Chapter 9

Songyan East City is known for its quiet and orderly environment, occupying a quarter of the entire city. It is also called 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 the 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 only admits exceptionally talented female students, which also deters the majority of people from applying.

Only Tianxing Academy has no conditions, requiring only a substantial payment of essence 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.

On the opposite side stood a young man in fine clothing, about thirteen or fourteen years old, with a bruised nose and face, but a triumphant look in his triangular eyes.

"This time, it was Chen Hao who was wrong. We will cover all medical expenses. We hope that 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 moment 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. "Haven't I made it clear? However, I can let that boy off if he kneels down and kowtows to my young master and pays 300 essence stones as compensation. Then we can consider this matter settled. What do you think?"

Bai Wanqing suppressed her anger and said in a low voice, "Manager Wu, what if we let Chen Hao apologize but not kneel?"

Manager Wu burst into laughter, then sobered up and said disdainfully, "Absolutely not!"

Bai Wanqing was at a loss, her expression anxious, and she no longer had her usual gentle and composed demeanor.

"Aunt Bai, why are you wasting so much time on this? It's just being expelled, I won't attend this academy anymore!"

Chen Hao was already so angry that his teeth were clenched. Seeing Bai Wanqing on the verge of tears, he could no longer bear it. 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 a member 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 was furious and screamed, "How dare you 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's anger flared up, and he blocked 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 already expelled me. I accept that. According to Lord Yu Ze's rules, the grudge between me and Li Ming is now settled. If you dare to harm Aunt Bai or me, you will regret it."

Manager Wu laughed coldly. "You're just a little brat, and you talk so big. The grudge is settled? Is that possible? Now, I want to know, how will I regret it?" As he spoke, he spread his arms, and his aura changed dramatically, ready to fight at any moment.

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

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

Manager Wu's expression changed, and he was uncertain. Chen Hao's words had hit a nerve. The reason he hadn't acted yet was precisely because of this concern.

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

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 can't provoke him easily.

What should I do?

Manager Wu was torn.

Bai Wanqing was surprised. Looking at Chen Hao's young and calm face, she couldn't 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 out of respect for 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 little master backing me, how can 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 will have failed the family head's nurturing."

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 whipped his face, and Chen Hao was startled. Is this old dog a Purple Mansion realm cultivator?

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

Seeing Chen Hao dodge his attack, Manager Wu was slightly surprised, then coldly snorted. His true essence surged, and his bony hands glowed with a black luster, 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 wall of palm shadows that blocked all of Chen Hao's escape routes.

Chen Hao had no choice but to step 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 only option. 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 took two quick steps back, changed his palm to a fist, and smashed into Chen Hao's incoming punch.

Bang!

The two fists collided, producing a thunderous sound. The true essence energy scattered, and dust flew.

Chen Hao stumbled back over ten steps and spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turning pale. He had suffered internal injuries.

"Xiao Hao!"

Bai Wanqing couldn't help but cry out. She wasn't skilled in combat and couldn't help, feeling helpless and anxious.

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

As he spoke, Manager Wu's body flickered, and he appeared beside Chen Hao again. 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 the ground and quickly retreated.

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 touched his slightly painful scalp and drew a sharp breath. If he hadn't dodged quickly, that ice spike would have taken his life.

Not only Manager Wu, but everyone else was stunned by this sudden event, not noticing a black shadow that had quietly appeared 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 quickly carried away.

"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 and pleasant voice said. Chen Hao looked up and saw Bai Wanqing on his brother's back, her face slightly bashful.

...

"Waste! You let them escape right under your nose. What use are you, Manager Wu, if my father sent you here?"

When Li Ming realized what had happened, Chen Hao and Bai Wanqing were already gone. He was so angry that he vented his rage 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, this person is good at seizing opportunities, striking with precision and ferocity, and escaping while we were stunned. This level of strategy and insight is first-rate. Could this person be that troublemaker?"

Seeing that Manager Wu was ignoring him, Li Ming became even more furious and said harshly, "Fine, you're so capable, Manager Wu. I'll go tell my father that you not only let the enemy escape but also deliberately 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 changing. "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 words 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 and 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 his cultivation and learns about this, Chen Hao will be in trouble...

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