Chapter 702: Associating with Ruffians

Bai Lang recognized all four of these people at a glance—even though they were disguised, it was useless. Linghu Chong and Xiang Wentian were the first two, so the others were easy to identify. The one dressed as a middle-aged woman was likely Ren Yingying, and the old man had to be Ren Woxing. What were these four doing sneaking around Black Wood Cliff? The original text had already made it clear. "This senior brother of mine is still associating with ruffians; his 'good-natured fool' nature is truly incurable."

Bai Lang could not watch Linghu Chong continue to make mistakes, so he strode forward. Xiang Wentian, that treacherous-looking scoundrel, was the first to spot Bai Lang. He reacted as if he'd been electrocuted, instinctively wanting to bolt, but he froze after half a step—he couldn't run; if he ran, everything would be lost. The second to notice Bai Lang was the clever Ren Yingying. Bai Lang had no memory of what the Saintess Ren Yingying looked like because he had been dead drunk at the time, but Ren Yingying had an incredibly deep impression of this scoundrel's face. She had never been so humiliated in her eighteen years of life, and she had wanted to send men to slaughter this scholar on the road, but she hadn't expected his martial arts to be so high that she couldn't handle him. Now that he was a Jinshi and held an official post, and given the intelligence she had gathered—that his martial prowess was unrivaled in the world—Ren Yingying felt in her heart that she would likely never be able to avenge this grudge.

She also didn't want to see this bastard, but Uncle Xiang had suddenly acted erratically, and she felt that prickling sensation on her back—when she turned her head, it was indeed this scoundrel. With his raised eyebrows, tiger whiskers, and heroic bearing, he walked with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, his eyes locked onto them. Finally, there was Ren Woxing, who snorted coldly at Bai Lang. The last was Linghu Chong, who was a step behind.

"Yo! Senior Brother, associating with ruffians again? Don't give me that nonsense; this is the Left Envoy of the Sun Moon Cult, 'Heavenly King' Xiang Wentian, this one is likely the Cult's Saintess—I don't know her name—and the last one must be a member of the Cult too. Is this how you act as the Senior Brother of the Huashan Sect? It seems I must suggest to the Academy Principal that you go be the Senior Brother of the Huashan Sword Sect instead." Bai Lang rattled off a string of words, leaving Linghu Chong speechless.

He wanted to argue, but how could he? Bai Lang saw the extreme embarrassment on his face—regardless, associating with ruffians was a fact... Bai Lang's loud voice drew the attention of everyone around—he didn't exactly keep his volume down. Immediately, a dozen or so Cult experts rushed over, preparing to capture Xiang Wentian and Ren Woxing. Naturally, Bai Lang was also within their range of attack—who told him to reveal that one of them was from the Five Mountains Sword Sect, and that he himself was also from the Five Mountains? They all started killing each other. Bai Lang laughed heartily and stepped out of the fray, while Linghu Chong drew his sword to meet the several Cult experts on one side; the others also found their own opponents.

Only Ren Yingying, while attacking, glared fiercely at Bai Lang several times. "Hey, little lady, I remember that night..." Bai Lang scratched his hair under his hat. With one hand scratching his head, his other hand casually parried, poked, pointed, and grabbed, deflecting all the weapons attacking him and tossing them at his feet. Of course, some unlucky souls were grabbed by him; once grabbed by Bai Lang, it was like being struck by lightning—they were instantly immobilized and tossed to the ground, knocked unconscious.

Ren Yingying shouted in shame and anger, "Don't you dare remember!" As a result, her sword technique became disorganized—though her opponents didn't really want to hurt her, so they didn't take the opportunity to finish her off.

Linghu Chong's sword technique had improved tremendously. In Bai Lang's eyes, this guy had learned the Nine Swords of Dugu. "The 'Swinging Sword Stance'! This is the authentic style; all those 'breaking sword' or 'breaking blade' tricks are just heresies!" Bai Lang remarked. Linghu Chong's sword moved like a dragon, easily breaking through his opponents' moves, sealing their acupoints with a single touch. He was handling three Cult experts with ease.

