「The next day.」

Chen Yang had been up since the morning and was now eating breakfast, but he still hadn't seen Qin Qiu.

"Xiaomo, where's your sister?" Chen Yang asked, puzzled.

Qin Mo, nibbling on a steamed bun, said, "She left for the company very early! Things have been really busy there lately. Brother-in-law, you have to help my sister out."

"So early?" Chen Yang was astonished. Is this woman pushing herself too hard?

"I have to get to school. Bye-bye!"

After Qin Mo left, Chen Yang departed as well.

However, Chen Yang wasn't heading to the Qin Corporation. He was going to Zheng Xiaoman's home. They had agreed earlier that he would go over to teach Zheng Xiaoduo this morning.

「At the same time.」

A group of unwelcome guests had arrived at Zheng Xiaoman's home. The sight of them frightened Zheng Xiaoman, who had been preparing to leave for work, forcing her to retreat back into her house.

Hearing the commotion, Zheng Xiaoduo ran out of her room on the second floor. "Sis, is my master here?" she asked instinctively.

"Your master is coming today? That would be perfect!"

A chilling voice echoed from the villa's entrance. The speaker was Zheng Xiaoduo's uncle, Zheng Jun. Accompanying him were Zheng Yuanshan and a middle-aged man of about fifty.

The middle-aged man wore a gray robe. He was tall and lean, with high cheekbones protruding from his gaunt face, giving him a sinister air. This man was Zheng Yuanshan's master, a Three-Bag Elder of the Martial Association named Yu Hai. After arriving in Lingjin City with the Martial Association delegation, he had contacted Zheng Yuanshan immediately and come straight here.

How dare they harm my disciple? It's a slap in my face! And to disrespect the esteemed Martial Association? If I don't teach them a lesson they'll never forget, how will they learn the painful price of their actions?

"What are you doing here? You aren't welcome!" The excitement on Zheng Xiaoduo's face vanished. She spoke coldly through clenched teeth as she ran down the stairs.

"Xiaoduo, stay upstairs and don't move!" Zheng Xiaoman stopped her before turning to Zheng Jun. "Uncle, you know perfectly well who was right and who was wrong that day! Are you really going to be so ruthless?"

"You dare bring that day up?" Zheng Jun sneered. "You've made it big now, with your own company, earning tens of millions a year! My son, Yuanshan, just wanted to teach Xiaoduo martial arts. A monthly tuition of two hundred thousand... Is that supposed to be a lot of money for you?

"Since you know I'm your uncle, can't you, as my niece, show a little kindness and help us out?

"And what was the result? You let an outsider beat both me and Yuanshan! Now you have the nerve to say I'm the one taking things too far?"

"Let me ask you," Zheng Jun said coldly, "does your conscience not pain you?"

Zheng Xiaoman laughed, a helpless and bitter smile on her face as she shook her head. This man's shamelessness truly knew no bounds.

"Uncle, when my parents passed away, my sister and I were so poor we barely had enough to eat. Did you ever come to see us once? Even when we swallowed our pride to beg at your doorstep, how did you drive us away?

"I've made a name for myself now, but I can't repay malice with kindness! The way you treated me then is exactly how I'll treat you now!

"Besides," Zheng Xiaoman retorted sarcastically, "you can hire a fantastic martial arts teacher for fifty thousand a month. On what grounds do you demand two hundred thousand? Do you think my money, Zheng Xiaoman's money, just grows on trees?"

"You..." Zheng Jun was at a loss for words, his face flushing red.

"To be honest, I, Zheng Xiaoman, have weathered many storms in my life, but I have never seen anyone as shameless as you," Zheng Xiaoman said, her gaze turning icy.

"I... I'm done talking to you!" Zheng Jun suddenly raised his voice to hide his guilt. "Beating me that day was a small matter," he said ferociously, "but you never should have let that bastard lay a hand on Zheng Yuanshan!

"He isn't just my son; he's also Elder Yu Hai's disciple! Hitting Yuanshan is the same as slapping Elder Yu's face—and the face of the Martial Association!" Zheng Jun declared haughtily. "Hand over the Huarui Group. Only then might you have a chance to live!"

Zheng Xiaoman was stunned speechless.

Just for this, they want to snatch the entire Huarui Group from me? So after their scheme was exposed, they colluded with an outsider to rob me in broad daylight? Are they even human?

"In your dreams!" Zheng Xiaoman laughed in fury. "I'd burn the entire company to the ground before I ever handed it over to people like you!"

"That's not for you to decide!"

Zheng Jun pointed a menacing finger at Zheng Xiaoman, then took a step back. He bowed respectfully to Yu Hai and said, "Elder Yu, I'll leave the rest to you. Show her the meaning of despair."

"Don't worry. Making people despair is my specialty," Yu Hai replied with a placid smile, raising the hand he had held behind his back and reaching for Zheng Xiaoman.

WHOOSH!

His five bent fingers were like iron claws, and the chilling aura swirling around them was enough to make one's blood run cold. A strike from this claw could likely shred not just a person, but a tree.

"I won't let you touch my sister!"

Just as Yu Hai's claw was about to land on Zheng Xiaoman, a petite figure darted out from the side, raising her small fist to meet the attack head-on. This small figure was, of course, Zheng Xiaoduo.

Her legs were slightly bent, her waist lowered, channeling all her strength into her fist. Her entire body looked like a fully drawn bow. It was clear she had thoroughly mastered what Chen Yang had taught her.

BANG!

A dull thud echoed through the air.

PFFT!

Zheng Xiaoduo was sent flying several meters, like a kite with a snapped string.

She was indeed a talented student and had learned well, but she had only studied with Chen Yang for half a day. She hadn't even crossed the threshold to become a Fist Master. How could she possibly be a match for Yu Hai, a Three-Bag Elder?

"Xiaoduo!"

Zheng Xiaoman's expression changed drastically. She scrambled over to the blood-soaked Zheng Xiaoduo and sobbed, "Why are you so foolish? You should have just let him hit me!"

"Sis, I... I'm okay. I told you... I'd protect you from now on."

As she struggled to stand, Zheng Xiaoduo said, "My master will be here soon. I just have to hold on... hold on until he arrives."

THUD.

She had just struggled to her feet when she collapsed back to the ground. That single strike had severely injured her.

"No... no! I can do it!" Zheng Xiaoduo refused to give up, trying to stand once more.

Zheng Xiaoman hugged her tightly, tears streaming down her face as she choked out, "Xiaoduo, please don't move anymore."

"Hmph!" Zheng Jun sneered coldly. "Thinking that bastard can save you when he gets here? Don't be so naive. In front of Elder Yu, he's nothing!"

Yu Hai didn't speak. A cruel, bloodthirsty smile played on his lips as he slowly advanced toward Zheng Xiaoman and Zheng Xiaoduo.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.