Apologize to Brother Xu

Meng Tian glanced at the middle-aged man before him, who was squinting with a seemingly full-faced smile.

He'd asked for advice, paid two thousand, and gotten zero help.

Now the man was spouting nonsense, trying to trick him into signing up for private lessons.

He had money, but he wasn't about to be swindled like this.

He wasn't stupid.

"I already told the person in charge of the martial hall that I'm bringing someone to use the sparring room."

"If there's a problem, go talk to the person in charge."

Xiang Benli's smile froze on his face, irritation rising in his heart.

He hadn't expected Meng Tian to shut him down like this.

A few days ago, when Meng Tian had asked him to look over a problem, he hadn't acted like this.

He remembered charging Meng Tian two thousand for consultation fees back then.

Could it be that Xu Zhiming had charged too little, making Meng Tian think he was a scammer?

Xiang Benli didn't dare show any dissatisfaction toward Meng Tian.

This was someone who could directly speak with the head of the Cloud Water City Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

Deep background, not to be provoked.

Still, charging a consultation fee was perfectly reasonable—standard practice.

Besides, he had spotted a problem in Meng Tian's mindset and offered his opinion.

He needed to show Meng Tian what he was capable of.

Maybe he could even squeeze a bit more money out of him.

Breaking through to the sixth level of Wind Thunder Fist in three months—even if the True King Wind Thunder himself were teaching, it would be impossible.

He prided himself on his rich teaching experience, enough to give Meng Tian something worthwhile.

"I helped a student push his Wind Thunder Fist to the fourth level today."

"I can pinpoint his problems very precisely and give highly targeted advice."

The student nearby heard Xiang Benli speak and felt a stir in his heart.

He knew Meng Tian—rich.

Xiang Benli was probably trying to get Meng Tian to learn Wind Thunder Fist from him.

If he chimed in with a few words now, he might even get some free pointers from Xiang Benli himself.

"That's right, that's right. Teacher Xiang has over twenty years of teaching experience. His guidance was an eye-opener for me—I broke through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist in an instant."

"Meng Tian, I know you're practicing Wind Thunder Fist. Asking Teacher Xiang Benli for advice might really pay off."

"Xu Zhiming might be good at Wind Thunder Fist, but he has no teaching experience. He can't give you proper guidance."

Xiang Benli shot a pleased glance at the student who had spoken.

Good instincts.

"With my guidance, I think I could get you to break through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist in two months."

Meng Tian let out a scoff.

Trying to make him a sucker.

"I have someone more suitable to teach me Wind Thunder Fist. I don't need a half-baked instructor."

Meng Tian ignored Xiang Benli's sour expression.

Trying to swindle his money? No way.

"Come on, Brother Xu. Spar with me and show me where my problems are."

Meng Tian walked straight with Xu Zhiming to the sparring area.

The setup was simple.

Just a weapon rack with various weapons laid out on it.

Xu Zhiming had naturally heard everything Xiang Benli had just said.

Implying he had no skill?

His Wind Thunder Fist had all come from his own hard work, through system crits.

Every insight was etched in his heart.

He was confident no one in Cloud Water City understood Wind Thunder Fist better than he did.

For Meng Tian to break through to the sixth level of Wind Thunder Fist was a simple matter.

If he didn't slap the face being offered to him, people might say he was being rude.

And he was the type who loved to give people face.

"This teacher, I can get Meng Tian to break through to the fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist today, so I imagine you can too."

Meng Tian was stunned!

For the first time, he felt that someone like Xiang Benli should have appeared much sooner.

Having trained in this fist art for so long, he knew Xu Zhiming's temperament well.

The fist reveals the heart.

That was never an empty saying.

"Brother Xu, you're my real brother. I'm handing over every pound of this body to you."

Xu Zhiming waved his hand.

"Let's go, a spar."

Xiang Benli smiled, his gaze drifting over his students.

"As your teacher, I also need to tell you something."

"In life, you must always keep your feet on the ground and never talk big with empty words."

Xiang Benli's top lackey immediately nodded.

"Teacher Xiang is right. I've been cultivating Wind Thunder Fist for over five years, step by step, building up steadily. With Teacher Xiang's guidance, I broke through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist today."