Xiang Wentian was holding his own against three, and Ren Woxing was the most ferocious of them all. With every gesture, he possessed the strength of a dragon and elephant, his internal force overflowing, his moves changing at will. Those he grabbed were terrified, letting out strange screams before curling up and dying. "The Star-Sucking Great Art? Compared to the North-Ming Divine Art, this is far inferior; it must be a corrupted version," Bai Lang thought. In truth, he was the most ferocious one there; with every grab, someone fell. Within moments, no one dared to rush him again. Bai Lang crossed his arms and watched the four of them fight. The first to finish was Ren Yingying; she hadn't left anyone standing, as those who fought her had all fled when they saw the situation turning sour. The second to finish was Linghu Chong, who left three unlucky souls acupoint-sealed before the others fled.

Xiang Wentian killed two, and the rest fled, while Ren Woxing killed everyone who besieged him. Bai Lang could see that Ren Woxing had not yet entered the Innate realm; he was still one step away, but that step was as vast as a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers. "The old man probably won't be able to take this step before he dies. His talent and potential end here," Bai Lang felt a touch of sympathy. Now that the four were exposed, Ren Woxing looked at Bai Lang with fury, clearly intending to strike. Ren Yingying tried to pull him back, but Ren Woxing shook her off. "Little thief! How dare you ruin my grand plan!" He lunged with a claw strike. Bai Lang snorted coldly, lifting a single palm with the roar of a dragon and tiger, flipping his hand to strike. The claw strike was still a zhang away, but he hadn't expected Bai Lang's palm force to surge forth like an overturned river. Ren Woxing transformed his claw into a palm, striking three times and retreating nine steps to dissipate the force, then pointing two fingers and two claws to fully neutralize Bai Lang's palm power.

"The Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms! Where did you learn this?" Ren Woxing's expression was grim. Although he asked, he didn't expect an answer—in terms of martial arts, the old man already knew he was no match. Although the old man was arrogant and domineering, he was capable of acknowledging reality and hadn't yet become completely delusional. Bai Lang sneered, "Linghu Chong! Do you really want to help this... by the way, who are you?" Bai Lang asked Ren Woxing.

Before Ren Woxing could answer, Bai Lang laughed again. "I don't care who you are. Today, I came to see Dongfang Bubai. Once I've seen him, I'll bring the army to flatten Black Wood Cliff! Do you really think the Great Ming Imperial Court is a joke?" Ren Woxing's expression was extremely ugly, but he didn't stop Bai Lang from walking toward Black Wood Cliff. Linghu Chong followed him, likely harboring his own thoughts—Ren Yingying watched Bai Lang's back, lost in thought.

Xiang Wentian killed two, the rest ran away, and Ren Woxing killed everyone who besieged him. Bai Lang also saw that Ren Woxing had not entered the innate state. He was still one step away, and this step was thousands of mountains and rivers, "The old man is afraid that he won't be able to take this step until he dies. His talent and feelings end here." Bai Lang even felt a little sympathetic. Now that the four people were exposed, Ren Woxing looked directly at Bai Lang with full anger, and there was a sign of wanting to make a move.

Ren Yingying wanted to pull him, but was shaken off by Ren Woxing, "Little thief! How dare you ruin my big event!" Directly, he slapped his face with a grab. Bai Lang sneered, lifted his palm, and there was a dragon roar and tiger roar. He turned his palm and patted it out, "Shocking Hundred Li" amidst the dragon roar. Ren Woxing's grab was still a zhang away. He didn't expect that this palm force would rush over like a river falling upside down. At the moment, he turned his claws into palms, slashed three palms in a row, and retreated nine steps to unload the palm force, and then pointed two fingers and two claws to completely resolve Bai Lang's palm force.

"*Eighteen Dragon-Subduing Palms*! Where did you learn it from?" Ren Woxing's face was also not good-looking. Although this sentence was asked, he didn't expect to get an answer—in terms of martial arts, the old guy already knew that his own family was not good enough. The old guy was arrogant and domineering, but he could also admit reality and hadn't expanded himself. Bai Lang sneered, "Linghu Chong! Do you really want to help this... by the way, who are you?" Bai Lang asked Ren Woxing.

Before Ren Woxing could answer, Bai Lang laughed again, "I don't care who you are. Today I came to see Dongfang Bubai. After seeing it, I will lead troops to level Black Wood Cliff! Do you really think my Great Ming court is fake?" Ren Woxing's face was extremely ugly, but he didn't stop Bai Lang from walking toward Black Wood Cliff. Linghu Chong actually followed, estimating that he had some ideas—Ren Yingying looked at Bai Lang's back, and didn't know what she was thinking.