Volume Two: The Youth of a Thousand Faces, Truth in Disguise Chapter Forty-Four: Huo Xialan

Huo Xialan blocked the path, but Huo Ye showed not the slightest hint of surprise. He curled his lips and said to Huo Xialan, “I was just wondering which major club president would be the first to come looking for me, and when they’d arrive. I didn’t expect you to be so eager.”

Huo Ye had anticipated that once he declared his intention to win the club tournament championship, plenty of powerful club leaders would seek him out—some to test his strength, others to propose alliances. It mattered little to him either way.

What startled him, however, was that Huo Xialan, famed for rarely intervening or managing club affairs personally, would be the first to approach him.

In Huo Ye’s memory, Huo Xialan was a tranquil, unhurried soul who had little taste for conflict. Yet the sword mark carved by her blade declared her intent was hardly benign.

Huo Xialan didn’t answer his words directly, but said, “You joke, junior. We share the same surname, you're also aiming for presidency, and you call me President Huo? Don’t you find that odd?”

“Alright, then I’ll call you Senior Sister. So, tell me, Senior Sister—did you stop me here to fight?” Huo Ye answered candidly, “Honestly, if it’s a duel you want, let’s do it in VRF next time. Blades are blind; if someone gets hurt, it’s troublesome.”

Huo Xialan laughed softly, “I remember you can rapidly heal even severed limbs. Why fear injury?”

“Not at all,” Huo Ye’s gaze darkened suddenly, “I’m afraid you might suffer an irreparable wound, Senior Sister.”

Huo Xialan smiled and sheathed her long sword, saying, “To speak such brash words so lightly—I rather admire you. Very well, since you’re already vaulting across rooftops, why not compete with me here and now?”

Huo Ye gave a brief “oh” and vanished from sight.

Huo Xialan turned her head to follow his direction. From afar, Huo Ye’s running silhouette called back, “Then I’ll go first! If you can’t catch up, goodbye!”

For a moment, Huo Xialan’s mood fractured. Just moments ago, it felt as though a decisive duel atop the Forbidden City was imminent—but now, the tone had shifted absurdly. How shameless! Had her assumptions been mistaken?

What exactly did Huo Xialan suspect? That remained a mystery.

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That afternoon, Alice and Relimi had no plans. At leisure, Alice dragged Relimi out for a stroll. Usually, this role fell to Yudie or Huo Ye, and though Alice and Relimi had grown up together, they were after all peers of opposite gender—Alice rarely invited Relimi out alone.

After wandering until tired, they sat on a bench. Alice took small licks of her vanilla ice cream and asked Relimi, “Tell me, Relimi, do you think our new teacher is reliable?”

Relimi pondered. “Big Brother says he’s not, but you can still learn from him. After all, he taught Uncle Hors.”

“Well, that's true, but I feel like someone like him would get beaten every time he met my dad. Are they really friends?” Alice wondered aloud.

Relimi recalled that ghostlike uncle and said, “Probably… Dad would beat him first, then they'd drink and brag.”

Alice stared at Relimi in surprise. “You really know my dad.”

Relimi scratched his head sheepishly. “It’s not much.”

Suddenly, Alice asked, “When do you think my brother will finally step out of his shadow? He never says it, but I know he still thinks about Sister Qingxue.”

Relimi thought for a moment. “Big Brother is much better than two years ago. Besides, Aunt Vivian arranged a matchmaking for him, right? Once he finds a new girlfriend, it should ease up.”

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Alice finished her ice cream, devoured the cone in a few bites, then mused for several seconds before saying, “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“What about?” Relimi asked.

Alice nudged his shoulder, “That matter at our house the other day.”

Relimi caught on, “You mean Big Brother and Sister Yu…”

“Bingo!”

Relimi considered, and after a long silence, said, “Alice, I don’t mind playing matchmaker, but we need to clear up one thing first.”

Alice widened her eyes, “What thing?”

“Does Sister Yu like Big Brother, or Night Rain Crow? If it’s only the latter, will she ever like Big Brother in the future? We need to figure that out, or else we might ruin things for them—neither lovers nor friends.”

