Chapter 3: A Master Indeed

“What the—!” Wang Xinrou stared at He Tian in disbelief.

“In this day and age? Keeping secrets? Handsome, you may look good, but I can tell you for certain—you’re already behind the times!” Wang Xinrou quickly came to her conclusion.

“Behind the times?” He Tian was surprised. He had always been outstanding, had fought his way to become the King of Soldiers, finally entered Dragon Soul—he’d beaten countless rivals to reach this point, and now someone was telling him he was outdated!

“Come on, how old are you, really? I’m eighteen years and three months! Are you older than me or younger?” Wang Xinrou was determined to get an answer.

“I’m older! I’m nineteen!” He Tian suddenly felt that perhaps he really was out of touch. Just look at girls these days—how bold they are!

“Hahaha, from now on you’ll be my brother! As my brother, you have to protect me, take care of me, and if anyone bullies me, you have to avenge me. You have to indulge me, give in to me, and you’re absolutely forbidden to go against me!” Wang Xinrou laughed heartily, showing none of the decorum of a young lady. In fact, it seemed she was anything but ladylike.

“You already have a sister to look after you, and now you want a brother too. Don’t you find it annoying?” He Tian was genuinely curious what Wang Xinrou was thinking.

“Pfft… how could that be the same? Totally different! I can read people—you’re not stiff and rigid like my sister!” Wang Xinrou said with great seriousness.

“So you’ve seen through my charm and dashing good looks? I thought I hid it well!” He Tian gave her a thumbs up.

“You… hahaha! But I’m right, aren’t I?” Wang Xinrou laughed, stamping her feet and slapping the table. Compared to her liveliness beside Wang Xinmeng earlier, this was on a whole new level.

“I’m going to tell your sister you called her rigid!” He Tian said, helping himself to more food.

“No way, you’d rat me out like that?” Wang Xinrou looked at him with wide, pleading eyes.

“Call me brother, let’s hear it!” He Tian, long suppressed, found himself loosening up. Deep down, perhaps he was wilder than anyone.

“Why do I feel like you’ve suddenly turned into the Big Bad Wolf trying to trick Little Red Riding Hood?” Wang Xinrou put on a frightened face.

“Heh, I am the Big Bad Wolf!” A mischievous grin played at the corners of He Tian’s mouth.

“So handsome!” Wang Xinrou squealed, utterly smitten.

He Tian was left speechless, completely defeated.

“But are you really skilled in martial arts? Are you any good?” This was what Wang Xinrou cared about most.

“Has someone been bullying you?” He Tian asked.

“Yes! A handsome guy in our school’s martial arts club! He beat me! Hmph… like I can’t see through his little scheme. He’s trying to impress me by pretending to be strong. Well, I’m not buying it! But he’s always hanging around, it’s so annoying! So, I need someone to teach him a lesson!” Wang Xinrou clenched her fists, looking fierce.

“He’s pretty clever, isn’t he?” He Tian commented with mock gravity.

“What? I’m the clever one, thank you very much! I saw right through him! Come on, let’s see how strong you are!” Wang Xinrou grabbed He Tian and dragged him off.

“How do you want to test it?” He Tian struggled to keep up with her leaps in logic.

“It’s simple! You… come over here, fight them!” Wang Xinrou called over five bodyguards stationed around the villa and pointed at He Tian, giving the order.

“You can’t be serious!” He Tian glanced at the five burly men. They were all lean and tough—he could tell at a glance they were all ex-special forces.

“He Tian, you’re not scared, are you? Just show me! What if I take you to get revenge and you get beaten up? How humiliating would that be for me?” So this was what Wang Xinrou was worried about.

With Wang Xinrou shaking his arm, He Tian shamelessly gave in.

How could he bear to see such an adorable girl disappointed? Impossible! Absolutely not!

“All right, let them all come at me together.” He Tian winked at her.

“Really? You’re just too cool! Hahaha! What are you five waiting for? He’s openly looking down on you! Can you stand for that?” Wang Xinrou stood with hands on hips, addressing the bodyguards. Judging by her tone, she seemed almost eager for chaos.

“Second Miss, is this really appropriate?” Chen Long, who knew the second daughter of the Wang family well, was wary. When she got going, she was truly uncontrollable!

When the eldest Miss Wang was around, things were fine. But as soon as she left, the second miss showed her true colors!

“Appropriate or not, why ask me? Aren’t you all supposed to be so tough? He’s challenging all five of you! And you’re worried about what’s appropriate? I have no words for you.” Wang Xinrou dragged a chair over and sat down, looking like she was settling in to watch a good show.

“Friend, that’s a bold claim!” In Chen Long’s eyes, He Tian was just trying to curry favor with the second Miss—just a pretty face. Chen Long alone could take on a group like him any day.

