Chen Guan VS Chen Beixuan

A roomy gymnasium filled with the sound of sharp, sucking gasps.

"Your strength isn't bad, and your sprint speed is passable."

Chen Beixuan looked down at Long Ao, who was still struggling with all his might.

"But your movement startup is far too long. Every punch you throw tells your opponent which part you're going to hit well in advance."

He released him and voluntarily stepped back half a step.

"Against an opponent who knows how to borrow and redirect your force, your strength is just a knife you're handing them to kill you."

Long Ao's face flushed bright red.

He'd underestimated the situation. This guy was clearly pretending to be weak. Are all men named Chen like this?

This unremarkable-looking new teacher had smashed the pride of every top student with overwhelming, absolute dominance.

[Is it over already? I thought there'd be some flashy, special effects-heavy fight scene.]

[A one-sided stomp is boring. Isn't this just a max-level boss going back to the starter zone to dunk on noobs?]

[Go on, Brother Coffin! Show him what a real freshman's worth! (smirking emoji)]

The barrage of comments in his field of vision started their usual rabble-rousing again, not missing a beat.

Chen Guan sighed helplessly. This kind of thing was something he always tried to avoid. He was just an ordinary first-year student.

Since the new teacher had already given a sufficient show of power to establish his authority, the next part should be routine physical training, right?

But as usual, the law of "things rarely go as planned" kicked in right on schedule.

Chen Beixuan dusted off his hands, though there wasn't a spec of dirt on them, and swept his oppressive gaze across the crowd for a long moment.

Finally, his eyes landed squarely on Chen Guan, who was standing in the farthest corner with the massive coffin strapped to his back.

"That student carrying the coffin."

Chen Beixuan raised his right hand and pointed directly at Chen Guan, his tone carrying a hint of undisguised mockery.

"I've noticed you sighing since class started. Do you have any differing opinions on my practical combat demonstration just now?"

All the students' gazes snapped to Chen Guan, following the direction of the pointing finger.

Long Ao, meanwhile, had adopted an idle posture, crossing his arms like he was settling in to watch a good show.

It wasn't exactly schadenfreude. He was just curious about Chen Guan's current strength, and he felt this new teacher might be just the one to force out his full abilities.

Chen Guan: "..."

The comments had led him astray!

Why was it so hard these days to just be an unremarkable, invisible student in school?

"Teacher, you misunderstand. I just didn't sleep well last night."

Chen Guan's tone was very polite, trying to brush the matter aside with the most ordinary excuse.

"Oh, so you didn't sleep well, huh."

Chen Beixuan drew out his words slowly as he began to walk in Chen Guan's direction.

"What a coincidence. Come on up here and stretch your limbs with me. I guarantee it'll cure your insomnia."

He stopped less than a meter away from Chen Guan, looking him up and down, his gaze lingering on the huge coffin.

"Even in a practical combat class, you're carrying this burdensome thing? Doesn't it get heavy? Oh, well done, you're even using black iron."

Chen Guan met the gaze of the sarcastic Chen Beixuan who was now standing right in front of him.

The oppressive feeling radiating from this man after he got close was several levels stronger than when he was in the center of the hall.

Chen Guan had no intention of taking off the coffin. "I recall the school doesn't prohibit it."

"Interesting."

Chen Beixuan took two large steps back, spreading his legs slightly to assume a stance ready to attack at any moment.

"Then bring that strange thing of yours up here. Let me see what real skills you have if you can act half-asleep in my class."

The audience's comments instantly flooded half of his field of vision, descending into a frenzy.

Seeing no escape, Chen Guan turned back and firmly gripped his weapon.

"First-year student, Chen Guan."

Chen Guan announced his name according to procedure.

"Chen Guan? That's somewhat interesting. I've heard of you."

Chen Beixuan let out a light laugh. This time, he didn't passively wait for an attack like he had with Long Ao. He chose to strike first.

Chen Beixuan's linear speed was more than twice as fast as when he had dealt with Long Ao moments ago.

He closed the distance between him and Chen Guan in an instant, his raised right hand forming a powerful, unyielding hand blade that slashed viciously toward the right side of Chen Guan's neck.

Chen Guan had no intention of retreating or dodging.

He gripped the long handle of his scythe with both hands, holding it firmly in front of his chest. A dull, piercing sound of metal colliding with flesh and bone echoed through the empty gymnasium.

Chen Beixuan's hand blade struck the dead center of the scythe's metal shaft.

The massive opposing force transferred directly through the handle. Chen Guan felt both his tiger's mouths go numb and sore.

This man in cloth shoes had a physical strength that was absurdly unreasonable.

Chen Guan used the force to slide back smoothly for a short distance. The moment he created some space, he didn't hesitate to swing the huge scythe.

The sharp black blade aimed straight for Chen Beixuan's completely unguarded side.

Chen Beixuan didn't dodge or flinch. Just as the edge of the scythe was about to slice through the fabric of his plaid shirt, his body folded in an unnatural contortion.

The scythe blade sliced through empty air past his side.

At the same time, Chen Beixuan's toes, accompanied by a piercing sound of air being split, kicked toward Chen Guan's left wrist gripping the scythe.

Chen Guan twisted his wrist, using the broad back of the scythe blade to absorb the heavy blow that would have been enough to shatter a stone slab.

In just a few seconds, the two exchanged over a dozen moves.

Heavy, dull thuds of collision and the rapid whoosh of limbs sweeping through the air reached the ears of everyone present.

The surrounding students watched with eyes wide, not daring to blink.

They never would have imagined that Chen Guan, who usually kept a low profile in the group, could trade blows evenly with this terrifying teacher who had just effortlessly defeated Long Ao.

This is bad. The rumors are true. He really crushed all the national prodigies!

What is this, a mental-attitude specialist fighting close combat like a hardened martial artist?

The students questioned whether they were under some kind of illusion. Before this, Chen Guan had always been known for his mental abilities, so they assumed he was a specialist.

But now... their understanding crumbled.

An Changqing, however, was attentively observing every single one of Chen Guan's moves. He noticed there was nothing flashy or extravagant about them.

Every strike aimed directly at the human body's vital points.

Chen Beixuan grew more and more excited as the fight went on. His attacking rhythm subtly and steadily increased in speed.

"Student, that strength of yours... 'a little bigger than usual' can't even begin to cover it."

After Chen Guan blocked a powerful, sweeping kick with the scythe's shaft, Chen Beixuan laughed and threw out a taunt.

Chen Guan had no intention of replying. He was focused solely on controlling his own strength to maintain a stalemate, neither winning nor losing.

He didn't want to expose too much of his true capabilities in front of everyone, but this Chen Beixuan's sharp, instinctive combat sense was giving him a terrible headache. Figuring out how much power to hold back was proving to be a constant nuisance.

Just as the two separated again after a clash, Chen Beixuan unexpectedly halted all of his offensive moves.