He could not help but feel a strange emotion himself. He dared not confess to Alice, for the same reason: if lovers they could not be, would friendship survive?

Alice said, “Then tonight I’ll try to sound them out.”

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The old era belonged to guns and other hot weapons. Whenever martial arts, accumulated over decades online, were defeated by a single tiny bullet, the screen would be flooded with comments:

“Sir, times have changed!”

A jest, but also truth.

Now, the era has changed again. It is the age of abilities, where those gifted, wielding cold steel, can sweep aside an army of hot weapons.

The Huo family built its legacy on martial arts, the tradition never broken, and now their name resounds across the land.

Huo Ye’s speed was swift, but “sprinting” barely sufficed to describe it.

Yet Huo Xialan moved with lightness—graceful, agile, every step precise, like a startled swan on water.

In the blink of an eye, Huo Xialan caught up and kept pace with Huo Ye. The wind billowed her wide sleeves and traditional robes. She covered her mouth and laughed gently, “Junior, I’ve caught up with you.”

Huo Ye groaned inwardly. He was exerting every ounce of his physical strength, yet she overtook him with ease—she even looked relaxed. If he didn’t use his lightning speed, he would surely lose.

But Huo Ye was not about to expose his dark compatibility for a trivial contest. Still, as a young man, he refused to admit defeat.

“Come, let’s try fists!” Huo Ye declared, throwing a punch.

Huo Xialan countered with a palm, deflecting his fierce attack, her hand reversing to strike at his throat.

——————————————————

Their contest shifted from chase to combat, their feet never pausing. At such a height, one might see two blurred figures flashing above the city, accompanied by the sounds of fierce collisions and slicing winds.

Huo Ye showed no leniency for her being female. In fact, he faintly sensed that when Huo Xialan got serious, her aura was even stronger than the domineering Tan Xiao, though Tan Xiao had won their previous duel.

Huo Ye had learned and studied fighting techniques, for the greatest disasters were humanoid. Combat skills weren’t meant for infighting, but for those moments when one might need to battle a final form up close.

Yet he found every strike he threw was effortlessly neutralized by Huo Xialan, who barely exerted herself. Even when he increased his force to hundreds of kilograms, she handled it with ease.

A phrase occurred to Huo Ye: “Moving a thousand pounds with four ounces.”

He asked, “The Huo family’s martial arts truly live up to their reputation. Senior Sister, what technique are you using?”

Huo Xialan answered casually, “Our family’s exclusive Tai Chi—soft overcoming hard, perfect against those who rely on brute force.”

“That’s harsh!” Huo Ye retorted, shifting his punch into a knife-hand strike towards her shoulder.

Huo Xialan tried to dissolve his force, but found his arm coiling like a serpent, locking hers so she couldn’t escape. If he applied strength, he could even snap her arm.

Only then did Huo Xialan realize Huo Ye had been holding back all along, likely to avoid hurting her. But she had no such scruples, since he could heal at super speed.

She twisted her arm, shaking him off, then stepped forward, landing a fierce punch on his chest—a classic Tai Chi move!

Tai Chi’s softness conquers hardness, but it is not only gentle. It blends softness and ferocity; when fierce, nothing can withstand it.

Huo Ye was sent flying by her punch, retreating several steps before regaining his stance.

Their rapid flight finally halted. Huo Xialan shook her wide sleeves and said, “Enough, a skirmish like this means little. Only in VRF do we see true skill. Let’s end it here—you're strong. See you at the club tournament.”

Huo Ye clasped his hands, “I won’t see you out, Senior Sister. Safe travels.”

Huo Xialan nodded and descended the stairs.

Huo Ye watched her receding figure, doubt gnawing at him. He had guarded against her probing his strength, but she hadn’t even pushed him to use his abilities. Was her purpose not to test him, then? What was it?

Descending the stairs, Huo Xialan took a sealed bag from her pocket, carefully placing a lock of hair inside. She thought to herself, “Let’s hope my suspicion is correct.”

That hair had been acquired from Huo Ye during their bout.