Chapter 78: It Is Indeed Your Uncle Zhang

"I'll donate!" Liu Qiang had no doubts about what Zhang Xiaofan said. The Liu family wanted to ruin Zhang Xiaofan, but in the end Liu Xiao died, and even the Dragon Master they hired was killed. Any fool could figure out that it was related to Zhang Xiaofan!

So, he didn't dare.

"Now that's better. You can get lost," Zhang Xiaofan said coldly.

Liu Qiang was greatly relieved. He immediately scrambled up and ran out, regretting his actions bitterly. Why did he come here? Why did he insist on making trouble? One hundred million, just gone like that.

"How have you been lately?" Having dealt with Liu Qiang, Zhang Xiaofan turned to Bai Qi.

Bai Qi replied, "Pretty good. Since you gave me guidance, my strength has improved a lot."

"Keep it up. Reach the Transcendent Realm soon, then you'll truly be considered an initiate," Zhang Xiaofan said.

Bai Qi nodded. During this time, he had learned about the basic classifications of martial cultivation, and the Transcendent Realm was indeed just the entry level.

He also yearned for it. With Zhang Xiaofan's breathing technique, he felt himself steadily approaching that threshold, ever closer.

That was why he revered Zhang Xiaofan so much.

"Xiaofan, you're here. Come, take the honored seat."

At that moment, Feng Qingyang approached. Though he was much older than Zhang Xiaofan, his strength was far inferior, so he spoke with great respect.

Of course, to the teachers and students of the university, it was a completely different matter. Feng Qingyang’s status at the university was equal to that of the principal—even if Zhang Xiaofan was a campus legend, he shouldn’t be treated so reverently. The honored seat was reserved for only a select few.

Zhang Xiaofan smiled and walked over. Feng Qingyang warmly received him, and gave instructions that the banquet could begin.

Music played, and the host spoke for a while, mostly words of encouragement.

"I’m going to take a walk," Zhang Xiaofan said to Feng Qingyang after eating a bit. He really didn’t feel like dining with all these old men.

After rising, Zhang Xiaofan found Ouyang Xue, whose table was mostly filled with students from Senior Class 2—Yin Rou Rou, Zhu Jianlong, and others whose names he recognized but couldn't quite remember.

Seeing Zhang Xiaofan approaching, Ouyang Xue smiled and said, "Xiaofan, are you here to toast the teachers?"

Zhang Xiaofan grinned, "Yes, but I wonder if Sister Ouyang will drink?"

"Who says I won't? Come, cheers!" Ouyang Xue was unusually bold today. Rarely drinking, she poured a glass of white liquor and downed it in one go.

Zhang Xiaofan chuckled. He hadn’t brought a glass, so he looked to the side and saw Yin Rou Rou’s glass on the table. Without thinking, he took it, poured himself a drink, and downed three glasses in succession.

As a man, you have to be generous.

Yin Rou Rou blushed. The glass had been used by her—didn’t that count as an indirect kiss?

Zhang Xiaofan had no idea what Yin Rou Rou was thinking. He simply grabbed a stool and sat beside her. Being with his own classmates felt much more comfortable, and there was a beauty nearby.

"Class President Yin, which university are you applying to?" Zhang Xiaofan asked after sitting down.

"I... I’m not planning to leave Jinghai, so I’ll stay at Jinghai University," Yin Rou Rou replied softly.

"That’s good, no need to leave your hometown," Zhang Xiaofan nodded.

Originally a table for thirteen, Zhang Xiaofan squeezed in, making it a bit crowded, so he and Yin Rou Rou sat quite close.

Feeling Zhang Xiaofan’s presence, Yin Rou Rou’s heart beat wildly. Ever since he saved her last time, she had fallen for him—an unspoken crush. Even today, seeing him again, she didn’t dare confess.

Her father had told her that Zhang Xiaofan was an extraordinary person—even Jinghai’s underground boss, Dragon Three, had been defeated by him.

"Xiaofan, did you really become a bodyguard?" Ouyang Xue’s cheeks were flushed from the alcohol, making her look alluring.

"Yes, all alone. I have to earn a living," Zhang Xiaofan smiled.

"I don’t believe you’re short of money," Ouyang Xue rolled her eyes. "You haven’t even called your teacher."

Zhang Xiaofan wanted to say, "Does the teacher miss me?"

But with so many people around, he had to keep a low profile.

They chatted casually, and soon it was past nine. The gathering was nearly over, and the school leaders handed out some scholarships.

After the event, Feng Qingyang, Bai Qi, Ouyang Xue, and Yin Rou Rou all came out to see Zhang Xiaofan off.

"You rascal, come back and visit when you have time, you know? Rou Rou has been missing you..." Ouyang Xue, perhaps emboldened by the alcohol, blurted out without thinking, then immediately realized she might have said too much.

