The Battle Between the Two Academies Begins

Pingyang County, the Wild Wolf Gang.

"Still no word from Duan Kun?"

A rough-looking, bald brute leaned against the headboard, his brow tightly furrowed and his voice thick with impatience. Two beautiful women beside him were carefully massaging his legs and pounding his shoulders.

He was Yan Yue-Ren, the Wild Wolf Gang's Incense Master, who had taken a fancy to Embroiderer.

Not far away, a middle-aged man with a goatee knelt on the floor, trembling all over.

His name was Wu Yong, a strategist serving under Yan Yue-Ren.

"Incense Master, there's still no word."

Yan Yue-Ren snatched the teacup from the table and smashed it down in front of Wu Yong with a bang. Shards instantly sliced his knees, and blood streamed out. "A bunch of trash! What the hell do I keep you around for?!"

Wu Yong edged to the side in fright, not daring to speak.

"And you two, put some strength into it! Haven't you eaten?!"

The brute swung his hands back and slapped both women across the face.

Tears welled in the two women's eyes as vivid red handprints quickly rose on their fair, tender cheeks.

Their bodies were covered in bruises, and their clothes barely covered them, leaving large stretches of skin exposed.

They were married women from humble families in the town. After Yan Yue-Ren took a fancy to them, he had snatched them away, toyed with them day and night, and abused them at will.

"Incense Master, I sent men to Qingshan Town to look for him a few days ago. As soon as there's any news, it'll be sent back immediately."

"Alive, I want to see the man; dead, I want to see the corpse. I don't care how you do it. If you can't retrieve the Register he was carrying, bring me your head!"

"And don't forget to bring that little beauty back for me too. Such a small matter has dragged on this long without getting done. Next time I see Scarface, I'll skin him alive!"

At the thought of Embroiderer's lovely, dignified appearance, Yan Yue-Ren felt as if a cat were clawing at his heart.

What one couldn't have was always what stirred the heart. He couldn't wait to pin that little beauty beneath him and ravage her.

After Wu Yong left, Yan Yue-Ren's anger still hadn't subsided, so he immediately had his men lead in two "dogs."

They were called "dogs," but they were actually the two women's husbands. Collars had been fastened around their necks, their limbs were bound in chains, and their tongues had long since been cut out. All they could do was whimper.

"Husband!"

"Husband!"

At the sight of their husbands' wretched state, the two women wept in despair.

"Hahaha! Now this is fun!" Yan Yue-Ren laughed triumphantly, forced the two women onto the bed, and pulled out a leather whip to lash them viciously.

Their husbands' eyes turned blood red, their lids stretched to bursting, and in the end they were enraged to death.

After an unknown length of time, Yan Yue-Ren grew tired of his fun and kicked the two women off the bed. "All right, drag them out and have your fun. Remember to clean everything up afterward."

"Thank you for the reward, boss."

Two shifty-looking underlings rubbed their hands and rushed over, unable to contain themselves. Each picked up a woman and left, beaming with delight.

Yan Yue-Ren had a taste for married women. Once he tired of them, he casually passed them on to his underlings, and without exception, they were all eventually tortured to death.

All these women had been seized in secret, and the matter could not be brought to light. If they were released, they would surely report it to the authorities, so the only fate awaiting them was death. As long as no one filed a report, the authorities couldn't be bothered with such matters. Even when their families did report them, the cases were merely treated as missing-person cases and hastily dismissed.

"I heard the Li Lineage's goods were stolen by bandits from Clearwind Stronghold near Qingshan Town. Are those fellows making trouble at a time like this to deliberately embarrass that lord?"

Yan Yue-Ren weighed the matter in his mind, his gaze gradually turning cold. "I need to get that Register back as soon as possible. If it's lost and the higher-ups hold me accountable, I definitely won't be able to keep my position as Incense Master!"

Qingshan Town.

Today was the day of the Twin Martial Arts Academies Tournament. Early in the morning, the townsfolk had already begun making their way to the Tournament Grounds of their own accord.

For them, it was the most eagerly anticipated day of the year.

It was equally significant for the martial arts academies. Afterward, large numbers of newcomers would often join, allowing the academies to make a handsome profit.

The fighting platform had long since been set up, and the people from both academies had all arrived.

Lu Liu looked at the two empty seats, his heart aching.

They had been prepared for his senior sister and junior brother.

"Fourth Junior Brother, are you all right?"

