Duan Rong was truly too lazy to use any martial arts to deal with a First Layer of Body Tempering practitioner.
"Bang!"
This punch landed squarely on Duan Shuliu’s face, sending him flying. Two streams of nosebleed sprayed into the air.
Not only Wen Qinglan and her group, but even the elderly man holding the staff in the spectator section stood up abruptly, his eyes wide with shock!
After flying through the air for a second, Duan Shuliu crashed off the ring and slammed heavily onto the floor. He clutched his nose and mouth, wailing miserably. The floor was splattered with blood.
"..."
Everyone was stunned. Duan Shuliu, the senior disciple of the Ancient Martial Arts Club and the man touted as the best fighter at Qingzhou University, had been taken out in a single punch?
"Boring."
Ning Chen left the ring in low spirits and walked straight toward the entrance of the martial arts gym.
"Stop right there!" Wen Qinglan called out to him in a panic.
"What, do you want to trade blows with me too?" Ning Chen glanced at her.
"Who... who exactly are you?" Wen Qinglan stared at him, bewildered. "Are you really a freshman at our school?"
"Clinical Medicine Class 2. Go check for yourself if you don't believe me," Ning Chen waved his hand impatiently.
The moment he turned, a gust of wind suddenly attacked!
It was Duan Shuliu! Unable to accept his defeat in front of such a crowd, he had launched another attack at Ning Chen!
"Addicted to sneak attacks, are we?"
Ning Chen was annoyed. He turned back, grabbed the foot Duan Shuliu was kicking with, and twisted it in the opposite direction!
With a sharp *crack*, a piercing scream from Duan Shuliu echoed through the gym: "Ahhhh—my foot!!"
"Your foot is broken," Ning Chen said ruthlessly.
"Senior Brother! Senior Brother!" A group of Ancient Martial Arts Club members ran over, looking at Duan Shuliu in horror.
Duan Shuliu was crying in pain, clutching his leg and screaming at the top of his lungs, "Call an ambulance! What the hell are you all standing there for? Call an ambulance! My foot can't be broken!"
"Ning, you just wait! This isn't over! You’re dead meat!! Ah..."
The crowd hurriedly dialed for emergency services.
"Well, that should stop anyone at Qingzhou University from daring to mess with me again," Ning Chen thought to himself, and with his hands in his pockets, he walked out of the martial arts gym.
Just as he was about to leave the Student Activity Center, the senior named Wen Qinglan called out to him again, "Hey, wait!"
"What now?"
Ning Chen turned around impatiently and noticed that this time, Wen Qinglan was accompanied by an old man in a suit.
The old man was around seventy, leaning on a pear-wood cane. He had silver hair and a kind face, and he was looking at Ning Chen with a complex expression.
"Good afternoon, former Principal."
"Good afternoon, former Principal."
Some students walked by. Hearing how they addressed him, Ning Chen gave Wen Qinglan a speechless glare. *Snitching so quickly? You’re something else!*
Just as Wen Qinglan was about to explain, the elderly man with the staff chuckled. "Heh, I never expected that among this year's freshmen at Qingzhou University, we would have an External Force Great Accomplishment master hiding in our midst. May I ask where you come from, young friend?"
"I’m just an ordinary student," Ning Chen replied.
"An ordinary student capable of defeating young Duan in a single move?" The old man frowned and said, "Young friend, are you aware that young Duan just won third place in the youth group at the Jiangnan Provincial Martial Arts Competition? The school has already decided to recommend him for admission to the Longhu Martial Arts Hall!"
"I don’t know about any martial arts competition, and I don't know about the Longhu Martial Arts Hall. I just know that he's weak," Ning Chen said truthfully.
"You!" Hearing Ning Chen insult her senior brother like that, Wen Qinglan was so angry she wanted to curse. But remembering how her senior had been defeated in one move—even failing to land a sneak attack—she was left speechless. Where on earth did this Ning Chen pop out from?
"Young friend, come to my office and let's talk," the old man said, his expression turning serious. "You just snapped young Duan’s foot. This matter is going to be much more serious than you think. If I don't mediate, your path in martial arts might well be cut short right here. After all, you young people are always too heavy-handed."
***
**Chapter 18: The Duan Family Guest, Iron Foot Seven**
Ning Chen had nothing better to do, so he simply followed the old principal. He wanted to hear exactly what kind of impressive background this Duan Shuliu had.
During their chat, he learned that the old principal was Wen Yue, Wen Qinglan’s grandfather. He was a former principal of Qingzhou University and held high prestige in the school.
Once they reached the office, Wen Yue had Wen Qinglan pour Ning Chen a cup of tea, and then he began to pry.
