Chapter 23: Luo Han

"Relax, it's just a slow-acting neurotoxin, colorless and odorless, guaranteed not to be detected. It won't threaten your brother's life, just gradually weaken his physical abilities." Zheng Wenbing said expressionlessly, "I know you're not favored at home, with all the resources going to Jiang Tao, so you've never been able to stand out. Now I'm giving you a chance, what do you say?"

"If you don't agree, it's no big deal." Zhang Yue added, "I heard you have a younger sister who's still in junior high school?"

"You're after my sister!"

Jiang Li's face changed dramatically, his anger burning, but he held back. Long-term training had made him less impulsive, and he thought calmly, "Zheng Wenbing, this is a society governed by law. Even the rich can't rule everything. Your actions will only lead to your downfall."

"Modern society governed by law?" Zheng Wenbing seemed to have heard the funniest thing in the world, "I believed in the rule of law during the national era two hundred years ago, but now, some people can live for hundreds of years, while others can only live for a hundred. Life itself is unequal, so why talk about the rule of law?"

Yang Wu waved his hand, a cold smile on his face, "Jiang Li, you're too naive. The more advanced technology becomes, the more advantages we rich people have. In the future, the rich will live forever, while the poor will only wait to die. Why talk about the rule of law? We rich people are naturally superior to you."

"None of this matters. Don't forget, compared to the elites, we are all poor. You're not an elite yet." Jiang Li took a step forward, "Zheng Wenbing, I will never agree to harm my brother, even if you give me ten thousand or a hundred thousand star coins. And I warn you, if you touch my sister, I won't let you off."

"Ha ha ha..." Zheng Wenbing clasped his hands behind his back, "If these words came from Jiang Tao, they would carry some weight, but from you, they're just a big joke. Actually, I don't need to be so complicated. Just one word from me, and your parents will lose their jobs. The company where your parents work is a subsidiary of the Xue Family Group, and one of my brothers is a senior executive there."

This was a major threat.

If his parents lost their jobs, it would be a significant blow to Jiang Li's family. After all, the family's expenses, including education, food, and clothing, all depended on his parents' hard work.

"My parents work too hard; it might be good for them to rest." Jiang Li was not intimidated, "My brother and I will earn money to support the family."

"It seems you're courting your own destruction?"

Zheng Wenbing sighed, "In that case, I can't help you."

"You dare!" Jiang Li's eyes blazed, "If I report you, you'll be in big trouble."

"Report me? I was just joking with you, testing your feelings for your brother. It seems you don't envy him at all." Zheng Wenbing spoke slowly, his tone suddenly changing, and he smiled slyly, "Tsk tsk, such brotherly affection."

"Just joking with me?" Jiang Li was taken aback. He really couldn't tell what Zheng Wenbing was up to. Normally, such actions would be illegal and ruin the perpetrator's future, but if it was a joke, it might be a threat, implying that he had many ways to play with them. Perhaps they would be poisoned without even knowing it, with a neurotoxin that couldn't be detected.

Or, he might be trying to sow discord between the brothers.

"Brother Ice, don't talk too much to him." Zhang Yue was impatient, "Give this kid a taste of his own medicine, and he'll know better and behave."

"Zhang Yue, are you trying to get back at me for what happened last time?" Jiang Li asked calmly.

"So what if I am?" Zhang Yue's demeanor became fierce, "I didn't expect you to improve so quickly last time. I was careless, but you won't be so lucky today. A little sparring shouldn't count as fighting, right?"

"Brother, go ahead, this kid is stubborn." Yang Wu crossed his arms, looking on with amusement, "I'll back you up. Play with him a bit; I don't believe a poor kid can amount to anything."

"Zhang Yue, it's best not to fight in school. We're civilized people. What's the point of beating him up? There are many ways to play with him, and violence is the lowest form." Zheng Wenbing shook his head, "Jiang Li, think carefully. If you can make your brother behave, I won't bother you. If he remains arrogant and domineering, I won't hesitate to use some unconventional methods. He slapped me hard that day, and now you're not giving me face. What do you think I should do?"

As he spoke, Zheng Wenbing's tone was calm. He touched his face, as if savoring the moment of humiliation, his eyes cold and venomous like a snake.

"So my brother slapped him!" Jiang Li was taken aback. This grudge was significant, no wonder Zheng Wenbing was so resentful.

These rich kids, with their influence in school, could do anything when humiliated in public. Now, Zheng Wenbing was holding back, making him even more dangerous in the future.

"Brother Ice, let me give you some satisfaction first." Zhang Yue suddenly moved.

Bang!

Zhang Yue spread his fingers, using a grappling technique, the "Reverse Arm Lock" from the "Enemy Capture and Killing Techniques," and grabbed Jiang Li's shoulder.

Zhang Yue's movements were as swift as the wind, his arms long like a monkey's, piercing through the air with a sharp whistling sound. With 0.9 vitality, only a military instructor could resist him.

Compared to the gymnasium incident, Zhang Yue had improved significantly. It seemed he had practiced diligently after being injured by Jiang Li and had taken some high-grade supplements to enhance his physical abilities.

