Chapter 7

In a narrow alley about 4 meters wide next to the Xin Yong Elementary School in Daehwa-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, it was unusually quiet due to the weekend holiday. On this weekend morning, more than twenty uninvited guests arrived. Except for Zhang Chengyuan, who was wearing a cheap white T-shirt, the rest were all dressed in tight black clothes, looking very tough.

Zhang Chengyuan followed Jin Youji to the middle of the alley and stood quietly, watching as Jin Youji assigned people to block both ends of the alley without making a sound.

Jin Youji looked at Zhang Chengyuan's calm face and thought to himself, "This guy seems very different from before. He's much stronger, and his courage and presence have greatly increased, as if he's a different person. Could it be that he really has someone backing him up? But no matter what, compared to me, he's still nothing." He cracked his knuckles and said, "Zhang Chengyuan, don't say I'm bullying you because I have more people. Someone as lowly as you, I can take care of with just one finger..."

After a long speech, seeing that Zhang Chengyuan didn't respond, he thought he was afraid and continued, "As long as you tell me who attacked me that day, I'll go easy on you."

Zhang Chengyuan said coldly, "You talk too much. Just get on with it." In truth, he was already tired of Jin Youji's incessant chatter, but out of the dignity of a cultivator, he couldn't bring himself to make the first move against an ordinary person.

Jin Youji thought to himself, "So arrogant? Damn it, no matter who's behind you, I'll take care of you today." He put on a benevolent face and said, "Since you don't know what's good for you, don't blame me."

Without any warning, he punched at Zhang Chengyuan's face, thinking he could easily knock down the originally weak Zhang Chengyuan with one punch. However, Zhang Chengyuan raised his right hand and caught his wrist, then pulled him outward, sending him flying two meters away and landing in a pitiful heap.

Zhang Chengyuan said calmly, "You might as well all come at me together."

Jin Youji jumped up from the ground in anger and shouted, "You little bastard, I underestimated you. I didn't expect that after a summer, you'd become so skilled. It seems the person who attacked me that day was you." He turned to his subordinates and shouted, "Don't come! I can take care of him alone."

Jin Youji, known as the most capable high school student in Guro District, had a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo and years of fighting experience. His fighting prowess was well-known in Seoul's high school circles. Otherwise, with his average intelligence and ordinary family background, he would never have become the leader of the high school students in Guro District. Feeling embarrassed by his momentary lapse, he became increasingly agitated.

He stood solemnly, eyes sharp, and assumed the posture of a master, waiting for Zhang Chengyuan's attack.

Unfortunately, Zhang Chengyuan didn't take him seriously at all. He waved his hand and said impatiently, "Stop dawdling. I'm in a hurry!"

As he spoke, Jin Youji suddenly lunged forward, punching at Zhang Chengyuan's face. Before he could fully extend his punch, he suddenly changed his move and kicked Zhang Chengyuan's abdomen with his left leg.

Zhang Chengyuan easily stepped back to avoid the attack.

Seeing Zhang Chengyuan retreat, Jin Youji immediately ran forward and jumped, kicking at Zhang Chengyuan's chin with his right leg. These were common Taekwondo combination kicks, simple but powerful. If they hit, most people would immediately lose consciousness.

Zhang Chengyuan, seeing Jin Youji jump so recklessly, felt he had overestimated him. He sneered and moved a small step to the left, dodging Jin Youji's attack. As Jin Youji's body continued to rush forward, Zhang Chengyuan lightly pushed his side, sending him flying and crashing into a wall.

At this moment, if Jin Youji hadn't reacted quickly and used his left hand to brace against the wall, his left face would have needed immediate plastic surgery.

Zhang Chengyuan sneered, "Is this the strength of a third-degree black belt in Taekwondo? Your attacks look fierce, but your defense is a mess. Truly, all show and no substance, ridiculous!"

Jin Youji, lying by the wall, still felt a lingering fear and was very puzzled, "How did this guy suddenly become so strong? My movements were already fast, but I didn't even see how he dodged or attacked me. It's like I lost in the blink of an eye... Impossible, how could I lose so easily? I must have been dazzled and didn't see clearly. No, it's too embarrassing. I have to fight him again to regain some face."

