Chapter 9

Songyan East is a quiet and orderly area, occupying a quarter of the entire city. It is also known as the Academic District, where numerous schools of various sizes stand, too many to count.

Tianxing Swordsmanship Academy is one of them.

Among the many academies, Tianxing Swordsmanship Academy is quite famous, ranking third, just below Songyan Academy and Liulan Academy.

In the eyes of all parents in Songyan City, Songyan Academy is naturally the first choice when selecting an academy for their children to cultivate. However, due to its extremely strict selection criteria, only a few lucky ones can enter each year.

Liulan Academy, on the other hand, only admits exceptionally talented female students, which deters the majority of people.

Only Tianxing Academy has no conditions, requiring only a substantial amount of spirit stones to enter. Therefore, among the top three academies, if we talk about the number of students, Tianxing Academy undoubtedly has the most.

Outside the gates of Tianxing Swordsmanship Academy.

Chen Hao's face was ashen, his lips tightly pressed together.

Opposite him stood a young man in fine clothing, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a bruised nose and swollen face, but a triumphant look in his triangular eyes.

"This time, it's Chen Hao's fault. We'll cover all medical expenses. We hope Manager Wu will show mercy and let Chen Hao off this time," Bai Wanqing negotiated with a thin, middle-aged man, her expression apologetic.

The thin, middle-aged man leered at Bai Wanqing for a while before shaking his head. "How can that be? My young master is the youngest and most beloved son of the clan leader. Has he ever been humiliated like this? We don't even want the medical expenses; we want that boy to pay a heavy price. Hmph, how can we let him off so easily for bullying our Li family's children?"

Bai Wanqing forced a smile. "What do you mean, then?"

Manager Wu stroked his chin, smiling. "Didn't I make it clear? However, I can let that boy off if he kneels down and kowtows to my young master, admitting his mistake, and pays 300 spirit stones as compensation. Then we can consider this matter settled. What do you think?"

Bai Wanqing suppressed her anger and said softly, "Manager Wu, how about this: let Chen Hao apologize, but can he not kneel?"

Manager Wu burst into laughter, then reined in his smile and said disdainfully, "Absolutely not!"

Bai Wanqing was at a loss, her expression anxious, losing all her usual grace and composure.

"Aunt Bai, why bother with all this nonsense? It's just being expelled, I won't attend this academy anymore!"

Chen Hao, already seething with anger, could no longer bear to see Bai Wanqing on the verge of tears. He stepped forward, pointed at the young man in fine clothing, and said coldly, "Li Ming, the next time I see you, I'll beat you up again. You spineless thing, you find help when you can't win. How can you be part of the Li family? You're a disgrace to your father! Aunt Bai, let's go." With that, he took Bai Wanqing's hand and turned to leave.

Li Ming flew into a rage and screamed, "You dare to insult me? You, you, you... Manager Wu, why are you just standing there? Didn't you see him insult me? Beat this bastard!"

Damn it, if it weren't for your father, I wouldn't even bother with you!

Manager Wu, enraged by the outburst, his anger rising, stepped in front of Chen Hao and Bai Wanqing, his face dark. "You two, you want to leave without resolving this matter?"

Chen Hao was undaunted and said disdainfully, "I fought with Li Ming, and the academy has expelled me. I accept that. According to Lord Yu Ze's rules, the grudge between me and Li Ming is settled. If you dare to harm Aunt Bai or me now, you'll regret it."

Manager Wu laughed sinisterly. "You're just a little brat, talking big. Grudge settled? Is that possible? Now, I want to know, how will I regret it?" As he spoke, he spread his arms, his aura changing dramatically, ready to fight at any moment.

"Manager Wu, beat him, this kid is just being stubborn!" Li Ming shouted, his triangular eyes filled with resentment and excitement.

Chen Hao remained unusually calm and said coldly, "It's simple. I'll tell Tianxing Academy that your Li family doesn't take Lord Yu Ze's decision seriously. I'll also go to the General's Mansion and tell the General that your Li family is challenging the authority of the General's Mansion, causing trouble in Songyan City, and starting fights! Unless you kill me now, but do you dare?"

Manager Wu's expression faltered, his face uncertain. Chen Hao's words had indeed hit a nerve. The reason he hadn't acted yet was because of this concern.

The General's Mansion rules over the entire Songyan City, representing the will of the Song Dynasty. They have strictly forbidden cultivators from fighting within the city. If discovered, they will be stripped of their cultivation and exiled to the mines. Even the head of the Li family wouldn't dare to cross this line, let alone a mere manager.

While Tianxing Academy's strength may not match the Li family, its head, Yu Ze, is a sixth-rank Purple Mansion realm powerhouse, ranking third in Songyan City. The Li family wouldn't dare to provoke him lightly.

What should I do?

Manager Wu was torn.

Bai Wanqing was surprised, looking at Chen Hao's young, calm face, unable to imagine that he could speak with such conviction and clarity.

"Manager Wu, he's just a poor family from the civilian district, and his brother is a notorious troublemaker. Even if we beat him, the General's Mansion and Tianxing Academy will turn a blind eye for the sake of our Li family. Why are you hesitating?"

