Chapter Twenty-One: A Little Practice

When Nian Yu saw Zhao Yan grinning obsequiously, she paid him little mind. Turning to Xiao Jie, she said, “Xiao Jie, why don’t you spar with me for a couple of days?”

Xiao Jie immediately understood Nian Yu’s intent. “Hmph, I won’t spar with you. You just want to smack me, don’t you? I won’t let you get your way.”

Nian Yu wasn’t the least bit embarrassed that Xiao Jie had seen through her; she simply laughed and said, “Oh, dear Xiao Jie, how could you think such a thing? How could I possibly do that to you? Ha ha.”

But Xiao Jie wasn’t swayed. “Go on, spar with Zhao Yan—he’s more suitable than I am.”

Nian Yu’s eyes lit up at Xiao Jie’s suggestion. “That’s right! Zhao Yan, come spar with me.”

Zhao Yan hurriedly protested, “Ladies, please don’t mess around. I’ve just left the special forces, you know. I’m afraid I might not be able to hold back and accidentally hurt Nian Yu.”

Nian Yu was quite displeased at this. “Come on, little Yan, just because I’m a woman doesn’t mean I’ll necessarily lose to you.”

Xiao Jie chimed in, “Don’t underestimate Nian Yu, Zhao Yan. Remember, she’s spent years with Zhou Yu. And when we were in school, I saw Zhou Yu and his friends fooling around—those moves he used back then, even I might not be able to handle them now.”

Zhao Yan replied, “Xiao Jie, it’s not that I’m looking down on Nian Yu, but whenever she sparred with Zhou Yu, it was because Zhou Yu let her win; if he really tried, not even I could beat him. Sure, Nian Yu’s gotten tougher, but that doesn’t mean she can beat me.”

Nian Yu was truly annoyed now. “Come on, little Yan, let’s spar right now. If I don’t show you what I’m made of, you’ll never know how high the sky really is.”

With that, Nian Yu rushed toward Zhao Yan. Zhao Yan didn’t dare fight back for real, so he quickly leapt aside to dodge her.

Just as Zhao Yan jumped, a vision flashed in Nian Yu’s mind—Zhao Yan standing on the other side. Instantly, she charged toward the spot her mind’s eye had pictured, and with a thud, she crashed solidly into him.

Zhao Yan staggered back a few steps to dissipate the force, surprised, and exclaimed, “Huh? That was a mountain push? No, something was missing…”

While Zhao Yan was still surprised, Nian Yu pressed her attack. Before Zhao Yan could react, she grabbed his knee, pressed her head against his stomach, and flipped him to the ground.

Clutching his leg, she spun and pinned him down.

Looking down at the fallen Zhao Yan, Nian Yu asked, “Do you yield? That’ll teach you not to underestimate me.”

Zhao Yan replied, “I yield, Nian Yu. Would you mind letting go now?”

Nian Yu released him and asked, “So, what do you think? Not bad, right?”

Zhao Yan said, “I suppose I did underestimate you. But there are a few things I don’t quite understand—may I ask you about them?”

Nian Yu laughed graciously. “Ask away. If I know the answer, I’ll tell you.”

That threw Zhao Yan for a loop—what do you mean, ‘if you know’? He thought it over and realized it made sense; she couldn’t tell him what she didn’t know. So he asked,

“Nian Yu, I’ve noticed your moves aren’t quite right—the first charge should’ve been a mountain push, but you skipped a crucial step. The second takedown wasn’t quite accurate either, and the third wasn’t complete. Who taught you all these?”

Before Nian Yu could answer, Xiao Jie spoke up, “Those are all moves Zhou Yu and his friends used when they were messing around.”