"Where'd this mad dog come from, barking at people?" The young man frowned and turned around. He wasn't standing in the middle of the school gate, but off to the right, beside the old gatekeeper, not blocking anyone.
A group of young masters swaggered over. Anyone who got in their way was shoved aside, and any dog in their path was kicked clear across the street.
The young man at their head wore red from head to toe, with a full head of red hair. His face was thin and pale, and his steps were unsteady. He walked with his hands behind his back, head held high, arrogantly and rudely.
"Don't talk nonsense! Do you know who he is?" The old gatekeeper hurriedly covered the young man's mouth and warned him, "He's a direct descendant of one of the Three Great Peak Families, the future Family Head of the Sacred Family! You've got a death wish, insulting him like that?"
The young man pried the old man's dark, gnarled hand away and wiped his mouth with his undershirt.
"No need to remind me. I know Shen Fei. His aunt, Shen Xiu, and I are as close as life-and-death comrades." The young man smiled faintly.
This young man was none other than Chang Ping.
After escaping the Sacred Family, he had rushed straight to Saint Orchid Academy.
It was all that wretched Shen Xiu's fault. If she hadn't framed him and delayed him for four whole days, he wouldn't have missed the best time to enroll at Saint Orchid Academy. Hmph! Let him run into her again, and he'd give her another good beating!
"What? You're life-and-death comrades?" The old gatekeeper was stunned. His attitude noticeably softened, and even took on a hint of flattery.
Since this young man had close ties to the Eldest Young Lady of the Sacred Family, the old gatekeeper had no choice but to help him.
"What're you looking at?" Shen Fei stopped in front of Chang Ping and craned his neck to glare at him. Maybe it was all the women he'd been chasing, but his growth had suffered. He was half a head shorter than Chang Ping.
Chang Ping seemed vaguely familiar to him, as if he'd seen him somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.
"What's it to you?" Chang Ping took a step forward, like a white bear rearing up on its hind legs. Two streams of hot white breath blasted from his nostrils, right onto Shen Fei's forehead.
He'd been looking for a chance to cripple Shen Fei, and now the idiot had delivered himself right to his door.
Hearing such a brazen response, Shen Fei's brows shot up and his eyes blazed with fury. Whoever this guy was, he'd dared to speak to him like that in front of all these people. If Shen Fei didn't teach him a lesson, where would that leave his dignity?
At that thought, Shen Fei suddenly threw a punch.
He was a Silver Two-star Demon Spirit Master who had fused with the Black Gold–rank Demon Spirit known as the "King of Berserkers," the Crimson Flame Black Tiger. He had also taken precious Body Tempering Pills since childhood. One punch from him could make even a Silver Two-star martial artist cough blood and collapse.
"Hmph, let's see if you still dare to talk to me like—"
Shen Fei's eyes suddenly went wide. His fist had been caught with ease, and the other man's grip was crushingly painful.
Who was this guy? How could he be so strong? He could overpower Shen Fei, a Silver Two-star!
"L-let go!" Shen Fei howled as he dropped to his knees in front of Chang Ping.
How dare this guy humiliate him like this? Didn't he know Shen Fei was a direct descendant of the Sacred Family?
Chang Ping gripped Shen Fei's fist with his left hand, raised his huge right palm, and cursed, "Go to hell!"
Smack!
Chang Ping's palm slammed into Shen Fei's left cheek. The sharp crack swept away like a gust of wind, then vanished into the streets and alleys.
That one slap stunned not only Shen Fei, but everyone present.
"He actually hit a member of a Peak Family? That guy's got some nerve!"
"That crack echoed down the whole street! What a slap!"
"Where'd this tough guy come from? Shen Fei just picked a fight with the wrong person."
Chang Ping pointed at Shen Fei, sprawled on the ground like an overturned turtle, and explained to the old gatekeeper, "Don't get the wrong idea, sir! I told him to go to hell, not you!"
The old gatekeeper stared in astonishment, his mouth hanging open and showing two rows of yellow teeth.
This young man really had to be Shen Xiu's close friend. Otherwise, he'd never have dared to slap Shen Fei in front of everyone.
"Bastard! I'll kill you!" Seeing how Chang Ping looked down on him, Shen Fei took a Silver Dagger from his Space Ring, scrambled to his feet, gripped it in both hands, and stabbed at Chang Ping's belly.
A weapon's rank was not comparable to a martial artist's rank.
Even a Bronze-rank weapon could easily pierce a Silver-rank martial artist's skin.
To defend against a weapon, a martial artist had to wear armor of at least the same rank as the weapon.
"No matter how strong you are, you can't defend against my indestructible blade! Die!" Shen Fei's eyes were bloodshot as he thrust at Chang Ping without mercy.
The Glory City had three Peak Families, who held supreme power and wealth.
As a direct descendant of a Peak Family, Shen Fei held a status comparable to a prince in an ancient empire. Even if he killed someone, the City Lord's Mansion wouldn't do anything to him. At most, they'd give him a reprimand.
Shen Fei had no fear of consequences, so he never hesitated to kill.
Smack!
To Shen Fei's surprise, Chang Ping was faster. Before the dagger could reach him, Chang Ping's huge left hand smacked Shen Fei across the right cheek.
Before, only Shen Fei's left cheek had been swollen. Now both sides were puffed up like a roasted pig's head.
The slap was clearly harder than the first. Shen Fei spun around three times on the spot, and the dagger fell from his hand.
"You're young, but you bully men and women and neglect your studies. Today, I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your aunt!" Chang Ping planted his hands on his broad hips and declared righteously.
The students watching cheered. Most had been bullied by Shen Fei, but because of his family background, they'd only ever dared to be angry in silence.
"Serves him right!"
"Shen Fei, look at you now!"
"Hero, thank you for avenging my cousin! I'll get down on my knees for you!"
The noble youths weren't happy to hear all the commoners shouting. By hitting Shen Fei, Chang Ping had not only humiliated him but indirectly humiliated the nobility as well.
"Shut up, all of you! Anyone who says another word will regret ever being born!"
"Bastard! Do you even know who you hit? The Sacred Family will never let you get away with this! You're dead!"
"Are you all right, Young Master Shen? Here, let me help you up."
As the noble youths closed in around him, Chang Ping slowly pulled the Desert Eagle from his pocket and pointed it at the sky.
Bang! The deafening report made everyone jump.
The old gatekeeper, who already had a weak bladder, wet himself on the spot.
"Like being the first to stick your neck out, do you?" Chang Ping aimed at the loudest noble youth. The guy seemed to be named Chu Yuan, a member of the Magnate Family, one of Shen Fei's cronies and a spoiled playboy.
The Glory City had seven Magnate Families. They weren't quite as powerful or wealthy as the Peak Families, but there wasn't much difference. Each one ruled its own district with an iron fist.
"N-no!" Chu Yuan waved his hands frantically and hurried backward with his tail between his legs, cowering like a dog.
"Useless."
Chang Ping couldn't be bothered with the idiot. He turned to Shen Fei, pointed the gun at his forehead, and ordered, "From now on, keep your hands off my woman. Got it?"
Shen Fei froze for a moment.
"Your woman? Who?" He'd pursued so many women that he had no idea which one the other man meant.
"Xiao Ning'er!"
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