Yan Yangtian patted him on the shoulder.

"Eldest Senior Brother."

Lu Liu forced a faint smile onto his face. "I'm all right."

Pei Heng had four personal disciples in total. The third was away, and the second, Li Shengnan, had died at the hands of bandits. Now only the two of them remained.

Yan Yangtian glanced at the opposing lineup, a flash of viciousness passing deep within his eyes. He chuckled softly and said, "Fourth Junior Brother, just watch. Today, I'll show everyone who the number one genius in Qingshan Town really is!"

Lu Liu didn't quite understand and looked up at Yan Yangtian.

For some reason, Yan Yangtian seemed unusually different today. The bloodlust and fighting spirit in his eyes sent a chill through Lu Liu's heart.

Maybe Eldest Senior Brother wants to win too badly. Lu Liu gave it no further thought, but a feeling of unease lingered in his heart.

The platform matches soon began.

The two academies each sent disciples onto the platform to fight.

In the first match, Ye Wei, an Inner Court disciple of the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy, took the stage as a newcomer.

Ye Wei had reached the beginner level in the Eight Trigrams Palm and was a capable fighter, but the opposing newcomer from the Tiger Martial Arts Academy's Inner Court had also reached the beginner level in the Tiger Fist.

Both had almost no practical combat experience. After an exchange of blows, the fierce and forceful Tiger Fist proved slightly superior, knocking Ye Wei off the platform with a single punch.

"First match, the Tiger Martial Arts Academy wins!"

The referee announced the result loudly.

A wave of sighs rose from below the platform. The spectators did not seem surprised by the outcome.

"So much for the Eight Trigrams Palm."

"When all's said and done, the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy is no match for our Tiger Martial Arts Academy!"

The Tiger Martial Arts Academy disciples chattered among themselves, their morale soaring as though they had been injected with chicken blood.

In the next three matches, the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy won only one.

Below the platform, Pei Heng's expression was extremely grim.

Next, it was the turn of the academy masters' personal disciples to take the stage.

"Fourth Junior Brother, your injuries haven't healed yet. Rest well. I'm enough on my own!"

Yan Yangtian spoke calmly, and before his words had faded, he had already leaped into the center of the platform.

"Yan Yangtian of the Eight Trigrams Martial Arts Academy. Which of you wants to come to your death first?!"

His words struck like thunder from a clear sky, leaving everyone dumbfounded.

Everyone knew this was the Twin Martial Arts Academies Tournament, a mere exchange where fighters stopped before causing serious harm. Yet Yan Yangtian had opened by demanding lives. His indifferent tone, in particular, made it seem as though he didn't take the people of the Tiger Martial Arts Academy seriously at all.

His attitude thoroughly enraged the Tiger Martial Arts Academy, especially its master, Huo Zheng.

"What an arrogant whelp!"

Huo Zheng flew into a rage. "Pei Heng, is this how you teach your disciples?"

Pei Heng frowned slightly.

Truth be told, Yan Yangtian's words were indeed far too arrogant. But if Pei Heng reprimanded him in public, wouldn't outsiders think he was afraid of Huo Zheng?

"Huo Zheng, you and I shouldn't interfere in the affairs of the younger generation. We've all been young. What could be more normal than a few harsh words?"

Pei Heng smiled faintly. "Besides, could it be that you're afraid?"

"Me, afraid?"

Huo Zheng laughed in anger and turned to the disciples behind him. "Which of you will fight him?"

"Father, I will!"

Huo Lan stood up.

She had just broken through to the Late Skin-Refining Realm and wanted to prove herself.

"Let Li Yang go instead."

Huo Zheng stopped Huo Lan.

Huo Lan had only recently broken through to the Late Skin-Refining Realm, while Yan Yangtian had long since reached it and was only a hair's breadth away from the Perfection Realm. She had little chance of winning if she went up.

Li Yang, on the other hand, was one of the senior disciples. He was in the Late Skin-Refining Realm and had a solid foundation, so he could put up a fight against Yan Yangtian.

"Yes, Master."

A long-haired youth rose and stepped onto the platform.

"Li Yang of the Tiger Martial Arts Academy. Please show me your skills!"

Looking at the youth before him, Yan Yangtian slowly raised the corners of his mouth, threads of bloodthirsty light flickering in his eyes. "Forget showing you my skills, because in a moment,

"I'm going to beat you to death!"