A challenge at the academy

The sudden voice rang through the hall, startling everyone. They turned toward it, their gazes finally settling on a slender young man with handsome features.

On the martial arts platform, Guo Wu's eye twitched. His smile gradually froze, and his expression instantly darkened.

Was this guy here to cause trouble?

Before Guo Wu could demand an explanation, the thick-browed young man below the platform angrily shouted, "Kid, what nonsense are you spouting?"

"I'm not spouting nonsense. I'm merely pointing out the shortcomings in the techniques Senior Brother Guo just demonstrated," Jun Wangchen said calmly, meeting the gazes directed at him.

The people around him were speechless. They felt Jun Wangchen had shown Guo Wu far too little respect.

Even if the man had shortcomings, couldn't he at least offer a compliment before tactfully pointing them out? Bluntly listing a whole string of flaws like that—didn't the man have his pride?

The thick-browed young man's expression grew uglier. Suppressing his displeasure, he said gravely, "Kid, I suggest you watch what you say and do from now on. Someone once commented that our eldest senior brother's punches lacked power. When they finally sparred, he ended up with several broken bones. He's still... lying in the hospital!"

The threatening words made Jun Wangchen frown.

He had merely pointed out some of Guo Wu's shortcomings, without exaggerating or targeting him. Yet judging by everyone's reaction, especially that thick-browed young man's, why had it become as though he were deliberately stirring up trouble?

"Sir, since you think my abilities are lacking, why don't you come up here and spar with me? You can offer me some pointers." On the platform, Guo Wu twisted his neck with a series of cracks. His expression was cold, and his tone seemed to carry a hidden meaning.

Sensing the faint chill emanating from Guo Wu, everyone below the platform shuddered involuntarily. The thick-browed young man beside Jun Wangchen gave a sinister chuckle, his gaze full of mockery.

Jun Wangchen narrowed his eyes. After considering it for a moment, he shook his head. "I'm here for the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's tenth-anniversary celebration, so let's skip the sparring. As for pointers, we can discuss those when a better opportunity comes along."

Guo Wu was strong, but only by ordinary people's standards. With Jun Wangchen's current late Qi Condensation strength, he could knock Guo Wu to the ground within three moves.

Since the academy's master was a friend of Zi Hanyan's father, he could hardly go up there and humiliate Guo Wu. As the academy's eldest senior brother, Guo Wu represented much of the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy. Making him lose face would mean making the academy lose face, and Jun Wangchen would have no way to explain himself to Zi Hanyan afterward.

Unexpectedly, his words drew mocking expressions from everyone present. They all assumed he had chickened out.

The thick-browed young man also gave Jun Wangchen a disdainful look, clearly scornful of his cowardly retreat.

A trace of ridicule flashed through Guo Wu's eyes. Jun Wangchen clearly didn't dare fight him, so he had come up with that excuse. What a coward.

Jun Wangchen noticed every change in the gazes around him. He offered no explanation and simply remained silent.

Just then, two people descended from the academy's second floor. One was Zi Hanyan, and the other was a middle-aged man whose hair was slightly graying.

Upon seeing the middle-aged man, everyone cupped their fists and greeted him politely. "Master Yang!"

"Hahaha! Welcome, honored guests, to my humble establishment. Why are you all standing instead of sitting? Are you dissatisfied with the chairs I've provided?" Master Yang laughed heartily and teased them.

Everyone laughed as well. "Not at all, Master Yang. Senior Brother Guo just gave us a wonderful demonstration of martial arts techniques. We were gathered around the platform watching!"

"Is that so?" Master Yang glanced at Guo Wu in surprise but said nothing further. Instead, he smiled warmly at everyone. "It's truly an honor to have you all here for the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's tenth-anniversary celebration. Thank you for coming. The luncheon is about to begin, so please follow me upstairs."

Everyone voiced their agreement, offering congratulations as they followed Master Yang toward the second floor.

