No Tolerance for Bad Behavior!

Tiger-Subduing Martial Hall.

At this moment, numerous disciples were diligently practicing martial arts. The medicinal power of the Blood Ginseng in Cheng Heng's body had yet to be fully absorbed, and he was working hard on his stance training.

"Junior Brother Cheng."

At the call, Fourth Senior Brother Zhao Wei strode over.

Hearing this, Cheng Heng stopped his movements and emerged from his stance practice, asking softly,

"Senior Brother Zhao, what is it?"

Zhao Wei laughed heartily. "I haven't yet had the chance to congratulate Junior Brother Cheng on your promotion to constable chief. Congratulations indeed! Junior Brother truly is young and accomplished!"

Cheng Heng smiled faintly and replied modestly,

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao. I was merely fortunate enough to kill a bandit leader while suppressing bandits and gain He County Magistrate's favor. That was why I was promoted to constable chief. It is not worth mentioning."

Zhao Wei chuckled. "Junior Brother has one flaw: you are far too low-key. Those who practice martial arts ought to strike when it is time to strike!"

Several senior brothers from the inner courtyard had also heard about Cheng Heng's promotion to constable chief. Chen An and Zhao Yanran came over to offer their congratulations as well.

Just as they were chatting animatedly, a cold snort sounded beside them.

Everyone followed the sound and saw that the one who had snorted was none other than First Senior Brother Zhou Qing, who had excluded Cheng Heng from the inner courtyard circle some time ago.

Cheng Heng's heart sank, but his expression did not change as he said,

"Senior Brother Zhou, do you have some advice for me?"

Why was Zhou Qing so determined to make things difficult for him?

With his hands clasped behind his back, Zhou Qing slowly walked up to Cheng Heng. Looking down at him with utter disdain, he said,

"Junior Brother Cheng has been basking in glory these past few days. Even I heard Constable Chief Cheng's name in the Inner City. A hero truly emerges in youth!"

"I only wonder whether your strength is worthy of that reputation."

As a man of the Inner City, Zhou Qing looked down on Cheng Heng from the bottom of his heart. Not to mention that Cheng Heng possessed only Low-Grade Root Bone aptitude!

Seeing that his inner courtyard circle had ignored him, their first senior brother, and turned instead to chat fervently with this country bumpkin, anger immediately surged within him.

Cheng Heng answered neither humbly nor arrogantly,

"Whether my strength is worthy or not is not for you to decide. If Senior Brother is unconvinced, we can exchange a few moves!"

Cheng Heng had not cared much about being excluded from the circle last time, but Zhou Qing, as first senior brother, had not the slightest bearing of one. Today, Cheng Heng would teach him a lesson!

"Junior Brother Cheng, you must not! You are no match for Senior Brother Zhou. Quickly apologize to him; perhaps this matter can be laid to rest!"

Upon hearing Cheng Heng's words, Zhao Wei's face changed drastically, and he hurriedly tried to stop him.

"Junior Brother Cheng, don't act rashly!"

Zhao Yanran beside him also hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

Meanwhile, Wang Yin and Gao Huan acted as though it had nothing to do with them. Their faces were full of smug amusement, plainly showing that they wanted to watch a good show.

Chen An's attitude was even more intriguing. His expression remained calm, revealing no emotional fluctuation whatsoever.

After hearing Cheng Heng's words, Zhou Qing's face immediately turned livid. Then he said dismissively,

"As a junior brother, you show no respect for your senior brother. It seems I must teach you a proper lesson today!"

This was exactly what he wanted. He could use this chance to thoroughly teach Cheng Heng a lesson and let him understand the gap between them!

As first senior brother, if he taught a junior brother a lesson, no one could find fault with it!

Zhou Qing leaped up first and strode onto the martial hall's sparring platform, releasing the imposing aura of Hidden Force.

Cheng Heng's expression was calm as he walked forward and took his position in the arena.

"Cheng Heng, it is not too late for you to admit defeat. As long as you kneel and kowtow to me three times on this platform, I will let you go at once!"

A cold smile curled across Zhou Qing's lips as he spoke slowly.

"I'll give those same words back to you. If you lose, go before Master and admit your mistake, then kowtow to me three times. I'll let you go too!"

Cheng Heng refused to yield even an inch.

