Chapter 1142: The Plump One, Deng Qiang, known as "Bulging-Tongue Qiang." Previously under Zhao Kai's command, this young man was the most formidable fighter—cold-hearted and ruthless, excelling especially in surprise attacks. [Text first published at www.13800100.com, 138 Reading Network.] However, during his last encounter in the women's dormitory, Deng Qiang suffered a decisive defeat at the hands of Lu Yun, proving not only that Lu Yun was more tenacious and strategic, but also that he surpassed Deng Qiang in both heart and skill. That glass shard pierced through him—had Lu Yun exerted just a bit more force, Deng Qiang's life might have been at risk. Even now, recalling the moment, he still feels shaken. The battle against Dapeng unfolded smoothly, a victory as expected. Yet, suddenly, Lu Yun emerged from nowhere, and Deng Qiang's wound on his head began to throb, instantly undermining his confidence. Indeed, it is true that one thing defeats another. Though Deng Qiang was surrounded by twenty or so men, Dapeng's group, though now united and full of spirit, had Deng Qiang, who should have been in a strong position, suddenly felt uneasy for no clear reason. Worse still, he broke a taboo within the circle of the school's junior-level staff—being verbally pressured and pushed around by Lu Yun—causing his face to instantly flush. At the same time, he realized that if he failed to subdue both Da Peng and Lu Yun today, even if he took H Zhao's position, no one in the school would truly follow him. In fact, some of the more sly and indirect colleagues might quietly create endless troubles for him from the shadows. What could he do? Deng Qiang hesitated. Though his team didn't have a numerical advantage, they were all transferred from neighboring town schools and were quite capable fighters. Just as Deng Qiang was deciding whether to move against Lu Yun, a plump man standing behind him suddenly raised his voice: "Deng Qiang, we came to help you on the strength of your cousin's relationship. Are you really planning to skip dinner tonight and leave us hanging?" "Hey, you fat lump! You don't know what you're dealing with—just a plain old pig! Deng Qiang muttered under his breath, but the guy was right. He stepped close to the fat man and whispered, "Bro, Lu Yun's not easy to handle." The fat man blinked, eyes blazing, and roared, "A skinny kid? How is he supposed to be any good? Deng Qiang, are you scared?" Deng Qiang suppressed his irritation and shook his head, saying, "Bro, Lu Yun's got some real skills. The people from Yijing Village have been hassling him—every time, he just takes them down with a single punch or kick." Yijing Village! The fat man's round cheeks trembled, and his small, jade-green eyes fixed on Ye Qiu, his mind stunned. They'd heard a lot about Yijing Village's prowess—their reputation for toughness was well-known. Now, to find out that even their people had been beaten by this slender youngster? How impressive was this kid really? Could he possibly outperform twenty of them on his own? Among the twenty-some people, fourteen were brought in by him as enforcers, and suddenly the plump man felt more confident. Good heroes can't hold off crowds—how much more so when a great tiger faces a pack of wolves? The team from Dapeng managed to handle ten of their brothers, and the rest all turned their attention to Lu Yun. With over a dozen attacking him at once, it was no longer believable that he could remain unshaken or untoppled. Such formidable fighters had to be dealt with—without a proper beating, they might one day ride over their heads and defecate and urinate on them. With his resolve set, the plump man narrowed his eyes, his fierce gaze blazing. Deng Qiang sensed that the plump man intended to act. Though he had gained some weight, he was the most capable fighter under his uncle's command—his sturdy frame offered excellent resilience, and his strength was unmatched. Few could manage him. The fat man whispered a few words into Deng Qiang's ear, and at once Deng Qiang's face changed, exclaiming, "This is too risky! Though the big鹏 team members aren't particularly strong, they still number over thirty. Facing them three to one, I'm afraid our side will suffer losses." The fat man chuckled confidently, "Deng Qiang, you've been underestimating your cousin's team, haven't you? Not only has the battle we just fought pushed the big鹏 team's strength to its limit, but even if they were in full strength, the people I've brought with me would be more than enough to handle them." The fat man kept a sharp eye on the situation—he looked like a pig, but his mind was far from dull. With ten of his own men facing thirty from the big鹏 team, it would certainly be impossible to win relying solely on Deng Qiang's underperforming troops. But if it were his own team, the outcome would be quite different. He had full confidence in the people he had brought, and he was even more cunning than Deng Qiang. Deng Qiang knew that the fat man