Leaving the Martial Academy!

"Leave the Martial Academy?!"

Hu Tian jolted, his pupils shrinking sharply as his expression shifted again and again.

Though he came from the countryside and was still green in the ways of the world, he knew the weight carried by the words "leave one's master and sect."

In this world, where strength was paramount and the teacher's authority was sacrosanct, betraying one's sect brought disgrace at best and the scorn of one's peers at worst.

It was a heinous betrayal wherever you went.

He instinctively wanted to shake his head and refuse. But then he remembered that he had already offended Liu Yiyi and Su Yan, and that he had spent every day at the Martial Academy in a state of unease...

A conflicted look flashed across Hu Tian's face. Then he lowered his voice. "Senior Brother Zhang Xu, this... this doesn't seem right..."

Seeing the hesitation on Hu Tian's face, Zhang Xu knew there was room to sway him.

"What's wrong with it?"

Zhang Xu forced himself to speak through the pain. His voice was hoarse and soft, yet every word was like a poison-dipped nail, steadily boring into the cracks in Hu Tian's heart.

"My grudge with Bluestone Martial Academy has become a deadlock. There's no point discussing it."

"Let's just talk about how you're treated at the Martial Academy."

"Do you know how well warriors as talented as you are treated at other martial arts halls?"

Hu Tian paused, then instinctively shook his head. "I'm not really sure."

Suppressing his pain, Zhang Xu gave a cold sneer.

"At another martial arts hall, a disciple as gifted as you would've been taken as the master's personal disciple long ago. Your tuition would be waived, of course, and you'd have an endless supply of pills. Your status would be worlds apart from what it is now!"

He paused, his gaze clinging to Hu Tian's face like a spider's web.

"What about you? Has Bluestone Martial Academy ever given you any special treatment?"

At that, Hu Tian's expression changed dramatically.

He remembered that when he had first mastered a fist technique, Liu Qingshi had rewarded him with a bottle of Blood Replenishing Pills. He had thought it was a privilege reserved just for him.

But when Shi Lei, whose bone structure was only average, had mastered a fist technique, he had also received a bottle of Blood Replenishing Pills.

Now that he thought about it, this genius with superior bone structure truly hadn't received any special treatment at the Martial Academy.

A hint of resentment crept onto Hu Tian's face.

An unfamiliar emotion, like an underground current, silently welled up in Hu Tian's heart, sweeping away the respect and gratitude that had never been all that firm to begin with.

Zhang Xu noticed the resentment on Hu Tian's face.

He didn't press him further. Instead, he weakly leaned back against the pillow, softening his voice with the weary, heartfelt tone of an elder brother.

"Junior Brother Hu Tian, I'm not asking you to be ungrateful. I just... feel it's unfair to you."

He coughed twice. Fresh red stains seeped through the bandages on his chest, stark and alarming.

Hu Tian's heart tightened at the sight, and he unconsciously took half a step forward.

Zhang Xu continued in a quiet voice.

"You know the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, right? My father has some ties with its master. If you're willing to leave Bluestone Martial Academy and join the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, I promise you'll be treated no worse there—in fact, better!"

"The Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall?!" Hu Tian's eyes lit up.

After spending all these days practicing his fists at the Martial Academy, he was no longer the ignorant country boy he'd once been.

He knew that the strongest and most renowned martial arts hall in Anxi County was the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall.

After all, there were two Transformation Strength warriors at the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall.

If he could join the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall through Zhang Xu's introduction, he'd have a much brighter future there than he would at Bluestone Martial Academy.

Zhang Xu fanned the flames. "Junior Brother Hu, I think of you as my own brother. If you join the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, my Zhang Family will provide you with an additional share of cultivation resources on top of the reward from the hall!"

At last, Hu Tian could no longer resist the temptation. He nodded firmly. "Senior Brother Zhang, I'll do as you say!"

Seeing this, Zhang Xu, sprawled on the bed, finally revealed a chilling smile.

He and Bluestone Martial Academy were already locked in a fight to the death.

Luring away a gifted prospect like Hu Tian would weaken Bluestone Martial Academy and strengthen his own side.

It was a masterstroke that killed two birds with one stone.

"Bluestone Martial Academy, Su Family, I'll never forgive you!"

Hatred surged in Zhang Xu's eyes.

That night, Liu Yiyi and Su Yan had already been within his grasp, but the white-haired old man had shattered all his hopes with a single punch.

He naturally assumed that the white-haired old man was a bodyguard the Su Family had secretly assigned to Su Yan.

So from then on, his goal was to ruin Bluestone Martial Academy and the Su Family at any cost.

Early the next morning.

To Jiang Ye's surprise, the first person to arrive at the Martial Academy that day was Hu Tian.

"Could he have decided to practice diligently after breaking through to Bright Strength yesterday?"

Jiang Ye raised an eyebrow slightly. Watching Hu Tian jog over from a distance, a strange glint flashed in his old eyes.

Hu Tian's face was filled with three parts apprehension, three parts hesitation, and several parts resolve.

Clearly, Hu Tian had no intention of greeting Jiang Ye. His steps seemed especially brisk that day, and he crossed the Martial Academy's gate in just a few strides.

The truth was, he had come to the Martial Academy so early because he wanted to speak with Liu Qingshi about leaving, while the other disciples were still away and the grounds were empty.

But for some reason, the moment he stepped into the Inner Courtyard, the determination and courage he had built up the day before seemed to fade.

For a while, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

He dawdled until the afternoon, when at last he gathered his courage and went to the door of Liu Qingshi's study.

"Come in."

A deep voice came from within. Hu Tian took a deep breath and entered the room.

"Hmm? Hu Tian, is there something about your fist technique you'd like to ask me?"

Seeing who had come, Liu Qingshi looked up slightly and asked in a low voice.

"Master Liu... I... I..."

Meeting Liu Qingshi's gaze, Hu Tian's heart trembled. He almost turned and fled.

But then he thought of the bright future awaiting him at the Extreme Fist Martial Arts Hall, and of Zhang Xu's kindness toward him. Gritting his teeth, he finally spoke. "I want to leave Bluestone Martial Academy..."

As soon as he said it, he lowered his head, not daring to look Liu Qingshi in the eyes. His body trembled uncontrollably, as if he feared Liu Qingshi would fly into a rage and punch him.

He had heard stories of disciples at other martial academies who tried to leave their sects for no reason, only to be beaten into cripples by their masters...

After he finished speaking, silence settled over the room for a moment.

Liu Qingshi wasn't as furious as he'd imagined.

He looked at the young man before him. His gaze wasn't sharp, and he didn't even seem disappointed.

"Why do you want to leave the Martial Academy? Can you give me a reason?"

Liu Qingshi studied Hu Tian with a deep gaze.

"I... I don't think this place is quite right for me..."

Hu Tian swallowed hard and gave the excuse he had prepared long ago.

"Is that so?"

Liu Qingshi shook his head, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, then asked again, "Have you really made up your mind? You want to leave Bluestone Martial Academy?"

He could guess that Zhang Xu had something to do with Hu Tian's sudden desire to leave.

Honestly, he didn't want a promising prospect like Hu Tian to go.

But if Hu Tian truly wanted to leave and his heart wasn't in the Martial Academy, Liu Qingshi wouldn't force him to stay.

"I... I..."

Hu Tian swallowed again, then spoke with a trembling voice. "I've made up my mind..."

Just then—

A disciple's voice suddenly came from outside the door. "Hu Tian, your sister brought you something to eat."