Chapter 169

Chen Mu, Ziwei High School, Yi Zhong. Also maybe "mental strength" is not a named entity; it's a generic term.

Chen Mu wondered that aside from Yi Zhong, he had not offended anyone else.

And that sneak attack just then—if not for his quick reaction, he might already have been cut in half.

Even a three‑finger‑thick stainless‑steel spear was easily chopped apart; from the crisp sound, the opponent's weapon sharpness far exceeded his imagination, making a flesh‑and‑blood body even less likely to survive.

He now felt somewhat fortunate; if he had initially used the shield to block forcefully, he might have lost an arm.

Thinking this, Chen Mu also felt anger welling up inside.

(no names)

Ziwei High School.

Chen Mu.

The attacker had his hands behind his back, wearing a smiling look as he gazed at Chen Mu, seemingly ignoring the other four.

Chen Mu couldn't fathom the two's background; if not for wary of their methods, given his temperament, he would have already struck first.

Chen Mu.

While observing the two, he slowly paced, increasing the distance from He Ying.

He Ying immediately understood his intent, also moving slowly along an arc.

This is the tacit understanding they developed after long‑term sparring.

Ordinary people, when encountering danger, instinctively stick together with companions, but actually, separating is the best choice, as it prevents the opponent from watching both sides at once.

Yu Yuan and the three of them only now understood what had happened, but all this seemed beyond their comprehension; clearly everyone had become smaller, shouldn't they be cooperating more? Why does that person look like they want Chen Mu's life?

But what surprised him most was still the long spear Chen Mu suddenly drew.

Damn, that's handsome!

Moreover, it's impossible to have hidden such a huge spear on one's person before.

Obviously, the senior also has superpowers.

And he's far stronger than the few of us half-baked ones.

Thinking back to how he had just mysteriously shown off to the other party, Yu Yuan felt his face flush.

……

"Song Yu mentioned you to me; you're indeed not bad, quick to react, and it seems your mental strength is truly strong."

That person felt no guilt about the sneak attack, instead looking at Chen Mu with a judging, evaluative expression.

"Qingbei?" Chen Mu tilted his head.

"Not bad, I heard you refused our two recruitment attempts."

"Just because I didn't join you, I should die?"

Chen Mu instead calmed down at this moment.

The person before him, although also putting on the guise of a graceful gentleman, in demeanor cannot compare to Song Yu at all, is worlds apart from the earlier encountered Zhaotong, and even falls short of Yangbu'an, who at least is quite sincere.

Demeanor is something that cannot be feigned; forcing it only backfires.

But this doesn't mean Chen Mu dares to look down on him.

From the way he placed his hands forward, it's clear he carries no weapon.

In other words, either he has some hidden-weapon ability, or he just broke his own spear bare-handed.

This fight is somewhat unfair; the opponent clearly knows his own abilities, while I know nothing about him.

It's a pity.

Not everyone is Yangbu'an, who announces his move names before battle.

Thinking of Yangbu'an, Chen Mu couldn't help but smile.

This smile was so genuine that the sneak attacker felt humiliated.

"Of course not, Qingbei never forces anyone to join; but hearing Song Yu praise you so highly, I'm merely a bit interested in you—unfortunately, it seems now that's not the case…"

As he spoke, he deliberately shifted his gaze to the severed spearhead on the ground.

Chen Mu laughed and said, "You're right."

He initially thought that after defeating Yangbu'an last time, he had been placed on Qingbei's wanted list, but now it seems this person's hostility toward him is not like that.

It also seems related to Song Yu.

Recalling what he just said.

Could it be that Song Yu went back and praised me again?

And then this person, dissatisfied, came to cause trouble for me?

How immature…

That person obviously didn't expect Chen Mu to answer like that; his momentum faltered, and he became even angrier.

However, before he could speak.

Chen Mu then said in a harmonious tone, "Anything else? If not, you two are busy; we'll be going first."

The sneak attacker could no longer keep his composure, his tone turning cold: "Originally we could have kept to ourselves, but what you did last time in the storeroom can't just be overlooked; please come back with me first—if the organization doesn't intend to pursue it, they'll still let you go later."

"Alright."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chen Mu readily agreed.

Thus the other party swallowed the rest of his threatening words, feeling extremely uneasy.

However, at that moment, Chen Mu suddenly surged forward, the "long staff" in his hand transforming again into a spear, thrusting straight at the opponent.

That person was indeed startled, but quickly reacted, suddenly drawing out his right hand, extending fingers into a palm, and fiercely chopping at the spearhead.

Chen Mu's eyes narrowed; he seemed to have a faint guess about the opponent's ability.

Can the palm be used like a blade?

Cutting objects?

But judging from the fact that the other person's body hardly moved, this person seems to only know this move.

This is actually quite normal.

After obtaining the Special Ability, one is still just an ordinary person; even if mental power enhances reaction speed, the body's coordination remains the same as before.

Even someone like Wei Dalei only had his strength enhanced, with speed in all aspects indeed increased, but that doesn't mean he learned the Wave-Treading Microsteps; on the contrary, Chen Mu made great progress in this area through constant close-quarters training with He Ying.

Perhaps because his mental power was stronger than the opponent's, Chen Mu could see his movements clearly; at the instant the spear touched the palm, the spearhead suddenly retracted.

A palm strike split the air.

Pff!

A visible scar appeared on the ground.

Good partner.

Does this thing also have a wind-blade effect?

Chen Mu grew increasingly wary of this person's ability, but also became more determined to kill him.

Especially since the opponent still had a companion nearby, making one feel exposed; if not for He Ying's presence, Chen Mu might have already fled.

When He Ying heard Chen Mu say the two words 'okay,' she already knew he was about to act; their coordination in battle had already developed a tacit understanding.

But she did not immediately join the fight; although her feet moved, she merely slowly approached the Qingbei member who had not yet made a move.

That person obviously realized it as well, and began to slowly pace, continually distancing himself from He Ying.

The scene was a bit eerie.

He Ying and that person seemed like martial arts masters testing each other before a fight, constantly circling the arena.

Meanwhile, in the middle of the arena, after exchanging one move, Chen Mu and the ambush attacker once again faced off.

Chen Mu dreaded his opponent's sharp cutting technique, while the opponent also found Chen Mu's reaction speed troublesome.

The spear in Chen Mu's hand formed again.

He gripped the spear with one hand forward and one back, the tip pointing forward, as if preparing to charge again.

The opponent looked wary, with his hands crossed in front of his chest.

However, in the next moment.

He suddenly felt something stab upward from under his foot, painfully piercing his sole; he instinctively lifted one foot, only to discover the other foot had also been struck.

His entire body thus lost balance.

Just then.

Chen Mu, unhurried, thrust his spear forward.