1RomanceEB Chapter 69 Testing the Waters of the City, A Lone Warrior's Heroic Spirit
Chapter 69 Testing the Waters of the City, A Lone Warrior's Heroic Spirit
The moon was full in the sky, its clear light shining down on the world. This moonlight gilded the eaves and brackets, the mud houses and tiles of Anzhou City, and made the faces of tens of thousands of people look frosty, but it could not penetrate the figure on the high platform.
His face was always backlit, blending into the shadows, with only his two eyes shining brightly, burning, and striking. Every young martial artist who climbed the platform with a spirit of challenge would first encounter those eyes, and only two or three out of ten could stand firm without trembling.
Standing on the ground, the challengers encouraged each other, discussed strategies, and even some martial arts experts in the audience offered advice. The atmosphere of their discussion was incredibly harmonious. Everyone was giving it their all, their hearts burning with determination, their very souls seemingly being warmed by the flames of their fighting spirit.
Therefore, every martial artist, encouraged and cheered by the crowd, leaped onto the stage with excitement and pride, despite their worries and fears.
Until they finally reached the top of the ten-zhang-high airspace, the place was so desolate and quiet. In the two-zhang-square arena, there was only himself and that dark figure in the moonlight.
All the passion cooled instantly in the midnight breeze, and all the courage was extinguished in an instant before the towering spirit.
Just like Sun Shuqian at this moment.
He was the eldest son of the prominent Sun family in Anzhou. In the world of "Cangcheng," there is no government, and all the prestigious families are also martial arts families. Bloodline inheritance is more ancient than master-disciple inheritance and is often considered more reliable.
However, if a martial arts family cannot expand its branches and carefully cultivate successors, it often declines and perishes after only a few generations.
The Sun family has only been established for four generations and is currently at its peak. Among the family members of Sun Shuqian's generation, his peers are all considered outstanding, but his martial arts skills are the most outstanding among his siblings. Perhaps in another two or three years, when he is in his twenties, he will be selected for the Hidden Dragon List.
With the Sun family's connections and relationships, he had been accustomed to seeing martial arts figures who came to visit since childhood. These included true disciples of major sects, leaders of minor sects, and even some notorious bandits. Every guest who stepped into the Sun family's door was so reserved and polite, so dignified and proper. Even a burly man with a full beard would smile and speak softly.
Therefore, he naturally felt that the masters in the martial arts world should be elegant and refined, and that everyone should be harmonious despite their differences, fight without breaking each other, and protect each other's reputation together.
He knew, of course, that beneath the glamorous power and influence of the underworld lay blood and bones.
Sun Shuqian thought that this was just the lower-level people struggling to survive, which was why their hands were covered in filth. If you want to reach the top of the martial arts world, you must wash your hands and face clean and bright before you can accept the attention of the masses and be admired for generations.
In his past life, Sun Shuqian had never seen anyone like Lei Yin Xue Shou, nor had he ever felt such a straightforward and cruel divine will. There was no concealment, and no disdain for hiding. Even though the other party did not say a word, it was as if the wind and frost were pressing down on him, so frightening that his legs stiffened and he could not move.
Is Lei Yin Xue Shou considered a subordinate? After tonight, this person will become famous throughout the martial arts world. This reputation and martial arts skills are enough to establish a family or sect that will last for hundreds of years in a prefecture.
Among his peers in the martial arts world, he is probably one of the top rising stars. Yet, this is a character who makes no secret of his sincerity toward violence.
Is it because his barbarity created his martial arts skills and future status, or is it because he has not yet experienced a life of high status, so he can retain this innocent and cruel malice?
Perhaps the answer is both.
Thinking of this, Sun Shuqian couldn't help but feel a little pity when he looked at Lin Zhuo again. Yes, this was, after all, a hardened fighter who had risen from the bottom, and had never seen the true glory of the high places. That's why he didn't understand the true meaning of the martial world, the ways of the world, and how to make things convenient for each other.
"Master Lin, you've certainly stolen the show tonight. Why don't we call it a day? The Sun family of Anzhou will repay you with a generous gift."
