Chapter 149: Eliminating

"Ah! What are you doing?!" Xiao Ran exclaimed, but that tall figure had no intention of letting her go.

She slapped her dozens of times before finally slowing to a stop.

"Qi Xia and Qiao Jia Jin don't hit women, but I do," Yun Yao said, panting heavily. "Do you have any objections?"

"You damn..."

Xiao Ran gritted her teeth and tried to push Yun Yao away, but Yun Yao grabbed her arm and delivered three more slaps.

"Say that again!" Yun Yao roared. "Try saying something about Tian Tian again and see what happens!"

Xiao Ran's cheeks were bright red, her face a mix of anger and pain.

"Zhao Yisheng!!" she shouted. "Someone's hitting me—can't you see?! Was letting you touch me earlier all for nothing?"

Doctor Zhao finally snapped out of it and hurried forward to pull Yun Yao away.

Just as he was about to touch her, two strong hands held him back.

Qi Xia and Qiao Jia Jin stood on either side of him, blocking his way.

"Doctor Zhao," Qi Xia said, "let the girls handle their own business. We shouldn't get involved."

"Yeah, yeah, Doctor Zhao," Qiao Jia Jin said with a smile. "Don't interfere in a one-on-one fight."

Doctor Zhao's face shifted between expressions: "But... but you guys..."

"Or do you want to fight me one-on-one?" Qiao Jia Jin asked with a grin. "I'm available now if you are."

"I..." Doctor Zhao glanced awkwardly at Qiao Jia Jin, then at Xiao Ran on the ground, unsure what to do.

Yun Yao delivered over a dozen more slaps, leaving Xiao Ran with no way to fight back.

"Sis! Stop! Stop hitting me!" Xiao Ran wailed. "Your man is awesome! Your man is the best, okay?!"

Smack!

"That's not right—say it again!" Yun Yao said angrily.

"You're awesome! You're the most awesome!"

Smack!

"Say it again!!"

Xiao Ran was completely stunned: "Sis... what do you want me to say?"

Smack!

"Say it!"

Smack!

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Xiao Ran howled. "I shouldn't have said that about her—I was wrong! I won't dare do it again!"

Yun Yao finally stopped hitting her.

Xiao Ran let out a sigh of relief.

"Say it ten times," Yun Yao demanded.

"Ah?"

Smack!

"I told you to say it ten times!"

Under Yun Yao's persistent encouragement, Xiao Ran apologized ten times straight.

"You better remember this—watch your mouth around here, or someone will put you in your place!" Yun Yao said, giving Xiao Ran's hair a final yank as a warning before slowly standing up.

She looked down at her hands, which were also red.

"Idol girl, are you okay?" Qiao Jia Jin asked.

"I'm fine, just my hands hurt a bit."

"Oh, then I'll take you to put some ice on it," Qi Xia said, raising an eyebrow. "We don't want it to swell up."

"Yes, yes!" Qiao Jia Jin nodded quickly, and the two of them helped Yun Yao out of the room.

Doctor Zhao awkwardly helped Xiao Ran up from the ground, not knowing what to say.

Xiao Ran's eyes were bulging with rage.

"Damn it... who does she think she is?!" She gritted her teeth, realizing her mouth was full of blood, and spat viciously on the ground, muttering, "I'll kill you..."

Qi Xia wet a towel with bottled water and gently wrapped it around Yun Yao's hand.

"That Xiao Ran is really awful..." Yun Yao said, barely noticing the swelling on her hand as she fumed. "How can there be such horrible people in the world? I'm so angry! We're both girls, but I can't understand a word she says!"

Qi Xia nodded: "If you'd been a second later, I would've been the one hitting her."

"Forget it." Yun Yao sighed. "If you hit her, she'd make a huge scene, ruining your reputation while playing the victim. It's like that saying: 'A toad jumping on your foot'—it doesn't bite, but it's disgusting."

"Doesn't matter to me; I don't care about my reputation." Qi Xia shook his head and added some more water to the towel.

"No, you can't." Yun Yao replied. "When something like this happens, people always side with the underdog. I've been through it once, so after thinking it over, beating her myself was the best option."

Qi Xia nodded, but then changed the subject: "I bet Xiao Ran won't let this go. Don't team up with her in the future—she might stab you in the back."

Yun Yao nodded silently: "You're right; I'll be careful."

The three of them were chatting near the bathroom when a middle-aged woman suddenly approached.

Qi Xia recognized her.

She wore a Buddha amulet and a Jesus statue around her neck, and today she had an extra string of prayer beads on her wrist.

"Tong Yi?" Yun Yao stood up and smiled warmly. "Is something up?"

"Little Yun..." The woman called Tong Yi nodded kindly. "I heard a lot of people didn't retain their memories this time, so I'm planning to start classes again. Do you want to come?"

"Ah... I... um..." Yun Yao looked troubled. "Maybe I won't go. I still have my memories..."

Qi Xia and Qiao Jia Jin exchanged puzzled glances at Yun Yao and the woman.

"Classes?"

Tong Yi noticed Qi Xia's interest and quickly took his hand.

"Amitabha, God bless. Young man, you look quite devout. Would you like to join my class?"

"Devout?" Qi Xia smiled wryly. "Auntie, you're not great at reading people. I've never believed in any gods my whole life."

Tong Yi still smiled. "But young man, if there's no god in this world, how do you explain this place?"

This simple question stumped Qi Xia.

She turned to Qiao Jia Jin, sizing him up. "Young man, you don't believe in gods either, do you?"

"Auntie, you're right about that," Qiao Jia Jin said awkwardly. "I've been worshiping Guan Yu for over ten years."

"Well, that's fine." Tong Yi shook her head. "This afternoon, I'll be teaching in the northern classroom. I'll explain the origins of Zhong Yan Zhi Di and the principles of Hui Xiang. You're all welcome if you have time."

"What?!" Qi Xia was stunned. "Auntie, you know the origins of Zhong Yan Zhi Di and the principles of Hui Xiang?!"

He glanced at Yun Yao, who just looked helpless.

"Yes, it's all part of the true lord's plan." Tong Yi nodded. "The Buddha is always compassionate and will help us understand the Holy Mother's intentions."

Qi Xia thought this woman believed in a lot of things.

In just a short while, he'd heard about "God," "the Buddha," "the true lord," and "the Holy Mother"—she seemed to cover most of the world's major religions.

"I mean, maybe I won't..." Qi Xia started to decline, but Tong Yi grabbed his hand.

"Young man, to survive here, you must let go of all worldly attachments."