Chapter 219: Confronting The Teacher

Jack hates the tone Adam is using when talking to him. It’s dismissive in nature and very insulting to Jack’s ears.

What does Adam mean by he is not going to learn anything from sparring with him? Isn’t Adam’s words saying that Jack’s not good enough to teach him anything?

This is probably the worst thing one can say to Jack. Jack is arrogant and has immense pride because of his talent. So how can he let some random punk insult him inside his own gym?

"All I hear are excuses? Are you perhaps scared of getting in the ring? Are you about to shit yourself? Do I need to fetch you some diapers?" So Jack immediately starts implying that one tactic which will probably work on almost all men, but not on Adam.

The other gym members who are close to Jack start laughing to make Jack’s words feel more humiliating, but it does not affect Adam.

Adam’s someone who has lived the life of a bottom-of-the-barrel, street dweller, penny-pinching loser. There is nothing Jack can say that would hurt Adam’s pride.

He has already experienced the worst, and now he is experiencing the best that the world has to offer. A random dude, no matter how talented, isn’t someone Adam would be concerned over.

"What are you, a two-year-old? Do you think I would fall for such stupid rage baits?" Adam says, giving Jack a mocking gaze, which only further pisses Jack off.

This just shows how fragile Jack’s ego is; after all, no one has ever challenged him like this before.

"I am not going to get inside that ring because it’s just a waste of time and energy; I have nothing to prove to anyone. Especially a little prick like you," Adam says with a cocky smirk, instigating Jack even more.

Jack has had it with Adam. He jumps out of the ring and takes angry strides towards Adam before they are finally face-to-face.

They are both of similar height, so their eyes are on the same level, while Jack has this pissed off look on his face, Adam’s completely nonchalant as if Jack doesn’t pose a threat.

The more Jack looks at Adam’s nonchalant attitude, the more he feels like punching Adam in the face.

So he decides to do something about it. He fakes an attack on Adam, trying to get him to flinch. But it doesn’t go as he expected.

Adam doesn’t budge an inch. He continues to stare into Jack’s eyes with his mocking gaze.

Jack’s fury continues to rise. He decides to fake an attack once again, this time a fake punch, but once again Adam doesn’t budge while Jack’s fist is just stops a few centimeters away from Adam’s face.

"Prodigy my ass, you are nothing but a little bitch with a fragile ego. Get the fuck out of my face," Adam says with a calm tone.

Jack’s done holding back. He really wants to find Adam. And the people who are around them can sense it.

Crill and Zydan also close in as they can sense a fight is about to break out. Even some experienced fighters who are trying to train and not bother with arguments between young men, stop and look at Jack and Adam, ready to step in the moment hands and legs start flying.

"What’s going on here?!!!" Suddenly, there’s a loud, bassy commanding voice that snaps everyone out of their tense state.

Jack’s eyes, which were burning with fury just a second ago, now suddenly show fear in them as he quickly backs away from Adam and stands straight in attention.

Adam turns his head to look at the person the voice belongs to. It’s the same man Adam saw yesterday, talking to Rangsan inside the restaurant.

It’s Xang Lao. Rangsan’s brother-in-law, Lamai’s maternal uncle. Someone she really hates.

The man is not as tall as Adam, but he carries an aura of dominance and an edge of threat that Adam doesn’t feel from normal people.

’This man’s clearly very dangerous,’ Adam thinks as he watches Xang Lao walk up to them.

With scrunched brows and a cold look in his eyes, Xang Lao stands before Adam and Jack and takes a look at both of them.

"What’s going on?" He asks again, this time more sternly, while staring coldly at Jack.

The arrogant Jack immediately puts his head down, clearly afraid of his teacher.

"It’s nothing, teacher... This guy was trying to instigate a fight," Jack says, obviously lying, but it doesn’t matter whether his teacher knows if he is lying or not. Since he is Jack’s teacher, Xang Lao would favor his version of the story over the truth.

