Chapter 123: Driving Away

Just as Pei Xin was sinking into despair, a figure appeared before her.

"What are you all doing? So many of you bullying a young girl—aren't you ashamed of yourselves?"

Pei Xin looked up to see Jiang Zheng standing there, his eyes calm yet sharp. He stared at the men, pulling Pei Xin behind him. Feeling his touch, Pei Xin’s heart skipped a beat, and she let him shield her.

"Kid, I suggest you don't meddle in other people's business, or I'll take care of you along with her," Tiger growled, sitting in his wheelchair.

"Take care of me too? Fine, come and try," Jiang Zheng replied calmly. He quickly gauged the number of opponents and determined it was within his capabilities.

Seeing his defiance, Tiger's face darkened. "You're really going to meddle, huh? Boys, get him!"

Suddenly, the group lunged forward, some brandishing steel pipes and baseball bats.

"Be careful!" Pei Xin cried out from behind.

Jiang Zheng kept her safely behind him, assuming a stance to take them on one by one. His movements were agile and unpredictable, his strikes powerful and resounding with every impact. His technique seemed honed by years of discipline; every move flowed like water, and he effortlessly deployed a variety of martial arts styles.

Pei Xin watched from behind, mesmerized. Jiang Zheng possessed immense strength; though his blows didn't send men flying, each strike rendered them mostly incapacitated. Even the most resilient ones couldn't take more than three hits.

Pei Xin pulled out her phone to record the scene, thinking that Jiang Zheng looked incredibly cool and that his ability to single-handedly take on a dozen men was truly impressive.

Within moments, the group lay sprawled on the ground, groaning in pain. Tiger was stunned and furious, yet a sense of panic began to settle in. These men were borrowed from his boss—how was he supposed to explain this?

Jiang Zheng stood his ground and looked at the man in the wheelchair. "Still want to take care of me?"

As he took a sharp step forward, Tiger’s pupils contracted. He instinctively leaned back, but his wheelchair kept him pinned in place. Trembling with fear, Tiger stammered, "No, no, no, not anymore."

"Now... get lost! If I ever see you causing trouble at the school gate again, I'll beat you every single time I see you!" Jiang Zheng barked.

"Yes, yes, I understand!" Tiger hurriedly agreed. He called his men to their feet, and the group slunk away in disgrace.

"Senior! You were so amazing!" Pei Xin clapped her hands.

Jiang Zheng turned around, his expression solemn. "Why were they chasing you?"

Pei Xin looked away, pouting. "How would I know?"

"Tell me!"

"Fine! If you must know, they started it! The guy in the wheelchair was harassing me."

"And then?" Jiang Zheng asked.

"So, I might have been a bit heavy-handed and kicked him in... that spot. Then I used the moves you taught me to take down three others," she explained.

"The guy in the wheelchair—that's because of your kick?" Jiang Zheng’s voice turned dry.

"Yeah, who told him to start harassing me first?" Pei Xin muttered.

Jiang Zheng’s mouth twitched, and he felt a phantom chill in his own groin. To kick someone so hard they ended up in a wheelchair—that was brutal.

"Senior, do you think I did something wrong?" she asked softly.

"It wasn't wrong, but maybe go a little easier next time," Jiang Zheng advised.

"I'll try to be careful next time," she promised. Her voice brightened again. "Senior, how is it that you always appear to save me just in time?"

Jiang Zheng recalled the moment. He had been walking back after finalizing a deal, lost in thought about his future plans, when he heard cries for help and rushed over, only to find Pei Xin being pursued.

"Senior, let me treat you to a late-night snack," Pei Xin suggested.

"Uh... no need. It’s getting late, and I need to get back to the dorm. You should head back too—stay safe." With that, Jiang Zheng walked away.

Pei Xin watched his retreating figure, picked up the things she had dropped, and hummed a tune as she headed back to campus.

Back in his dorm, Jiang Zheng began planning his upcoming stream. The hardest part of the task was essentially solved; with a platform’s endorsement, few would question the legitimacy of the competition. Everyone would believe the one million prize was real, and if winning meant securing that money, professional players would surely flock to participate.

This was why he had gone to such lengths to secure a platform's backing—to ensure credibility. Of course, this had cost him a significant share of the profits, but that didn't matter as long as the competition could proceed smoothly. Partnering with a platform also solved another dilemma: how to attract the first professional player to join. He was confident in the appeal of the million-dollar prize, but getting the momentum started was the real challenge. The sooner he solved that, the more matches he could host.

The next greatest challenge was how to keep winning. He had never competed against professionals before, and even with his system-granted skills, he wasn't entirely certain. Professional gamers were at the pinnacle of the field, and their technical skill was undeniable. Sometimes, watching their matches, one might think their moves weren't anything special, perhaps even inferior to one's own—but that was because they were facing other professionals, and the pressure of a tournament could heavily impact performance. That didn't mean they weren't formidable; on the contrary, anyone who could make it as a professional was elite.

Jiang Zheng closed his eyes, banishing these doubts. No matter how strong they were, he would have to face them eventually.

He pondered the location for his stream. His dorm was clearly unsuitable, so he would have to go out. But where? He decided to scout for a location tomorrow. He also needed to purchase equipment—there was so much to prepare. He mentally checked off his to-do list one by one. It was fortunate he had money now; otherwise, he wouldn't even be able to afford the gear.

Lost in thought, Jiang Zheng eventually drifted off to sleep.

The next day, Jiang Zheng set out with his phone to find a streaming venue. He had two options in mind: a rental apartment or a hotel room.