"I don't believe anyone can go from the third level of Wind Thunder Fist to the fifth level in such a short time."

"If he can break through to the fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist, I'll immediately bow..."

"I'll bark like a dog today."

Xiang Benli chuckled softly, his eyes narrowing slightly.

He wanted to see just how impressive Xu Zhiming really was.

With his experience laid out before him, he refused to believe Xu Zhiming was that capable.

If he couldn't get Meng Tian to break through to the fifth level, he'd make sure Xu Zhiming lost face in a big way.

Meng Tian swept a glance at the boy who had spoken, memorizing that face.

As long as he could break through to the fifth level of Wind Thunder Fist today, he'd immediately arrange Rolling Heavenly Thunder for Xu Zhiming.

Xu Zhiming assumed the starting stance of Wind Thunder Fist.

A very simple stance—body half-crouched, fingers clenched into fists.

"Use the forms of Wind Thunder Fist to mobilize all your Vitality Quality and spar with me."

Meng Tian shook his head. He was afraid he might injure Xu Zhiming.

Healing was a minor matter, but it would delay Xu Zhiming's Vitality Quality improvement and also hold back his own fist training.

"Xu Zhiming, my Vitality Quality might be higher than yours."

"If you use all your strength, you might not be my match."

Xu Zhiming glanced upward.

"More than double?"

"About that."

Xu Zhiming nodded. He too had double the Vitality Quality of an ordinary person.

At the same realm, relying on Wind Thunder Fist to fight—

How could he possibly lose?

Xu Zhiming crooked his finger.

"You're afraid."

Meng Tian froze.

He had always been quick-witted, and he instantly understood what Xu Zhiming meant.

He took a deep breath.

"Alright."

Meng Tian threw caution to the wind.

Xu Zhiming waved his hand.

"Remember the words I said when I taught you to break through to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist?"

Meng Tian closed his eyes, savoring the memory in his mind.

"A thunderclap in the chest, yet a face as calm as still water?"

Xu Zhiming nodded.

"Remember those words."

Meng Tian repeated them several times, indicating he had them memorized.

"Brother Xu, I'm here."

With the same move, Meng Tian clashed against Xu Zhiming with all his might.

At first, he only used eighty percent of his strength, but the man opposite him stood as unmovable as a mountain.

Shock flickered in Meng Tian's heart. He kept increasing his power, probing relentlessly.

To the side.

Xiang Benli crossed his arms, wearing the expression of a superior judging an inferior.

Hearing those words, he gave a slight shake of his head, as if expecting something more.

"'A thunderous storm in the chest, yet a face calm as a still lake'—that phrase is recorded in the Wind Thunder Fist."

"You think a line like that can bluff anyone?"

"Shut up. If I can't break through to the sixth layer of the Wind Thunder Fist, you..."

Meng Tian stopped, glaring fiercely at Xiang Benli.

Xu Zhiming paid no attention and continued throwing punches.

Because Meng Tian had shouted at Xiang Benli, he took a hit from Xu Zhiming.

Electric current coursed through his body, jolting him.

Meng Tian steadied himself, gathered his focus, and kept punching.

After finishing one full cycle of the fist art, Meng Tian received no order to stop.

Suppressing the doubt in his heart, he continued.

[You have diligently cultivated one cycle of the Wind Thunder Fist, triggering a 50x Critical Hit.]

The second cycle.

Meng Tian used all his strength.

Xu Zhiming opposite him remained as steady as Mount Tai, and Meng Tian's shock was beyond words.

He was using a Martial Dao Visualization Chart, with double the Vitality Quality.

He was certain Xu Zhiming hadn't cultivated any visualization chart—how was this possible?

His desire to break through to the sixth layer of the Wind Thunder Fist grew even more urgent.

If he could break through to the sixth layer, he would have a chance to go back and take revenge!

"Meng Tian, you're a coward."

Meng Tian froze. His movements slowed again, and Xu Zhiming struck him hard in the body.

Coward?

Elder Sister had said the same thing.

A surge of anger rose in Meng Tian's chest.

If you think this book is good, to avoid losing it next time, remember to add it to your bookshelf.

Elder Sister could say that about him, but what right did Xu Zhiming have?

"Meng Tian, you're running. You're afraid. You're full of regret."

