Chapter 054: A Complete Novice

With a dull thud, Jin Zhixun’s body swayed and landed heavily on the ground, his right foot arching slightly, pain rippling through his calf until it trembled uncontrollably.

“You cheated!” Jin Zhixun’s face was twisted with fury as he roared, but his protest was met only with jeers from the crowd below.

He had never imagined such a scene. His plan was to send Li Huan flying with a single kick, finish with a dazzling flourish, bask in thunderous applause, have a flock of beautiful women rush up for kisses, and then spend the night at a grand hotel. But reality, as ever, fell short of his dreams, and instead everything unfolded in a lopsided manner.

“A rookie like you—let me show you what true Chinese martial arts are!” In that moment, Li Huan was overcome by an inexplicable sense of mission, as if he were standing on the stage of a grand international tournament, determined to let the world witness the singular brilliance he possessed.

Jin Zhixun sneered, his body springing up once again. But just then, Li Huan jumped too—only his leap soared above Jin Zhixun’s. His thigh muscles contracted in a flash, unleashing a fierce attack as he drove his foot mercilessly into Jin Zhixun’s abdomen.

This spot wasn’t likely to cause serious injury, but the discomfort was extreme. A solid punch could leave someone unable to stand for half a day, let alone a forceful kick from Li Huan, brimming with power.

A miserable scream rang out. Without suspense, Jin Zhixun was knocked out by Li Huan’s kick, crashing onto the ground, rolling in agony and tears.

Li Huan landed lightly and stepped before Jin Zhixun, raising his fist and smashing it down beside Jin Zhixun’s head onto a wooden board. With a sharp crack, at just five centimeters from Jin Zhixun’s skull, the board—two fingers thick—splintered and broke, a hole punched clean through.

“Simida!” Li Huan’s lips curled into a smile as he dusted his hands and stood, swiftly leaving the stage. Ignoring all attempts to stop him, he grabbed Su Dieyi and dashed out of the athletic field, paying no mind to whatever might happen next.

“Why are you running? You won!” Su Dieyi was baffled. It was the first time she’d seen someone win a match only to flee in such panic. Yes, panic—Li Huan looked just like someone who’d lost and dared not face the crowd.

Li Huan didn’t actually want to run, but his last punch had been too powerful, stunning the spectators into silence. Once they saw the hole in the board, they’d probably treat him as some kind of monster—his strength was astonishing. If he didn’t escape quickly, he’d soon become famous throughout Zhonghai University, maybe even online.

He didn’t realize, though, that someone had already filmed his fight with Jin Zhixun using a phone. The faces were a little blurry, but the footage was enough.

“I didn’t expect you to be so incredible! That punch… you smashed the board?” Only now did Su Dieyi awaken to the reality, gazing at Li Huan as if he were some sort of beast.

“Now you know! Lucky I ran fast—otherwise, I’d probably be paraded around the campus!” Li Huan sighed in relief, convinced his performance had indeed been a bit over the top.

“You should go to the Olympics!” Su Dieyi blurted out her idea, her imagination conjuring Li Huan standing on a stadium stage, the national flag fluttering above him, the anthem resounding, and he, tearfully moved, declaring to the world that he was the greatest.

In truth, Li Huan hadn’t intended to use so much force. He knew he practiced martial arts, but he shouldn’t have been able to smash such a thick board with one punch—his hand hadn’t even been scratched. It was unbelievable. Looking back, he wondered if it was somehow related to that transformation system, but with Su Dieyi by his side, he couldn’t ask about it.

After leaving the campus, neither knew what to do. They discussed it, and Su Dieyi suggested visiting a bookstore—she was preparing for the CPA exam and needed more materials.

They took a bus to the city center’s Hualian Book City, the largest chain bookstore in Zhonghai, with a full range of books and even some ancient domestic classics preserved for exhibition only, not for sale.

Li Huan had been there a few times before when he was preparing for postgraduate exams. He’d bought a lot of materials, but eventually gave up the opportunity for a guaranteed admission, barely reading those books before giving them away.

