Rebirth: Slice-of-life Cultivation Chapter 1720 - 938: Beyond the Line_2

Dong Qingfeng inquired, gesturing with his hand: "Regarding this long knife, approximately how many years of martial arts practice would it take for me to defeat him?"

The weathered coach reminisced about a past incident: "Around seven or eight years ago, I had retired from the military and opened a restaurant. Two troublemakers entered, one of them attempted to flirt with my girlfriend, while the other brandished a knife."

Dong Qingfeng's eyes gleamed; the situation was a perfect match! And the challenge level was even greater!

His desire to enhance his combat abilities stemmed from the apprehension of facing a similar predicament again. Dong Qingfeng acknowledged the correctness of the 'Happiness Seeker's' principle of avoidance, yet the frustration within him remained unaddressed.

"What transpired subsequently?" he pressed.

The stoic coach offered a placid smile, stating calmly: "I informed him about the surveillance within the establishment and that the authorities would be alerted to his actions. Consequently, he departed."

Dong Qingfeng expressed his disappointment and probed further: "What if a confrontation had actually occurred?"

The resolute coach jested: "I possessed an 80% probability..."

Dong Qingfeng's anticipation surged: "Of winning?"

"No, an 80% probability that I should have been in elementary school back then."

Dong Qingfeng: "..."

The coach imparted wisdom: "My friend, the purpose of practicing martial arts isn't primarily for fighting, but for fortifying your physical health and augmenting your masculinity. Heed this well! Avoid combat unless absolutely necessary."

"Even if you possess fighting prowess, do not engage lightly. You might overcome one or two adversaries, but could you contend with seven or eight? Moreover, it's difficult to guarantee you'd emerge unscathed."

The elder imparted his sincere advice, to which Dong Qingfeng responded: "What if I possessed exceptional talent?"

The coach chuckled: "In that case, you might consider practicing for a month."

With a privileged upbringing, Dong Qingfeng deliberated for a moment. Noticing the attractive receptionist, he grudgingly parted with two thousand four hundred, securing 12 sessions.

...

Following their meal, Xin Youling continued her journey on Jiang Ning’s bicycle.

Xin Youling inquired, "That feline is quite endearing; do you intend to acquire one?"

"Acquire a cat?" Jiang Ning had previously discussed this very subject with Xue Yuantong.

Xue Yuantong had voiced that owning a cat entailed significant trouble; one must meticulously manage its sustenance, assist with its grooming and nail care, and ensure timely vaccinations. Furthermore, a cat's presence inevitably leads to shedding fur throughout the home, and should the pet fall ill, substantial medical expenses would arise. Therefore, she concluded, it was far preferable to appreciate the pets of others, such as the imposing wolfhound next door, Ba Wang.

Most crucially, Xue Yuantong believed that cats did not possess lifespans as extensive as her own.

If the cat were to pass away, she would be overcome with profound sadness, and it was simply not feasible to share her own lifespan with a feline companion.

Jiang Ning responded, "It would be too much of a hassle; I am still a student."

"Oh, understood." Xin Youling resumed her ride.

It was the peak hour for commuting to school and work, resulting in congested roadways where taxis were rendered immobile. Only electric bicycles could navigate the traffic with relative ease.

At this juncture, the inherent advantages of electric bikes were vividly demonstrated; a young man with dyed blonde hair, accompanied by a tattooed young woman, rode past on an electric bike. Upon observing Xin Youling and Jiang Ning, he couldn't help but cast a second, lingering glance.

Xin Youling maintained an impassive demeanor, as she habitually disregarded individuals of that ilk.

Jiang Ning called out from the rear, "Bro, that girl is quite attractive; impress us with a wheelie!"

Xin Youling was momentarily taken aback, unsure whether the speaker was Jiang Ning or the blonde-haired punk!

"Yours is not too shabby either!" The blonde-haired punk chuckled, grasping the handlebars firmly and abruptly lifting them.

However, his control over the maneuver was inadequate, leading to him and the bicycle overturning. The tattooed girl was ejected as if she were mere cargo.

The blonde-haired punk retrieved his footwear from the ground and ran back towards his fallen bicycle, paying no attention to the tattooed girl.

Xin Youling could not suppress a laugh.

Jiang Ning quipped, "A remarkably fluid dismount; he must have practiced street dance."

Xin Youling continued without pausing, riding for approximately another minute before turning, arriving in front of a park.

She parked her bicycle and abruptly noticed a familiar recreational vehicle belonging to an elderly gentleman.

