Chicks pecking at each other

Everyone hurriedly looked up and saw that the speaker was Ye Xicheng, seated behind the long table.

As Ye Xicheng spoke, the dozen or so burly men guarding the camp entrance all took a large step forward, their blade-sharp eyes fixed on the Martial Academy disciples.

The Martial Academy disciples were used to swaggering around Windrise Stronghold. Wherever they went, most people they encountered treated them with meek deference.

Now, under the unblinking stares of these Demon Hunting Team men, they felt as though ferocious beasts had marked them as prey, ready to bring utter ruin upon them at any moment.

Their usual arrogance vanished. Each disciple looked tense, hardly daring to breathe.

Every member of the Demon Hunting Team had fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood. Their hands had taken either human lives or demon lives. Their intimidating presence came not from rank or status, but from the sabers in their hands.

Song Yuming's expression changed drastically. He cupped his hands toward Ye Xicheng from a distance. "Sir, my father is Song Yuan, chief administrator of the Internal Affairs Office."

Chen Shi'an frowned slightly.

For fuck's sake. Sitting peacefully at home, only for disaster to fall out of the sky.

Chief administrator of the Internal Affairs Office might have been a somewhat incongruous title, but its holder controlled Windrise Stronghold's purse strings and wielded considerable power.

With such a father behind Song Yuming, it was no wonder the other Martial Academy disciples fawned over him.

He had only come to stand in line, yet somehow he had offended an official's son. His luck really was rotten.

He glanced to the side and saw that the smile had vanished from Fang Ruyu's face, replaced by guilt.

When his gaze reached her, she hurriedly turned her head away, not daring to meet his eyes.

The contrast with her earlier behavior was unmistakable.

What the hell?

This woman's head isn't always screwed on straight either. From now on, I'll avoid her whenever I can and keep my dealings with her to a minimum.

Ye Xicheng raised his eyes slightly and put on a thoughtful expression. "Song Yuan? The name rings a bell."

Delight appeared on Song Yuming's face. He pointed at Chen Shi'an. "This man provoked and insulted me without cause. Please see justice done for me, sir."

Ye Xicheng looked at Chen Shi'an and said mildly, "You dared offend even the son of the Internal Affairs Office's chief administrator. You've certainly got nerve.

"Hurry up and apologize to him, and we'll leave it at that. Neither of you is to pursue this any further. Don't hold up today's selection."

Song Yuming frowned, displeased, but since he did not know Ye Xicheng's identity, he dared not openly object.

Anyone with eyes could see that, although Ye Xicheng had told Chen Shi'an to apologize, he was clearly favoring him.

Song Yuming had powerful backing. He was a Martial Academy disciple himself, with the chief administrator of the Internal Affairs Office for a father. If the conflict continued, Chen Shi'an would plainly be the one to suffer.

By having Chen Shi'an apologize and brushing the matter aside, Ye Xicheng was giving him a helping hand.

At this point, Chen Shi'an should have taken the offered step down and escaped this disaster.

Unexpectedly, Chen Shi'an took a small step forward and bowed respectfully to Ye Xicheng. "I would not dare disobey your instructions, sir.

"However, before I apologize, there are some things I cannot keep bottled up. I beg you to give me a chance to speak."

"Oh?" Ye Xicheng's tone remained mild. "Then let's hear it."

"Thank you, sir!"

Chen Shi'an bowed respectfully again. "The Demon Hunting Team is the guardian deity of our Windrise Stronghold. It deters demon beasts beyond our walls and purges evil within them. To me, it is a sacred hall I have always yearned to enter.

"From beginning to end today, I neither insulted nor provoked Song Yuming. I have done nothing wrong. Song Yuming is spitting blood to smear an innocent man.

"I am only a nobody. Bowing my head and apologizing means nothing.

"But for such a reversal of black and white to happen because of me, right outside the camp of the rigorously disciplined Demon Hunting Team, fills me with shame."

"Chen Shi'an, shut your mouth! With all these witnesses here, you still dare twist the facts?"

Song Yuming roared in anger.

The other Martial Academy disciples chimed in:

"What hole did this fool crawl out of? Does he think a sharp tongue can muddy everyone's eyes and ears?"

"You there, Chen! Have you even got a pair? You said it, but you won't own up to it!"

"Sir, I can testify for Senior Brother Song. Just now, Chen Shi'an prov-insulted and provoked Senior Brother Song for no reason. His attitude was utterly arrogant, and his words were vicious!"

"Exactly! Senior Brother Song is kindhearted and generous. He didn't want to disrupt the Demon Hunting Team's selection, either, so he kept giving ground. But Chen Shi'an kept pressing him. Please arrest him, sir, and uphold law and discipline!"

