After those events, Xia Tian no longer wanted to stay in class. The college entrance examination was only a few days away and there was nothing more to learn there. Reviewing on his own was pointless; it was a good opportunity to return early and study martial arts with the man in white.
He did not want to be so passive the next time he encountered masters like Ah San and Liusha.
"Master, wait for me." Huo Lazi ran out of the classroom, followed by her two underlings.
"Why are you following me again?" Xia Tian was at a loss with Huo Lazi. She trailed after him everywhere.
"Master, my grandfather said every martial art must be accompanied by mental training and specific methods. I won't be able to practice the two moves you showed me when I go home," Huo Lazi said, despondent.
"I don't know any secret techniques. I learned those two moves from an old senior named Fan — that's what you saw," Xia Tian explained.
"Master, I understand. You must have thought I couldn't be your partner, so you refused to teach me," Huo Lazi bowed her head, gathering courage. "Come on, Master. I'm ready to devote myself to you."
A black line appeared on Xia Tian's forehead. "By the way, can you lend me your phone? Mine is dead."
Huo Lazi handed him her phone.
"Hello, cousin, it's Xia Tian."
"Don't worry, I'm fine. I'm at school."
"Where exactly are you?"
"All right, I'll come find you later."
After hanging up, Xia Tian called Old Master Xu to report he was safe. The situation at Old Master Xu's home, however, was grim. Although the Xu family dared not harm him directly, they had already begun to act against Old Master Xu.
Old Master Xu was capable, and because he had helped Xia Tian, the Xu family had retaliated.
In the end, Xia Tian decided to confront the Xu family directly, and his plan was simple. After the college entrance examination, he would represent Grandpa Xu in a duel with the Xu family. If he won, the Xu family would be prevented from troubling Grandpa Xu again; if he lost, Grandpa Xu would be forced to leave Jianghai City forever.
This proposal did not originate with Xia Tian but with the Xu family. They deliberately made the request to force Xia Tian's hand. When Xu Dechuan learned Xia Tian had agreed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Fan Zhuifeng from Green Forest Villa, a well-known figure in Jianghai City, would be the witness to the duel.
With him as witness, the Xu family would not dare violate the agreement. Although Xu Dechuan doubted Xia Tian could defeat Ah San, he believed that the master behind Xia Tian would intervene if necessary.
Xia Tian understood Mr. Xu's thinking but did not point it out. If he wanted to learn his mother's whereabouts, he needed Xu Dechuan's help; therefore he had to protect him. He knew Ah San's strength well — with his current skills he was no match. Fortunately, there were still a few days before the exam. During those days the man in white trained him every day. It would be the perfect opportunity to test the results against Ah San.
As long as he could defeat Ah San, no one in Jianghai City would be able to threaten him in the future, and the Xu family would be spared a major problem.
"Master, what do you want in return for teaching me?" Huo Lazi followed Xia Tian constantly.
"It depends on your performance." Xia Tian glanced at Huo Lazi. "But your potential is really poor."
Xia Tian assessed Huo Lazi. Her overall appearance displeased him, and her outfit was a non-mainstream style he disliked.
"Master, don't be so harsh. I am a woman, after all," Huo Lazi said sadly.
"Right now I don't like your style. Why don't you change your clothes and let me see?" Xia Tian wanted to discourage her; he saw no potential for development.
Huo Lazi could only turn and leave. Even if she went home, she could not change her manner immediately, so she planned to find her sister, Huo Wen. She hoped Huo Wen could give her a complete makeover.
"Sister Huo, where are you going?" her companions called after her.
"Perfect timing. You two can come with me. If we're going to change, let's do it together. Let's go find my sister." Huo Lazi walked away.
After sending Huo Lazi off, Xia Tian took a taxi to Jianghai University. His cousin was waiting for him at a restaurant there. Something had happened; it was still class time, so even if he returned now the man in white probably would not leave. From that Xia Tian guessed the man in white must be close to his father, since his father had wanted him to study hard.
