Humiliation

Several days later...

In the dim secret chamber beneath Third Master Qi's study.

The dim candlelight illuminated two figures.

Qi Changshun looked at the disfigured man opposite him, his expression complex. "Brother Yan, you taught Qi Yu the Hunyuan Contending Force? But... but the price you paid for this secret technique hasn't healed to this day. How can I be at ease?"

Brother Yan was named Lu Yan.

He had stolen this technique during a period of chaos, intending to use it to rebuild his foundation. However, he was pursued relentlessly. Before he could even cultivate it, his internal energy was on the verge of collapse, and he hadn't recovered in years.

Lu Yan said, "Changshun, you took me in despite the risk of your entire clan being wiped out. I must repay this kindness."

Qi Changshun said, "But can he... truly learn it?"

Lu Yan said, "I don't know. But for years, I've looked at that page of golden script every day. I've practiced it repeatedly in my mind, and then I understood a principle."

"What principle?"

"The Hunyuan Contending Force has extremely high requirements for comprehension."

He paused, then said leisurely, "So high that... if you can't learn it, neither can I."

Qi Changshun gave a wry smile. "Then, Qi Yu's comprehension..."

If his son truly had comprehension, he wouldn't have taken a month to break through to Ninth Rank.

Although innate talent played a role, his family hadn't spared resources for him.

Those prodigies broke through to Ninth Rank in three or four days.

Compared to them, his own son was rather lacking.

Lu Yan interrupted, "You underestimate him."

He leaned forward slightly, the candlelight casting shadows on his scarred face. "There are three types of people in this world with terrifying comprehension.

The first type understands at a single touch, can grasp related concepts, and deduce from examples.

The second type appears dull-witted but proceeds step by step. Once they grasp the basics, they can cultivate to perfection.

The third type possesses the strengths of both.

You might not recognize the dark metallic sheen on your son's hands, but I tell you, it is the embodiment of perfection.

Your son might take more time, even more resources, to learn a technique, but once he gets the hang of it, he can slowly refine it to perfection. If that weren't the case, I would never have passed the Hunyuan Contending Force to him."

Qi Changshun said nervously, "Then... what if Qi Yu can't even get started?"

A powerful confidence flashed in Lu Yan's eyes. "With me here, he will get started. Since this child has learned the Hunyuan Contending Force, then... I too have begun to have expectations for him."

The next day...

Qi Yu practiced until he was exhausted, his body aching. He felt that the Hunyuan Contending Force was simply not a technique for humans.

He was almost certain that if he didn't have the perfect Spirit Serpent Skill as a foundation, anyone else attempting this would likely end up crippled.

He had intended to rest for a day, but his father came to him, saying that Uncle Yan wanted to see him in the secret chamber.

At this moment...

In the dim, quiet room...

Qi Yu lay prone on the low wooden table, his upper body bare. His back was tense, and sweat dripped down, leaving damp streaks on the table.

"Uncle Yan... gently... gently..."

Beside the table, Lu Yan held a silver needle in his right hand, his gaze solemn as he looked at the young man, seemingly observing something.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed, and the silver needle was steadily inserted into a spot on Qi Yu's back.

Chii~~

Qi Yu's muscles tensed abruptly. He suddenly raised his head, a muffled groan escaping his throat.

"Aow!!"

But in the next instant, the needle tip seemed to have pierced something. The blocked Blood Essence exploded outwards, and a surge of heat and stinging pain swept through his entire body.

"Endure."

Lu Yan's voice was cold and hard, but his hands did not stop.

Qi Yu gritted his teeth tightly, his fingers digging into the hard wood on either side, enduring the pain.

Unexpectedly, after the initial intense pain subsided, a dull ache seeped from the depths of his body, bringing with it an indescribable sense of comfort.

The silver needle was inserted again.

Qi Yu's body trembled violently, but he made no further sound.

Lu Yan's fingertips twitched slightly, the silver needle vibrating. Looking at the young man, he seemed to recall something from his past. A flicker of reminiscence crossed his eyes, and a smile touched his lips, though his voice remained cold and hard. "Look at you!"

Qi Yu was silent for a moment before replying, "Uncle Yan, it actually doesn't hurt. It doesn't hurt at all, it's just a little itchy."

"Oh?"

Lu Yan dropped another needle.

Qi Yu felt as if he'd been thrown into a pot of boiling oil, his body arching like a shrimp. Yet, perhaps out of spite towards Lu Yan, he chuckled and shouted, "Great! So great! Uncle Yan, I feel amazing!"

Lu Yan was taken aback for a moment and said, "You brat, stop shouting."

Pin Hai Restaurant.

"Guest, that will be twenty taels of silver."

The waiter bowed, his peripheral vision sweeping over the burly young man at the table. He secretly marveled. The cost of this meal was more than a year of his wages.

However, the young man remained oblivious.

The waiter dared not rush him and retreated to the side with a fawning smile.

Slap!!

A sudden explosion of sound, and the young man slammed the table. Bowls and chopsticks flew, and porcelain shards scattered.

The restaurant fell silent.

