The three of them were preparing to leave when suddenly they heard a loud shout, "Teacher!" They turned towards the sound and saw a burly figure running towards them. This person was almost as tall as Xiao Zihan but much more robust. It was Xiao Zihan's student, Cao Meng.

Cao Meng ran to Xiao Zihan's side, excitedly calling him "teacher." However, when his gaze fell on Yan Mei and Xiao He behind Xiao Zihan, his eyes widened.

Seeing Cao Meng's reaction, Yan Mei couldn't help but smirk and whispered to Xiao Zihan with her rosy lips close to his ear, "This kid is really your good disciple, just as flirtatious as his teacher."

Xiao Zihan didn't mind much. When men see a beauty like Yan Mei, it's not unusual for their eyes to linger. Although Xiao He was slightly less stunning than Yan Mei, she was still a rare beauty. Together, the two women were irresistible, even to someone as resolute as Xiao Zihan. As for Cao Meng, Yan Mei's comment on his behavior was a bit unjust. Born in a remote mountainous area, he hadn't encountered many attractive women until he went to college. Seeing Yan Mei and Xiao He, both breathtaking beauties, it was only natural for his attention to waver. After all, this was an instinctive reaction for men in the presence of beautiful women.

Noticing Cao Meng still in a daze, Xiao He waved her hand in front of him and said, "Big guy, snap out of it! If you don't, I'll kick you."

Cao Meng, hearing someone speaking in front of him, snapped out of his trance. Seeing Xiao He's slender fingers swaying in front of him and catching a faint fragrance from her, his face turned red, and he shyly lowered his head, his heart pounding, unsure of how to react.

Seeing this big and strong man suddenly shy and timid, the three of them burst into laughter. Xiao Zihan said, "Cao Meng, you're here so early. Are you here for morning exercises?"

Cao Meng nodded.

Xiao Zihan wondered, "Isn't the grove on campus good enough? Why come all the way here?"

Cao Meng lowered his head and said, "Sometimes I encounter people with practical combat experience here. They give me guidance on how to practice."

Xiao He playfully punched him and said, "Look at you, a big guy, must be good at taking a beating. Come, let's spar."

Cao Meng hesitated, lifting his head.

Xiao Zihan patted his shoulder and said, "Go ahead, fight well. Don't underestimate female fighters; there are skilled ones among them."

Encouraged by Xiao Zihan, Cao Meng nodded determinedly and followed Xiao He to an open space.

Yan Mei, holding Xiao Zihan's hand, smiled and said, "You really take care of your disciples, letting him take a beating."

Xiao Zihan chuckled, "You saw it too. Xiao He is still upset. If I don't let her vent, I'll be unlucky."

Yan Mei, with a charming look, gave him a playful glance and pretended to be angry, "What about me? How do I vent? Hmph, my butt still hurts now. You're really heartless."

Captivated by her enchanting glance, Xiao Zihan scanned the surroundings quickly. Apart from Xiao He and Cao Meng, there was no one else. His large hand swiftly caressed Yan Mei's shapely buttocks, gently kneading the soft and tender flesh. He said, "You little vixen, forget about venting. Just be a obedient little kitten for me."

Yan Mei gasped softly, melting into Xiao Zihan's embrace, enjoying his care and affection. Her heart blossomed like a spring flower, feeling content with nothing more to ask for in this life.

In the distance, the sounds of a scuffle could be heard. Both of them turned their attention to Xiao He and Cao Meng.

Despite losing miserably to Xiao Zihan earlier, Xiao He was now fierce and formidable, fighting Cao Meng who could only defend without any counterattack. Through Xiao Zihan's keen observation, it was evident that Xiao He was holding back a significant portion of her strength. Normally, a strong and skilled guy like Cao Meng could easily handle several ordinary thugs. If it weren't for a weak link like Zhou Quan dragging them down that day, Xiao Zihan might not have needed to intervene. However, in a one-on-one fight with someone as strong and skilled as Cao Meng, even with Xiao He holding back, it was clear she possessed considerable strength. Moreover, her attacks were ruthless, specifically targeting vital points.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Cao Meng was completely unaware that he had become someone's punching bag. He just felt embarrassed, being beaten by a charming woman, especially in front of his idol, Xiao Zihan.

Seeing Cao Meng, who followed behind Xiao He, looking disheartened and dejected, Xiao Zihan shook his head and shouted, "What are you feeling down about? You just lost in a sparring match. Does that make you lose all your spirit and the demeanor of a man?"

Cao Meng exclaimed, "But, teacher, she's a woman, and I..."

Xiao Zihan forcefully tapped Cao Meng's head and said, "What 'but'! Do you know who she is? If the big sister of the Xie Gang's Xie Fei Hall loses to an unknown guy like you, she might as well quit the underworld."

Hearing this, Cao Meng's eyes widened like copper bells, and he shouted, "Teacher, what are you saying? Xie Gang, is it the Xie Gang among the four major gangs in Changliao?"

Xiao Zihan nodded.

Cao Meng became dumbfounded, lost in his thoughts.

Since learning about the loyalty and camaraderie in the underworld, Cao Meng had admired these people, believing that this was how people should be—willing to sacrifice for their brothers, disregarding life and death. This was the essence of being human. This admiration was why he stood up for his classmate when threatened. The Xie Gang, in particular, was the gang he longed to join. Now, looking at Xiao He with hopeful eyes, anyone could see how much he desired to join the Xie Gang.

