{Chapter: 133 An agreement with Chi Qian!}
Call Him Master?
Uh…
Chi Qian's expression stiffened. In an instant, all her previous shyness vanished, replaced by an awkward realization—she had lost.
She hadn't technically surrendered, but being unable to break free from Lin Yuan's armlock was as good as admitting defeat. Until now, her mind had been preoccupied with the physical contact and the strange discomfort it brought her, but now she had to acknowledge the reality of her situation.
She had underestimated him.
Chi Qian had been confident in her abilities. She had sparred countless times, trained rigorously, and even learned advanced techniques from her aunt. She was prepared for Lin Yuan's counterattacks, or so she thought. But when he moved, his execution was sharp, his response swift and precise. It was almost as if he had reached the realm of great perfection, a level that only true masters in martial arts could attain.
But… that was ridiculous, right?
Lin Yuan was intelligent and a fast learner, but reaching that level in such a short time was impossible.
Her loss could only be attributed to two things: her own carelessness and Lin Yuan's natural physical advantage. Strength-wise, he had the upper hand. If he had tightened his grip and refused to let go, maybe she could have broken free with the right technique. Maybe. But at that moment… she wasn't so sure.
Chi Qian sighed internally. There was no way to back out now.
With some reluctance, she finally opened her mouth and called out, "Master… Master Lin…"
Hearing those words, Lin Yuan's expression shifted, but not in satisfaction. Instead, his face twisted into something resembling confusion and amusement.
"Why does it sound like you're calling for a footwasher?" Lin Yuan asked, raising an eyebrow.
(Translator's note: Chi Qian called Lin Yuan Shi Chuan, which sounds similar to footwasher in Chinese.)
"Pfft!"
Chi Qian couldn't help but burst into laughter, covering her mouth as she chuckled. The tension in the air instantly eased.
She had said the word reluctantly, but Lin Yuan's reaction was unexpectedly humorous. Even she had to admit—it did sound a little funny.
Taking advantage of the lighter mood, Chi Qian smirked slightly and replied, "Well then, if that's the case, you shouldn't have insisted I call you 'Master' in the first place."
But before Lin Yuan could respond, she quickly added, "And besides, I only lost because I was a little careless. If you're ever in a real fight, don't let a small victory get to your head. You should always be cautious."
Chi Qian's words carried a hint of reluctance. She was making excuses for herself, implying that Lin Yuan's win wasn't entirely because of his skill.
Lin Yuan, seeing through her thoughts, only smiled. "Oh? Does that mean you want a rematch, Miss Chi?"
He could tell she wasn't fully convinced. While her skills were undoubtedly exceptional, he now possessed divine-level fighting techniques. If they were to go at it again, he was certain he could win every single time.
However, Chi Qian shook her head and replied, "Forget it. Let's not fight for now. I'm feeling… a little uncomfortable."
She instinctively placed a hand over her chest, still feeling a lingering soreness and numbness from earlier. Not to mention, the sensation of Lin Yuan gripping her wrist and overpowering her was still fresh in her mind. It was a strange feeling, and she wasn't entirely sure how to process it.
Lin Yuan, noticing her subtle reaction, smirked but didn't comment.
Chi Qian cleared her throat and continued, "Come back in three days, and we'll have a serious match then."
Her tone was firm, her determination clear. This wasn't over yet.
Lin Yuan chuckled and nodded. "Alright. Three days from now, we'll have a real match."
Since she still refused to admit defeat, he was happy to give her another chance. Besides, he still had a lot of advanced fighting techniques he had yet to showcase.
That single armlock alone had already made Chi Qian's delicate porcelain face flush red. It would be interesting to see how she reacted to more intense physical combat.
However, for now, it was time to change gears.
"I was planning to head over to the shooting range for some target practice. What about you?" Chi Qian suddenly asked.
The Wushi Fighting Club wasn't just for martial arts; it also had a state-of-the-art shooting range where members could train with real firearms. While many people came here for hand-to-hand combat, just as many were here to practice their marksmanship.
Lin Yuan had been interested in firearms for some time now. No matter how skilled someone was in martial arts, in a real fight, modern weaponry always held the advantage.
After all, no matter how great your martial arts skills are, one bullet is all it takes to end everything.
Everyone is a gangster… until someone pulls out a gun.
Lin Yuan nodded and replied, "Sounds good. But I don't know much about guns, so I might have to trouble you to teach me."
Chi Qian smiled. "No problem."
Despite being someone who usually kept her distance from others, she felt unexpectedly at ease with Lin Yuan.
Teaching him didn't feel like a chore. In fact, she found herself looking forward to it.
However, she sighed internally, knowing that in terms of shooting, she wouldn't be able to beat Lin Yuan as easily as she had planned to with hand-to-hand combat.
Well… there would be plenty of opportunities to put Young Master Lin in his place.
Chi Qian already regarded Lin Yuan as an opponent worth competing against. Each victory, no matter how small, brought her a sense of satisfaction.
Together, the two of them walked out of the private training room. Their clothes were slightly disheveled from the intense sparring, and Chi Qian's delicate skin still held a faint rosy hue from all the exertion.
Lin Yuan paid no mind to their appearance and casually called for Shi Shengnan, who had been guarding the door earlier.
Then, with Chi Qian leading the way, they made their way to the shooting range of the Wushi Fighting Club.
The shooting range was massive, fully equipped with an impressive arsenal of firearms. Compared to close combat, Shi Shengnan's skills with guns were only average, so Lin Yuan instructed her to practice on her own while he and Chi Qian headed toward a designated shooting booth.
Chi Qian casually picked up a sleek pistol, inspecting it with practiced ease before turning to Lin Yuan.
"Have you ever handled a gun before?" she asked.
Lin Yuan shook his head. "Nope. But I used to use a slingshot to shoot birds when I was a kid."
"Pfft."
Chi Qian laughed, amused by his response.
Still chuckling, she handed him a pistol and began explaining its mechanics. "This is a Beretta. It's lightweight, has a fast firing rate, and is relatively safe to carry. The magazine holds 15 rounds…"
As she patiently guided Lin Yuan through the basics, an unfamiliar voice suddenly interrupted.
"Hey! What a coincidence, classmate Chi Qian!"
A man approached them enthusiastically, his eyes lighting up the moment he saw Chi Qian.
It was Gao Feiyang.
His excitement was clear as he greeted Chi Qian warmly, but despite his enthusiastic demeanor, there was an unmistakable hint of hostility in his gaze when he looked at Lin Yuan.
Chi Qian, who had been in the middle of teaching Lin Yuan, gave Gao Feiyang a brief, indifferent glance before replying politely, "Oh. What a coincidence."
Then, without sparing him another second of attention, she turned back to Lin Yuan and continued teaching him how to properly hold and aim the pistol.
Gao Feiyang's smile stiffened.
It was clear she had zero interest in him.
But that didn't mean he was going to back down.
And so, the battle of wits and presence between men began.
****
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