The bustling street was crowded, filled with a cacophony of overlapping noises.
Suddenly, a pungent scent of gunpowder permeated the air, drawing curious gazes. People began to gather, crossing their arms to watch the spectacle. Above, thick, dark clouds swirled, as if gathering strength for the impending clash.
Chen Yingjian scanned the group with indifference, his gaze finally settling on Yuan Hua, who was sneering. A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Chen Yingjian’s mouth as he retorted, "I see you haven't changed—always so fond of bullying others. Only you, Yuan Hua, could resort to such low-life associations." He stood tall, his eyes radiating determination and fearlessness, his simple clothes fluttering slightly in the wind.
The moment he finished speaking, laughter erupted from the surrounding crowd. Yuan Hua’s face flushed red and then paled. It was true: this was Yuan Hua’s standard behavior. In the past, no one had dared to call him out, but Chen Yingjian’s bluntness now left him seething with humiliated rage.
"You sharp-tongued waste! If it weren't for your filthy mouth, would Shaner have been deceived by you?" Yuan Hua roared, his face twitching and veins bulging on his forehead. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, and his breathing grew rapid.
"Just wait and see how I tear that mouth of yours to shreds!" Having only ever been the bully himself, he had never suffered such humiliation. Fury burned within him like a wildfire; he stood trembling with rage, his clenched fists cracking, and his eyes seemed ready to spit fire at Chen Yingjian.
"What, worked up into a rage? Let me tell you, a guy like you is nothing but a total, absolute loser!" Chen Yingjian wore a broad smile, pointing a finger directly at Yuan Hua with a look of utter disdain.
"Hmph! Whoever comes today, no one is going to stop me from teaching you a lesson you'll never forget! I’ll make you realize that some people are simply not to be trifled with!" Yuan Hua narrowed his eyes into slits, spitting the words out through clenched teeth. He was so furious he felt as if his lungs might burst; he never expected someone he had once easily trampled upon to be so arrogant before him. Unable to endure it any longer, he swung his fist and lunged at Chen Yingjian. The other three, seeing this, didn't hesitate; they swung their fists and charged from both sides.
Seeing the situation unfold, the dense crowd quickly retreated, making space for fear of being caught in the crossfire. A gust of wind howled by, causing the flags along the street to snap loudly.
Lin Xingyu, feeling restless at home, had gone out for a stroll. Bored, she had ducked into an elegant teahouse and was sitting quietly by a window. She sipped the fragrant tea, her long, narrow phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, and her otherworldly presence drew many male gazes, each filled with a mix of longing and awe.
The noise outside the window suddenly died down, replaced only by the sounds of the boys fighting. Lin Xingyu, who had been enjoying her tea, slowly opened her eyes. Driven by curiosity, she turned to look out at the street. A moment later, her hand, clutching the teacup, paused; the liquid rippled, then quickly settled back into stillness.
Lin Xingyu rested her chin on her hand, her bright phoenix eyes watching the boys with growing interest. She was curious about where this seemingly frail youth found the courage to face four peers sturdier than himself. In terms of Spirit Power, she sensed none in Chen Yingjian, whereas the strongest of the four had reached the ninth level, and the weakest the sixth. She couldn't fathom what his reliance was—was it reckless impulse, or was there more to him than met the eye?
As fist strikes converged from all sides, Chen Yingjian shifted his feet. His silhouette flickered like a shadow, evading the four-way pincer. He shot out a palm, a strike landing instantly on the person closest to him.
"Bang!"
The figure flew backward with a "whoosh," slamming into the ground with a heavy thud. The boy slid across the dirt like an out-of-control skateboard for several meters before coming to a violent stop. He writhed in pain, unable to rise, his combat capability instantly reduced to zero.
A single move to neutralize one opponent left the onlookers stunned, and gasps of astonishment rose from the crowd.
"Oh?" Lin Xingyu’s beautiful eyes shifted as she brushed a lock of hair from her forehead, letting out a soft sound of surprise. The boy had taken her by surprise, and her interest deepened.
Yuan Hua’s attack faltered. His eyes narrowed, his heart gripped by shock. He never imagined that Chen Yingjian would take down one of his men in the very first exchange. It was far beyond his expectations. Usually, Chen Yingjian would be kneeling and begging for mercy by now, but instead…
The other two boys glanced at their fallen companion, their pupils contracting. A storm of disbelief raged in their hearts; they looked at Chen Yingjian’s slender figure, their expressions growing grave.
Yuan Hua narrowed his eyes, his fists tightening within his sleeves. He took a deep breath and charged forward again. The other two exchanged a fierce look. They had to avenge their brother. Gritting their teeth, they unleashed their iron fists, rushing in with a roar.
In an instant, they formed a semi-circle, channeling their Spirit Power into their fists as they attacked Chen Yingjian with all their might.
Chen Yingjian tracked every movement. Seeing the fists looming larger, he stepped forward suddenly. Under countless stunned gazes, he swung his palm, meeting the ninth-level Spirit Power of Yuan Hua head-on.
Many in the crowd shook their heads silently, unable to understand why Chen Yingjian would choose to clash with the strongest, Yuan Hua, rather than avoiding the brunt of the attack. Everyone knew Yuan Hua had reached the ninth level of Spirit Power, just a step away from perfection, and he possessed several techniques, aided by two others.