"Let's go back."
"Master Lin, are you perhaps underestimating me? I am unworthy, but I believe I am no less skilled than the young hero ranked last on the Hidden Dragon List, and I would be honored to learn from your superior skills!"
"Go home. You're no good." Lin Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, his eyes growing increasingly aggressive, like a tiger sniffing at human flesh, its breath reeking of hunger. "You're a spineless mediocre person. Someone like you, even if you train until you die, will only ever be a nobody."
"Lin Zhuo! It's only out of courtesy that I call you a great hero, but how dare you look down on me like this!"
"well……"
Why are you sighing?
"I've had enough of you spoiled brats who sit on the laurels of your fathers and grandfathers and are complacent. You're not the first to try to bribe me, and you probably won't be the last. Tonight's duel shouldn't be dragged out like this."
"What do you mean?"
Lin Zhuo looked at him, his words infused with true energy, each syllable resounding like thunder: "This arena isn't large, but it can accommodate you all. After you go down, pass on a message to everyone waiting to fight me, tell them, come on! Those who want to fight me, come and fight! Stop dawdling, I alone will defeat you all!"
The thunderous sound echoed from the high platform, splashing across the heart of Anzhou City, reaching the ears of tens of thousands of people who didn't return home that night, and resonating in the hearts of the patrons of the Golden Pavilion.
"Damn it! Arrogant!!"
"Well, Brother Su, we've all been looked down upon by that person. Are we really going to have to keep enduring this?"
"Does he really think he's one of the twenty-four leaders of the Martial Arts Alliance? He thinks he can take on all of us alone? Does he have the ability? One person each could cut him down with a single strike!"
"A victory achieved through a coordinated attack is not honorable, and I do not wish for it."
"Bullshit! Do you think you can swallow this? You have to come with us and fight his mother!"
On the high platform, Sun Shuqian still wanted to argue, but a powerful palm strike came straight at him. The wind carried the gentle energy, blowing him into the air. Even his protective hard skills couldn't withstand it. He drifted out of the arena like an autumn leaf and fell far into the crowd of people on the street.
"Ah!—" He let out a scream and flew away, gradually fading from sight.
Lin Zhuo stood with his hands behind his back, and the high platform beneath his feet began to tremble, as if an earthquake was about to strike. At that moment, twenty-seven enraged martial artists were rapidly climbing up the wooden building's outer walls and railings, their footsteps thundering like a thousand horses, seemingly intent on crushing the Anzhou Martial Arts Arena that had stood for fifteen years.
At this moment, on the northern slope of the Cloud-Broken Mountains, Shu Yuliu, who was holding a bowl of soup, suddenly jumped up nervously, muttering, "Second Senior Brother, you're too brave! Won't you get ganged up on and lose? No, no way! With your shameless Dragon's Fall, how could these rotten sweet potatoes and stinky birds possibly beat you? That's it, you'll definitely win!"
Zhu Baixuan picked up a soup spoon and served Fang Qinghan another bowl.
"Excuse my bluntness, is she having a hysterical episode? Or can she see things I can't?" After thanking her, Fang Qinghan slightly lifted a corner of her veil, took a small sip of hot soup, and after a couple of sips, she couldn't stand Shu Yuliu's crazy behavior and asked.
"You guessed right, we were indeed watching what was happening in Anzhou City. Let's just consider it a special method of our sect," Zhu Baixuan said with a smile, trying to brush it off.
"In Anzhou City, is the second senior brother that Miss Shu mentioned fighting in a martial arts tournament? What exactly did he do to excite her so much?"
"He is prepared to defeat twenty-seven opponents at once."
"Twenty-seven gang henchmen? He's pretty good at fighting."
"Nine of them are on the Hidden Dragon List, and the rest, even the least skilled ones, have all condensed their Qi Sea."
Fang Qinghan was taken aback upon hearing this.
Zhu Baixuan smiled at her, "I remember you were ranked ninety-seventh on the Hidden Dragon Ranking. Your true strength is around sixty. Most of the challengers on the Hidden Dragon Ranking are no weaker than you."