Xiao He was also pleased with him, thinking he was a promising individual. With proper training in martial arts, he would likely advance rapidly and become a skilled fighter within a year or two. Joining her Xie Fei Hall would be a significant boost for her. This was also a reason for her sparing with him, besides letting off steam.

To be honest, Xiao Zihan didn't want his students to enter the underworld. However, since he himself was joining the Xie Gang, he had no reason to interfere with others. Especially Cao Meng, who looked like a gangster. His mind wasn't very flexible, and he only made it to university due to special policies, breaking free from his impoverished hometown. Given his future prospects, it might be better for him to join the Xie Gang. With someone like Xiao Zihan looking out for him, his situation might improve. Moreover, the underworld was lucrative, and as long as one was skilled and lived to a ripe age, success was possible. It seemed that Xiao Zihan had the responsibility of teaching him martial arts.

The morning sun had risen high, and the park was gradually filling up with people. Cao Meng was eagerly awaiting Xue He's response when Xiao Zihan spoke up, "Don't be in such a hurry. In terms of skills, you still have a long way to go. First, improve your skills with me before we talk about anything else."

Upon hearing Xiao Zihan's words, Cao Meng couldn't hide his delight. He had witnessed Xiao Zihan's formidable skills, and the opportunity to learn from him meant stepping into the realm of martial arts mastery. Moreover, since Xiao Zihan didn't object to his joining the Xie Gang, he knew he had a chance. Even if he was a bit slow, he could tell that these two beautiful women were Xiao Zihan's close confidantes. Seeing them standing behind Xiao Zihan, he understood that Xiao Zihan's words carried more weight than Xue He's. As for why Xiao Zihan was openly involved with both women, it was beyond his imagination. Perhaps his teacher was just too wise, mighty, and handsome, making the two women infatuated with him. Even in the art of flirting, his idol was exceptional.

After the three of them returned to the apartment, Yan Mei smiled and said to Xiao Zihan, "Your student is quite cute. Even after being beaten by Xiao He, he continued practicing after we left. It shows extraordinary endurance and perseverance."

Xiao Zihan nodded, saying, "He is the physical education committee member in my class, strong and robust like a bull. If he receives proper guidance, his future achievements won't be inferior to A'aoxun."

"A'ao, hehehe, such a funny name. You mean Xing Ao?" Yan Mei chuckled.

Before Xiao Zihan could speak, Xue He added, "Exactly, that kid. Damn, he even ogled at me back then. Now that I think about it, I really should have given him a beating." With that, she swung her fist in the air.

Seeing her arrogant demeanor, Xiao Zihan laughed heartily, saying, "Xue He, do you think A'aoxun is like Cao Meng? If that were the case, how could he be my brother? Honestly, I haven't seen his full strength yet, but at the very least, the two of you together wouldn't be his match even if he held back." Xue He widened her eyes, angered, and retorted, "Hey, Boss Han, stop bragging. Do you think everyone in the world is a monster like you? If that's the case, damn, we gangsters might as well retire and become house cats in a small nest."

However, Xiao Zihan spoke seriously, "The world is vast, full of wonders. Extraordinary people often hide from the mundane world. In the black-market fighting scene my father was in, there were three demon kings, five evil generals, and ten ghosts, not to mention numerous skilled fighters. Experts beyond the level of ghosts were terrifying. Just as the universe has a division between yin and yang, the world has both black and white. In the legitimate martial arts schools, there are many skilled individuals and factions. Among them, there are formidable figures. Xue He, you mustn't underestimate them. The underworld is turbulent, and if a real expert like me appears, the consequences for you will be unimaginable."

Contrary to Xiao Zihan's heavy concerns, Xue He was full of childlike curiosity, considering Xiao Zihan was simply telling stories. She said, "What ghosts, demon kings? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child? Right now, what I want most is to have a fight with that guy Xing Ao and see if he's as powerful as you say."

Seeing that Xue He completely treated his words as if they were nothing, Xiao Zihan shook his head, sighed, and thought that as a gang leader of a major underworld organization, Xue He was still a bit too inexperienced. Sooner or later, she would get into trouble. It seemed he had to join the Xie Gang as soon as possible to support Xue He.

Thinking of this, he looked at Yan Mei with a bit of a smirk because he knew that Yan Mei desired a peaceful life.

But in Yan Mei's long and charming eyes, there was trust and a willingness to follow him. This excited Xiao Zihan, as Yan Mei was a woman of strong opinions, but since following him, she had always gone along with him and understood him so well. She was truly the best gift from heaven.

In the afternoon, Xiao Zihan found Xing Ao and Yue Feiyang, expressing his intention to join the Xie Gang. Without hesitation, Xing Ao and Yue Feiyang, as brothers, naturally stood by his side.

Joining a gang wasn't a troublesome matter. As long as someone with some seniority in the gang recommended you and you could prove that you had no direct ties with law enforcement, after a ceremony and oath, you could become a member. Xiao Zihan, Xing Ao, and Yue Feiyang heard the gang rules, rewards, and punishments. After drinking blood wine and swearing absolute loyalty to the organization, they became members of the Xie Gang. Although it was Xue He who recommended them, they still had to start from the bottom, becoming three of the lowest-level thugs, led by Huang Xin, a sub-leader under Ah Guang. Although Ah Guang didn't tell Huang Xin about the background of these three, judging from his respectful tone when mentioning Xiao Zihan and his companions, Huang Xin knew that these three were extraordinary. Xiao Zihan's imposing aura also made Huang Xin realize that these three couldn't be underestimated.

As Huang Xin left, he carefully observed the three of them, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.