Chapter 181: Kung Fu Girl
The tall newcomer from the "Jidao" team glanced around the arena, then looked at Xiao Xiao, and said lazily, "No way, is that all?"
Xiao Xiao was doing stretching exercises as she replied, "What's the matter?"
"From what that tiger said, we can kill, right?" the man asked.
"Of course," Xiao Xiao nodded. "Our goal this time is to kill the opponent."
"Is it really necessary to go through all this trouble?" the man shook his head. "Couldn't we just kill them downstairs?"
"If it were that easy, why would I have called you?" Xiao Xiao said irritably. "We already paid a deposit—you need to provide good service."
"Fine, fine, I get it."
"Sigh..." Old Sun sighed from the side. "Isn't this just bullying them? All three of us have already 'Echoed'."
"Who's bullying who is still uncertain," Xiao Xiao said, looking at Zhang Shan from a distance. "We need to be careful with that big guy and that girl."
"That little girl is also strong?" Old Sun asked.
"That's right," Xiao Xiao nodded. "Even though her 'Echo' isn't strong, she herself has martial arts skills. In one-on-one combat, even you wouldn't be a match for her."
"Ooh..." Old Sun exclaimed in surprise. "Then I'd better be careful."
"What about the guy with the flowered arm in the middle?" the tall man asked. "Don't we need to worry about him?"
"Probably not," Xiao Xiao said. "Last time I killed him directly. He's most likely just there to make up the numbers."
Xiao Xiao recalled that although that tattooed man had participated with her in the 'Earth Ox's' bear hunt, he had only been responsible for holding up iron plates the entire time. He was likely a reckless brute with no real strategy.
"Alright." Old Sun nodded.
The three of them focused intently on Zhang Shan and Li Xiangling, each calculating how to deal with them.
"What's the plan?" the tall man asked. "Do we go one by one, or all three at once?"
"That depends on them," Xiao Xiao said. "I'll go first. No matter who comes at me, I'll push them straight off."
The two nodded and looked across to the other side.
Zhang Shan slowly stepped onto the balance beam and said, "Are you two ready?"
"No problem." Qiao Jiajin and Li Xiangling nodded.
"Then let's go. Let's make these 'Jidao' lunatics taste some hardship." Zhang Shan rolled his shoulders and walked slowly toward the center of the balance beam.
Xiao Xiao's face turned cold. She took off her coat and stepped onto the beam as well.
Seeing this from the opposite side, Qiao Jiajin couldn't help cursing out loud: "Holy crap... what kind of muscles has that girl been training?"
Li Xiangling stared wide-eyed, showing an expression of admiration: "So impressive..."
With the sound of footsteps on steel, a man and a woman stood at the center of the steel beam.
*Dong!*
A loud bell rang, and a smile appeared on Xiao Xiao's face.
"Zhang Shan, show me what you've got," Xiao Xiao said.
"Against you, I'm not even worth 'Echoing'."
"Oh?" Xiao Xiao's smile grew even more eerie. "You're not thinking of using your bare body against my 'Echo,' are you?"
"Stop with the nonsense!"
Zhang Shan immediately extended both hands, tensing muscles as hard as stone, and pushed toward her.
Xiao Xiao was not to be outdone. She raised her arms and grasped his hands.
Their two arms, each as thick as a thigh, locked in place. Veins bulged on their arms, and the steel beneath their feet kept emitting eerie squeaking sounds.
Zhang Shan spread his legs shoulder-width apart, standing firm, while Xiao Xiao planted one foot forward and one foot back. Both had chosen the most efficient stances for pushing.
The rules of this pure strength contest were simple:
Whoever runs out of strength first loses.
After about a minute of stalemate, Qiao Jiajin turned his head and said, "Kung Fu Girl, it's your turn."
"Roger!" Li Xiangling smiled, leaped into the air, landed on the steel beam, and ran toward the two at incredible speed.
"Hey?" Old Sun on the other side was startled by this. "They've sent another person up."
"It's fine," the tall man said lazily. "If Xiao Xiao can't hold it, she'll call us."
"But can she beat two people?!" Old Sun asked.
"This bridge is too narrow," the tall man said. "There's no room for them to fight side by side. Besides, this is a strength contest—that girl can't help."
Old Sun looked at the situation on the bridge skeptically, but a few seconds later his eyes widened.
Li Xiangling sprinted up to Zhang Shan's back without slowing down. Instead, she lowered her stance and slide-tackled, passing directly between Zhang Shan's spread legs to position herself between them.
Seeing this, Zhang Shan immediately released his grip and stepped back.
Li Xiangling, still lying on the ground, executed a "Five Dragons Twisting Pillars" move. Her legs spun like a propeller, then kicked fiercely at Xiao Xiao's legs.
"Unstable foundation!" Li Xiangling shouted.
She kicked left with her left leg and right with her right leg, cleanly knocking Xiao Xiao off balance.
Xiao Xiao had never expected this sudden turn. She felt her feet leave the ground, and her body uncontrollably fell backward.
Li Xiangling performed a "Carp Leap" to flip up, then followed with a "Jumping Flying Kick," descending from above to stomp on Xiao Xiao's chest.
Xiao Xiao reacted swiftly, crossing her arms in front of her chest to protect herself.
Seeing this, Li Xiangling flicked her toes upward, using the sole of her foot to contact Xiao Xiao's arms. Using her opponent's force, she executed a "Rabbit Stepping on Eagle" move. She stomped downward forcefully, launching herself into the air again. After a somersault, she cleared Xiao Xiao entirely and ran toward the other end of the bridge.
"Hey!" Qiao Jiajin cheered enthusiastically from the side. "Kung Fu Girl! So awesome!"
Zhang Shan didn't hesitate either. Taking advantage of Xiao Xiao still on the ground, he grabbed her shoulders to push her off the bridge.
But Xiao Xiao's hands gripped the edge of the balance beam tightly. Her immense strength made it impossible for Zhang Shan to move her.
Zhang Shan cursed under his breath, had to give up temporarily, and bypassed Xiao Xiao to follow Li Xiangling toward the other end of the bridge.
Seeing the situation turning bad, Old Sun immediately stepped onto the bridge and blocked Li Xiangling's path.
"Hey! Stop right there!" Old Sun shouted anxiously.
*Dong!*
Another bell rang.
Li Xiangling didn't take Old Sun seriously. As she was thinking about how to take him down, she suddenly tripped over something and fell forward uncontrollably.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly, doing a forward roll and getting back on her feet.
She looked back and saw that what had tripped her were a few rocks.
Rocks placed on the steel beam.
"What?"
She stared at this in confusion, feeling puzzled.
Had these rocks always been here?
If there had been rocks on the flat ground, she would have noticed them long ago. How could she have tripped over them?
"Oh dear..." Old Sun shook his head helplessly. "I told you to stop. Did you get hurt?"
Li Xiangling slowly stepped back, and Zhang Shan stopped behind her. The two stared warily at Old Sun.
At that moment, Xiao Xiao slowly stood up. She turned around, and together with Old Sun, they formed a pincer formation.
"Despite your caution, we still underestimated you," Xiao Xiao said. "Well now, since you've walked right into our trap, don't blame us for being merciless."
Zhang Shan and Li Xiangling swallowed nervously. With a wolf in front and a tiger behind, the situation was especially difficult.
Xiao Xiao was about to say something else when she felt a tap on her back.
"Big girl, wait... hear me out first."