And just like Jack expected, Xang Lao turned his attention towards Adam, and Adam stared back at him.

Adam’s not afraid. Even if Xang Lao is this dangerous martial artist, Adam is a freak of nature; his physical strength is probably more than a silverback gorilla in its prime, while his stamina is endless.

If things really came down to getting physical, Adam’s not scared. By now, he has a very good understanding of his own body, and in all honesty, Adam doesn’t have any reason to fear any human, unless a gun is involved.

Xang Lao takes his time observing Adam. His experienced eyes see what most miss. One glance and he can tell that the young man standing before him is a prodigy, just like Jack, when it comes to pure physical abilities. He still has no clue how good Adam’s fight IQ is, but it won’t be hard for him to figure it out; he just needs to see Adam in action.

Done gauging Adam, Lao finally speaks. "You are the boy Rangsan is teaching, right?" Lao asks.

"I am. Do you have a problem with it?" Adam asks.

"Hmm, just like I thought. You are no different from your teacher; both of you are foul-mouthed," Lao says. He doesn’t like how Adam’s speaking to him.

"Well, then by your logic, you must be a pathetic liar because that’s what your pupil here just did," Adam snaps back. He doesn’t bother holding back.

Lao frowns, hearing Adam’s comeback.

"You should learn to control that tongue, boy; it might get you in trouble that you can’t handle," Lao says, trying to act tough and wise.

Adam chuckles in response before stepping up to Lao himself, which surprises everyone. "Is that a threat?" Adam asks.

Lao’s frown deepens, seeing Adam getting right to his face. He has never been disrespected like this ever.

"You can consider it a threat," Lao says. He is burning with rage. He would love to inflict brutal violence on Adam right here and now, but he holds himself back as he has a reputation to uphold.

"Go on then, hit me. I will make sure to drag your old wrinkly ass to court on assault. Trust me, I will destroy everything you hold dear if you cross me," Adam says as his eyes turn cold.

For a second there, Lao feels a chill run down his spine as he looks into Adam’s eyes. He can tell Adam’s being very serious right now. This young man, before him, isn’t just talking out of his ass.

Lao starts getting a headache. He realizes that Adam’s not one of those young men who can be intimidated. He also speculates that Adam has a powerful background and has a reason to be so bold and arrogant.

For now, Lao decides to back off.

"You should leave, my gym doesn’t have any room for delinquents like you," Lao says.

Adam smirks cockily right before his eyes. He then brings his hand forward and pats Lao on his shoulder.

"You are smart for an aging old man. You should probably teach your idiot student to use his head a little as well," Adam says and turns away, ready to leave.

Jack, who heard and saw everything, is seething with anger. He can’t believe how Adam talked to his teacher and insulted him.

He wants nothing more than to tackle Adam down to the ground while he isn’t looking and pummel his face with ruthless elbow hammers.

Jack even takes a step to do that, but Lao raises his hand and blocks Jack’s path, and gives him a stern, cold look.

"But teacher..." Jack says, gritting his teeth so hard that he might actually crack his teeth.

"Don’t worry, you will get your moment. You two are on the same path. There will be a time when you two cross paths, and that’s when you show him what you are really made of." Lao says.

Jack takes a step back, listening to his teacher.

Lao watches as Adam goes down the stairs while Crill and Zydan follow him.

’Let’s see if you have what it takes to be that arrogant. Rangsan was pretty determined to keep you. Let’s see if you can keep up with his expectations,’ Lao thinks as Adam disappears from his sight.

His mood has soured, so he now needs something or someone to take his frustration out on. He looks at Jack.

"Do you think I am an idiot? How dare you lie to me?" Lao questions Jack with a stern voice.

Jack flinches in fear.

"Get in the ring, you need to be taught a lesson!" Lao shouts while the rest of the gym watches in silence. Everyone is aware of how brutal Lao can get when he is in a foul mood, and because of Adam, Lao is right now at his worst, and Jack is the pitiful scapegoat who will have to face his fury.