wouldn't back down until he hit a wall—without being Alright, he Deng Qiang isn't a coward either. After finalizing their strategy, Deng Qiang immediately issued orders, and twenty-some soldiers scattered swiftly. Deng Qiang took about a dozen to handle Da Peng, while the fat man led the remaining dozen or so to confront Lu Yun. With only eleven of them himself, it was now a one-on-three battle—what a bold move by the fat man! He was certainly proud, but why not go up against Lu Yun himself? Though he harbored some resentment, the fight had to continue. They were this far into the battle now, and victory was just one step away from Deng Qiang. Even if Lu Yun appeared, Deng Qiang would still fight with all his might—though he couldn't help feeling a bit nervous. Now that the fat man was handling Lu Yun, Deng Qiang felt less pressured compared to the others. Lu Yun had been observing the exchange between the fat man and Deng Qiang with calm detachment. After a long discussion, Lu Yun didn't rush things. He finally approached Da Peng, exchanged a few polite words, and then heard Da Peng remark, "Bro Lu, they're about to engage again." Lu Yun nodded. Though the opponent was strong, Lu Yun showed no fear. Having practiced the Dream-Entering Fist for so long, he had never faced real combat outside of his encounter with the man from the Eagle Claw Village. Tonight, he could hardly wait to gain valuable experience. The plump man called out to Lu Yun from a distance, "Lu Yun, Deng Qiang says you're quite impressive. How about we go at it for a few rounds?" Da Peng added, "Bro Lu, this guy is all muscle and fat—when he takes a hit, it feels like you're striking cotton. He's incredibly tough." Lu Yun smiled at Da Peng and said, "Be careful out there." At that moment, Deng Qiang and the plump man had already assigned their teams. Looking at the momentum, Lu Yun knew the opponent intended to launch a group assault. A group attack—Lu Yun had never really experienced one before. In the past, whenever things looked grim, he and Zhou Quan would just bolt for it. Today, with Zhou Quan absent, Lu Yun faced off against fifteen sturdy men, and instead of panicking, he stepped forward with a surge of confidence, ready to put his recent efforts to the test. Although Leizi isn't strong in physical fights, his mind is absolutely sharp. Applying the strategy of "capture the king before capturing the enemy," when Deng Qiang and his team charged in, Leizi clearly conveyed his plan to Da Peng, who immediately adjusted his tactics. Whenever the two groups clashed, six strong male students always surrounded Da Peng. When Deng Qiang surged forward, Da Peng shouted, "Attack Deng Qiang first—come with me!" Instantly, seven of them encircled Deng Qiang and began hurling their sticks at him. Hey, the original plan had been solid—counting on a one-on-three advantage—but now it had become a one-on-seven situation. Deng Qiang stood stunned, taking several solid blows and finally collapsing to the ground with a cry of pain. Following the same approach, Da Peng, who had seemed like a wolf charging into a flock of sheep, swiftly turned the tide. Within the blink of an eye, all the fighters brought by the group of plump men lay on the ground—some clutching their heads, others shielding their stomachs, sprawled everywhere, moaning and groaning continuously. The fat guy was stunned. The people he brought were the tough ones from the school—usually able to handle even a three-on-one fight against the younger, green kids under Dapeng’s command, and if they couldn’t win, they could at least hold their ground for a while. But now… Cold sweat poured down his forehead. His own team, already outnumbered, had nearly been completely overwhelmed in the first round of combat—his strongest fighters were all knocked down in a single exchange. Meanwhile, Dapeng’s group seemed energized, as if they’d been injected with adrenaline. He looked around at his own companions—each one pale with fear, nearly dropping their sticks—and realized he himself was just as drenched in sweat. "Run!" he shouted, following the principle of a good man not wanting to lose his advantage. He took off. And just that one command—"Run!"—acted like a spark, igniting a chain reaction in the remaining dozen boys. Run! Run faster! With the leaders already fleeing, they had no choice but to follow, knowing they’d only be left to take punches. Just as the dozen or so who had been confidently asserting themselves began to scatter in panic, fleeing in all directions. Run?! No way, that was really sneaky. As Landun's body suddenly bent oddly mid-motion, deftly avoiding the heavy punch from the plump man, he stepped back three paces and smiled calmly at the breathless fat man. "You've got quite the courage, big guy," he said. "Who have you been hanging out with?" The plump man knew he was done for today, so he simply stayed silent, emitting not a single sound, and kept swinging his staff at Landun with relentless force.