Chapter 46: Confrontation (PK, please keep reading!!)

The front courtyard of the martial arts hall.

As soon as Jiang Ning and Cheng Ran appeared, they immediately spotted Li Qing, who was tall, wore her hair in a ponytail, and revealed a slender, swan-like neck.

Among all the disciples of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall, Li Qing was the only female disciple.

Naturally, she stood out like a crane among chickens, especially since she was quite tall—at least 1.7 meters in Jiang Ning's eyes, as she was only half a head shorter than him.

As for why there was only one female disciple in the entire Canglang Martial Arts Hall, it was not difficult to understand.

Practicing martial arts would damage the skin on one's hands, causing many calluses to form. This was a drawback that most women found difficult to endure.

Furthermore, all entry-level disciples of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall were only permitted to learn a single technique: the Five Animals Fist.

Consequently, few women were willing to join; no woman wanted her soft, fair hands to become rough and covered in calluses. Most women who practiced martial arts focused on leg techniques or weaponry, which were aesthetically pleasing and did not ruin one's physique. The desire to remain beautiful was something women in any world could not avoid.

As for why Li Qing's hands remained so fair and free of calluses despite her training, Jiang Ning did not know the reason, but he guessed she must use some very precious secret medicine to protect them daily.

At this moment, the front courtyard seemed to have experienced a slight commotion.

A burly man had drawn the attention of all the disciples in the courtyard.

The man looked extremely lean and powerful, particularly his arms, which were quite extraordinary; his left arm, even when hanging loosely, reached down to his knee.

With such an arm span and such exceptional bone structure, he was a natural martial arts genius suited for fist techniques.

An inch longer is an inch stronger. His reach would provide a significant advantage in boxing.

The man patted Xiao Peng on the shoulder. "Junior Brother Xiao, well done. You truly deserve to be Master's true disciple today. Your comprehension is indeed high; to master the essence of the Tiger Form Fist at such a young age... I believe one day you will surely catch up to me."

Xiao Peng spoke with excitement, "Thank you for the encouragement, Senior Brother Zhao. Feeling your Tiger Might has benefited me greatly. When I have achieved success in my fist techniques, I will not forget your guidance today."

Watching Xiao Peng and Zhao Hu surrounded by the crowd, Cheng Ran couldn't help but feel a bit envious.

He muttered under his breath, "That Xiao Peng certainly knows how to perform. He took the opportunity while I was away to curry favor with Senior Brother Zhao Hu and get his guidance."

"Senior Brother Zhao Hu has reached perfection in the Tiger Form Fist, and his Tiger Might flows effortlessly. His guidance will surely lead to an epiphany for Xiao Peng, widening the gap between them even further."

"Damn! It's going to be even harder to compete with him for that last spot in the Inspectorate!"

Standing beside him, Jiang Ning patted Cheng Ran's shoulder. "Keep it up, Senior Brother Cheng. I believe you can surpass Xiao Peng."

Cheng Ran clenched his fists. "I will definitely surpass him."

***

Outside the martial arts hall.

*Clop, clop, clop—*

A black carriage approached from a distance, slowing down as it neared the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

*Whinny—*

Under the watchful eyes of two disciples at the gate, the carriage came to a slow halt.

In the next moment, the driver exerted strength from his waist, springing from the carriage like a mantis shrimp and landing firmly on the ground.

He swept aside the curtain. "Master, we have arrived at the Canglang Martial Arts Hall."

Then, the front of the carriage dipped slightly as a middle-aged man around fifty years old, sporting a goatee, stepped out from the cabin.

Under the gaze of the gatekeeping disciples, he approached them.

"Please inform them that Liu Zhixiang, a manager from the Sihe Chamber of Commerce, has come to visit."

The Sihe Chamber of Commerce?

The two disciples exchanged glances, and one of them spoke respectfully to the fifty-year-old Liu Zhixiang.

"Manager Liu, please wait a moment. I will go and inform our Hall Master immediately."

After the disciple hurried into the hall, the sound of a galloping carriage came again from a distant street corner.

The rapidly approaching carriage also caught several people's attention.

Ten breaths later.

*Whinny—*

As the driver pulled the reins, the carriage came to a stop in front of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall.

The curtain was swept aside, and a man dressed in a black brocade robe with his hair tied in a topknot stepped down.

A man built like an iron tower followed closely behind him.

"Liu Zhixiang, your Sihe Chamber of Commerce is overstepping its bounds!" the man in the black brocade robe said calmly.

Liu Zhixiang glanced at the man in black, then at the muscular, tower-like man behind him.

The corners of Liu Zhixiang's mouth curled slightly. "What? Is Nephew Zhou's appetite so large? Since when did Wang Jin's Canglang Martial Arts Hall become your territory, Zhou Xing?"

"Are you not satisfied with taking Zhang Tiesheng, and now you want to swallow all the genius disciples of the Canglang Martial Arts Hall in one gulp?"

Facing Liu Zhixiang's interrogation, Zhou Xing gave a mocking laugh.

"If you stretch your hands too far, be careful they get chopped off!"

As the words fell, Zhou Xing brushed past Liu Zhixiang, with the iron-towered Zhang Tiesheng following closely behind.

Watching Zhou Xing's retreating back, Liu Zhixiang's face turned pale and then flushed, looking extremely unsightly. Being scolded by a junior was humiliating, even if few people were watching.

*Zhou Xing! Hmph! I hope you can actually be that arrogant when the time comes!*

Thinking of the powerful figures represented by the interests of the Sihe Chamber of Commerce, Liu Zhixiang felt extremely confident. In fact, he now hoped Zhou Xing would actually dare to make a move, so he could use that momentum to teach this junior a lesson.

At the entrance of the hall.

The disciple who had remained behind bowed deeply upon seeing Zhou Xing arrive.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Zhou!!"

He then bowed to Zhang Tiesheng behind him. "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhang!!"

Zhou Xing patted the disciple's shoulder. "Work hard. I hope one day you can become my true junior brother!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhou!" The disciple replied with excitement, watching Zhou Xing's back while clenching his fists.

***

Inside the hall.

Zhao Hu scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering briefly on Li Qing, a flash of admiration passing through his eyes.

"Junior brothers, as I said, I will demonstrate the Tiger Might for you. Please follow me."

Hearing this, the crowd followed him with excitement.

"Come on, let's go take a look too!" Cheng Ran said.

Jiang Ning nodded.

At that moment, Zhao Hu's gaze inadvertently swept past Li Qing. Seeing that she had fallen to the back of the crowd but was still following, he felt a surge of joy.

Being able to catch the attention of a beauty made him happy. As a martial artist with vigorous blood and abundant energy, and being at an age where one is prone to infatuation, he naturally had feelings for Li Qing.