Chapter 24

In Taekwondo, the belt colors indicate the rank, which are 'white, yellow, green, blue, red, and black.' Among these, the black belt is the highest, and the white belt is the lowest. The black belt is further divided into nine levels. Levels seven and above are considered honorary titles, and a second-degree black belt can open a dojo to teach.

And the white belt is the lowest rank in Taekwondo, representing that the person has no knowledge of Taekwondo, not even a beginner.

"How can Jixingyu challenge a white belt?"

"Yeah, he's a blue belt, isn't it easy to crush a white belt?"

"Did that transfer student offend Jixingyu?"

Many people were puzzled. Most of the students at Ivy Middle School had participated in Taekwondo summer training classes during their primary and middle school years, and they had some ranks, even if they hadn't reached the red or black belt level. However, there were still many with green and yellow belts. A white belt like Chen Fan was a rarity.

Even the younger students watching were confused.

Only those who knew the inside story and had seen the scene at noon were gloating. Compared to Chen Fan, who had only been there for half a month, they naturally supported Jixingyu more.

The coach frowned and said, "Are you sure you want to challenge this white belt?"

After saying this, he looked at Chen Fan and said, "Since you are a white belt and he is a blue belt, there is a significant difference in your ranks, so you have the right to refuse."

Jixingyu looked at Chen Fan with a challenging gaze and said, "Kid, weren't you so cocky at noon? Why are you afraid to come up now?"

Seeing the situation, Si Yingxia frowned and was about to stop it, but she was held back by Chang Wen beside her.

"I don't know Taekwondo," Chen Fan shook his head.

"It's fine, you can use whatever you want, and I'll take it," Jixingyu said confidently.

"Oh?" Chen Fan looked at him with a half-smile. "So, you're determined to fight me?"

"What, are you afraid?" Jixingyu poked his chest, saying each word clearly.

"Stop talking big if you're afraid, and just hide! This Ivy Middle School isn't a place for someone from a small county to cause trouble."

Chen Fan coldly snorted, "I'm afraid you're not even worth my effort."

"Me, not worth your effort?" Jixingyu almost doubted his ears.

He turned around and loudly said to the people around, "This kid says I'm not worth his effort, isn't that funny?"

Jixingyu's words caused a stir among the crowd.

"Claiming Jixingyu isn't his match, he's too arrogant."

"Jixingyu is the second-best in our class. Who dares to say they can definitely beat him except for Si Yingxia?"

"Maybe he's a hidden martial arts expert? Haha!"

Seeing the drama, the crowd gathered around to watch.

Many people had some sympathy for Chen Fan. After all, in terms of physical size, Jixingyu was almost 1.9 meters tall, while Chen Fan was only 1.7 meters. It was clear that Chen Fan was at a disadvantage. Moreover, it was a blue belt against a white belt, so people naturally sympathized with Chen Fan.

But after Chen Fan's words, many felt he was overestimating himself.

Those who had practiced Taekwondo knew that while rank wasn't everything, there was a significant difference between a white belt and a blue belt, especially with the huge physical disparity. Unless Chen Fan had practiced other martial arts and was very skilled, he couldn't possibly be Jixingyu's match.

"Come on, let me show you how I'll beat you," Jixingyu taunted, beckoning to Chen Fan.

He took a standard Taekwondo stance and performed two standard spinning side kicks. The kicks were so powerful that they made many girls pale.

After his kicks, he looked at Chen Fan, intending to show the difference between them.

To his surprise, Chen Fan coldly snorted, "Flimsy moves."

This comment not only changed Jixingyu's expression but also made Professor Wu and Si Yingxia frown. Saying "flimsy moves" in a Taekwondo context was not just insulting Jixingyu but the entire Taekwondo community.

The onlookers lost all sympathy for Chen Fan.

It's important to know one's limits. At this point, stubbornly insisting only made others look down on him.

"Go on, give him a taste," someone in the crowd shouted.

"Kid, you're asking for it."

