Taking a Stand

Taking a Stand

"You—"

Zhou Shulin's eyes turned bloodshot as he suddenly took a step forward.

Liang He hurriedly grabbed Zhou Shulin. "Senior Brother Zhou, Hall Master Li isn't here."

Just then, disciples of the Heaven and Earth Alliance happened to pass by. Seeing Heaven One Hall's people fighting among themselves, they folded their arms and stood to the side, watching the spectacle with great interest.

As Han Peng saw more and more people gathering, Li Rui's reputation made him feel somewhat uneasy. But he was here to guard the grounds, and naturally, he had his own methods.

"With Deputy Hall Master Eagle backing us, nothing should happen."

Han Peng gritted his teeth.

Though he did not want to make a big deal out of this, he could not let it end so hastily either. Otherwise, it would only become harder to deal with Li Rui's two men in the future.

Han Peng exchanged a glance with Yang San.

Yang San stepped forward and looked disdainfully at Liang He. "Kid, I hear you're quite the fighter. Why don't this senior brother spar with you and teach you a few moves?"

He deliberately wanted to provoke Liang He.

The Heaven and Earth Alliance encouraged its disciples to spar with one another to improve their strength. On the surface, this was the only avenue through which disciples could fight.

Yang San had seen plenty of youngsters like Liang He. Every last one of them could not stand being provoked. Yet to his surprise, Liang He did not even look at him, instead turning to leave while pulling Zhou Shulin along.

Before leaving, his lips moved.

Though no sound came out, any citizen of the Yu Kingdom could recognize that classic national treasure of a curse.

"Dumbass."

Yang San immediately felt he had lost face. A seasoned old hand like him had actually been humiliated by some greenhorn.

He reached out with one large hand. "Junior Brother Liang, someone reported that you stole a Cultivation Method from the hall. You must be searched."

Liang He's gaze turned cold.

When his provocation failed, this bastard began slinging mud. These ground guards loved using such filthy, underhanded tricks.

If Yang San searched him, he would surely plant evidence on him. Out of the corner of his eye, Liang He caught sight of a figure on the second floor of Heaven One Hall.

It was Eagle Six.

So long as Yang San framed him, Eagle Six could seize the chance to make it a settled fact. Then, even if Li Rui wanted to help, the alliance's rules and the lack of evidence would leave him powerless.

Liang He gritted his teeth. "You have no right to search me. Get the fuck out of my way."

Yang San's smile only widened. Seeing that Liang He still had not drawn his sword, he felt a little regretful.

If Liang He could not endure the humiliation and drew his sword, Yang San would have an excuse to use weapons too. Then, with one "accidental" slip, he could sever Liang He's hand and foot tendons and turn him into a cripple.

As long as no one died, with the Discipline Hall belonging to Deputy Master Zhao, nothing could possibly go wrong.

"You're courting death."

A trace of cruelty appeared at the corner of Yang San's mouth.

Both hands shot toward Liang He's shoulders, while one foot stepped between Liang He's legs. In an instant, a standard folk-wrestling stance took shape.

Such a move was best suited for two men bent on proving their courage and fighting viciously.

Liang He's reaction was not slow either. Li Rui's words surfaced in his mind.

"Those who practice martial arts must have three parts ferocity."

A cold glint flashed through his eyes as his right hand scooped upward at Yang San's crotch!

"Aah!!"

A miserable howl rang through Heaven One Hall's courtyard. The onlookers all shuddered, feeling a chill below the belt.

Yang San collapsed to the ground in agony, both hands clutching his groin as beads of sweat the size of soybeans seeped from his forehead.

A shattered egg was not a pleasant feeling.

He forced himself to rise through the pain and stared at Liang He with bloodshot eyes.

No matter what, he had never expected a clean-cut branch hall disciple to fight with so little martial virtue.

Liang He, meanwhile, looked delighted.

"Hall Master Li was right after all. The purpose of fighting is to win. As long as you can win, the means do not matter at all!"

"Groin grabs and eye gouges are stronger than swordsmanship. If you can beat them, beat them to death. If you can't, poison them or ambush them."

Just as he was summing up his experience—

Yang San's rage reached its peak. "Han Peng, get him with me!"

With that, he pounced again.

Han Peng had not wanted to join in. Sparring and ganging up on someone were two entirely different things. If the other deputy masters learned of it, they might be expelled from the Heaven and Earth Alliance.

But Yang San had already lost his mind, and Han Peng was riding a tiger with no way to dismount.

In the end, he gritted his teeth and rushed in as well.

Before long, the four were tangled in a melee.

Though Liang He's strength had surged recently, Zhou Shulin's combat ability was far inferior to Han Peng and Yang San, who had spent years roaming the martial world. Soon, it became two against one, and Liang He was beaten until his face was bruised and swollen.

Both sides gradually fought themselves into a fury.

Although Han Peng and Yang San had Liang He suppressed on the surface, the kid's moves were simply too insidious, all aimed below the belt.

Yang San, especially, had already been driven to the brink.

Liang He was practically a madman. It was as though he had fixed his sights on Yang San's bird—he would rather take their punches head-on than miss a chance to kick him in the crotch.

"Practice truly brings forth real knowledge."

Liang He's eyes grew brighter and brighter.

What was the ultimate secret of fighting in a gang brawl?

It was to seize one person and beat him to death, to beat him so badly he could not get out of bed for a month. One fight had to make the other party thoroughly afraid, or there would only be more trouble in the future.

Zhou Shulin saw Liang He's intention as well.

Struggling to his feet, he kicked Yang San and cursed loudly.

"Fuck your mother."

Zhou Shulin's kick sent Yang San rolling several times across the ground before he finally managed to stop.

His face was now twisted with fury, veins throbbing.

Even when guarding the grounds, he had never suffered such a loss. Han Peng looked at him with sympathy as well.

"Fuck, die!"

With a clang.

Yang San drew the saber at his waist and raised it to slash at Liang He.

Han Peng was too late to stop him.

Just as the saber was less than a foot from Liang He's back of the head, a pebble shot through the air and struck Yang San's blade squarely.

Yang San felt an enormous force jolt through his wrist.

His Blade Momentum stalled, and his body staggered one step back.

He stared at the blade in disbelief. He had nearly been unable to hold onto his saber just now?!

Then—

An old man slowly walked over.

"Daring to draw a blade against a fellow disciple, by alliance rules, you shall receive Three Cuts and Six Holes or be expelled from the sect. Choose for yourself."

Li Rui stood with his hands behind his back, the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

He looked as though every pearl of wisdom rested in his grasp.

Yang San's expression turned ugly. Once he calmed down, he realized just how foolish his actions had been.

He turned toward the second floor of Heaven One Hall for help.

Before long, Eagle Six came downstairs.

His face was dark as well. He had not expected the situation to reverse, turning into Li Rui making trouble for him.

Eagle Six even suspected that Li Rui's timely appearance had been staged from the start. It was just that he could find no proof.

"Hall Master Li, I alone was rash in this matter. I hope you can be lenient."

He believed he had already lowered his stance enough.

After all, he had only sent Han Peng and Yang San to take the wind out of Li Rui's sails. By saying this, he was admitting defeat. Li Rui should not tear all pretense of civility apart over two subordinates.

But to his surprise—

Li Rui shook his head.

"I believe Deputy Hall Master Eagle has misunderstood. It is not a matter of whether I forgive him. Yang San's actions broke the rules. He slapped the face of the Branch Master and Deputy Master Zhao."

"He must be severely punished!"