Ambush

At night, Rouge House.

Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

A place for pleasure-seeking in Ram City.

"Thank you for treating me, Second Senior Brother. I'll drain this cup."

Though Zhang Yuan was young, he was the second son of a wealthy family in Ram City. He had no shortage of money and often visited places of pleasure.

He was quite familiar with this kind of wining and dining.

"You came to Like-Elephant Martial Hall because you knew about the [recommendation] in the hall master's hands, didn't you?"

Across from him, Yuan Dazong narrowed his eyes slightly and got straight to the point.

Zhang Yuan was taken aback by those words, but quickly understood.

"I won't hide it from you, Second Senior Brother. I do have that wish."

"Unfortunately, although your talent is very good, you may not have a chance this time."

"...Is it because of Li Beichen?"

Yuan Dazong smiled faintly, seeming to sigh with emotion.

"When someone more talented than you is in the same position, who do you think the opportunity will fall to?"

"Then... Second Senior Brother, what should I do?"

"There's nothing you can do. As long as someone stronger than you is still around, you'll never get your chance to shine."

"But don't worry. Even without that opportunity, with your talent, you'll have more than enough time to reach Grade Entry within a year."

Yuan Dazong's words seemed comforting, but the fifteen-year-old boy clenched his fists.

"Why does someone always have to hold me down?"

"People have to accept their fate!"

Zhang Yuan fell silent, but Yuan Dazong could tell he hadn't truly accepted his fate.

"Head back and get some rest."

He had already achieved the effect he wanted, so Yuan Dazong showed him the door.

Watching Zhang Yuan leave, Yuan Dazong drained his cup and murmured to himself,

"What is not fated must not be forced. I, Yuan Dazong, have never accepted my fate."

Meanwhile, in the south of Clear Creek Village.

Li Beichen was practicing [Giant Elephant Fist] beneath the moon.

Others practiced twice a day, but he could practice three times and still have plenty of energy.

After three rounds of [Giant Elephant Fist], the moon was already high overhead. Li Beichen looked at the panel, where his progress had increased by five points, smiled faintly, then turned and returned to his thatched hut to rest.

Meng Juxiang had given Li Beichen until the end of the month. There were only a little more than twenty days left.

What Li Beichen didn't know was that Meng Juxiang considered this a severe challenge for him.

In reality, as long as Li Beichen broke through to Ninth Grade in July, he would meet Meng Juxiang's standard.

Meng Juxiang had set the requirement only to put some pressure on Li Beichen.

But for Li Beichen...

A little more than twenty days was far too long.

With his talent, as long as he had enough [Giant Elephant Meat-Refining Ointment] and [Exotic Beast Meat], ten days would be more than enough.

A few days later, Li Beichen was on the road to Ram City.

It was still early, and the sky was dim.

He held a specially made stone in his hand, ready to throw.

For the past few days, Li Beichen had felt that someone was watching him.

But with the disciple's uniform of Like-Elephant Martial Hall on his back, ordinary ruffians wouldn't dare provoke him.

Martial hall disciples, especially those from the Four Great Martial Halls, were under their halls' protection during their first year of training.

If someone was maliciously attacked, an Inner Courtyard martial artist who had reached Grade Entry would step in and see justice done.

"Who's there?!"

Li Beichen narrowed his eyes. He caught sight of a shadow flickering through the grass not far away.

Whoosh! The Locust Stone shot out.

A stone thrown to test the way!

"Ugh."

A muffled groan came from the grass, and Li Beichen hurried over to investigate.

But then he noticed a glint of metal on the ground.

Li Beichen quickly stopped, snapped off a branch, and used it to part the grass.

It was a beast trap with viciously sharp teeth!

"How sinister!"

If he'd stepped on it, his leg would have been crippled, or he'd have needed three months to recover.

Li Beichen searched carefully and found five more identical traps nearby.

Clearly, someone had been waiting for him to fall into them.

By the time Li Beichen circled around the trap-laden area, the shadow had already fled.

Li Beichen picked up the Locust Stone he had thrown. It was stained with blood.

Clearly, the person hiding in the shadows had been wounded.

Who could it be...

Yuan Dazong, Zhang Yuan, even He Keji, Fang Meiqin, and Zhang Meng flashed through Li Beichen's mind.

The days spent fleeing in Bing Province had taught him never to trust anyone too easily.

Having an ordinary person set a trap was a crude but effective method.

If he were unlucky enough to fall into it, the other party could claim it had been an accident.

And they'd meant to injure him, not kill him.

This had happened just after Meng Juxiang promised him an opportunity.

It was hard for Li Beichen not to connect the two events.

If something happened to me... who would benefit the most?

At that thought, Li Beichen narrowed down the list of suspects.

He hurried to the martial hall.

By then, He Keji was already in the Outer Courtyard, working on his strength.

When he saw Li Beichen arrive, he greeted him as usual, then continued immersing himself in his training.

There was nothing unusual about him.

He Keji was quite "talented." Though his realm seemed to be only near the Threshold of Mastery, his strength was fierce and his physique was excellent.

But he was very frugal. He had never ordered extra food in the martial hall cafeteria, and Li Beichen had never seen him buy [Giant Elephant Meat-Refining Ointment].

It probably wasn't him... He doesn't have that kind of money...

Li Beichen set aside his suspicions of He Keji for the time being.

He found a corner and silently lifted a stone roller while watching those who arrived.

Today, Second Senior Brother Yuan Dazong was leading the training.

But even after he arrived, Zhang Yuan still hadn't shown up at the martial hall.

When Yuan Dazong saw Li Beichen, he showed no sign of anything amiss and acted as usual.

Training officially began in the morning, and only then did Zhang Yuan hurry in.

Li Beichen noticed that when Zhang Yuan stepped into the Outer Courtyard, he first glanced at him almost unconsciously.

Then he quickly looked away.

After that, he joined the training.

Zhang Yuan tried to keep his face blank, but Li Beichen still noticed that his moves seemed to carry a hint of panic as he practiced [Giant Elephant Fist].

It wasn't up to his usual standard.

You little brat, it was probably you!

Li Beichen's gaze sharpened.

Zhang Yuan was suspicious. He was also the second son of a wealthy family, with plenty of money. He resented Li Beichen for advancing faster than him and had a motive to hire someone to hurt him.

Li Beichen was a man who kept clear accounts of favors and grudges.

If anyone really tried to harm him, he would repay them twice over.

After three rounds of [Giant Elephant Fist], Yuan Dazong headed back to the Inner Courtyard without even looking back.

Li Beichen walked straight over to Zhang Yuan.

"Zhang Yuan, let's talk over there."

Zhang Yuan didn't move.

"What, are you afraid?"

At that, Zhang Yuan immediately lifted his head.

Then he followed Li Beichen to a corner.

Li Beichen stared at Zhang Yuan.

"The person who ambushed me this morning—you sent him, didn't you?"

"I didn't send him."

Zhang Yuan denied it outright.

"Heh."

Li Beichen chuckled and walked away.

Zhang Yuan was baffled. He pondered it all morning before finally understanding what was wrong with his answer.

The silver is buried here!

By saying that, hadn't he made it obvious that he knew Li Beichen had been set up?

Once he figured that out, Zhang Yuan's face turned pale, then flushed red as he watched Li Beichen training in the courtyard.

A trace of fear suddenly rose in his heart.