Capítulo 15: 15. To toy with in the palm of one's hand
The hairpin had a brass base with a small nugget of silver, the size of a fingernail, embedded at the top. It was probably worth about 1,000 copper coins, which is one-tenth of a tael of silver.
As soon as the item appeared, it elicited a wave of gasps. Even those disciples who disliked Han Fang could not help but admire his generous gesture.
Such a hairpin could be presented as a betrothal gift and still save face, let alone be given away casually as a present.
Han Fang stood tall and proud, his face glowing with pleasure. His father often taught him—that to gain, one must be willing to give, and he wholeheartedly agreed with this principle.
In business, one must be willing to invest upfront. Once you trick someone into your grasp, it's easy to earn it all back and then some!
~~~~~~~~
But... everything pales in comparison.
Compared to the gift Lu Yao had given, this shabby hairpin wasn't even worth mentioning.
If it had been the original Liao Qe, perhaps she would have hesitated for a few seconds.
Now, she didn't even glance at it, instead taking a large step back and firmly declining with cold disapproval, "Han Fang, keep your distance as appropriate between men and women. I don't want your stuff!"
After she spoke, she anxiously looked at Lu Yao, fearing he might think less of her.
Han Fang never expected to be so bluntly rejected by the girl, standing there awkwardly with the hairpin in hand.
This young girl was clearly greedy for money; why would she reject silver when it's offered to her on a silver platter!
One must endure minor grievances to secure a major strategy. Han Fang was about to retreat and reconsider his long-term plan, but then he suddenly noticed Lu Yao looking at the hairpin with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
It was not ridicule or sarcasm, just pure amusement, as if an adult was watching a child pick up stones, as though the hairpin was some kind of joke, not worthy of being taken seriously.
The injury wasn't deep, but the insult was profound.
That look thoroughly infuriated the self-important Han Fang. He could no longer suppress his foul mood and impulsively stepped forward to challenge,
"Young Master Lu, since you have been accepted into the Liao Family Fist, you must have exceptional skill. I request your guidance!"
As these words were uttered, a murmur arose.
Han Fang, who paid a yearly tuition of 100 copper coins, was challenging Lu Yao, the indoor disciple, clearly intending to humiliate him.
If accepted, Lu Yao, with his frail appearance, would certainly not win the fight; if refused, an indoor disciple being intimidated by an ordinary student would be a joke.
Whether Lu Yao accepted or not, Han Fang had already won.
He thought he had crafted the perfect plan—this would surely show the Liao sisters Lu Yao's incompetence.
But the next second, Liao Qe jumped out furiously, pointing at Han Fang's nose and scolding, "Shut up! What do you think you are? How dare you challenge my junior brother!"
Han Fang, with his low emotional intelligence, actually started to argue with Liao Qe, "Miss Liao, we all practice martial arts in the same gym. What's wrong with me issuing a challenge?"
"Oh, you want to challenge, do you? I'll fight you!" Liao Qe rolled up her sleeves, revealing two arms as smooth as white lotus roots, ready to start the fight on the spot.
Han Fang was startled and took two steps back, "I'm only at the Sinew-Strengthening stage, not a match for someone in the Bone Tempering Realm..."
The Bone Tempering Realm made one's bones incredibly tough, capable of explosive strength that can shatter rocks.
Don't be fooled by Liao Qe's delicate-looking fists—they were as lethal as meteor hammers, easily capable of leaving Han Fang with broken bones and torn sinews.
Han Fang was well aware of this and certainly did not dare show off.
Liao Qe scoffed disdainfully, "Still at Sinew-Strengthening? You're too lazy to even start training properly..."
At that moment, the sound of a whip cracking through the air drew everyone's attention. It was Liao Ya making her appearance.
She said with a smile that was not quite a smile, "No need for this. Since you wish to spar, then let us have a match."
Upon hearing this, Liao Qe became anxious, "Sister, our junior brother's health..."
Liao Ya raised her hand to silence her sister and looked towards Lu Yao.