"Young friend Ning, you couldn't have achieved this level of skill without the guidance of a Huajing Master. May I ask who your teacher is?" Wen Yue asked with a smile.
"I told you, you wouldn't know them," Ning Chen felt a flicker of distant memory in his eyes. His master...
"You’ve got a lot of nerve!" Wen Qinglan, having finished pouring the tea, said unhappily. "My grandfather is a permanent director of the Qingzhou branch of the Ancient Martial Arts Association. There isn't a Huajing Master in all of Qingzhou, or even the Jiangnan region, that he doesn't know."
Wen Yue smiled without a word, implying it was true. He was well-informed about the Huajing Masters and Internal Force experts in Jiangnan Province, whether they were registered or living in seclusion.
"My master’s Taoist name is Yao Guang," Ning Chen said.
"Yao Guang? A woman?" Wen Qinglan hesitated.
"A Taoist name? Is she a Taoist priest?" Wen Yue frowned. Taoist priests were different from martial artists; the former cultivated the soul and mastered Taoist arts, while the latter trained the body and practiced martial arts. Both were paths to power. However, as he combed through his mental list of powerful figures in the South, Wen Yue didn't know of any female Taoist named "Yao Guang."
Of course he didn't.
Because Master Yao Guang had once been a Supreme Elder of the Chunyang Wuji Palace in the Little Southern Heaven Realm, a great cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage.
Fifteen hundred years ago, due to a coincidence, Ning Chen became Master Yao Guang’s disciple, the one with the lowest aptitude under her wing. Through relentless effort, however, he eventually became the most outstanding disciple of the entire Chunyang Wuji Palace and inherited everything from Yao Guang.
But later, Yao Guang failed her attempt to break through to the Divine Transformation Stage and her soul scattered. The Chunyang Wuji Palace lost a Supreme Elder, and Ning Chen lost his master...
In the years since, whenever Ning Chen thought back to that scene by the lake, he deeply regretted not intervening; perhaps if he had, she wouldn't have left him.
"My master was a recluse. It’s normal that you haven't heard of her," Ning Chen said, pulling himself out of his memories.
"I see," Wen Yue nodded. "Let's get back to business. I checked young Duan’s injury earlier. His right foot is badly damaged; it will likely take half a year to recover. Duan is currently at the prime age for martial arts training, and the Duan family certainly won't let you off lightly."
"The Duan family? Are they very powerful?" Ning Chen remained calm.
"Are you not from Qingzhou?" Wen Qinglan frowned.
"I am, but my parents are just ordinary people," Ning Chen stated.
"No wonder..." Wen Qinglan crossed her arms. "The Duan family is a prominent clan in Qingzhou, with influence on par with our Wen family. They keep many martial artists on their payroll. You're in big trouble."
"The only way for you to solve this now is to find a backer quickly."
Ning Chen suppressed a laugh. "Who should I look for as a backer? Your Wen family?"
Seeing his attitude, Wen Qinglan was instantly infuriated. "You think our Wen family wants to take you in? The Duan family has a close relationship with the Ancient Martial Arts Association; we don't want the trouble!"
"You're just an External Force Great Accomplishment fighter, what are you so cocky about?"
Wen Yue waved a hand. "That's enough, Qinglan."
Wen Qinglan fell silent, sitting on the sofa and glaring at Ning Chen. Ning Chen drank his tea quietly, not bothering to argue with a young girl.
Wen Yue added, "Young friend, since you've reached External Force Great Accomplishment at such a young age, you could apply for the Longhu Martial Arts Hall assessment. Once you pass, I will put in a good word for you, and if you offer an apology, the Duan family might let you off."
Ning Chen shook his head. "Forget it, too much trouble."
Wen Yue: "..."
Wen Qinglan couldn't hold back. "Hey! My grandfather is trying to save your life; what kind of attitude is that?"
Ning Chen put down his teacup and stood up slowly. "Thank you for your kindness, Old Wen, but I don't think I need it."
Wen Yue was torn between laughter and frustration. "Young friend, the Duan family employs many wandering martial artists, including some who have committed murder. You..."
Before he could finish, *bang, bang, bang!* A series of hurried knocks sounded at the door.
Wen Qinglan and Wen Yue exchanged a look, and Wen Qinglan went to open the door.
"Principal, this is bad! The Duan family is here!" A teacher wearing glasses stood at the door, sweating profusely. He pointed at Ning Chen and said, "They’re here for this kid, and the security guards can't hold them off much longer."
"So soon?" Wen Qinglan was shocked.
"I still have things to do, I’m leaving," Ning Chen walked out of the office.
"Young friend, wait!" Wen Yue tried to stop him, but Ning Chen ignored him and headed out. Wen Yue stomped his feet and hurried to follow.
