chapter 9: Lesson of Strength

Li Taixing glanced at the three bears, who had scattered in preparation for their next move. Without hesitation, he took the initiative, targeting Xiong Hu first.

As Xiong Hu was still arranging his stance, he felt Li Taixing's fist hurtling toward him.

"Boom."

The force of the punch sent Xiong Hu flying backwards, crashing to the ground. If Li Taixing hadn't intentionally restrained his strength, Xiong Hu would have been knocked out cold from the blow.

"Ah!"

Xiong Er and Xiong San rushed forward, fists swinging at Li Taixing. However, Li Taixing dodged effortlessly, maneuvering behind them to strike each in the neck with a precise hand chop.

"Boom."

"Boom."

Both fell to the ground, unconscious.

Li Taixing walked back to Xiong Hu, who was now filled with hatred. He squatted down, patted Xiong Hu's face, and said, "You were never a match for me. Now do you see my strength?"

"You, I don't agree."

"Not convinced?" Li Taixing's smile widened as he produced a piece of wood from his hand. "How does your body compare to this piece of wood?"

Confused, Xiong Hu watched as Li Taixing crushed the wood effortlessly.

"Boom."

The wood splintered in Li Taixing's grip, causing Xiong Hu's eyes to widen in shock.

"I'm being merciful. Otherwise, it wouldn't be just falling down or passing out."

Li Taixing patted Xiong Hu's face again, causing him to shiver in pain.

"I, I see."

Xiong Hu finally understood that he had underestimated Li Taixing and was no match for him.

"Good. Now you understand." Li Taixing stood up and dusted off his hands. "From now on, you three should know your place."

Though Xiong Hu was reluctant, he acknowledged his defeat. "I understand."

"Good."

Li Taixing then addressed Xiong Hu directly. "Lu Tong and Sun Bohu are my friends. You should treat them with respect. From now on, you will follow our lead. Understand?"

"Understood."

"Excellent. And how should you address me?"

"Yes, Li Taixing."

"Very well, you're learning." Li Taixing was satisfied with Xiong Hu's response and moved on to wake up Xiong Er and Xiong San.

Once they were awake, the three bears realized they were no match for Li Taixing.

They were puzzled, though. Li Taixing was a first-rank with no attributes, making him seemingly the weakest among them. Yet, his strength was extraordinary.

Li Taixing, however, paid them no further attention and returned to his bed to rest.

Meanwhile, Lu Tong and Sun Bohu stared in disbelief.

"Is Li Taixing really that strong? I thought he was weak," Sun Bohu said, astonished.

Even if Lu Tong and Sun Bohu combined their efforts, they would still be no match for the three Xiong Hu brothers due to their lack of cultivation.

"Well, shall we eat?" Sun Bohu asked, finally unable to resist the delicious aroma of roast duck.

"Yes," Lu Tong agreed.

The two of them sat by Lu Tong's bed and began eating. The sight of Xiong Hu and his brothers eagerly watching them made Lu Tong feel somewhat charitable. He decided to share the remaining half of the roast duck with them.

The three brothers expressed their gratitude profusely.

"Thank you, Brother Lu."

"Whatever happens in the future, just let us know. We will help you as best we can," Xiong Hu promised after eating heartily.

"You're welcome. Let's look out for each other," Lu Tong replied.

The three Xiong Hu brothers devoured the roast duck with gusto. Seeing this, Sun Bohu could only watch in astonishment, forgetting about his own meal.

However, as the three brothers devoured the last of the roast duck, their eyes shifted to the piece in Sun Bohu's hands. Unable to bear their eager gazes, Sun Bohu reluctantly offered the remainder to them.

Xiong San quickly grabbed it and walked away, leaving Sun Bohu stunned.

Looking at the disappearing roast duck and the three brothers savoring it, Sun Bohu turned to Lu Tong.

"Mine is gone."

"It's gone. They're eating like they've never had a meal before," Lu Tong said, trying to hold back a laugh.

Sun Bohu had no choice but to accept the situation. Though reluctant, he felt a bit sorry for the three brothers and let it go.

Early the next morning, everyone gathered in the square. From this day forward, they would not only receive training but also have specific work assignments.

The three Xiong Hu brothers were up early, preparing toiletries for Li Taixing, Lu Tong, and Sun Bohu, and tidying the dormitory.

Lu Tong and Sun Bohu were taken aback.

"Hey, Brother Lu, Brother Sun, we've prepared your toiletries. Please use them."

"Li Taixing hasn't woken up yet. Should we wake him up for the gathering?"

Xiong Hu spoke respectfully, a stark contrast to his earlier arrogance.

This sudden shift made Lu Tong and Sun Bohu uncomfortable.

"Really, you don't need to go to such lengths. We can manage on our own."

"That can't be done. Li Taixing said we're to follow your lead. If you need anything, just ask," Xiong Hu insisted.

Lu Tong, bemused, replied, "There's no need for all this. I just wanted to teach you a lesson, not to enslave you."

Sun Bohu, still bewildered, remained under the covers, watching the three brothers with a mix of wariness and disbelief.

"Just be yourselves and don't be arrogant in the future. Don't bully others. Now, excuse me; I need to use the bathroom."

"Okay," Xiong Er said, offering, "Brother Sun, you can step on me to get down safely. I promise you'll be fine."

"…"