Chapter Eighty-Nine: In Need of a Beating? (Please Add to Favorites)

The decor of the small building was quite decent; after some renovations, it finally looked the part. In the afternoon, sunlight streamed through the immense glass windows, filling the room with a bright radiance. The atmosphere was so relaxed that even Xiao Cheng, constantly on edge, found himself feeling at ease, almost tempted to take a nap right there.

He glanced at the fruit platter, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately decided not to eat the washed banana, thinking to leave it for his sister-in-law. He had just finished an apple when the bathroom door swung open with a splash. Instinctively, he turned to look—and was stunned, his mouth frozen mid-chew.

Ning Jingzhe stepped out of the bathroom, her hair damp and bare feet padding softly. Her skin wasn’t as fair as Fang Yuji or the other sisters-in-law, but radiated a healthy beauty. Water droplets, not yet wiped away, slid slowly from her body like dewdrops on lotus leaves, sparkling under the sunlight with a nearly blinding brilliance.

Just this single glance left Xiao Cheng breathless. Ning Jingzhe had an exceptionally alluring figure, vibrant with health and wild charm. Not a trace of excess flesh could be found on her, and her long legs exuded power. The appeal of such a physique was irresistible to any man—unless he was either gay or a eunuch.

Whispering a guilty apology to himself, Xiao Cheng quickly turned away, refusing to look further. After all, Ning Jingzhe was his sister-in-law, not some unrelated woman. This wasn’t the first time such a situation had occurred; she had always been a woman who never truly regarded herself as one, so her behavior wasn’t surprising.

Back when he was fifteen, Xiao Cheng had spent time with her, but his appreciation of women was limited to innocent faces. Her actions hadn’t fazed him then; he’d even joked, “I want milk.” But things were different now. Though he appeared to be eighteen, his soul was that of a mature twenty-six-year-old. Seeing Ning Jingzhe’s figure now inevitably stirred unfamiliar feelings.

He circulated his internal energy to forcibly suppress those absurd thoughts. Behind him, he heard the soft rustling of clothes being put on, and sighed in relief.

Ning Jingzhe entered the living room, settling herself on the sofa opposite Xiao Cheng. She wore a loose camouflage T-shirt that draped over her body, concealing her dramatic curves and seductive hips. Yet her posture was far from ladylike; unlike other women who sat with their legs together, her legs were spread wide and relaxed. With only the T-shirt as cover, the deep red underwear between her long legs was faintly visible, adding to the allure.

She seemed entirely oblivious to any impropriety.

Xiao Cheng fixed his gaze on the ceiling, determined not to glance down. Ning Jingzhe used a towel to dry her long hair, finally tossing it over her shoulder. Xiao Cheng had no idea what she was thinking; her sudden actions nearly made him bite his tongue, leaving him defeated and wondering why she couldn’t act a bit more like a woman.

After finishing, Ning Jingzhe sighed and cast a glance at Xiao Cheng, who sat upright, fruit platter in hand, staring at the ceiling like a statue. She was perplexed.

“Well, have you decided what you want to compete with me in? Hand-to-hand combat? Shooting? Or rapid assembly?” she asked.

If not for her reminder, Xiao Cheng would have forgotten. Earlier outside, she’d said he had to beat her before she’d agree to his terms. Of course, “beat” was meant in a broader sense—covering hand-to-hand combat, shooting, assembling firearms, stealth, contesting strategic targets, and so on.

Shooting? Rapid assembly? In these fields, Xiao Cheng knew he was no match for her. Though he’d reached the peak of the eighth stage of Foundation Building, cultivators weren’t universal experts; even with the advantage of a strong spiritual sense, he wasn’t equal to his sister-in-law, the military equipment specialist.

“Hand-to-hand combat,” Xiao Cheng replied.

Ning Jingzhe was momentarily taken aback. In the past, convincing Xiao Cheng to spar with her was harder than getting him to commit suicide. Why had he changed his mind now? Sparring with her meant getting beaten, no question.

“Are you sure?” she asked again.

He nodded firmly.

Ning Jingzhe gave a cold laugh, clenching her fist until it cracked.

She hadn’t expected him to ask for a fight, but deep down she was pleased. A man should be bold and daring, only then could he become something.

“Fine! Let’s begin. I’ll give you thirty seconds—if you can last that long, you win!” she declared heartily.

Xiao Cheng glanced at her outfit, feeling awkward. How was he supposed to fight her like this? But it was not something he could voice.

Seeing his hesitation, Ning Jingzhe assumed he doubted his ability to last thirty seconds. Thirty seconds was already generous; any less would be too easy.

She snapped, “What, you’re a man—can’t you even hold out for thirty seconds?”

Her words were so loaded that Xiao Cheng was thrown into confusion. With things at this point, he could only grit his teeth and nod.

As soon as he nodded, the match began—no need for a venue or preparation. If a fight required elaborate setup or posturing, it wasn’t a fight but a performance.

Ning Jingzhe sprang from the sofa, launching a straight punch at Xiao Cheng’s face.

She had never practiced internal martial arts or anything similar; her training was always in military combat—direct and deadly, no flashy moves, every action focused solely on speed and power, targeting vital points.

Xiao Cheng dared not underestimate her—he’d experienced her skills before.

Her combat prowess ranked below Zhu Qinglian, but was on par with Chu Feiyu. Compared to them, handling Ning Jingzhe should have been easier, yet Xiao Cheng knew reality was far more complex.

Pure combat techniques differed from internal martial arts and cultivation; every move was commanded directly by the nerves, with no sensation of energy or anything else. Xiao Cheng’s innate spiritual sense was excellent, but he couldn’t perceive neural signals, so he couldn’t predict her actions as he did with Chu Feiyu or Xiao Guowei.

Moreover, Ning Jingzhe was his own sister-in-law; he didn’t want to use his internal energy, lest he hurt her—or worse, act dishonorably. He’d rather lose than cheat against her.

Thus, Xiao Cheng had no advantage in this fight. He could only rely on years of accumulated combat experience.

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