Chapter 115: Cannot Fight

The next evening, at the school playground.

Pei Xin was dressed in sportswear, looking lively and adorable—a completely different aura from yesterday.

Jiang Zheng said, “Starting today, I’ll officially teach you kung fu. But first, I need to make a few things clear. If you can accept them, then we’ll begin. If not, then consider that I never agreed to teach you.”

“Senior, just say it. No matter what it is, I’ll agree,” Pei Xin replied.

“Don’t be so quick. Listen to me first before deciding,” Jiang Zheng said.

He gathered his thoughts and continued, “First, I’ll only teach you for one week. Second, when I teach, you have to be serious about learning. Third, you’re not allowed to use the kung fu I teach you to pick fights or seek conflicts.”

Pei Xin pondered for a moment before saying, “Alright, I can agree to that.”

“That’s settled,” Jiang Zheng nodded.

Pei Xin pouted, looking a little wronged. “Senior, just one week? I’m slow at learning—can’t you teach me for longer?”

“No. One week is one week. There’s no extension,” Jiang Zheng said firmly.

“Okay, senior, I understand,” Pei Xin replied softly.

Jiang Zheng remained unmoved by her act.

If it weren’t for completing the system’s task, he really wouldn’t want to spend time with Pei Xin. This girl had too many schemes, completely at odds with her innocent and cute appearance.

Compared to Pei Xin, he preferred being with Jiang Qianyue. They communicated so comfortably whenever they were in the library together.

Seeing Jiang Zheng’s cold expression, Pei Xin toned down her expression and asked, “Senior, how much should I pay you for tuition?”

Mentioning tuition suddenly reminded Jiang Zheng that this young lady was a second-generation wealthy heiress.

Previously, Jiang Zheng had worked part-time playing piano at Pei Xin’s graduation banquet.

“Forget the tuition. Consider it free lessons from me,” Jiang Zheng said.

“That won’t do. You’re spending your precious time on me. It’s only fair I pay something,” Pei Xin insisted.

Jiang Zheng didn’t want to argue over money, so he said, “It’s up to you. Whether you pay or not doesn’t matter.”

Pei Xin nodded, silently calculating in her mind.

“Now, I’m going to officially teach you kung fu. Since you’re a girl, I’ll teach you… Tai Chi,” Jiang Zheng said deliberately.

Upon hearing this, Pei Xin’s face fell. “No, I don’t want to learn Tai Chi.”

“Why not? Tai Chi is a very famous martial art. Learning it won’t be a loss. Besides, Tai Chi is especially suitable for girls,” Jiang Zheng explained.

“I’m not listening. I just don’t want Tai Chi. Tai Chi is just what old men and women practice in the park. Senior, I want to learn something else,” Pei Xin said stubbornly.

“I’m only teaching you Tai Chi. Take it or leave it!” Jiang Zheng said coldly.

Faced with Jiang Zheng’s stern expression, Pei Xin suddenly felt pressured and instinctively reined herself in.

“I just don’t want to learn Tai Chi,” Pei Xin repeated firmly.

“The Tai Chi I teach isn’t the kind practiced in parks,” Jiang Zheng said.

“But even if it’s not the kind from the park, it’s still Tai Chi—soft and weak, useless for fighting,” Pei Xin argued.

Jiang Zheng’s face darkened. He suddenly felt that agreeing to teach Pei Xin kung fu was a mistake.

Her reason for learning kung fu was to fight.

“Didn’t you just agree to my terms?” Jiang Zheng asked.

“I did! I really did!” Pei Xin hurriedly replied.

“If you remember, then explain this: I told you not to use kung fu to pick fights. Yet you just said you want to learn kung fu to fight?” Jiang Zheng’s voice was stern.

Pei Xin lowered her head, fidgeting with her fingers. “Sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have thought of using it to fight. But I really don’t want to learn Tai Chi—I want to learn the kind that hits hard.”

Jiang Zheng found Pei Xin’s personality puzzling. Despite her privileged background, she was quick to apologize and admit her mistakes.

Yet it was only lip service; she hadn’t truly let go of her thoughts.

He decided not to dwell too much on a young girl’s fickle mind.

Looking at Pei Xin, he explained, “Tai Chi isn’t weak in combat. I’m teaching you Tai Chi because it excels at using softness to overcome hardness, leveraging minimal force for maximum effect.”

“Kung fu is essentially a combination of special techniques. At its core, it’s just technique. Fighting depends on the body’s overall physical qualities.”

“Girls generally have lower physical attributes compared to boys. In a fight, girls are at a disadvantage.”

“Tai Chi’s skill of overcoming with softness compensates for your physical shortcomings and helps you maximize your strengths.”

Jiang Zheng had thought long and hard last night before deciding to teach Pei Xin Tai Chi.

He had no choice—he was still tempted by the system’s reward.

There are many styles of traditional martial arts, but Jiang Zheng only knew a small portion.

He could only study a limited number in one night.

He immediately ruled out weapon-based styles. Such skills have little use in modern society—at most, they help with fitness.

Who carries weapons around these days?

So, unarmed styles were more suitable for Pei Xin.

Among these, Jiang Zheng deliberated for a long time before settling on Tai Chi.

First, Tai Chi’s movements are elegant. Second, it suits girls well.

In real combat, Tai Chi isn’t always graceful; it has some ruthless moves, as is natural in any traditional martial art.

Kung fu, after all, was created to defeat enemies. Any technique that wins is valid.

Jiang Zheng planned to teach mostly the normal, graceful moves and exclude the vicious techniques.

Besides, he would also teach Tai Chi’s unique method of generating power.

He thought Pei Xin would like Tai Chi.

But her rejection was so steadfast that no matter how he explained, she refused to learn it.

This gave Jiang Zheng quite a headache.

“You don’t want to learn Tai Chi because you think it can’t be used to fight, right?” Jiang Zheng said.

Pei Xin didn’t reply but her silence was a clear affirmation.

Jiang Zheng took a deep breath and said, “Fine, I’ll let you see if Tai Chi can fight.”

At these words, Pei Xin’s eyes suddenly lit up.

“Senior, you mean you want to fight me?” she asked.

“That’s one option,” Jiang Zheng replied.

He had originally planned to find someone else, but having Pei Xin experience it firsthand would be more effective.