“Hmm?” Xiao Xiao turned around to find a tattooed man standing behind her, a faint smile on his face.
“Hold up, everyone. Listen to me first,” Qiao Jiajin called out, waving to someone in the distance. “Hey, you there, kick that rock down first. Don’t want anyone tripping over it.”
“Get lost,” Xiao Xiao retorted, ignoring him and shoving him hard.
Unexpectedly, the moment she reached out, he swiftly grabbed her forearm and yanked her forward. A palm, slicing through the air like a gust of wind, stopped just inches from her chin.
The sheer force of the wind from his palm alone brushed against her face.
Had he not stopped, Xiao Xiao would have been knocked out cold.
The rooftop was silent except for the howling wind, the tension thick in the air.
Qiao Jiajin smirked and slowly withdrew his hand, looking troubled. “What a headache… My first opponent’s a girl. I swore to Lord Guan—no fighting the weak, elderly, women, or children.”
Xiao Xiao’s expression darkened as she yanked her hand back.
What the hell was that palm strike just now?
If that monstrous force had actually hit her chin, wouldn’t she have died instantly?
A fluke?
This scruffy-looking man had casually swung at her but held back. Was he bluffing?
Countless thoughts raced through Xiao Xiao’s mind, her face twisting in confusion.
She slowly lowered her stance, stretching her legs.
Whether he was bluffing or not, her next move had to send him flying off the bridge. Otherwise, their encirclement would fail, and her two teammates would be in danger.
Qiao Jiajin spoke up, “Hey, big girl, if you don’t wanna get hurt, step back. Let our team’s kung fu girl spar with you later. I’ve got two losers to deal with first.”
“You won’t get the chance,” Xiao Xiao said, rising from her stretch and cracking her knuckles. “If you can’t even take me down, forget about crossing this bridge.”
“Hmm… Why so stubborn?”
Xiao Xiao didn’t answer. Instead, she lunged forward, aiming to tackle Qiao Jiajin.
She knew she outweighed him—if she could land a grapple, he wouldn’t stand a chance.
In the blink of an eye, Xiao Xiao closed the gap, her arms clamping around his waist like pincers.
Qiao Jiajin’s expression turned icy. He stepped back with both legs, evading her grasp, then leaned forward, his right hand locking around her neck.
Now at a 45-degree angle, their bodies locked in a diagonal standoff, their strength evenly matched.
Xiao Xiao hadn’t expected him to be so skilled in combat. She quickly shifted tactics, abandoning the waist grab and striking at his armpit instead.
Qiao Jiajin switched from palm to fist, intercepting her arm with a straight punch. He then shifted his weight back, taking two large steps and yanking Xiao Xiao face-first onto the ground.
Xiao Xiao groaned as she hit the floor, pain flaring through her body. Worse, Qiao Jiajin kept pressing down on her neck, making it hard to breathe.
She threw wild hooks from the right, aiming for Qiao Jiajin.
But the man was too experienced—every single punch was blocked just before it landed.
After over a dozen swings, Xiao Xiao felt her stamina draining fast, her vision blurring at the edges.
“Had enough, big girl?” Qiao Jiajin asked.
Xiao Xiao gritted her teeth. “No.”
“Why won’t you listen?” Qiao Jiajin glanced at her muscular frame. “With strength like yours, why not do something heroic?”
“Heroic? Are you insane?” Xiao Xiao shoved at him again, still trapped.
Before Qiao Jiajin could reply, he suddenly felt something tighten around his neck. His vision blacked out.
Coughing, he immediately let go and swung his arms, thinking someone had attacked from behind—but there was no one there.
What the hell was that choking sensation just now?
Seeing her “Frame-Up” ability take effect, Xiao Xiao smirked and sprang to her feet, delivering a front kick aimed straight at Qiao Jiajin’s stomach.
She expected him to go down without a fight, but even with his eyes closed, Qiao Jiajin caught her foot mid-air.
Guessing her position from her trapped foot, he countered with a low side kick to her other knee, then lifted and shoved her foot forward.
The towering Xiao Xiao lost her balance, crashing to the ground again.
Qiao Jiajin’s vision slowly cleared.
He realized he’d briefly blacked out from lack of oxygen, but the moment had passed.
“Your special ability?” He rolled his neck. “Not bad.”
“I underestimated you too,” Xiao Xiao admitted, rising slowly. “Now I’ll give you a real fight.”
Expressionless, Qiao Jiajin stripped off his shirt, revealing intricate dragon-and-phoenix tattoos.
“Like they say, three strikes and you’re out,” he said, tossing the shirt aside. “You’ve challenged me enough times—I won’t treat you like a girl anymore.”
“Good,” Xiao Xiao said, rubbing her sore knee. “I’ve always hated being seen as weak. This suits me fine.”
“You’ll regret it soon.” Qiao Jiajin shifted his stance, testing the steel beneath his feet with quick steps.
“Win or lose, I won’t regret it,” Xiao Xiao shot back. “Fighting someone this strong is an honor.”
Qiao Jiajin nodded. “Then let’s trade blows.”
……
Old Sun and the tall man had been at a standstill for a while, blocked from seeing the bridge by Zhang Shan.
“What’s going on with Xiao Xiao?” Old Sun craned his neck, but Zhang Shan stepped sideways to block his view again.
“Hey, your fight’s with us,” Zhang Shan said. “Step aside now if you wanna live.”
“Not happening,” Old Sun snapped, turning to the tall man. “Luo Shiyi, let’s move.”
The young man, Luo Shiyi, closed his eyes as a bell tolled in his mind.
“What level of service do you need?” he asked.
“Are you kidding me?!” Old Sun barked. “Full power! No holding back!”
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