Cao Cao deceived me—he must be a lecherous old man

Grandpa Tong rubbed his nose, not daring to disturb his elder sister's train of thought.

Until—

"Today’s like a knife to the butt—what an eye-opener!"

From the audience seats, a woman dressed in the 'Brothel Queen' skin descended.

The outfit was flashy, expensive, and easy on the eyes.

Grandpa Tong naturally recognized her—his sister’s half-bestie.

"Sister Xu, what’s the verdict?"

Grandpa Tong looked at the Brothel Queen with eager eyes.

"What verdict?"

The Brothel Queen narrowed her eyes and smirked. "Little Tong, are your eyes working? Didn’t you see what just happened?"

"I humbly seek your wisdom…"

Grandpa Tong was ever the diligent student, unashamed to ask. "I really didn’t get how my sister’s Heaven-Earth Reversal was countered just now… How is that even possible?"

Alas, martial arts weren’t his forte.

"Because the opponent’s Thousand-Army Spear Technique has reached the pinnacle of mastery—Return to Simplicity."

Sister Xu, the Brothel Queen, stretched lazily before explaining.

Grandpa Tong froze:

"That martial realm actually exists?"

He’d always assumed the Martial Arts Federation made it up just to pad their rankings.

"Of course it exists."

The Brothel Queen continued, "At that level, any move from a martial art can transform the mundane into the miraculous. Even the most basic techniques can rival advanced ones in power and effect."

"That guy just now turned the tables, disarming her bare-handed and effortlessly breaking the Heaven-Earth Reversal."

"It proves his Thousand-Army Spear Technique has truly achieved Return to Simplicity."

"Though… no one’s ever reached that level with the Thousand-Army Spear Technique before."

"This battlefield art was supposedly forged by its creator after decades of combat experience."

"To reach such a realm…"

Grandpa Tong understood.

Internally, he was screaming holy shit.

If that was the case, then winning the first round would’ve been a breeze.

No—winning anytime would’ve been easy.

The Brothel Queen glanced at Grandpa Tong:

"Where’d you dig up this old master? Now your sister’s got a full-blown inferiority complex."

"President Yan, care to share how it feels to get utterly crushed?"

She mimed holding a microphone up to the crane-like woman’s lips.

"Old master?" Grandpa Tong hesitated. "He’s not some elder… His vitality reads like a high schooler’s. Maybe there’s a mistake?"

"A high schooler? You think your sister’s buying that?"

Grandpa Tong looked at his sister.

She didn’t speak, only turning to him and saying:

"Give me his contact."

"Oho~" The Brothel Queen chuckled. "First time I’ve seen you initiate a friend request… You really think he’s a student?"

"Doesn’t matter…" The crane-like woman clenched her fists. "I just want to fight him again."

"But you can’t win."

"Even if I can’t, I still want to fight."

"……"

Grandpa Tong rubbed his nose and forwarded the friend request.

"Actually, I know a way you can beat him." The Brothel Queen suddenly spoke up.

Both turned to her.

"You?" The crane-like woman frowned. "I could beat you with one hand tied. How would you beat him?"

The Brothel Queen nodded, smirking proudly:

"Oh, there’s a way."

"Let’s hear it."

"Look at his username."

"‘Cao Cao Ruined Me’… So?"

"So?" The Brothel Queen rolled her eyes. "Cao Cao was a notorious horndog in history. If this guy names himself after him, he’s probably cut from the same cloth."

"Next time you fight him, wear something skimpy—show off the goods a little."

"When he’s distracted—"

Before she could finish—

"Get lost!"

Grandpa Tong listened silently, thinking, Sister Xu, you’re truly shameless.

Too bad the guy wouldn’t fall for it…

Ahem.

After all, he’d already tested the waters with his sister’s photos.

"By the way, sis, what was that about you being injured?"

Grandpa Tong suddenly remembered and asked.

Injuries in reality would reflect in-game.

But he hadn’t noticed a thing.

Even the Brothel Queen looked at the crane-like woman in confusion.

"Nothing. He was bluffing." Her expression remained calm.

Yet inwardly, waves of shock rippled through her.

She was injured.

But not the usual kind—something even those closest to her hadn’t detected…

In real life, she sparred daily with countless opponents.

None of them had noticed a thing!

Yet some random online swordsman, after just two virtual duels, could tell?

How?

Even if he had some vision-based martial talent, there was no way to see real-world conditions through a screen.

Unless… it was just a lucky guess?

But she hadn’t shown any tells during their fights.

Who the hell is this guy?

For the first time in ages, curiosity burned inside her.

---

"Been a while since I held a spear…"

Wang Xian lay on his bed, reminiscing.

The Thousand-Army Spear Technique…

His most enduring basic martial art from his past life.

A battlefield art, and the first spear technique he’d ever learned.

Even after reaching the pinnacle of mastery and wielding a national treasure-level spear art with his late-blooming talent, he’d never forgotten this one.

To him,

It was the true "white moonlight" of spear techniques.

Of course, he’d mastered other spear arts to the Return to Simplicity realm too.

After a moment, he sighed, suddenly feeling indifferent.

"Blade techniques are more fun these days…"

---

The next morning.

After his usual workout, Wang Xian arrived at school.

No sooner had he sat down than he spotted two letters in his desk drawer, sealed with ♥.

"Love letters…"

He felt a pang of nostalgia.

I actually got love letters now.

No doubt yesterday’s spectacle was the cause.

"Don’t get too excited. Two of those are from me," Zhou Xukun said beside him.

"?"

"Just wanted to surprise you."

"More like traumatize me."

Zhou Xukun grinned:

"After yesterday’s drama, wouldn’t it be sad if you didn’t get at least one love letter?"

Then he sighed enviously.

No high schooler could steal the spotlight like that.

Heroic commendation, a master's favor.

Tch—even if Zhou Xukun relived high school ten times, he’d never pull it off.

"Out with it. Who’s the middleman gig for, and what’s your cut?"

"Three hundred per letter." Zhou Xukun laughed, then coughed. "One’s from Class 7, the other Class 11. Both knew I’d see you first…"

"Previewed them for you—those girls are way too wild. You’d drown."

"Better let me handle them."

"……"

Wang Xian chuckled, brushing it off.

Today, he could feel the shift in his classmates’ gazes.

But it didn’t faze him.

In a week or two—maybe even days—everyone would be back to the same old grind.

---

And so, over a month later.

January 17, 2025.

The first semester of senior year neared its end.

On this day—

"Li Zihang, Chen Yuting, Zhou Xukun…"

On the podium, Cui Sanyan spoke with a calm expression, "The three of you have passed the Martial Arts Class assessment."

The trio below collectively let out a sigh of relief.

Two days before the semester ended, the school conducted one final simple test for the class representatives.

All of them passed.

After all, they had received additional guidance from a grandmaster.

Wang Xian, however, did not participate in the test.

To be precise, after the grandmaster's demonstration that day, the school had already approved his early admission into the Martial Arts Class.

"Tomorrow marks the start of the break,"

Cui Sanyan addressed the students below, "The winter vacation only lasts a month. Once this month is over, there will be less than four months left until the college entrance exams. I hope none of you treat this as an excuse to slack off in your training just because it's a holiday."

"Additionally, the four of you who joined the Martial Arts Class will have one day off. Report back the day after tomorrow for additional training arrangements."

For the Martial Arts Speed Class, winter vacation was an opportunity not to be wasted.

If you want to outpace others, you must put in more time and effort than they do.