Words Stir Up Trouble, Break Your Leg Bones

In the afternoon, the news had spread throughout the outer courtyard.

Zhou You, the subject of recent rumors, had challenged Zhang Shu under the guise of a sparring partner.

The fact that Zhou You had beaten Zhang Shu badly hadn't spread, so everyone was unclear about the gap in their strength, believing the outcome was still uncertain.

The new apprentices spread the word, as this was a rare and exciting event.

Sparring partners usually stopped at a touch, afraid of injuring their companions.

This time, Zhou You and Zhang Shu were settling old and new scores, and they had even invited the Senior Disciple Brother to officiate, ensuring it would be incredibly exciting.

"Senior Disciple Brother, those apprentices are spreading rumors that Zhou You is connected to the Mad Horse Gang. Is that true?"

A formal apprentice asked Lu Qiang in a low voice.

The Martial Arts School strictly prohibited disciples from colluding with gangs, and this matter was extremely serious.

Lu Qiang shook his head. "It's just a rumor, like duckweed without roots, scattered by the slightest breeze."

"Don't pay it any mind. Let's go see the results of their match."

Lu Qiang didn't even bother to address the rumors because he was certain this storm wouldn't cause any significant trouble.

Whoever fabricated the rumor was also an idiot.

The Martial Arts School was extremely strict in selecting apprentices, and everyone's background had been investigated.

Zhou You's background had been thoroughly investigated when he joined the school, including how he offended the Wild Fox Gang and why he came to the Martial Arts School seeking refuge.

They even knew about Gao Qiang's situation; Zhou You had severed ties with him since he joined the gang.

If you claim Zhou You is a spy sent by the Mad Horse Gang, wouldn't that imply that Lu Qiang is incompetent and poor at judging people?

Lu Qiang immediately recognized this as a dirty tactic among the new apprentices, a way to slander and compete with rivals.

Such drama was not uncommon in the Martial Arts School.

"Zhou You, Zhang Shu, one of them is definitely getting eliminated today."

Lu Qiang's mindset was typical of someone in a superior position; he didn't care who was right, only who had more potential for development.

If Zhou You could withstand the slander, maintain his composure, and prove himself to be a promising talent, he might even be accepted as a formal disciple in the future.

But if he couldn't handle the pressure and lost, losing his potential value, then the mud slung at him wouldn't matter whether it was true or not.

"The Senior Disciple Brother is here."

The crowd parted, and the new apprentices bowed to Lu Qiang with cupped fists, their attitudes respectful.

Zhou You and Zhang Shu stood in the open space, their expressions solemn, clearly having faced off for some time.

"Zhou You, don't be arrogant. The Senior Disciple Brother is here, and he will preside justly."

Zhang Shu, hearing that Lu Qiang had arrived, breathed a sigh of relief.

With the Senior Disciple Brother present, the other party certainly couldn't go too far, and there would be room for negotiation.

Zhou You sneered. Justice, how much is justice worth? Can it block a punch?

"Zhang Shu, I recall you've been at the Martial Arts School for over eighty days. You're only a few days away from the term ending."

As Zhou You spoke, Zhang Shu's heart sank, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

"If I break your legs today, do you think you'll still have a chance to cultivate Internal Force?"

Every word Zhou You spoke was like a sharp blade aimed at Zhang Shu's mind, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

A serious injury would take a hundred days to heal. If he were injured, he would undoubtedly be unable to practice martial arts and would have to waste time recovering.

Without a doubt, once the hundred days were up, Zhang Shu would be expelled from the Martial Arts School.

"Zhou You, you are too vicious. I will never forgive you."

Zhang Shu shouted hoarsely, his eyes filled with hatred and fear.

Zhou You smiled faintly. "I'm not as vicious as you, fabricating rumors with a petty mind, slandering my reputation, and disrupting my state of mind."

"Zhang Shu, today I will teach you a lesson."

"Practitioners of martial arts, why do you need so many convoluted schemes? If you can't fight, all your tricks are worthless."