Bang!

Jiang Li shrugged his shoulders, his bones moving like a living dragon or snake, slightly dodging and making Zhang Yue miss.

"Huh?"

"Oh?"

A series of surprised exclamations echoed. Not only was Zhang Yue shocked, but even Zheng Wenbing and his followers were incredulous.

Zhang Yue was an expert among experts. One grab would have caught anyone with 0.7 vitality, even 0.8 excellent students, and they would have been easily subdued.

"Damn!"

Zhang Yue's move failed, and he couldn't keep his composure. Killing intent surged from his body, and he was about to use his ultimate attack.

"What are you doing?" A voice came from the door. The gymnasium door had been opened, and a woman stood in the doorway.

"Luo Han?"

"Luo Han..."

It was Luo Han, one of the four "goddesses" of the school.

"What are you doing? Bullying a classmate." Luo Han walked in, scanned the scene, and understood what was happening. She stood next to Jiang Li, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Jiang Li smiled.

"Zhang Yue, you're the class monitor. Why are you bullying classmates with Zheng Wenbing?" Luo Han questioned.

"This..." Zhang Yue shrugged indifferently, "I was just giving Jiang Li some pointers on combat techniques. Is that bullying?"

"That's right, Luo Han. Zhang Yue was just giving pointers. Look, Jiang Li isn't hurt at all. That's not bullying." Zheng Wenbing smiled calmly.

Luo Han looked at Jiang Li, who indeed had no marks or signs of being beaten. She frowned, her intelligence telling her what was really going on.

"Jiang Li, your combat skills are poor. You need more practice. As the class monitor, I'll come to you often to improve your grades and prevent you from holding the class back." Zhang Yue spoke with a double meaning.

"Jiang Li, go back first." Luo Han protected him, "If you have the chance, I'll teach you cultivation and combat techniques. You don't need them."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue, Zheng Wenbing, and the others' faces twitched. As one of the four goddesses of the school, Luo Han had never shown such interest in a boy, especially a very ordinary one.

"That's not necessary." Jiang Li stepped forward, "Class Monitor Zhang Yue is offering to teach me combat techniques out of kindness. How can I refuse?"

"Don't be impulsive." Luo Han quickly stopped him, "Jiang Li, you're no match for Zhang Yue. Don't act on impulse."

"Ha ha..." Zhang Yue laughed, "Since you insist, I'll give you some pointers. Luo Han, you saw it. This time, it was Jiang Li who asked for it."

"Don't worry." Jiang Li shrugged, looking at Luo Han with confidence and strength in his eyes.

"Alright, I'll watch." Despite her concern, Luo Han had the confidence to control the situation if it got out of hand, so she nodded.

"Class Monitor Zhang Yue, be careful."

Jiang Li raised his hands, forming a circle with his fists above his head. This posture was full of vulnerabilities and seemed useless in combat, but as he made the gesture, his entire demeanor changed. Like a bright sun illuminating the earth, this was the starting posture of the "Emperor's Mind Seal" from the "Great Dream Heart Sutra." Combined with meditation, Jiang Li's focus suddenly increased.

"What kind of boxing is this? So many vulnerabilities?" Zhang Yue sneered, suddenly stepping forward, the ground shaking as he launched a series of elbow strikes, the "Continuous Thrust Punch" from the military combat techniques.

Thud thud thud... The punches broke through the air, accompanied by footwork. Zhang Yue's attacks were lethal.

Fast! Fast! Fast!

His elbows and feet moved in a blur, ready to break bones and tear muscles. In an instant, he was close to Jiang Li, like a human beast.

D-class combat technique, Enemy Capture and Killing Techniques!

This was a fierce technique used in the military, using every part of the body to attack the enemy, aiming to kill or cripple.

Jiang Li smiled, watching Zhang Yue approach.

Bang!

As Zhang Yue got close, Jiang Li suddenly dodged, seemingly disappearing, and used the "Bone Twisting Spin Kill."

He moved to Zhang Yue's side, extending his claws in the "Dragon Claw Grapple," the "Fire Dragon Blaze." Multiple claw shadows flashed like flames, targeting every vital point on Zhang Yue's body.

"Damn!" Zhang Yue saw the claw shadows coming from the side, completely covering his body. He gritted his teeth and spun his body.

"Fall down!"

Jiang Li sneered, lunging forward with a punch like a shark breaking the water to bite.

The two collided.

Zhang Yue screamed and flew backward.

As soon as he touched Jiang Li, he was spun and hit, the force cleverly deflected, and then a powerful blow sent him flying.

Crack crack... Zhang Yue hit the ground, his bones seeming to crack. He rolled his eyes and fainted.

A school celebrity with 0.9 vitality was defeated in one move, knocked unconscious.

Not long ago, he was evenly matched with Zhang Yue, but after the battle with the Illusion Fox, being hypnotized and unlocking the "Emperor's Mind Seal" from the "Great Dream Heart Sutra," Jiang Li's physical abilities had rapidly improved. Zhang Yue was no match for him.