Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 352 Two Punches to the Bent Spear of the "Junior Sister"

"Hey! Why are you all being so fussy!"

Zhong Hui said crisply, then let out a shout and assumed the starting stance of the Tai Xu Fist, loudly proclaiming, "Since you want to compete, then let's have a match! But let me make this clear, I have to participate in the sect competition this afternoon! If you all come to challenge me, I can't handle it all! Since you are a fourth-rank martial artist, if you lose, and another martial artist wants to challenge me later, you'll have to cover for me!"

"Easy to say, easy to say!"

Upon hearing the young girl agree to the contest, the burly man with the gun grinned, drew his spear from behind, flicked it forward, and twirled it in mid-air, looking ready to pounce.

The young martial artist wielding the knife was horrified upon hearing this, stamping his feet in alarm: "Hey! Miss Zhong! You! You can't be impulsive! This old man clearly has profound martial arts skills, yet he insists on using a long weapon against you bare-handed! He's clearly up to no good—"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhong Hui shouted again in a clear voice, "Take this!"

As the sound rang out, Zhong Hui's pale yellow figure rushed out, leaping to the front of the spear like an arrow released from a bow.

The burly, bearded man with the gun, however, possessed a certain martial virtue. Seeing the young girl's recklessness, he instinctively withdrew the tip of his gun, changed his thrust into a sweeping motion, and slashed forward, shouting, "Well done!"

However, having just witnessed Zhong Hui send a ninth-rank martial artist flying with a single punch, the burly man with the thick beard dared not underestimate his opponent. A layer of firelight condensed on the shaft of his spear, which was imbued with some true energy, in order to parry Zhong Hui's moves before he even made a move.

Just as the two were about to clash, a chorus of gasps erupted around them, and even Yan Wuqi, who had just stepped forward, couldn't help but feel a pang of anxiety.

Even though she knew that Zhong Hui was now a cultivator and not the same as before, she still recognized the person opposite her. He was Zhou Li, a famous martial artist from Zhen Ding Prefecture. He came from Huiyou Escort Agency and was the third leader of Huiyou Escort Agency. He was also the highest-ranking person in Huiyou Escort Agency. He was famous in the martial arts world for his family's Overlord Spear. He also had a move called "Flying Fire Dragon", which could draw true energy into the spear. When fighting, it was like a fire dragon dancing. Therefore, he was known in the martial arts world as the "Fire Dragon King of Jiangbei".

If it were half a year ago, Zhou Li would only be a fifth-grade cultivator. But in the past six months, as the third-in-command of Huiyou Escort Agency, a business partner of Baishi Immortal Sect, Zhou Li has eaten a lot of good food and has already broken through to the fourth-grade martial artist. He is in high spirits and always sparring with people. So when he saw Zhong Hui send someone flying with one punch, he was delighted and wanted to have a match with him.

However, faced with this powerful shot that could split rocks and shatter monuments, Zhong Hui's clear eyes showed no fear, but rather a hint of excitement.

She neither dodged nor evaded, her right fist clenched tightly, seemingly effortlessly meeting the sweeping gun barrel head-on with a straight punch—

A subtle, less dazzling light, far less intense than the firelight on Zhou Li's Overlord Spear, flashed across his fist, followed by a heavy, solid sonic boom.

"Bam—"

With a dull, deafening bang that sounded completely unlike the collision of flesh and metal, Zhou Li felt an unimaginable, overwhelming force surge through the gun barrel.

The spear, infused with powerful true energy, was violently deflected upwards by the punch, trembling violently and emitting a groan of unbearable strain. His hand was instantly torn open, blood dripping down the spear shaft, and his entire arm felt numb and tingling.

He could barely hold the gun!

With just one move, he was defeated before his very eyes!

Zhou Li's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

No sooner had Zhong Hui thrown a punch than she stepped forward and, in the blink of an eye, her petite figure was close to Zhou Li, her left fist also flying out.

It was still a simple, direct straight punch, aimed at Zhou Li's abdomen. The force of the punch compressed the air, and a muffled whistling sound could even be heard—

Despite the numbness in his arms, Zhou Li's reaction speed, honed through years of martial arts training, was still impressive. In the rush, he managed to retract his spear, gripping the shaft with both hands, one above the other, and parrying horizontally in front of him.

"Boom!"

Another muffled thud, and the sturdy gun barrel, as thick as the bottom of a teacup, was bent into an arc by this punch!

The immense force traveled through the gun barrel, causing Zhou Li to feel a tightness in his chest. He forced himself to circulate his inner energy to dissipate the pressure, but he still couldn't help but stagger back seven or eight steps before he could barely regain his footing.

Then, his face turned deathly pale, and supporting himself with the bent spear, he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

The once bustling square had become deathly silent. Everyone stared in disbelief at the girl in the center of the square, who stood with her fists clenched, dusting off non-existent dust from her hands, still looking charming and delicate, as if a pause button had been pressed.

The young martial artist who had been so anxious that his face turned red was now speechless, his mouth agape enough to fit an egg!
Is that really that much force?
Yan Wuqi, standing at the back of the crowd, was also filled with shock. Was this still her adorable, whiny junior sister who would turn into a whiny little devil as soon as it got dark?!
"Oh dear! I think I used a bit too much force, I'm so sorry!"