But before they could step onto the stairs, a figure suddenly flew through the academy's entrance and slammed into the floor in front of them.

Startled, everyone turned to look. A middle-aged man with a scar on his face walked in through the entrance, followed by a group of disciples in black martial arts uniforms. A faint, provocative smile lingered on his face.

"Master Yang, your academy's doorman is quite arrogant. We brought so many people here, yet he refused to let us in. Isn't that a little ungrateful?"

Looking at the doorman gasping in pain on the floor, Master Yang's expression darkened. "Song Lin, what is the meaning of this?"

"Nothing much. I heard today was your academy's tenth-anniversary celebration. Being the helpful man I am, I specially brought my disciples over to congratulate you. Surely you don't mind us coming uninvited?" Song Lin rubbed his chin and gave a sinister smile.

Master Yang narrowed his eyes. "If you really came to congratulate us, why did you beat our doorman for no reason?"

"What else could we do? I kindly brought all these people to celebrate your academy's anniversary, but your doorman wouldn't listen to reason or respond to pressure. He absolutely refused to let us in. We had no choice but to settle things with force." Song Lin spread his hands, looking utterly innocent.

Master Yang's face turned livid. If Song Lin had sincerely meant to congratulate him, he could simply have called ahead. There would have been no need to use force against the doorman.

The thick-browed young man and Guo Wu were furious as well. Song Lin hadn't come to offer congratulations at all. He had come to humiliate the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy.

Having witnessed the scene, Jun Wangchen walked over to Zi Hanyan and asked quietly, "Zi, is there bad blood between Song Lin and Master Yang?"

"There is. The Song Family Martial Arts Academy and the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy are two of the better-known academies in the East District. They've had constant disputes behind the scenes while competing for the top spot," Zi Hanyan explained with a nod.

"But in recent years, the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy has developed steadily. It also gained a strong disciple like Guo Wu, who won the martial arts academy championship three years running. As a result, its reputation has surpassed the Song Family Martial Arts Academy's."

"I see." Jun Wangchen understood now. The Song Family Martial Arts Academy had ostensibly come to congratulate its rival, but its real purpose was to cause trouble.

While the two spoke quietly, Master Yang stared at Song Lin and said gravely, "Song Lin, today marks the tenth anniversary of our academy's founding. Those who sincerely come to congratulate us are welcome, but I will never tolerate anyone who comes to cause trouble.

"Now, apologize immediately for bringing your people here and beating our doorman. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing you no courtesy!"

"That's right! Apologize now!" the academy's disciples shouted in unison, their expressions stern.

"Apologize?" Song Lin paused, then burst into laughter. The people behind him laughed along.

After three seconds, the laughter abruptly stopped. Song Lin's expression turned sinister, and his voice grew vicious.

"Let me tell you—we're here to challenge your academy today! You have only two choices: accept the challenge, or... close your doors for good!"

At those words, every disciple of the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's expression turned cold.

Guo Wu's gaze sharpened, and he remained on constant alert. If the other side really tried to wreck the academy, he would never let them succeed.

Seeing his people grow wary, Master Yang nodded inwardly. Then he raised his brows and asked gravely, "Song Lin, are you certain you want to burn all bridges with our academy?"

"Bridges?" Song Lin sneered. "Other people might be afraid of your academy, but the Song Family Martial Arts Academy isn't. Don't tell me you're so frightened now that you won't even accept a challenge?"

For the past three years, the Song Family Martial Arts Academy had consistently placed second in the academy tournament. Before they knew it, they had earned the nickname "the eternal runner-up."

Meanwhile, the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy had grown increasingly famous, attracting more and more students. This had caused the Song Family Martial Arts Academy's market share to shrink drastically. It couldn't even enroll a hundred students in a month, and many longtime members had left to study at the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy.

Today happened to be the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy's tenth-anniversary celebration. If they could undermine its reputation now, it would deal the academy a tremendous blow while greatly boosting their own standing.

