Chapter 109 【Utter Disgrace】Chapter 1, Hope Everyone Subscribes

In a luxurious suite at the hotel where the San Yuan Middle School delegation was staying.

After taking a shower, Jin Zhengwei wore a white bathrobe. He sat on the living room sofa, holding a glass of red wine, and grumbled, "This is really frustrating!"

"Young Master Jin, it's only a soccer match, not worth getting so angry over."

The one speaking was the man Jin Zhengwei called Uncle Li, also the taekwondo coach for the San Yuan Middle School delegation, Li Dongguo.

Li Dongguo was one of the rare 9th-degree black belt masters in South Korean taekwondo circles. To advance from 7th to 9th degree, one must be evaluated by a special committee of the WTF (World Taekwondo Federation) or IT.

Therefore, Li Dongguo enjoyed very high status in the South Korean taekwondo world.

He was also the captain of the Jin family's security detail in South Korea. The reason he could accompany the San Yuan Middle School delegation to Hong Kong for Zi Feng Middle School's 20th-anniversary celebration was entirely because of Jin Zhengwei.

The Jin family was one of the major families in South Korea, and Li Dongguo had a sworn friendship with its current head, Jin Zhengwei's father. Otherwise, given his status, he would never have become a chief bodyguard, let alone come all the way to Hong Kong to protect Jin Zhengwei.

Jin Zhengwei respected Li Dongguo greatly. Hearing his words, Jin Zhengwei gave an awkward smile and said, "Uncle Li, you don't understand. I promised Li Zhenzi I would humiliate the Chinese in the soccer match, but..."

"There's still the martial arts competition tomorrow. Young Master Jin will have plenty of chances to get back at them for Li Zhenzi." As captain of the Jin family's security detail, Li Dongguo naturally knew Li Zhenzi was the daughter of a super-wealthy family in South Korea and the object of Jin Zhengwei's pursuit.

For large families, marriage alliances were a smart strategy for growth.

"Uncle Li is right, there's still the martial arts competition." Hearing this, Jin Zhengwei's eyes lit up.

"Alright, Young Master Jin, it's getting late. You should sleep. You exerted yourself a lot today and need enough rest to recover," Li Dongguo said with a faint smile.

Jin Zhengwei nodded, put down his wine glass, and walked into the bedroom.

After Jin Zhengwei entered the bedroom, Li Dongguo stood up, walked to the center of the living room, and assumed a fighting stance.

As one of the rare 9th-degree black belt masters in South Korean Taekwondo, Li Dongguo earned this honor not through Jin family connections, but through his own step-by-step efforts.

In his youth, to improve his skills, he even participated in underground fight clubs. Tempered by these illegal rings, his moves were ruthless and lethal, making him a fearsome fighter.

Although Li Dongguo seldom fought in competitions nowadays, he trained rigorously every day. His skills had not declined but had even improved.

"Hoo!"

Li Dongguo's right leg shot out like lightning, whipping up the air.

Then, his legs kicked out repeatedly, forming a series of afterimages.

After an unknown amount of time, feeling sweat bead on his forehead, Li Dongguo stopped practicing.

The next morning, a ring had been erected on Zi Feng Middle School's soccer field. It was constructed to the dimensions of an international boxing ring. Clearly, Zi Feng Middle School had gone to great lengths for this martial arts competition. However, for a top private middle school in Hong Kong like Zi Feng, the cost was insignificant.

Compared to the soccer match, the martial arts competition was more of a draw for the students.

First, Taekwondo had exploded in popularity worldwide and was a beloved sport among teenagers. Second, the term "martial arts" had a kind of mystical appeal for 21st-century children. Influenced by martial arts novels, they often imagined martial arts as something akin to the "Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms" or "Dog-Beating Staff Technique."

In reality, those things were shrouded in fantasy and had little to do with real martial arts.

Just like during the soccer match the previous afternoon, the stands around the field were already packed with students.

On Zi Feng Middle School's bench area, Gu Feng had just gathered Ling Wei, Xu Qiang, and Zheng Jian, intending to arrange something.

At that moment, Xu Qin, dressed in a sharp business suit, approached the coaches' box and waved to Gu Feng, saying, "Xiao Gu."

Seeing Xu Qin wave, Gu Feng stood up and walked over, asking, "Principal Xu, is there something?"

Hearing "Principal Xu," Xu Qin felt strange, but this was a public occasion, so she couldn't ask him to change how he addressed her.

"Xiao Gu, the principal of San Yuan Middle School just told me the martial arts competition should be 'friendship first, competition second.'" Xu Qin smiled awkwardly. "Perhaps the win-at-all-costs attitude you drilled into the soccer players yesterday worried him, fearing something might happen. You know, San Yuan Middle School is different from ours. Its students are all from wealthy families. If something occurred, the principal wouldn't be able to handle the fallout."

"So, I think, if possible, try to win without hurting the opposing students. If that's not possible, even losing is acceptable," Xu Qin added.

