This region used to have quite a few National Arts dojos, where the so-called National Arts of Dragon Country were taught. However, after the Taekwondo and Karate dojos arrived, they went around challenging and shutting down all of them.
Today was the day the Taekwondo and Karate dojos would battle for supremacy. The loser would have to leave the area.
Furthermore, the Karate dojo had invited journalists. This made Jin Xishan, the master of the Taekwondo dojo, ecstatic. In his eyes, the Karate dojo was simply setting the stage for his own glory.
"Hey, is anyone here?" Just as Jin Xishan was about to lead his Taekwondo disciples to challenge the Karate dojo—and get on television in the process—a little girl showed up.
The little girl arrived carrying a large jar on her back, her expression arrogant and domineering.
Jin Xishan, however, failed to register the meaning behind her demeanor. He was from Dragon Country, but after learning authentic Taekwondo in Korea, he had changed his name to something with a more Korean flair. Even after returning to Dragon Country, his food, clothes, and lifestyle all followed the Korean style. He chuckled, "Hey there, little one. Here to learn Taekwondo? Come back tomorrow. I’m busy today."
"No, you’ve got to be stupid." The little girl shook her head the moment she saw Jin Xishan in his Taekwondo uniform. "I’m here to challenge your dojo."
A child with such a soft, sweet voice claiming she was here to challenge the dojo didn’t anger Jin Xishan and his disciples. It just made them want to laugh. They had never encountered something so ridiculous.
"Laugh your asses off for all I care. Since you’re afraid to fight me, I’ll just leave. I’ll tell everyone you’re all bark and no bite." The little girl was sharp and played her card immediately. With her adorable appearance, many people would surely believe her.
"You, go fight her," Jin Xishan pointed to his youngest disciple, a seven-year-old boy. "But be careful not to hurt her."
The boy was of mixed Dragon Country and Korean heritage. His father’s surname was Jiang and his mother’s was An, but he had taken his mother’s surname, going by An Xuanzhi, which sounded distinctly Korean.
"Don’t worry, little girl, I’ll go easy on you. As descendants of the great Korean nation, we carry the ethos of Confucianism," the boy said, fluently reciting the lines he had so often heard.
Hearing this, Jin Xishan nodded with satisfaction. He glanced at his disciples, a mix of students from Dragon Country and Korea, and proclaimed, "The teachings of Confucius have flourished in my Korea. The people of Korea are all kind-hearted, never get angry, and believe that harmony brings wealth. Why? Because we all study the teachings of our Korean cultural sage, Confucius."
"Yes, Master!" the Korean disciples replied enthusiastically.
Among the students from Dragon Country, some echoed the sentiment, but other children felt a nagging sense of confusion. Wait, isn’t Confucius from Dragon Country?
Jin Xishan finally waved his hand and shouted, "Begin!"
An Xuanzhi executed a popular Taekwondo front kick, aiming it at the little girl. It was the only move he had learned—a basic technique primarily targeting the face, chin, abdomen, and groin.
The little girl just shook her head and kicked back. Since her opponent was just a child, her kick was very light.
"AH!" An Xuanzhi cried out as he was kicked squarely in the head. He lost his balance and plopped right down on the ground.
Jin Xishan shot a disdainful glance at his fallen disciple. In his eyes, the boy was an utter embarrassment. A kid with half-Dragon Country blood... Completely useless.
He then turned to another eight-year-old boy, Park Won. Both of Park Won’s parents were Korean, so Jin Xishan had much more confidence in him. "Park Won, you go. Remember to go easy on her, but let her see the greatness of our Korean Taekwondo."
"Yes, Master." Park Won stood up and charged at the little girl without another word.
BAM!
But An Xuanzhi, the boy who had just been defeated, noticed something was wrong. He and Park Won had joined the dojo at the same time, and both of us started from scratch. Yet after all this time, the only thing I’ve learned is the basic front kick. But Park Won... I’ve never seen that kick he just used. Why? Why did Master teach Park Won but not me? An Xuanzhi couldn’t figure it out, but a seed of resentment was planted in his heart.
She had once seen a movie starring Jet Li, who had played heroes like Huang Feihong and Chen Zhen. There was one scene where he shattered a dojo’s sign with a single kick. To the little girl, it was the coolest thing she had ever seen. This was exactly the kind of stunt she wanted to pull.
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