"Grandfather, since he doesn't appreciate the help, why bother with his survival?" Wen Qinglan was fuming; she had never met such an ungrateful person.
In the corridor, Ning Chen was soon intercepted by a sturdy man. The man was in his forties, with bronzed skin and a solid build. His feet, in particular, were encased in cloth shoes, standing steady and powerful. Behind him, security guards lay on the floor, all clutching their stomachs and groaning, unable to get up.
"Student, do you know someone named Ning Chen?" the man asked as he approached.
"That's me. What do you want?" Ning Chen replied calmly.
"So, you're the one who injured our young master?" The man’s footsteps paused, and he squinted.
"If your young master's surname is Duan, then yes, it was me," Ning Chen nodded.
"Good kid, you're honest enough!" the man sneered coldly.
Wen Qinglan, having walked out of the office, heard this and nearly fainted. *Is this guy missing a brain cell?*
"Iron Foot Seven!" Wen Yue reached Ning Chen’s side, his voice heavy. "You dare come to Qingzhou University to cause trouble? Aren't you afraid the Martial Association will arrest you again?"
"Old Master Wen, it's been a long time. Hope you've been well, heh..." The sturdy man named Iron Foot Seven wore a smile. For some reason, Ning Chen felt a faint touch of mockery in that smile.
"Old Master Wen, this has nothing to do with you. I am acting under the family head's orders to bring this boy back," Iron Foot Seven said.
"At Qingzhou University, it *does* concern me!" Wen Yue stomped his staff on the floor.
"Old Wen, this really doesn't concern you. You'd better stay out of it," Ning Chen suddenly undermined him.
"You..." Wen Qinglan was nearly driven mad. Wen Yue was speechless, too. *Does this kid have a brain at all?*
Iron Foot Seven was from Guangdong. While he wasn't exactly a top-tier expert in the martial arts world, he had practiced for decades and was in his prime. How old was Ning Chen? How many martial artists had he even crossed paths with? How much experience could he possibly have?
"Hahahaha!"
Iron Foot Seven erupted into a series of loud laughs. "Old Wen, did you hear that? The kid doesn't appreciate your help at all. Sigh, young people these days..."
"Stop your blabbering."
Ning Chen cut him off, looking completely impatient. "If you want to fight, just do it. You’re going to keep yapping forever, aren't you?"
***
**Chapter 19: Showing Off Your Third-Rate Kung Fu!**
"..."
Wen Qinglan was completely speechless. She had seen arrogant people before, but never *this* arrogant. Iron Foot Seven had been roaming the underworld for over twenty years and had injured many people; was he someone this kid could handle?
"Are young people today all so fearless, like newborn calves?"
"It seems I, your elder, will have to teach you a lesson."
Iron Foot Seven sneered, his right leg lifting high. His instep arched and his toes curled inward, resembling a venomous snake striking. His stance was incredibly stable; he was clearly a master of leg techniques.
"Whoosh!"
A shadow flashed. Iron Foot Seven’s foot shot out like a bullet from a chamber, aiming straight for Ning Chen's chest. He knew his young master had practiced the "Eight Brocades" to the level of External Force Small Accomplishment, and while the person before him was young, he was likely at the External Force Great Accomplishment level. Therefore, he struck with full force, intending to finish the fight in one blow.
If this kick landed, an ordinary person would be dead or severely injured!
But half a second later, he kicked at thin air; Ning Chen had vanished.
Before he could react, his supporting left foot felt a soul-shattering, excruciating pain!
"Ahhhh—"
Iron Foot Seven’s scream echoed down the corridor. The martial artist from Guangdong, who had spent decades practicing "Stamping Foot" techniques, lay on the ground clutching his crushed left foot, howling in agony.
"Ah!" Wen Qinglan let out a scream of fright.
Even Wen Yue and the male teacher gasped in shock. They saw that Iron Foot Seven’s left foot had been reduced to a mass of mangled flesh, his cloth shoe soaked through with blood—it was a horrific sight.
"Showing off your third-rate kung fu!" Ning Chen said coldly.
Seeming to find Iron Foot Seven too noisy, he delivered another kick, knocking him unconscious instantly.
Then, under the shocked gaze of the Wen grandfather and granddaughter, he strode away.
"Ho... how could this happen, Grandfather?" Wen Qinglan could hardly believe it.
"What incredible speed!" Wen Yue’s gaze was filled with shock. He let out a long breath. "To be able to defeat... no, to cripple Iron Foot Seven at such a young age is truly extraordinary. I wonder what kind of master could have trained such a formidable disciple!"
