chsdbacks Chapter 11 Male? Male!
Chapter 11 Male? Male!
The burly man lay face down, his entire body almost "embedded" in the soft, humus-filled soil. His limbs struggled in vain, but he couldn't budge the foot clad in a black leather boot on his back. Around him lay four or five other men, dressed differently but all with bruised faces and groaning, clearly incapacitated.
Beside the blonde "beauty" stood three burly men in a triangular formation. These three were completely different from the mixed-breed fodder on the ground. Each of them had bulging temples, sharp eyes like an eagle, and a restrained glint of light. They exuded a dense and intense killing aura that was condensed and did not dissipate—an aura that only those who had truly experienced life-and-death battles and whose hands were stained with blood could possess.
"Boss, oh no, boss... have mercy..." The burly man being trampled on struggled to turn his face, his face covered in mud, filled with terror and pleading. "We really didn't know it was you here... If we had known earlier, we wouldn't have dared to cause trouble on your turf or touch your people..."
"Hmm?" The blonde "beauty"—wait, that voice?—tilted her head slightly, her voice clear and melodious, with a unique magnetism, the ending slightly rising in pitch, full of mockery and amusement, "On my turf, you've been selling those harmful 'dirty things,' and even injured my informant here. Tell me, how do you plan to settle this score?"
"Pay! We'll pay! Double! No, triple! Five times the compensation!" the big man shouted hurriedly, his voice distorted with fear.
"Now you want to talk about compensation?" The blond man chuckled, his laughter as clear and melodious as shattered jade falling onto a plate, but he subtly increased the pressure on his feet. "Too late."
"Ah—!" The big man suddenly let out a bloodcurdling scream like a pig being slaughtered.
In that instant, the three menacing men who had formed a triangle around each other suddenly exchanged glances and, without saying a word, launched their attack at the same time!
The three coordinated perfectly. One launched a frontal assault, his fists fierce and violent, aiming straight for the face; another flanked from the side, his legs whipping across the lower body; and the third silently circled to the rear, his fingers like knives, thrusting straight for the heart! The offensive was ruthless and vicious, sealing off all escape routes, clearly aiming for a decisive victory!
The blond man seemed to sigh, still standing on the groaning giant. Facing the combined attack from three sides, he casually raised his right hand, his five fingers slightly spread, and a faint, colorful aura seemed to flash across his fingertips.
However, at that very moment—
Hidden in the tree, Nie Lingfeng felt a sudden "boom" in his mind, as if some long-sealed switch belonging to his passionate youth had been violently unlocked by the scene before him!
Autofocus, fast-forward thinking:
A group of fierce-looking, burly men (plural) with menacing faces and violent auras!
Surrounding a victim who is (on the surface) unarmed, "slender," with waist-length blonde hair, a beauty mark at the corner of her eye (charming), and "stunningly beautiful," and is currently "in danger"...?
(And this victim was just now "punishing evil and promoting good"?)
He hadn't seen a living person in ten years! He hadn't spoken a word to anyone in ten years! He hadn't had the chance to put into practice those fantasies in his head about "righteous indignation" and "hero rescuing a damsel in distress"! (Although he only thought about it in his past life too.)
At this moment, his long-dormant chuunibyou soul, the chivalrous heart subtly influenced by Nie Feng's legacy, the urgent desire to leave a "good first impression" upon entering the world, and the most superficial yet most direct visual impact of "Damn, this beauty is really hot"—several emotions exploded in his chest like a lit powder keg, completely overwhelming the doubt that arose from sensing the other party's powerful aura!
Before reason could rein in this runaway horse, Nie Lingfeng had already leaped down from the treetop several meters high, like a roc spreading its wings! At the same time, he focused his energy in his dantian, and the dark blue internal energy of the Xuanwu True Scripture naturally flowed into his throat, letting out a clear, impassioned, and righteous shout:
"In broad daylight! Under the clear sky! You bunch of vile scoundrels dare to gang up on and bully a weak woman... uh, a... unarmed person! Have you no shame?!"
The sound waves rolled on, containing pure internal energy, like a thunderclap from a clearing, and exploded in the quiet forest clearing! Wherever the sound waves reached, the leaves of several nearby small trees were shaken and fell, and the eardrums of the people on the ground were ringing!
In the open space, whether it was the three menacing men who were about to launch a combined attack, the groaning minions on the ground, or the blond man who was about to raise his hand to "play," they all paused, looked up in unison, and stared in astonishment at the source of the sound.
A lithe figure in azure robes descended from the sky like an eagle soaring through the air! The newcomer appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and straight as a pine tree, his long hair tied back in a neat high ponytail, a few stray strands fluttering in the wind. He wore an ill-fitting, mud-stained ordinary T-shirt and trousers, and a long, strip-shaped object wrapped in coarse cloth was slung diagonally across his back, its contents obscured. The young man had handsome features, his brows exuding a youthful, inexperienced sharpness and vigor. At this moment, he wore an air of righteous indignation, his right hand pointing like a halberd, his gaze fixed intently on the three menacing men about to attack, appearing every inch the chivalrous hero who had "drawn his sword to help those in need."
