First Clash

The beautiful girl's sudden words caught everyone present by surprise. Even Duàn Yì found them quite unexpected.

"Hm? Who are you? You little brat, if you want to steal a man, come back after your chest has grown a few more pounds of flesh."

When everyone saw someone interrupt, they followed the sound and were likewise stunned by the girl's exquisite features and flawless, milky-white skin.

It was not necessarily desire between men and women; more often, it was admiration and appreciation. In another ten years, she would surely become a peerless beauty whose elegance overshadowed her age and whose beauty could topple cities and kingdoms.

Women were different. Their instinctive love of comparison made them feel inferior at first sight, then feel immense pressure the next moment. Those with husbands silently swore never to let their husbands see this little vixen, while those without husbands secretly calculated that they would keep as far away from this girl as possible if they ever encountered her again.

Young Miss Zhou in particular had originally focused all her attention on Duàn Yì. Upon seeing the girl, she was first startled, then a concealed glint of jealousy flickered in her eyes as she snarled viciously.

"Y-you, what nonsense are you spouting? Hmph, a mere stinking brat. Just because you like him doesn't mean I do. I simply can't stand seeing you throw your weight around and bully others."

Young Miss Zhou's retort instantly turned the girl's little face crimson. Her delicate fists clenched tightly as she shot Duàn Yì a fierce glare, then stammered out a denial.

As she lowered her head, she inadvertently caught sight of a flat expanse and silently grew annoyed.

Duàn Yì did not know whether to laugh or cry. Her sense of justice had exploded, and she had stepped in to help him—was that not enough? Why did she have to take a jab at him whenever she could?

"You don't know the difference between life and death. Seize her."

Young Miss Zhou no longer wished to argue with the girl. Her voice suddenly turned shrill as she ordered the servants around her, her eyes narrowed into slits and gleaming with madness.

Of course, she could tell that the beautiful girl was from no ordinary background. Whether it was her bearing or her clothes and ornaments, she clearly had considerable origins. Under normal circumstances, Young Miss Zhou would never have so casually provoked such a person.

But this time was different. The man she had taken a fancy to was right beside her, and this little brat had been exchanging meaningful looks with him. Their relationship was clearly not ordinary, and she had even dared to confront her.

If she did not show some force of character now, would she not have no competitiveness at all before a man?

Hearing their young miss's order, the burly men regretted that the little girl was so delicate and adorable, but they had no choice but to obey.

Two hulking men stepped out from the outer ring of the crowd, looking fierce and menacing as they moved to drag the girl out from behind the stall.

Duàn Yì could not stand by any longer. After all, she had spoken up for him, so he stepped forward with a staggered stride and held out an arm to block the two men.

As the boy toy their young miss had taken a liking to, the two servants knew they could not offend him. Unsure what to do, they looked toward Zhou Xiufen.

Although Duàn Yì's action made the girl feel favorably toward him, Young Miss Zhou flew into a rage at the sight.

"What are you waiting for? Move!"

With the order given, the two men no longer held back. One of them reached out, intending to shove Duàn Yì aside.

Judging by their builds, the man was over six feet tall, with a face full of flesh, broad shoulders, and a thick waist. Duàn Yì had only just turned fourteen; though strong and nearly grown, he was barely over five and a half feet tall, completely outclassed at a glance.

Yet when they clashed, the result was wildly beyond everyone's expectations.

The man shoved at Duàn Yì's chest with roughly eighty percent of his strength, enough to knock even a full-grown burly man to the ground.

But Duàn Yì shifted his feet and retreated with the motion. His backhand seized the man's right hand, his thumb pressing down on the web between the man's thumb and forefinger. Using one foot as a pivot, he swept out his other leg and viciously kicked the man's knee joint with his toe. The burly man howled in pain and dropped directly to his knees before Duàn Yì, utterly unable to fight back.

He had used one move each from Consort Folding Branches and Wind Sweeping Fallen Leaves at the same time.

Seeing his companion subdued, the other burly man swallowed hard. Fear filled his heart, but he did not dare flee. Instead, he forced up his courage and punched toward Duàn Yì's head without holding back. If it landed solidly, Duàn Yì would be knocked unconscious even if it did not kill him.

Yet with the miraculous aid of the Tower of Hidden Martial Arts, Duàn Yì's progress in cultivating the Minor Capturing Hand had been astonishing, greatly enhancing his hand-eye coordination. Before the man even threw his punch, Duàn Yì had already seen through its path.

He kicked the servant kneeling before him and crying out in pain aside so he would not be in the way, while shrinking his upper body to evade the man's fist.

His body retreated rather than advanced. In that fleeting crossing, he accurately captured the wrist of the arm that had thrown the punch, while his other hand directly locked the man's shoulder joint from behind. With a deft twist, he dislocated the man's shoulder. Pain made the man's eyes bulge, cold sweat pour down his face, and muffled groans spill from his mouth along with drool.

His attack had been swift as lightning and clean as a blade. Before anyone else could react, the two exceptionally brawny men had already collapsed before Duàn Yì, leaving the crowd dumbfounded.

Even the beautiful girl's little mouth fell open in surprise, brilliant light flashing repeatedly in her eyes.

I never thought this stinking brat knew a martial art like the Capturing Hand. No wonder he squeezed my hand earlier and left me unable to exert any strength.