In the subsequent moment, a flood of memories inundated Xin Youling's mind. A few days prior, she had been struck from behind by this very same elderly man's vehicle. The opposing party had initially acted unreasonably, but ultimately, the irrefutable evidence led to their accountability.

'What are the chances of such a coincidence?' While momentarily stunned, Xin Youling also sensed a nebulous premonition stirring within her.

She rationalized that it might merely be a coincidence.

Xin Youling produced the cat wand she had specifically acquired, uttering a soft "Meow" near the adjacent bushes. However, after calling out for two to three minutes, no cats emerged.

Jiang Ning moved deeper into another thicket: "It should be around here."

Xin Youling clutched the cat wand once more, calling out with increased urgency. Perhaps in response to her heightened plea, a calico cat cautiously emerged from the foliage, its head peeking out.

Subsequently, Xin Youling's pupils contracted. The kitten was dragging its hind legs, struggling to extricate itself from the undergrowth, its front paws gripping the earth tenaciously for purchase.

"What’s wrong with you?" Xin Youling’s voice quivered slightly.

During her most difficult times recently, she had encountered this kitten. It possessed a remarkably gentle disposition, showing no fear of humans, and she had been consistently offering it food every afternoon and evening.

Jiang Ning, not particularly fond of pets, observed the kitten’s mangled hind legs and remarked, "Broken by humans, it won’t survive much longer."

For a stray cat crippled in such a manner, survival in the outside world would be an arduous battle, especially with its hind legs rendered useless.

Xin Youling gazed at the feline, murmuring as if to herself, "It never displayed any hostility. When I first offered it some sausages, it even allowed me to pet it. Why would anyone inflict such cruelty upon it?"

Her tone, by the end, was tinged with bewilderment.

Just then, a woman in a sweater emerged from a nearby RV belonging to an elderly gentleman. With a smug expression, she approached Xin Youling, inquiring, "Girl, do you want me to compensate you?"

"Was it you?" Xin Youling’s gaze fixed upon the woman.

The Sweater Aunt feigned surprise, stating, "I never said I did it!"

"Was it you?" Xin Youling stood straighter, fixing an intense stare on her.

"Girl, are you trying to hit me? Then I’ll just fall down!" The Sweater Aunt clutched her waist theatrically.

Xin Youling’s eyes narrowed, her voice a near growl, "You damaged my bicycle and then falsely accused me to the police. I only made you pay a hundred bucks, yet the actual repair cost is at least three hundred!"

"Heh, how heartless!" Xin Youling enunciated each word deliberately.

The Sweater Aunt scoffed, "What can you possibly do to me?"

"Hit me? Then I’ll just fall!" The Sweater Aunt remained utterly unfazed.

Xin Youling reached for her phone to contact the authorities. However, animal abuse, especially towards strays often deemed pests, was not a criminal offense, yielding only societal disapproval.

Consequently, her request for police intervention was met with refusal.

Jiang Ning remained silent. While he held no particular regard for the lives of stray animals, he concurred with the sentiment: ’You can kill, but you must not abuse.’

The Sweater Aunt cast a glance at the pair, then pointed a finger at Jiang Ning, spitting onto the ground:

"You’d better watch yourself!"

She had not forgotten; just a few days prior, this brat had been the catalyst for video review, forcing her to issue compensation and forfeiting her intended repair funds.

Xin Youling trembled with rage but dared not take any action.

Throughout her life, every moment of pride had been cruelly undermined.

Jiang Ning stated, "Point at me again, and I’ll sue you for provocation."

The Sweater Aunt remained unconcerned. "There’s no camera around. Go ahead, sue me! Studying has clearly addled your brain…"

"No surveillance and you still act so brazenly?"

Jiang Ning lifted his foot, delivering a kick to the Sweater Aunt. The immense force folded her body into an arc, sending her flying nearly two meters before she slammed onto the pavement like a sack of grain.

Xin Youling watched, initially experiencing a surge of elation.

Then, instantly, a chilling wave of fear washed over her: ’Isn’t he worried about the repercussions?’

Jiang Ning glanced at the old woman who was now coughing up blood and said to Xin Youling, "See? Behaving now?"

He had deliberately restrained his strength; otherwise, he would have terrified the innocent student by scattering her limbs.

Xin Youling’s mind raced: "What if she calls the police?"

She observed the growing crowd drawn by the commotion.

Jiang Ning remained unperturbed. "There’s no surveillance, so why the worry? Grab your cat, let’s go."

Xin Youling quickly hopped onto the bike, pedaling away with a whirlwind of thoughts.

She possessed a clear understanding of how potent modern investigative techniques were; they would surely be unable to evade legal retribution!