fault for insulting me so harshly. Is Shangguan Xian really all that great? Just because she has a bigger chest, is taller, and has a sharper face..." Lin Baobao fell silent, realizing that her complaints were inadvertently compliments.

Upon reflection, even though that old driver was quite obnoxious and likely had ulterior motives, he had still ditched Shangguan Xian to become my fan! Didn't that just prove my appeal? With that in mind, I'll consider it an act of charity to go and see him!

Upon arriving at the House of Iron Fist, Zhao Qi leapt onto the stage with the poise of a young general, eliciting cheers from the crowd!

The stage at the House of Iron Fist stood one meter high, with a guardrail of 0.9 meters. Together, that made for a height of 1.9 meters. Vaulting over a barrier that tall was certainly not something the average person could manage!

As for Ye Rong...

He was nowhere to be seen.

"Zhao Qi has gotten even stronger," remarked Tan Jiangqiu.

"Just from that move alone, he's out of the league of two black belt Taekwondo fighters. He wasn't nearly at this level before."

Chen Ling felt a pang of anxiety at Tan Jiangqiu's words.

"Hmph, no matter how strong, he's still just a martial artist and can't stir up much trouble," Zhao Sheng, clad in a sweeping overcoat, retorted with a snort, twirling his ring.

Across the stage, Han Xiaotian's eyes narrowed. "This guy is indeed formidable. Too bad the Zhao family is too high-profile to take under control."

"Can... can anyone actually fight this guy?" Lin Baobao gasped in disbelief.

She had seen Ye Rong take down a robber in high heels, but compared to Zhao Qi... it seemed like there was a vast difference.

No matter what! If he loses later... Baobao decided she'd make a quick exit. After all, nobody saw me come here... I've done my part by showing up.

One fifty-five.

One fifty-seven.

One fifty-eight.

"Is he too scared to show up?"

"So it ends like this? That's quite anticlimactic."

"Well, at least he's aware of his limitations. That scrawny kid from the countryside, as described in the dossier, would have a tough life without his hands."

"This guy probably just wanted to put on a show. After all, with Zhao Qi being so formidable, who could possibly beat him?"

"It's easy to talk a big game."

The second hand ticked slowly forward. At precisely 2:00, a "ding" sounded, followed by a wave of disappointment.

Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's over, he's not coming."

"He's got some nerve, playing tricks on the whole school like that."

"We'll give him a thrashing every time we see him!"

"I wouldn't show up if I were him, but I wouldn't go around pretending to be that B!"

Chen Ling nodded in agreement. The days ahead might be tough, but she'd get through them. At least she wouldn't lose her hand.

Just then, a loud voice cut through the air.

"Excuse me, excuse me! Make way, please! I have an appointment inside!"

Ye Rong felt somewhat helpless. Was the House of Iron Fist always this crowded? The appointment was for 2 o'clock! When he was buying bread earlier, it was already 1:53. Surely he wasn't too late? Being late would be a huge loss!

With the urgency of his tasks in mind, Ye Rong pushed his way through the crowd.

"Why are you pushing? Everyone's not even here yet! You won't see anything by squeezing in! If you're late, just wait outside like everyone else! The inside is packed! This isn't an airplane where you have reservations..." complained the young man Ye Rong had pushed into, who had collided with a large woman in front of him.

But mid-sentence, he paused, taken aback.

The Retainer's Forum posts may not have shown faces, but they described clothing, and Ye Rong, being poor, hadn't changed his clothes in days...

"Are you the mysterious challenger?"

Ye Rong didn't recognize him, nor did he understand how he'd become this 'mysterious person,' but at the mention of a challenge, he nodded eagerly. He needed to get inside.

"The mysterious challenger has arrived! Make way!" the young man bellowed, and soon a path was cleared through the crowd.

Everyone had thought the show was over, but with the arrival of the protagonist, who wouldn't step aside?

From a distance, Ye Rong saw the platform and Zhao Qi standing atop it, and at last, he allowed himself a sigh of relief.

Fortunately, he hadn't left yet.

He made his way slowly to the front of the arena, clambering up with both hands and feet, and with considerable effort, he vaulted over the railing to stand before Zhao Qi.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I nearly didn't make it on time."

A collective sigh rippled through the crowd. This guy's approach to the stage couldn't have been more different from Zhao Qi's! Watching his unsteady form, drenched in sweat and as thin as a rail, it was clear that despite his presence, the disparity was immense!

There was no contest to be seen!

Even his speech was shaky!

Ye Rong was, in fact, sweating profusely. He had been practicing Spirit Crossing for nearly three days straight, without a moment's rest! His strength and energy were nearly depleted! It was only after a brief respite that he managed to buy some simple food with the money Zhang Yumeng had given him.

But before he could finish his meal, he realized he was just minutes away from his scheduled duel with Zhao Qi!

In a panic, he sprinted here, his stomach still half-empty, sustaining himself on just a piece of bread he had bought along the way. With his body in such a state, how could he not be sweating?

Indeed, he was trembling.

But it wasn't fear that shook him—it was excitement!

He was relieved to have made it in time; otherwise, his entire plan would have been thrown into disarray.

Seeing the disdainful sighs from the crowd below, Ye Rong couldn't help but smile. Now he understood that they had all come to see him.

He felt a bit sheepish under their watchful eyes.

He fiddled with the butterfly knife in his hand, which seemed to shyly twist in response.

His gaze settled on Zhao Qi.

Today, both the butterfly knife and I are eager to have a go at you.

My apologies! You're about to become our whetstone!

Chapter 12 – The Butterfly Knife