Fang Ruyu moved a little closer, guilt on her face. Her hands clutched the hem of her skirt, and her eyes were conflicted, but in the end she said nothing.

Just then, Ye Xicheng tapped lightly on the table, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

But these Martial Academy disciples were accustomed to arrogance. Although they saw his gesture, they ignored it and continued splashing dirty water over Chen Shi'an.

Suddenly, a dark-faced Demon Hunting Team man with a horizontal saber at his waist took a great stride forward and roared:

"Shut your fucking mouths! Do you think the Demon Hunting Team is a market? Anyone who keeps yapping gets his balls crushed!"

The Martial Academy disciples froze, then flushed crimson. Some had twitching faces; others had veins bulging on their foreheads.

When had they ever suffered such humiliation?

But looking at the dark-faced man's iron-tower build, not one of them dared make a sound.

Some of the male Martial Academy disciples also instinctively clamped their thighs together.

The scene fell silent in an instant. Even the spectators nearby held their breath.

At that moment, a female Martial Academy disciple with a few freckles on her left cheekbone apparently decided that balls had nothing to do with her. She lifted her chin and declared indignantly:

"How can your Demon Hunting Team be so crude and overbearing? We are respectable Martial Academy disciples! Someone insulted and provoked us without cause, and now you won't even let us argue our case?"

The dark-faced man chuckled. "Little wench, you've got some nerve. You think that because you have no balls to crush, I can't do anything to you..."

Before he could finish, Ye Xicheng rolled his eyes. "Nine out of every ten things you say are about balls. I swear you don't know how to talk about anything else.

"You disgraceful lout. Roll out of the way!"

The dark-faced man grinned, did a backward somersault, rolled through the air several times, and retreated to the camp gate.

The freckled disciple misread Ye Xicheng's actions.

Thinking she had right on her side, she raised her voice. "If the Demon Hunting Team cannot handle today's matter impartially and arrest Chen Shi'an, our Martial Academy will demand an explanation from you!"

Ye Xicheng narrowed his eyes, cold light shooting from them.

That gesture was like a bugle sounding the charge.

The dozen or so Demon Hunting Team men sprang into action like fierce tigers descending a mountain.

In a few swift strides, they reached the freckled disciple and surrounded her.

The Martial Academy disciples present were hardly weak.

In cultivation realm alone, they were not far below these Demon Hunting Team men.

But facing men steeped in an aura of iron and blood, the Martial Academy disciples had no fighting spirit whatsoever. They all backed away, none daring to stand in their path.

"What are you doing?" the freckled disciple cried in panic.

Smack!

The dark-faced Demon Hunting Team man who had stepped out earlier strode forward and slapped her, sending her stumbling.

"Didn't you say our Demon Hunting Team owed your Martial Academy an explanation? There's my fucking explanation!"

The dark-faced man raised his hand again. "Little wench, when I was licking blood off a blade's edge, you were still curled up in your mother's arms, sucking milk.

"A mere Martial Academy disciple! Throwing your weight around in front of other people is one thing, but you actually dared come here and run wild in our Demon Hunting Team.

"Unless I show you a little color, you'll never learn why the flowers are so red."

As his words fell, his palm was poised to strike again.

The freckled disciple had been stunned senseless by the slap. She stood rooted to the spot with disheveled hair, having forgotten even to dodge.

"Enough."

Ye Xicheng spoke softly. "Throw her out. If anyone else dares make trouble or run their mouth, forget about observing the Demon Hunting Team's selection. Go back where you came from."

The dark-faced man gave a vicious grin, grabbed the freckled disciple by the neck as though she were a chick, and strode away.

The other Martial Academy disciples stood where they were, pale-faced and at a loss.

Song Yuming swallowed and cupped his hands toward Ye Xicheng. "Sir, my junior sister spoke offensively just now. Please forgive her."

By now, he had probably formed some idea of Ye Xicheng's identity.

Ye Xicheng lifted his eyelids slightly but said nothing.

Song Yuming continued, "My father and you both serve as officials in the Stronghold. For my father's sake, please give my junior sister a..."

Ye Xicheng waved a hand. "This commander's eyes aren't blind, and his ears aren't deaf. I saw exactly what happened.

"If not for your father, I would have stripped you of your eligibility for the selection.

"And you still think you can plead for someone else?"

He gave a cold laugh. "Chief administrator of the Internal Affairs Office. Quite a lofty position.

"But let me remind you: your father may control the money and provisions of the entire Stronghold, but he has no authority over our Demon Hunting Team.

"Dragging his name out won't help you in the slightest.

"Say another word, and you'll be thrown out too!"

