Liu Zimu Defeats Qian Hao; Shi Kang Beats Cai Kun to Death

After Liu Zimu decided on the candidates for the three duels, Qian Hao and the other two, along with the Water Serpent Gang members, arrived at the training grounds in the rear courtyard.

For the first match, Liu Zimu faced Qian Hao.

Qian Hao walked to the center of the training grounds.

He rolled his neck and wrists, assuming the Tiger Pouncing Stance of the Black Tiger Stance Art.

Across from him, Liu Zimu rolled up her sleeves, revealing two fair, smooth forearms. Her jade-like legs, clad in short black gauze trousers, were slightly spread front and back as she lowered her center of gravity and took up the stance of the Water Serpent Stance Art.

Liu Zimu looked at Qian Hao with a smile at the corners of her lips, though the contempt in that smile could not be concealed.

"Deputy Hall Master Qian, please!"

Qian Hao fiercely drove the three wisps of Qi-Blood slowly circulating around his dantian, channeling all his Qi-Blood into both arms.

His right fist swept upward from below as he unleashed Black Tiger Plucks the Heart. The force of his punch tore through the air and smashed toward Liu Zimu's face.

But Liu Zimu suddenly spun. Like a green serpent, she slid close along Qian Hao's body and wound around to his back.

The nine wisps of Qi-Blood within Liu Zimu instantly surged into her right arm. She pressed the fingers of her right hand together into a hand blade and chopped fiercely beneath Qian Hao's ribs.

Qian Hao was sent flying sideways, crashing heavily onto the ground of the training grounds.

He spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wah." His face instantly turned pale as paper, and he followed it with several violent coughs.

The Water Serpent Gang members were stunned at first, then erupted into cheers.

Qian Hao propped himself up on one elbow and turned to look at Liu Zimu.

A wave of defeat washed through his heart.

Liu Zimu had sent him flying with just one move. Moreover, she had clearly held back. If she had struck with full force, his ribs would likely have been broken on the spot.

A sharp pain suddenly flared beneath his ribs. He braced himself with one elbow and pressed his other hand against his ribs, struggling to rise, but he could not get up.

Lu Hao hurried to the edge of the training grounds and helped Qian Hao up from the ground. Supporting him, he led him below the platform and found a stone bench for him to sit on.

Sitting on the stone bench, Qian Hao took a deep breath, then slowly let it out.

He turned to Lu Hao, his face filled with utter dejection.

Qian Hao opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But when he thought of how Lu Hao and Shi Kang had not awakened their Qi-Blood, he felt there was no point in speaking. In the end, he merely shook his head and said nothing.

With a smile on her face, Liu Zimu walked back to the edge of the training grounds, where Water Serpent Gang members had already brought over a chair.

After Liu Zimu sat down, she crossed her long legs clad in short black gauze trousers. Beneath the thin fabric, her jade-like legs appeared and disappeared faintly. Yet with a single strike, she had sent Second-Layer Gate-Breaking Realm Qian Hao flying; her strength was astounding. Though everyone present was entranced by those alluring legs, no one dared sneak another glance.

"Steward Cai." Liu Zimu raised her chin at Cai Kun. "You're up!"

Seeing Qian Hao sent flying by a single palm strike, Cai Kun secretly rejoiced.

He looked at his opponent, Shi Kang. Though Shi Kang wore a thick, bushy beard, it was still clear that he was only sixteen or seventeen, plainly an inexperienced brat.

He needed only one move to defeat him. Better yet, he could kill him on the spot and stir up conflict between the Black Tiger Gang and the Water Serpent Gang. After all, fists and feet had no eyes during a match. If the Black Tiger Gang lost someone, the negotiations would fall apart. Then the task assigned to him by the Golden Saber Gang would be considered complete.

Cai Kun strode to the center of the training grounds, and Shi Kang followed him into the field.

Just as Liu Zimu was about to announce the start of the match, Cai Kun struck first.

