How Disgusting

"Xia Yu, come out and die!"

The furious shout echoed throughout the Dao-Seeking Academy.

A moment later, Xia Yu appeared at the academy's gates.

A group of young men stood outside, swords and sabers strapped to their backs, bristling with murderous intent.

Three men stood at the front. The one on the left looked like a fine young gentleman in a world of corruption, dressed in white, with a pale face, thick brows, and an iron fan in his hand. He carried himself with effortless elegance.

But the contempt in his narrow eyes as he looked at others was deeply unpleasant.

The man on the right was a burly brute, well over ten feet tall, with a face full of savage-looking flesh. A spiked club more than ten feet long rested on his shoulder, gleaming coldly.

Yet he wore a blue-green robe, stretched taut over his body, which made him look rather odd.

The young man in the middle had sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a fair, beardless face. Hands clasped behind his back, he stood handsome and graceful as a jade tree in the wind, his face filled with arrogance.

When Xia Yu appeared, the man holding the iron fan gave a cold smile. "You're Xia Yu?"

"Yes."

"I am Nangong Yu." Nangong Yu turned toward the man in the middle and said with a trace of humility, "This is Little Marquis Jiang, Jiang Yuqi of the Marquis's Residence!"

Then he straightened, his expression darkening. "Get over here and kneel before Little Marquis Jiang."

A smile slowly spread across Xia Yu's face...

Anyone who knew Xia Yu would have understood what that smile meant: he was displeased.

"Oh? The Marquis's Residence has two little marquises! I know another one myself. Tsk, tsk, tsk... the little marquis who pissed and shat himself in terror!"

"That sight? One word: spectacular!"

Xia Yu shook his head with a smile.

"That useless piece of trash? He deserves to be called a little marquis?"

Jiang Yuqi's expression darkened, his voice icy.

"He says he's the little marquis, and you say you're the little marquis. Which of you is actually the little marquis? Or does your family have a whole bunch of marquises?"

Jiang Yuqi's face fell, and he narrowed his eyes. "You're courting death!"

This subject was taboo to Jiang Yuqi. He was a concubine's son.

"My hands are itching for a fight," Xia Yu said with a smile.

Jiang Yuqi glanced back. A burly man suddenly stepped out from the crowd, holding a gleaming saber, his face fierce.

"You dare disrespect the little marquis? Die!"

With a sharp shout, the burly man leaped into the air and lunged down at him, his saber flashing brilliantly.

Xia Yu watched quietly with a smile, neither speaking nor moving.

Clang!

With the ring of metal striking metal, the saber slammed into Xia Yu's head.

The blade flashed.

Half the broken saber flew backward and landed right in front of Jiang Yuqi.

Still smiling, Xia Yu brushed his hair aside. "What a shoddy saber. It didn't even cut a single hair. Sigh..."

Xia Yu shook his head. "Little Marquis Jiang, was it? You sent a useless Profound Origin Realm cultivator at me. Who exactly are you looking down on?"

Jiang Yuqi sneered. "True enough. A country bumpkin who dares come to the Capital City must have a few tricks up his sleeve."

"Country bumpkins who have just arrived in the Capital City often act like this when they think they've got a little ability. I've seen plenty."

"I'll give you a chance. Kneel and swear your loyalty to me, and I'll spare your life! I'll give you wealth and glory!"

Jiang Yuqi cast Xia Yu a glance, his gaze heavy with the air of someone handing out charity.

Xia Yu was stunned!

Those still inside the Dao-Seeking Academy were stunned as well!

The people behind Jiang Yuqi, however, looked as though this were only natural.

Even Xia Yu's smile stiffened briefly. He said helplessly, "Looks like you didn't bother finding out who I was before coming here."

"Hahaha! Find out who you are? Are you even worthy?"

Before Jiang Yuqi could speak, Nangong Yu burst out laughing.

As though they had heard the funniest joke in the world, everyone behind him joined in.

"Who do you think you are? You're just a country bumpkin who recently came to the Capital City! Oh..."

