You Are Really No Match For Me [Fighting] - Chapter 39

When the rain stopped, Jin Yu and Liang Yu stepped out of the cave. It was only the second day of the auditions, but fewer than a hundred contestants remained. The livestream chat was just as sparse, drifting with the occasional comment.

【Early morning check-in! Day two already!】
【Jin Yu-jiejie is so cool】

Jin Yu lifted the water flask she’d filled the night before. “Let’s go. We should check out the area.”

Liang Yu stretched, yawning. “So sleepy… Where are we going?”

“West. There was a lot of noise from that direction last night. We need to find out what’s going on.”

【West is dangerous!】
【The noise there last night was terrifying】

Liang Yu instantly sobered, rushing to block her path. “Sis! Please, don’t. The noise was huge—what if we run into someone we can’t handle? Maybe… maybe we should skip it?”

【Liang the Coward enters the chat】

Jin Yu sidestepped him, walking on her own. “If I’m right, there are at least five or six of them. Last night, under the cover of rain and chaos, they nearly wiped out everyone nearby. If we don’t figure out their strength soon, they’ll become a huge problem for us.”

Liang Yu froze, then slapped his thigh. “That’s true! Makes so much sense! Sis, you’re brilliant, to think that far ahead!”

“Less nonsense. Hurry.”

With that, she leapt, her body light as a feather, flying between the trees with ease.

【That qinggong tho 666】
【I’m in love with that movement】

The cameras had shown the western group the night before. Their methods were brutal and bloody, but their strength was undeniable. While many admired them, others worried.

【Jin Yu is strong, but she’s too reckless】
【Yeah, feels like a death wish】

In the studio, the commentators were back on air.

Wang Tao declared with certainty, “This group is clearly the strongest. Looks like the final spots will come from these six.”

【Here goes Wang Tao again】
【Poisoned milk warning】

Tong Xinying, by now familiar with Wang Tao’s bias, immediately rolled her eyes and retorted, “I wouldn’t be so sure. What if they split up and fall apart midway?”

【Tong-jie fighting back! I love it!】

Both turned to Ma Younian, pressing him for a verdict. The man dared not offend either. “Well… their methods are cruel, but their strength can’t be denied.”

Wang Tao nodded in satisfaction, but Tong Xinying kept glaring daggers. Ma Younian quickly added, “But—other contestants are also strong. If they team up, they might still beat this group.”

【Ma Younian: it’s tough being me】
【Master of fence-sitting strikes again】

Liang Yu had barely run two steps before Jin Yu disappeared from sight. He panicked. “Sis! I’m still here! I can’t do qinggong!”

Moments later, she reappeared, apologetic. “Sorry, I forgot you.”

She grabbed his waist and carried him through the forest canopy. Liang Yu looked down, his face going pale, and clung to her like his life depended on it. “Sis, why are you flying this high…?”

“We’re almost there. Hang on.”

He squeezed his eyes shut, hugging her like a koala.

After about five minutes, Jin Yu landed lightly on a thick branch. Liang Yu opened his eyes, nearly screamed, but Jin Yu pressed a finger to her lips. He swallowed the cry.

Voices rose from below—

Six burly men, broad as oxen, their faces twisted and vicious. Cruel laughter echoed through the woods.

“Run! Come on, keep running—”

“Please, spare me…” A skinny man knelt, trembling.

“Spare you? Why the hell would we?”

“I’ll do anything you say, just don’t eliminate me—”

“Boss, don’t trust him, he’s sly.”

“Exactly. He doesn’t get to walk away.”

The scar-faced leader sneered, eyes sharp and dangerous. “Where were you last night? How come we didn’t find you?”

“I—I hid between the woodpile and the wall…” The man was so thin he’d managed to squeeze into the crack unnoticed.

The boss’s face twisted in rage. “So you’re the rat that made us search all night? Think I’ll let you off?”

He kicked the man down.

The victim crawled, trying to flee, but a hooked chain shot out from a mechanical arm, piercing his ankle and dragging him down. He howled in pain.

Two more men twisted his arms behind him and forced him to kneel with a vicious kick. One yanked his hair, forcing his head up. Scarface leaned close, grinning wickedly. “After you wasted our night, how should we ‘repay’ you?”

The man’s lips quivered, repeating in despair, “I was wrong… please, let me go…”

Scarface punched him hard. A bloodied tooth flew.

Another blow. Bl00d spattered, his consciousness fading. Scarface grabbed his hair again and kicked his stomach.

“Playing dead already? Wake the hell up!”

They tossed the signal gun aside and focused only on beating him. The hook was ripped out from his ankle, bl00d gushing as he screamed in agony.

