Kicking Down the Hall, Something Was Wrong

In the afternoon, spring rain came down in fine strands, like hair or needles, carrying a distinct chill.

Yet the dining hall was bustling.

The disciples from the outer hall sat around eating, their voices boiling over as the clatter of bowls and chopsticks mingled with laughter and conversation, radiating a warmth utterly different from outside.

A simple wooden screen divided off an elegant inner section, where three people were drinking and exchanging toasts.

The hall master, Song Qinghong, Song Xue, and Qi Yu.

A-Qi had originally been invited along, but he had refused to be that "third wheel" no matter what, so he was outside.

At that moment, Song Xue was pouring wine for her lover.

Amber wine trickled from the mouth of the jug, and wisps of chill drifted out with it...

Song Qinghong watched the wine with a pained look, the corner of his eye twitching faintly. He merely stroked his beard and kept silent.

Once the wine was poured...

Song Xue gazed at Qi Yu expectantly and said, "Drink it."

Qi Yu smiled, raised his cup, and drained it in one gulp.

The wine felt icy and silky as it entered his mouth, but once it reached his throat, it transformed into a rush of heat that spread through his limbs and bones.

The sensation was similar to the effect of the Blood Spirit Rice he took every day, carrying a slight ability to increase his internal heat... But the exquisite feeling of ice and fire alternating as it entered his mouth far surpassed the Blood Spirit Rice by who knew how much.

"Fine wine!" Qi Yu praised.

At that, Song Xue's eyes shifted, her red lips parting slightly as if she wanted to say something.

No one knew a daughter better than her father. Before she could speak, Song Qinghong already knew what she wanted to say. He glared at her and waved his hand impatiently. "All right, all right, I understand. I understand everything! You want Qi Yu to take another jug home, right?"

"Thank you, Father."

A rosy flush spread across Song Xue's cheeks. She then turned to Qi Yu and said gently, "Young Master Qi, I'll have them prepare another jug for you later and take it home."

Qi Yu declined. "Such fine wine should be left for Uncle Song..."

Song Xue smiled. "Why are you being so polite, Young Master Qi...? At the Provincial Examination that day, your mother gave me a fresh Vermillion Flame Fruit, greatly increasing my internal heat. I may even be able to enter seclusion and attempt to break through to Grade Seven. Although my father's Deep Sea Brew is excellent, it still can't compare to the preciousness of the Vermillion Flame Fruit. Don't refuse."

As the three of them chatted, hurried footsteps suddenly came from the outer hall.

A young disciple who had eaten early and stayed outside on watch rushed in. His steps were unsteady, and after circling around the screen, he appeared panic-stricken as he cried out urgently, "Master! Bad news, Master!"

Song Qinghong's expression darkened. He barked, "What are you panicking for? The sky isn't falling! Speak properly!"

The disciple was panting heavily. It was as if he had found his backbone, and he hurriedly said, "It's the Black Bear Martial Hall... the Black Bear Martial Hall... Black Bear himself brought several dozen men and came marching toward our martial hall in a great show of force. They've already reached the street entrance!"

As soon as his voice fell...

Smack!

Ghost Hand Seven, who had been eating, suddenly slammed his bowl and chopsticks onto the table and rose abruptly. Furious, he said, "They've come right to our doorstep, huh? Do they really think our Spirit Serpent Martial Hall is afraid of them?!"

Song Qinghong said in a deep voice, "Are you certain Black Bear came too?"

"Absolutely! This disciple saw it clearly!" The disciple nodded forcefully, then added, "That fellow surnamed Han came too."

Song Qinghong looked thoughtful. He slowly lowered his wine cup and waved his hand. "Have them wait in the main hall. I'll be there shortly."

Song Xue's willow brows knitted slightly as she looked toward the screen. "Father, it seems the visitors have come with ill intentions."

Song Qinghong suddenly stood.

Seeing that his daughter and Qi Yu were about to rise as well, he pressed down with both hands, firmly forcing them back into their seats. He smiled. "Black Bear and I are old acquaintances. I know exactly what he's capable of.

