Chapter 132: A Challenge at the Door: Using Power to Coerce

Lu Qiang stood solemnly to one side, accompanying his master to host the guests.

His expression was calm, devoid of any emotion; it was his usual style of being taciturn and sparing with words.

Yet beneath his calm exterior, his heart was in turmoil because of the uninvited guests who had arrived today.

Captain Ye of the City Gate Guard had come to visit, bringing along his newly adopted son.

As one of the eight Ghost-Catching Captains, Captain Ye commanded heavy troops and held immense power.

Since Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall had opened its doors to accept disciples in Gongliang City, it had to deal with all sorts of people, and the City Gate Guard was an unavoidable hurdle.

Once one reached the realm beyond Blood Qi, it was impossible to avoid contact with the true dangers of the world, such as specters.

The City Gate Guard was established specifically to hunt and eliminate specters, possessing exclusive authority and a transcendent status.

The power, influence, and even the troops and resources commanded by a Ghost-Catching Captain were far beyond what outsiders could imagine.

Although the City Gate Guard and the martial arts hall had little interaction and moved in different circles, there were few opportunities for them to cross paths.

Given Captain Ye's status, there was no need for him to pay a personal visit.

Yet he had come, and he had brought...

Lu Qiang subconsciously looked at Captain Ye's adopted son; he was not a new face, as they had met once before.

This person was none other than the Dazhuang Fist Apprentice who had come to challenge the hall, Zhang Shiyu.

This kid had turned around and become a City Gate Guard; he had jumped ship fast enough.

"Haha, Hall Master Wang, I, Ye, have no heirs in my old age, so I adopted Shi Yu as my foster son and have been cultivating him with all my might."

"This child is sensible, but he carries too much on his mind and refuses to tell me, his elder, about it."

Captain Ye was dressed in casual clothes, smiling happily; he didn't even drink his tea, but chatted cheerfully with Wang Jianxiong.

Zhang Shiyu stood obediently behind Captain Ye, his gaze fixed on his feet, never making a sound from beginning to end.

The old man was fiddling with a small Grass Gourd in his hand, its surface already rubbed to a glossy shine.

He listened quietly, occasionally taking a sip of hot tea.

"... until a few days ago, when he saw that a breakthrough was imminent, he was still dwelling on this trivial matter."

Captain Ye slapped his thigh, "I don't think that will do; the matter must be settled. Hall Master Wang, what do you think?"

"Thud!"

Wang Jianxiong tapped his palm lightly against the tabletop, the Grass Gourd colliding with the table and making a soft sound.

Seeing this, Lu Qiang's heart suddenly tightened; this was bad.

Captain Ye bringing Zhang Shiyu here was clearly to seek justice for him; this was meant to force Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall to bow its head.

"Zhang Shiyu, that name sounds familiar. Lu Qiang, have you heard of it?"

Lu Qiang spoke up, "Master, could it be that you have forgotten? Previously, an apprentice of Dazhuang Fist also went by this name."

He added a supplement, "He wasn't anyone important; he lost to Zhou You in the first round."

"So that's how it is."

Wang Jianxiong asked Captain Ye, "Captain Ye, do you have a connection with Dazhuang Fist?"

Martial arts halls fighting it out was just the survival of the fittest within the circle; no matter how powerful the City Gate Guard was, they could not openly trample on the rules.

Zhang Shiyu losing to Zhou You was a fair and square match, with no underhanded dealings.

Captain Ye smiled, "Shi Yu came to me with his own skills; those farming techniques are not worth mentioning."

"Now, he is my foster son, learning the Thousand Armies Breaking Evil Fist and holding a position in the City Gate Guard."

"Hall Master Wang, the City Gate Guard has a duty to defend the land and holds exclusive authority; I ask that you make things convenient."

His casual remark about "farming techniques" seemed to belittle Dazhuang Fist, but it also subtly suppressed the Tiger-Subduing Fist.

He then pointed out his identity as a City Gate Guard, secretly reminding Wang Jianxiong that those who know the times are wise.

It wasn't worth making everyone unhappy over an Outer Court Apprentice! Lu Qiang noticed a detail: his master let go of his hand, and the polished Grass Gourd rolled across the table.

This gourd had been picked and brought back from Waishan by Zhou You, and presented to the old man to play with.