As soon as he finished speaking...

Zhou You leaped forward, raising his hand to strike Zhang Shu directly in the face.

"Still using the Square Step and Imperial Strike Hand?"

Lu Qiang frowned as he saw his movements. Why wouldn't this child listen to advice!

Zhang Shu had arrived earlier and had a deeper mastery of the Tiger Subduing Fist. How could basic footwork and hand techniques shake him?

Yes, that's exactly what Zhang Shu thought.

"Zhou You, do you think you can defeat me with just the Imperial Strike Hand?"

Zhang Shu roared, unleashing one of the killing moves from the Tiger Subduing Fist, "Black Tiger Steals Heart."

This punch had a considerable level of skill. If it hit a strong man, it would break their ribs and cause cardiac arrest on the spot.

In past practice sessions, Zhang Shu's punches against the wooden stake always left visible marks, demonstrating his considerable punching power.

However, his opponent this time was not a wooden stake, nor even a well-matched sparring partner.

"Swish!"

Zhang Shu's vision blurred as he lost sight of his target, his "Black Tiger Steals Heart" killing move missing its mark.

Sensing trouble, he immediately pushed forward, raising his leg to sweep upwards, "Tiger's Tail Cut."

The move flowed smoothly and naturally, and there were no major issues with his power application.

Zhou You crossed his hands, pushing and pressing, and with a bang, blocked Zhang Shu's flying kick.

The force feedback was weaker than he had anticipated, which greatly surprised him.

"Zhang Shu is going to lose."

Lu Qiang looked at Zhou You with a hint of admiration in his gaze.

He had misjudged Zhou You earlier; it wasn't that Zhou You didn't practice the Tiger Subduing Fist, but rather that he had cultivated it to an extremely advanced level.

Every move Zhang Shu made was within his control, and he could calmly block even basic hand and foot techniques.

At this point, the outcome was no longer in doubt.

Bang, bang, bang...

After a few rounds of exchanges, a drastic change suddenly occurred.

Zhou You suddenly slid forward, his speed exploding, covering ten meters in an instant.

He cupped one hand in the other, channeling 12 points of power, and his push-and-pull motion shattered Zhang Shu's defensive stance.

Immediately after, both his hands struck Zhang Shu's chest simultaneously.

Zhang Shu uttered no sound, falling stiffly to the ground like a wooden stake, with Zhou You's foot planted on his chest.

"Speak, who ordered you to slander and attack me?"

Zhang Shu tried to remain defiant, but Zhou You raised his foot and stomped on the shinbone of his lower leg.

"If you don't speak, I'll break your leg bone and make you a cripple for the rest of your life."

A formal apprentice near Lu Qiang saw this and reminded him, "Senior Disciple Brother, shouldn't you step in and stop this?"

"No need, it's just children playing around."

Lu Qiang turned and walked away. "Zhou You won. Hand over the subsequent matters to him."

The other new apprentices had expected the Senior Disciple Brother to intervene, and seeing him turn and leave, they were astonished.

Did that mean he wasn't going to bother with this matter?

Zhang Shu, in despair, was filled with terror, as if seeing himself begging with a crutch. He blurted out, "I'll talk."

"It was Tu Laosan from the Wild Fox Gang. He knew I had a grudge against you and helped me come up with the idea."

"..."

As he confessed everything, the new apprentices looked at him with contempt and disgust.

So, it was you, the scumbag colluding with gangs!

From this moment on, everything for Zhang Shu at the Martial Arts School was over.

"Zhou You, I've confessed everything, let me go."

Zhang Shu still held onto hope; as long as he was given a chance to cultivate Internal Force, he could still make a comeback.

Suddenly seeing Zhou You smile, he felt despair and desperately begged, "No!"

With a crack, his leg bone was snapped on the spot. Overwhelmed by the intense pain, he fainted.

Zhou You's expression was cold. "Confessing honestly doesn't mean I won't break your leg. One thing at a time."