As Lin Yunba saw it, Bu Wuchen had even dared accept Lin Taoshu's "pill duel";
he might well do something even crazier in a moment of hotheadedness!
Who knew that, upon hearing this, the youth would merely flash a roguish grin? "Heh, all that talk about how 'I can only hide under a woman's protection'..."
"The truth is, you old bastard are just green with envy, aren't you?"
"Wouldn't you love to have a peerless beauty who could make fish sink, geese fall, the moon hide, and flowers blush, protecting you with all her heart?"
"But too bad you don't have one!"
"So you have to say the grapes are sour because you can't reach them!"
"Put that way, aren't you the real 'pitiful worm'?"
As his words fell, many of the teachers and students present still couldn't help letting out deliberately restrained snickers.
After all, the man wearing that cloak was Lin Yunba, the fearsomely renowned patriarch of the Lin Lineage!
If they laughed too brazenly, they might suffer terrible retaliation someday...
"Wh-who's protecting you with all her heart?"
"You're flattering yourself..."
A blush involuntarily spread across Xia Nuoyi's cheeks, so delicate they seemed liable to break at a breath.
The corner of Lin Yunba's eye twitched, his vicious face like a demon's. "What a sharp-tongued little beast!"
"Mountains may stay put, but rivers keep flowing. The old grudges and new enmities between you and my Lin Lineage will be repaid in time!"
Then he grabbed Lin Taoshu and headed out through the crowd.
"Wait!"
Bu Wuchen barked coldly, "Trying to run before paying the compensation stipulated in the blood contract?"
Lin Yunba narrowed his aged eyes and said slowly, "Two hundred thousand gold, correct?"
"I can give you that."
"But... let's forget about kowtowing and acknowledging you as 'grandmaster'!"
"Boy, leave yourself some room in all things, so we can meet on good terms in the future. Understand?"
Clearly, compared with the painful loss of two hundred thousand gold, Lin Yunba, as the patriarch of a lineage, cared more about the ruin of his reputation!
Besides, in his view, since Bu Wuchen had already earned two hundred thousand gold, he ought to be satisfied!
There was absolutely no need to risk thoroughly enraging the Lin Lineage, the colossus of Blood Dragon City, by insisting on "kneeling and kowtowing."
Yet Bu Wuchen fearlessly met Lin Yunba's threatening gaze head-on;
the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. "Heh, you won't make him kneel? Then you can kneel instead!"
"But whoever it is..."
"Those kowtows must be made;"
"and I must be called grandmaster!"
At these words, Lin Yunba nearly glared his eyeballs out of their sockets!
The crimson lips of the girl in green silk curved into a captivating smile as she thought, Heehee, just what I'd expect from someone who caught my eye!
It had to be said that Xia Nuoyi's behavior at that moment was already quite restrained.
Just look at the female students below the platform... even several young, pretty female instructors were swooning over Bu Wuchen-
"Aaah!"
"Senior Bu, I love you to death~"
"Student Bu, when are you free? I'd like to visit your home and tutor you one-on-one~"
Youthful, vibrant screams instantly filled the entire martial arena.
After all, having awakened the special attribute [Spirit of First Impressions], Bu Wuchen already possessed a lethal attraction to the opposite sex!
On top of that, he hadn't shown the slightest fear even before a powerful figure like Lin Yunba.
His cool demeanor, his cocky words...
In an instant, they threw countless maidens' hearts into turmoil!
Lin Yunba's tiger-like eyes widened, and words squeezed out between his teeth. "Little bastard, you'll pay for what you've done!"
"Ooh, how terrifying!"
Bu Wuchen patted his chest exaggeratedly.
The next instant, however, he extended a fist and pointed his thumb down at the empty ground before his feet. "I've already picked out your kneeling spot for you."
"Which of you two is kneeling?"
"Pah!"
Lin Taoshu roared viciously, "You want me to kneel, kowtow, and acknowledge you as my grandmaster?"
"Dream on!!"
"Oh, really?"
"Then I understand. You mean you want that dog of a master of yours to kneel in your place?"
Bu Wuchen shrugged. "Either of you will do. It makes no difference to me."
"I just hope you can hurry it up. I'm still in a rush to use the toilet!"
Feeling Lin Yunba's hostile gaze turn toward him, Lin Taoshu started in alarm and shook his head repeatedly. "Stop twisting things around."
"Neither I nor the patriarch will ever kneel!"
"I see..."
Bu Wuchen raised his eyebrows. "A wagering contract is recognized and protected by the laws of Great Liang."
"And there are so many eyewitnesses here who can testify that you haven't fulfilled the contract in its entirety."
"If I'm determined to take this contract bearing your bloody handprints to court, what do you suppose will happen?"
"Your Lin Lineage may be strong, but surely it isn't strong enough to challenge the very foundations of the Great Liang Kingdom's laws?"
Although Lin Yunba's brows shifted, little concern showed in his expression.
Bu Wuchen continued unhurriedly, "I can more or less guess what you're planning. It all boils down to 'stalling,' then taking your time finding a chance to get rid of me."
"That way, the case loses its aggrieved party;"
"and naturally, those people at the government office won't keep investigating rigorously and imposing harsh penalties at the cost of offending your Lin Lineage..."
"If you'd targeted the old me this way, it really would have been troublesome!"
"But under the present circumstances, do you think those 'hidden hands' of the Lin Lineage can still get close to me so easily?"
At this, a measure of gravity finally entered Lin Yunba's eyes.
That was right!
Now that Bu Wuchen had shone so brilliantly, Dean Zhou would surely regard him as a precious treasure.
How could making a move against him at this critical juncture be wise?
But if they let him take the matter to court, it would soon become the talk of the entire city.
Sooner or later, the Lin Lineage would still lose face!
Perhaps even more severely and thoroughly...
Having thought this through, Lin Yunba glared fiercely at Bu Wuchen;
then he released his grip on Lin Taoshu, turned his face away, and said coldly, "Elder Lin, a true man knows when to bend and when to stand tall."
"For the humiliation you suffer today, I will certainly help you exact repayment a hundredfold someday!"
With him having said that, how could Lin Taoshu fail to understand his stance?
His lips quivering and legs trembling, he dropped to his knees at Bu Wuchen's feet with a thud, his face ashen!
Fearing that the dispirited Lin Taoshu might lash out like a cornered dog;
the girl in green silk and Dean Zhou tacitly took up guard on either side of Bu Wuchen.
Lin Taoshu knew full well that there was no chance of playing any tricks under these two's watchful eyes;
so he began kowtowing as though resigned to his fate.
And, in accordance with the contract, he called out loudly as he kowtowed, "Grandmaster above, please accept this bow from your unfilial grand-disciple..."
The sea of people filling the martial arena was stunned into utter silence by this dreamlike scene!
Once the kneeling and kowtowing were over, Bu Wuchen gave a wicked smile and declared loudly, "Heh, you scum really bring shame upon me, your grandmaster!"
"From this day forth, you're expelled from the school. Now get as far away as you can!"
"You, you... pfft!!"
Overwhelmed by the provocation, Lin Taoshu coughed up blood and fainted outright...