"Wang Jie, I told you to get up."
Li Qiming spoke in a low voice, suppressing his anger.
He had heard from Shopkeeper Wang that Wang Jie was often bullied.
But he hadn't expected him to be such a spineless coward.
To keep Shopkeeper Wang from being disappointed, Wang Jie had swallowed every insult and lowered himself to the dirt.
He was living worse than a pig or a dog.
"If you don't get up right now, I'll tell Shopkeeper Wang everything that happened today!"
Li Qiming threatened him.
Those words hit Wang Jie right where it hurt. He hurriedly said, "Don't! Brother Qiming, don't tell my grandpa. I don't want him worrying about me... I... I'll get up right now!"
As he spoke, Wang Jie pulled the two twigs out of his nostrils and tried to stand.
"Did I tell you that you could get up?"
With his arms folded, Wu Tianlong barked at Wang Jie.
Wang Jie was caught between getting up and staying face-down, at a loss for what to do.
"Brother Qiming... what should I do? If I get up, no one will dare take me on missions anymore!"
Wang Jie looked helplessly at Li Qiming.
After all, Wu Tianlong was the strongest man beneath the Head Senior Disciple and the boss of everyone here. If he refused to take Wang Jie on missions, no Registered Disciple would dare help him!
"Get up. From now on, you can come on missions with me. I'll take you."
Li Qiming drew a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
Wang Jie froze.
Only then did he notice that something was different about Brother Qiming's robe.
It wasn't an ordinary gray robe. It had become the black robe of an Elite Disciple!
No, it wasn't just a black robe.
He looked even more imposing than those haughty Elite Disciples!
Could this be... the Ink Robe of the Chief Elite Disciple?!
"Who the hell do you think you are, coming here and sticking your nose into my business?"
Wu Tianlong had been putting up with this Elite Disciple who'd suddenly appeared for quite some time!
Suddenly,
a well-informed underling whispered in his ear:
"Brother Long, he's a new disciple from this year. His name's Li Qiming, and he only became Chief Elite Disciple today!"
"What?!"
Wu Tianlong's heart jolted. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the Ink Robe Li Qiming was wearing.
His scalp went numb!
Just as his underling had said, the man really was wearing the prestigious Ink Robe of the Chief Elite Disciple!
H-How could this be?
Wasn't the position of Chief Elite Disciple supposed to be his?
For a moment, Wu Tianlong felt timid. Afraid.
He felt like he'd just kicked an iron plate!
He'd provoked someone he shouldn't have!
"Brother Long, don't worry. This kid's only at the Blood Refining Realm. I heard he's close with Shen Changsheng, the Head Senior Disciple. He probably got promoted through connections, just like Wang Jie!"
The underling's voice rose slowly.
The expression on Wu Tianlong's face shifted through a spectacular range of emotions.
Shock, stiffness, fear—and then a mocking laugh:
"Pfft!"
"I was wondering who he was. Turns out he's just a useless lackey who got his position through connections."
"Someone gives you a chicken feather and you think it's a command arrow?!"
Wu Tianlong laughed and jeered repeatedly. Now that he knew Li Qiming's background, the prestige of his Ink Robe had vanished.
"Brother Long, this is your chance to establish your authority. Only by killing this kid can you truly cement your standing!"
The underling offered his advice.
"Hmm..." Wu Tianlong nodded.
He couldn't help feeling tempted.
This useless lackey had taken the position that should have been his!
The thought sent a nameless fury blazing through him.
If he didn't kill Li Qiming today and establish his authority, his reputation as the boss would become a laughingstock!
"Kid, dare you accept my Life-Death Order?!"
Wu Tianlong narrowed his eyes, a murderous glint flashing through them.
He couldn't attack Li Qiming directly inside the Martial Hall—but that didn't mean he was out of options!
"Life-Death Order?"
Li Qiming didn't understand.
"Brother Qiming, don't accept! The Life-Death Order is a dueling rule set by the Old Ancestor!"
