When Jiang Fuyue woke up again, the spot beside her was already empty but the warmth still lingered.
She hurriedly got dressed and ran out of the room.
At the faintly brightening horizon, a helicopter was slowly flying off into the distance.
“B*stard…”
He came all the way back just for this short while?
Wasn’t it good enough staying in F Continent?!
He came back just to stir her up!
“Hey? Student, which company are you in? Why are you up so early, wandering around the training grounds instead of sleeping in the dorm?”
Jiang Fuyue took a deep breath and turned around. “Sorry, I’ll head back right now.”
Unfortunately, before she even reached the dorm building, the sharp, urgent assembly whistle sounded.
Jiang Fuyue had no choice but to return to the training field.
Hao Dazhi looked at her, dumbfounded, she had arrived even earlier than him.
It had been less than twenty seconds since the whistle blew. Did she jump straight out the window or something?
Expression calm, Jiang Fuyue stood in formation, ignoring his suspicious gaze.
Soon, the other students came pouring out and lined up.
Aside from a few who were late, everyone moved quickly and was neatly dressed.
They’d clearly been trained into shape.
Hao Dazhi was pleased.
“Report! Is Professor Xie teaching us again today?”
Hao Dazhi waved his hand. “Professor Xie has already left. Today’s schedule is standard training.”
A chorus of groans erupted instantly.
“What are you all whining for? Straighten up! Attention!”
The scorching sun beat down, so bright it made it hard to keep their eyes open.
Maybe because he knew the heat was brutal and this bunch of pampered rich kids weren’t in great shape, Hao Dazhi didn’t make them run laps, just drilled them over and over in marching steps.
Their shoes scraped against the blazing ground, the soles of their feet burning like fire.
Everyone was drenched in sweat and drooping with exhaustion, a whole field of withering flowers.
Hao Dazhi wasn’t heartless, though. Knowing that pushing too far would backfire, he waved his hand. “Rest for fifteen minutes!”
Instantly, the field came back to life.
“I’m dying… If I’d known military training was this hard, I wouldn’t have come…”
“You’re already here, what’s the point of complaining now?”
“Feels like I’m about to be roasted alive.”
“I demand air conditioning in the dorm tonight, or I’ll show you what it looks like to toss and turn all night!”
“Seconded! Support air conditioning!”
“I wanted to ask for it yesterday… but uh, chickened out at the last minute.”
“Seriously, I’ve never suffered like this before.”
“Like you’re the only one? Hah.”
“Who here isn’t a spoiled young master? You’re just the loudest about it!”
“……”
Jiang Fuyue only caught snippets of their whining before tuning it out.
She walked to a shaded spot and took the bottled water Huo Fanjin handed her.
“Thanks.”
“Cough… you’re welcome! But, um, Sister Yue, where were you yesterday? Haven’t seen you since the afternoon, and you didn’t come back last night either.”
Cen Qiaoqiao’s ears instantly perked up, ready for gossip.
“Had something to take care of.”
“Oh…” Huo Fanjin wisely didn’t press further.
Partway through, Hao Dazhi called Jiang Fuyue and Liu Sisi over.
“Sir, what is it?”
“Have you two ever received special training before?” Hao Dazhi asked bluntly.
Judging from their performance over the past few days in both physical ability and marksmanship, they were way above average.
So his suspicion wasn’t unfounded.
Other instructors had looked at their scores and wondered the same thing.
He couldn’t help thinking, do rich kids these days no longer learn piano, harp, and organ, but start special combat training instead?
However—
Jiang Fuyue: “No.”
Liu Sisi shook her head.
Both denied it flatly.
Hao Dazhi was momentarily taken aback, then waved them off. “Alright, go back.”
Whether he believed it or not, only he knew.
When they returned to the training grounds, they hadn’t even rejoined formation before hearing a sudden commotion—
“They’re actually fighting?!”