After listening, Gu Feng did not respond immediately. From her words, he understood Xu Qin knew nothing about martial arts. In such a competition, it's hard to win without someone getting hurt.

Previously, Xu Qin had asked them to try their best to win, but now she said losing was acceptable.

Clearly, the San Yuan principal had exerted some pressure on her.

"Principal Xu, we are winning this match," Gu Feng said after a moment, seriously. "As for not causing harm to the opposing students, I'm afraid that won't be possible."

Xu Qin hadn't expected this and was momentarily stunned.

In her memory, Gu Feng had never spoken to her with such a serious expression.

Indeed, since arriving in Hong Kong, Gu Feng had almost never refused any of Xu Qin's requests, especially regarding school matters.

But... this time, he refused!

Because he understood he couldn't fulfill her request.

In Gu Feng's view, even if he swallowed his pride and told Ling Wei and the others to deliberately go easy or even forfeit the competition, he still couldn't meet Xu Qin's demand.

Because... that guy Jin Zhengwei wouldn't pass up this chance.

Xu Qin didn't know any of this.

She didn't ask why. Even before Gu Feng came to Hong Kong, she knew he was a man of principle who never took back his words.

That was his character.

"What do you plan to do?" Xu Qin hesitated but still asked.

"I'll have Ling Wei and the others minimize the harm as much as possible. But if the opposing students push things too far, even I won't be able to stop them. I can't be up there on the mat with them," Gu Feng said seriously.

Xu Qin sighed, then finally couldn't help asking, "Xiao Gu, tell me, why are you so insistent on winning?"

Clearly, she had guessed his thoughts.

Gu Feng didn't hide it. "Because they said Chinese martial arts have declined!"

Chinese martial arts have declined?

Hearing this, Xu Qin was shocked. She knew Gu Feng's combat skills were honed through real-life battles, even without formal training. She heard the deep-seated anger in his words! She tried to speak but bit back her words.

"Xiao Gu, no matter what, don't let anyone get killed," Xu Qin sighed and left.

Gu Feng returned to the bench area. Looking at the eager expressions of Ling Wei and the other two, he thought and said, "For the match, Ling Wei goes first, Zheng Jian second, and Xu Qiang last."

Although Xu Qiang had natural martial arts talent and was improving rapidly, he was self-taught and couldn't become too strong too quickly. His skills were a notch below Ling Wei and Zheng Jian. To play it safe, Gu Feng placed Xu Qiang last.

After all, the competition was a best-of-three format. If they won the first two matches and Xu Qiang's opponent in the third was too strong, he could concede to protect himself.

None of the three had any objections to Gu Feng's arrangement.

"Alright, I said all I needed yesterday. Get your heads in the game; the match starts soon," Seeing no objections, Gu Feng added.

At the same time, on the ring in the center of the football field, a host with an attractive appearance and build held a microphone and said excitedly, "Next, let's invite the fourth-degree black belt master Jin Zhengwei to explain the spirit and essence of Taekwondo."

As soon as the host's words were spoken, the audience in the venue broke into loud cheers. For the students of Zifeng Middle School, the term "Taekwondo" was not unfamiliar, and they naturally knew what a fourth-degree black belt represented.

Jin Zhengwei, dressed in a Taekwondo uniform, walked onto the ring with a proud expression, scanned the crowd, and said haughtily, "Taekwondo is a traditional Korean martial art that uses hand and foot techniques for combat. It consists of three parts: poomsae (forms), sparring, and breaking. Taekwondo is a unique martial art that has been innovated and developed, with high practical value for self-defense and physical fitness. Through competitions, poomsae, and breaking, practitioners can enhance their physique, master techniques, and cultivate an indomitable will."

At this point, Jin Zhengwei paused for effect, and some of the young girls in the audience who admired handsome guys and Korean culture burst into cheers one after another.

Jin Zhengwei was very satisfied with this effect. As the cheers subsided, he motioned for quiet and continued, "Taekwondo is hailed as the national martial art in South Korea, and I believe that in the near future, it will become the best choice for people all over the world to get in shape. Moreover, according to our country's records, part of Chinese martial arts evolved from Taekwondo..."

Jin Zhengwei's words made Gu Feng frown, and his gaze fixed intently on Jin Zhengwei.

The audience in the venue, however, seemed unclear about the origins of Taekwondo and did not voice any rebuttals.

However, Ling Wei, who had been learning martial arts since childhood, was very familiar with Korean Taekwondo and Japanese Karate. Upon hearing Jin Zhengwei's words, he immediately cursed, "Nonsense! Taekwondo is just a skill that plagiarized the superficial aspects of Chinese martial arts. How dare you boast about it in front of Chinese people? You should be ashamed!"

P: This is the first chapter after the paywall. Thank you all for subscribing. Two chapters will be updated in the early morning. The big battle is about to begin, and the climax is coming!