The Challenge

"Could Lianwu Mountain be planning to make a move against my family?" Luo Chuan watched everything unfold, suddenly growing anxious.

He had been away from home for over a month. Though Lu Bai's tutelage had transformed him in that time, it wouldn't help him face all of Lianwu Mountain.

"No. They're here to watch the fight," Lu Bai said with a smile.

"Watch the fight?" Luo Chuan didn't understand at first.

"It's Blood Monk Lu Bai!"

"He's here."

"Is it about to begin?"

"The man beside him—is that the Luo family's Third Young Master, Luo Chuan?"

"No wonder they chose Weishan City."

Still, many people looked at the group with uncertainty.

After hearing a few snippets of conversation, Luo Chuan finally understood what Lu Bai had done.

The letter he'd asked Lou Jingren to send had been addressed to Lin Haixian.

The swordsman was famous, though he had only studied at Linjiang Academy in his early years. He had later left the academy and never stayed on.

He had some connection to Linjiang Academy, but it wasn't a close one.

Even so, the academy could certainly find Lin Haixian.

After receiving the letter, Lin Haixian had come to Weishan City.

That much made sense. Weishan City was in East Province, within Lin Haixian's usual territory.

But soon people noticed something unusual: Lin Haixian had stopped in Weishan City, and he had stayed there for a long time. Eventually, someone learned that Linjiang Immortal was waiting for someone—a challenger.

Blood Monk Lu Bai.

News of the challenge spread quickly.

People in the Martial Forest loved fame and fortune, and the way to gain them was naturally to build them up through all kinds of deeds.

Helping the weak, rooting out evil, competing in martial arts—all these were ways to earn a name.

That was why people in the Martial Forest loved a good spectacle.

Linjiang Immortal was immensely famous. Lu Bai was less well known, but Linjiang Immortal's reputation more than made up for that.

Given Linjiang Immortal's standing, even if he challenged a dog, that dog would instantly become a star of the Martial Forest.

The Hundred Flower Grave had placed a bounty on Lu Bai, and he had defeated the people of Lianwu Mountain. His strength had already earned some recognition.

On top of that, tensions between the Hundred Flower Grave and the Holy Land had been escalating, and bloody incidents could erupt at any moment.

The Martial Forest was in an uproar, and its people were restless too.

Now that such a grand challenge had been announced, many Jianghu figures had naturally gathered here.

"At the same time, this will keep Lianwu Mountain and the Hundred Flower Grave wary," Lu Bai told Luo Chuan.

Lin Haixian alone couldn't keep Lianwu Mountain and the Hundred Flower Grave in check, but the reaction his reputation inspired could.

Guiding the broader tide had its advantages and disadvantages.

The Hundred Flower Grave might scheme in secret, but publicly, it now stood on the side of "justice." To ride the tide, it had to exercise a degree of restraint.

Otherwise, the tide it had stirred up would slip from its grasp. Once people lost faith, it would be hard to keep the ranks together.

So although it had been putting pressure on the Luo family during this time, it hadn't made any major moves in public.

"I see. Use this method to stabilize the situation, and then we can..." Luo Chuan's eyes lit up. There were already enough martial artists gathered here.

If they announced the news in front of everyone, they could deal a serious blow to the Hundred Flower Grave and Lianwu Mountain.

"No, that won't..." Lu Bai shook his head, trying to explain that Luo Chuan's idea wasn't realistic, but a shout cut him off.

"You shameless bald monk!" A man stood in the street, sword in hand and white robes fluttering. Apart from being a little short on looks, he would have made the perfect gallant hero. He glared at Lu Bai and barked, "I thought you'd flee at the mention of Senior Lin Haixian's name, but you've got more guts than I expected."

"Someone like you doesn't deserve to fight Senior Lin Haixian. I, the Five River Sword, will—"

Before he could finish, the Five River Sword saw a fist growing larger and larger. He had no time to react before it struck him squarely in the face.

"First, I hate people calling me that nickname."

"Second, you should have some manners. When someone's talking, wait until he's finished before interrupting."

"Third, you talk too much."

Lu Bai drew back his fist, then casually searched the man's clothes. The sword was good—he'd take it. There was plenty of silver—he'd take that too. The white robes looked good, and the man seemed about his size. The fabric was nice, so he'd take those as well.

The people nearby watched, seized by panic.

They didn't know how strong Lu Bai was, but he was certainly vicious.

A young heir from a prestigious family had just been socially ruined. He was even wearing little flower-print underpants.

The Five River Sword would probably have to be called the Five River Flower-Pants Sword from now on.

"How shameless! Absolutely shameless!" Someone saw what had happened and cursed aloud.

He'd knocked a man unconscious in the middle of the street and stripped him. He was trying to ruin the man's entire life.

Someone immediately stepped forward.

"Stop, you shameless bald thief!" A middle-aged man rushed forward with a sword and flicked it, sending the scabbard flying straight at Lu Bai.

"Go back!" Lu Bai grabbed the clothes he had just pulled off and flung them around the incoming scabbard.

He swung them around once like a shot put and hurled them back.

The middle-aged man dodged with a sidestep, but in the blink of an eye when the clothes blocked his view, the same kind of fist was already right in front of him.

He had no time to dodge. One punch knocked him unconscious.

Lu Bai moved with practiced ease. Soon, two people lay side by side in the street, one old and one young, both in flower-print shorts.

"Hey, looks like it runs in the family."

After that, few people dared interfere. Anyone with a bit of discernment could see how effortlessly Lu Bai had defeated the middle-aged man.

It was obvious that Lu Bai didn't play by the rules.

The other men had clearly wanted to make a name for themselves. The best way was to choose a good stepping-stone.

If they could climb over him, all the better. If not, they could at least bask in his reflected glory.

With elders watching over them, people usually showed them some respect and let them land a few moves. That was enough to earn them a reputation.

Unfortunately, Lu Bai had struck too fast. He'd taken them out with a single punch and humiliated them by stripping them. He'd even defeated and humiliated the elder watching over the younger man. He was no one who followed the rules.

People like Lu Bai were what the old saying called unorthodox evildoers. They didn't follow the customary rules of the Martial Forest.

The only way to deal with someone like him was to rely on superior strength. Otherwise, it was best not to step forward and invite humiliation.

Lu Bai tossed the clothes aside without a care for the onlookers and looked toward the groups in the distance.

Those were the ones who mattered.

Lianwu Mountain, the Luo family, and the Hundred Flower Grave.

If people like the Five River Sword had only been trying to make a name for themselves, these groups had probably come to see Lu Bai dead.

Fortunately, a voice carried from afar just then.

"Lu Bai is my opponent. The rest of you should hold back for now."

Second update. Good night, everyone.