Jixingyu roared and charged forward.

His skills were indeed formidable compared to ordinary people. Whether it was a flying kick or a side kick, they were simple and powerful. If he hit someone's head, it could easily knock them out.

But in Chen Fan's eyes, even Zhou Tianhao's henchman, A Biao, was much stronger than Jixingyu.

Chen Fan crossed his arms and easily dodged several of Jixingyu's side kicks and high kicks.

Seeing him using such force, Chen Fan hummed and suddenly lifted his leg, chopping down like an axe.

Jixingyu, in shock, instinctively raised his hands to block, but he was knocked to the ground, completely flattened by Chen Fan's kick.

Fortunately, the floor had soft mats, or he would have been in the hospital for half a year.

"Did he win?"

The crowd was stunned.

Jiang Tanqiu almost popped his eyes out.

He thought Chen Fan would be brutally beaten by Jixingyu, but Chen Fan had easily knocked Jixingyu down with a single kick.

"Jixingyu is too weak, he can't even handle that kid."

"It seems the transfer student isn't just boasting; he really has some skills."

The crowd below was buzzing, and some people's views of Chen Fan had changed.

They thought he was just being stubborn, but since even Jixingyu had lost, it seemed he had some ability.

Chang Wen's face changed.

She didn't expect Chen Fan to win so easily.

"This Jixingyu was boasting about how strong he was in front of me, but he can't even take one kick. How can he still claim to be the second-best in the class?" Chang Wen was secretly angry.

Only Si Yingxia frowned.

He walked over to check on Jixingyu, seeing that he was just unconscious and not seriously injured. He then turned to Chen Fan and glared, "We're classmates, why did you use such force?"

"Let's not talk about him provoking me first. Just those kicks he used, what do you think would have happened if I had been hit?" Chen Fan said calmly.

Si Yingxia was taken aback.

A normal person's spinning side kick, if it hit the head, would cause minor injuries. Jixingyu, at 1.9 meters tall and over 200 pounds, could cause a concussion with a full-force kick to the head.

Strictly speaking, Chen Fan had shown restraint.

But Jixingyu was his friend, and they had trained together on the school team. This time, he was standing up for Chang Wen.

Thinking of this, Si Yingxia stood up and said, "Since you have such skills, why don't I challenge you?"

Chang Wen's face changed, and she rushed over to stop him, but Si Yingxia waved her off.

Chen Fan's previous kick was indeed impressive, both in speed and power, clearly the work of a trained fighter.

But Si Yingxia was confident.

He had been fascinated by Taekwondo since he first saw a cool Taekwondo expert on TV and had trained for over ten years. Although he was still a red belt, it was only because he was lazy about taking the exams. In terms of real skill, even the second-degree black belt coach, Wu, was no match for him. In the entire school, only the Taekwondo dojo master was slightly better.

"Do you still want to fight me?" Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.

After seeing that kick, Si Yingxia still dared to step forward, so his previous performance wasn't his true strength.

"You think you can really beat our Yingxia?" Chen Fan's words made someone in the crowd unhappy, and a girl in the class huffed.

"Yeah, his kick wasn't that impressive, just fast and powerful. Our Yingxia is praised by even black belt experts," another girl chimed in.

At least half of the girls in the class were Si Yingxia's admirers. Chen Fan's words had stirred the hornet's nest.

Chen Fan was speechless.

These girls didn't really understand fighting or combat. They just saw the surface. They thought being fast and powerful wasn't a big deal, but they didn't realize that these were the true fundamentals of combat. If I'm much stronger and faster than you, why would I need to play with techniques? It's like an adult fighting a child; no matter how many techniques or martial arts you know, one punch from me will knock you down.

PS: Thanks to Feng Zhong Shen Ying, Beer Mei Zha Ji, Lao Na Fa Hao Kou Wei Zhong, Liu Yi, Hui Guo Qu De Shi, A Fan, and Shui Yu Sen for their support. I am deeply grateful.