The crisp sound brought everyone back to their senses.

"Here, this is a miraculous medicine from our White Stone Immortal Sect for treating internal injuries, called 'Internal Healing Kudzu Root Pill.' I refined it based on the [Kudzu Root Decoction]. Although its effects are not as good as the [Kudzu Root Decoction], it's still quite good. I'm giving it to you as an apology!"

As Zhong Hui spoke, he pulled out a small porcelain bottle from somewhere and handed it to Zhou Li, adding innocently, "Also, you just promised that if anyone else wants to challenge me, you have to hold them off for me!"

"Hahahaha! That was satisfying! That was truly satisfying! I, Zhou Li, have traveled all over the country for so many years and have met many masters, but I never thought that I would be taken down by a little girl like you with just two punches! I'm completely convinced! I'm utterly convinced!"

Zhou Li wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his laughter booming. Although his face was still somewhat pale, his eyes were exceptionally bright. He laughed twice and said heartily, "Don't worry, I always keep my word! If any fool dares to bother you again later, they'll have to take a shot from me first!"

Zhong Hui blinked, looking very happy: "Then thank you very much! Big Beard!"

Zhou Li took the Neiyu Gegen Pills, removed the stopper, took two pills, and then replied, "Miss Zhong, I am not called Big Beard. I am Zhou Li from Zhen Ding Prefecture. We are acquaintances who met under unusual circumstances. If Miss Zhong does not mind, I am a few years older than you, so please call me Brother Zhou!"

Zhong Hui hurriedly said with a grin, "Hey, Brother Zhou, I've heard my senior sister mention you! The famous 'Fire Dragon King of Jiangbei'! You're really something!"

Zhou Li waved his hand and said, "Good girl, you're making me so embarrassed! You bent my gun, what's so great about that!"

"I'm really sorry. How about this, I'll get you a new gun later as an apology, okay?"

Now, Zhong Hui truly felt guilty.

She already knew she had won with her first punch.

The reason for throwing a second punch was simply because the first punch was only to determine the winner, and it didn't show how badly Zhou Li had been beaten, so it wasn't enough to intimidate the annoying flies around.

Until the second punch, she easily beat a fourth-rank martial artist to the point of spitting blood. Anyone who wanted to harass her again would have to think twice about whether they could withstand a beating like a fourth-rank martial artist!
After all, the ninth-rank martial artist she had previously knocked away was of too low a rank to be very convincing.

In other words, if you really think about it carefully, it was actually because he was in the right and wouldn't let it go, so he had to throw a second punch and break the other person's gun!

Moreover, the subsequent claims that she "accidentally used too much force" and the apology of sending Neiyu Gegen pills were all an act by her!
Unexpectedly, although Zhou Li was famous, he was honest and straightforward, and he admitted defeat so readily, unlike the martial artists who had challenged him to a duel earlier, who were all pretentious and always had a hundred reasons!

Or, I could just spend some spirit stones to buy him a spear from the sect! I'm plenty rich right now anyway!

Before Zhong Hui could even process a few thoughts, she heard Zhou Li's voice boom like thunder: "Sister Zhong, you underestimate me, don't you?"

In just a few breaths, under the treatment and nourishment of the Neiyu Gegen Wan (internal healing pill), Zhou Li's internal injuries had already healed considerably.

As he casually tucked his slightly bent spear behind him, he replied, "I challenged you to a duel in the first place. Since I'm inferior in skill, I should accept my defeat! Even if my spear is just bent and can be repaired, or even if it's broken or snapped, it's my own fault for being incompetent. How can I let you spend money on me? If word gets out, my reputation in the martial arts world will be ruined!"
"Besides, to witness your incredible fist skills, Miss Zhong, is worth it, even if you could bend ten more spears, let alone one! Hahaha!"

The two had only exchanged a few pleasant words when a voice, neither too loud nor too soft, rang out in a sarcastic tone, just loud enough for everyone to hear: "Ugh! Shameless! A grown man, not only can't beat a young girl with a weapon in his bare hands, but he also tries to take advantage of her by calling her 'sister'!"

The one who spoke was the young martial artist who had just been holding the knife. Hearing him speak like this, Yan Wuqi, who had been watching from the sidelines, could easily see that this person was clearly the young Mu Ai, who had feelings for Zhong Hui, which was why he had always been at odds with Zhou Li.

How can someone who is all enthusiasm and no skill (only an eighth-rank martial artist) be worthy of his junior sister?

The initial awkwardness and complicated feelings she had after not seeing each other for more than half a year were quickly washed away by the sudden anger rising in Yan Wuqi's heart. With a cold face, she squeezed through the crowd, interrupting Zhou Li's angry glare at the young martial artist, and called out to Zhong Hui, "Junior Sister Zhong!"

Yan Wuqi's interruption immediately dispelled the tense atmosphere between Zhou Li and the young martial artist.

Zhong Hui looked in the direction of the sound, then his eyes widened, and he subconsciously looked at the familiar figure with a rather unpleasant expression—

"Huh? Yan, Yan Yan, Senior Sister Yan!?"

(End of this chapter)