Chapter 122: Ancient Martial Arts

Zhang Xiaofan’s expression remained unchanged, though a fierce fighting spirit surged within him. Ancient martial arts were vast and profound; Feng Conghu was one of the few people he had encountered who had pushed the Xingyi Quan style to such a level. Legend had it that a master of Xingyi Quan once achieved enlightenment through his craft, transcending the mortal realm and ascending to the heavens. Thus, even within Xingyi Quan, or indeed any simple punch or kick, one could achieve greatness if they truly grasped the underlying Dao.

His hands moved like a tempest, pushing the Dragon Claw Technique to its limit. "Wind-Catching Stance," "Shadow-Grabbing Stance," "Zither-Strumming Stance"—the eight variations of the Dragon Claw followed one after another, relentless and razor-sharp. Under Zhang Xiaofan’s counterattack, Feng Conghu was immediately thrown into disarray, struggling desperately to parry. While the Dragon Claw Technique was inherently fierce, Feng’s Tiger-Form Fist, though powerful, fell short in comparison. Zhang Xiaofan was not relying on his cultivation level to bully him; he was genuinely reveling in the pure, exhilarating execution of the Dragon Claw.

Witnessing this, the five young socialites and Feng’s subordinates turned pale, their expressions shifting in shock. This kid was incredibly strong! Feng Conghu, buried under the relentless assault, was even more stunned. To think this man had mastered the Dragon Claw to such a state of perfection! Perhaps only the old monsters from the ancient martial families could reach such a level. Who on earth was he?

Nearby, Xia Shihan watched with eyes shimmering with intrigue. It was the Dragon Claw! And the ancient martial version at that! To think this guy knew the Dragon Claw, and was so formidable at it. It seemed the person she had stumbled upon was no ordinary man; he must be a disciple of some ancient martial arts family! Hmph, that was perfect. She would find a way to make him her lackey—even if it meant using her feminine charms!

Back in the fray, Feng Conghu was finding it increasingly difficult to defend himself. Every strike from Zhang Xiaofan made Feng’s complexion grow more wretched. Finally, unable to withstand the overwhelming force of a claw strike, Feng spat out a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward. Feng Conghu had lost! This outsider had defeated the battle-crazed Feng Conghu? How could this be? Scorpion and the others, along with the five wealthy heirs, stood agape. Feng the Young Master of the North District, the invincible, had actually been defeated? They rubbed their eyes, desperate to confirm they hadn't seen wrong. This level of strength was heart-stopping. It was easy to imagine that news of Feng’s defeat would spread like wildfire.

The five young socialites were now gripped by terror. Remembering Zhang Xiaofan’s ruthlessness, a chill ran through them. They began to retreat, hoping to reach their cars and escape.

"Thinking of leaving? Did you ask me first?" Their small movements did not escape Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes. Moving with the speed of the wind, he darted over and blocked their path. The group trembled like mice before a cat.

"You lot have quite the temper, don't you? Finding people to take revenge for you? Getting others to stand up for you?" Zhang Xiaofan said coldly. He unleashed a series of kicks, sending Wang Hao crashing to the ground, followed by the second, the third, and finally the fifth. Each kick was delivered with full force; the sound of joints popping was audible, and the five men shrieked in agony. Zhang Xiaofan didn't feel he was being too harsh; these people only respected force.

With them pinned to the ground, Zhang Xiaofan didn't stop. He stepped on Wang Hao, asking coldly, "Do you dare again?"

"Never again! I wouldn't dare even if I had a hundred guts!" Wang Hao practically screamed.

"Get lost!" Zhang Xiaofan kicked him away like a ball, though he held back just enough to avoid killing him. He then sent the remaining four flying with similar kicks.

Feng Conghu stood up, his heart filled with bitterness. He had truly lost, and so thoroughly. He cast a glance at Zhang Xiaofan and turned toward his car. "Young Master Feng..." Scorpion and the others hurried after him.

"Not bad, you're quite something. Even Feng Conghu is no match for you," Xia Shihan said with a smile. "It won't be long before your name is known throughout the North District."

"Is that so? That sounds like a hassle..." Zhang Xiaofan said helplessly. He truly didn't want to be famous. If a crowd of people came to challenge him, he would be bored to death.

"Alright, you can come home with me now. You can officially start your job," Xia Shihan said seriously.

"Go home with you? Isn't that moving a bit fast?" Zhang Xiaofan said with an innocent look.

"Smooth talker. Hurry up. I just got off the plane and have been dragged around by you. I need to go home and get some beauty sleep," she said, stretching. It was a tempting pose, and Zhang Xiaofan took the opportunity to look her over—long legs like white jade, and while her bust was on the smaller side, it was still well-proportioned and had a certain charm. As for her face, it was stunning, with delicate makeup, watery eyes, and cherry lips that made one want to take a bite.

"What are you looking at? Never seen a beauty before?" Sensing his gaze, Xia Shihan rolled her eyes.

"I haven't just seen one; I've even been with one. Do you believe me?" Zhang Xiaofan teased.

"Pfft, you look like a total virgin to me. Stop blowing smoke. Come on, let's go home, big brother," she said dismissively before heading to her Mercedes.

Zhang Xiaofan hesitated for a moment. Should he follow? A voice in his head insisted, *If there's a girl to chase, only a fool wouldn't follow.* So, he followed. He had, in some bizarre twist of fate, become a bodyguard—and apparently, a driver too.

He climbed into his Hummer and followed her red Mercedes onto the road. Just as he left, inside a car nearby:

"That brat actually came to the Capital. Brother Qin, should I have someone..." The speaker was Cao Li, who had been kicked by Zhang Xiaofan in the Capital some time ago.

"No need. The elders of the Dragon Soul Hall already warned me about your little trip to Jinghai, so we should keep a low profile. Besides, I want to see what kind of trouble this kid can stir up. He has quite the courage to come to the Capital," replied a handsome man of about twenty-five with sharp, sword-like brows. He was Qin Tianyu, hailed as the greatest genius of the Dragon Soul. At twenty-five, he had reached the Void-Breaking Realm and entered the Dragon Soul Hall—an unprecedented feat.

"If I recall correctly, Feng Conghu has a senior brother, right?" Qin Tianyu said, his eyes glinting with a sharp, cold light. Though a member of the Dragon Soul, he enjoyed absolute freedom and was well-versed in the politics of the Capital.

"He does, but I fear he might not be a match for this kid. I must admit, he is improving rapidly. An average person really cannot deal with someone at the late stage of the Spirit-Opening Realm," Cao Li said, unaware that Zhang Xiaofan was already approaching the peak of that stage.

"It doesn't matter. The goal isn't to defeat him directly; it's to make him offend more people. Do you understand? Once he does, we won't even need to lift a finger—others will be lining up for his head. In a place like the Capital, even I don't dare act too brazenly, let alone him," Qin Tianyu said with a meaningful smile.

"Heh, as expected of Brother Qin," Cao Li laughed, then his expression darkened. "That was the eldest lady of the Xia family, wasn't it? It’s not good that this kid is mixed up with her..."

"No matter, she’s just a woman. How much say does she really have in the Xia family?" Qin Tianyu chuckled darkly. "That kid is born to be broken. Dealing with a few socialites is nothing. I want to see how he manages to run wild in the Capital..."