"Uncle!" Zheng Xiaoduo waved, her lips pouting slightly. Her gloomy mood hadn't fully lifted.

Her gaze toward Chen Yang was still tinged with resentment.

Chen Yang touched his nose awkwardly and responded with a smile.

Zheng Xiaoman frowned. "Where did you get your news? Do you even know the purpose of today's banquet?"

As its name suggested, a prelude banquet was meant to spread the word to certain people in advance and build momentum. If the Martial Association wasn't setting up a sub-branch in Lingjin City, what was the point of spreading any word?

"If I didn't know, why would I have come?" Chen Yang replied with a smile.

Zheng Xiaoman stated indifferently, "You're mistaken. The Martial Association sent its top brass to Lingjin City this time precisely to establish a sub-branch."

Chen Yang didn't press the matter. He raised his glass and said, "Thank you for the concessions you made in our partnership, President Zheng. I'll drink to you."

With that, he drained his glass in one gulp.

Zheng Xiaoman took a delicate sip in response.

"Who's that guy? Why is he so close to Zheng Xiaoman?"

"Even Boss Qian got snubbed when he tried to strike up a conversation earlier. What gives this ordinary-looking guy the right? Is there any justice in this world?"

"Mr. Guo tried to offer a toast earlier and didn't get any response either!"

"Tsk, tsk, I'm so envious of that guy!"

As the center of attention, Zheng Xiaoman's every move was closely watched. All the men at the event felt a mix of envy and extreme curiosity about Chen Yang's identity.

Zheng Xiaoman was known in the business world as an "iceberg beauty," and it was rumored that she had never been in a relationship. That very fact drove countless exceptional men to try and conquer her, to be the first to take the plunge.

"President Zheng, it seems standing too close to you could be life-threatening," Chen Yang joked with a smile, feeling the weight of everyone's stares.

Zheng Xiaoman said coolly, "You're mistaken. We aren't close."

Chen Yang was speechless.

This woman is truly heartless.

Chen Yang didn't know what to say next, and Zheng Xiaoman fell silent as well.

Before long, a young man of about thirty-two or thirty-three walked over, his head held high. He was barely one meter seventy tall, but he carried himself with an extremely powerful aura.

A pair of proud eyes glanced disdainfully at Chen Yang before he turned to Zheng Xiaoman with a gentlemanly greeting. "Miss Zheng, my name is Jia Guangping, a Steward of the Martial Association. I heard from my superiors that you're looking for an instructor to teach your younger sister martial arts?"

"That would be you?" Zheng Xiaoman frowned. Isn't this guy a bit too short? He's not even as tall as me.

Facing Zheng Xiaoman's doubt, Jia Guangping announced proudly, "I am a fifth-rank Fist Master. At the Martial Association, I often give guidance to the Inner Sect Disciples. I have extensive experience in teaching."

As he spoke, he lifted his wine glass.

Under Zheng Xiaoman's astonished gaze, the glass silently filled with cracks before disintegrating into a fine powder that drifted slowly to the ground.

Zheng Xiaoman was utterly shocked, and even Zheng Xiaoduo's jaw dropped in astonishment. For ordinary people like them, Jia Guangping's feat was nothing short of miraculous.

In truth, Zheng Xiaoman had already been impressed when she heard he was a fifth-rank Fist Master. The strongest bodyguard by her side was only a third-rank Fist Master. Even so, that was enough to ensure her safety.

How strong must a fifth-rank be?

After seeing the glass shatter, she no longer cared about Jia Guangping's height and asked directly, "When can we start?"

"We can start tomorrow!" Jia Guangping nodded, his eyes brimming with extreme joy and ill-concealed desire.

This Zheng Xiaoman is just too enticing! Although she looks cold and unapproachable, I have my ways! And then there's her sister, Zheng Xiaoduo, a rare beauty completely different from her sibling. The older sister is like a juicy peach, while the younger is innocent and pure, a bud waiting to blossom. Tsk, tsk... What a superb pair of sisters.

Just as Jia Guangping was sinking into his wild fantasies, Zheng Xiaoduo spoke up. "Sister, I don't agree!"

Huh? Jia Guangping frowned. What's going on?

"Xiaoduo, you just saw how skilled this Teacher Jia is. Plus, he's a Steward in the Martial Association, so his teaching must be excellent!" Zheng Xiaoman coaxed.

"I won't learn from anyone but Uncle Chen Yang," Zheng Xiaoduo said defiantly, her little head held high.

Zheng Xiaoman was speechless but continued to persuade her. "Chen Yang already said he isn't taking students. Why are you still so fixated on it? Besides, this Teacher Jia is far more skilled than Chen Yang—they aren't even in the same league. What's the point in being so stubborn?"

"Who says Uncle Chen Yang isn't skilled? The president of our school's Martial Arts Society was too scared to even make a move against him!" Zheng Xiaoduo retorted in Chen Yang's defense.

Jia Guangping laughed and shot a scornful glance at Chen Yang. "So, you're Chen Yang? Aren't you a little old to be bullying university students? You're quite a character. President of the Martial Arts Society? If I'm not mistaken, he probably just practices forms, right?"

After his taunts, Jia Guangping smiled at Zheng Xiaoduo. "Someone like that? I could scare him witless with a single stomp of my foot!"

"Hmph! You don't look like a good person to me!" Zheng Xiaoduo glared fiercely at Jia Guangping.

Zheng Xiaoman raised an eyebrow. "Xiaoduo, don't be rude! The problem is that Chen Yang won't teach you!"

"Then I won't learn. Tell him to leave!" Zheng Xiaoduo stated resolutely.

"You..."

Zheng Xiaoman was growing irritated. Wasn't this girl being too willful? She had gone to great lengths to contact a high-ranking member of the Martial Association. Now that they'd actually sent someone, her sister was refusing to learn? How was she supposed to maintain her dignity after this?

More importantly, she wanted Zheng Xiaoduo to become a Fist Master so she could at least protect herself from bullies.

"Xiaoduo, please be reasonable and learn from Teacher Jia," Zheng Xiaoman said, her patience wearing thin. "Just try it for a few days. If it really doesn't work out, I'll find someone else for you."

"I said, I'm only learning from Uncle Chen Yang! If he won't teach me, I won't learn at all!" Zheng Xiaoduo's tone was firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Zheng Xiaoman's face darkened. She shot a fierce glare at Chen Yang, her blame perfectly clear without a single word.

"Kid, I'm surprised a piece of trash like you is so good at bewitching young girls with sweet nothings!" Jia Guangping's gaze turned frosty as he said coldly, "What are you still doing here? Get lost, immediately! The Martial Association's banquet does not welcome you!"

He had fought hard for this opportunity; he wouldn't let some nobody ruin it.

Chen Yang gave him an indifferent glance. "Did you eat shit? Your breath stinks."

"What did you say?" Jia Guangping lunged forward, his eyes burning with fury. "Do you believe I'll kill you right here and now?"

Suddenly, a wave of enthusiastic, sustained applause swept through the room.

Han Shaobai, dressed in a white robe, walked out slowly. Normally arrogant and untamed, he was now unusually subdued, and his face was faintly pale.

Many people rushed forward to greet him.

Han Shaobai, however, seemed to ignore them, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.

His eyes were drawn to Zheng Xiaoman's beauty. But before he could even take a moment to admire her, his expression suddenly froze. His pupils dilated at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Ah! He... he's here too?

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