"So it's Young Master Jiang," Gao Xiang cupped his fists, knowing that Jiang Cheng hailed from a prestigious martial arts family with deep roots, someone he absolutely could not afford to offend. He could only greet him with a fawning smile.
"Young Master Jiang is also something you can call him!"
Jiang Cheng was still five or six steps away. Under normal circumstances, even if he were to attack, Gao Xiang would have had ample time to react.
However, Jiang Cheng suddenly broke into a run, moving like a gust of wind. Gao Xiang had only just sensed something was wrong and was about to raise his hands to block when Jiang Cheng's fist already landed on his abdomen!
Gao Xiang let out a loud gasp, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he looked at Jiang Cheng with a ashen face.
"Scram, trash. Do you think someone like you is even fit to participate in the Martial Arts Association competition?"
Jiang Cheng stood with his hands behind his back, exuding an air of detached elegance. If Shen Lan Ni hadn't known him inside out, she might have felt a sliver of gratitude.
Seeing the unfavorable situation, the dazed Gao Xiang had no choice but to leave dejectedly, supported by his disciples. The entire Lan Ni Taekwondo dojo was left with only the three of them.
"Tsk tsk tsk, what a mess, what a mess. Shen Lan Ni, you've been bullied right in your own dojo. How about it, am I more impressive? This defeated dog, useless!"
Jiang Cheng looked down with cold eyes. His former admiration for Shen Lan Ni had transformed into hatred. As the saying goes, the deeper the love, the sharper the hate, and this saying never grows old.
"Whether he's useless or not isn't something only you can decide. You're not welcome here, you can leave."
Shen Lan Ni didn't even spare him a glance. She crouched down, unmindful of the dark blood and filth, and began to wipe Ren Yuan Hao's injuries with her red sleeve. This, in turn, fueled Jiang Cheng's jealousy.
"This is the consequence of sticking your neck out. Look at him, this pathetic dog. He'll probably be out of the Martial Arts Association competition tomorrow. Tsk."
Jiang Cheng laughed brazenly, his voice echoing.
At this moment, Ren Yuan Hao struggled to get up from the ground, his voice trembling, "Don't... don't worry, I'll definitely beat you black and blue tomorrow."
"What a colossal joke. You insect can barely stand, and you're already thinking about tomorrow's competition. Fine, if you dare to show up, I guarantee I'll inflict less pain on you."
Jiang Cheng walked three or four steps forward, then abruptly turned back, sneering, "Oh, right. Remember to prepare a stretcher and an ambulance in advance tomorrow. We wouldn't want you to have trouble finding a hospital bed then, hahaha!"
After Jiang Cheng had gone far, Ren Yuan Hao coughed out another mouthful of dark blood and couldn't stop hacking. Yet, he still tried to act tough, "Hoo, if I were Jiang Cheng, I wouldn't have spoken to you like that. At least I might have earned a tiny bit of goodwill."
"Stop being glib. You're so badly injured, you should go to the hospital."
Shen Lan Ni was about to dial 120 when Ren Yuan Hao stopped her.
"Don't... don't call. I didn't come today for you to send me to the hospital. I... I need to seize the time~"
Ren Yuan Hao forced himself to stand up from the floor. A large dark bruise was slowly appearing on the back of his neck.
"Ren Yuan Hao, don't push yourself. What happened here?"
Shen Lan Ni helped him lie down on the sofa in the rest area, then took an ice pack from the refrigerator, her face filled with guilt.
"It's nothing, I fell accidentally."
"Fell? You might fool others, but you can't fool me." Shen Lan Ni slowly moved the ice pack to his neck. With a slight press, Ren Yuan Hao let out a muffled groan.
"Your spine was clearly hammered by fists. Fortunately, your physique is good. For anyone else, they would probably already be in the operating room. You're quite something to have held on until now."
Shen Lan Ni's tone was stern, which left Ren Yuan Hao somewhat bewildered.
"Tell me, what happened?"
"Never mind, since it's come to this, I won't hide it from you anymore."
Ren Yuan Hao recounted everything about himself and Zhang Ying Fang, leaving nothing out.
"Zhang Ying Fang? That's the woman who sat with you during the car race that day, right? Slim waist, long legs, quite a beauty." Shen Lan Ni said with a cold snort.
However, Shen Lan Ni didn't say anything further. She then walked over with a dark brown jar, removed the ice pack, and took some dark red liquid from the jar, applying it to Ren Yuan Hao's neck. The pain lessened slightly, but to completely stop the pain, they would have to rely on the 'Six Qi Blood Nourishing Pill'.
While she went to wash her hands, Ren Yuan Hao swallowed the exchanged Six Qi Blood Nourishing Pill. The pain vanished instantly with a wave of refreshing coolness.
At first, Shen Lan Ni didn't allow Ren Yuan Hao to get off the sofa. Later, seeing that he had miraculously recovered considerably, she allowed him to practice some basic movements. By the afternoon, Ren Yuan Hao was training as if nothing had happened, completely unfazed!
This recovery ability amazed her, but she didn't know it was the effect of the 'Three-Second True Man' – no, the 'Six Qi Blood Nourishing Pill'.
Time flew by, and it was already two o'clock. Both of them were starving, and having expended a lot of energy, they finally left the taekwondo dojo.
But as soon as they stepped out, they saw a figure in light purple rushing towards them!
"Sister Lan Ni!"
The newcomer had her hair in a bun. However, after seeing Ren Yuan Hao, her expression suddenly turned grim, and she let out a deliberate snort. Who else could it be but Yang Ling Xue?
"I told you not to call me 'Sister.' How much older am I than you!"
Ren Yuan Hao pretended not to see her. Seeing him remain stoically in place, with traffic flowing back and forth like ants on a hot pan, the girl deliberately coughed twice and then kicked him.
"You scoundrel, you're pretending not to know me, aren't you?"
"Don't be silly, this guy is injured."
Reminded by Shen Lan Ni, Yang Ling Xue recalled the events of yesterday. Though worried, she still didn't relent.
"Forget it, you two madams, let's go out for a meal together."
As soon as Ren Yuan Hao finished speaking, he heard a familiar voice from his side.
"Mind if I join you?"
Ren Yuan Hao looked over, and his face immediately darkened.
With three women together, there was bound to be some drama...