Just as everyone expected Chen Yingjian to suffer, his form became as elusive as a ghost. Yuan Hua’s punches landed in empty air time and again, his blows bringing forth gusts of wind but failing to even graze Chen Yingjian’s clothes. Leaves from the roadside trees drifted down, as if sighing at Yuan Hua’s futility.
Chen Yingjian toyed with Yuan Hua…
Then, with a side-step, he swept his leg, striking Yuan Hua’s waist. Yuan Hua, unable to dodge, stumbled.
His hair was a tangled mess, sweat soaked his clothes, and his face was a portrait of panic and rage.
Before Yuan Hua could steady himself, Chen Yingjian closed the distance. His hands moved like lightning, strike after strike landing true, forcing Yuan Hua back until blood trickled from his lip.
"You're dead!" Seeing Chen Yingjian dare to engage him head-on, a cold look flashed in Yuan Hua’s eyes. He mobilized all the Spirit Power in his body into his fist, which began to glow with a faint cyan light.
Chen Yingjian’s expression remained unchanged, his handsome face remarkably calm. As their fist and palm were about to collide, he curved his lips into an odd smile. Yuan Hua’s eyelid twitched—a bad omen rose in his heart.
Just as Yuan Hua registered this, Chen Yingjian shifted to the right, narrowly evading the fist’s glow, and his hand coiled around Yuan Hua’s arm like a python, jerking him forward.
Yuan Hua was startled by the sudden turn of events. Before he could react, he was pulled forward, and in an instant, two fists surged toward his face.
"Ah!"
A shrill scream pierced the silent street.
Because they had been forced to change targets, the other two boys couldn't stop their momentum, and both their fists slammed into Yuan Hua’s cheeks.
Yuan Hua’s face instantly swelled; his head looked like a pig’s, a truly comical sight. His eyes were narrowed into slits, his breath came in ragged gasps, and he looked utterly wretched.
The two boys stood stunned. While they were distracted, a shadow flashed by. They felt sharp pains in their stomachs and were kicked away like bundles of straw, landing heavily on the ground. Groans of pain erupted from them.
Chen Yingjian glanced at the three figures on the ground, then fixed his eyes on Yuan Hua, who was huddled on the floor, clutching his head and unable to rise. Two blood-stained teeth lay before him, looking strikingly vivid.
"Hahahaha..."
Seeing Yuan Hua’s pig-like state, the crowd finally burst into joyous laughter.
In the teahouse, Lin Xingyu was about to drink her tea, but seeing the scene, she couldn't help but cover her mouth and chuckle. Even she hadn't expected such an amusing outcome.
The surrounding laughter reached Yuan Hua’s ears, grating and harsh. He scanned the crowd with hatred. When his gaze fell on Chen Yingjian, who stood a few paces away with a smile, his resentment turned into venomous spite. A madness surged in his heart. He drew his sword from his waist, channeled his Spirit Power, and charged, flailing like a hysterical virago, swearing to tear Chen Yingjian to pieces. He knew that if he didn't regain face today, he would never be able to hold his head high in Fenglin City again, let alone pursue Shaner.
In his madness, Yuan Hua hacked and slashed at Chen Yingjian with no technique at all.
Chen Yingjian paid no mind to Yuan Hua’s rage. He didn't even dodge; he simply flicked the tip of his left foot against Yuan Hua’s hand, which was gripping the sword hilt.
"Ah!"
The sword flew from his palm, tumbled through the air, and clattered to the ground with a ringing sound.
The intense pain from his palm made Yuan Hua scream out.
Chen Yingjian struck Yuan Hua’s chest with a casual palm.
"Ah!"
Taking the "heavy blow" again, Yuan Hua stumbled back, finally landing hard on his rear. His breathing was chaotic, and he clutched his chest, glaring at Chen Yingjian. He pointed a finger at him, unable to speak for a long time, finally managing, "You..."
Chen Yingjian knew his limits and hadn't used lethal force. He coldly swept his eyes over them, brushed the dust off his clothes, and said coolly, "If you dare come again, don't blame me for ignoring our kinship."
With that, Chen Yingjian stopped paying them any mind and turned to leave. The dark clouds in the sky began to dissipate, and sunlight bathed the street once more.
Yuan Hua and his cohorts’ faces shifted. They had only sustained superficial injuries, which would heal in a few days. If Chen Yingjian had used real force—Yuan Hua trembled at the thought. Watching Chen Yingjian’s graceful retreating figure, Yuan Hua gritted his teeth and roared, "Chen Yingjian, don't get too cocky! You got lucky today and gained the upper hand. But I, Yuan Hua, will not let this go. I will settle this account tenfold! Just you wait—next time, I’ll make you kneel and beg for mercy!"
Chen Yingjian didn't look back, responding fearlessly, "I’ll be ready anytime!"
The crowd naturally parted to let him through, the unexpected outcome still reeling in their minds. As they watched his back, a newfound awe stirred in their hearts. Perhaps this was the glory of the strong.
Lin Xingyu watched the figure receding into the sunlight with burning eyes, lost in thought. A moment later, as if realizing something, a look of astonishment crossed her beautiful face. She arched an eyebrow, her gaze flickering as she muttered to herself, "So, he is the Yingjian-gege that little Shaner always talks about... though, what a pity..."