Meng Tian's eyes widened as he stared fixedly at Xu Zhiming.

He felt a blaze of fury burning in his chest.

The vitality within him seethed and boiled.

But he still held onto the last shred of reason.

No matter how Xu Zhiming knew, he was going to vent his anger.

Using the Wind Thunder Fist and his superior Vitality Quality over Xu Zhiming, he would force Xu Zhiming to take back his words and apologize.

He mobilized every ounce of his vitality and, with the forms of the Wind Thunder Fist, viciously attacked Xu Zhiming.

"Weak. Still far too weak."

In that moment.

Meng Tian felt as if Xu Zhiming had become the very person who had driven him to flee to Cloud Water City.

Loathing. Utter loathing.

When his eyes met Xu Zhiming's serious gaze.

A flash of insight struck Meng Tian's mind.

He felt like he had grasped something.

He continued attacking with full force.

Xu Zhiming sensed Meng Tian's power growing stronger and stronger.

The suspicion in his heart became more and more certain.

He recalled his earlier experience getting to know Meng Tian.

Just by following him to practice the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist, he could break through to the fourth level?

An A-grade aptitude couldn't possibly be this terrifying.

Meng Tian had also mentioned that he had only been practicing Wind Thunder Fist for about three months.

If an A-grade aptitude were this powerful, the Demon Beasts would have long been wiped clean by Great Xia.

Xu Zhiming continued to fight Meng Tian with Wind Thunder Fist.

From Meng Tian's gradually calming eyes, he knew Meng Tian had likely already understood.

After feeding him a few more rounds of punches.

Meng Tian said softly.

"Brother Xu, let me take over."

His heart grew calmer and calmer.

He gently touched the hideous knife scar on his face.

In the dead of night before, he would always touch that scar and think of the person who left it.

Shame? Anger? Helplessness?

All of them.

A thunderous storm in the chest yet a face as calm as a still lake?

Was it mindset?

Meng Tian felt it was more than that.

He thought of the methods Xu Zhiming had shown when facing Peng Sixiong's oppression.

By relying on saving people, Xu Zhiming's counterattack made it nearly impossible for Peng Sixiong to ever turn things around.

Thunderous storm? Thunderous storm...

Memories of the past surfaced.

Meng Tian's blood boiled more and more, yet the smile on his face grew wider and wider.

The scar on his face was the path he had walked.

Being forced into this small city of Cloud Water City was his shame.

He truly regretted not having Elder Sister deal with his enemy directly back then.

But that matter should have been handled by him.

Of course, he was lucky to have met Brother Xu, and there was still some hope.

Xu Zhiming withdrew his fist, turning his back to Xiangben Li and the others, hands clasped behind him.

He gently kneaded his palms to ease the pain.

Xiangben Li saw the two stop so quickly and thought Meng Tian was about to break through.

In his perception, Meng Tian's blood energy hadn't improved at all, and his aura hadn't changed either.

Based on the fight between Meng Tian and Xu Zhiming just now, he thought he had identified the problem with Meng Tian's Wind Thunder Fist.

He held his head high, hands behind his back, and walked toward Xu Zhiming.

"Young man, your comprehension is quite good, but breaking through in Wind Thunder Fist isn't something that happens overnight."

"With my many years of teaching students and painstakingly cultivating Wind Thunder Fist, I already know Meng Tian's problem inside and out."

Seeing that Xu Zhiming didn't reply, a flicker of contempt crossed Xiangben Li's lips.

"I've been teaching Wind Thunder martial techniques for many years and have trained over a dozen students to the fourth level of Wind Thunder Fist."

"Meng Tian's eagerness to break through has caused a change in his mindset. The verbal provocation you just used is nothing but crooked methods."

Xiangben Li saw Xu Zhiming open his mouth as if to argue.

He waved his hand.

"Student Xu Zhiming, I admit you're a genius when it comes to Wind Thunder Fist."

"But your knowledge of martial techniques and other subjects is far too shallow."

"I am a Level Seventeen Martial Artist. You must heed the experience I give you."

Xu Zhiming wasn't angered by these words. Indeed, he was very shallow.

He had taken first place in cultural subjects, which was enough to prove his intelligence was fine.