Jin Yu’s fists clenched white. “…Animals.” She was about to jump when Liang Yu stopped her.

“Sis, don’t! There are six of them, and just the two of us—how can we fight?”

“What then? He’s about to be killed!”

But soon, the light on the man’s chest shifted from green to red. Jin Yu exhaled in relief.

Once a contestant’s health indicator turned red, no further attacks were allowed. Any violation would be punished as foul play.

“Pathetic. Couldn’t even take a beating,” Scarface scoffed, tossing the man into the bushes like trash before leading his group back into the wooden cabin.

Jin Yu dropped down with Liang Yu.

She crouched beside the bleeding man, her voice low. “Hold on. Help is on the way.”

Liang Yu winced at his condition. “Hang in there.”

The man coughed bl00d, whispering, “Thank you… I—”

“Don’t talk. Breathe.”

Soon, the medics arrived and carried him off. He tugged weakly at Liang Yu, whispering, “Unite… take… revenge…”

Liang Yu’s face grew grave. “We need allies. No way we let those bastards win.”

Just then, leaves rustled above. A woman dropped down. She’d been there first, listening.

“Let’s team up.”

It was Zhao Mingyue, the one Jin Yu had spared earlier. Her ponytail was still tied high, though her clothes were now dirt-streaked.

“You?”

Zhao Mingyue nodded, her tone earnest. “Those men are too strong. I can’t beat them alone. But if we join forces, maybe we stand a chance.”

Liang Yu snapped, “You stole your teammate’s supplies and ran. Don’t think we forgot.”

Zhao Mingyue forced a bitter smile. “You saw what happened. Those useless guys turned on me—what else could I do? I had to survive.”

She turned to Jin Yu. “You believe me, right? I had no choice.”

Jin Yu shook her head. “Sorry. I can’t agree. Leave.”

Zhao Mingyue’s wrist flicked, producing a dagger. Her eyes hardened. “Then don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

But before she could strike, a black-and-gold mechanical claw clamped down on her blade. Zhao Mingyue pulled back and leapt into the trees to flee.

Liang Yu’s eyes widened. “Xie Fei? You’re here too? Thank god—what luck to run into someone we know!”

【Wait, how does Scorpion Girl know Jin Yu?】
【Insider info: they both fought in Jiangbei’s underground arena two months ago】

Xie Fei snorted proudly. “Of course. You two idiots would’ve been eliminated already without me. You’d better thank me.”

Jin Yu smiled. “Of course. Thank you.”

Xie Fei squirmed under her gaze, quickly pulling out a mirror. “What? Do I have something on my face?”

Jin Yu shook her head, stepping closer. Xie Fei retreated, raising her claws defensively. “What are you doing?”

“It’s been a while, Xie Fei.”

Her lips twitched, trying to hide her happiness. “…Yeah. It has. You’ve gotten weaker though.”

“I’m the same. You’re the one who’s grown stronger.”

Her neck flushed red. “W-well, of course… After our fight, I trained hard for a long time…”

Jin Yu nodded approvingly. “Your steps are lighter now, your movements sharper.”

【True, I remember Scorpion Girl’s style being super flashy before. She’s different now】

Unable to contain her pride, Xie Fei dropped the cool act and beamed. “Right? I’m amazing, aren’t I? I even balanced on plum-blossom stakes, repeating each move until it was perfect…”

【Oh my god, she looks like she’s begging for praise】

Without thinking, she linked her arm through Jin Yu’s, chattering on. “I’ve been preparing for ages. I even paid extra to be placed in your division…”

【In my lifetime… Scorpion Girl acting cute?? Where’s the icy queen I knew?】

Jin Yu smiled gently. “Why didn’t you come find me earlier…”

“…”

Because she’d been too embarrassed, of course.

But prideful as she was, Xie Fei could never admit it.

“I—I was scouting the other contestants. I’ll tell you, this group is probably the strongest. Scarface is especially vicious—rumor has it he killed someone in a past match. He’s terrifying. We should work together against him.”

Liang Yu jumped in. “So you’re joining us?”

Xie Fei gave him a look. “Duh. First you trusted Zhang Xing, the conman, then Zhao Mingyue, the two-faced backstabber. Honestly, it’s a miracle you’re still alive…”

“And don’t get the wrong idea! If I didn’t feel sorry for you, I wouldn’t even bother.”

As Jin Yu and Liang Yu tried not to laugh, her words grew more exaggerated, and she grew flustered. She spun around to leave.

Jin Yu quickly caught her arm, chuckling. Her tone was warm, teasing. “Yes, yes, we’d be lost without you. Thank you, Xie Fei. We’re counting on you.”

【God, that smile—so soft】
【I’m dead, I ship it】
【The lilies of home are blooming】