Chapter 40 Getting Beaten Up Until He Flies Away~ Wuhu

Lu Dazhi and the others opened the rice bucket. As soon as the lid was opened, the aroma of meat wafted out and lingered in everyone's noses. Even Lu Dazhi himself couldn't help but swallow when he saw the food. He quickly called the people next to him to distribute the food.

The disciples in line each received a hearty lunch: bowls overflowing with tempting spicy chicken, tender and juicy braised pork trotters, and refreshing stir-fried cabbage. Seeing everyone else eating, Lü Dazhi finally filled his own bowl to the brim and began wolfing it down. He had been craving the aroma of the food for a quarter of an hour while it was being distributed.

"This spicy chicken is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, so fragrant and spicy, it's so delicious!" A disciple exclaimed indistinctly, his mouth full of chicken.

Another disciple, gnawing on a pig's trotter, praised Lin Yao's cooking skills, saying, "I love this braised pig's trotter the most; it's tender and juicy, and fatty but not greasy!"

"Have you had your soup yet? This pork bone soup is so rich and flavorful, one sip and you feel completely refreshed! I feel like I could fight a few more battles!" Everyone ate and drank their soup heartily while chatting and making a lively scene.

Hearing everyone's praise, Lü Dazhi turned to Xu Zhiheng and said, "This food order was definitely the right one! Lin Xiaoniangzi's cooking is truly excellent." Xu Zhiheng didn't have time to reply; he was eating spicy chicken, the spiciness making his meridians feel incredibly smooth. He looked up and saw Bai Yi peeking around nearby. He was currently bursting with energy but had nowhere to expend it, and was looking for someone to spar with. "Bai, you little brat! What are you doing sneaking around there! Looking for trouble?!"

Bai Yi was startled by Xu Zhiheng's sudden roar. Looking at the person in front of him, who was sweating profusely from the spiciness and whose lips were swollen like a donkey's, he quickly shook his head and stammered, "No, no, no, I... I want to eat."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhiheng was taken aback for a moment, then realized that Bai Yi meant he wanted to eat the food in front of him. He couldn't help but burst into laughter: "You little rascal, just say you want to eat, why are you sneaking around like a little thief?" As he spoke, he picked up an empty bowl and quickly filled it with food for Bai Yi. Lin Yao had made a generous portion, and there was some left over, which he shared with Bai Yi.

"Here, eat up." Xu Zhiheng handed the bowl to Bai Yi. "Miss Lin's cooking is absolutely superb, especially this spicy chicken, it's so flavorful!"

Bai Yi took the lunchbox, his face beaming with delight. After thanking him, he didn't care about his image anymore, found a corner to sit down, and began to eat heartily. The moment he put the food in his mouth, his eyes lit up. It was worth swallowing his pride to beg for a bite to eat; his nose was indeed incredibly sensitive!

An hour later, the resounding gong rang out again on the arena, signaling the start of the afternoon's competition. In the morning, various martial arts schools sent their disciples to compete, and after fierce battles, fifteen successfully advanced to the finals. In the afternoon, these sixteen would face off in pairs to vie for the top three spots. Among the fifteen who advanced, two were from Baisheng Martial Arts School, and two were from Qinhu Martial Arts School, one of whom was Xu Zhiheng.

After cleaning up the tableware used at the Tiger-Catching Martial Arts School, Lin Yao and the others finished their work for the day. Having some free time in the afternoon, they decided to watch the martial arts tournament. Lin Yao had seen many action movies in modern times, but she had never witnessed such a real, hand-to-hand combat in ancient times.

Upon reaching the ring, they found it already surrounded by layers upon layers of people. Lin Yao and her companions struggled to squeeze into a corner where they could barely see the ring. The first final match had begun, pitting the disciples of Baisheng Martial Arts School against the disciples of Jianglin City's Yunteng Martial Arts School. The Baisheng Martial Arts School disciple was tall and muscular, his body bulging. He charged forward with a fierce roar, like an enraged bull, his powerful punch aimed straight for his opponent's throat. The Yunteng Martial Arts School disciple, however, was incredibly agile and calm. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, sidestepped the attack, and swiftly followed up with a lightning-fast kick to his opponent's side. The audience erupted in cheers and shouts, a deafening roar filling the air.

Lin Yao watched intently, her eyes glued to the arena, not daring to blink for a moment. Ancient martial arts competitions, without the special effects of modern movies and TV shows, were a real contest of strength and skill, far more exciting and thrilling than she had imagined. Beside her, Lin Song, perched on Liu Dazhuang's shoulders, was flushed with excitement, waving his little fists and mimicking the fighters' movements.

Just then, the situation on the stage changed. The Baisheng Martial Arts School disciple, his attacks skillfully evaded by his opponent, grew increasingly enraged and launched a fiercer offensive, but his weaknesses were gradually becoming apparent. Seizing the opportunity, the Yunteng Martial Arts School disciple lunged forward, his hands swiftly reaching out like eagle claws to grab his opponent's arm, twisting it sharply while simultaneously hooking his foot. The Baisheng Martial Arts School disciple immediately lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground. A burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the audience.

Lin Yao watched this scene and couldn't help but grimace; just thinking about it made her wince in pain. Just then, the next contestant stepped onto the stage, one of whom was Xu Zhiheng. At the same time, the resounding slogan of the Qinhu Martial Arts School suddenly rang out: "Qinhu triumphs, reign supreme in the arena!" The slogan was deafening, as if it would shatter eardrums, but it also made the atmosphere even more intense.

