The Duel: A Single Strike

If Ning Ran’s sudden laughter had cast a hush over the entire hall, then the act of directly throwing down her glove for a duel was nothing short of igniting a powder keg.

”Boom!”

It exploded instantly!

The club members, who had been as quiet as mice moments before, immediately burst into a cacophony of whispers. Their eyes widened, fixed on Ning Ran and Lin Qi, their faces alight with avid curiosity. Occasionally, they would glance back at Jiang Zhe, who remained standing rooted to his spot.

What a massive scoop!

“My heavens, Ning Ran is too badass!”

“A duel! I haven’t seen anyone challenge another to a duel in almost two years. I can’t believe I’m witnessing it today. No, I must record every precious moment!”

“Hiss, is Ning Ran throwing herself into danger for love? Has Jiang Zhe’s ancestral grave been smoking with good fortune? I’m so envious, jealous, and full of hate!”

“What is the club president thinking? Provoking Ning Ran brings no benefit; he’s truly shortsighted.”

In that moment, the fencing club erupted into a frenzy. Those keen on spreading gossip had already activated live-stream mode, secretly filming from within the crowd, broadcasting in real-time.

Jiang Zhe watched as several phone cameras pointed his way, one eyebrow arching upwards. He made no move to stop them, choosing instead to remain rooted to his spot, waiting.

Now that Ning Ran had made her move, there was no need for him to intervene.

He trusted Ning Ran to handle it.

After all, according to his niece, the villainess young miss, aside from her maliciousness, was practically a powerful female protagonist. She possessed outstanding beauty, a formidable family background, and exceptional learning abilities.

It was a pity. If a male lead were this formidable, he would have already drawn a crowd of screaming fangirls and calls of support.

But for a female supporting character in a youth romance game, it was a direct reverse buff, maxed out. Apart from a niche audience, most felt indifferent or even disgusted by Ning Ran, their views shifting with the heroine’s narrative.

Of course, these were merely his niece’s words, their truth unknown. Jiang Zhe certainly wasn’t so bored as to investigate. Yet, from his own perspective, he found himself admiring her.

Beauty was merely a bonus; a capable woman held far greater allure.

“Ning Ran, you want to duel me?”

Ning Ran’s words had barely faded when not only the surrounding onlookers were stunned, but Lin Qi, the fencing club’s president, was equally so.

His usually handsome face was now twisted with fury, utterly enraged. He had never imagined Ning Ran would truly stand up for Jiang Zhe, brazenly and without care, in front of such a large crowd.

Indeed, his cousin Lin Moshu had been right: Ning Ran was utterly infatuated with Jiang Zhe.

The arranged marriage between the Ning and Lin families absolutely could not encounter any unexpected issues. Otherwise, the cooperation slated for discussion in the coming years would fall through. While the Ning family’s losses wouldn’t be substantial, the Lin family would suffer a devastating blow.

As a member of Lin Moshu’s faction, Lin Qi naturally wished for his cousin to climb higher and higher.

Once Lin Moshu gained full control of the Lin family, Lin Qi would also bask in his glory.

This way, those tiresome old elders would finally be sent to retirement homes to live out their golden years, instead of continuing to dictate affairs at home and obstruct the younger generation.

With that thought, the furious expression on Lin Qi’s face quickly returned to normal. He scoffed, then spoke again: “Are you truly certain?”

Since Ning Ran wished to ‘stray from the path’, he saw no need to show her any courtesy.

Over his two years in the fencing club, his previous encounters with Ning Ran had always ended in a draw. Normally, he would consider the relationship between their two families, but today, he wouldn’t hold back.

It was time for Ning Ran to experience the taste of utter defeat.

Only by understanding pain would she awaken.

She would also realize that protecting Jiang Zhe was a mistake.

“Are you a broken record? How many more times do you need to ask? I don’t want to waste any more time; let’s just begin!”

Ning Ran was already in a foul mood, and Lin Qi’s passive-aggressive demeanor only ignited her anger further. Without another word, Ning Ran raised a hand and beckoned to her attendant, then swiftly took the longsword offered to her.