"I'm afraid even Liao Feiming, the current number one on the Hidden Dragon Ranking with his 'Separation Spear,' wouldn't be able to withstand such a large-scale attack. Is your second junior brother really confident?"
Fang Qinghan always appeared very serious in front of outsiders, but because she had drunk too much, she couldn't help but let out a soft burp, and her imposing manner instantly vanished.
Zhu Baixuan neither laughed at her nor answered directly, but changed the subject, "Someone as bold as you, would you be afraid of having too many enemies? You are clearly the youngest daughter of the Undying Valley Master, yet you used the Undying Valley's good reputation to deceive people, casting a curse on the son of a wealthy merchant you didn't even know, causing him to be plagued by a strange illness, and then tricking the merchant into giving you money to find medicine. In reality, you had no intention of bringing the medicine back at all."
"How did you know? So you're running errands for that rich Zhou. Did he tell you why the whole town was celebrating after his son contracted the strange disease and became impotent? Also, I really did come here to find medicine; I'm not lying. If that scoundrel repents, it wouldn't be impossible to remove the curse from him."
In the past, if Fang Qinghan had known that her two temporary companions harbored ulterior motives, she would have run away immediately. However, after spending a few days together, she was deeply impressed by their ability to gather and find medicinal herbs. In addition, she was also grateful for the soup they had made. No matter how cautious and indifferent Fang Qinghan was, she couldn't tear herself away now.
"You did the right thing. That's how the world is. Ordinary people are ruled by various sects and factions in the martial arts world, endure the exploitation of gangs and guilds, and grovel before the lackeys of martial artists, while still hoping to serve the martial arts community and receive some benefits. They always have a lot of grievances, grievances that they can't express, so they can only wait, wait for young people like you, who believe in chivalry, believe in the righteous path, and believe in benevolence, to use your methods to give them a chance to vent their anger."
Fang Qinghan lowered her head and drank her soup, saying softly, "I don't have any chivalrous spirit, I just can't stand it. The Valley of Immortality aims to cure diseases and save people, but sometimes the suffering in the world is not caused by illness. My father and mother don't let me get involved in these human grudges and grievances."
"My second junior brother, he disapproves of it too. There are even more things he disapproves of than you. He's also more foolish than you. He takes on things you dare not interfere with as his own responsibility. Just imagine how much trouble, how many conflicts, and how many people he'll encounter on this path. He's not afraid of shattering the world, so why would he be afraid of fighting twenty-seven martial artists of his own age?"
Fang Qinghan was speechless upon hearing this, and after a long while, she spoke: "Now that you mention it, I'm quite interested in knowing more about him. What's his name?"
"No rush. Once we leave the Cloudbreak Mountains and return to any major city, we'll hear his name."
Suddenly, the tense and excited Shu Yuliu shouted loudly, oblivious to everyone else, "That's it! Fight like that!"
She took a moment to turn around and smiled at Fang Qinghan, "It's alright to tell you, my second senior brother's name is Lin Zhuo, Lin with two trees, and Zhuo as in great skill appearing clumsy."
"Lin—Zhuo—!" At the Anzhou Martial Arts Arena, a dragon's roar sounded like thunder. After a loud and mournful cry, six or seven figures shot into the air like flying stones, howling loudly as they fell off the edge of the arena. The roars lingered for a long time.
"Brother Lin! You are indeed very imposing! You are very fierce! Everyone be careful, if you split up, you will be weak. Stay close together and take care of each other. Surround him first!" Su Qiwei shouted loudly, his eyes were deep but could not hide his fierce fire. Even the most cautious people could not help but be full of fighting spirit in tonight's martial arts arena.
"Zhengzheng!"—A charming guest among the flowers plucked the strings twice, like rain pattering against a window. He laughed and said, "Brother Lin, don't blame us for being uncivilized. It's just that you are too frightening. If I were alone, I wouldn't dare to confront you directly! Why don't you listen to my 'Qing Ping Le' and let's all calm down. Let's fight more civilly."
"Don't bother with Luo Zha. You only need to use your strengths! Struggle to survive under my control!"