"Lin Fan, what nonsense are you spouting? Do you have any respect for me as your eldest senior brother?" Zhang Yu roared, his gaze looking murderous.
Lin Fan dug at his left ear. "Why are you shouting? I'm not deaf. I'm telling the truth. As the eldest senior brother, is impotent rage all you're capable of?" Lin Fan shot straight back.
Fury surged through Zhang Yu. He stepped in front of Lin Fan and swung his palm down viciously.
Lin Fan stared coldly at him. "I'm the head steward's prospective disciple!"
Zhang Yu's hand stopped beside Lin Fan's face, the force of its passage stirring Lin Fan's hair.
Zhang Yu glared at Lin Fan. "Only a prospective disciple. Anyone who didn't know better would think you'd already become the head steward's disciple!"
Lin Fan gave a cold smile. "Go ahead and bring that slap down. See if Li Feng can protect you."
Conflict showed on Zhang Yu's face. If he slapped him, he would be slapping not just Lin Fan's face, but the head steward's as well. The person backing him would certainly not protect him.
But if he didn't, he would lose all face and authority.
Fortunately, Li Feng came to his rescue just then.
"Eldest Senior Brother, there's no need for you to teach Lin Fan a lesson. Just let your junior brother handle it."
Zhang Yu took the offered way out and stepped aside. Li Feng walked up to Lin Fan. Their eyes met, and each saw the killing intent in the other's gaze.
"Lin Fan, remember, you can only become the head steward's disciple once your Iron Cloth Shirt reaches major accomplishment. How's your cultivation of it coming along?" Li Feng asked mockingly.
"That's no concern of yours," Lin Fan said indifferently.
"How could a senior brother not care about his junior brother? Let me give you some pointers now." As soon as Li Feng finished speaking, his fist smashed toward Lin Fan's face.
A savage grin curled his lips. He had wanted to beat Lin Fan up for a long time, and today, he finally had the chance to get his wish.
Seeing this, Zhang Yu smiled. Major accomplishment against minor accomplishment is like an adult beating a child. Lin Fan, once you're beaten into a dead dog, let's see how you keep acting so arrogant! he sneered inwardly.
The other outer courtyard disciples also shook their heads inwardly, already picturing Lin Fan being beaten into a pig's head.
A smile also curled Lin Fan's lips. Little did they know that he, too, had been waiting a long time for this opportunity.
Li Feng's fist drew closer and closer to Lin Fan's face. This punch will knock your nose crooked! Li Feng thought smugly.
Just as his fist was about to touch Lin Fan's nose, his vision blurred, and he discovered that Lin Fan had vanished.
Then a fist rapidly grew larger in his pupils. He wanted to dodge, but realized he was far too late.
Bang!
Fist struck flesh, and blood sprayed from a nose. The scene everyone had expected unfolded, yet everyone fell into an eerie silence.
Because the person whose nose was gushing blood had changed.
Li Feng clutched his nose, staring at Lin Fan with shock and fury. He couldn't understand how an ant he could kill with one punch had actually gained the ability to hurt him.
Zhang Yu's pupils contracted. As a bystander, he had seen it more clearly.
"Basic mastery of Gale Leg and Gang-Breaking Fist!" he cried out in disbelief.
He had clearly only told Han Feng to teach them once. Not only had Lin Fan grasped them, he had actually achieved basic mastery. This was utterly absurd!
Zhang Yu's cry made Li Feng understand the reason. He was so shocked that he fell into a daze, and a chill rose in his heart. If Lin Fan possessed such talent for martial arts, it would be nothing short of a calamity for him.
But Lin Fan wasn't going to stand around in a daze with him. How could he pass up such a fine opportunity to deal with Li Feng?
"Senior Brother Li, let your junior brother continue experiencing your 'guidance.'" With that shout, he threw another heavy punch, this one aimed at Li Feng's face.
Li Feng snapped out of it and frantically retreated, but Lin Fan followed him like a shadow.
Bang!
Li Feng's cheek deformed, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. His face rapidly flushed red, partly from pain and partly from anger and humiliation.
"Bastard, I'll kill you!" Rage overwhelmed Li Feng, and he lunged straight at Lin Fan, intent on crushing him with absolute strength.
Lin Fan scoffed, stepped sideways, then lifted his foot slightly and stuck it in front of Li Feng's feet. Li Feng lost his balance and fell straight to the ground, landing like a dog eating shit.
"Pfft..."
"Heh..."
Stifled laughter rang out. Many outer courtyard disciples couldn't hold it in.
Every burst of laughter struck Li Feng's face like a slap. He wished he could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
The smile on Lin Fan's lips widened. "Oh, Senior Brother Li, weren't you going to give your junior brother some pointers? Why are you lying on the ground?"
Li Feng clenched his fists tightly and looked back at Lin Fan with eyes full of fury. "Lin Fan, don't get smug! Once I've cultivated martial techniques, I'll make you regret ever coming into this world!" he roared like a wild beast.
But to Lin Fan, his threats were nothing more than a puppy barking in his face. If they weren't in the martial hall, he could crush Li Feng to death with a single finger.
Belatedly reacting, Zhang Yu hurried over to Li Feng and helped him up. Killing intent brewed in his eyes. Lin Fan's talent for martial arts made him feel an immense threat.
He has to die! he roared inwardly.
Lin Fan noticed his killing intent, and his own surged within him as well. Didn't he want to kill Zhang Yu just as much?
Zhang Yu helped Li Feng away, unwilling to stay there and lose any more face with him.
After they left, the entire gathering burst into laughter. The long-oppressed outer courtyard disciples could finally vent their pent-up resentment, and their gazes were full of gratitude as they looked at Lin Fan.
Lin Fan headed toward the dining hall, leaving them a carefree view of his retreating figure.
The sound of objects shattering and repeated furious roars came from Li Feng's training room.
"Kill him! I have to kill him! Zhang Yu, I don't care what methods you use. You must cripple him so he can never practice martial arts again!"
"Don't worry, Junior Brother Li. I've already made the arrangements. By tonight, Lin Fan will be a cripple. In a few days, I'll personally give you a chance to kill him with your own hands."
Inside the dormitory, Lin Fan sat cross-legged on the floor. Qi and blood surged through his body, and his progress in the Body Tempering Art began rising rapidly again.
Body Tempering Art (perfection 7400/9000)...7500...7800...8200...
When his cultivation progress reached 8200, Lin Fan heard a commotion downstairs, followed by a dense flurry of footsteps.
Looks like the senior brothers who went to provide disaster relief are back, Lin Fan thought. He glanced at the lower bunk, knowing that some matters needed to be settled.
In the open space outside the dormitory, many outer courtyard disciples who had stayed behind watched the burly man at the head of the group on the stairs and silently mourned for Lin Fan.
"Junior Brother Lin Fan is in trouble. Lu Hao is notorious for being ruthless. He broke several people's legs before just to have the dormitory to himself."
"His Iron Cloth Shirt has already reached perfection, his Gang-Breaking Fist has reached minor accomplishment, and he's achieved basic mastery of Gale Leg. Lin Fan is done for."
"If Lin Fan brings up the head steward, Lu Hao wouldn't dare do anything, would he?"
"Lu Hao is a madman with no scruples. Besides, the higher-ups don't interfere with sparring between disciples."
"Look, Zhang Yu's here. He's probably planning to watch Lin Fan get thrashed."
"That petty bastard!"