Fan Jia’s self-introduction was brief and sharp, and the sudden posture of his attack startled Zhang Yuqiu, who was shocked that he still held onto her hand for so long, creating a somewhat awkward sensation.

After a long while, seeing that Fan Jia’s hand was still gripping hers, Zhang Yuqiu’s face flushed instantly. She struggled free forcefully, instinctively grabbing Xiao Shu’s hand and retreating behind him. This subconscious move might be a common self-preservation instinct in every woman—always preferring to stand beside a familiar man when a strange man appears. However, in Fan Jia's eyes, the situation looked entirely different.

He scrutinized Xiao Shu from head to toe, feeling decidedly unconvinced. With a clang, he tossed his sickle onto the ground, shrugged off his shirt, and adopted a challenging stance, demanding of Xiao Shu, “Are you here to protect her, or are you looking to be protected by her?”

This question instantly enraged Xiao Shu. They were both young and full of spirit; neither could tolerate such a slight suggesting he was sponging off a woman. Xiao Shu immediately let go of Zhang Yuqiu’s hand and stripped off his own upper garment, revealing a chest crisscrossed with scars, stepping forward to meet Fan Jia’s challenge.

At first, Fan Jia had assumed Xiao Shu was nothing more than a pretty boy who relied on women for protection in dangerous times. He hadn't expected that once the shirt was off, the man’s body would be so covered in scars. Illuminated by the setting sun’s afterglow, those scars resembled medals, narrating past experiences that evoked both envy and deep respect.

After a moment of stunned silence, seeing that neither of the two men moved after stripping down, Xiao Shu broke the quiet. “You strike first.” Fan Jia hesitated, glancing at his companions nearby; some nodded, others shook their heads, leaving him indecisive. He had no choice but to comply with Xiao Shu’s request to make the first move.

He turned his back, walked fifty meters away, then suddenly spun around and rushed toward Xiao Shu with frightening speed, like an arrow released from a bow, his eyes as red as a rabbit’s, his face a mask of killing intent. Such an attack, even unarmed, could prove fatal. Xiao Shu held his breath, remaining perfectly calm. When Fan Jia closed the distance to within ten meters, Xiao Shu lifted his head and moved to meet him. At the very instant they collided, Xiao Shu unexpectedly leaped up, bent his elbow, and drove his forearm forward with concentrated force, landing squarely on Fan Jia’s stomach. The momentum of the sprint, combined with the impact force, overlapped, sending Fan Jia recoiling far back. He tumbled to the ground and began retching violently, spitting up blood. After a moment, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and gave Xiao Shu a thumbs-up. Although Xiao Shu was also knocked backward onto the ground, because he had buffered the attack with his elbow, he was mostly unharmed, save for a slight sting when his buttocks hit the earth.

As the one-on-one confrontation ended, people from both sides rushed forward to help their men up. Fan Jia was assisted by a middle-aged man in a baseball cap, while Zhang Yuqiu helped Xiao Shu. Yuan Qi stood between the two, ignored by his former comrades, and seemingly unseen by Xiao Shu and Zhang Yuqiu, as if he were invisible, no one acknowledging his presence.

Finally, someone stepped in to diffuse the situation. A short man jogged over, slapping his arm. “Brother, don’t take offense with Fan Jia; he’s young and hot-headed.” “Don’t worry, I’m quite philosophical about it, Old Yao.”

Xiao Shu and Zhang Yuqiu had hoped to use the momentary internal friction of the opposing group as cover to slip away unnoticed. To their dismay, just as they turned toward the corner of the wall, Fan Jia spotted them. In truth, his eyes had never once left Zhang Yuqiu since the beginning.