looking to die?" another bodyguard dragged him into a corner. "This place is full of Black Tiger Gang members. Don't say such things again."

They had joined the gang to protect their families from being bullied by other gangs.

...

Following the earlier fight, Yang Feng realized that his full potential had yet to be tapped. He crafted sandbags and wooden stakes in the courtyard for training.

With no formal combat experience, he relied on moves from action games, and his training paid off. His speed paired with technique was decent enough. 

Sandbags turned out to be too soft; his punch ripped right through them. The wooden stakes offered no resistance either—they shattered with a single punch.

Awakened by the noise, Xue Ying walked to the courtyard. Seeing Yang Feng practicing, she quietly watched from the sidelines without interrupting.

"Hmm~"

His sense of awareness growing sharper, Yang Feng had noticed Xue Ying's presence but chose not to speak. 

"Phew~"

After an afternoon of training, the sandbags and stakes were in tatters, but his moves had improved—precise and fluid, without hesitation. He sat down on a wooden chair, reaching for a teacup only to realize it wasn't his.

"Uh, sorry~" Yang Feng saw Xue Ying staring at him as if asserting her claim. Unsure how to explain, he avoided her gaze.

"It's just a cup of tea. I won’t bite," Xue Ying laughed. "You looked pretty tough just now; what's up with you now?"

Yang Feng, unsure of his feelings, decided to venture out to find a river for practicing. "Xue Ying, I need to go out for a bit. Do you know where there's a river?"

"I know! I'll take you!"

Without waiting for his response, Xue Ying grabbed his hand and led him out of the town, with Xiao Hei trailing behind.

Before long, they reached a large pond with blooming lotus flowers. A gentle breeze sent ripples across the water.

Without a word, Yang Feng jumped into the pond, creating a splash and began practicing underwater. The water offered great resistance, slowing down his punches and exhausting him quickly, yet it was the perfect testing ground for his skills.

"I didn't realize I could hold my breath this long." Yang Feng thought. "My overall abilities must have enhanced."

"Why hasn't he surfaced yet?" Xue Ying wondered, anxiously pacing the shore. "Is he drowning?"

"Yang Feng~"

"Yang Feng~"

Xue Ying shouted but saw no one surface. Frightened, she feared the worst.

"Splash~"

She jumped in to search for him, struggling to see clearly in the expansive pond, tears streaming into the water.

"Drip, drip, …"

The sound resonated underwater, catching Yang Feng's attention. He ceased his movements, relaxed his body, and floated to the surface.

Xue Ying’s tear-streaked face appeared before him—she had no idea what had happened.

 Prev. P 8/318 next