"If he truly wants to kick down our hall, he isn't strong enough.

"The dishes have just been served and are still hot. Eat while they're warm. Don't go join the excitement."

Qi Yu suddenly said, "Uncle Song, do you still remember that kind of power Zhen Tianshuang possessed?"

Song Qinghong nodded.

Qi Yu said, "It's called a membrane."

"A membrane?"

Song Xue was astonished.

Song Qinghong said, "Membrane or no membrane, I'm not afraid of him. You two eat."

As he spoke, he patted them both on the shoulders, turned, and left after circling around the screen.

Qi Yu asked curiously, "Uncle Song is that confident?"

Song Xue was also worried. "I still can't put my mind at ease. Qi Yu, let's go take a look."

The two had just risen and taken two steps when they saw Song Qinghong standing outside the door with his hands behind his back, looking at them with a beaming smile. "Go back and eat."

Song Xue said anxiously, "Father! They've come right to our door. How can we still sit here?"

Song Qinghong said sternly, "Are you going to listen to your father or not?"

Looking at Song Qinghong's expression, Qi Yu replied, "Xue'er, listen to Uncle Song."

As he spoke, he naturally took Song Xue's hand.

"We'll go back first."

Song Xue felt warmth spread through her palm, followed by a sense of enclosure she had never experienced before. Her delicate body went numb.

Her hand was accustomed to gripping a long spear and killing demonic beasts, but it had never been held by a man. At that moment, it was as if she had been placed under a spell. Her mind went blank, and she allowed the young man to lead her along in a daze, leaving only one thought in her heart: Wherever he goes, I'll go.

Qi Yu led her back to their seats and then said, "Listen to your father. Since he doesn't want us to go, he must have his reasons."

Song Xue understood...

Her father already owed Third Master Qi a debt of gratitude, and he had now received a favor from Qi Yu as well. His support for the two of them being together had reached the level of "urging them to marry," so naturally, he was delighted to give them more time alone together.

She suppressed the turmoil in her heart and instead asked, "What exactly is the 'membrane' you mentioned just now?"

Qi Yu then explained it in detail.

As he spoke, astonishment appeared in Song Xue's eyes.

"How can such a power exist in this world?"

Yet she had witnessed Zhen Tianshuang's power with her own eyes. And with her hundred-percent trust in her lover's words, she began trying hard to accept it.

Even so, she was still extremely surprised.

Song Xue had practiced martial arts for more than a decade and had now reached the stage of tempering her qi and blood. How could she not be astonished when a divine power called a "membrane," something she had never heard of before, suddenly appeared?

While the two were talking, a tremendous explosion suddenly rang out beyond the room, like thunder cracking across a clear plain!

Immediately afterward came the constant sounds of heavy impacts, howling gales, and keen weapons, as if two giant beasts were battling in the training ground. Every collision made one's heart tremble.

After a moment...

With a powerful shattering sound, every bit of noise abruptly ceased.

Silence, like a tide, flooded the martial hall.

Qi Yu and Song Xue exchanged a glance. Neither could remain seated any longer, and both rose and ran outside.

They passed through the door, circled around the path, and arrived at the outer courtyard's training ground.

On the field...

Song Xue and Qi Yu were both stunned.

They saw Song Qinghong's face pale, his back against a broken wall. His right hand supported him with a spear, his left arm hung unnaturally at his side, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, staining the front of his clothes red.

Ghost Hand Seven was beside him, kneeling on one knee as he supported him. His eyes were blazing with fury as he glared at the opposite side.

Opposite them...

Black Bear stood proudly like a giant bear.

A pitch-black metal claw covered his right hand, blood still clinging to its tips, while his left hand held the plaque bearing the words "Spirit Serpent Martial Hall" high in the air.

He looked down at Song Qinghong with contempt and grinned viciously. "Song Qinghong! From this day onward, Mount Wei City will have no more Spirit Serpent Martial Hall!"

