Chapter 109: Xiao Heqing in Perfect Condition

Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Xiao Heqing in Perfect Condition

After breakfast, Lin Zhengran didn’t even wait until they went to the taekwondo studio; he explained the application and power generation of a certain move to her right at home.

In reality, there were only so many taekwondo moves. Xiao Heqing hadn’t learned some of the extremely difficult ones yet, but Lin Zhengran knew that blindly pursuing flashy techniques without enough proficiency was useless and would only look clumsy.

After all, despite Xiao Heqing’s slender figure, her true advantage lay in her strength. This seemingly frail little girl actually packed a lot of power.

Therefore, when teaching her, Lin Zhengran always emphasized making the most of her innate advantages. Even if she didn’t master any flashy moves, simple kicks—like side kicks and back kicks—would be enough to defeat those so-called elite competitors.

"Before, I’ve only been teaching you how to enhance your speed and apply your strength, without teaching you any special moves," Lin Zhengran said. "But since Jiang mentioned that Lin Xue is very strong..." He held up a single finger. "Just in case, I’ll teach you one more move today. You’ve actually practiced this before, but there’s a huge difference between executing it poorly and executing it perfectly."

Xiao Heqing looked at him curiously. "What is it?"

"A jumping back kick. It’s said to be a difficult move, but it’s actually quite simple. Plus, it’s very useful for you since you have enough strength."

After spending some time practicing at home until she grasped the power generation and application techniques, the two headed to the taekwondo studio for actual combat drills.

With Lin Zhengran’s guidance, Xiao Heqing naturally learned quickly. By the end of the session, even Lin Zhengran could feel the sheer force behind her kicks. Her kick struck the target pad in Lin Zhengran’s hands with a loud BANG!

Lin Zhengran finally smiled, confident of their victory. "That’s it! There is no way she can block this kick."

"Really?" Xiao Heqing asked in surprise.

The coach, who had been observing them from the sidelines, sighed in admiration. "It’s truly amazing that you two managed to make such a common move look so terrifying." He lowered his voice and muttered, "And you two are so lovey-dovey this early in the morning."

Soon, it was afternoon.

Lin Zhengran and Xiao Heqing got in the car heading to the town’s taekwondo competition venue. Upon arrival, Xiao Heqing was bursting with unstoppable energy today. A faint, confident smile lingered on her face. This was in stark contrast to the expression of Lin Xue, who was standing beside Jiang Jingshi.

Jiang Jingshi and Lin Xue had arrived much earlier. As soon as she saw Lin Zhengran and He Qing arrive, Eldest Miss Jiang led over Lin Xue—whom she had spent a fortune training—to greet them.

"Zhengran, today is the finals. Are you still as confident as you were yesterday?"

Lin Zhengran glanced at the highly motivated He Qing. "Of course. What about you, Jiang?"

Jiang stared at Lin Zhengran. "I am too, naturally." She then instructed Lin Xue, "Lin Xue, say hello to He Qing. You two should be the final opponents today."

He Qing first exchanged a glance with Lin Zhengran before proactively nodding at Lin Xue. "Hello."

The silent and arrogant Lin Xue maintained a serious expression. She didn’t say a word and only gave a very slight nod.

He Qing felt that this older girl was a bit fierce and intimidating. However, she figured it didn’t matter. She could be fierce too! When she was little, Lin Zhengran had taught her how to look intimidating, so she wouldn’t lose.

The afternoon matches quickly commenced, starting with the semifinals. Because there were no strong competitors in the boys’ division and the skill gap compared to the girls was too massive, very few people paid attention to their matches. Everyone’s focus was on the women’s event.

Unsurprisingly, both Xiao Heqing and Lin Xue defeated their first opponents. Following that, it was time for the second match to determine the final victor.

In the spectator stands, Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zhengran sat together once again. Only this time, they weren’t making small talk; instead, they watched the matches intently.

They listened as the referee announced, "The next match will determine the ultimate champion and runner-up, featuring competitor He Qing against competitor Lin Xue! Will the two competitors please step onto the mat!"

In the arena, Xiao Heqing and Lin Xue, both dressed in snow-white taekwondo uniforms, bowed to each other before settling into their combat stances.