He only knew two martial techniques: Wind Thunder Fist and Coiling Dragon Surging Waves.

Much of his knowledge was still theoretical, stuck in the realm of castles in the air.

If he had cultivated enough martial techniques, the seventh level of Wind Thunder Fist might have been somewhat refined through critical strikes.

This shortcoming, Xu Zhiming had always known.

Strive to enter the Martial Arts University in two months, to absorb knowledge and make up for deficiencies.

Xiangben Li saw Xu Zhiming nod, and a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind.

Why didn't this kid argue back?

He must be intimidated by my renowned teacher aura, unable to think of a rebuttal.

Xiangben Li watched Xu Zhiming's silent, hesitant expression.

His pride reached its peak.

In the distance.

Xiangben Li's students also cast admiring glances toward their instructor.

"We shouldn't have doubted Teacher Xiang's ability before."

"Yeah, no wonder he's a teacher with twenty-five years of experience—he hit the nail on the head about Xu Zhiming's problem."

"Haha, do you think Xu Zhiming will come to Teacher Xiang for advice?"

Xiangben Li held his head high, his gaze growing more smug.

Suddenly, he sensed a weak current of electricity behind him.

He hadn't expected anyone to launch a sneak attack in broad daylight.

"You idiot, what the hell do you know about the Wind Thunder Fist?"

"Watch closely, this is the fifth level of the Wind Thunder Fist—Lightning Flash!"

Meng Tian's arrogant voice came from behind Xiangben Li; he couldn't take it anymore.

Brother Xu was worried about Xiangben Li retaliating, but he wasn't afraid.

A mediocre teacher, leading students astray.

Xiangben Li rubbed his hair, standing on end from the shock, and turned to stare at Meng Tian.

"How could you have broken through to the fifth level of the Wind Thunder Fist? By my estimate, it would take at least a year."

Meng Tian let out a sneer.

"I just broke through, so stop hanging around in front of me from now on."

"And also, Xiangben Li, apologize to my Brother Xu."

"Otherwise, you won't get off easy today."

Meng Tian swept a cold glance into the distance.

His gaze landed on Xiangben Li's students, locking onto one of them.

"And you, nameless guy—you said if I broke through to the fifth level of the Wind Thunder Fist, you'd bark like a dog."

"Come here, let me hear it."

The male student looked at Xiangben Li for help, only to find Xiangben Li's eyes wavering.

"I... I'm from the Qiu Family..."

Meng Tian grinned.

He wouldn't allow anyone to slander Brother Xu.

No kidding.

If it weren't for Brother Xu, he might never have untied the knot in his heart and broken through to twenty points of qi and blood.

Without breaking through twenty points of qi and blood, he would have been a laughingstock in his family's eyes for life.

No matter who it was, he feared no one in Cloud Water City.

Elder Sister didn't count as someone from Cloud Water City.

"Hurry up, or I'll slap you across the face!"

Xu Zhiming quietly watched Meng Tian show off.

Since someone else was making a move, why should he bother?

Seeing how Meng Tian feared no one and clashed with everyone, his background was probably far from simple.

"Hurry up, don't waste my time."

"You too, Xiangben Li."

Xiangben Li's expression shifted on the spot.

Apologizing to Xu Zhiming—wasn't that admitting he was inferior?

He was nearly fifty years old, apologizing to a student.

How could he continue teaching students after this, or keep his standing among the instructors at Wind Thunder Martial Hall?

With a cold snort, he turned and walked away.

"Not apologizing? You'll regret it."

Xiangben Li ignored Meng Tian's threat.

At most, Meng Tian was wealthy and acquainted with the master of Wind Thunder Martial Hall.

As an instructor at Cloud Water City's Wind Thunder Martial Hall, Xiangben Li brought in tens of millions in revenue each year.

The master of Wind Thunder Martial Hall would at most scold him a few times in private.

So what if a martial artist in his twenties said a few harsh words?

Meng Tian pulled out his phone and dialed directly.

Beep, beep, beep...

"Across the vast horizon..."

Xiangben Li vaguely felt this ringtone was familiar—it seemed to be the master's ringtone.

"Xiangben Li..."

Hearing this voice, Xiangben Li's body trembled slightly.

A bad premonition surged within him, and his body felt as if jolted by electricity.