Cai Kun stepped forward with his right leg and blasted his left fist out from his waist, unleashing Water Serpent Flicks Its Tongue straight at Shi Kang's face.

Shi Kang had only just reached the center of the training grounds and had yet to react. Seeing Cai Kun's fist already before his eyes, he hastily dodged aside.

When his strike missed, Cai Kun was surprised. He had not expected this Black Tiger Gang brat to have some skill.

Steadying himself, he flipped his right hand over. His right palm formed a hand blade as he used Water Serpent Constricts the Neck, slicing toward Shi Kang's throat.

Shi Kang hurriedly used the Tiger-Subduing Form of the Black Tiger Stance Art. He sank his waist and dropped his hips, raising both arms to block Cai Kun's hand blade.

Before Cai Kun could change moves, Shi Kang's blocking arms continued upward over his head before chopping down savagely. Black Tiger Descends the Mountain crashed toward Cai Kun's forehead.

Cai Kun hurriedly raised both arms to block, but he was still a step too slow. Shi Kang's fists slammed into his brow.

Cai Kun only felt his head buzz as stars burst before his eyes. His whole body swayed twice, and he staggered two steps back.

Before Cai Kun could regain his footing, Shi Kang kicked fiercely off the ground and lunged forward, seizing Cai Kun by the throat with both hands.

Shi Kang drove his head forward with the motion. With a dull bang, his forehead smashed heavily into Cai Kun's nose bridge.

Cai Kun had already been dazed from the blow, and this collision left him even more disoriented, his vision going black.

Immediately afterward, Shi Kang twisted his waist and hips, pouring the single wisp of Qi-Blood within him into his right arm. He unleashed Black Tiger Sweeps Its Tail, his right fist whipping out like a steel lash and smashing into Cai Kun's jaw.

Though Cai Kun had long been a Martial Apprentice of the First Gate-Breaking Realm, during his two years in the Water Serpent Gang, he had spent every day drinking, gambling, and sleeping with women. His stance art and fist techniques had long fallen into ruin.

After Cai Kun's jaw was struck, he sprayed blood from his mouth, staggered backward several more steps, and crashed to the ground.

Shi Kang had already fought himself red-eyed. He stepped forward, bent his left knee, dropped his right knee to the ground, and straddled Cai Kun. Then he raised his fists and hammered them down, every punch landing between Cai Kun's chest and abdomen.

At first, Cai Kun still blocked wildly with his arms and kicked his legs against the ground. After three or four punches, his struggles weakened. After several more, he had only breath going out, with none coming in.

Seeing that Cai Kun had stopped moving, Lu Hao quickly entered the training grounds and pulled Shi Kang up from behind.

Shi Kang was still in a frenzy, his eyes bloodshot.

He still wanted to throw another punch, but Lu Hao gently patted his shoulder and wrapped him in his other arm, saying softly, "Kangzi! Enough, it's over!"

Only then did Shi Kang regain his senses. Panting heavily, he lowered his head to look at Cai Kun lying motionless on the ground, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He looked at his blood-covered fists, unable to believe that he had truly beaten a First Gate-Breaking Realm Martial Apprentice to death.

The Water Serpent Gang members saw this scene and exchanged looks with one another.

Qian Hao, sitting on the stone bench at the edge of the grounds, was also dumbfounded. He had never imagined that Shi Kang had already entered the First Gate-Breaking Realm.

He had previously thought Shi Kang was dead weight, yet Shi Kang had not only won a match but had beaten the other side's Martial Apprentice to death.

Qian Hao could not help throwing back his head and laughing loudly. But after only two laughs, he tugged at the wound beneath his ribs. A sharp pain shot through his ribs, and with a hissing gasp, he grimaced and clutched his side.

Just then, Zhou Zhennan entered the training grounds with a livid face. He glanced at Cai Kun lying on the ground, then raised his head and fixed Shi Kang with a deadly stare, his eyes seeming ready to spit fire.

"Brat, pay for my brother's life!"