At the restaurant, Xia Tian quickly found his cousin. Ye Qingxue and Bing Xin were there. Bing Xin wore casual clothes that morning, which somewhat concealed her figure. Every time Xia Tian saw Bing Xin he couldn't help but use his X-ray vision, and his guess was confirmed.
Bing Xin was wearing a blue Pikachu top.
Noticing Xia Tian staring, Bing Xin felt as if she were standing naked before him. She hurriedly clutched at her clothing, but then realized Xia Tian's gaze had actually moved downward.
"Rogue." Bing Xin glared fiercely at Xia Tian.
This was an ordinary student canteen with few private rooms; only large groups could reserve them, so Xia Tian, Ye Qingxue, and Bing Xin sat in the lobby. It was still morning, and the place was not crowded.
Xia Tian, Ye Qingxue, Bing Xin, and another sat at a simple four-person table; the room was relatively clean.
"What happened yesterday?" Ye Qingxue asked.
"It's nothing — it's resolved." Xia Tian did not want to explain further. There was no way to explain his X-ray ability; telling Ye Qingxue would only bring trouble to her. He could end up captured and dissected as a test subject.
"If you don't want to talk about it, fine." Ye Qingxue understood Xia Tian. She knew that no one could force him to speak if he didn't want to. "I came for your help today."
"Beg me?" Xia Tian's heart turned cold. His cousin had never used that word. If she said "beg," then something serious was at stake.
"All right. I order you to play in the afternoon's basketball match on behalf of the Student Union." Ye Qingxue's domineering side surfaced again. Xia Tian breathed easier; this was the cousin he knew.
"Doesn't Jianghai University have its own basketball team?" Xia Tian asked.
"Of course I know, but this time we're playing against the Jianghai University team. They've sent a first-tier player to lead several second-tier players, and we'll represent the Arts and Literature Department," Ye Qingxue explained.
"Oh — you're facing off within the school." Xia Tian finally understood.
"The players on their team are arrogant, especially their coach, who transferred back from the US. He doesn't take the Arts Department seriously — says we're useless bookworms," Ye Qingxue said angrily. "I'm going to teach that damn girl a lesson. She said if we keep within 20 points of them, they lose."
"Uh." Xia Tian was slightly stunned. "It won't be easy for an amateur team to hold the school team to within 20 points."
"I don't care. You have to keep the score within 20, or I'll make you pay." Ye Qingxue waved her fist at Xia Tian, implying dire consequences if he embarrassed her.
"I'll do my best." Xia Tian nodded.
At that moment four people entered the restaurant: three men and one woman. The three men were very tall, all over 1.9 meters. The woman wore a blue short-sleeved top and white shorts; she stood with poise and looked very beautiful.
Every one of them seemed perfect.
"She's 175 cm tall with 114 cm legs. Her figure is flawless. I wish she could be my consort," someone muttered.
"Rogue." The beauty shot a fierce glance at Xia Tian, then looked toward Ye Qingxue and Bing Xin behind him.
Bing Xin and Ye Qingxue stifled laughs. The beautiful woman Xia Tian had teased was their rival, Tang Yan, the basketball team coach.
"Ye Qingxue, the match is this afternoon — why are you hiding here? I heard your Arts Department is full of sissies, not even five proper men. How can you compete? Go borrow players from other clubs." Tang Yan sneered. She ranked sixth on the campus beauty list, behind Ye Qingxue and Huo Wen. That was not because she was less attractive; she had only transferred in six months ago and had not yet gained the same popularity as Ye Qingxue and Huo Wen. She had transferred from abroad.
Tang Yan also ran a student organization: the basketball club. Ye Qingxue came from the Literature Club. The literary students and athletes had long been unwilling to yield to one another, hence the rivalry that sparked this game.
"Remember our bet. If you lose, you must call me Sister Xue the next time you see me," Ye Qingxue said angrily.
"Of course. If you lose, you'll call me Sister Yan next time," Tang Yan retorted proudly, refusing to be outdone.