Seeing the "pale-faced pervert" ignore her warning and continue forward, Hua did not hesitate. She struck swiftly, aiming for a non-lethal area, hoping to force him back.
To her shock, the man's strength was astonishing. Her punch landed against his chest without moving him in the slightest. He even reached out to grab her hand.
Hua reacted instantly—she withdrew her arm and followed with a sweeping kick in one fluid motion, bending his leg halfway with the strike.
"So hard... I can't overpower him..."
She remembered now.
Her father had once been hospitalized after being attacked by this very kind of creature.
Without hesitation, while the thing was still struggling to rise, Hua grabbed the girl's arm and fled from its reach.
They ran for a long time before the lively girl gasped out, "S-Stop... I can't run anymore..."
Hua, still holding her arm, was breathing heavily as well. Though she had trained in martial arts for ten years, she was still a teenage girl. Her stamina had limits.
"Huff... huff... It... probably won't... catch up..."
The energetic girl placed a hand on her chest and exhaled in relief.
"My name is... well, I'm Carole. Thank you for saving me."
"That thing was terrifying. I thought it was going to tear my head off."
It was Hua's first time encountering such a strange being. From what her father had once told her, that kind of physique was certainly not the result of martial training. After pondering for a long while without finding an answer, she could only warn, "It's dangerous. You shouldn't go to secluded places at night."
"Got it... Hey? That uniform—you're from our school?"
Only then did Carole notice Hua's school uniform.
Hua felt a bit helpless. She had not intended to interact much with people from school, but out of courtesy she replied, "Class 1-3..."
As for her name, Hua hesitated.
Whether she gave it or not made little difference. They probably would not cross paths again anyway.
"Oh, I don't think I know you. But that's fine—we know each other now!"
Faced with Carole's enthusiasm, Hua kept her distance. "Um... it's late. I need to go back to school. You should head back too."
"Then let's go together."
Clearly, Carole had no intention of giving up such a convenient bodyguard.
She looped her arm through Hua's. The firm pressure against her chest startled Hua, but she said nothing.
"You're so cool! Those moves just now—was that the legendary Shenzhou kung fu? Hehe."
It was the first time Hua had heard someone praise her martial arts outside the dojo.
"Oh, right. I still don't know your name."
Hua remained silent.
"Hey, say something..." Carole urged.
Fine.
"Hua. My name is Hua."
After that incident, Carole practically glued herself to Hua at school.
Seeing Hua always sitting alone in the corner, returning straight to the dorm after class, Carole dragged her out everywhere—to the arcade near campus, to photo studios. Because Hua always wore outdated uniforms, Carole carefully picked out many trendy outfits for her.
Carole's vitality filled the emptiness in Hua's heart.
It felt as though Hua had found something important.
And Carole was the most important of all.
A friend.
That word, once unfamiliar to Hua, was now changing her. Her once unchanging world gradually gained color. She even began to imagine a brighter future.
They did so many things Hua had once wanted to do but never dared.
One day, the two of them lay on the grass, a small distance between them, breathing in the scent of fresh greenery and gazing up at the blue sky and drifting clouds.
"You know, Hua," Carole said, "I've been thinking. If we could do anything we wanted, what would you choose?"
Hua thought for a long time before answering, "I suppose... I'd open a restaurant abroad. Through food, I'd let local people understand the depth and richness of Shenzhou culture..."
Carole looked surprised, even regretful.
"Eh? You wouldn't keep practicing martial arts? You're so strong."
Hua gave a faint smile.
"In this era... does martial arts truly still have value?"
Compared to martial arts, I'd rather do simple, happy work together with my friend. That alone would satisfy me.
Hua quietly turned her head, looking at Carole's youthful profile glowing in the sunlight.
Carole seemed not to notice her gaze. Watching birds chase each other across the sky, she said, "I think this era needs your strength, Hua. Everything you've accumulated won't be wasted."
"Didn't you knock down the enemy with your fists and save Carole? Hehe."
Carole turned her head toward Hua. Hua quickly averted her eyes.
Her heart pounded nervously, a faint blush blooming across her face like spring cherry blossoms.
Seeing Hua's evasive gaze, Carole giggled.
Embarrassed, Hua turned her face away completely, refusing to let Carole see.
"But today is peaceful again..."
...
The long semester passed in the blink of an eye.
Carole bounced happily at Hua's side.
Then she complained about how Hua had never worn the trendy clothes she picked out at school. Dragging Hua back to the dormitory, she forced her to change into a red cheongsam with a high slit and low neckline.
"That's more like it! If you go home dressed like this, your family definitely won't recognize you. Haha, this is so fun."
Carole nodded in satisfaction.
This revealing... Is this really trendy?
Hua muttered, "Why does it feel like you're making fun of me..."
Carole immediately waved her hands in denial.
"No, no! I'm giving you ideas. You're finally going home—wouldn't it be great to surprise your father?"
Hua knew her father was a conservative and simple martial artist. If he saw her dressed like this, he might think she had turned into a bad girl.
She sighed.
"I'll pass. I don't want to scare him. What if something happens to him?"
Carole caught her meaning but still wanted Hua's father to see a different side of his daughter.
"Haha, your dad's a martial artist, right? You think you can scare him?"
Before Hua could refuse again, Carole quickly waved goodbye.
"Bye! See you next semester~"