Several martial artists in tight-fitting clothes quickly surrounded them. Behind the young man, five or six broad-shouldered, stout men suddenly stood up. They were all dressed in black shirts with bear patterns embroidered on the cuffs, their gazes fierce.

The manager hurried forward, cupping his hands. "Young master, Pin Hai Restaurant is in business to serve customers, not to be tossed around like this. What is the meaning of this?"

The burly young man sneered. A martial artist in a black shirt behind him said, "My senior brother is Han Yan of the Black Bear Martial Hall!"

Han Yan raised his hand lazily. "Call Chu Xiao out and have a fight with me. If he wins, I'll pay triple the silver and apologize in public. But if he loses..." He grinned, revealing his stark white teeth, "I'll still pay compensation, but he'll have to say three times in public, 'I, Chu Xiao, am inferior to Han Yan.'"

The manager was stunned.

Another martial artist behind Han Yan said, "This has nothing to do with your Pin Hai Restaurant. Hurry up and get him."

The manager's expression shifted slightly. He whispered a few words to someone.

Before long, the crowd parted, and a young man in brocade robes walked slowly forward. He was tall and slender with a stern expression. Several restaurant martial artists bowed their heads and retreated, murmuring, "Brother Chu."

Chu Xiao's gaze was disdainful. He didn't spare anyone a glance and walked directly to Han Yan.

Although he was meeting this person for the first time, he was not unfamiliar with him. This was because for the past few days, the tea stall opposite the restaurant had been abuzz with gossip. The idle men in the east of the city were wagging their tongues, saying, "The Spirit Serpent Martial Hall and the Black Bear Martial Hall in the east of the city have both taken in top geniuses, but Han Yan of the Black Bear Martial Hall is far stronger than Chu Xiao of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall."

He had dismissed it as dog barking.

If Han Yan hadn't come to him, he wouldn't have bothered.

Since he had come...

He would not back down.

The Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was the first stepping stone for him to reach greater heights. Teacher Song's gaze, Senior Sister Song Xue's smile, and even the hidden awe of his fellow disciples in the martial hall all told him—he was a true genius.

As for Han Yan?

Chu Xiao's lips curled slightly.

Just a brute.

Chu Xiao walked to the table and glanced down at Han Yan. Han Yan had one foot on the long bench, his muscles bulging under his short shirt, his neck thick. He looked like a coiled black bear ready to pounce.

Chu Xiao's lips curved into a cold smile. "A brute trained to be all muscle, can your arms still bend? Are they still flexible? The Black Bear Martial Hall... Heh, do they only teach crude, clumsy moves?"

Han Yan did not get angry. With a whoosh, he stood up and pointed outside the door. "Let's go."

Chu Xiao raised his head and said faintly, "Let's go."

Inside the restaurant and on the street, an uproar immediately ensued. Many onlookers rushed over to watch.

Outside the building, the sky was gloomy.

A moment later...

A light rain began to fall.

Chu Xiao lay on the ground, his cheekbones bruised, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, his face swollen.

Han Yan stood bare-chested, his muscular chest slightly flushed. He didn't seem to care, merely grinning. He ground the sole of his boot on Chu Xiao's chest, wiping the mud off his sole, and said gruffly, "What? Does the 'genius' of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall not even have the guts to surrender?"

Chu Xiao gritted his teeth tightly.

He couldn't say, "I, Chu Xiao, am inferior to Han Yan." If those words left his mouth, it wouldn't just be that he was inferior to Han Yan; it would mean the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall was overshadowed by the Black Bear Martial Hall.

A long while...

Han Yan burst into laughter, his arrogance on full display. He suddenly lowered his head, grabbed Chu Xiao by the hair, and yanked him into the air. Glancing around at the sea of people, he shouted, "Everyone, watch closely! This is the genius of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall. His martial arts are trash, his martial ethics are terrible, nothing more, nothing less!!! Hahahahaha!!"

He sneered and violently flung Chu Xiao away, sending him crashing back into the mud.

"Hahaha!"

Han Yan spread his arms, tilting his head back, letting the rain wash the sweat from his body. "Brothers of the Black Bear Martial Hall, hand out flyers to everyone! Sign up today and get half off tuition!"

His disciples, who were already prepared, immediately pulled out thick stacks of coarse paper from their robes and weaved through the crowd, distributing them. Shouts rose one after another: "Black Bear Martial Hall, real kung fu! We don't teach fancy poses!"

The cold rain gradually intensified.

Chu Xiao lay in the mud and water, the rain washing over his face. He stared blankly into the distance, the light in his eyes slowly fading.

Qi Yu pushed open the basement door and walked out slowly.

He stretched, his bones and muscles extending, feeling as if he had been completely "rebooted." It was incredibly refreshing.

"So satisfying..."

A hint of contentment flashed in his eyes.

Ever since Uncle Yan had been guiding him, it seemed he no longer had to worry about cultivation backlash. In fact, every bit of his potential was being extracted perfectly.

Now, his energy was so abundant it was almost overflowing.

He had originally planned to rest today.

But now... he would continue!