"Once a Life-Death Order is issued between disciples, if both sides agree, they can fight on the stage, and anything goes!"
"Usually, only one of them walks off the stage alive!"
Wang Jie was frantic. He grabbed Li Qiming's arm and explained everything in a rush.
In his eyes, if Li Qiming went up against Brother Long, he'd be beaten to death!
But what made Wang Jie despair was this:
"You're sure you want to issue a Life-Death Order against me?"
Li Qiming raised an eyebrow, his voice tinged with amusement.
He'd been wondering how to set the old bastard up, and now the man had delivered himself right to his doorstep.
"Heh. If you're scared, kid, get down on your knees!"
"Just kowtow and admit defeat. Call me Brother Long from now on, and I might spare your life!"
Wu Tianlong thought Li Qiming was afraid, and immediately grew arrogant.
A lackey who'd risen through connections was still a lackey. Without real strength, he'd been cowed by Wu Tianlong's presence in no time!
Just as he was reveling in his sense of superiority,
"Fine. I accept your challenge! I accept the Life-Death Order!"
Li Qiming stood with his hands behind his back and spoke calmly.
Whoosh—
At his words, the surrounding disciples erupted in an uproar.
They looked at Li Qiming as if he were an idiot.
A man at the Blood Refining Realm dared to accept a Life-Death Order from a Bone Refining Realm martial artist?
Was he tired of living?
"Brother Qiming... you've lost your mind!"
Wang Jie was so anxious he was nearly in tears.
He'd never imagined things would come to this!
Brother Qiming was going to die!
No, this had all started because of him. His grandpa knew a lot of people; he had to go find him and ask him to plead for help!
At the entrance to the Martial Hall,
two officers in dark uniforms stood by the gate.
"Chief, that kid Yang Mang isn't here. I heard he went drinking. Are we really waiting for him?"
Luo Wen was getting impatient. Though he served as a constable at the Yamen, he also had a fairly good talent for martial arts.
He'd met Yang Mang, a Registered Disciple of the Martial Hall, during their last mission.
He'd heard Yang Mang had some talent, but surely not enough to make him and the chief wait around like this?
When it came to martial arts talent and potential... Luo Wen didn't think he was any worse than anyone else!
"Wait."
Chief Constable Yan, Yan Wu, was concise.
His strength had already reached the Late Bone Refining Stage. He was powerfully built, and even standing there with his legs planted wide apart, he carried an imposing air.
Hearing him say that, Luo Wen twisted his mouth but didn't say anything more.
Fortunately, it wasn't long before Yang Mang came strolling over, reeking of alcohol and surrounded by a crowd of Elite Disciples.
They laughed uproariously, completely at ease and unrestrained.
Luo Wen peered at him. Yang Mang no longer seemed as naive and humble as he had the last time they met. He now carried a faint air of unease...
Surrounded by the crowd, Yang Mang was like the moon among stars, showered with flattery and ingratiation... He looked more than comfortable in his own skin, basking in all his glory!
From a distance, Yang Mang spotted Chief Constable Yan in his dark uniform.
His expression turned serious, and he hurried forward with the Elite Disciples in tow.
"Chief Yan, what brings you here?"
"Brother Yang, you helped the Yamen slay demons last time and made great contributions! This is the money those villagers gave as thanks afterward. You deserve your share, so I brought it over especially for you."
As he spoke, Chief Constable Yan pressed a bag of silver into his hands.
Luo Wen froze. Last time, he'd taken Yang Mang to a village nearby, where they killed a few weak little demons.
But Yang Mang had only helped out with minor tasks. He'd even been nervous when facing the demons, and hadn't drawn his blade once the whole time. His performance had been completely unremarkable.
How could he have made great contributions?
And this money from the villagers... how had Luo Wen not heard a thing about it?
The next words from Chief Constable Yan finally made Luo Wen understand what was going on.
Before you continue