Chapter 411: Self-Awareness
So, these two dojos weren't just competitors; it looked like there was some personal animosity between them.
Xiao Ye hid in the crowd, watching with great interest.
The onlookers pulled out their phones one after another, excited to film the clash of experts that was about to unfold!
However, with just a few simple moves, Hank knocked his opponent to the ground.
It wasn't just the crowd; even Hank himself was stunned. "You... you threw the fight?"
He could tell his opponent had been holding back.
"No. I know I'm no match for you. That being the case, why would I fight you to the bitter end? I'm no masochist."
"One of my strengths is that I know my own limits."
Hank was speechless. He'd thought he was in for a good fight, but instead, his opponent had just given up without even trying.
The crowd hadn't gotten their fill of the action, either.
"Are you kidding me? I came all this way just to watch this?"
"Isn't this supposed to be one of the top dojos? How is the owner so weak?"
"Are they in cahoots? Is the whole point to promote his dojo?"
But no matter what the onlookers said, the owner had no intention of fighting again.
He looked at Hank, let out a sly chuckle, and suddenly leaned in, lowering his voice. "I suggest you stop this right now!"
Startled, Hank asked, "What do you mean?"
"Nothing much. If you want to know, come with me to my office."
Watching the two of them whispering, the crowd became even more convinced they were in cahoots, likely with the goal of building hype for Hank.
After all, with the internet and especially short-form videos being so popular, many people were creating so-called 'personas' for themselves.
Even viral events that sparked heated debate were, in reality, often scripted.
A wave of indignation swept through some in the crowd.
"Hey, are you two putting on a show?"
"What's really going on here? Hank, are you some kind of martial arts master?"
"I feel like I recognize this Hank guy. Isn't he that student who had his academic research stolen?"
"How could a student be this good? And know Dragon Country kung fu, on top of that? This has to be fake!"
The owner let out a cold laugh. "See? I haven't said a thing, and you're already facing suspicion. You'd better stop this now, or else..."
Before he could finish, a sharp pain suddenly shot through him.
He collapsed to the ground, twitching in agony.
He clutched his face as if he'd suffered a massive blow.
Others might not have seen it, but Hank was standing very close. He saw something fly through the air and pierce the dojo owner's face.
Hank instinctively looked back. The moment he saw Xiao Ye, he felt a wave of relief.
'With him here, I have nothing to worry about.'
A second later, his phone buzzed.
He opened it. There was a single text message: "Beat him!"
Hank understood. He immediately started punching and kicking the owner in front of him.
The onlookers were stunned. What was happening?
Why are they fighting again?
Aren't they in cahoots?
Or are they fighting now just to prove they aren't?
But they're hitting way too hard. This definitely doesn't look like they're just playing around.
Are people really going this far for hype and views these days?
While landing blows, Hank shouted, "You whispered to me on purpose, just to make everyone misunderstand, didn't you?"
"I get it! You can't beat me, so you resent me. That's why you're trying to mislead everyone!"
"Let me tell you, I am not in cahoots with you!"
"Stop!" the owner cried, clutching his head, his body wracked with unbearable pain.
Seeing this, the other members of the dojo rushed up to help, but a whole group of them still couldn't take down Hank alone.
This time, they had no excuses. Everyone could see it clearly: they were truly no match for Hank.
The spectators were finally satisfied. Wasn't this what they came for—to see a fight?
It didn't matter how it started; this was great.
Best of all, it was one against many. That was even more exciting!
Panting heavily, Hank looked down at the men on the floor. "I don't care who sent you to threaten me, but I will not back down!"
"And another thing! For a martial artist, the most important thing is integrity. But look at you, look at what you've done. It's truly despicable!"
With that, Hank strode out of the dojo.
He returned to the car. Not long after, Xiao Ye and Zhu Chen got in as well.
"Mr. Xiao, I've successfully completed the mission. Now there's just one dojo left. Oh, and the owner from before threatened me, told me not to challenge any more."
Xiao Ye nodded. "It's fine. Go to the last dojo without any worries. I'll handle the rest. And don't worry about your safety."
"Remember to use the gun I gave you. And take this."
Xiao Ye handed him a small device. It looked a bit like an old-fashioned tablet, but with fewer buttons.
"It's a panic button. Keep it on you. If you run into any danger, press the call button immediately."
"I'll get the alert instantly. Not just me, but my men as well. Whoever is closest will come to your aid immediately."
Hank carefully put the device away, terrified of losing it.
"Thank you, Mr. Xiao."
Xiao Ye nodded. "You look exhausted and your breathing is uneven. Rest in the car. There's food and water."
Hank rested obediently.
An hour later, feeling he had recovered, he got out of the car and headed toward the last dojo.
No sooner had he left than the car door opened again.
Xiao Ye looked up to see a man in a sharp suit standing at the door.
"Mr. Xiao, I am with the Angel Association. I am here to deliver an order from the Association. From this moment on, you are to recall Hank immediately. He is not to make any more challenges!"
The people at the Angel Association weren't fools; of course they'd noticed the recent trends online.
Dragon Country's culture was making inroads, just as their own had done in the past.
Xiao Ye smiled faintly. "No."
The man in the suit's expression darkened. "Mr. Xiao, this is an order! You must do as we say. Otherwise..."
Before he could finish the threat, Xiao Ye cut him off. "Stop. You don't need to stand here and threaten me. It's useless."
"Listen closely. I am not going to stop. Your Angel Association wants to infiltrate Dragon Country, so what's the problem with Dragon Country's culture making an impact in Country A?"
"Why should I always be the one doing things for you, while you give me nothing in return?"
The man tried to argue, "We gave you the United Group's business!"
Xiao Ye crossed his legs and leaned back comfortably in the leather seat. "The Xiao Family is one of the truly top families in Dragon Country. To me, money is just a number."
"Do you think I need money? For people of our status, money is the most trivial of things."