Just as he was about to get up and fight Zhang Chengyuan again, he saw his more than twenty subordinates shouting and rushing towards Zhang Chengyuan.

Zhang Chengyuan sneered, "Truly a bunch of ruffians, only bullying the weak. Today, I'll take out my frustrations on you." Since his tribulation failed and he was unlucky enough to end up in this world, he had felt that his cultivation path was fraught with difficulties, and even ordinary people dared to cause him trouble. His heart was filled with resentment.

There was a series of "bang, bang, bang" sounds, followed by a chorus of "ah, ah, ah" screams. One by one, black figures fell around Jin Youji. In no time, Jin Youji's subordinates were all lying on the ground, clutching their stomachs and groaning in pain.

Zhang Chengyuan patted his pants and laughed lightly, "What legend of a Seoul high school student fighting seventeen people? Even with my current poor skills, I can easily take on more than twenty. It seems the descendants of Korea are just as incapable as their ancestors, mere dirt and straw."

It was said that two or three decades ago, there was a very capable high school student in Seoul who could fight seventeen people without any trouble, becoming a legendary figure revered by generations of high school students. Jin Youji had always idolized him, but Zhang Chengyuan found it very amusing. Thinking of this legend, he mocked it.

Although Jin Youji didn't understand the ancient Chinese Zhang Chengyuan used, seeing the miserable state of his subordinates and Zhang Chengyuan's disdainful expression, he couldn't help but think of this legend. He felt disheartened and lost the will to fight Zhang Chengyuan.

Zhang Chengyuan walked up to Jin Youji and said condescendingly, "From now on, don't bother me. We'll consider what you did to me in the past as settled." Without waiting for Jin Youji to respond, he turned to leave. Suddenly, he heard a clear child's voice, "Superman?"

The voice was very soft, but Zhang Chengyuan's ears were sharp enough to hear it clearly.

Zhang Chengyuan turned his head and saw a small, pretty face hidden behind a wire mesh wall on one side of the alley. On one side of the alley was Xin Yong Elementary School, and on the other was a community sports field. The sports field was tightly enclosed by thick steel wire mesh, about seven or eight meters high, making it impossible for ordinary people to climb over. The wire mesh was also covered with dense vines, leaving no gaps, so Zhang Chengyuan and the others hadn't realized someone was watching them.

At that moment, a very cute little girl with innocent, bright eyes was looking at Zhang Chengyuan in disbelief, muttering, "Superman, it must be. Only Superman could be so strong." It was this faint voice, similar to the buzzing of a mosquito, that caught Zhang Chengyuan's attention.

Seeing that it was just a little girl around eight or nine years old, Zhang Chengyuan's face softened. He approached her gently and said, "Little sister, if you see people fighting, stay far away and don't watch. You might get hurt if you're not careful."

The little girl asked curiously, "Oppa, I know there's a Superman in America. Are you Korea's Superman?"

Zhang Chengyuan replied, "Superman? Super man? What the hell is that?" He thought for a moment and an image of a man in a cape and red underwear flashed in his mind. He shuddered and immediately denied it, "I'm not that disgusting thing, Superman. You've got the wrong person, little one."

The little girl asked, "Then who are you? How can you be so strong? Are you a Saint Seiya or an Ultraman from Japan?"

Although Zhang Chengyuan was puzzled by the little girl's constant comparisons to strange things, which made him somewhat unhappy, he still said gently, "My name is Zhang Chengyuan, and I am a cultivator, or a 'Taoist.' Understand? Don't ever mistake me for those monsters on TV. Well, I have to go. See you later if we meet again."

Zhang Chengyuan waved to the little girl and disappeared like a puff of smoke, leaving her puzzled, muttering, "Taoist? What's a Taoist?" The word "Taoist" was said in Chinese, which the little girl naturally didn't understand. However, it was fortunate that Zhang Chengyuan didn't say it in Korean, or she might have thought he was a fortune-telling Taoist from TV. These low-level Taoists, often called "fairies," were quite popular in Korea.