Chapter 133: It's Hard Even If You Want to Forget

“No!”

“No.”

The moment Wang Yuanzhi finished speaking, a man and a woman voiced their objections at once. Everyone turned to look, only to discover that it was Su Yuqing and Zhang Yi.

Su Yuqing was slightly surprised as well. She turned and regarded Zhang Yi with a beaming smile. “Big-Beard Zhang, I never knew you cared so much about my Xiao Nan. He’s my son-in-law, after all. There has to be some order of precedence, doesn’t there?

“Whatever your daughter may be, she can only be the mistress.”

“Who are you calling a mistress? Your whole family—er, that’s not what I meant.” Zhang Yi had been struck where it hurt and nearly launched into a tirade.

But he quickly remembered the way this woman usually behaved. Seeing the unfriendly look in her eyes, he hurriedly swallowed his anger and put on an apologetic smile.

“I mean, they’re still young. Whichever way they choose is up to them. We elders shouldn’t interfere too much, right?”

When he finished, he glared viciously at Xiao Nan. The meaning in his eyes was unmistakable.

You little rascal, flirting with women all day long. If you ever dare betray my daughter, I’ll crush every bone in your body!

Su Yuqing also turned to look at Xiao Nan with a bright smile, though there was no overt threat in her expression.

Still, Xiao Nan knew that whenever Aunt Su fixed someone with such an intense stare, she was either gazing at them with deep affection or thinking of a way to torment them.

The former was naturally impossible.

It would never happen in this lifetime.

She was his aunt, after all.

She said nothing, merely watching him. That was the most profound threat of all.

As the two of them squabbled like fighting roosters over something that did not even exist, the people nearby felt as though a flock of crows were circling overhead.

Weren’t they discussing the martial contest?

How had the subject suddenly turned to marriage between their children?

A man being too handsome really was a problem. He was bound to attract trouble everywhere he went.

Students watching from near and far were practically green with envy and resentment. Several of them had eyes so red they looked ready to bleed.

“All right, you two. If you have something to say, get to the point.” Li Yuanchen felt that he had been completely ignored. With a stern expression, he said, “I think Commissioner Wang’s proposal is quite reasonable...

“The few of us shareholders have been arguing endlessly without reaching a conclusion. Since ancient times, strength has commanded respect, and this is even more true among martial practitioners.”

He turned to glance at Xiao Nan, a trace of coldness flashing through his eyes.

“Regardless, if you want the benefits, you must prove that you are worthy of them. Otherwise, my Li family will never be convinced.”

Huang Liang, the round-faced, chubby man who was always smiling, slapped his palm and loudly agreed. “Exactly! Patriarch Li has spoken straight to my heart. If Yuanjiang No. 1 High School intends to handle matters so unfairly, then there’s no point in our remaining shareholders. We might as well all go home and find our mothers...”

The fat Huang had said nothing until now, yet with a single sentence he had struck at the vital point and threatened to tear the whole arrangement apart.

Everyone’s expression changed at once.

To be honest, the Li family was currently the largest shareholder in Yuanjiang No. 1 High School, followed by the Qin family and the wealthy merchant Huang Liang.

If the Li family and Huang Liang withdrew their investments, Yuanjiang No. 1 High School might not be forced to close its doors, but it certainly would not have an easy future.

The Qin family, however, was more complicated. Although Su Yuqing was now the head of the household, she was ultimately only married into the Qin family.

There were still certain restraints on what she could do.

She could not always act exactly as she pleased.

There were always a few old fogies muttering and grumbling. They could not ruin anything important, but they were perfectly capable of making everyone miserable.

She could make the final decision on minor matters, but whenever something involved the family’s future or its direction of development, she could not simply do whatever she wanted.

Her situation was somewhat better than that of Sun Zhongli, the principal of Yuanjiang No. 1 High School, but not by much.

Seeing Sun Zhongli and the others fall silent, Li Yuanchen was delighted. He laughed and said, “If you ask me, if he doesn’t dare compete, then let Shaohua take first place. Whoever practices in the Void Crystal Chamber is still a student of Yuanjiang No. 1 High School. Why forcefully distinguish between them?”

Xiao Nan watched Li Yuanchen perform his one-man show from the side, and felt thoroughly disgusted.

Ever since he had seen Li Shaoyun appear at the military camp as a senior officer with two bars and three stars, he had immediately understood who was behind the targeting and schemes he had encountered that day.

Those people had never intended to hide anything. Their methods were blatant, and their unspoken message was simple:

Even if you know it was us, what can you do about it? Do you dare object?

Li Shaohua in particular stood off to one side, glancing over from time to time like a slick, poisonous snake. His presence was nauseating.

His malice was like a burning torch, inflaming Xiao Nan’s anger.

“Why don’t you ask what I think?”

Xiao Nan suddenly cut in.

Su Yuqing and Zhang Yi looked at him in puzzlement.

Tang Zhixuan, however, had already guessed what Xiao Nan intended to say. She hurriedly spoke up. “Xiao Nan, there’s no need to take the risk. At worst, the school can hold a few more expanded meetings to discuss the matter.”

“There’s no need. Since even the Li family agrees with this way of handling things, then let’s have a contest.

“Commissioner Wang is right. In literature there is no absolute first, but in martial arts there is. Whoever wins gets the benefits.”

Xiao Nan thrust out his chin, looking as though no one could possibly talk him out of it. Tang Zhixuan could only roll her eyes.

“Hahaha! I knew it. A martial contest is the best way to settle this!” Wang Yuanzhi burst into laughter.

This time, it was Li Yuanchen who became uneasy. He studied Xiao Nan deeply, as though trying to see through him, then turned toward Li Shaohua and gave a slight nod.

Li Shaohua walked over and stopped in front of Xiao Nan. With a smile, he said, “This is the first time I’ve encountered such a bold figure among our fellow students. We’ve been classmates for so long, yet we’ve never had any interaction. That was discourteous of me.

“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Li Shaohua, a student in Senior Year Class One. And you are...?”

It was blatant contempt and mockery.

I simply don’t remember your name. What of it? I don’t even consider you worth knowing.

And yet he extended his hand, looking eager to shake hands.

Fine. I’ll give that performance full marks.

Xiao Nan stared at the smooth, pale hand, white as jade, and nearly felt sick.

When it came to pretension and hypocrisy, he had discovered that he was utterly outclassed.

He extended his own hand and smiled in turn. “I’m Xiao Nan. Nan, as in the south. After today, you’ll find it very difficult to forget me...”

Their hands clasped.

A string of tooth-grating creaks rang out.

Those with sharp eyes could even see the air distort around their joined hands, while a wisp of green smoke slowly rose.

“Hm?”

Li Shaohua’s jaw tightened, his muscles bulging as blue veins appeared on his forehead. His arm suddenly swelled...

A faint red glow flowed from his arm into his palm, surging onward like enormous waves crashing against the shore.

Xiao Nan’s brow twitched. He sensed a fierce, overpowering murderous force rushing toward him. The vital energy within his body began to circulate, and with a slight movement of his palm, he produced the true intent of thunder.

Boom!

Light flashed, and a tremendous force exploded outward.

Nearly two thousand two hundred pounds of force burst through Li Shaohua’s palm just as he was about to exert himself.

The shock sent both men stumbling backward.

A trace of astonishment flashed through Li Shaohua’s eyes as the power of the thunderous true intent drove him back three heavy steps.

The strength in his palm had not yet been released. His hand closed on empty air instead, crushing it with a series of sharp pops.