Chapter 43: Why Senior Sister Meng Doesn't Speak

"Pah."

The soft sensation against his fingertips immediately made Xue Jing realize his mistake, and his expression shifted in alarm. He had been so caught up in the heat of the battle that he hadn't fully thought through his actions. Seeing an opening, he had instinctively used his finger snap technique.

'I really didn't mean it.'

As Xue Jing stood there, stunned, Meng Qingjiao responded with her usual calm. She delivered a soft but forceful slap to his chest, sending him flying backward.

Xue Jing quickly recovered, flipping to his feet, and rushed over, concern etched on his face. "Senior Sister, are you okay?"

Meng Qingjiao shook her head, her expression unchanged. She glanced at him briefly, her face giving nothing away—except for the faintest blush that colored her cheeks, barely noticeable.

The air between them grew thick with awkwardness until Li Qi stepped in to break the tension. "Alright, let's call it a day for training."

Xue Jing let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. The accidental contact had left him rattled, and his fighting spirit had dissipated. It wasn't that he didn't want to continue; he simply couldn't muster the energy or focus to fight effectively. Sensing this, Li Qi wisely decided to end the session.

"Qingjiao, go ahead and rest," Li Qi said gently.

Meng Qingjiao nodded and, after a moment's hesitation, walked over to Xue Jing. She reached out and patted his head, as if to reassure him that everything was fine.

Xue Jing was taken aback by the gesture, seeing an unexpected softness in her typically cold demeanor. 

As she turned and left the room, her figure gracefully fading from view, Xue Jing found himself thinking, 'Next time, I'll cook something really nice for Senior Sister Meng... I'll put my all into it.'

With a shake of his head, he pulled up his system panel to check his stats.

[Fitness Level 5 (827/2000)] 

[Health preservation Level 3 (468/800)] 

[Cooking Level 3 (751/800)] 

[Running Lv5 (699/2000)] 

[Charm Lv4 (66/1200)] 

[Aiming Lv3 (567/800)] 

[Fighting Lv3 (520/800)] 

[Strenghth Level 4 (217/1200)] 

[Visualization Lv1 (251/300)]

The past three days of rigorous training had paid off immensely. His fighting and strength skills had advanced noticeably, while his fitness, aiming, and health had also seen significant gains.

But these numbers were just the surface. The real value lay in the practical experience he had gained and the fighting system he had begun to build—they were improvements that couldn't be quantified on the panel. His combat effectiveness had increased substantially.

Li Qi observed Xue Jing with a thoughtful expression. "Even though I'm used to how quickly you grow, you still manage to surprise me every time," he said, rubbing his chin.

Xue Jing replied modestly, "It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Master."

Li Qi waved a hand dismissively. "A martial artist must learn the art of deception. You can't always be so straightforward."

"In battle, tricking your opponent is half the victory. Misleading intelligence can be fatal in life-and-death situations. Keep that in mind."

Xue Jing nodded, taking the advice to heart. "Thank you, Master."

After a moment of contemplation, Xue Jing asked, "Master, why don't Senior Sister Meng and Senior Brother speak?"

He had been curious about this ever since joining the dojo. At first, he had assumed they were simply reserved and aloof, but after spending time with them, he realized this wasn't the case. Eldest Senior Brother Meng Boshan, though silent, often nodded at him and offered a faint smile that conveyed goodwill. Senior Sister Meng, for her part, dedicated hours to teaching him, showing care and even affection in subtle ways. Their silence seemed at odds with the warmth they displayed.

Li Qi was silent for a moment before he sighed deeply. 

"When Qingjiao was still young, something terrible happened..."

"Boshan, in his youth, was a rising star in the inner city, a true talent who attracted the attention of many. He met a woman who was Qingjiao's mother, and they quickly fell in love and married. Soon after, Qingjiao was born."

At this point, a shadow of regret crossed Li Qi's face, his old eyes clouding with memories.

"I was arrogant back then, too strong-willed and ignorant of my limits. I sought challenges daily until I encountered someone who broke my legs and shattered the spirit of the dragon within me. I lost my drive."

"I had many enemies. When word spread of my injury, they seized the opportunity to strike."

"Boshan stayed by my side, protecting me, which led him to neglect his family. One day, while he was with me, our enemies came for his home. Only Qingjiao and her mother were there."

"In an effort to protect her, Qingjiao's mother hid her daughter and told her, 'Don't make a sound until I come back.'"

Xue Jing listened quietly, the pieces of the story beginning to fall into place.

"When Boshan and I realized something was wrong and rushed back, all we found was Qingjiao in the basement, weak and starving after days of waiting. Her mother had disappeared and has been missing ever since—presumed dead."

"Since that day, Qingjiao hasn't spoken a word."

Li Qi turned to gaze out the window, lost in thought.

"Boshan, once lively and talkative, fell silent too, in part to make Qingjiao feel less isolated."

"To protect her and avoid our enemies, we left the Inner Ring City and opened the Canglong Dojo here in Qing City."

Xue Jing remained silent, unsure how to respond. He couldn't help but feel a deep sense of pity for Meng Qingjiao. The reason she never spoke was heart-wrenching—she was still waiting for her mother to return, as promised.

Because he hadn't been involved in the events, Xue Jing refrained from commenting on Li Qi's story. He could only listen quietly, feeling a mix of sorrow and respect for the family's struggle.

Li Qi chuckled suddenly, breaking the somber mood. "When you get old, you start to talk too much, reminiscing about the past. But you don't need to worry about these things; they're all behind us now."

"Master, do you want revenge?" Xue Jing asked after a moment's thought.

Li Qi shook his head. "Revenge is a bitter cycle that never ends. I brought too much trouble upon myself, made too many enemies, and Boshan's family paid the price."

"Of course, I want revenge. I want to find the one who took Qingjiao's mother from us, but... I have so many enemies, I don't even know where to start."

Xue Jing's voice was firm as he declared, "Then I'll take care of all of them in the future. I won't worry about who it was—I'll crush them all."

Li Qi was taken aback. 

"You're even more arrogant than I was at my peak," Li Qi said, shaking his head with a chuckle. "My enemies are powerful, not the small fry here in Qing City. They're from the Inner Ring City, and each one is formidable. How do you plan to crush them all?"

Xue Jing blinked and responded with conviction, "I just know I can do it."

Li Qi couldn't help but laugh loudly. 

"Alright then, I'll be looking forward to it."