"Ouyang Teacher..." Yin Rou Rou pouted coyly.

Zhang Xiaofan just laughed, "It’s nothing. Even I am enamored with my own handsomeness; it’s only natural for Rou Rou to miss me."

"Shameless," Ouyang Xue glared at him, though her own heart was in turmoil. Lately, she herself had been thinking about this student who was a few years younger than her. Truly... Ouyang Xue felt she was falling.

Feng Qingyang smiled, then glanced to another corner, where the icy beauty Yue Hen was secretly watching Zhang Xiaofan. Feng Qingyang sighed.

The aura surrounding Zhang Xiaofan was dazzling—no wonder women liked him. He himself had been so admired when young.

They reached the parking area; Yin Rou Rou had been driven here by her chauffeur. As she walked toward her car, Zhang Xiaofan sensed something amiss.

It was an instinctive alertness. He called, "Rou Rou, wait."

"Ah?" Hearing Zhang Xiaofan's voice, Yin Rou Rou stopped and turned, puzzled—was he going to offer to drive her home?

Zhang Xiaofan strode over, and the uneasy feeling grew stronger. He pulled Yin Rou Rou behind him, then shouted toward a shadowed corner, "Come out."

Yin Rou Rou was bewildered—what was happening?

Just as she wondered, a group of people emerged from the dark corner ahead—more than ten of them. Her driver was already bound, his mouth taped, struggling desperately.

Yin Rou Rou’s expression changed. Her boss had assigned her a driver who was a retired special forces soldier; how had he been subdued so easily?

"Kid, you'd best mind your own business," the leader said—a middle-aged man in a blue tank top, jeans, and heavy boots, his face marked with several knife scars, his eyes cold and sharp like an eagle.

"Oh? I insist on meddling," Zhang Xiaofan retorted with a cold snort, though he wondered about Yin Rou Rou’s identity—what had brought these people after her?

These men were obviously gangsters, and not the ordinary kind; their presence suggested they were skilled.

"Then we'll cripple you!" the scarred man barked.

"Go ahead, try," Zhang Xiaofan said with a light laugh. Numbers meant nothing to him.

He slowly raised his head and looked at the scarred man, then grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, before suddenly launching a punch—

The scarred man was startled, clearly not expecting this guy to attack so abruptly, nor such speed!

And up close, he felt this person looked familiar.

Sensing the terrifying force behind the punch, the scarred man tried to dodge, but couldn't evade the blow. With a loud smack, Zhang Xiaofan’s fist struck his nose, and blood immediately streamed from his nostrils.

"Quite skilled, to have dodged a little," Zhang Xiaofan was slightly surprised. His punch should have shattered the opponent’s nose, but he’d managed to avoid the worst—only bleeding!

"You’re looking for death..." Wiping the blood from his nose, Liu Feng pointed at Zhang Xiaofan and cursed.

"Heh, then do it, kill me if you can!" Zhang Xiaofan laughed coldly, unafraid.

"Let me handle this... none of you can beat him," Just as Liu Feng was about to attack Zhang Xiaofan recklessly, a cold voice sounded from the back of the group.

"Mr. Tianye," Liu Feng immediately became respectful upon hearing it.

"Please, Mr. Tianye, cripple this punk. Longteng will be forever grateful," Liu Feng stepped back, knowing he was no match for this young man.

"Longteng?" Zhang Xiaofan’s eyes narrowed—were these men also Dragon Three’s subordinates?

He probed, "Are you Dragon Three’s men?"

"Kid, how dare you call Dragon Three ‘Master’?!" Liu Feng snapped angrily. Though Dragon Three was dead, they still respected him immensely.

"Heh," Zhang Xiaofan smiled, "If I told you I killed Dragon Three, would you believe it?"

"You?" Liu Feng scoffed, then suddenly recalled something, scrutinizing Zhang Xiaofan—his face changed drastically, "You... Are you that Zhang?"

"Exactly, your Grandmaster Zhang," Zhang Xiaofan replied calmly, "You lot have caused me no end of trouble lately. It’s time to settle the score."

At that moment, Mr. Tianye, who had been addressed earlier, looked at Zhang Xiaofan and said, "You truly are arrogant. I didn’t expect to meet you here. The world is small—this afternoon you beat up my brother. Now, let’s settle that debt."

"Oh? You’re that Tianji’s brother?" Zhang Xiaofan remarked lightly. He had little respect for the culture of that island nation—Tianji was the name of a certain animal in China, yet in Japan it was used as a surname.

"Yes, I am Kimura Tianye. Today, I formally challenge you!" Kimura Tianye said in a low voice, "A warrior of the empire is not permitted to be humiliated!"

With that, Kimura Tianye charged straight at Zhang Xiaofan...