Hualian Book City occupied three floors of the International Mall Tower, a testament to its strength. The bookstore also hosted lectures by renowned teachers and offered expensive “top scholar” classes, holding a significant place in the education industry.

The first floor featured best-selling novels and popular science books, the second floor housed professional books, and the third floor was for classics from China and abroad, plus two exhibition areas. It was said the rare editions in those exhibitions were worth tens of millions, though Li Huan had visited once and was quite impressed.

Li Huan and Su Dieyi browsed the second floor, where he helped her pick out two books. They returned to the first floor, found a double coffee seat, and ordered two cups.

Su Dieyi was absorbed in her book. Li Huan, bored, went to the best-sellers section, grabbed a novel, and began reading idly to pass the time.

Su Dieyi was a beauty impossible to ignore. Her presence immediately drew the attention of most patrons, with several deliberately choosing nearby seats to steal glances at her.

Li Huan was well aware of their little schemes—he’d done the same himself before. But now, he felt immensely proud, being the one accompanying the stunning woman, earning envious looks from the others.

Su Dieyi, however, seemed thoroughly focused, oblivious to the eyes upon her. Li Huan said nothing, content to leaf through his novel, bored.

“Hey, Su Dieyi, you’re here too!” A warm male voice sounded. Both looked up to see a handsome, refined man smiling as he approached.

Zhang Qiming and Su Dieyi had met at a taekwondo studio, where Su Dieyi was the coach and Zhang Qiming, a friend of the owner. He’d been stunned by her beauty and tried various ways to express his interest, but was always rebuffed.

Today, Zhang Qiming had come to Hualian Book City for Su Dieyi. Knowing she was preparing for the CPA exam, he’d asked a friend and bought several books intending to gift them to her, hoping to win her favor. By chance, he ran into her here.

“Hello!” Su Dieyi looked up, politely greeted him, then resumed reading.

Zhang Qiming wasn’t embarrassed. With only double seats at the coffee tables, there was nowhere for him to sit. He glanced at Li Huan, smiling warmly. “Sir, would you mind switching seats? I’m friends with this lady and would like to chat with her.”

Su Dieyi hadn’t expected Zhang Qiming to be so persistent. Her attitude had already made her refusal clear, but he seemed oblivious. She opened her mouth, wanting to explain that Li Huan was her friend, when Li Huan’s lukewarm voice rang out: “Sorry, this seat is quite comfortable. I’d rather not switch.”

Zhang Qiming’s smile froze. He hadn’t expected Li Huan to be so tactless. He’d made his connection to Su Dieyi clear, but Li Huan seemed unimpressed, which annoyed him.

“How about this? All your purchases here will go on my account. I’m a Supreme Member of this place. What do you say?” Zhang Qiming smirked inwardly, confident that this would sway the other man. Hualian Book City’s memberships were tiered, and Supreme Member was the highest—lifetime privileges.

Money always works best, he believed. Whether for women or men, everyone bows before wealth and power. This was Zhang Qiming’s motto, his guiding principle.

He watched Li Huan’s expression for any change, but saw none. The plainly dressed man looked up and said, “No need. I’ll pay for myself.”

Zhang Qiming’s face darkened. He thought his words were clear enough, but the unruffled composure of this man made him furious, his lips curling into a cold smile.

“Zhang Qiming, he’s my friend. Please show him some respect,” Su Dieyi finally interjected. She hated people who thought money gave them the right to anything.

Zhang Qiming’s expression shifted from surprise to confusion, finally settling into embarrassment. He had seen Su Dieyi sitting here, barely speaking to the man across from her, who kept casting furtive glances at her. He’d assumed this was just another admirer overestimating himself, but now realized they were friends.

“So that’s how it is. My apologies—I misunderstood. Please forgive me.” Zhang Qiming paused for a few seconds, then hurriedly apologized to Li Huan with a gentle smile, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing Zhang Qiming’s attitude shift so dramatically, Li Huan almost laughed. Whether or not the apology was sincere, the words had been said, so he nodded, letting it go.