The blond man blinked his beautiful almond-shaped eyes, unconsciously loosening his grip on his feet, a strange light flashing in his eyes—a mixture of astonishment, understanding, and… intense interest.
The three menacing-looking men quickly recovered from their shock, exchanged glances, and their faces darkened. The leader, a bald man with a gruesome scar on his face, narrowed his eyes, sizing up the suddenly appearing youth who exuded a restrained yet subtly dangerous aura. He growled in a deep voice, "Where did this brat come from? Don't you know your place! This is none of your business, get lost! Otherwise, we'll take care of you too!"
"When you see injustice, you should naturally draw your sword to help!" Nie Lingfeng landed steadily, without raising a spectacle. He stepped forward, instinctively adopting what he considered a chivalrous starting stance (actually a somewhat awkward pose he created himself, a fusion of the lightness of the Wind God Leg and the solidity of the Cloud Dispelling Palm), his voice clear and bright, "Since I've come across this matter today, I'm determined to intervene! If you know what's good for you, quickly retreat and apologize to this... young lady!"
"Girl?" The bald, burly man paused, then, as if he'd heard the funniest joke, his fleshy face twitched, and he laughed in fury, "Damn it, so you're blind! You're asking for it!"
Before he finished speaking, he had already sprung into action! His right foot slammed into the ground, and he charged towards Nie Lingfeng like a cannonball. His right fist was clenched tightly, his bones cracking, and he unleashed a fierce and deadly aura, delivering a straight punch to Nie Lingfeng's face without any fancy moves! The wind from his punch whistled, even carrying a faint piercing shriek, clearly indicating that he had mastered the external hard skills to a considerable degree!
Nie Lingfeng neither dodged nor evaded, but rather seemed eager to test his skills. He wanted to take this opportunity to assess his level in this world of "extraterrestrials," after ten years of arduous training. With a thought, the internal energy of the *Xuanwu True Scripture* flowed naturally, and his right palm seemingly casually slapped forward—it was the first move of the *Paiyun Palm*, "Flowing Water and Moving Clouds"! The palm strike appeared peaceful, but in reality, it was surging with undercurrents and possessed boundless power.
Considering it was his first time fighting an "Outsider," and he was unsure of the opponent's strength, and fearing that he might kill someone by using too much force, Nie Lingfeng only used about 30% of his power in this palm strike.
then……
boom--! ! !
A dull, deafening bang that made your teeth ache and your bones ache!
To everyone's astonishment, the bald, burly man who had charged forward with such ferocity suddenly flew back at several times the speed he had come from, like a broken sack that had been hit head-on by a giant battering ram!
Click!Click!
It crashed into and snapped two small trees, each about the size of a bowl!
Undeterred, it plowed a deep furrow in the leaf-strewn ground, rolled seven or eight times, and finally, with a "plop," plunged headfirst into the bushes in the distance. It twitched twice and then fell completely still, leaving only a few shaken leaves drifting slowly down.
Nie Lingfeng: "…………"
He looked blankly at his fair and slender right palm, which wasn't even scratched, and then looked up at the motionless figure in the bushes dozens of meters away. A huge question mark slowly and hesitantly emerged in his mind.
Am I... too strong?
Or are they... just too weak?
I think I only used about 30% of my strength just now? And it was just the most basic starting stance of the Cloud Dispelling Palm? I didn't even touch the edge of killing moves like "Overwhelming Force" or "Demonic Clouds Descending from Heaven"!
The remaining two menacing-looking men instantly turned deathly pale, cold sweat pouring down their foreheads. They stared at Nie Lingfeng as if they'd seen a ghost. They knew their bald companion's strength all too well; his unparalleled physical prowess, impervious to ordinary swords and blades, had been sent flying dozens of meters by this seemingly effortless palm strike from the young man, his fate unknown!
The two exchanged a swift glance, both seeing fear and resolve in each other's eyes. Almost simultaneously, they drew gleaming military short knives from their backs, the blades reflecting a chilling killing intent in the dappled sunlight. Without a word, they pounced like cheetahs, one on each side, their blades tracing two deadly arcs—one aimed for the throat, the other for the ribs. Their coordinated attack, with its pinpoint angles, was clearly a rigorously trained combined strike, aimed at killing the enemy in one blow!
Upon seeing this, Nie Lingfeng's interest in "testing strength" immediately faded, replaced by a faint sense of helplessness and...disappointment.
"Alright, let's finish this quickly. It seems we can't learn anything from them."
With a slight thought, the "Wind God Leg" technique naturally flowed through him.
The next instant, his figure left a faint, fading afterimage in the spot, his true form had vanished!
The first move of the "Wind God Leg" technique—Catching the Wind and Shadows! Unleash your full power!
The burly man on the left, holding the knife, felt a blur before his eyes, and an irresistible force slammed into his chest, specifically the Tanzhong acupoint. It was as if he had been hit by a charging bull. His vision went black, his inner energy dissipated, and he was lifted off the ground. The short knife in his hand flew out and clattered into a tree trunk in the distance.
