Chapter 129: A Battle
West Journey was still on Dongyun Road. Over these six years, many surrounding shops had relocated, yet it remained steadfast through wind and rain, like an old mother waiting for her wandering child to return home.
When Teng Yi and Ruan Yu arrived, they happened to run into Han Zuo coming down from the second floor.
Han Zuo looked the same as ever—tall and handsome, dressed simply in a hoodie and sweatpants, still resembling a college student.
When he lifted his gaze and saw Teng Yi, his entire body froze. A storm brewed in his eyes, yet no words could aptly describe the emotions swirling within him.
"Han Zuo, I'm back," Teng Yi said, looking at him.
That understated sentence alone made Ruan Yu's eyes redden beside him.
Han Zuo didn’t speak for a long time. After a while, he suddenly jerked his chin toward the second floor and said, "Come on, let’s battle."
The scene was just like back then, when Han Zuo had first arrived at West Journey.
"Han Zuo, he…" Ruan Yu wanted to say that Teng Yi might not be in the right condition for a battle.
But before she could finish, Teng Yi stopped her.
"Let’s go," Teng Yi said, his tone eager and willing.
Side by side, the two of them headed upstairs.
After a moment’s hesitation, Ruan Yu quietly followed.
The layout of the second floor hadn’t changed either, though it had been recently renovated—freshly painted walls and newly laid flooring made the space brighter.
The practice room that once belonged to Teng Yi was now Han Zuo’s.
Once inside, Han Zuo walked over to the computer and turned on the speakers.
"A battle without a judge?" Teng Yi asked.
Han Zuo tapped his chest. "The judge is right here."
Music soon blared from the speakers—Michael Jackson’s. Most street dancers had tried their hand at his moves at some point, and this song’s moonwalk, crotch grab, and leg splits had inspired countless imitations.
Both Han Zuo and Teng Yi had mimicked Michael Jackson back in the day, so the melody and moves were familiar. This first song was less of a battle and more of a tribute to the classics—a warm-up.
Teng Yi happened to be wearing a white dress shirt and slacks today, and as he danced, it was as if Michael Jackson himself had possessed him. Even after all these years, his musicality was still astonishing. Every spin, every kick landed perfectly on beat, and even the finger snaps in the melody were executed flawlessly.
As the music shifted, the difficulty of their moves gradually increased.
Han Zuo had originally specialized in hip-hop, but now his breaking was impressive enough to turn heads—headspins and windmills came effortlessly to him.
Ruan Yu watched nervously, silently worrying for Teng Yi. Even if time hadn’t dulled his talent, breaking wasn’t something that could be carried by talent alone—it required technique and relentless practice.
No matter how skilled Teng Yi was, he couldn’t be an exception.
"Teng Yi…"
Afraid he might push himself too hard and get hurt, Ruan Yu wanted to call off the battle. But Teng Yi took off his jacket, turned to her, and pressed a finger to his lips in a "shush" gesture.
His eyes told her he could handle it.
Ruan Yu pressed her lips together, while Han Zuo kept his gaze locked intently on Teng Yi.
Moving with the music, Teng Yi transitioned smoothly before suddenly leaning forward, planting his hands on the ground. A series of fluid Thomas flares left everyone stunned.
Equally breathtaking were the faintly visible rows of chocolate abs peeking out from beneath his shirt.Ruan Yu: "..."
She didn't believe for a second that this man hadn't secretly practiced street dancing in those six years!
After several intense battles, they proved evenly matched.
"Not bad, still got your edge!" Han Zuo grabbed Teng Yi's hand excitedly.
"So I've passed the test? Can I return to West Journey now?" Teng Yi asked.
"Of course. Both West Journey and I have been waiting for your return."
The two men exchanged smiles before embracing tightly.
Han Zuo gave Teng Yi's back several hearty pats, his voice choked with emotion.
"You bastard... finally came back!"
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