CHAPTER 21: CHAPTER 20: UNDERESTIMATING THE ENEMY

A week after the start of school, Li Xing finally shed the label of being last. The early accumulation of her Body Refining began to pay off, and the points that were deducted gradually returned.

Her progress was rapid, and after a month, she could already compete with the strongest in her grade, Tang Dou.

Just when Li Xing was far surpassing Tang Dou and earning points every time, a new subject came along—Martial Arts Combat.

In class, Li Xing learned the techniques quickly, given her foundation. But in her first actual battle, she made a fool of herself.

She was now a top student and was grouped with Tang Dou for a 1V1 real combat.

The classmates formed a circle to watch the battle, and Li Xing seized the few seconds before the battle began to rehearse the routine in her mind—when Tang Dou attacked, she would first use a move called Azure Dragon Emerging from Water to block the attack, then turn and punch his waist, followed by Phoenix Spreading Wings to strike his lower body. At most three moves, and Tang Dou should be defeated.

As Li Xing secretly reminded herself to control her strength and not bully a child, the starting whistle blew.

Tang Dou didn’t follow the routine at all. He simply lowered his head and charged at Li Xing like a cannonball, with speed and force that completely exceeded Li Xing’s expectations.

The distance between them was so short that Li Xing had no time to dodge. There was no chance to use Azure Dragon Emerging from Water or Phoenix Spreading Wings; she was hit by the huge impact on her abdomen and sent flying.

Before completely losing consciousness, Li Xing recalled a saying:

In the face of absolute power, all schemes and tricks are just paper tigers.

When she woke up again, she was lying in the school infirmary, with the principal, Yang Zhou, Tang Li, and Tang Dou standing by her bedside with solemn faces.

"Li Xing, how are you feeling?" The principal’s old face wrinkled like a chrysanthemum as he spoke with concern mixed with tension when he saw she was awake.

Li Xing sat up. Apart from a slight tightness in her chest, she didn’t feel any discomfort. Even though her body was thin, she had practiced the Eternal Green Technique for so long that she could quickly recover from common injuries. Moreover, Tang Dou’s headbutt took her by surprise and obstructed her breath flow, causing her to faint, but it didn’t cause significant damage.

"Principal, I’m fine now."

"Li, are you sure? Are you really, really okay?"

She was just knocked out, not even a graze on her skin. Why was the principal so nervous?

Li Xing glanced at Yang Zhou, who gave a slight nod, then said: "I’m really, really fine, Principal, don’t worry."

"It’s good if you’re fine, good if you’re fine!" Although the school doctor had conducted a detailed examination, proving that Li Xing was normal, the principal still wasn’t reassured until she admitted it herself with relief: "Tang Dou, aren’t you going to apologize to Li Xing?"

Tang Li nudged her nephew, and Tang Dou stumbled forward to the bedside with a sulky face. He wouldn’t even look at Li Xing, and no matter how the principal urged, he kept his head down and wouldn’t speak. Fortunately, Li Xing bailed him out in time:

"Principal, there’s no need for this. It’s normal to get injured in a battle. Tang Dou doesn’t need to apologize to me."

"Ah, it’s great that you think that way, Li Xing. Since you’re injured, you don’t have to attend classes today. Take a half-day off and go home to rest early."

"...Thank you, Principal."

Once the four of them left, Li Xing let out a long sigh, lay back down, and stared at the ceiling, dazed.

The whole thing was her fault. She got cocky because she had made some progress in Body Refinement and had a martial arts foundation. How could she have not realized that kids who grew up eating Spirit Plants and Star Beast Meat naturally had a robust physique, comparable to a Great Demon at the Transformation Stage? At her current level of Body Refinement, even applying all her strength wouldn’t necessarily be enough to defeat them, and she actually thought she could hold back? What a joke!

Remembering the laughter of her classmates before she passed out, Li Xing suddenly pulled the quilt over her head, lamenting in her heart:

How shameful, the feeling of being smacked in the face publicly is really unpleasant! In this world, if I want to be a top martial master unrestrained by anyone, the road is long and arduous, and I still need to work hard.

