[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-rise-of-the-overlord":3,"chapter-rise-of-the-overlord-rise-of-the-overlord-chapter-44":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Rise of the Overlord",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1894689,2521,"Chapter 44: Poor Li Hong","rise-of-the-overlord-chapter-44",44,"\u003Cp>Arriving at the playground, I saw a group of people surrounding Chen Du and beating him, while Su Xue was being grabbed by several others who were trying to drag her away. Su Xue was struggling with all her might.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, I flew over, launched a flying kick at one of the men, and then quickly struck the few people beside Su Xue. When Su Xue saw me, her expression was strange, but she still said to me, \"Thank you!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored Su Xue's words and looked around. There were at least a dozen people here; a dozen people were clearly more than enough to deal with Chen Du. Fortunately, I had arrived, otherwise, Su Xue would definitely have been taken away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When these people saw me coming, they stopped beating Chen Du and turned to attack me instead. Seeing the dozen or so people rushing over, I didn't panic at all. I blocked Su Xue behind me, then flew up and kicked the person in front of me, turned around, and knocked two others down with a side kick. The combat power of this group was no match for me at my current level. In no time, seven or eight of them had fallen. The remaining people, seeing this, stood there not daring to step forward, and finally, the whole group turned and ran.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After seeing them leave, I turned to look at Su Xue and asked with concern, \"Are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xue shook her head to indicate she was fine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked at Chen Du, who was beaten black and blue on the ground, walked over, helped him up, and asked, \"How are you? Are you okay?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Du slowly climbed up, his face looking terrible. He shook his head and said, \"I'm fine!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Su Xue, who was standing nearby, didn't give him a kind look. Su Xue said to Chen Du, \"I already told you to stop following me. You don't listen. Aren't you annoying all day long? Don't follow me anymore!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Su Xue's words, Chen Du's expression dimmed. I knew Chen Du's feelings at this moment because I had experienced that same feeling before—the inability to protect the girl you like, feeling particularly hateful toward yourself. However, I didn't interject, because after all, this was their business, and it wasn't my place to interfere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long while, Chen Du said to Su Xue, \"I'm sorry, I won't bother you again!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I knew that when Chen Du said this, he had summoned great courage, and his heart must have been completely shattered. But there was nothing anyone could do about such things; the thing a man fears most is meeting the person he loves most at a time when he is powerless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Chen Du like this, Su Xue also realized she had spoken too harshly. She said to Chen Du, \"That's not what I meant. It's just that I really don't like you, and you aren't my type. If you don't mind, we can still be friends in the future!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Du smiled slightly and nodded without replying. I knew that in Chen Du's heart, if he couldn't protect Su Xue, being friends was likely impossible, because that was a man's self-respect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Su Xue then prepared to leave. I pulled her back and said, \"Be careful lately. If anyone gives you trouble, come find me. Or how about I walk you home after school?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No need. As long as you guys stay away from me, I probably won't have any trouble!\" Su Xue said bluntly and turned to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, her words had invisibly stung Chen Du once again. I sighed slightly. Su Xue was truly completely different from Su Xueyan; Su Xue was like a little hedgehog that couldn't be approached. Of course, I knew this might also have something to do with her sister.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gently patted Chen Du on the shoulder and said, \"It's okay, don't take it to heart. People always grow. I believe that one day you will definitely become stronger!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Du suddenly had a look of struggle, as if he had made a decision. He knelt on the ground and called out, \"Master, please teach me Wu Gong!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was completely stunned by this move from Chen Du and hurriedly helped him up, saying, \"What are you doing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to learn martial arts. I can tell you must have practiced it, so I want to take you as my master and learn Wu Gong!\" Chen Du knelt on the ground, waiting for my answer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I think you're overthinking it. I just started learning myself, and I don't even know how to teach you!\" I said helplessly. When the old beggar passed the techniques to me, he specifically told me not to show them to others easily, and I didn't know how to teach. Was I supposed to touch his head and pass it on like the old beggar? I didn't know how to do that at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"It's okay, just let me watch from the side whenever you practice!\" Chen Du seemed determined to learn from me. The incident with Su Xue had stimulated him quite a bit; it was clear he wanted to become strong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chen Du's request wasn't too unreasonable. Usually, when Third Brother and I practiced, there was no one around, so letting him watch wouldn't hurt. However, I figured that even if he watched, it would be hard for him to learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded and said to Chen Du, \"You can watch from the side, but there's really no need to call me Master. I don't have the ability to take on apprentices!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No, whatever I, Chen Du, decide, no one can change. From now on, you are my Master. Master, please accept your disciple's bow!\" After saying this, he knelt directly on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I was speechless at this moment. I really didn't know what was going on in this guy's head, that he actually wanted to take me as his master. I rubbed my head helplessly and said, \"Suit yourself!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Li Hong was furious. He had finally found an opportunity to grab Su Xue to threaten Chen Du, only for it to be ruined by me. Now, this guy hated me to the bone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I told Third Brother about today's situation. After hearing it, Third Brother was so angry he cursed, \"Damn it, Li Hong is really pushing his luck. Damn, I'm going to go give him a lesson!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hurriedly pulled Xu Hongzhi back and asked, \"What do you want to do?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Go beat him up, of course!\" Third Brother said coldly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After saying that, Third Brother went straight out the classroom door, and Wang Xiaopang and I hurriedly followed. Third Brother rushed into Li Hong's classroom, ignoring the surrounding students, and immediately gave Li Hong a beating. A few people around wanted to help, but they were no match for Third Brother. What surprised me, however, was that Li Hong didn't resist at all. According to my thinking, this guy should have at least put up a symbolic fight, since Li Hong had connections to Li Heng and should know some martial arts. But now it seemed I had overthought it. If that wasn't the case, then this guy was just too good at enduring and hiding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After beating Li Hong, Third Brother stepped on him in front of everyone and cursed, \"Let me tell you, Li Hong, I didn't want to bother with you because I thought you were just a brat. If you dare to act up again or touch our people, don't blame me for being ruthless next time!\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1279,"2026-06-11T10:32:36.211Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","886804c21d1513ece3be6da5ad4a796f05c68177d686e1d80cbd27940f10beee","rise-of-the-overlord-chapter-45","rise-of-the-overlord-chapter-43",225,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Frise-of-the-overlord-cover.jpg"]