“Why would I lie? If you don’t believe me, go see for yourself!”
“Go, go! Fighting right under the instructor’s nose, these people are bold!”
“Forget it, what if we get caught watching?”
“Pfft, the ones fighting aren’t afraid, why are you scared? Besides, it’s between Ocean University and Ming University. Has nothing to do with us from Central U, so you won’t get punished.”
“What’s going on anyway? Why would Ocean U and Ming U fight? Never heard of any grudge before.”
“Apparently, they were fighting over a shady resting spot. A guy from Ocean U cursed at a girl from Ming U, and when he tried to get physical, one of Ming U’s guys saw it. Of course he wouldn’t let that slide. Ocean U didn’t back down either, and boom, they started brawling!”
“……”
Listening, Jiang Fuyue and Liu Sisi quickened their pace.
When they reached the crowd, they squeezed to the front just in time to see Li Chen and a yellow-haired guy locked in a fierce fight.
On the field—
Li Chen felt a gust of wind graze his ear; instinctively, he tilted his head just as a heavy punch came flying toward his face.
He sidestepped, but the other guy’s second punch came right after.
The blow landed with the force of a hammer, the sheer pressure forcing Li Chen back half a step, barely dodging it. If he’d been a second slower, his nose might’ve been broken.
“Whoa—”
The crowd gasped.
“That yellow-hair’s going all in!”
“Man fights are the real deal! None of that hair-pulling and face-scratching nonsense like girls do, so much better!”
“Ha? What’s your problem? Did women offend you? Your mom’s not a woman? You act all tough, didn’t she beat you when you were a kid? Who are you looking down on?”
“……” Suddenly, that made too much sense, no one dared argue back.
“That yellow-hair’s moves aren’t bad, though. Looks like he’s had training.”
“He’s a national defense student, what do you think?”
“No way, really? A defense major? Oh right, he’s from Ocean University…”
“But wait, are defense students even allowed to dye their hair?”
“Uh… interesting thing to focus on.”
“What about that Ming U guy?”
“Li Chen. Some rich second-generation. I heard his dad’s one of Ming University’s board members, loaded.”
“No wonder he’s got a temper. Guess Yellow-hair didn’t expect a spoiled young master from Ming U to actually fight back.”
Li Chen was dodging clumsily now, while the other guy grew more aggressive with each strike.
With a vicious glare, Yellow-hair turned, driving his elbow backward in a hard jab aimed straight at Li Chen’s chest.
If that blow landed, he’d be done for!
The other side moved too fast, Li Chen froze. By the time he realized what was happening, it was too late to dodge like before.
At the last critical moment, both Jiang Fuyue and Liu Sisi acted—
The former blocked the blond guy’s attack, and the latter grabbed Li Chen, yanking him backward.
Later, Gu Huaiyu asked him what it felt like at that moment when he was saved. He thought for a while and said, “Felt like a little chick, getting its wings grabbed by fate.”
Gu Huaiyu: “That’s it?”
Li Chen: “Well, I do have one question.”
Gu Huaiyu: “What question?”
Li Chen: “Why is Liu Sisi so strong? Stronger than two—no, three guys put together. It’s terrifying.”
What happened afterward, let’s set aside for now. At present, the newly rescued Li Chen was still dazed when—
Liu Sisi snorted coldly. “Coward.”
Li Chen: “……” I was terrified, okay? I didn’t dare say a word.
Back on the field, the blond thug looked genuinely surprised, as if he couldn’t believe a girl had stopped him.
He glanced down at his raised right hand, then at Jiang Fuyue’s thin arms and slender legs— probably just a coincidence, he thought. He must have misfired, and she’d dodged by luck.
“I don’t hit women. Move aside and let that guy come up!” The blond pointed straight at Li Chen.
Li Chen bristled, gritting his teeth, ready to charge forward, only to be stopped cold by a single frosty glance from Liu Sisi.
