Grudge

The next day

Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang rose early and hurried to Training Hall Square, preparing to take their stances and practice the Five Elements Fist.

A short, stocky youth approached with a sharp-faced, monkey-cheeked youth and several others. Judging by their clothing, they all belonged to the same branch hall.

The sharp-faced youth stepped forward to Jiang Liu, reached out to shove him, and said, "You're Jiang Liu? You're the one who snatched my medicinal soup last night?"

The other Training Hall members murmured among themselves from the side. "How did this Jiang Liu offend the Pan brothers? I heard the Pan Family is a prominent household in Cloud Sun City."

"Yeah! The Pan brothers only joined the Fallen Blossom Gang to obtain better cultivation techniques."

"The Pan brothers have long been used to running wild and throwing their weight around in Cloud Sun City. How could Jiang Liu be so careless?"

"I think the Pan brothers are just picking a fight for no reason. Who would provoke someone without cause?"

"Don't talk nonsense. Be careful the Pan brothers hear you and come after you."

A Scattered Eagle Hall apprentice heard the apprentices beside him talking and hurriedly urged them to stop.

Jiang Liu grabbed Pan Hou's hand, flung it aside, and said, "If you want to talk, then talk properly. Keep your hands to yourself!"

Pan Hou roared, "You dare fight back?"

"Brothers, beat him up!"

After Pan Hou spoke, he waved his hand, and his lackeys immediately swarmed forward, raining fists and kicks onto Jiang Liu.

Pan Duan merely stood to the side with his arms folded, neither speaking nor stepping in to stop them. He only watched Jiang Liu with a cold sneer, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Facing seven or eight people ganging up on him, Jiang Liu did not waste words. He raised his fists and charged forward, seizing on Pan Hou and beating him mercilessly, heedless of how many fists and kicks landed on his own body.

Seeing Jiang Liu being mobbed, Wang Zhuang immediately raised his fists and joined the fray.

Just as they were fighting fiercely, a thunderous shout rang out: "Stop!" A pressure of blood and vitality enveloped the entire square. Master Ma had arrived.

Smack! Smack! Smack! Bodies instantly lay sprawled all across the square. None of the apprentices could withstand Master Ma's blood-and-vitality pressure, and all were forced to the ground.

"I don't care why you were fighting, but if you dare cause trouble here, you had better be prepared to accept punishment!"

"Those who took part in the fight will forfeit their medicinal soup at noon today!"

"Those who stood by and watched will have their medicinal soup cut in half!"

"Does anyone have any objections?" Master Ma swept his gaze over the crowd and continued.

"Since no one is speaking, that means you all accept the punishment. No objections? Good."

"Begin today's training."

Jiang Liu grumbled inwardly. Everyone had been pressed down so hard they could not even get up or speak. Who would dare object?

Master Ma withdrew his blood-and-vitality pressure, and the apprentices finally scrambled up from the ground.

Most of the apprentices glared furiously at the Pan brothers, secretly cursing them for dragging everyone else down with them.

Only the Pan brothers and their lackeys stared viciously at Jiang Liu and Wang Zhuang.

Jiang Liu climbed up and checked himself, finding no injuries beyond dirty clothes. He then looked at Wang Zhuang, who sat on the ground as though nothing had happened.

That made sense. During the fight just now, everyone had remained fairly restrained and had not dared use martial techniques. Otherwise, the punishment would not have been so light.

Jiang Liu said to Wang Zhuang, "Thanks, brother! You didn't have to get involved."

Wang Zhuang patted his chest and said boldly, "What are you talking about? Brothers don't say things like that. If anything happens, just call for me."

"Why should we be afraid of those two bear brothers from the Pan Family?"

"You weren't hurt, were you?"

"I'm fine. Look at that monkey over there—he should be hurt pretty badly." As Jiang Liu spoke, he gestured toward Pan Hou.

"Monkey? Oh! You mean Pan Hou! He really does have the nickname Monkey!"

"Haha! I've disliked the sight of him for a long time. I just never found a chance to beat him up."

"And now he delivered himself right to our doorstep!" Wang Zhuang said with a smile.

"That short fellow is his older brother?" Jiang Liu gestured with his eyes toward the short, stocky man.

"You mean Pan Duan? He's the older brother of those bear brothers. The younger one is Pan Hou. They're called the Short Monkey Brothers." Wang Zhuang chuckled.

"That's only what we call them in private." Wang Zhuang winked and lowered his voice.

The Pan brothers huddled together and whispered among themselves, apparently plotting something.

"Enough! Stop whispering over there. Training begins."

Xiao Qing gave a loud shout, then began leading the apprentices through their drills.

Master Ma had already walked far away with unhurried, dashing strides.

His shadow stretched long behind him in the sunlight, looking utterly free and unrestrained.

Though everyone had been punished together, Jiang Liu knew Master Ma had been protecting him. If the fight had continued, he would only have suffered a loss.

He stopped dwelling on it, took his stance, and began practicing. Only with greater strength could he avoid being bullied.