CHAPTER 41: CHAPTER 41: ARRANGING A FIGHT

The small woodland of Shi University.

This was a magical place.

By day, the woodland was filled with birdsong and the fragrance of flowers, boasting a picturesque landscape. At night, though, it was as if it were haunted. Passersby could always hear sounds of splashing water and crying coming from the forest, chilling them to the bone. Often, daring young couples would venture in to investigate. But without fail, within ten minutes, they would rush out, disheveled and flushed. Clearly, they had encountered something terrifying among the trees that had scared them badly. There were even some female students who, after such a fright, developed unmentionable afflictions, their bellies growing larger by the day, requiring a full ten months of recuperation.

The strange occurrences in the woodland had the students of Shi University in a state of panic and unease. During this time, it wasn’t that no one reported these incidents to the school authorities, but the arrogant administration completely disregarded the matter. That is, until Teacher Liu Yi was assaulted in the woodland and his title, the "Hee-ha Immortal," spread throughout the school. The issue then escalated from the student level to the faculty level. Only then did the school authorities start paying attention, ordering the woodland sealed off and forbidding students from entering.

"Come on, Lao Zhang, are you serious? Arranging fights online is usually just empty talk, especially since you chose our Shi University’s woodland as the venue. Anyone with half a brain could tell the other guy is one hundred percent not going to show up!"

"Yeah, who exactly did you arrange to fight? Are they actually going to show?"

Zheng Jituo said to Zhang Beixing, casually brushing aside the branches in front of him. He initially thought Zhang Beixing was just kidding about the fight yesterday.

To his surprise, the kid was serious! This left Zheng Jituo somewhat speechless. Yet, speechless or not, he still had to show up.

Still, a brother was in trouble; how could he not help? Though, with Zhang Beixing’s Combat Value, his help probably wouldn’t even be needed. But as the old saying goes... well, since he was here anyway, even if he didn’t get to land a few kicks, he could at least get close enough to take a few.

"By the way, Lao Zhang, do you know what the guy you’re going to fight looks like?" Jin Linyu stood next to Zhang Beixing, chewing gum as he asked.

"No idea. Why?"

Zhang Beixing replied, then looked around. He noticed the place was quite spacious and suitable for a fight, so he leaned against a tree and took out his phone.

"No big deal, I was just wondering what kind of audacious fool agrees to a fight just like that," Jin Linyu said.

Dong Guoning pondered for a moment and said, "Based on what Lao Zhang said yesterday, I think the guy is probably about twenty, has knocked about in the world, a former sports student, a Karate fan, and dreams of joining the military and becoming a rapper!"

"Damn, what a checklist of traits! Sounds like something straight out of the Old Soldiers’ Grill, right?"

"But you know, don’t knock it. That kind of person really does fit the image of the one who arranged the fight with Lao Zhang; after all, both types are equally brain-dead and idiotic!"

"..."

While ’Doesn’t Like Cilantro’ hadn’t arrived yet, the three from Room 203 began wildly guessing about his appearance.

Listening to their conversation, Zhang Beixing stood to the side, nodding silently. To be honest, he thought so too! It really showed they’d been roommates for three years; even their thoughts were so perfectly aligned!

Speaking of which, it was already past five.

Why hadn’t ’Doesn’t Like Cilantro’ shown up yet? That damn guy hadn’t chickened out, had he? If so, this would be incredibly dull!

「On the other side.」

’Doesn’t Like Cilantro,’ also known as the campus belle Chen Rourou, was currently marching toward the small woodland, bristling with aggressive intent. By her side, seven other members of the Karate club followed, along with two of her best friends who had come to watch the spectacle.

Originally, Chen Rourou hadn’t planned on calling for backup. But Zhang Beixing’s words from yesterday were simply too infuriating. So much so that Chen Rourou even dreamt about the incident while sleeping and was jolted awake by sheer anger. Never in her life had she suffered such humiliation. Thus, when her best friends asked why she was in a bad mood, she burst out and poured out the whole story of what happened that day, holding nothing back.

Upon hearing this, her best friends couldn’t believe Rourou had suffered such an indignity. This wouldn’t stand! They immediately began to rally people for Chen Rourou. The people they rallied were also from the Karate club; after all, they all knew Rourou and were quite skilled themselves.

And that led to the current situation.

"Rourou, is this where you agreed to fight that guy? Just you watch, I’ll crush him later!"

"That’s right! That guy must have eaten a bear’s heart and a leopard’s gall, daring to bully someone from our Karate club—he’s completely out of line!"

"Is it wrong to say Martial Arts are useless? Nowadays, even kids know Martial Arts are fake, yet he’s so stubborn. Damn it! Today, I want to see if his mouth is tougher or if my fists are!"

"It’s just Martial Arts! A single high kick from me will send him spinning!"

"Hmph, your skills? Forget it. Leave it to me! Rourou, don’t be fooled by my skinny appearance; I’m deceptively strong. I’ll make that keyboard warrior who mocked you and our Karate club kneel and beg for mercy!"

"..."

The members of the Karate club chattered by Chen Rourou’s side, filled with righteous indignation. As members of the Karate club, they naturally had a passion for Karate. To see what they loved being belittled and humiliated like this was something they couldn’t tolerate.

Seeing their fervor, Chen Rourou felt somewhat exhausted. She wasn’t even sure if the other person would show up, yet her best friends had made such a big production out of it. If he came, that would be one thing; they could have a friendly spar. But if he didn’t, it wouldn’t just be her losing face. She’d be leading a whole group to lose face with her!

"Xin Xin, why were you so impulsive? You brought so many people. If he doesn’t show up, how am I supposed to get out of this situation?" Chen Rourou whispered, grabbing her best friend’s wrist.

Hearing her words, the girl named Xin Xin smiled knowingly. She patted Chen Rourou’s hand and said, "Don’t worry, Rourou, you won’t lose face. Actually, whether he comes or not, we’re in a winning position."

"Eh?" Chen Rourou was taken aback, not quite understanding.

She looked at Xin Xin, who wore a meaningful smirk and said, "If he comes, we’ll win with our superior numbers. If he doesn’t, we can take this to the internet. Didn’t he start this argument with you because of Martial Arts? If he doesn’t show up for the arranged fight, doesn’t that just prove he also thinks traditional Martial Arts are useless? Then, all we need to do is post about this online, give it a little nudge, and what do you think the netizens will say?"

"They will..." Chen Rourou suddenly understood, looking at Xin Xin in disbelief.

Xin Xin nodded with a mischievous grin and said, "Exactly. When you want to destroy someone, you aim for the heart!"

"!!!"

Chen Rourou was profoundly shocked. She was astonished. Never had she imagined that Xin Xin, who seemed so innocent, could devise such a vicious plan.

"But I love it!" she declared. "Let’s go! Today, we’ll show this keyboard warrior who only knows how to hide behind a screen that Martial Arts are obsolete. Our Karate is the strongest!"

Proclaiming such bold words, Chen Rourou took the lead and stormed into the small woodland, an imposing entourage in tow.

Seeing this, the passing students were shocked. They wondered what was happening and then hurriedly followed behind, eager to witness the outcome...