He hesitated. “Cough… He’s way too arrogant! I have to teach him a lesson, or he’ll think he’s untouchable!”
Liu Sisi: “You can beat him?” (One kill.)
“Who’s giving who a lesson?” (Two kills.)
“I don’t know about him being arrogant, but you sure can’t back it up.” (Dead.)
Li Chen backed off immediately.
Gu Huaiyu burst out laughing, completely heartless.
Liu Sisi turned her icy gaze toward him. “Something funny?”
Gu Huaiyu: “?”
“Your classmate’s getting bullied, and he’s at least trying to help. What about you? What are you doing?”
Gu Huaiyu: “??”
“Just standing there laughing?”
Gu Huaiyu: “???”
“Then you’re worse than that coward.”
Gu Huaiyu: “……” D*mn it!
Li Chen: Why do I suddenly feel… oddly proud?
Meanwhile, Cheng Lian and Liang Jingzhou subtly inched away. Yeah, best to stay out of the blast zone.
Back in the middle of the field, the blond thug kept taunting—
“What’s the matter, you scared? Fine, then. Bow to me and apologize in front of everyone, and I’ll forgive you. We’ll call it even. How about that?”
“Not happening.” The reply came not from Li Chen, but from a cool, clear female voice.
The blond raised his brows, turning back— for the first time, really looking at the girl in front of him.
Even though she wore the same drab camouflage uniform as everyone else, her tall frame, narrow waist, and long legs stood out and her face was stunning.
“I told you, I don’t hit women especially beautiful ones.”
Before Jiang Fuyue could speak, the Ming University students around them exploded—
“D*mn! Is he flirting with Sister Yue?!”
“Calling her a woman? Outrageous! She’s a goddess, thank you very much!”
“Woman your *ss, that’s your auntie you’re talking to!”
“This blond dog is asking for it! Sister Yue, take him down!”
“Yeah, finish him!”
In an instant, the Ming U students were fired up. But to the blond, all their shouting was just noise, empty talk.
He ignored it all, his bold, mocking eyes sweeping up and down Jiang Fuyue’s figure. “Pretty girl, why don’t you step aside, huh?” he grinned.
“Go cool off somewhere else, yeah?”
“Too much nonsense.”
“…What?”
Before he could react, her fist was already swinging.
He never saw it coming, her knuckles slammed into his left cheekbone, and pain burst across his face.
“Sh*t—!” Now the blond didn’t dare underestimate her.
“Didn’t expect you to know how to fight. Not bad,” he said, and before she could withdraw, he lashed out with a kick.
Jiang Fuyue dodged lightly. He kicked empty air.
As he turned, she struck again, this time aiming at his leg.
Her kick connected. His knee buckled, throwing him off balance.
“You’d better not push me,” he snarled. “I said I don’t hit women, don’t make me break that rule!”
Jiang Fuyue smirked. “Excuses are for losers.”
“You—!”
His eyes flashed. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he roared and swung a fist at her.
She was ready. She pivoted, slipped behind him, and caught his left elbow, pinching both sides with thumb, index, and middle fingers, thumb outside, two fingers in, found the joint precisely, and yanked down, while her other hand hooked his forearm upward.
Crack!
A sharp sound and then a scream.
No one even saw what happened, but the blond was suddenly on the ground, face pale, drenched in sweat, curled up like a shrimp, clutching his arm and trembling violently.
“What… what did you do to my hand?”
Jiang Fuyue smiled. “Hurts, doesn’t it? Feels like someone twisted your arm right out of its socket.”
“B-broke… broke it?” His pupils shrank. “I’ll kill you—!”
He tried to get up, but couldn’t. Every time he moved, he fell again.
“Still mouthing off?” Jiang Fuyue said lazily. “Remember, shouting slogans only slows down your attack. If you’ve got the guts, just do it.”
He clenched his teeth, tried to raise his injured arm and pain stabbed so deep he almost blacked out.