Suddenly, Nangong Yu drew out that last sound. "You think you've got someone backing you? You think the Dao-Seeking Academy is your backer, don't you? Hahaha..."

He laughed without the slightest restraint!

"What a country bumpkin. The Dao-Seeking Academy fell into decline long ago. If His Majesty didn't cherish old ties, it would have been torn down ages ago!"

"Haha! Do you think this is the Martial Saint Academy?"

Xia Yu's smile deepened. "Is the Martial Saint Academy that strong?"

"Of course! Our Little Marquis Jiang is an inner disciple. At only twenty years old, he's already an expert at the fourth level of King Tier. Do you even know what King Tier is?"

"Let me tell you, anyone below King Tier is nothing but an ant! Our little marquis isn't just at King Tier. He ranks eighth among the inner disciples. Forget it, you wouldn't understand even if I explained."

"Come here, kneel, and beg the little marquis for forgiveness!"

Xia Yu rubbed his chin. "Eighth among the inner disciples, huh? A King Tier cultivator. Impressive, impressive!"

"But honestly, killing a King Tier cultivator only takes one spear thrust."

"Especially the ones from the Martial Saint Academy. I've never needed a second thrust."

At those words, Jiang Yuqi froze.

He had not investigated Xia Yu before coming. He had merely heard his elder brother tearfully complaining to their father at home, then brought his men over.

He was already giving a country bumpkin immense face by coming in person.

When he had passed the Martial Saint Academy earlier, he had vaguely heard that something had happened there, that someone had caused trouble.

But in his mind, the Martial Saint Academy was the strongest academy in the Great Xia Dynasty, incomparably powerful. Even if someone caused trouble there, they would come to no good end.

He was not someone who liked joining a spectacle. Though the academy was recruiting new students today, he had not gone at all. That was the outer disciples' business.

Now, hearing Xia Yu's words, he frowned slightly. "You were the one causing trouble at the Martial Saint Academy today?"

"That was me." Xia Yu nodded.

"Then why are you still alive?" Jiang Yuqi asked.

Xia Yu was speechless. Why was he still alive? How was he supposed to answer that?

Then Jiang Yuqi nodded. "So someone from the Dao-Seeking Academy saved you. Heh, this academy really is getting worse and worse, rescuing even a country bumpkin like you."

"But it seems the Dao-Seeking Academy doesn't think much of you, either. Even now, not a single person has come out."

"Very well. Since you caused trouble at the Martial Saint Academy, I won't take you in. Old Lü, seize him. Keep him alive and send him to the Martial Saint Academy."

"Right away, Little Marquis!"

The burly brute beside him grinned. "Kid, that scrawny body of yours couldn't take a single punch from me. Hehe... I, Lü Junxiu, won't bully you!"

With a clang, he set his spiked club on the ground. His knuckles cracked as he strode forward.

With every step, the ground trembled slightly.

Xia Yu was utterly speechless.

He turned back and said mildly, "Second Senior Brother, does everyone in the Capital City think this highly of themselves? And do they all have this much drama going on in their heads?"

"Or is everyone from the Martial Saint Academy like this?"

"Hehe, Junior Brother, it's definitely everyone from the Martial Saint Academy. They think they're number one under heaven."

Shen Yuxuan slowly walked out.

But judging by his manner, he had no intention of intervening. He folded his arms and leaned against the gate.

Xia Yu nodded.

"Old Lü, be careful!"

Seeing Shen Yuxuan appear, Jiang Yuqi hurriedly warned him. He had a bad feeling.

"Haha! Don't worry, Little Marquis!"

Lü Junxiu spread his huge, palm-leaf-fan-sized hand and grabbed at Xia Yu.

Xia Yu waited until the palm was right before his eyes, then suddenly threw a punch.

"Thud!"

A muffled impact rang out.

Crack!

The next moment, Lü Junxiu's eyes widened as he watched his wrist slowly twist out of shape.

"A brute as rough as you, with a name like Junxiu-'handsome and refined'? How disgusting!"

Xia Yu's face was wreathed in smiles.