For some reason, sweetness welled up in her heart. Watching the youth fight for her gave her an inexplicable sense of anticipation.

After dealing with the two men, Duàn Yì lightly panted twice and flexed his somewhat stiff hands. His racing heartbeat gradually returned to normal, and a spark lit in his eyes as several insights arose within him.

The Minor Capturing Hand he cultivated had six moves in total, each containing three forms. In truth, there were only eighteen sets of movements, not particularly complicated. Yet the moves themselves were secondary; its true essence lay in its understanding of sinews, joints, and acupoints.

According to the records of the Capturing Hand, joints were mostly exposed and easy to locate accurately; sinews were steady beneath skin and flesh, and could not easily be found at hand without considerable experience; as for acupoints, they were extraordinarily complex and occupied minute locations, making them the most difficult aspect of the Capturing Hand.

At present, he was at the level of seizing joints. He could recognize sinews and even acupoints, but he could not yet strike them promptly and accurately in battle. There was still room for improvement.

As for the time he had seized the acupoint on the girl's hand earlier, that did not count as true combat and could not represent Duàn Yì's current level or realm.

Moreover, after that brief battle, Duàn Yì's understanding of the Minor Capturing Hand's moves had deepened another layer.

So this was actual combat. Pity I do not know internal cultivation. Relying solely on strength greatly reduces its power.

Elsewhere, Young Miss Zhou's eyes lit up when she saw Duàn Yì's skills.

Seeing Duàn Yì's unsteady steps, unstable lower body, and short breathing, she had assumed he knew nothing of martial arts. She had not expected him to practice the Capturing Hand, nor for him to have immersed himself in it for so long judging by his performance. This was another modest but pleasant surprise.

"Good. You know the Capturing Hand, yet you do not understand the way of breathing and circulating energy. You must wish to learn martial arts but have no path to do so.

"You heard about my background just now. As long as you marry me, I will ask my brother to help you enter the Golden Cauldron Sect. In the future, you can cultivate superior martial arts and rise above the crowd."

Zhou Xiufen did not know what kind of person Duàn Yì was or what temperament he had, but one thing was certain.

He yearned to practice martial arts but had no avenue to do so. He could only practice a shallow Capturing Hand technique over and over again. That was her opportunity.

Some men loved beauty, some loved wealth, some loved power, while others loved martial arts.

Zhou Xiufen believed that aside from the type who loved beauty, she could satisfy all the other three types of men.

Even for the first type, the lustful sort, if it were someone like Duàn Yì, she could allow him to keep one or two mistresses outside.

Upon hearing those terms, Duàn Yì had not yet reacted, but the onlookers inside and outside all wore complicated expressions.

The Golden Cauldron Sect was a major sect of Wei Prefecture and renowned throughout Hebei Province. Ordinary people could walk sideways through their little patch of land merely by having some connection to it, let alone becoming its disciple.

Moreover, the Golden Cauldron Sect was exceedingly strict in accepting disciples, broadly dividing them into two categories.

One category consisted of those with high aptitude and potential. They would become the sect's backbone in the future, controlling its martial strength.

The other category might not be talented in martial cultivation, but they came from wealthy or powerful families. Together, they formed a dense, interwoven net that gave the Golden Cauldron Sect firm foundations.

If Duàn Yì agreed to Young Miss Zhou, he would ascend to the heavens in a single step. Could he possibly refuse?

Not only the others—even the beautiful girl's heart was in turmoil. She did not know why, but she felt deeply uneasy. Seeing that Duàn Yì had not immediately refused, she spoke again in a strange, mocking tone.

"Isn't it just an outer disciple? Anyone who didn't know better would think your brother was the sect leader."

Duàn Yì was indeed somewhat surprised by Young Miss Zhou's proposal, but he did not take it to heart.

Just as the girl had said, no matter how formidable Zhou Xiong was, he was merely the chief outer disciple. At most, he could make Duàn Yì an outer disciple as well. Compared to becoming the sole disciple of the Golden Cauldron Sect's foremost expert, that was a difference as vast as heaven and earth.

He could never agree.

Yet outsiders did not know what he was thinking.

Young Miss Zhou first saw Duàn Yì fall silent and thought he was considering it. Then, after the girl's words, Duàn Yì's expression visibly changed. Hatred surged in her heart, and she could no longer spare thought for anything else. She roared at the remaining servants.

"What are you all standing around for? Seize this little brat already!"

At her command, and with Duàn Yì's earlier feat of easily knocking down two men fresh in their minds, the remaining dozen or so burly men swarmed forward. Several even drew short clubs from behind their backs.

Duàn Yì's heart sank, but he remained calm. Such perilous circumstances seemed especially capable of drawing out his potential, and thoughts flashed through his mind as fast as lightning.

He could not possibly fight more than a dozen men by himself right now.

If he wanted to escape safely with the girl, the only way was to make the other side fear damaging the rat by striking the vessel.

The key lay with Young Miss Zhou. If he seized her and had a hostage, these people would never dare continue making trouble for them.

Just as Duàn Yì was considering how to make his move, several sharp whooshes tore through the air. The Zhou Family servants who had been pressing forward all fell to the ground, rolling about and wailing in pain.

Some clutched their arms, others pressed their thighs, their faces twisted in agony.