He trembled. “You—you wouldn’t dare—”
“What wouldn’t I dare? You provoked me first. I acted in self-defense. Whether it ends in injury or disability, well, that’s not something I can control. On a battlefield, blades don’t have eyes. A fight’s the same way, accidents happen.”
In other words, even if your arm is broken, it’s not my fault. Just bad luck.
He’d never seen someone so shameless— beautiful face, poisonous heart, ruthless hands!
Jiang Fuyue crouched down, smiling faintly. “What’s wrong? Not convinced?”
He tried to channel his strength but his left arm didn’t even twitch. “You, what did you do to my hand?”
She hadn’t even seemed to use much force. It couldn’t really be broken, could it?
Jiang Fuyue saw his doubt and smiled wider. “You know, brute strength isn’t always needed to break bones. Use the right technique, and the results can be… surprising.
Some people fall from a great height and walk away with just scratches, while others trip on flat ground and dislocate their spine. Why do you think that is?”
The blond’s lips tightened. He stayed silent.
“Ever watched The Legend of the Condor Heroes?” she asked.
He blinked. “…What?”
“Guo Jing’s second master was Zhu Cong. His signature move was Disjointing Bone Technique—”
The blond’s expression froze. He had a bad feeling.
Sure enough—
“They called him the ‘Scholarly Hand,’ a master of pressure points. And if you know acupuncture points, you know how to break joints, too. That’s what the Disjointing Bone Technique is all about. Isn’t that fascinating?”
His face turned ashen. “D-disjointing… bone?”
His arm suddenly throbbed even harder.
“You, you think I’ll believe that?” he stammered. “All that martial arts cr*p, nonsense! You’ve been watching too many TV dramas!”
Jiang Fuyue didn’t argue. Her cool voice slid into his ears, laced with a chill.
“There are three hundred sixty-five joints in the human body. Take the skull, men have eight plates from neck to ear and the back of the head, connected by a cross seam that runs down to the hairline. Women have only six, with no vertical seam at the back. Then there are the teeth. Twenty-four, twenty-eight, or thirty-six bones’ outermost tips, the remnants of the skeleton. The chest has one long bone, the heart bone one plate, round and coin-sized…”
She was actually reciting from The Art of Bones, an old manual she’d once found in the library’s forgotten corner, read once, remembered completely.
The blond’s eyes changed. “Who… who the h*ll are you?!”
It wasn’t that he wanted to die curious but Jiang Fuyue looked exactly like those mysterious martial arts masters from novels: hiding terrifying skill behind an unassuming face, acting cool and cryptic until the final, devastating reveal.
And right now, he was the disposable side character.
He gulped. “Am… am I about to be erased?”
He wasn’t the only one stunned, all the onlookers were, too.
“So Sister Yue really knows martial arts?”
“Rip blond guy.”
“That was a one-sided beatdown. Thank god I’ve always treated her with respect.”
“Did anyone see how she did that move? She just grabbed him—and boom!”
“Don’t ask me. My eyes couldn’t even keep up.”
“Wait… could it have been a hidden weapon?”
“Poison, maybe?”
“Looked like inner strength to me!”
“Inner strength, my ass!”
“Why not? With Sister Yue, anything’s possible!”
“Yeah! Sister Yue’s the best!”
Then someone shouted—
“Sister Yue forever!”
“Sister Yue’s unstoppable!”
“Sister Yue YYDS, God forever!”
“Let’s see who dares mess with Ming U now!”
Even Li Chen couldn’t resist joining in: “YYDS!”
Gu Huaiyu looked utterly done. Liang Jingzhou sighed, as if he’d seen this coming. Cheng Lian didn’t look surprised either; his deep gaze fell on Jiang Fuyue in the center of the crowd.
Four contenders, three down, the result was already clear.
Why struggle anymore?
There’s no shame in surrendering—
After all… she’s Jiang Fuyue.
Forever the god.
