Chapter 103: The Trial Begins

The next morning, early, Dong Xin knocked loudly on Chen Hao’s door from outside. “You lazy brat! The sun’s up, get up quickly! Did you hear me? Get up right now!”

When there was no response from inside Chen Hao’s room, Dong Xin knocked even harder. But this time, she didn’t try to kick the door open. After what happened in the bathroom yesterday, she was more cautious. She didn’t dare to be so reckless as to barge into Chen Hao’s room again—what if this kid had some strange habit of sleeping without clothes? If she pushed the door open just like that, she might be in for a shock.

But she had called out so many times with no sign of movement inside. Even the deepest sleeper wouldn’t remain so still, right?

Just as Dong Xin was about to break her own rule and push open the door, she heard Chen Hao’s voice behind her: “Huh? Dong Xin, are you waking me up? No need! I’m already up!”

Dong Xin turned around and saw Chen Hao standing fully dressed behind her, sweat pouring down his forehead. Even the slightly smaller coarse linen clothes his father had gotten for him yesterday were soaked and clung tightly to his body.

This surprised Dong Xin greatly, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit more favorable toward Chen Hao. It seemed this kid wasn’t the lazybones she had imagined. As a martial artist, one should be disciplined—early to bed and early to rise.

He must have gotten up early and gone out for morning training.

“Did you go out to exercise?” Dong Xin asked naturally.

Chen Hao nodded enthusiastically and said, “Yeah! The environment here is just fantastic! The air is fresh, the trees are alive with birdsong, and the sunlight is gentle. Being in such a place really energizes me.

Back home, after morning training, I’d always feel exhausted, but today, not at all!”

His words revealed his deep affection for the natural surroundings here, far better than his city life.

Dong Xin nodded along and said, “Well, it’s deep in the mountains here; the environment has to be much better than the city. I went to the big city once with my father. Although the skyscrapers were impressive, the air was terrible.”

“Oh?” Chen Hao was quite surprised. He had assumed Dong Xin had lived only in the mountains and never been out. “Do you like the city?”

Dong Xin thought for a moment. “I can’t say. There are things I like and things I don’t.”

Chen Hao excitedly said, “Let me tell you! Although the city can’t match the mountains in some ways, there’s so much fun stuff there...”

He rattled off a long list of city entertainments, which sparked a gleam of longing in Dong Xin’s previously indifferent eyes.

At the end, Chen Hao didn’t forget to invite her: “If you’re interested, you can come to my house sometime! I’ll show you around and let you experience city life.”

Dong Xin froze, not grateful but wary, staring at Chen Hao with suspicion. Why would this brat invite her so warmly? Was he planning some trick once she came to his house? This lecherous kid might just do something awful.

Chen Hao never expected his genuine invitation to be misunderstood again. Luckily, Dong Xin didn’t voice her inner doubts aloud; otherwise, Chen Hao would be heartbroken.

“By the way, what did you come here for?” Chen Hao quickly asked, not giving her time to think. “Are you here to call me for breakfast?”

“Uh...” Dong Xin was at a loss. She hadn’t come for that; she was just bored. Breakfast wasn’t even ready yet.

Since Chen Hao asked, Dong Xin suddenly felt a bit hungry herself. She quickly seized on his question and said, “I’m not here to call you for breakfast—I’m here to call you to make breakfast!”

“Ah!” Chen Hao was stunned. Why was she making him cook breakfast?

Seeing Chen Hao’s stunned look, Dong Xin scoffed, “I made dinner last night, so it’s only fair that it’s your turn today! And it’s just breakfast, not too hard, right?”

Chen Hao smiled bitterly. “But I really don’t know how to cook. I can help, but cooking isn’t my thing.”

“I don’t care! You figure it out. At worst, I’ll help you,” Dong Xin said, ignoring him.

“Ah!” Hearing this, Chen Hao suddenly flopped onto the floor and rolled around, groaning, “Ouch! My stomach hurts! I can’t take it! It hurts so much! Maybe I ate something bad?”

Having grown up in the mountains, Dong Xin had never seen such a childish ploy. She stared at Chen Hao in disbelief. “Is that even allowed? That’s shameless!”