The burly man on the right fared even worse. He clearly saw the boy's afterimage still on his left, but a sharp pain shot through the back of his head, as if he had been lashed by an iron whip. His ears rang like bells and drums, and darkness engulfed his vision. Without uttering a sound, he collapsed to the ground, his short knife clattering to the floor.
From the moment Nie Lingfeng leaped down and demanded an answer until all three collapsed to the ground, it took only about ten breaths.
An eerie silence fell over the clearing in the woods.
The few burly men who had been groaning in pain just moments before had all forgotten their agony. They stared wide-eyed at the handsome young man who seemed to be a god descended from heaven or a ghost appear in the world, their eyes filled with disbelief and horror.
The blond man released his foot from the burly man. The burly man, as if granted a pardon, scrambled to hide behind a tree, clutching his head and trembling, barely daring to breathe.
Nie Lingfeng gently exhaled a breath of turbid air, concealed the dark blue energy flowing around his body, casually patted non-existent dust off his hands, and then turned around to face the blonde "beauty" who had been standing quietly by the side.
He tried to adjust his facial expression, attempting to appear more gentle and polite—after all, first impressions are crucial in front of a "beauty." He stepped forward, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and spoke in a tone as refined as possible, with a touch of classical elegance:
"Miss, uh, young lady... I have temporarily subdued these thieves. May I ask where this place is? And how do I get out of this vast forest? I... am lost."
He even subconsciously straightened his back to make himself appear more upright and reliable.
The blonde "beauty" stood quietly in place, her expressive peach blossom eyes scrutinizing Nie Lingfeng intently. From his slightly ill-fitting clothes to the long, coarse cloth-wrapped object on his back, and then to his handsome face, which clearly carried an air of inexperience. The playful and inquisitive look in her beautiful eyes deepened, and a subtle, meaningful curve slowly appeared at the corners of her lips.
Then he spoke.
The voice is clear, pleasant, and uniquely magnetic—a male voice.
"Oh my, young man, you're quite skilled at such a young age."
The gentle, polite "knight-errant" smile that Nie Lingfeng had been trying so hard to maintain froze instantly. The curve of his lips seemed to be frozen in ice, twitching slightly but failing to materialize.
"However," the blond man—now it was definitely a man—continued with a smile, his tone as relaxed as if he were talking about the nice weather, "there are two minor misunderstandings that need to be clarified."
He took a graceful step forward, the hem of his beige trench coat tracing a smooth arc with his movement. He was tall and straight, with broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and well-defined bone structure—truly the physique of an adult male.
"First," he said, extending a long, slender finger and pointing to himself with a bright smile, "I am neither a young lady nor a girl."
"Secondly..."
He took another step forward, getting closer to Nie Lingfeng. A faint, fresh, and pleasant perfume emanated from him, mixed with the scent of forest plants. He extended his right hand; his fingers were long and slender, with distinct knuckles and neatly trimmed nails. It was a very beautiful hand, but undoubtedly a man's hand.
"Let me introduce myself," he said with a smile that made his eyes crinkle, the beauty mark at the corner of his eye seeming to glow. "I'm Wang Zhenqiu, a temporary worker in the Southwest Region. You can call me Qiuqiu, or if you feel comfortable calling me Brother Qiu, that's fine too~"
Nie Lingfeng was completely petrified.
Wang Zhenqiu?
Temporary workers in the Southwest region?
That Wang Zhenqiu, the "Southwest Cancer" who caused countless troubles for other supernatural beings in the world of Under One Person, with his dazzling blond hair, stunningly beautiful face, and quirky (or rather, wicked and troublesome) personality?!
He mechanically lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the outstretched hand of Wang Zhenqiu. The fingers were long and slender, the skin fair, but the knuckles were distinct, the metacarpals clear, and faint blue veins were visible on the back of the hand—it was indeed a man's hand.
He mechanically and stiffly raised his head again, his gaze refocusing on Wang Zhenqiu's face like a scanner. Exquisite, beautiful, impeccable, but upon closer inspection—the barely noticeable but definitely present Adam's apple, the broader and more defined shoulders than the average woman's, and the cynical, slightly roguish, and cunning aura emanating from him… This was no longer a stunning beauty; he was clearly just an excessively handsome man who loved to play pranks!
"Male...male..." Nie Lingfeng heard his own voice emerge from his throat, dry, wavering, filled with the bewilderment and emptiness that followed the nuclear-level shock to his worldview.
"Genuine and authentic, no deception whatsoever!" Wang Zhenqiu seemed to thoroughly "enjoy" the other party's reaction, even playfully twirling around, his magnificent waist-length blond hair tracing a dazzling arc, his trench coat fluttering in the wind. "What? Disappointed, young man?"
More than just disappointment!
Nie Lingfeng felt as if his very soul was screaming silently. The unwavering will he had honed through ten years of arduous training in Lingyun Cave, and the icy purity of mind he had cultivated through ten years of mastering the *Ice Heart Manual*, were now subjected to the most intense and unexpected impact since his transmigration! Only one thought was endlessly looping, magnifying, bolding, and flashing across his mind:
I! ...