"Junior Brother Cheng truly does not know the height of heaven or the depth of earth. Senior Brother Zhou entered the Hidden Force realm long ago. How could he possibly be a match for him?"

Zhao Wei said worriedly.

"Unfortunately, Master is not at the martial hall right now. If I could call Master here, perhaps today's situation could be avoided."

Zhao Yanran's brows were tightly furrowed as well.

Only Chen An remained calm. "Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Sister Zhao, there is no need to worry. It is still uncertain who will win and who will lose!"

Below the martial hall, everyone discussed the matter fervently.

Could Junior Brother Cheng really be Zhou Qing's match?

At this moment, on the sparring platform, their gazes flashed like lightning. The surrounding air tightened at once, and a great battle was about to erupt!

With a low shout, Cheng Heng's arms swelled as Hidden Force coursed into his limbs. He lunged out like a fierce tiger, and when his fist came crashing down, the air around it trembled faintly.

Before the fist wind even arrived, a fierce surge of force rushed at Zhou Qing's face. This was already a sign of Hidden Force being released outward.

A trace of surprise flashed across Zhou Qing's face at Cheng Heng's move. Then his feet shifted, his figure turning elusive as a drifting ghost. He narrowly dodged the heavy punch and drove an elbow toward Cheng Heng's ribs.

The tip of his elbow was wrapped in concentrated Hidden Force, aimed directly at the abdomen from a vicious angle!

Cheng Heng reacted with extreme speed. He drew in his chest and abdomen while sweeping out with his left fist, its force expanding and contracting unpredictably, forcing Zhou Qing to retreat again and again!

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged three to five moves, yet Zhou Qing was unexpectedly unable to do anything to Cheng Heng.

The people below stared at the scene in shock. They had never expected that Junior Brother Cheng, who usually kept his abilities hidden, had trained his martial arts to such a level of consummate mastery.

Zhou Qing had utterly lost face on the platform. After those few exchanges, he had already sounded out Cheng Heng's strength—it was no weaker than his own!

But he had already boasted loudly today. If he could not defeat a country bumpkin from the Outer City, he would have no face left to remain in the martial hall!

At this thought, Zhou Qing's expression turned savage and the hostility in his eyes surged. His fist became a claw, and his five fingers actually gleamed with an iron-like sheen.

This was the Tendon-Severing Bone-Twisting Hand he had learned elsewhere before. He usually kept it as a trump card, yet Cheng Heng had forced him to use it today.

Zhou Qing had once relied on this move to establish a fearsome reputation throughout Gaoyang County. Everyone who heard of it turned pale with fright!

Cheng Heng's gaze sharpened, and he did not dare lower his guard in the slightest. His forearm coiled around Zhou Qing's five fingers, allowing them to leave only several pale marks on his arms.

Then he held back no longer and slammed a fist into Zhou Qing's shoulder. No wound appeared on Zhou Qing's shoulder, but his body swayed. Bang!

His blood and qi churned wildly, and he staggered back several steps!

Zhou Qing looked at his own five fingers in disbelief. They had actually left only a few pale marks on Cheng Heng's body!

A horizontal training technique?

Cheng Heng roared and shot forward, his steps like an arrow loosed from the bow!

Fast!

Too fast!

Cheng Heng's sudden burst of speed was so fast that no one could see it clearly before he had already arrived before Zhou Qing!

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

Three consecutive punches, each one smashing into Zhou Qing's chest.

"This...!"

A sharp agony erupted in Zhou Qing's chest, and he spewed out mouthfuls of blood. Like a kite with its string cut, he was sent flying by Cheng Heng into the courtyard!

The arena fell deathly silent!

The people below had yet to react. Cheng Heng had won?

Zhao Wei's eyes were wide as saucers as he stared at the scene before him in utter disbelief, his mind blank.

The corners of Chen An's mouth lifted slightly. Junior Brother Cheng truly is unexpected. He is becoming more and more interesting!

Unlike the others' shock, Zhou Qing lay on the bluestone like a puppet. The intense pain in his chest left him dazed, and he could not accept this outcome for a time!

Wang Yin hurried over to Zhou Qing and checked him carefully. Only after discovering that his life was not in danger did he let out a long breath.

He then gave Cheng Heng a complicated look, hoisted the utterly dejected Zhou Qing onto his back, and rushed toward a pharmacy in the Inner City.

Zhou Qing had lost—lost utterly and completely!