Lu Yao smiled and stood up with crisp efficiency, heading to the center of the area to address Han Fang with a formal fist salute, "Please enlighten me."
~~~~~~~~
The onlookers were befuddled. This indoor disciple had a pale complexion, looking as if he had yet to recover from a serious illness, his weakness so evident that he seemed unable to even assume a basic stance. How could he possibly compete with the young and robust Han Fang?
Han Fang also had an inkling that something wasn't quite right, but with the situation at hand, he had no choice but to proceed.
So he stepped into the ring, dispensed with any formalities, and threw a direct punch at Lu Yao.
Liao Qe watched nervously, ready to intervene and rescue at any moment; yet Liao Ya was completely composed, her certainty unwavering.
Lu Yao had already entered a state of focus, his senses firmly locking onto his opponent, and he effortlessly dodged the punch.
His footwork was perfect, just enough to let the fist graze past his chest.
At that moment, Lu Yao felt an extraordinary sensation. After entering the state of focus, his senses were greatly heightened, making his opponent's movements crystal clear, as if he had them at his fingertips.
Especially for novices like Han Fang, whose attacks were always preceded by strong tells—like a sinking shoulder or bending joint—making them incredibly easy to anticipate.
The moment Han Fang moved, Lu Yao knew what he intended to do, had sidestepped the incoming punch which took forever to reach him, even finding the time to lament his opponent's sluggish pace.
Han Fang's successive punches, which were all easily avoided, only made him more flustered as he even resorted to using Tortoise Fist, but he couldn't so much as touch the hem of Lu Yao's garment.
With growing familiarity, Lu Yao felt his opponent was simply too naive, and he felt like he was toying with a child, having him at his mercy.
When the second round of Tortoise Fist came, Lu Yao slightly shifted his body, letting the fist pass by mere inches from his nose, and then tripped Han Fang with a quick move of his foot.
Han Fang immediately lost his balance and fell face-first into the dirt. Luckily, he braced himself with his limbs, so the fall wasn't too bad. He quickly got up and, incredulous, continued his assault.
"This sickly man is weak, frail all over. Just one hit and I'll make sure he doesn't get back up!"
Regrettably, the next second, Lu Yao coolly slipped to his backside, using the force of Han Fang's punch to give him a push.
With a thud, Han Fang sprawled on the ground, his chest slamming hard against the soil.
This fall was harsh, and the pain left him gasping for breath, unable to rise for a long time.
The disciples watching the fight burst into applause, cheering. In their eyes, Lu Yao clearly outclassed his opponent; this was mere sport.
Liao Ya turned to her sister and said, "What do you think now? Still think cultivating Spirit Refinement is useless?"
Liao Qe lowered her eyes meekly, "I was wrong, I'll definitely devote myself to cultivation from now on."
A student worth teaching, Liao Ya nodded in satisfaction. She had foreseen the outcome and used this as a lesson for her sister.
~~~~~~~~
At this moment, Han Fang had a swollen chin and a bloody mouth, his body covered in dust, an image of utter disarray.
He was quite arrogant on normal days, earning the unanimous disdain of everyone around him, and now they were in good spirits, openly mocking him with loud voices.
"Anyone accepted as a disciple clearly has some skills, and yet Mr. Han still dared to bring trouble upon himself."
"Liao's second sister has completely scorned him. Now, Han Fang has no chance of marrying into their family~"
"As if a toad could eat swan meat—a hopeless wish. Master Liao is well aware~"
Hearing these taunting words, Han Fang's fingers dug fiercely into the ground as he forced himself up with all his might.
Lu Yao asked nonchalantly, "Are we still fighting?"
Han Fang remained silent, casting a glance at the Liao sisters, their expressions ranging from cold to scornful. He realized he no longer had any hope of being taken in by their family, and that staying on would be pointless.
Amidst a cacophony of jeering laughter, he limped away without saying goodbye, completely lacking grace.
Though his head was bowed, the hatred in his eyes almost seemed to spill out.
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