It was carefully selected, with a perfect shape and a dragon-head-like stem; it was a fine piece that money couldn't buy.

The old man liked it very much, playing with it in his palm whenever he had the chance, and a thick patina had already formed on its surface.

At this moment, the gourd was set aside on the table.

Wang Jianxiong flexed his finger joints, laid his hands on the armrests, and asked, "What does Captain Ye want?" "Simple, call that apprentice out, and let Shi Yu have a rematch with him."

Upon hearing this, Lu Qiang looked up; wasn't this bullying?

Zhang Shiyu was Captain Ye's foster son and a seed talent heavily cultivated by the City Gate Guard, while Zhou You was merely an Outer Court Apprentice of the martial arts hall.

The former practiced the core secret techniques of the Thousand Armies Breaking Evil Fist and frequently consumed the Secret Medicine Scale-Beard Pill, with vast resources poured into his cultivation.

As for the latter, he was taught according to the standard apprentice rations, without any special treatment.

"Martial artists practicing and sparring is a common occurrence!"

Captain Ye said indifferently, "Since the founding of Jian Xiong Martial Arts Hall, has there ever been a precedent for proactively avoiding a fight?"

"It's just a match!"

Wang Jianxiong turned his head and ordered, "Lu Qiang, call Zhou You out."

"Zhou You, hmm, his nickname is Winged Tiger, right?"

Captain Ye's eyes were full of smiles, "I heard his Lightness Skill is quite good."

His tone was indifferent; he was not at all worried that Zhou You would resist, refuse, or even run away.

The Flower-Plucking Thief was dead, so the status of the once-famous Winged Tiger Zhou You in the martial arts hall had dropped significantly.

Lu Qiang nodded in agreement; he already knew his master's character was unyielding, and the other party was clearly using a provocation tactic.

This match had to be fought, and life and death would be determined by fate.

However, since the other party had initiated the challenge, how could they not be certain of victory?

Zhou You, you are in danger!

Lu Qiang turned and walked over the threshold; the shadow of the eaves fell upon his face, and his vision dimmed.

Suddenly, the calm air began to flow abruptly.

The air trembled faintly, and a few specks of dust fell, spinning as they landed on the floor tiles.

"Awoo!"

A roar exploded in his ears; although it was some distance from the Inner Courtyard, it sounded as if a fierce tiger were howling right beside him.

Lu Qiang's mind went blank, and the Qi and Blood within his body were stirred, as if ripples were being raised on a calm lake.

This roar contained the power of Qi and Blood.

The owner of the voice was clearly a novice who had just entered the first stage of Qi and Blood, revealing a touch of immaturity.

This meant that someone in the Outer Courtyard had just broken through the Qi and Blood barrier.

How joyous and congratulatory!

He turned and cupped his hands to salute Wang Jianxiong, "Master, a Junior Brother has broken through."

The three people inside the room also heard the tiger's roar and were quite surprised by it.

Breaking through to Qi and Blood is not easy, and what is even rarer is that someone happened to break through while they were talking.

"Hmm!"

Wang Jianxiong calculated that the Inner Courtyard had gained another Disciple, which was good news indeed! The situation inside and outside the city was becoming increasingly chaotic, and to maintain the martial arts school's businesses and dispatch more manpower, there were far from enough usable people.

There were only a few Qi and Blood Disciples in the Inner Courtyard, and they already had their own duties, leaving them stretched thin.

One Qi and Blood Disciple meant the martial arts school had gained another pillar, allowing them to expand their operations further.

Just a moment ago, he still felt some regret; Zhou You was motivated and sensible, a talent worth cultivating, and it would be a great pity to let him risk being beaten to death by Zhang Shiyu in battle.

However, with one more Qi and Blood Disciple in the Outer Courtyard now, this loss was nothing.

"Master Wang, congratulations. I will not disturb you further; I will leave once the fight is over."

Captain Ye also clicked his tongue in wonder, not knowing which senior Apprentice had finally achieved a breakthrough after long accumulation.

As for who the Apprentice who broke through was? They did not think about it in detail; they figured it could be anyone, but it certainly wouldn't be Zhou You.

After all, how could there be such a coincidence!

"Lu Qiang, go quickly and summon Zhou You."

(End of chapter)