He Qing looked at Lin Xue’s serious expression. She recalled what Lin Zhengran had told her that morning after breakfast, when he was teaching her the jumping back kick:

"I observed that girl named Lin Xue yesterday. She simply relies on her raw strength and sturdy physique; her speed is actually quite average. So, when you fight her, if you feel overwhelmed, use your speed to win. Even if your strength doesn’t match hers, as long as your kicks are faster, she absolutely cannot defeat you."

Xiao Heqing kept Lin Zhengran’s words firmly in mind, but Lin Xue’s fighting spirit was clearly beyond everyone’s expectations.

As soon as the match started, Xiao Heqing was planning to observe for a moment, but her opponent immediately launched a flurry of swift and vicious kicks at her. Xiao Heqing had no choice but to hastily employ her defensive techniques to block.

She thought, "This older girl is really fierce. Her kicks look incredibly forceful, yet... something feels off. They don’t hurt at all!"

In the spectator stands, Lin Zhengran also noticed that Lin Xue’s fighting spirit was exceptionally strong today.

Jiang Jingshi smiled. "Can you tell, Zhengran? Lin Xue really wants to win. I know her temperament all too well. Ever since I recruited her, she has never looked up to any other competitor. So last night, when I mentioned she might lose, she got angry. She even said I was underestimating her and swore to prove me wrong."

"You did that on purpose, didn’t you, Jiang?" Lin Zhengran said. "To stimulate her fighting spirit. However, going all out right from the start isn’t conducive to a prolonged fight. Her energy will be depleted very quickly."

Jiang Jingshi was brimming with confidence. "There’s no need for a prolonged fight. Lin Xue has always prioritized explosive power."

Lin Zhengran kept his eyes locked on the match. After a brief moment of surprise, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he saw through the situation. He didn’t say a word. Catching sight of his smile, Jiang Jingshi furrowed her brows and suddenly looked toward the arena in nervousness.

On the mat, although Xiao Heqing was constantly dodging and blocking Lin Xue’s seemingly heavy attacks, every time she absorbed the force of a kick, she thought to herself, "Although this girl looks ferocious, is she intentionally holding back? Why does it feel like there’s no power behind this? I’ll know once I test it out."

Taking advantage of Lin Xue’s high kick, Xiao Heqing seized the opening in her attack and delivered a vicious kick of her own.

Lin Xue had anticipated that He Qing would get anxious and swiftly used her arms to block. But the moment she intercepted He Qing’s kick, she suddenly felt a tremendous force—like a slab of solid iron—smash mercilessly into her arm. It caused Lin Xue to involuntarily let out a cry of pain and stumble back two steps. With a numb arm, she stared at the sweet and lovely little girl in front of her in utter disbelief.

Xiao Heqing, wearing an adorable expression, reset into her fighting stance. Her innocent eyes seemed to say, "Just use your full strength. I’m in great shape today, so you don’t need to hold back."

In reality, Lin Xue hadn’t been holding back at all.

After all, Xiao Heqing’s physical functions were currently at least one and a half times their usual level. Her blissful sleep last night, combined with the joy of leaning against Lin Zhengran’s shoulder that morning, filled her entire body with vitality. Unconsciously, her strength had broken through to a whole new level. Conversely, while Lin Xue’s anger seemed to boost her power, it actually restricted her ability to deliver calm, optimal kicks.

Xiao Heqing thought, "Are you not going to attack anymore? Then here I come!"

Transitioning from defense to offense, she stepped forward and launched a rapid succession of kicks. The enraged Lin Xue abandoned blocking entirely and simply met the attacks with her own kicks. The sheer force and impact of their legs clashing against each other made it look devastatingly heavy and incredibly painful to anyone watching.

In the spectator stands, Jiang Jingshi slightly clenched her fists, wondering how this could possibly be happening.

Lin Zhengran smiled. "It looks like He Qing is winning this first round. Your Lin Xue really seems to be lacking stamina, Jiang."

Jiang Jingshi furrowed her brow tightly. Having also seen the writing on the wall, she murmured in her heart, "To think the gap in strength could be this massive..."