"No!!"

Song Xue let out an enraged roar and tried to charge forward, but Qi Yu seized her wrist and held her back.

Qi Yu glanced at Song Qinghong.

When Uncle Song had obtained his spear, the value above his head had changed from its original "55~110" to a terrifying "114~169."

Now, even with one arm hanging limp and blood flowing from his mouth, his combat value had not changed in the slightest.

That meant his injuries were actually not serious...

By contrast, Black Bear's combat value was: 45~140.

Setting Uncle Song aside, Black Bear was indeed terrifying. The two guard captains from his own family and the main branch together probably couldn't last more than a few moves against him.

But... before Uncle Song, Black Bear truly wasn't enough.

Thinking of Song Qinghong's confidence earlier, as well as his unusual insistence on making them stay inside, a bizarre thought that Qi Yu himself did not dare believe flashed through his mind: Could Uncle Song have done this on purpose?!

But why?

That made no sense...

Uncle Song regarded the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall as his life. How could he do such a thing?

Why?

Boom!!!

With a vicious grin, Black Bear hurled the plaque to the ground!

The heavy plaque broke into two with a sharp crack!

He raised his foot and stomped hard on the plaque, rubbing the mud beneath his boot across it, then threw back his head and laughed loudly.

The disciples naturally could not see combat values as Qi Yu could, nor could they detect anything strange. At that moment, they could only remain silent...

Ghost Hand Seven's eyes reddened. He suddenly raised his arm and shouted, "Kill these dog-born bastards!"

He immediately rose and charged forward.

He usually had close relationships with many of his junior brothers and sisters, and quite a few followed him.

"Stop!!"

Song Qinghong shouted hoarsely, but he was already unable to stop them.

Black Bear was disdainful of fighting these little fry. He waved his hand, and the disciples of the Black Bear Martial Hall also rushed forward.

The disciples of the two factions instantly became entangled in a chaotic melee.

As Ghost Hand Seven fought, he came up against someone. But when their fists and feet merely brushed against each other, he felt his own body go out of control. He froze, then shouted in shock and fury, "You're not from the Black Bear Martial Hall!"

However, his voice was drowned out.

In barely any time, the disciples of the Spirit Serpent Martial Hall had been routed. Some lay on the ground groaning, some shrank back in retreat, and some even took advantage of the chaos to flee through the door.

The disciples of the Black Bear Martial Hall surged toward the inner courtyard like a rising tide.

Amid the chaos, a tall, thin figure was especially conspicuous. It was Wang Mingyong, who had been expelled from the sect the day before!

He charged into the inner room with practiced familiarity and roughly dragged Chu Fang outside.

The woman's hair was disheveled, and she was crying so hard she was nearly unconscious.

Song Xue shouted furiously, "Wang Mingyong, let go!"

At the sound of her voice, Wang Mingyong turned around. His face was filled with smugness and resentment. "The Spirit Serpent Martial Hall is gone. Why are you still putting on airs as the senior sister?"

He gave a derisive laugh and swept his gaze over Qi Yu. "You thought clinging to that wastrel from the Qi Family would let you rest easy?

"What a First-Class One?

"Bah!!

"Who doesn't know that his cultivation was piled up with secret medicines? He's nothing but trash!"

His voice had barely fallen...

Boom!

A fist the size of a meditation cushion came crashing from behind and slammed into the back of his heart.

Wang Mingyong staggered from the blow, pitched forward onto his knees, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Are you looking to die?!" he roared hoarsely. He endured the pain and turned around, but then fell silent, disbelief appearing in his eyes.

Because the one who had struck him was Han Yan, the rising star of the Black Bear Martial Hall.

Han Yan's face was cold as ice. Before Wang Mingyong could react, he grabbed him by the hair and, as his blood and qi surged, smashed him viciously downward.

Crack! Crack!!

Two crisp sounds rang out. His knees shattered.

Han Yan kicked him forward, planted a foot on his back, and said coolly, "Apologize to my Brother Qi."