In fact, more than Ning Chen’s strength, Wen Yue was shocked by his state of mind. Crippling an External Force Great Accomplishment martial artist was like stepping on a bug to him—he didn't even blush. That kind of composure and ease was rarely seen in his lifetime.
"How on earth did he train?" Wen Qinglan felt it was beyond imagination.
...
In the age of the internet, news traveled fast. The report that "Iron Foot Seven of Foshan" had been crippled by a college student quickly spread throughout the Jiangnan martial arts circles, becoming the talk of the town.
In a private estate in Qingzhou, a middle-aged man with a receding hairline was browsing the news on his phone, his expression growing increasingly grave.
He was the head of the Duan family, Duan Rong, the father of Duan Shuliu.
A moment later, a man dressed as a butler walked in.
"Family head, Iron Foot Seven’s injuries are even worse than the young master’s. The tendons and bones in his left foot were crushed, the nerves are dead. He’ll be on crutches for the rest of his life," the butler reported.
"What a ruthless brat..." Duan Rong’s brows furrowed. "Did you find out what this Ning Chen’s background is?"
The butler replied, "He is from Dongyang County and studies Clinical Medicine at Qingzhou University. My subordinates also discovered that he is living with the daughter of Xu Jingshan of the Xu family."
"The Xu family?" Duan Rong was startled. "Is he associated with the Xu family?"
The Xu family was also one of Qingzhou’s prominent clans, and the Xu Group, led by Xu Jingshan, was among the top ten in Qingzhou, with power on par with the Duan family. If Ning Chen were truly connected to the Xu family, it would be troublesome.
"It is not yet clear," the butler replied.
"Keep digging!" Duan Rong ordered coldly. "Find out who taught him martial arts and what his relationship with the Xu family is! And get Tu Tao to come here!"
The butler froze upon hearing the name "Tu Tao." He was the most ruthless and powerful martial artist kept by the Duan family.
"Family head, shouldn't we leave this to the Martial Association?" the butler suggested. "Deliberate infliction of injury can lead to imprisonment of three to ten years. By the time he gets out, the kid will be finished anyway."
"Break both his legs first, then hand him over to the Martial Association," Duan Rong said viciously, his eyes glinting with cold light. "Beating my son like this isn't something that can be resolved just by sitting in jail. In the old days, he would have been left as a corpse on the street!"
...
Ning Chen didn't give the Duan family a second thought. A prominent family in a small place like this—they probably didn't even have a single person at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
After leaving the Student Activity Center, he skipped his afternoon class and sauntered out of campus. There was a farmers' market near Rose Garden, so he bought some beef and a chicken, planning to take them to the shop for Li Mei to cook.
As he pulled out his phone to pay, he noticed Xu Shuyan had called him several times.
"Hello? What do you want?" Ning Chen called back.
"You finally answered!" Xu Shuyan’s anxious voice came through. "Where are you? Are you okay?"
"What could possibly happen to me?" Ning Chen was puzzled. Why was this girl suddenly worrying about him?
"Weren't you taken away by the people from the Sanda Club?" Xu Shuyan pressed.
"Oh... that. I ran into the principal later, so they let me go." Ning Chen fabricated an excuse. "Do you have anything else? If not, I'm hanging up. I'm buying groceries."
"Hang up then! Like I was dying to call you anyway!" Xu Shuyan hung up in a huff, thinking that many boys would kill for a call from her, yet this guy sounded so impatient. It really infuriated her.
"Shuyan, what about Big Brother Dali? He didn't end up in the hospital, did he?" Jiang Tang asked with concern.
"He got lucky, he ran into the principal!" Xu Shuyan said.
"Phew... that's good." Jiang Tang patted her chest, then remembered something. "By the way, Shuyan, didn't Auntie Qiao ask you to tell Big Brother Dali to go to dinner at the InterContinental tonight?"
"Oh, right. How did I forget that?" Xu Shuyan paused, but recalling the guy's impatient tone, she couldn't be bothered to pick up her phone.
In the end, it was Jiang Tang who called Ning Chen.
...
Shuiyue Street. On the top floor of the Mingzuan Club.
Bai Xiao looked at the bag of mushrooms on the bar counter and slapped Yang Kai across the face.
*Smack!*
"I asked you to find poison, and you bring me this?"
"Useless! You can't even get such a small thing done right!"
Yang Kai clutched his burning face, feeling deeply aggrieved. "Brother Xiao, you've wronged me. Don't look down on these mushrooms. They’re called 'Ghost Hand Green,' they come from Lingnan, and they're highly toxic!"
"Forget a student; they could take down a cow!"
Bai Xiao’s eyes lit up. "Really?"
Yang Kai nodded repeatedly. "Really, really! These mushrooms have killed many people; they haven't been allowed to be sold for a long time."