Xu Zhiheng, dressed in a black, fitted outfit, his red hairband fluttering in the wind, strode confidently onto the stage, exuding the arrogance of a young man unafraid of a tiger. Facing him was a master from the Ruiguang Martial Arts School. This man was lean and wiry, with a fierce glint in his eyes. The two exchanged a clean and crisp fist salute before swiftly assuming their fighting stances.

The Ruiguang Martial Arts School disciple launched the first attack. With a swift movement, his right fist rose high, accompanied by a whooshing sound, aiming straight for Xu Zhiheng's face. The punch was incredibly fast, and the surrounding spectators gasped, their hearts leaping into their throats. However, Xu Zhiheng remained calm. Just as the fist was about to strike, he slightly shifted his body, easily dodging the fierce blow. Simultaneously, his left hand swiftly reached out, firmly gripping his opponent's wrist, and then with a powerful flick, he sent the Ruiguang Martial Arts School disciple losing his balance and stumbling to the side.

The disciple from Ruiguang Martial Arts School steadied himself, a flash of anger crossing his face. He lunged at Xu Zhiheng again. This time, his attack was even more ferocious, using both fists and feet, each move aimed to kill. Xu Zhiheng calmly responded, his footwork nimbly shifting and dodging on the ring. Every strike was perfectly timed, not only deflecting his opponent's attacks but also occasionally seizing opportunities to counterattack. The two exchanged blows, locked in a fierce and evenly matched battle, the air filled with the whistling of punches and the flashing of kicks.

The audience below the stage erupted in gasps of surprise. Lin Yao couldn't help but widen her eyes and exclaimed, "Young Master Xu's skills are truly hidden!" But before she could finish speaking, Xu Zhiheng was suddenly attacked by a disciple of Ruiguang Martial Arts School with a swift sweeping leg kick. Before he could react, he lost his balance and fell heavily to the ground, causing an uproar in the audience.

Seeing Xu Zhiheng fall to the ground, the disciple of Ruiguang Martial Arts School was filled with smugness. Taking advantage of the moment, he sped forward, leaped high, and bent his elbow, about to smash it down on Xu Zhiheng's chest. If this move landed squarely, Xu Zhiheng would definitely be seriously injured.

Lin Yao instinctively covered her mouth. According to the rules of the arena, the one who falls is the loser. Since she had already lost, the opponent should not continue to attack.

Xu Zhiheng lay on the ground, enduring the pain of the fall. He braced himself with his hands and, in a clumsy and awkward twist, quickly rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack. Was this person trying to kill him? Just then, the judge rushed onto the field, stopped the Ruiguang Martial Arts School disciples, and loudly announced, "Qinhu Martial Arts School is defeated! Ruiguang Martial Arts School wins!"

The disciples of Ruiguang Martial Arts School stopped their attack, their faces full of resentment. They clasped their hands in a fist salute, turned around, and left the stage. Everyone assumed that the young men had been caught up in the heat of the moment and had forgotten the rules, but only Xu Zhiheng knew in his heart that this man had clearly come to cripple him.

As soon as Xu Zhiheng stepped off the stage, Lü Dazhi and his disciples immediately surrounded him, their eyes filled with concern and anxiety. "Aheng, how are you? That scoundrel, doesn't he have any manners?!" Lü Dazhi was furious, his face flushed, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. Xu Zhiheng waved his hand, catching his breath, "I'm fine. It was just a ring match. I was outmatched, so I lost."

After a short break, another person stepped down from the arena. Xu Zhiheng, seeing the noticeably swollen face, couldn't help but burst into laughter: "Oh, isn't this Zhang Xin from Baisheng Martial Arts School? Young Master Zhang, how could you be so careless? If you get disfigured, you'll never find a wife!" He then smugly patted his own face. While Xu Zhiheng wasn't the conventionally handsome man of today's mainstream aesthetic, he possessed a unique, unrestrained charm. With thick eyebrows, large eyes, and deep-set features, his striking and passionate appearance made him a powerfully assertive, ruggedly handsome man.

Xu Zhiheng's smile only fueled Zhang Xin's rage. His face flushed red and then turned pale, making his swollen cheeks look even more comical. Zhang Xin was already of average appearance and hated it most when people talked about his looks. He was furious. But when he opened his mouth, the wound on his face was pulled painfully, and he could only manage to say, "You lost too!" Xu Zhiheng, seeing that he was about to push Zhang Xin too far, knew when to stop. He made a face and followed Lü Dazhi, preparing to go home.

Lin Yao and the others followed Xu Zhiheng after he left the arena. They had witnessed Xu Zhiheng and Zhang Xin's childish behavior, and each of them had their own thoughts. Lin Yao had always thought Xu Zhiheng was a complex person. Although he looked only fifteen or sixteen years old, in this ancient era where everyone matured early, Lin Yao didn't really treat him like a child. Whether it was saving her in times of crisis or the scheming ability he showed when partnering with her in business, he was far more mature than she, a woman in her twenties from modern times. But now, looking at the boy bickering with Zhang Xin, Lin Yao only felt that he was a child who hadn't grown up yet, possessing both youthful vigor and mischievousness.

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Author's Note: Xu Zhiheng: Hehe, I'll make you so angry!

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