Chapter 183: Forget Worry

"No problem, I've noted the price." Luo Shiyi smiled slightly and looked at the two in front of him. "One burly man, one skinny girl—probably with punches as soft as cotton, not hurting at all."

"Ha!" Zhang Shan was so angry he laughed. "Not hurting? Come and try it yourself!"

"Try it, then." Luo Shiyi pushed Lao Sun aside and stepped onto the bridge.

By now, all six were on the bridge, though their formation was chaotic.

From left to right, they were Qiao Jiajin, Xiaoxiao, Zhang Shan, Li Xiangling, Luo Shiyi, and Lao Sun.

The teams were mixed up, and the key was which side could break through and lead their group to victory.

Zhang Shan and Li Xiangling had completely turned their backs to Qiao Jiajin, focusing entirely on the opponents in front of them.

"Zhang Shan, let me give it a try," Li Xiangling said. "You save yourself for last."

"Alright." Zhang Shan nodded. "Be careful with everything."

"Got it." Li Xiangling responded, then slowly stepped forward and said, "Big guy, you said I'm as skinny as a stick—wonder if I can land a hit on you?"

The young man named Luo Shiyi didn't answer. Instead, he kept muttering to himself: "Burly, skinny as a stick, not hurting. Burly, skinny as a stick, not hurting."

He seemed entranced.

Li Xiangling ignored the man's rambling and leaped forward, stomping the ground hard before sweeping her leg at him, aiming straight for his soft abdomen—a strike that would injure most people.

But Luo Shiyi didn't even block it. He took the hit directly with his waist, then swung his fist and struck Li Xiangling's cheek.

"Ah!"

Li Xiangling was knocked down, and Zhang Shan quickly helped her up.

"Are you okay?" Zhang Shan asked.

"I'm—I'm fine..." Li Xiangling had trained in martial arts since childhood, so her physical resilience was better than average, but she couldn't understand why the opponent had countered so instantly.

"Be careful." Zhang Shan said, "These lunatics have Huixiang."

"Yes, it's strange..." Li Xiangling rubbed her cheek. She knew the feel of that kick—she had put a lot of force into it, which should have injured his internals, but he felt nothing.

"I told you, you're no match." Luo Shiyi wagged a finger. "You still have a long way to go to beat me."

Li Xiangling's eyes darkened, and she assumed an attacking stance again. "No matter how tough your skin is, if I keep hitting you, you'll eventually show a weakness."

"Then come and try." Luo Shiyi beckoned her.

Li Xiangling acted immediately, sidestepping forward and planting her feet in a wide stance. She thrust her right elbow forward, striking his chest squarely.

This powerful move was Bajiquan that Li Xiangling had picked up from sparring with other villagers in her free time.

Luo Shiyi hadn't expected such force. Though he felt no pain, the impact lifted him off the ground, sending him flying half a meter before he crashed down.

Li Xiangling acted decisively, rushing forward. Her goal was never to kill, but to "cross the bridge." As long as she got past him, the opponent ahead would be the only one left.

But unexpectedly, something blocked her path again. She looked down to see her feet surrounded by a pile of scattered rocks.

Moss grew on the rocks, and some of it had crept up her legs, as if the rocks had been there for years and she had been standing there just as long.

She blinked to confirm she was clear-headed, then quickly bent down to clear the rocks away. She knew she had to seize the advantage while he was down, or it would all be for nothing.

"Watch out!" Zhang Shan shouted, lunging forward.

The Luo Shiyi who had just been knocked down was already back on his feet as if nothing had happened. He clasped his hands together as if gripping something and swung at Li Xiangling's head.

Li Xiangling's eyes widened. She saw him swinging at empty air, yet she suddenly felt a rock hit her head.

Sure enough, she saw a broken stone stick in Luo Shiyi's hand—it seemed to appear out of nowhere, or perhaps it had been there all along.

The blow sent shards flying, knocking Li Xiangling off the bridge.

Zhang Shan realized the danger and dropped to the ground, grabbing her wrist just in time to stop her from falling.

"Hey! Girl!" Zhang Shan yelled. "Are you okay?"

Li Xiangling shook her head and slowly opened her eyes, feeling dizzy.

"I'm fine... Shan Ge." Li Xiangling managed a bitter smile, but the next second, she saw Luo Shiyi with another broken stone stick appearing behind Zhang Shan, swinging it down at his head.

"Shan Ge, watch out!!" Li Xiangling screamed.

Zhang Shan's face turned cold as the blow landed solidly on his head.

"Shan—Shan Ge..." Li Xiangling was worried, but she noticed that his grip on her hand was still strong.

"I thought it would pack more punch..." Zhang Shan smirked. "Now that's what I call 'not hurting at all.'"

Luo Shiyi was stunned.

He turned and waved his hand, and Lao Sun handed him another stone stick.

He gathered his strength, raised the stone high, and smashed it down hard.

Stones shattered everywhere, but Zhang Shan showed no reaction.

Though Luo Shiyi had struck twice, witnessing this made him step back several paces himself.

"What the hell is this guy?!"

Zhang Shan casually stood up, lifted Li Xiangling with one hand, placed her behind him, and brushed the stone fragments from his head.

"Fine for a fight, but going for the kill on a young girl?" Zhang Shan's expression grew angry. "Come on, hit me with that stick. If I dodge, I'll take your name."

He advanced slowly, his intimidating presence forcing Luo Shiyi to retreat step by step.

Luo Shiyi reached back, and Lao Sun produced another stone stick out of thin air.

As he swung the stick to attack, Zhang Shan countered with a powerful punch to his face.

Luo Shiyi's facial muscles rippled from the impact, and several teeth flew out like splinters.

The punch was devastating.

Zhang Shan knew even Qiao Jiajin couldn't take a hit like that.

But to his surprise, Luo Shiyi recovered instantly and swung the stone stick back down on Zhang Shan's head.

Zhang Shan didn't dodge, and a trickle of blood ran down from the wound.

The hit seemed to make something click for him.

"Your Huixiang... is it no pain at all?" Zhang Shan wiped the blood from his forehead and asked coldly.

"Pleased to meet you..." Luo Shiyi grinned through his blood-filled mouth. "I'm Wangyou—not just pain, I don't feel any bad sensations at all."

"Oh?" Zhang Shan nodded slightly. "So, you plan to win with that ability?"

"Yes." Luo Shiyi smiled and nodded. "This time, Jidao paid well, so you have to die. If the price is right next time, I could work for you too."