“Then why don’t you try me first?” He Tian knew that he’d have to keep a close eye on Wang Xinrou from now on, and she was clearly not easy to manage. Since she admired strength, he might as well impress her with his skills now—it would make things easier later.

“Chen Long, stop dawdling! Go on!” Wang Xinrou urged.

“Friend, watch yourself then.” Chen Long had no choice; the employer had spoken. Perhaps the second Miss just wanted to expose He Tian’s true colors.

He Tian smiled faintly, not even bothering to assume a stance.

Chen Long felt a surge of anger—He Tian’s disregard was blatant.

Determined to teach He Tian a lesson, to show him that without real strength, there’s no point putting on airs, Chen Long squared up and threw a punch at He Tian.

Wang Xinrou's face flushed with excitement—she loved this kind of scene, so thrilling...

He Tian kept smiling, and with a simple movement, caught Chen Long’s fist.

No matter how Chen Long tried, he couldn’t pull free!

He tried to kick, but He Tian twisted his grip, and Chen Long cried out in pain, dropping to one knee.

“Wow!” Wang Xinrou knew how tough Chen Long was, and He Tian had just beaten him in one move.

“Heh, sorry about that, Chen,” He Tian said. He hadn’t meant to be disrespectful—he’d just wanted to let them take the initiative.

“Mr. He… you’re impressive!” Chen Long rubbed his wrist, completely convinced. Just from that single move, he knew he was no match for He Tian.

“All five at once! You five, get him together!” Wang Xinrou shouted.

“Second Miss, there’s no need! We’re no match for Mr. He. He’s a true master!” Chen Long wasn’t about to let the wild second Miss get her way by asking to be beaten up.

“Oh? Handsome, I really couldn’t tell! Good, very good! Come on, I’ll take you to school!” Wang Xinrou grabbed He Tian and rushed him out impatiently.

“Let me grab my admission letter and register while I’m at it,” He Tian said, wanting to get a look at the campus as well.

“Hurry, hurry, I’ll get the car!” Wang Xinrou dashed to the garage.

“Captain, is he really that strong?” Watching Wang Xinrou drive off with He Tian, Hou Qiang asked in a low voice.

“He beat me in one move—he was just playing. Wouldn’t you call that a master?” Chen Long replied, a bit annoyed.

“What if all five of us went at him?”

“Ten of us probably wouldn’t be enough. Let’s get back to training,” Chen Long said, clapping his hands, though he was lost in thought. It seemed He Tian must be an even higher-level bodyguard sent by Old Hu.

“Uncle Hu, you can assign me a bodyguard if you want, but you don’t have to keep it from me, do you?” Wang Xinmeng sat quietly in the back of the Mercedes, speaking softly to the driver, Old Hu.

“Miss, he really isn’t a bodyguard. But he’s definitely strong. Don’t ask about his background—I don’t know it either. All you need to know is that he can be absolutely trusted. That’s enough.” Old Hu knew that unless he gave Wang Xinmeng nothing at all, she’d never let it go.

“Oh.” Wang Xinmeng nodded.

To her, someone absolutely trustworthy was enough.

Still, Wang Xinmeng was curious about He Tian.

“Uncle Hu, how long do you plan to keep things from me? I’m not a child anymore. I know what kind of work my father does—I’ve always understood that. But you should at least tell me how he’s doing, right? Your appearance, and then He Tian today, both give me a bad feeling. I don’t want to be kept in the dark anymore. I want to know everything!” Wang Xinmeng obviously knew a lot.

In fact, even as a child, she’d known what her father did. She grew up without a father’s presence, but always respected him, precisely because she understood.

“Miss, your father has important work to do—you can imagine what kind. His work offends many people. Years ago, there were rumors your information had been leaked. He worried about you both, so he sent me to your side. As for He Tian, he just got involved because of other matters. There are some things I can’t tell you. But you just need to know—your father doesn’t want anything to happen to you sisters. He’s always cared about you, and that’s enough.” Old Hu’s tone was earnest.

“All right.” Wang Xinmeng knew she’d get nothing more. It had always been this way. Even now, with He Tian’s appearance as an excuse, she still learned nothing.

Leaning back in her seat, she closed her eyes and tried to picture her father’s face—but found it hard to recall. It had been so long since she’d seen him, she could scarcely remember what he looked like.

Wang Xinmeng understood her father, but she couldn’t help the ache in her heart.

Old Hu drove steadily, but inside he was anything but calm.

He didn’t know if Wang Xinmeng really believed her father was still alive—but he did know he absolutely couldn’t tell her the truth.

He couldn’t let her suffer such a blow.

Dragon Fang.

A powerful image of a man flashed through Old Hu’s mind, filling him with resolve. He would find the person behind it all—no matter what.