Volume One, Chapter 12: Ruan Mei Refuses to Admit Defeat

As Li Ya finished speaking, Ruan Yunlong’s expression instantly grew grave, a cold gleam flashing in his slightly aged eyes. He resembled a lion sizing up its prey, his gaze fixed intently on Li Ya. The temperature around them seemed to drop immediately, his eyes sharp as blades.

Yet, to Ruan Yunlong’s surprise, the young Li Ya, barely in his twenties, showed no fear under his piercing stare. Those deep eyes of his even seemed to exude a powerful oppressive aura that Ruan Yunlong hadn’t felt in years. As one of the northern war gods, this was a sensation long unfamiliar to him, sparking curiosity about Li Ya’s true identity.

However, Ruan Mei’s impatience only deepened into a stern coldness. “How long are you going to keep up this charlatan act? You spout the same nonsense every day—don’t you ever get tired of it?” Her brow furrowed sharply as she snapped, “If you don’t leave now, do you believe I’ll have you arrested for interrogation?”

Li Ya noticed Ruan Mei’s left foot tapping lightly on the ground, her body tense and coiled like a spring, ready to strike at any moment.

“Xiaomei, I told you, no disrespect!” Ruan Yunlong chastised, then scrutinized Li Ya with lingering suspicion. “Young man, to be honest, what you just said is true. Strange things have been happening at my home lately, and I didn’t expect someone so young to be so precise.” He chuckled heartily. “But I’ve always believed that as long as a man walks upright and acts with integrity, there is nothing to fear.”

Though intrigued, Ruan Yunlong did not dwell on Li Ya’s words. As a war god who had emerged from countless battles, such matters seemed trivial to him.

Li Ya shrugged nonchalantly, offering no rebuttal. “Sir, if there’s anything at your home you can’t resolve, you can come to Villa One and find me. You are a former war god of the Dragon Nation—without your sacrifice and bloodshed, there would be no Dragon Nation today. If you need help, I will surely give it my all.”

Ruan Yunlong nodded approvingly at the young man, clearly satisfied. But Ruan Mei could no longer stand it. “You keep calling yourself a charlatan, but do you even know who lives in Villa One?” she sneered. “Though my family is powerful enough to live there, that villa was long ago bought by the Luo Shen Group. What connection do you have with them to live there? And if I’m not mistaken, the president of Luo Shen Group, Xiao Yudie, lives there too!”

“Don’t you worry about slipping on your own tongue with such lies?”

Ruan Mei’s cold laughter grew sharper, her certainty increasing that Li Ya was a fraud. Suddenly, her right foot struck the ground, her body coiled like a spring releasing its power. Despite her delicate frame, she pounced on Li Ya like a leopard.

Li Ya raised an eyebrow. As a war god’s granddaughter, Ruan Mei was indeed a formidable martial artist. Her aura was solidly at the pinnacle of the Mortal Realm, on the brink of advancing to the Innate Realm. Had they met two days ago, the outcome of their fight might have been uncertain.

But now...

Bang!

The sound of muscles colliding echoed as Ruan Mei closed the distance by four or five meters in an instant, delivering a high right kick aimed at Li Ya’s head. Yet her powerful leg was precisely blocked by a sturdy arm.

Surprise flashed in Ruan Mei’s eyes. She was confident in her strength, one of the best among her peers, and had intended to knock out this so-called charlatan with a single kick. But to be stopped so easily was unexpected.

“Why, woman, are you resorting to violence now?” Li Ya sighed with some exasperation.

Mistaking his words for mockery, Ruan Mei launched another fierce assault. Her fists moved with blinding speed, her sleeves slicing through the air with sharp whistling sounds.

No matter how she attacked, Li Ya easily blocked every strike with a single arm.

Nearby, Ruan Yunlong’s eyes widened in surprise. He hadn’t expected such dexterity from Li Ya. His granddaughter was clearly no match, indicating Li Ya must be at least at the Innate Realm.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The clash of muscle and bone rang out again and again. Ruan Mei’s brow furrowed deeply as Li Ya’s arm felt as unyielding as iron, and with each collision, she felt herself nearing exhaustion.

Growing impatient, Li Ya blocked a whip-like kick and swiftly tripped her, causing Ruan Mei to lose balance and fall onto him.

Feeling the softness pressing against his chest, Li Ya’s blood surged instantly. Well, appearances could be deceiving! This weapon’s scale rivaled even Xiao Yudie’s.

Ruan Mei, repeatedly blocked and exhausted, collapsed heavily on top of Li Ya. Her prominent chest pressed against him, momentarily distracting his focus.

Flushed with both anger and embarrassment, Ruan Mei’s right leg remained raised, now held firmly in Li Ya’s grasp. Her left leg was weak and limp, her entire body pinned to him. It was Li Ya’s first time being so intimately close to a woman.

Her high-kicking pose caused the loose training uniform to slip slightly, revealing a fair, smooth calf that gleamed softly under the sunlight. Despite the sweat, no unpleasant odor lingered—only a faint, delicate feminine fragrance.

“You bastard! Let go of me!” Ruan Mei seethed, wishing she could strangle the man beneath her. With her right leg caught and her lower back gripped, she was immobilized on top of Li Ya.

Even Li Ya swallowed hard at the unexpected closeness. Seeing her loose training clothes earlier, he hadn’t anticipated such an alluring figure beneath.

Yet, spotting Ruan Yunlong watching nearby, Li Ya quickly released her leg.

“Not bad—smooth and supple,” he remarked with a serious tone.

This only infuriated Ruan Mei further, and she launched another attack immediately.

“Enough, Xiaomei. Stop this. You’re no match for this young man.”