Chapter 10: Protecting the Flower, Sweeping Away All Foes

In days gone by, Li Chao had always been the quiet, frail village doctor, unremarkable and overlooked. In the eyes of the villagers, it seemed impossible to ever associate him with the word “heroic.” Yet fate has a way of delivering surprises when least expected.

Today, as the swaggering bullies charged toward him, Li Chao revealed an unprecedented strength. The body-forging technique he had cultivated was now perfected; every punch, every kick brimmed with boundless power, as if he were unleashing all the humiliation and resentment he had ever endured.

The bullies, assuming they could easily subdue this meek doctor, were swiftly proven wrong. Within just a few exchanges, each one was sprawled on the ground, bloodied and wailing, unable to rise.

The villagers who had gathered to watch were left utterly dumbfounded, as though witnessing a breathtaking martial arts film unfold before their eyes.

Liu Dan stood at a distance, her mouth agape, wide enough to fit a banana. She was at a loss for words, unable to reconcile this formidable figure with the Li Chao she thought she knew—the gentle, unassuming village doctor who always wore a quiet smile. Who could have guessed he possessed such astonishing strength?

After dispatching the bullies, Li Chao strode over to Li Mazi. Where once Li Mazi had been brimming with bluster, now fear had drained the color from his face. He could never have imagined that the usually harmless-looking Li Chao could fight with such ferocity.

“You bastard! How dare you hit us?” Li Mazi, though terrified, tried desperately to save face with a shout.

Li Chao merely smiled faintly, bent down, and slapped Li Mazi across the face. The slap rang out, sharp and clear, as if it could shatter eardrums. Li Mazi let out a scream, two teeth flying from his mouth.

Grabbing Li Mazi by the collar, Li Chao hauled him upright and struck him with several more resounding slaps. Each one landed like a heavy hammer, plunging Li Mazi into agony. Li Chao’s eyes, cold and resolute, bore into him, as though channeling all his pent-up anger and defiance into punishing this former bully.

The entire spectacle left everyone present in awe. They saw Li Chao’s courage and strength, and his unyielding response to those who had terrorized them.

From that day forward, Li Chao’s image among the villagers was forever changed. He was no longer just the frail doctor, but a hero—strong, steadfast, and unwavering in his convictions.

Night descended, and the empty grounds were bathed in gentle moonlight. Li Chao, swift as a leopard, seized Li Mazi’s collar, as if he might devour him whole. His movements were decisive and fierce; several slaps fell like a sudden storm, their crisp echoes piercing the stillness of the night.

“What do you refuse to accept?” Li Chao’s voice was icy cold, each word sharp as a blade, stabbing straight into Li Mazi’s heart. His gaze, keen as an eagle’s, fixed unflinchingly on Li Mazi, as if to pierce his very soul.

Li Mazi, pale and trembling, clutched his head, his eyes burning with anger and frustration, yet he dared not resist. He understood all too well: Li Chao was now a force not to be trifled with. To provoke him further would bring consequences too dire to imagine.

“Still have the nerve to challenge me?” Li Chao’s voice rang out again, mocking and disdainful. His tone seemed to say, “If you have the courage, try again and see what happens.”

Li Mazi, though fury still smoldered within him, was ruled by reason—he knew better than to provoke Li Chao further. He clenched his teeth, swallowing his humiliation, already plotting revenge in the recesses of his mind.

But Li Chao gave him no such chance. Releasing his grip, Li Chao tossed Li Mazi aside like a rag doll and turned away. His figure, silhouetted in the moonlight, was proud and solitary, exuding an indescribable aura that made others avert their eyes.

On the deserted grounds, only Li Mazi remained, his lonely figure hunched on the earth. He raised his head, watching Li Chao’s departing back, his eyes flickering with conflicted emotions. He knew that today’s humiliation was only temporary; one day, he would reclaim his dignity and make Li Chao pay the price.

In this world of passion and strife, an astonishing scene had just played out. Despite their numbers, the bullies had been unable to withstand the onslaught of a single man. It was as though they had seen a ghost—everyone present was left speechless.

Li Mazi, once the village’s notorious bully, now sat defeated and powerless, his pride utterly shattered. Gritting his teeth and swallowing his indignation, he finally muttered, “I yield.”

The words seemed to be wrenched from the depths of his soul, saturated with helplessness and reluctance. At that moment, he had no choice.

Li Chao, the unassuming young man who had always kept to himself, now stood over Li Mazi like a god descended to earth.

His voice was calm but laden with authority: “Kneel.”

“Bow your head.”

“Apologize to Sister Dan.”

Each command landed on Li Mazi’s heart like a heavy blow. Li Chao was repaying him in kind, making it clear through his actions that he was not someone to be trifled with.

Liu Dan, the gentle yet strong-willed girl, could hardly bear to watch. She tugged softly at Li Chao’s sleeve, pleading in a gentle voice, “Xiaoshan, that’s enough.”

Li Chao shook his head firmly. “This is more than lenient.”

His words brooked no argument. He was not a man who reveled in violence, but there were times and people for whom only the most direct means would suffice.

Li Mazi’s Adam’s apple bobbed, his entire body shuddering. Though once he had bullied others with impunity, now, before Li Chao’s stern presence, he was powerless. He understood well: if he did not do as Li Chao commanded, the consequences would be unbearable.

So, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Li Mazi slowly sank to his knees. Bowing his head and pressing his palms together, he kowtowed toward Liu Dan. In that moment, his heart was awash with shame and resentment, but he had no choice but to accept reality. He knew he had been utterly defeated, with no strength left to resist.

Struggling to his feet under the villagers’ gazes, Li Mazi consoled himself: a true man knows when to bow to circumstance; submission today was only so he might rise again tomorrow. Kneeling on the ground, he knocked his head on the earth several times, his voice trembling, “I’m sorry! I was wrong!”

Though Liu Dan felt that things had gone somewhat too far, seeing the notorious village troublemaker receive his just deserts filled her with a sense of cathartic satisfaction.

The villagers stood transfixed by the scene, as if frozen in time, unable to snap out of their astonishment.

“Get out!” Li Chao commanded coldly, his voice devoid of emotion.

Li Mazi, as if pardoned from death, gathered his ruffian companions and fled in disgrace.

Afterward, Li Chao exchanged a few casual words with Liu Dan, then turned and departed. His upright figure, stretched long by the setting sun, resembled that of a heroic guardian silently watching over this land and its people.

Watching Li Chao’s retreating back, Liu Dan felt a ripple disturb the calm surface of her heart. She had never imagined that this unassuming young man would possess such courage and determination. Perhaps he had always been this way, simply lacking the chance to reveal it.

Taking a deep breath, she returned home. The afternoon sun streamed through the window as she lay on her bed, eyes closed, ready to enjoy a rare moment of peace.

Yet her heart would not settle. Li Chao’s figure, and the echo of his commanding “Get out!” continued to reverberate in her mind.