Li Ming, seeing Manager Wu's hesitation, couldn't help but shout anxiously, "Even if something happens, isn't there still me?"

That's right, with this young master backing me, would the family head ignore me?

Manager Wu finally made his decision and said coldly, "Young Master, rest assured. If I don't break this boy's legs, I'll be unworthy of the family head's upbringing!"

With that, Manager Wu attacked, his hands surging with true essence, like a pair of sharp eagle claws, lunging at Chen Hao.

Chen Hao had already sensed the danger. As soon as Manager Wu spoke, he pushed Bai Wanqing away and quickly dodged, narrowly avoiding the sharp claws.

The wind from the attack stung Chen Hao's face, making him realize that this old dog might be a Purple Mansion realm cultivator.

"Hmph, let's see how long you can dodge!"

Seeing Chen Hao dodge his attack, Manager Wu was slightly taken aback but then sneered. His true essence surged, his bony hands glowing black, emitting a terrifying aura.

In a flash, Manager Wu appeared in front of Chen Hao like a ghost, his hands moving like butterflies, creating a flurry of palm shadows that blocked all of Chen Hao's escape routes.

With no way to dodge, Chen Hao stepped forward, ignoring the palm shadows. His left fist, enveloped in the true essence surging from his body, smashed at Manager Wu, ready to fight to the death.

This was Chen Hao's desperate move. Although he had broken through to the innate realm, his foundation was still shallow, and he was far from a match for Manager Wu. Only by fighting to the death might he have a chance to survive.

As expected, Manager Wu didn't want to fight to the death with Chen Hao. He retreated two steps, changing his palms to fists, and struck Chen Hao's incoming punch.

Bang!

The fists collided with a thunderous sound, the true essence energy surging in all directions, kicking up dust.

Chen Hao stumbled back over a dozen steps, spitting out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. He had clearly been injured internally.

"Xiao Hao!"

Bai Wanqing couldn't help but cry out. She wasn't skilled in combat and could do nothing to help, feeling helpless and anxious.

After the hard punch, Manager Wu remained unmoved, unscathed. He looked at Chen Hao disdainfully and said coldly, "Just at the first level of the innate realm, and you dare to fight me? Be a good boy and let me cripple your legs!"

As he spoke, Manager Wu moved again, appearing beside Chen Hao. His right leg, like a steel whip, swept at Chen Hao's legs with a fierce wind.

Hmm?

Just as Manager Wu's leg was about to hit Chen Hao, he suddenly felt a chilling sense of danger. Without hesitation, he kicked off the ground and retreated quickly.

Bang!

At the moment Manager Wu retreated, a sharp ice spike appeared out of nowhere, narrowly missing his head and piercing the ground, leaving a hole the size of a bowl.

Sigh!

Manager Wu, feeling a chill on his scalp, couldn't help but draw a sharp breath. If he hadn't dodged in time, that ice spike would have killed him.

Not just Manager Wu, but everyone else was stunned by this sudden turn of events, not noticing a shadow quietly appearing on the side of the battlefield.

"Go!"

A familiar voice rang in Chen Hao's ear. Before he could react, he was picked up and carried away quickly.

"Brother!"

Chen Hao was overjoyed but then realized something and called out, "Wait, Aunt Bai is still over there."

"I... I'm here," a soft, pleasant voice said. Chen Hao looked up to see Bai Wanqing on his brother's back, her face slightly bashful.

...

"Waste! You let them escape right under your nose, Manager Wu. What's the point of my father sending you here?"

When Li Ming came to his senses, Chen Hao and Bai Wanqing were already gone. Enraged, he vented his anger on Manager Wu, roaring.

Manager Wu ignored him, squatting down to examine the hole in the ground made by the ice spike. He muttered, "It's a first-grade ice spike talisman. This person must not exceed the innate realm. However, they are good at seizing opportunities, striking with precision and ruthlessness, and escaping with the others while we were stunned. This level of strategy and insight is first-rate. Could this be that troublemaker?"

Li Ming, seeing that Manager Wu was ignoring him, became even angrier and said fiercely, "Fine, you're so capable, Manager Wu. I'll tell my father that you not only let the enemy go but also embarrassed me. If you don't get kicked out of the Li family, I'll change my name to Wu!"

Manager Wu slowly stood up, expressionless. "Young Master, if you really do that, I'll have to report all the bad things you've done over the years."

Li Ming was taken aback, his face uncertain. "Manager Wu, you... you're talking nonsense!" His气势 already weakened.

Manager Wu patted his hands and said calmly, "Young Master, let's go. In the future, don't act on impulse, or some unpleasant things might reach the family head's ears. As for Chen Hao, we can deal with him later. What do you think?"

Li Ming nodded absentmindedly, his mind elsewhere.

Manager Wu inwardly sneered. Waste, if you had even a fraction of the Young Master's strength, you wouldn't be bullied like this.

Thinking of the Young Master, Manager Wu's mind involuntarily conjured up a cold, proud figure. For no reason, a chill ran down his spine, and he shivered.

The Young Master is the one who loves this waste of a brother the most. Once he breaks through and learns about this, Chen Hao will be in trouble...

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