Beating Up Little Scumbag

From the cold words they had traded outside their homes, to the way everyone had treated them differently when their Martial Souls awakened, to the other children in the village shutting him out, and now the name Chu Chen had called him—Tang San could no longer contain his anger.

We both have useless Martial Souls. We both have Innate Full Soul Power. Why does everyone only like you?

And that academy place the Spirit Hall Soul Master mentioned... From what he said, Holy Soul Village only gets one. But there are two people in the village with Innate Soul Power, and Chu Chen is the village chief's grandson...

However I look at it, whether it's for your repeated insults or my future path, Chu Chen... you've given me reason to kill you!

And when someone gives me reason to kill them...

[Third rule of the Tang Sect's Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record: once you have identified an opponent as an enemy, show no mercy if they have given you reason to kill them. Otherwise, you will only invite trouble for yourself.]

Countless thoughts flashed through Tang San's mind before settling on the rules of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, carried over from his previous life.

True to the Tang Sect's ways, he attacked Chu Chen.

And he went all out from the start!

A cold glint flashed in his eyes. His steps suddenly turned unpredictable, his figure darting from side to side like a phantom.

It was the Tang Sect's secret art—Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track!

His palms took on a jade-like sheen. He drove Mystic Jade Hands to its limit and combined it with Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon, aiming straight for Chu Chen's throat.

Tang San pushed his Purple Demon Eyes to their limit as well, trying to catch the slightest flaw in Chu Chen's movements.

Chu Chen merely chuckled. He did not move his feet.

His body, just one step away from fourth-stage Dou Qi, was far beyond that of an ordinary person. As a second-rank alchemist, he also had soul power that gave him an almost instinctive sensitivity to shifts in the air and hostile intent.

Even an adult would have found Tang San's footwork impressive. To Chu Chen, he moved as slowly as a turtle throwing punches.

The attack was not merely easy to handle; it posed no threat at all. Chu Chen even had time to taunt him.

"Looks like you want to kill me. But... is that all you've got?"

Before he finished speaking, Tang San's palm was already before his face.

Chu Chen neither dodged nor backed away. He casually reached out with his right hand and caught Tang San's wrist.

Cultivation at the Dou Qi stage was a process of widening the meridians, tempering the body, and strengthening muscles and bones. Even before a cultivator could gather Dou Qi for combat, it made him stronger.

Some low- or mid-level Yellow-rank Dou Techniques could even be practiced at this stage.

Of course, Chu Chen had learned no such techniques. He would never waste a precious simulation reward on something so cheap.

But even without a polished martial art or Dou Technique, his strength and reflexes were more than Little Scumbag could match.

Tang San clearly realized that now.

The moment Chu Chen seized his wrist, Tang San felt an overwhelming force bear down on him. The power he had channeled through Mystic Jade Hands vanished without a trace, while the finesse of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon was brutally cut short.

Tang San's expression changed. He tried to pull away, only to find that his wrist would not budge.

"Let go!"

Tang San growled. He pressed two fingers together on his left hand and jabbed at Chu Chen's ribs.

Mysterious Heaven Skill Inner Power ran through those fingers. The bottleneck he had yet to break through limited its force, but a clean hit would still have been excruciating.

Chu Chen simply flicked his wrist. With a crack, he dislocated Tang San's wrist as easily as anything.

Tang San's jabbing fingers immediately went limp.

Then Chu Chen kicked.

Thud!

Tang San lost his balance and slammed face-first into the dirt, kicking up a cloud of dust.

He had been speaking as he fell, and his mouth struck a stone on the ground. Four teeth broke off.

Two upper front teeth and two lower front teeth.

The children watching erupted.

"Wow! Chu Chen is amazing!"

"One move! Just one move!"

"Ha! Little Scumbag always acts so tough, but he can't take a hit!"

Tang San lay on the ground, the children's laughter and cries ringing in his ears. Shame and fury nearly overwhelmed him.

After a long moment, he sprang to his feet. Ignoring the dust covering him, he glared at Chu Chen with bloodshot eyes.

"You... what martial art was that?"

"Martial art?"

Chu Chen tilted his head, amusement in his eyes.

"A fight's a fight. What's with all the fancy nonsense? You think striking a few poses makes something a secret art?"

"You're dead!"

The words secret art pushed Tang San past restraint.

He drove every last bit of his Mysterious Heaven Skill Inner Power to its limit and lunged. His still-functioning left hand struck with all its strength, as if he were ready to stake everything on this attack.

Chu Chen shook his head. He could not even be bothered to use his hands.

He shifted his feet slightly, turned aside from Tang San's furious strike, and drove his shoulder forward.

It was Iron Mountain Lean, a secret move of Kun Fist that Chu Chen had learned in his previous life!

Bang!

A dull impact rang out.

Tang San stumbled back five or six steps and dropped onto his backside. Clutching his chest, he coughed violently, his face flushed red.

"Well, Little Scumbag? Want to keep going?"

Chu Chen walked up to Tang San and looked down at him, his voice flat.

Tang San gritted his teeth and stared up at Chu Chen, his eyes full of shock, humiliation, and resentment.

The Tang Sect's secret arts, the techniques he took such pride in, had proved utterly useless against this "idiot" he had always looked down on in private!

He had not even seen what move Chu Chen used, and already he had lost completely.

"You... when did you..."

Tang San slowly got up and struggled to ask when Chu Chen had become so skilled.

"None of your damn business."

Chu Chen cut him off, turned toward the children still cheering, and clapped his hands.

"Monkey show's over. Time to go home and eat. Move along."

The children crowded around him, laughing and talking over one another as they asked how he had gotten so strong.

"I'll remember this humiliation, Chu Chen!" Tang San spat.

Chu Chen had barely brushed off a few questions when he heard Tang San's voice, tight with rage, from nearby.

He looked over. Tang San's fists were clenched, and his eyes held a dark malice utterly at odds with his childish face.

If your old man weren't still in the village, I'd have killed your ass already!

But just because he could not kill Little Scumbag did not mean he could not hit him!

Chu Chen sneered and walked back to Tang San. Under Tang San's frightened gaze, he raised his hand and slapped him hard across the face.

Smack!

"You little scumbag!"

Smack!

"Still haven't learned your lesson?"

Smack!

"Do I not have a name?"

Smack!

"Didn't I tell you today?"

Smack!

"If I heard you call me that nickname again—"

Smack!

"I'd tear your damn mouth apart!"

Smack!

"I'm asking you! Do you remember now?"