Chapter 9

Half an hour later, Jiang Xiao sat in the corner of the training room, his nose and face bruised and swollen.

Jiang Xiao watched the girl, who was still full of vigor and spirit, sparring with the speed bag, feeling somewhat helpless.

A genuine Awakened person, her physical attributes were indeed not something a normal person could match.

"Delete the Weibo post," Han Jiangxue said, hitting the speed bag with her fingerless boxing gloves, drenched in sweat. Apart from her flat chest, her entire figure appeared tall and athletic.

"Which part?" Jiang Xiao asked, his right hand emitting white light as he rubbed his bruised face.

Han Jiangxue paused her movements, turned to look at Jiang Xiao, and gave him a cold glance. "What do you think?"

Jiang Xiao shrugged indifferently. "Who knows?"

Han Jiangxue felt the veins on her forehead pulsating. She glared at Jiang Xiao and said, "It seems you've rested enough."

"Wait a moment," Jiang Xiao quickly extended both hands, as if to stop her, and said, "Everyone else starts with the basics, who starts with actual combat?"

"Hmm, that's true," to his surprise, Han Jiangxue actually nodded and said, "I've had enough of sparring too. Let's start with the basics then."

Jiang Xiao: ???

Jiang Xiao suppressed his urge to lash out. The two-hour class soon ended. When he opened his inner vision star map and saw that his bare-handed combat skill had leveled up to Lv.2, his grievances dissipated significantly.

After the class, Jiang Xiao took a refreshing shower, feeling much better. Looking at his own youthful face in the mirror, he felt a bit nostalgic.

This face, with its well-defined nose and eyes, was so handsome, yet it ended up bruised and swollen.

Jiang Xiao ran his hand through his buzz cut, his right hand glowing white, and gave himself another blessing.

His current star skill, Blessing, was at a low level. Although it made him feel extremely comfortable, it seemed to have little therapeutic effect and consumed relatively little star power.

Of course, with Jiang Xiao's lowest-level star dust phase star power, which was so thin, even the lowest-level Blessing couldn't be used continuously 10 times in a short period.

Using it 9 times seemed to be the limit.

Looking at the bruised and swollen "handsome" young man in the mirror, Jiang Xiao opened his inner vision star map again.

Character: Jiang Xiao.

1. Star Map:

Big Dipper Nine Stars, Star Dust Phase Lv.2.

2. Star Skills:

1. Blessing, Bronze Quality Lv.1.

2. Decoy, Bronze Quality Lv.1.

3. Basic Skills:

1. Bare-Handed Combat, Bronze Quality Lv.2.

2. Star Power Abundance, Bronze Quality Lv.1.

4. Skill Points: 1.

Speaking of which, how exactly do you get skill points?

While Jiang Xiao was puzzled, he also felt a sense of achievement. His bare-handed combat skill had finally leveled up a bit.

In the past two hours, Han Jiangxue had only briefly explained some basic combat postures and characteristics of boxing, kicking, elbow, and knee techniques, without delving into deeper training. Yet, Jiang Xiao's bare-handed combat skill still improved.

Objectively speaking, Jiang Xiao believed this was the result of his serious learning.

It seemed that basic skills could indeed be effectively improved through personal study and training.

This realization made Jiang Xiao extremely happy.

After all, he still didn't know how to obtain those damn skill points.

Back in his room, Jiang Xiao focused on gathering star power and used the Blessing skill to soothe his injuries. Although the bruises on his body were gradually healing, he felt increasingly fatigued. Eventually, he fell onto his small bed and fell into a deep sleep.

At noon, Han Jiangxue, who had prepared the meal, kicked open Jiang Xiao's door.

Bang!

The sleeping Jiang Xiao showed no reaction at all.

Han Jiangxue, however, reacted quickly. The moment she opened the door, she saw Jiang Xiao's exhausted sleeping face. She hurriedly leaned forward, extended her arm, and grabbed the doorknob to prevent the door from slamming against the wall and making a second noise.

Han Jiangxue looked down at Jiang Xiao's sleeping face, and her cold expression gradually softened. For once, he wasn't out partying and then coming home to sleep deeply.

He had finally grown up. Han Jiangxue turned to look at the training room, which used to be her parents' bedroom. She could almost see the wedding photo hanging inside through the wall.

After a long silence, Han Jiangxue gently closed the door and walked back to her bedroom.

Since Jiang Xiao wasn't eating, she lost her appetite too.

Gathering and cultivating star power could indeed replenish physical energy, but mental fatigue was best alleviated by normal sleep, which allowed the brain to rest fully.

Although Han Jiangxue appeared detached from worldly affairs, she was essentially a modern person, just like other girls her age. Before her nap, she played with her phone and browsed news about Jiangbin City.

The major event of the past few days seemed to be the energy fluctuation that appeared in the northern suburbs of Jiangbin City early this morning. Since the site had been sealed off, it was likely that a dimensional portal had been opened there.

Han Jiangxue browsed Weibo for a while, thought about it, and posted a status update to record her life.

Old Fisherman:

"He has finally changed a bit, and I am very happy. August 21, 2015."

This Weibo post was brutally straightforward.

Han Jiangxue thought about it again and opened her special attention list—Jiang Xiaopipi.

There was still only one Weibo post.

Bored nights are so lonely, I really want to go out and party. If I can't hold on for ten more minutes...

PS: I like Xiao Jiangxue on the first day.

Han Jiangxue read the "PS" content several times, her expression changing from one moment to the next, unsure whether she was happy or angry.

You actually dare to like me?

Why do you only like me now?

...

You actually dare to call me Xiao Jiangxue?

You...

Hmm? There's a new reply?

Han Jiangxue opened her messages and saw a series of replies to her recently posted Weibo.

Red Flame: Who is he?

Red Flame: What happened?

Red Flame: Why are you happy?

Red Flame: You don't love me anymore.

Red Flame: Do you have someone else?

Red Flame: Are you getting cocky, or am I losing my edge?

Red Flame: Ha, woman, your name is heartless.

Han Jiangxue looked at the series of replies with disdain and replied with a single word: "Get lost."

Red Flame: "Who is he really?"

Han Jiangxue threw her phone aside, thought about it, picked it up again, and, with a cold exterior but a mischievous heart, posted another Weibo.

Old Fisherman:

I like him on the first day.

...

Red Flame: Are you trying to piss me off!?

Red Flame: Is this on purpose?

Red Flame: Answer my call!

Red Flame: Reply to my message! Answer the call! I'll be angry if you hang up again!

Running Five-Flavored Meat: Live streaming! A major breakup scene, Senior, I love you!

Red Flame: You! Answer! My! Call!

Pigs of the World: Front row for the drama, oh yeah!

Jiang Xiaopipi: @Red Flame She's already asleep.

...

Han Jiangxue suddenly paused, as if she had seen something strange.

Jiang Xiaopipi!?

This kid is faking sleep!?

Han Jiangxue immediately got up.

At this moment, Jiang Xiao was looking at the replies on his phone. Red Flame had actually replied directly to him?

Red Flame: Oh, it's just a little brother. Are you two playing with me? You scared me.

She actually called herself "sister"?

This Red Flame is actually a girl?

Oh my, this is quite something...

At the same time, "Bang!" the door was kicked open, accompanied by a voice full of anger: "Jiang Xiaopipi!!"