Chapter 26: Come On! Face Me Head-On!

A few stewards spoke one after another, and Xu Qingshan’s expression had already darkened, but for the sake of appearances, he could not lash out. Su Mingzhe, that old fox, hadn’t leaked a single word! Had he known Su Yao would return for the competition, what place would there be for Xiang Nan? Even if Xiang Nan possessed the genius of Huang Feihong, it could hardly compare—Su Yao had achieved the ancestral breakthrough at sixteen, and she was already a grandmaster of martial arts. Now, at nineteen, the gap between them could only be described as a chasm—one impossible to cross. Forget it, participation is what matters! Xu Qingshan’s spirit had crumbled.

On the stage. Xiang Nan’s expression remained unchanged as he regarded Su Yao with curiosity. She looked no older than eighteen or nineteen, yet her posture and technique signaled a second-tier cultivation, and certainly not at a low level. He secretly admired her. At that moment, Su Yao herself was filled with surprise and doubt. Xiang Nan’s cultivation was clearly only at the first tier, yet his counterattack against Gu Shaoqing had been flawless. Even she might not have evaded the golden needle web and launched a forceful counter so quickly and precisely. On the continent of Jiuzhou, geniuses indeed abounded. Still, Su Yao was confident she could defeat Xiang Nan before her.

This had nothing to do with Su Mingzhe’s plan to lead the Eagle Alliance—it was simply that she had encountered an opponent who ignited her fighting spirit.

Su Yao’s cat-like eyes lifted as she teased, “I heard your ointments are quite effective. Did you prepare some for yourself?”

Xiang Nan smiled calmly. “Since it’s just the two of us, let’s not go too hard, shall we? You’re a beautiful woman—hurting you would weigh on my conscience.”

Su Yao laughed as well. “Who knew you’d be so tender-hearted?”

Xiang Nan replied, “Depends on my mood! You saved me earlier—I won’t forget that favor.”

“So you think you’ll definitely win?”

“Isn’t that so?”

“Do you know many men have met their end underestimating women?”

“If you wish it, I could meet my end at your hands. But with so many people here, I fear it might be inconvenient for you.”

As he spoke the latter half, Xiang Nan lowered his voice and threw her a flirtatious wink. He spread his hands. “Come on, face me head-on!”

Su Yao’s cheeks instantly flushed. Only then did she realize her words had been ill-chosen.

By now, the crowd below had caught the undertones.

“Brother Nan is a real man! ‘Meet my end at your hands’—I can picture it already!”

“No way, something’s wrong with me!”

“Damn! Damn! ‘Face me head-on!’ Is Brother Nan giving us live instruction?”

“Let go of that girl—let me at it!”

“This is off the rails, totally off the rails!”

“Go for it! I want to see it!”

The surrounding crowd jeered and cheered, making Su Yao’s ears burn redder still.

Su Yao puffed her cheeks in anger. “Smooth talker! If I don’t teach you a lesson, I’m not a Su!”

Before the words had finished, Su Yao launched herself like a wildcat.

The crowd: “Damn! She really went head-on! Brother Nan, don’t flinch—go for it! We support you!”

Halfway through her leap, Su Yao heard this and nearly tumbled from midair. What outrageous, bold words—straight to the soul!

Seeing Su Yao charge like a wildcat, Xiang Nan instantly retreated more than ten meters, deftly dodging her attack.

Su Yao landed on empty ground, her two “cat paws” slashing at the floor. The cement instantly yielded two potholes.

Xiang Nan was stunned. “Damn! Isn’t that the long-lost Dragon Claw technique? And you call me a smooth talker—aren’t you being shameless in public?”

As he spoke, Su Yao had already bounced up again, attacking Xiang Nan once more. Her fierce cat claws seemed to tear the very air apart.

This wildcat was powerful!

Xiang Nan darted aside, raising his staff to block Su Yao’s claws.

“Rip—”

The thick wooden staff was gouged with two crescent-shaped marks by Su Yao’s forceful grip.

In midair, Su Yao spun and delivered a kick, snapping the staff instantly.

Even Xiang Nan’s hands tingled from the shock as he gripped the staff.

What power! Had those claws landed on him, they might have torn away a swathe of flesh.

This wildcat’s strikes were fierce and ruthless!

Xiang Nan dared not underestimate her, tossing away the broken staff. His fists clenched, wind howling.

Midair, the wildcat twisted again, launching herself at him.

Xiang Nan’s spiritual energy surged between his brows, power filling his body. He swung his fist, meeting her attack head-on.

The Tiger-subduing Fist—this punch could knock down a tiger, let alone a cat.

His fist crashed through the air with a roar.

Just as it was about to collide with Su Yao’s claws, she suddenly sidestepped, evading his punch. Her claw struck backward, leaving a row of crimson marks on Xiang Nan’s forearm.

The shift was so sharp that the naked eye couldn’t catch how Su Yao managed it.

Even Xiang Nan was startled, forced to improvise in the moment. His punch turned into a grab, reaching for Su Yao’s chest.

Damn! So soft! So full!

That sensation—he couldn’t bear to use force.

He relaxed his grip, catching only Su Yao’s shirt. Her cropped T-shirt was pulled off.

With her top gone, Su Yao spun out of range, retreating ten meters in a graceful, one-knee pose, hands lightly braced, torso arched perfectly.

So fair! So fierce!

From this angle, Su Yao’s flawless figure was revealed completely.

Beneath her T-shirt, she wore a black leather undergarment, fitting her figure just right.

The crowd went wild, many starting to gush nosebleeds.

“This is too exciting! My poor heart can’t take it!”

“Nonsense! Is it your heart or something else that can’t take it?”

“Damn! That pose—I love it, love it!”

“Brother Nan is giving us a treat!”

“Sob, sob… Why am I not the one on stage?”

“Just wanna ask, how did it feel, Brother Nan?”

In the crowd, Xu Jiya clenched her fists, brows deeply furrowed.

Both Xiang Nan and Su Yao were people she cared about—whoever won or lost, her heart was torn.

Seeing Su Yao embarrassed, Xu Jiya quickly took off her jacket and tossed it to the ring.

“Su Yao, catch!”

But Su Yao smiled calmly, “No need!”

She was not a conservative person—three years studying abroad had broadened her horizons, filling her with wildness and confidence.

Was she supposed to fear compliments for her figure?

Without the constraints of her T-shirt, she could show off her skills even more.

She raised one hand, and something seemed to shoot from her fingertips as she soared into the air.

Xiang Nan was still regretting his excessive action in grabbing her shirt.

He looked up—Su Yao was already above him.

Suddenly—

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—”

Countless tiny short swords rained down from above, aiming straight for Xiang Nan’s face.