Zhang Chengling extended a finger to point at Yu Qiufeng, then pointed at himself at a loss. “This...that…”

That strange man despised his hand-wringing, and kicked him on his rear. Stumbling two steps forward, Zhang Chengling nearly fell into Yu Qiufeng’s arms.

Ecstatic, Yu Qiufeng scrambled to put on a gentle voice, and told Zhang Chengling, “Child of the Zhang family, come to me.”

Still, Zhang Chengling gazed around with his wide eyes and lost expression, looking exactly like a little rabbit that could not find its way home. The one holding the walnuts chuckled softly and said, “You’re too cruel.”

The one beside him replied impassively, “After a baby hawk grows up, the old hawk will boot it out of the nest. I’m doing this for his own good.”

Zhang Chengling, who had been regarded as a baby eagle, retreated a timid step back, treating Yu Qiufeng exactly like an old pervert who specifically preyed on young children. On the other hand, Feng Xiaofeng was not as polite as the Huashan Sect Leader. He followed this train of thought: this little Zhang fellow looked to be a part of their crew, and seizing him was good too, since they wouldn’t have to fear not being able to hold back these few people that way. Who cared who he was, as long as he didn’t kill him while seizing him?

So he swooped forward, and stretched out a hand to seize Zhang Chengling.

Uselessly, Zhang Chengling turned and fled, still shouting, “Heavens[10], shifu, he wants to seize me!”

A snicker escaped the one holding the walnuts, who used the tip of his shoe to poke the one beside him. “I say, your baby hawk’s feathers are puffed up in fright.”

“Hopeless,” the man muttered, and delivered a palm strike through the air. Zhang Chengling felt a great wave of energy surging at him, as if someone had shoved him hard and halted his steps. Immediately after, his arms were propped up like a puppet on strings, which met with the incoming Feng Xiaofeng head-on. Frightened, Zhang Chengling closed his eyes, his hands clenching instinctively, and his fist landed right on the bridge of Feng Xiaofeng’s nose.

He hit that shortie into letting loose an earth-shaking howl; Zhang Chengling opened his eyes and looked at his own fist dizzily, unable to believe it. Someone’s voice tunnelled across the distance. It was his shifu’s voice ringing by his ear once more, reprimanding him, “Idiot, why are you in a daze? Kick his danzhong acupuncture point[11]!”

Reflexively, Zhang Chengling did as per his instructions. He sensed that the gust of energy had not dispersed, but had rather surged into his four limbs. It pushed him to put a leg forward and, incredibly, sent Feng Xiaofeng flying with a kick.

Yu Qiufeng asked loudly, “Who are you?”