I'm the group's beloved—how dare you attack me? You're defying the heavens!
...
"Brother Tong, what's going on…?"
Zhang Chulan watched as Bai Shuran's attack abruptly halted mid-motion, then turned his gaze to Wu Tong, who was sitting nearby enjoying the spectacle.
"Xiao Shi's Martial Spirit, the Beloved Halo, prevents others from harboring hostility or the urge to attack," Wu Tong explained in response to Zhang Chulan's question.
"Damn, Xiao Shi's Martial Spirit is downright broken! So, does that mean the group leader is practically invincible?" Zhang Chulan nearly lost his composure. Immunity to malicious attacks? If only he had such an ability.
For someone who specialized in survival tactics like him, this Martial Spirit would've been perfect.
"Invincible? Far from it. This Martial Spirit isn't as overpowered as you think. As long as the attacker holds no hostility, they can still strike the group leader."
Wu Tong rolled his eyes at Zhang Chulan's exaggerated reaction and continued, "Take Wang Zhenqiu from your world, for example. His self-created 'Love Massage' technique could incapacitate the group leader—assuming he could actually land a hit, of course."
He then added, "Besides, your Martial Spirit isn't shabby either. The Seal-Breaking Talisman, when fully mastered, can dismantle any restriction."
"Wait…" Wu Tong suddenly realized something.
He slung an arm around Zhang Chulan's neck, grinning mischievously.
"Chulan, now that you've got the Seal-Breaking Talisman, that 'Chastity Seal' of yours must've been removed, right? Let me ask you something—are you still a virgin?"
Zhang Chulan's face instantly turned crimson. "Brother Tong, you—how could you—I mean—"
Seeing Zhang Chulan stammer without delivering a proper answer, Wu Tong immediately guessed the truth.
"No way! You couldn't get a girl with the seal, and now you still can't without it? What's the difference, then?"
Wu Tong's voice was loud enough to snap the Feng family father and sons out of their daze. The trio turned their puzzled gazes toward Zhang Chulan and Wu Tong, though Zhang Chulan was too flustered to notice.
"Brother Tong, what kind of question is that?!"
In his panic, Zhang Chulan blurted out a flurry of excuses:
"It's not that I don't have a girlfriend—I just can't leave the mountain!"
"If I wanted to find one, I totally could!"
"Actually, I'm just not interested right now, okay?"
...
His words sent Wu Tong into fits of laughter, filling the air with amusement. The Feng family, now understanding the context, joined in with light chuckles.
...
Meanwhile, the match in the arena continued uninterrupted.
"What's going on? Why can't I bring myself to attack you?" Bai Shuran frowned as Gu Ruoli closed in.
Gu Ruoli, however, had no intention of answering.
Seriously? We're enemies here.
And I'm not some dime-a-dozen villain who monologues about my abilities to the protagonist. What gave you the idea I'd reveal my trump card?
Without a word, she swung her fist.
Inch-Heart Fist Technique·Inch Force·Chaotic Thunder.
A devastating punch unleashed a shockwave aimed straight at Bai Shuran's face.
...
Spotting this out of the corner of his eye, Zhang Chulan hastily changed the subject. "Damn, if that hits, it's gonna wreck his face. The group leader's ruthless."
Wu Tong smirked. "Don't worry about him. It won't land. Bai Shuran's still a protagonist, after all. He's got the combat instincts to match."
Humoring Zhang Chulan's diversion, Wu Tong played along.
...
"Hey, hey! Don't aim for the face! You trying to scar me for life?"
Realizing Gu Ruoli wouldn't explain, Bai Shuran dodged sideways, barely avoiding the strike. But the moment he evaded, her next attack was already upon him.
Inch Force·Lightning Strike.
Inch Force·Rock Shatter.
Inch Force·Mountain Collapse.
Inch Force·Cloud Mist.
The four fist techniques flowed seamlessly, one after another, raining down on Bai Shuran like a thunderstorm. Each strike carried the force of a meteor, relentless and overwhelming.
"I said stop targeting my face! Keep this up, and I'll fight back for real!"
Bai Shuran's patience wore thin as Gu Ruoli ignored his protests.
Gu Ruoli merely glanced at him, her eyes conveying a clear message:
Then fight back. Who's stopping you?
Oh, you—!
That look ignited Bai Shuran's temper.
Does she really think this ability makes her untouchable?
Well… it was pretty overpowered. But not unbeatable.
If I can't hit her, I'll hit something else.
His mind raced, though his expression remained calm. A plan took shape.
Time to teach you a lesson, kid.
Ducking into a backbend—the Iron Bridge stance—he evaded Gu Ruoli's fist, then stomped the ground.
Explosive Step.
The force of the impact propelled him backward, putting distance between them.
"Gu Ruoli, you little brat, let me educate you."
Though his tone was taunting, Bai Shuran's eyes grew serious.
After several exchanges, he'd figured out her ability: it nullified hostile attacks, rendering most of his techniques useless.
But that didn't matter.
He had more than one way to fight.
And for Gu Ruoli's trick, he still had martial skills that could work just fine.
(End of Chapter)