The moment Xing Honglang issued her challenge, Gaojia Village burst into delighted chaos. Two fights in one day — what fantastic entertainment! The earlier one, with the new refugee challenging Instructor He, had been a snoozer. Everyone knew He would win from the first second, and sure enough, the refugee folded in one move. Boring.
But this?
The heroine herself challenging Gao Chuwu?
Instant, explosive excitement.
The militia youths hollered first:
"Chuwu-ge, go! If you don't accept the challenge, you're no man!"
Villagers counting coins near the salt smugglers joined in:
"Chuwu! Come on! Losing to your future wife? Absolutely not! Hahaha!"
Laughter spread like wildfire.
Xing Honglang glared at the instigating villagers.
"Whose future wife? Mind your tongues."
The villagers instantly shut up. This woman looked like she could fold a bear in half.
Of course, the ruckus summoned Gao Yi-ye. The mischievous girl dashed in, feet slapping the dirt. When villagers saw their village Saint strolling in to watch the fight, they parted for her like she was royalty, letting her step neatly into the center spot — perfect C position.
Xing Honglang noticed her placement and instantly understood.
Ah.
So this little village's leader… is a skinny girl? Adorable. She herself being a female leader of salt smugglers was already rare; but this village using a delicate girl as top boss?
Curious.
She stared at Yi-ye with interest.
Yi-ye, however, was not looking at her. She was staring at Gao Chuwu, grinning wildly:
"Chuwu-ge, why are you daydreaming? Scared to fight? Dao Xuan Tianzun is watching from above!"
Gao Chuwu scratched the back of his head.
"I've never hit a woman."
That statement set Xing Honglang off like dry tinder.
"Oh? Looking down on me again? I'm not some ordinary woman."
Gao Chuwu nodded seriously.
"Yeah. You're not ordinary at all. You're the most beautiful woman in the world. No one compares."
Villagers: "…."
Li Daoxuan, up in the sky, choked on a sea cucumber.
He nearly dropped it in his treasure box, clamping a hand over his mouth to save both the food and his dignity.
Being praised didn't make Xing Honglang happier — it irritated her more.
"So you're not a simple-minded fool — you're a silver-tongued scoundrel. Pretending to be dumb, are you?
Good. Today we settle this with fists."
She yanked the knife from her belt, tossed it backward into her subordinate's hands, and cracked her knuckles — each pop sounding like firecrackers.
"You. Come take your beating."
Gao Chuwu waved frantically.
"I really don't hit women!"
Li Daoxuan couldn't take it anymore.
Good grief, Chuwu! The plot is crawling! At this rate the love story will take thirty years! I'm losing my mind here!
So he gave a divine push:
"Yi-ye! Tell Chuwu: men and women are equal. Saying 'I don't hit women' is just looking down on women.
Tell him I stand with Xing Honglang — and with all women — and I disrespect him."
Yi-ye immediately relayed:
"Dao Xuan Tianzun commands… we disrespect Gao Chuwu!"
The villagers echoed instantly like a rolling thunderclap:
"WE DISRESPECT YOU!"
Xing Honglang: "???"
That did it.
Even Dao Xuan Tianzun had spoken. Chuwu couldn't escape now.
He stepped forward and took his place across from Xing Honglang, one full pace between them.
The crowd retreated in a great whooshing wave, forming a massive ring. On one side stood the thirty-some salt smugglers, cheering:
"Boss! Smash that fool! Teach him to disrespect the great Xing Honglang of Yongji!"
On the other side, the villagers rooted for their boy:
"Chuwu! You gotta hit your wife! Otherwise she'll never listen!"
Neither fighter had moved yet, but the hype squad was already at peak performance.
Gao Chuwu stood dumbly, still refusing to strike first.
Xing Honglang, however, burst forward with a roar. One step. One punch straight for his chest.
Speed like a hawk diving. Fierce. Precise.
Cheng Xu's eyes widened — even he might not block that.
Chuwu certainly did not.
Her fist slammed into his chest with a heavy thud that sent dust swirling.
She huffed triumphantly.
That should end it. Any normal person would be on the ground, curled like a shrimp, unable to breathe.
But then—
Chuwu only said, "Ow," staggered back five steps, steadied himself… and smiled.
"Wow. Pretty girl with pretty good strength."
Xing Honglang: "…?"
Chuwu cheerfully announced:
"My turn now! Watch out!"
He lunged forward, swinging a massive fist. The force alone stirred the air.
Xing Honglang's instincts screamed danger — she sidestepped and deflected his punch with her left hand, countering with a right jab to his flank.
A weak point. Absolutely painful. A man would collapse.
Chuwu staggered again.
"Ow."
Retreated a few steps.
Then steadied.
Again.
Still standing.
"Wow, girl, your strength is amazing!"
Xing Honglang: "!!!"
Where had this freak come from?
She didn't know that ever since Dao Xuan Tianzun arrived, Chuwu had been eating like royalty — rice, meat, salt, sugar — and working like a beast. His body had turned into a walking armored fortress.
Knocking him down with bare fists was no casual task.
Xing Honglang laughed sharply.
"Fine! Can't underestimate you. Then take this — my Jin Hong Fist!"
She leaped forward, hands blurring, fists raining down like storms.
The technique was fierce, stylish, and fast — too fast for Chuwu's eyes. In the time it took him to blink thirteen times, she landed over a dozen hits.
The onlookers heard a rapid "pom-pom-pom-pom!" as her fists connected repeatedly with his solid frame.
The two fighters separated—
And then Chuwu collapsed.
A massive thud.
Dust exploded.
Chuwu had lost.
Xing Honglang dusted her hands.
"Pay him for the chocolate."
"YES, BOSS!" the smugglers shouted.
Zheng Daniu walked over, poked Chuwu with a twig.
"Brother, you dead?"
Chuwu mumbled from the ground:
"I lost… couldn't hit her… not even once…"
Zheng Daniu nodded wisely.
"Ah, not dead. Good."
Villagers roared:
"Hahaha! Chuwu's second proposal FAILED!"
Li Daoxuan clapped in the air, delighted.
Excellent. Chapter Two of Chuwu's Love Saga — very exciting.
Reward time.
He spoke:
"Yi-ye…"
Yi-ye announced instantly:
"Dao Xuan Tianzun decrees: Chuwu fought bravely. Though defeated, he showed the spirit of a true man. His 'Idiot' title is hereby removed. He is now granted the title of… 'Manly Man'!"
The whole village burst into laughter again.
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Footnotes
1. Public single combats — Rural communities historically treated fights as entertainment, and onlookers often provided shameless commentary.
2. "Men not hitting women" — In many eras, this sentiment existed, but martial women despised being treated as fragile.
3. Jin Hong Fist — Fictional, but inspired by northern long-fist styles emphasizing speed and chain strikes.
4. Chuwu's superhuman durability — Proper nutrition plus heavy labor does create terrifying farmboys.