Li Xing was frustrated, and Tang Dou was even more frustrated. Why should he apologize to the loser when he was the one who won?

"Sixth Aunt, it’s not fair! The Martial Arts Department naturally has a high elimination rate; injuries, even deaths, are normal. Why should I apologize?"

After causing trouble, this brat was still so arrogant. Tang Li wanted to smack her nephew over the head but had to hold back her anger in front of the principal and department head since teachers couldn’t physically punish students, responding patiently instead:

"You injured someone, so shouldn’t you make a gesture?"

"Is it my fault if she’s not as good as me? If she’s capable, let her prove it in future battles. If she can knock me out, I wouldn’t ask for an apology!"

Since the start of the Martial Arts Department, many had been injured, most worse off than Li Xing, and none of the offenders had been forced by the principal to apologize. Why was she special?

"You brat, do you have any sense? Is a girl’s stomach something you can hit at will?"

Tang Li angrily pinched Tang Dou. This boy was truly thick-headed, never considering the consequences.

A Double Black is an excellent genetic type, and Double Black females are coveted by nobles and elites. Even without a Primordial Spirit, a Double Black woman, regardless of her lowly background, has the chance to marry into a wealthy family and give birth to offspring with Double Black genes. Not to mention someone like Li Xing, with her excellent Primordial Spirit and good looks.

Tang Dou’s headbutt on Li Xing’s stomach, if it left any hidden damage affecting her reproductive ability, and if the wealthy and influential families harboring intentions toward her took offense, it would spell disaster for the entire Tang family.

If today Li Xing insisted she felt unwell, even with the school doctor’s diagnosis, their family would have to pay a hefty settlement to smooth things over. Luckily, the girl was of slave origin, lacking awareness of these depths, allowing the Tang family to escape unscathed. Yet, Tang Dou was still unsatisfied?

The principal earnestly said, "Tang Dou, Li Xing is, after all, a girl and a Double Black, prompting the school to be extra cautious."

While it’s true that each year in the Martial Arts Department, students inevitably suffer accidental injuries and disabilities, Double Blacks were not included. An injury or death of a Double Black student presents a severe teaching oversight, prompting investigation by the education authority, which could impact the career prospects of school leaders. In two years, he would retire, and of course, he preferred fewer complications.

"She carries excellent genes. If you cause her any lingering issues that affect her future marriage and childbearing, both your family and Datang Academy will be held accountable!"

Yang Zhou wasn’t inclined to hear anymore and coldly interjected, "Principal, Li Xing isn’t the type of Double Black to marry early, so you shouldn’t concern yourself with that! Furthermore, handling it this way will make all students sparring with her hesitant, effectively depriving Li Xing of her learning rights, which I oppose."

The principal panicked; he had forgotten about Yang Zhou, a formidable presence.

"This... Director Yang, I’m just thinking about the student’s safety. Since you disagree, how do you propose we handle this?" In front of Yang Zhou, the principal was exceedingly flexible.

Yang Zhou arrogantly glanced at the humble principal, then turned to Tang Dou and said: "Tang Dou, your performance today was excellent. I’ll give you points for winning the match. Keep working hard. If I find out you’re going easy on Li Xing because of today, I won’t spare you."

"I would never, thank you, Teacher Yang!"

Tang Dou was delighted; Teacher Yang was fair.

"Go back to class."

"Yes!"

Once Tang Dou was gone, Yang Zhou solemnly addressed the principal and Tang Li:

"Li Xing isn’t a martyr’s child, nor has she made special contributions to the Federation. She’s just an ordinary student in the Martial Arts Department, with no right to special treatment. In future combat classes, Li Xing’s opponent will still be Tang Dou. They’re both top-tier Primordial Spirits, the best matched for each other, so they should be partners. If I find out you’re pressuring Tang Dou or others to go easy on her to avoid injury, I’ll report Datang Academy to the education authority for stifling student talent due to serious teaching negligence!"

After saying so, he took off in stride, leaving the principal and Tang Li looking at each other in confusion:

Is Yang Zhou not treating Li Xing well, pushing her to pair with the best student; or is he treating her well by letting her duel daily with the most formidable student... It’s hard to make sense of Yang Zhou’s intentions.