She couldn’t be bothered with gloves or a mask, stepping onto the field with clean, decisive movements.

With her other hand, she waved towards the surrounding crowd. Without needing to speak, the students immediately retreated a dozen steps in unison, creating ample space for the impending duel.

Yet, as the crowd dispersed, Jiang Zhe remained motionless, which placed him directly in the front row.

The wide, unobstructed view, however, only caused the students secretly filming behind him to lament their misfortune; they could only capture Jiang Zhe’s back, or at best, a profile. As for his flawless face, that was out of the question.

On Fenghua School’s forum, a new thread, marked with red and stickied, was trending. The number of viewers for the live stream had already surged to fifty thousand, and its growth rate continued to accelerate.

[Shocking! Ning Ran Does THIS in the Fencing Club to Protect Her ‘Boyfriend’!]

The perfectly sensational title was incredibly effective, and coupled with the live broadcast, it drew a flood of eager comments.

[Oh oh oh oh oh, it’s the Ning Ran from the morning’s live stream! This is definitely a huge scoop!]

[Ning Ran is actually dueling the fencing club president for Jiang Zhe! This is too cool! Wuwuwu, what kind of divine and beautiful love is this?!]

[Pfft, commenter above, they’re not a couple, just ‘friends’!]

[Stop babbling, everyone! Look at the duel! I want to see our young lady utterly crush that scumbag!]

The forum’s live stream was packed with gossiping onlookers, and the atmosphere on-site escalated into a frenzy with Ning Ran’s proactive stance. All eyes were fixed on the two figures at the center of attention, brimming with anticipation.

Among them were several veteran members of the fencing club. They understood both Lin Qi and Ning Ran to some extent. Unlike others who were merely there for the gossip, they shook their heads helplessly, not optimistic about this match.

After all, Ning Ran’s appearances at the fencing club were exceedingly rare, whereas Lin Qi, as president, signed in daily, his professional skills steadily improving. He had even participated in the National Youth Fencing Competition this year, achieving first place.

Comparing the two, honestly, Ning Ran’s chances of winning were slim.

She had been too reckless.

The veteran members were well aware of Ning Ran’s background and felt that her impulsiveness might stem from growing up pampered, with everything going smoothly, and with parents who protected her from any harm. This might have led her to misunderstand her own capabilities.

It wasn’t Ning Ran’s prowess that made others fear her, but the sheer power and influence of the Ning family that made people dare not provoke them.

Ning Ran was destined to lose!

“Heh, since you’ve said so, then let’s go!”

Although he had already decided to publicly humiliate Ning Ran, her challenge undoubtedly forced his hand. This feeling of being compelled deeply annoyed Lin Qi, and his expression grew even more sullen.

He had always been overlooked within the Lin family, with only Lin Moshu recognizing his talent.

Initially, he had needed to avoid direct confrontation and bide his time, but he couldn’t remain suppressed forever. At the right moment, he needed to ‘reveal’ himself to gain the Lin family’s attention, lest he be cast aside as a useless piece.

If he defeated Ning Ran today, crushing her arrogance, he believed his cousin would be pleased.

Even if it was just a family alliance, Ning Ran’s defiance would eventually trouble Lin Moshu. It would be better to temper her pride before graduation, making her easier to control afterward.

Lin Qi reveled in these pleasant thoughts, similarly foregoing his mask. He held his longsword upright before his chest, ready and eager for the match to begin.

Ning Ran felt the same. Seeing Lin Qi now only irritated her, and she resolved to end the fight quickly.

“Begin!”

The moment the temporary referee’s words fell, Ning Ran launched her attack first. Her red curly hair swayed behind her with each movement. In mere seconds, she parried over a dozen thrusts from Lin Qi, then executed a cunning, direct lunge, striking him squarely in the chest.

Instantly, the boisterous fencing club fell into complete silence, everyone staring at Ning Ran, dumbfounded.

She had settled the match in a single move!