After all, people these days chose an academy based on its reputation. They didn't care whether it actually had genuine skill to offer.

"The Yang Family Martial Arts Academy fears no challenge." Master Yang's expression was solemn, and his voice rang out clearly.

The students the Song Family Martial Arts Academy had recruited in recent years were a motley rabble. Coupled with poor management, their abilities amounted to little. The Yang Family Martial Arts Academy was different. Its admissions were strict, and it placed great emphasis on developing its students' skills. Their chances of winning this challenge were excellent.

Besides, so many guests had come for today's tenth-anniversary celebration. If they refused the challenge, word would spread and severely damage the academy's reputation.

Seeing Master Yang accept, a glint of satisfaction flashed through Song Lin's eyes. "The usual rules: three bouts, fought in succession. Whichever academy has a fighter left standing on the platform at the end wins."

"Agreed. But let me make this clear first: if your academy loses today, you must apologize to our doorman and pay him ten times his medical expenses. After that, you are never to set foot in our academy again," Master Yang said, his gaze cold.

"No problem!" Song Lin pinched his chin and said viciously, "But if you lose, your academy must leave the East District. You will no longer be allowed to operate an academy here."

"No!" Guo Wu's expression darkened, and he rejected the condition on the spot.

"Master Yang poured his life's work into founding and building this academy. We absolutely cannot stake it on a challenge match."

The thick-browed young man and the other disciples nodded in agreement, unwilling to yield.

Song Lin ignored Guo Wu and the others entirely, fixing his gaze on Master Yang. "What do you think, Master Yang?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Master Yang. As the academy's owner, only he could reject the terms and call off the challenge.

Guo Wu and the others shook their heads desperately at him, clearly urging him to refuse.

Yet a fiery gleam flashed in Master Yang's eyes, and he said firmly, "I accept those stakes!"

"What?" Everyone was startled. They clearly hadn't expected him to agree.

Guo Wu and the others' expressions changed, and they hurried to dissuade him. "Master, you mustn't act rashly!"

They had spent so long at the academy that they already considered it their home. For Master Yang to wager their home on this challenge was far too risky.

Master Yang remained expressionless. Instead, he demanded loudly, "What is our academy's motto?"

"Forge ahead fearlessly! Never shrink from a challenge!" Guo Wu and the others shouted together.

Master Yang's face was stern. "Since you know our motto, stand tall and give this challenge everything you have. Let them know the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy isn't a pack of cowards!"

"Understood!" His words gave Guo Wu and the others pause. Then determination filled their eyes as they answered in unison.

Beside them, Jun Wangchen nodded inwardly and gave Master Yang an admiring look.

A martial artist should forge ahead courageously, fearing no challenge. Once they retreated, an inner demon would take root and bind them for the rest of their lives.

Master Yang truly was a fine example.

Because of the challenge, the anniversary luncheon was temporarily set aside. Everyone gathered around the fighting platform, eager to watch the spectacle.

"Master, let me fight in a moment. I'll show them that our academy isn't to be trifled with." Standing beside Master Yang, Guo Wu knocked his fists together, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

Master Yang narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Wu, let the other disciples test the waters first. I'm worried they have something up their sleeves."

"Well... all right." Guo Wu hesitated, considered it for a moment, and finally restrained his impulse.

Master Yang then beckoned to the thick-browed young man and whispered a few words in his ear. Understanding immediately, the young man walked straight onto the platform.

At the same time, Song Lin also sent a fighter onto the platform.

Every gaze in the hall was now fixed on the fighting platform. They knew today's challenge was not merely a martial arts contest between two academies, but a battle for their reputations.

Would the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy send its challengers from the Song Family Martial Arts Academy packing?

Or would the Song Family Martial Arts Academy force the Yang Family Martial Arts Academy out of the East District for good?

Everything would be decided in the next three bouts!