20: Chapter 20 The person you like, it can't be Chu Xiao, right?

Early morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, a light mist drifted over the lake's surface as a dozen waterhens swam in groups among the lotus leaves, searching for food.

By the lakeside, a young man dressed in a white shirt was practicing his palm strikes and guiding his Qi. His eyes were half-closed, his movements as agile as a crane and light as if flying, yet in an instant, he seemed possessed by an old ape, moving with easy grace.

As his body danced, a whirlwind seemed to kick up around him. Leaves rustled, and an invisible Qi formed a Bagua pattern in the air.

Taiji Xingyi Bagua Zhang!

A supreme martial art!

"Hah!"

Chu Xiao suddenly struck out with his palm. A loud crack echoed in the air as the century-old Black Pine in front of him snapped in half, as if torn apart by an invisible force.

"Hiss! The power of this palm strike is actually this terrifying!"

Chu Xiao sucked in a breath of cold air. He was at least seven or eight meters away from that century-old Black Pine; he hadn't expected to be able to destroy it directly from such a distance. It was simply too terrifying.

One must know that Chu Xiao already possessed [Innate Giant Strength]. Now that he had also obtained the cultivation of a Martial Arts Grandmaster from the System, his execution of the Taiji Xingyi Bagua Zhang was naturally incomparably fearsome.

Forget a mere tree; even a stone wall would be instantly smashed to pieces by such terrifying strength.

"Wow!! So amazing!!"

"Big Brother, you're practically my idol! Do it again! I want to see more!"

A youthful voice rang out from the second floor.

It carried a hint of excitement.

Chu Xiao looked up and saw that girl, Chu Lingyin, leaning on the windowsill, holding her phone and recording.

Chu Xiao frowned inwardly. He didn't want this to be exposed. Even with his family, it was best not to let them know unless absolutely necessary.

After all, his persona was that of a reformed profligate second-generation heir... good for nothing but being number one at wining and dining.

He looked around and found that this spot happened to be a blind spot for the security cameras!

The only evidence was the video Chu Lingyin had just filmed!

Chu Lingyin came clattering down the stairs and excitedly hugged Chu Xiao's leg. "Big Brother, Big Brother, I want to practice too! Teach me how to practice!"

Chu Xiao rubbed her head, snatched her phone while she wasn't looking, found the video from just now, and deleted it before saying, "You saw wrong. Your big brother doesn't know any martial arts! Don't talk nonsense! We must believe in science! We must be science-based!"

Chu Lingyin giggled. "Go ahead and delete it! I've already uploaded it to my cloud anyway! If you don't teach me martial arts, I'll show the video to Grandpa! I'll tell him you broke the family's Feng Shui Tree! This Black Pine is very expensive! Grandpa treats it like a treasure every day!"

Oho!

This little girl is quite crafty!

She even knows about Feng Shui Trees!

She was right. This century-old Black Pine that Chu Xiao had broken was something Grandpa Chu Jianghe had spent a high price to transport from the north, and a Feng Shui Master had even performed a ritual on it!

There was no way around it!

Chu Xiao could only compromise. He promised Chu Lingyin he would teach her a martial arts Secret Manual; as for whether she could learn it, that would be her own business.

After all, practicing martial arts was a matter of talent and perseverance!

Ordinary people couldn't handle it.

To take a nearby example, the Elementary cultivation method for this Taiji Xingyi Bagua Zhang was extremely tedious. It required Standing in Stakes, comprehending Qi Energy, coordinating with Breathing Techniques, doing Horse Stances, and striking hard objects with one's palms.

It wasn't something that could be mastered overnight!

As expected, after only holding a Horse Stance for a dozen minutes, Chu Lingyin started wailing that Chu Xiao was committing child abuse and then scurried away!

When he called her out to practice again, she pretended she hadn't heard a thing and didn't pay him any attention at all!

"Sigh! This child is beyond teaching!"

Chu Xiao shook his head, caught between laughter and tears. Then he began to ponder. With his current strength, wouldn't beating that Child of Fortune, Ye Fan, be effortless?

However, the System's mission requirement wasn't just to beat him up!

It was to kill Ye Fan!

This was very difficult to handle. Killing someone is against the law!

And I'm not a professional killer!

If any traces were left behind and I ended up wanted by the police, that would be terrible.

Chu Xiao frowned. Besides, he didn't even know where Ye Fan was right now. How was he supposed to complete the mission?

Thinking of this...

Chu Xiao took out his phone and sent a WeChat message to Li Qingxue, asking: "Young Miss Li, do you have time to bring your boyfriend out for dinner tonight? I really admire Brother Ye!"

On the other side.

Li Qingxue was driving. When she saw the message, her brow furrowed slightly. Then, she pretended not to see it, tossed her phone aside, and continued driving.

Unable to wait any longer for a reply, Chu Xiao could only rub his nose and smile. "It seems this Li Qingxue is indeed hard to handle! Trying to win her over will be difficult!"

After thinking for a moment...

Chu Xiao sent another message to Pei Yimo: "Morning, what are you doing? Have you eaten yet?"

Just a short message.

Very quickly.

The System's notification sound rang in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Pei Yimo feels extremely pleased by your greeting. Favorability has increased by 5 points!]

[Current Favorability: 80 (Out of 100)]

[Host, please keep up the good work! Just a tiny bit more! Go for it, young man!]

Inside the car.

Li Qingxue asked with a smile, "Eh? Someone's messaging you this early! Let me guess, it wouldn't happen to be a guy, would it?"

Beside her, Pei Yimo, sitting in the passenger seat, had a smile on her face as she nodded. "Mm!"

Li Qingxue asked curiously, "Who is it? You're so happy just from a message? You'd better be careful! No man is any good these days! Someone as naive as you is the easiest to fool!"

Pei Yimo pushed up her glasses and said while replying to Chu Xiao's message, "He's not. He's not that kind of man!"

Hearing this, Li Qingxue became even more curious, as if a kitten's paw was scratching at her heart. She quickly pressed further, "Who is it? Tell me! I'll help you check him out! My eye for men is the most accurate!"

Pei Yimo was silent for a few seconds before suddenly asking very seriously, "If—I'm saying if! If I like a man, and this man is several years younger than me, and his family is wealthy, powerful, and has a strong background... should I confess to him?"

Li Qingxue said with a face full of shock, "No way! My Great Lady Pei! Are you boy-crazy?"

Pei Yimo: "Stop joking! I'm being serious with you!"

Li Qingxue also put away her playful thoughts and nodded seriously. "If you really like him and think he's a good person, someone worth entrusting your life to, then just say it boldly! What era is this? Taking the initiative isn't embarrassing!"

She spoke carelessly, appearing as if she understood love very well.

In reality?

She herself was still a novice—she had never been in a relationship, hadn't even held a man's hand.

At this moment, Pei Yimo fell back into hesitation and asked, "But, I've only known him for a day! If I confess to him now, would it seem too forward? Would he think I'm a loose woman?"

Li Qingxue couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Hey! So you do know! You're really something! Falling for someone after only knowing them for a day? Who is it exactly that's making you so obsessed?"

Pei Yimo held her phone and remained silent.

Suddenly!

Li Qingxue seemed to have connected the dots. She slammed on the brakes and exclaimed, "The person you like... it couldn't be Chu Xiao, could it?!"

Her voice rose by several decibels!