Chapter 110: Taekwondo Rivals Rise

After breakfast, Lin Zheng Ran didn’t even wait to head to the Dojo; he explained the application and power behind a certain technique right at home.

Taekwondo techniques are limited, and while some advanced ones like those Heqing hadn’t learned yet were tough, Lin Zheng Ran knew that chasing flashy moves without solid mastery just made things clumsy.

Heqing might look delicate and slim, but her real strength lay in raw power.

This seemingly fragile girl packed a surprising punch.

So when teaching her, Lin Zheng Ran always stressed playing to her strengths— even basic kicks like side or back kicks could take down so-called elite competitors without any fancy tricks.

Lin Zheng Ran said, “I’ve been focusing on how to boost your speed and power all this time, without teaching any special techniques. But since Jiang Jie mentioned Lin Xue is really strong…”

Lin Zheng Ran held up a finger: “Just in case, I’ll show you one more move. You’ve practiced it before, but nailing it makes all the difference.”

At home, Heqing asked curiously, “What is it?”

“It’s the aerial back kick—sounds tricky, but it’s simple and perfect for you, especially with your strength.”

After a quick session at home where she grasped the technique’s power and use,

the two headed to the Dojo for real sparring practice.

With Lin Zheng Ran’s help, Heqing picked it up fast, and by the end, her kicks hit with real force.

Each strike against the pad in Lin Zheng Ran’s hands landed with a sharp thud!

Lin Zheng Ran grinned, confident: “That’s it! She won’t handle that kick.”

Heqing said in surprise, “Really?”

The coach, watching from the side, shook his head in amazement: “It’s wild how you two turn a basic move into something so intimidating.” He added quietly, “And you two are awfully cozy this early in the morning.”

Soon, afternoon arrived, and Lin Zheng Ran and Heqing boarded the bus to the town Taekwondo competition venue.

Once there, Heqing was full of energy and unstoppable confidence, a faint smile lighting up her face.

It was a stark contrast to Lin Xue, who stood with Jiang Jingshi.

Jiang Jingshi and Lin Xue had arrived earlier, and as soon as she spotted Lin Zheng Ran and Heqing, the young heiress brought her prized student over to greet them.

“Little brother Zheng Ran, today’s the final—still as confident as yesterday?”

Lin Zheng Ran glanced at the determined Heqing: “Of course. What about you, Jiang Jie?”

Jiang Jie eyed Lin Zheng Ran: “I’m confident too.” She instructed Lin Xue, “Lin Xue, say hello to Heqing. You two will likely face off in the end.”

Heqing exchanged a quick look with Lin Zheng Ran before nodding politely at Lin Xue: “Hello.”

Lin Xue, silent and proud, just gave a slight, serious nod without a word.

Heqing thought this big sister seemed fierce and intimidating, but she shrugged it off—after all, she could be fierce too. Lin Zheng Ran had taught her how to be tough back when she was little, so she wouldn’t back down.

The afternoon matches kicked off quickly, starting with the semifinals for the boys, which lacked strong opponents and didn’t draw much attention since their skills paled compared to the girls’.

All eyes were on the women’s events.

As expected, both Heqing and Lin Xue breezed through their first opponents, leading straight to the decisive second round.

In the audience area, Jiang Jingshi and Lin Zheng Ran sat together.

This time, they weren’t chatting; they watched the match tensely.

As the referee announced, “The next bout will decide the champion and runner-up—Heqing versus Lin Xue! Both competitors, take the stage!”

On the competition floor, Heqing and Lin Xue, dressed in crisp white Taekwondo uniforms, bowed and assumed their fighting stances.

Heqing stared at Lin Xue’s serious expression.

She recalled what Lin Zheng Ran had told her that morning after breakfast about the aerial back kick:

“From what I observed yesterday, this Lin Xue girl relies on brute strength and a sturdy build, but her speed is average. If you feel pressured, use your speed to outmaneuver her. Even if your power isn’t as great, faster kicks will keep you ahead.”

Heqing kept Lin Zheng Ran’s advice in mind, but Lin Xue’s intensity surprised everyone.

The moment the match started, Heqing planned to observe, yet Lin Xue launched a barrage of fierce, rapid kicks.

Heqing had to defend quickly, blocking the onslaught.

She thought, this big sister is really aggressive.

The kicks looked powerful, but something felt off—they didn’t hurt much.

In the audience, Lin Zheng Ran noticed Lin Xue’s unusually fierce spirit, and Jiang Jingshi smiled: “See that, little brother Zheng Ran? Lin Xue is dying to win. I know her well; since I brought her in, she’s never respected any opponent. But last night, when I said she might lose, she got angry and vowed to prove me wrong.”

Lin Zheng Ran replied, “Jiang Jie, was that on purpose to fire her up? Still, going all out right away might drain her fast—it’s not ideal for a longer fight.”

Jiang Jingshi said confidently, “No need for a drawn-out battle; Lin Xue’s all about explosive power.”

Lin Zheng Ran watched the ring closely, and after a brief pause, he smiled, seeing through the situation without saying more.

Jiang Jingshi caught his smile, her brow furrowed in sudden worry as she turned back to the match.

On stage, Heqing kept defending and dodging Lin Xue’s heavy attacks, but in her mind, she thought:

“This sister looks fierce, but it’s like she’s holding back. Why doesn’t it pack much punch?”

To test it, when Lin Xue lifted her leg high, Heqing seized the opening and delivered a hard kick.

Lin Xue anticipated Heqing’s move and blocked with her arm, but the impact hit like solid iron, forcing a pained grunt from her as she staggered back.

Stunned, Lin Xue stared at the sweet-faced girl before her, her arm numb with disbelief.

Heqing, with a cute expression, reset her stance, her innocent eyes seeming to say, ‘Go all out, sister—I’m in top form today, no need to hold back.’

In reality, Lin Xue hadn’t held back at all…

Heqing’s body was operating at least 1.5 times its usual capacity, thanks to her blissful sleep the night before and the joy of leaning on Lin Zheng Ran’s shoulder that morning, filling her with vitality and unknowingly boosting her strength.

Meanwhile, Lin Xue’s anger had amped up her power, but it also limited her precise control, capping her effective strikes.

Heqing wondered, ‘Is she done attacking? Then I’ll take the lead!’

Switching to offense, she advanced with a series of quick kicks, and an irritated Lin Xue met them head-on without blocking.

Their legs clashed with such force that just watching made onlookers wince at the impact.

In the audience, Jiang Jingshi clenched her fists, murmuring in shock, “How is this even possible?”

Lin Zheng Ran smiled: “Looks like Heqing’s got the first round. Lin Xue’s running out of steam, Jiang Jie.”

Jiang Jingshi frowned, seeing the outcome and whispering to herself, “The strength gap is huge…”