Chapter 121: A Matter of a Single Punch

“Auntie...” Chen Rui was about to say more, but Bai Xi wasn’t having any of it. She impatiently waved her small fist and asked, “Do you know what this is?”

“That’s Auntie’s hand!” Chen Rui’s voice was clear and bright. Auntie’s hands were soft and beautiful.

Bai Xi’s mouth twitched as she huffed irritably, “This is a fist—a fist that makes people howl when they get hit.”

Chen Rui was speechless.

She glanced at Bai Xi’s fair, tender hand, then looked at Bai Xi’s round, soft little face, suppressing the urge to poke it. Instead, she gently grasped Bai Xi’s tiny fist and said softly, “If Auntie doesn’t like it, then I won’t say anything.”

After all, as long as she had time, she would watch over Auntie.

If she spoke to Auntie nicely, Auntie would agree.

If Bai Xi knew what Chen Rui was really thinking, she would definitely roll her eyes. What did “speak nicely” mean? It was obvious that Chen Rui was just being a pest. Bai Xi had been worn down by her countless times and only gave in out of exhaustion.

By now, Chen Rui had earned the nickname “Little Pest” from Bai Xi.

A few of the boys—Xiao Shunzi and the others—who had seen the little piglets playing and were chasing after them, happened to witness this scene. They stopped, exchanged glances, and thought to themselves, Chen Rui really is bold. She probably hasn’t seen Auntie’s fist that can snap a big tree in two, huh?

But this incident was known only to Xiao Shunzi and a few others.

A few days ago, Bai Xi had taken Little Black into the mountains. Coincidentally, Xiao Shunzi and the others were playing at the foot of the mountain and followed along. Shortly after they entered, Little Black dashed off to hunt, while Bai Xi strolled leisurely deeper into the woods with Xiao Shunzi and the others.

At first, Xiao Liuzi hesitated and wanted to persuade Bai Xi to turn back, but she refused, and since the others were willing, he had no choice but to follow.

None of them anticipated that with the weather warming, the snakes in the mountains had become active and started hunting.

Xiao Shunzi spotted a wild chicken and called Xiao Shitou and Zhuzi to chase after it, unaware that a large snake had set its sights on them.

By the time they noticed the snake, it was already very close, slithering swiftly down from the tree branches, tongue flickering.

The snake was as thick as a young calf’s leg, flicking its tongue coldly, its gaze fixed fiercely on them. The three boys had never seen anything like this before and were so frightened they froze in place. They only managed to stay standing because they leaned on each other; otherwise, they would have collapsed.

At that moment, Zhuzi didn’t realize the danger. Seeing the three boys gathered around, he assumed they had caught the wild chicken and excitedly ran past the tree the snake was climbing.

The snake, seeing prey running right by, immediately launched an attack without hesitation.

Right then, Bai Xi appeared and struck the nearby tree trunk with a powerful punch. The tree cracked at the sound and fell, just so happening to pin the snake that was about to pounce on Zhuzi.

“Stay back! Run...”

“Xiao Shanzi, you all take Auntie and run...”

But Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Shitou froze mid-sentence, stunned.

The snake was nearly crushed into two segments, writhing a few times before it died.

Whether it was the fear or the shock of Bai Xi’s sudden move, the boys stood dumbfounded for a long while before they recovered.

Being boys, they were braver and didn’t cry, but their eyes were glued to Bai Xi with a mixture of awe and admiration, especially since Bai Xi’s hand wasn’t even red after breaking the tree.

They already obeyed Bai Xi unquestioningly, but now they followed her every command without hesitation.

What they didn’t know was that Bai Xi had wrapped her fists in divine might when punching. Without it, she was still just a little child, with strength only slightly greater than an ordinary toddler.

The snake meat was roasted and divided among Little Black and the boys. Bai Xi only said one thing: don’t tell anyone. They nodded obediently like little chicks pecking at grain.

In the following days, whenever the boys saw Bai Xi, their eyes instinctively flicked to her hands.

Now, seeing Bai Xi waving her tiny fist at Chen Rui and Chen Rui holding that little fist, Xiao Shunzi and the others were both amazed and respectful.

Xiao Shitou tugged Xiao Shanzi’s sleeve and whispered, “Sister Chen really is... what was it? Oh right, a heroine among women.”

Xiao Shanzi nodded. Indeed!

Chen Rui didn’t know this, but it made Xiao Shitou and the others respect her much more.

At this moment, Xiao Shunzi glanced down at his own hands and quietly hid them behind his back.

Sigh, he really lacked talent.

Xiao Liuzi happened to catch a glimpse and, looking again, noticed that Xiao Shunzi’s hand backs were red, swollen, and scraped, as if from being hit.

Others might not know, but Xiao Liuzi certainly did.

Because his own hands looked the same. The reason? Xiao Liuzi had secretly made a small sandbag at home and practiced punching it whenever he had free time.

He had heard stories that this would train one’s fists into the “Diamond Unbreakable Fist.” Even if he wasn’t as strong as Auntie, who could snap a big tree, breaking a small tree would be good enough.

Xiao Liuzi quietly grabbed Xiao Shunzi and asked in a low voice, “Are you secretly practicing the Diamond Unbreakable Fist too?”

Xiao Shunzi was startled but, seeing Xiao Liuzi show his own hands, nodded in admission, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. “But I haven’t made any progress.”

Not to mention, a few days ago, his mother caught him and gave him a good beating. If not for the work bell ringing, she might have scolded him even more.

Xiao Liuzi sighed deeply, a worried look on his face. “Me too.”

“But I won’t give up!”

Xiao Shitou and Xiao Shanzi turned back just in time to hear this and wondered aloud, “What won’t you give up? What are you guys talking about?”

Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Liuzi exchanged a glance and quickly shook their heads. “Nothing, nothing.”

The more they tried to hide it, the more curious the others became. But before they could ask again, Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Liuzi hurried after Bai Xi, and the others had no choice but to suppress their curiosity and follow.

Though Xiao Shunzi and Xiao Liuzi kept their secret closely guarded, they agreed to practice together to improve and keep each other accountable.

Then, within a couple of days, they were discovered.

Xiao Shitou and the others were angry at their lack of camaraderie, but after scolding them, they all joined in.

When Chen Rui went to school, Xiao Shunzi and the others didn’t show up for a few days, which struck Bai Xi as odd. When she heard from Little Black what the boys had been up to, she immediately felt that last time she hadn’t hit them hard enough.

“Master, shall I reveal their true nature for you?” Little Black suggested.

Bai Xi’s mouth twitched. “What do you take them for? But... fine, go ahead.”

“Be careful not to let them notice you,” she added.

“Don’t worry, Master!” Little Black happily turned and ran down from the treehouse, eager to teach those boys a lesson it had long been wanting to deliver.