茶杯狐 -CUPFOX

Chapter 31: So You Say You Don’t Know Martial Arts

This undeveloped, sparsely populated mountainous area did not have the urban clamor or the various kinds of inexplicably disruptive smells. Neither were there the obstructing steel and cement structures or tall buildings.

Xiang Kun felt a significant enhancement in his sense of smell and sound precision, even his vision seemed to have improved to some degree. He figured, if it were night, his abilities would enhance even further.

Could it be…

The places that were really suitable for him were the great outdoors and the mountains?

“It seems you seldom come to places like this, don’t you? Stop fantasizing, let’s go. The air is even better up in the mountains!” Tang Baona saw Xiang Kun closing his eyes, deeply inhaling the fresh air, she chuckled and hurried him along.

The location where they were standing appeared to be at the foot of the mountain, but the actual start of the climb up was still a fair distance away.

According to their planned route, they wouldn’t take the already cleared trails, they would specifically take the various small paths, the path condition was extremely poor, so they couldn’t proceed at a swift pace.

But they weren’t focused on covering distance anyway and were quite relaxed, if someone was tired, they would take a break, or if they saw a nice view, they’d stop to take a photograph.

On the way, Tang Baona and Yang Zhen ‘er found out from one of the group members that the Sanda coach admitted Xiang Kun could fight better than him.

So both women converged on either side of Xiang Kun.

Tang Baona suddenly said, “Chang Wei! You still say you don’t know martial arts!”

On Xiang Kun’s other side, Yang Zhen’er chimed in, “Spill it! Are you a Shaolin martial monk?”

The two women burst into laughter before Xiang Kun could respond, giggling uncontrollably.

Xiang Kun didn’t say a word and simply sped up, of course, the two women were not going to let him escape that easily and immediately followed.

They were already climbing the mountain on an extremely narrow dirt track, full of potholes which made it quite difficult to traverse. They had been walking for well over two hours, during what was probably the hottest part of the day. Tang Baona and Yang Zhen’er had exerted quite a bit, beads of sweat trickling down their face. Xiang Kun seemed to be moving at the same speed as them but they just couldn’t seem to catch up to him.

“Hey! Do you think he is practicing some kind of Inner Strength? How come he doesn’t seem to be sweating in such hot weather?” Yang Zhen’er quietly asked Tang Baona.

Tang Baona rolled her eyes, “Your imagination is getting stronger and stronger. Are you really taking him for a Shaolin monk, a secret martial arts master?” However, Yang Zhen’er’s reminder made her realize that Xiang Kun did seem too relaxed. No matter how good his physical fitness, he should at least be sweating after walking for over two hours on such an rugged mountaineous path in such heat, shouldn’t he?

Just as she was thinking, Tang Baona suddenly tripped and screamed, falling to the side.

The side wasn’t exactly a precipice, only a pit about twenty centimeters deep, but it was enough to sprain her ankle.

Xiang Kun, who was up ahead, turned his head the moment Tang Baona lost her footing, but the distance between them was too large, he couldn’t reach her in time.

Everyone gathered around as the yoga teacher removed Tang Baona’s shoes and socks to reveal a swollen ankle. She tried to move it and winced loudly, unable to bear the pain.

“Nana, does it hurt? Can you stand?” Yang Zhen’er worried.

Tang Baona grabbed her ankle and shook her head, unable to speak.

The yoga teacher frowned, “She can’t walk.” He looked at the men, “We must go back. Who can carry Nana?” Their location was such that they couldn’t bring a car in and had to walk back.

If it were in the past, the guys would certainly compete for the opportunity to demonstrate their chivalry, However, this time, everyone’s first reaction was to look at Xiang Kun.

Xiang Kun knew that he couldn’t avoid it, besides, he saw that Tang Baona had twisted her ankle severely. Therefore, he went over, squatted down and let the yoga teacher and Yang Zhen’er help Tang Baona climb onto his back.

After a while, Tang Baona suggested that everyone else should continue with the original plan, while Yang Zhen’er and Xiang Kun take her back.

But everyone disagreed and felt that Xiang Kun couldn’t possibly take Tang Baona back to the parking spot on his own. The way they came was more than a two-hour walk.

Coach Shen said, “We take turns carrying her if someone gets tired.”

Xiang Kun didn’t say much, but as soon as he began walking back carrying Tang Baona, everyone realized that despite carrying the extra person, they were struggling to keep up with Xiang Kun.

It had taken them more than two hours to get to the point where they were, but with Xiang Kun carrying Tang Baona, they made it back in half the time. Of course, the time was reduced because they didn’t take breaks or pause for photographs as they did before, but Xiang Kun’s speed was definitely much faster too.

Coach Shen and the others who were chasing after Xiang Kun, obviously couldn’t ask to help carry Tang Baona for a while-Xiang Kun appeared to be doing it more effortlessly than the rest.

The pain in Tang Baona’s ankle had alleviated quite a bit. She had initially been worried about Xiang Kun’s effort in carrying her on such a difficult path and was going to ask him to rest after a while.

But, she quickly realized that even with her, a woman weighing over ninety pounds, on his back, Xiang Kun didn’t seem to be struggling or exerted in any way.

His breathing was steady and calm without a trace of heavy labor. Xiang Kun was not profusely sweating.

Strangely, after walking for more than two hours in one direction and then carrying her for so long the other way, Xiang Kun’s body was surprisingly cold. Tang Baona felt as if she was lying on a bag of ice water- it was quite comfortable.

“Why is your body so cold? Please tell me you haven’t been practicing some sort of Inner Strength as Zhen’er suggested?” Tang Baona couldn’t help but ask Xiang Kun.

At the scent of her breath near his ear, Xiang Kun subconsciously drew his neck back.

This was the closest he had been to a woman in many years. However, unlike earlier times, his sensory abilities were extremely acute now.

He could not only hear Tang Baona’s breathing and heartbeat on his back but could also smell her distinct fragrances – perfume, the scent of her clothing, and even the smell of hormones in her sweat. All of these smells clearly entered his brain through his nose.

Honestly, he thought the natural smell of Tang Baona was more pleasing than her perfume.

“Maybe it’s my strange physique, I’m more susceptible to cold than heat, I don’t feel hot in the summer and I don’t sweat much. Plus, I don’t have hair which helps dissipate body heat,” Xiang Kun casually lied.

But Tang Baona’s observation drew his attention. Could his body temperature be lower than average?

When they reached the parking spot, he carefully placed Tang Baona on the backseat of the car and bid farewell to the out-of-breath group who had caught up with them.

While Yang Zhen’er was wiping off her sweat and turning on the air conditioner to the maximum, she hurriedly drove back.

After taking Tang Baona to the hospital, getting x-rays, receiving treatment and having her leg bandaged, Xiang Kun and Yang Zhen’er took her home.

They were in luck because only the ligament was injured, the bone wasn’t hurt.

Refusing Yang Zhen’er’s suggestion to stay for dinner, Xiang Kun went to purchase a digital thermometer on his way home.

As soon as he arrived home, Xiang Kun measured his body temperature. As he looked at the reading, unsurprisingly, it read:

280C..