Song Yuming's face went deathly pale.

Although he merely looked clever, even he now understood who Ye Xicheng was.

How could he dare keep talking? He hurriedly shut his mouth, lowered his head, and stood obediently in line.

Ye Xicheng curled his lip. "I've no interest in watching you chicks peck at each other.

"But aren't both of you here to take part in the Demon Hunting Team's selection?

"You'll have a chance to settle whatever grudges you have shortly. When the time comes, don't just fight with your mouths. Let me see which of you actually has a pair."

Chen Shi'an had never expected things to take this turn.

Despite being directly involved, he had somehow become a spectator enjoying the show.

Seeing Song Yuming and the others humiliated naturally made his heart blossom with joy. The corners of his mouth rose slightly, and he could not press them down.

Perhaps he had let his delight get the better of him, because Ye Xicheng noticed his expression.

"Your name is Chen Shi'an?"

Ye Xicheng spoke suddenly and beckoned him over.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Shi'an strode to the long table and bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Commander Ye."

Ye Xicheng first swept an indifferent glance over him, then quickly opened the register in his hand. "What is your relationship with Hou Fang?"

Chen Shi'an answered respectfully, "Commander Ye, Hou Fang is a close friend of my elder brother."

Ye Xicheng nodded slightly. "Hou Fang was a fine hand when he served in our Demon Hunting Team. He dared fight and charge forward. Someone he recommended shouldn't be a coward.

"But when you clashed with the Martial Academy people, you tried to drag our Demon Hunting Team into the water with you. Quite the schemer.

"Luckily for you, the Martial Academy people are even more obnoxious. Otherwise, I'd have dealt with you too."

Chen Shi'an's expression changed slightly. He cupped his hands again. "Thank you for showing mercy, Commander Ye."

The corners of Ye Xicheng's mouth lifted. "Don't celebrate too soon, Chen Shi'an. You've only cleared the hurdle immediately before you.

"You've already offended Song Yuming. If you fail the selection and can't become a member of the Demon Hunting Team, retaliation from the Song family and the Martial Academy will land on you immediately."

Chen Shi'an smiled slightly. "Commander Ye, my strength is naturally insignificant compared with yours, but lifting a four-hundred-jin stone should be no problem."

Ye Xicheng chuckled. "Who said lifting a four-hundred-jin stone would be enough for you to join the Demon Hunting Team?"

Chen Shi'an faltered. "Isn't that what the notice said?"

Ye Xicheng gave a light laugh. "My words carry more weight than the notice. Other people can join the Demon Hunting Team by lifting a four-hundred-jin stone. You can't.

"Besides lifting that stone, you must also win a squad leader position. If you can't, the Demon Hunting Team won't keep you."

"Squad leader?"

Chen Shi'an frowned. "Why am I being treated differently?"

Ye Xicheng snorted softly. "You dared scheme against our Demon Hunting Team. Shouldn't you pay a price?"

After a brief silence, Chen Shi'an asked quietly, "How do I become a squad leader?"

Ye Xicheng smiled slightly. "You'll find out once you've lifted the four-hundred-jin stone."

His eyes rested on Chen Shi'an with an inscrutable look. "In the Desolate Ruins, brains and courage aren't enough. When you aren't as strong as someone else, you must learn to bow your head when necessary.

"Staying alive matters more than anything.

"I'm in a good mood today, so you get this lesson for free."

Chen Shi'an felt indignant, but a smile appeared on his face. "Thank you for your instruction, Commander. I will remember it well."

The corners of Ye Xicheng's mouth rose high again. "A youngster worth teaching."

Then he flicked his wrist and tossed a palm-sized, blue-green square metal token toward Chen Shi'an.

Chen Shi'an caught it and saw a number inscribed on it: 318.

This was his identification token for the Demon Hunting Team's selection.

"Go in."

Without even conducting the customary verification, Ye Xicheng let Chen Shi'an skip the queue and admitted him directly.

Somewhat surprised, Chen Shi'an cupped his hands slightly toward Ye Xicheng again, then strode toward the Demon Hunting Team's camp gate.

Song Yuming and the other two Martial Academy disciples stood in line, their eyes flickering. They dared feel angry but dared not speak.

The other Martial Academy disciples fared even worse, shrinking away to one side for fear of offending these harbingers of calamity from the Demon Hunting Team.

Fang Ruyu stared blankly at Chen Shi'an's swiftly receding back, her eyes conflicted.

Earlier, Chen Shi'an had said that they were merely acquaintances who had met a few times.

In a moment of anger, she had stirred Song Yuming into action.

She had never expected to bring so much trouble upon Chen Shi'an.