Although she knew he was faking, Dong Xin was at a loss.

Chen Hao’s loud groaning soon attracted Dong Jianguo and Chen Ding’an. Seeing Chen Hao rolling on the ground and hearing Dong Xin’s explanation, the two men immediately understood.

It was simple: When Dong Jianguo and Chen Ding’an were young, Chen Ding’an had used the same tactic on Dong Jianguo. Seeing Chen Hao’s act, both men thought simultaneously, “Like father, like son! Even the tricks are the same.”

“What are you two up to? Breakfast is ready. Come eat! Today is an important day for your martial arts sparring, so you can’t be distracted by silly cooking,” Dong Jianguo clapped his hands.

Upon hearing this, Chen Hao jumped up immediately and looked at Dong Jianguo suspiciously. “Uncle Dong, you’re not lying, right?”

Chen Hao’s demeanor suggested that if he was tricked, he would just continue to lie on the floor acting pitiful. This made Chen Ding’an embarrassed—he had never been this shameless as a child.

A simple breakfast of millet porridge, a few side dishes, and some steamed buns was quickly eaten by Chen Hao. He barely touched the food, probably because Dong Jianguo’s cooking wasn’t as good as his daughter’s.

After breakfast, everyone’s attention turned to the main event. According to plan, today the two children were to spar.

Dong Xin was eager, having finished eating early and already warming up.

Chen Hao, on the other hand, wore a carefree smile, seemingly treating the upcoming match like a game.

This annoyed Dong Xin even more; she felt Chen Hao was looking down on her.

“Hmph! You brat! I’ll make you regret it!” she vowed silently, determined not to hold back during the sparring.

When everything was ready, Chen Ding’an and Dong Jianguo took seats on the courtyard steps and told the two children to prepare.

Chen Hao and Dong Xin bowed to each other respectfully, following the rules of martial artists, then presented their opening moves.

Seeing Dong Xin’s stance, Chen Ding’an nodded. “Yes! She’s improved a lot since we last met, just as I expected.”

Chen Ding’an spoke calmly, showing no concern for Chen Hao.

But Dong Jianguo’s expression was not so relaxed. When Chen Hao displayed his initial move, his heart skipped a beat.

Having fought Chen Ding’an countless times in the past, Dong Jianguo was well-versed in the Chen family’s martial arts. From Chen Hao’s posture, he knew it was the Chen family’s Nine Dragons Crescent Moon Fist, second form—the Waxing Crescent.

The steady stance and slightly raised hands showed Chen Hao’s hard work and considerable skill—remarkable for a child under ten. When Chen Ding’an was ten, he certainly didn’t have such ability.

From this moment, Dong Jianguo truly believed the praise other martial arts families and Chen Ding’an himself gave Chen Hao: this kid was extraordinary.

Dong Xin’s expression also turned serious. She had previously dismissed the compliments about Chen Hao’s talent, doubting he could surpass her. After all, he was under ten and hadn’t trained as long as she had. Even if his talent matched hers, her time and diligence should have made her stronger.

But the moment Chen Hao stepped into the arena, the ever-present smile vanished. He transformed from a mischievous child into a true martial artist. This expression was something Dong Xin had never seen on herself despite years of training.

She realized she had underestimated him.

Dong Xin thought to herself, but this was good. The stronger the opponent, the more she enjoyed it. This was a contest of equals!

Yet even as she took Chen Hao seriously, she still misjudged his strength. Chen Hao’s level was far beyond hers—especially after visiting the old Grandmaster, his realm had risen again.

This was a battle whose outcome was decided from the start—one without suspense.

Both Dong Jianguo and Chen Ding’an thought this to themselves.

Still, to avoid crushing his daughter’s confidence, Dong Jianguo loudly encouraged, “Girl, fight hard! Show Chen Hao what you’ve got!”

Encouraged by her father, Dong Xin cleared her mind, took a deep breath, and extended her hand forward flatly: “Please!”

Chen Hao responded with equal respect and courtesy: “Please...”

No sooner had he spoken than Dong Xin launched the first attack.

She stepped forward, striking with the fierce style of the Dong family’s Hong Fist, aiming a palm at Chen Hao...