Chapter 56

**Bang!** The lean young man fell heavily to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood with a "wa."

He struggled to prop himself up, staring at Zuo Feiyang in disbelief.

The guards of the Duke's Mansion prohibited private duels; minor offenders would be demoted, and major offenders would have their martial arts skills revoked and be expelled from the mansion. He never thought Zuo Feiyang would dare to make a move, especially in front of everyone. Was he not afraid of the mansion's rules?

Zuo Feiyang sneered, "A good-for-nothing, and you dare to boast? Do you think you're a Chu?"

The crowd immediately became furious.

In the world of martial arts, there is no first in literature, but there is a second in martial arts. Martial artists are bloodthirsty, competitive, and always want to be the best. This is their nature, and it cannot be changed.

They were already不服气 (unconvinced) that Zuo Feiyang was the top young martial artist, and seeing him defeated twice by Chu Li, their initial jealousy and admiration turned to contempt. Seeing him act so arrogantly and dare to make a move in public, they could no longer hold back.

"Too arrogant!"

"Does he really think he's the top young martial artist?"

"Thought he was so great, but turned out to be useless!"

"Showing off after the fact, sigh... pitiful!"

"Top young martial artist? Can't even last one move, what a disgrace!"

"Damn, he dared to make a move!"

A sturdy young man jumped out, pointing at Zuo Feiyang and shouting, "Zuo, what do you think you're doing!"

"Chattering like a bunch of cowards, I'll do whatever I want!" Zuo Feiyang coldly scanned the crowd, his bloodshot eyes like those of a predator, his sharp gaze like a cold sword.

They felt a chill and instinctively became hostile, growing even angrier.

"Zuo, you dare to hit people randomly, we can't stand it. I'll challenge you, and everyone will be witnesses!" the sturdy young man huffed.

Zuo Feiyang sneered, "A nobody, do you think you're worthy to fight me?"

"Who do you think you are, the real top young martial artist? How laughable!" The sturdy young man's face was full of sarcasm as he sneered, "Your reputation is all talk, what kind of genius are you?"

"Fine!" Zuo Feiyang roared and threw a punch.

**Bang!** The sturdy young man didn't react in time and was sent flying.

He spat out a stream of blood in mid-air and landed with a thud, lying still like a stone, already unconscious.

Zuo Feiyang slowly retracted his fist and coldly scanned the crowd, "Who else is不服气 (unconvinced)?"

The crowd grew even angrier.

"I'll take you on!" A short and fat young man stepped forward, coldly saying, "Zuo Feiyang, you're not as useless as I thought, take this punch!"

He threw a punch, his entire body following the momentum, swift as a meteor, practicing the powerful Meteor Fist.

Zuo Feiyang sneered, stepped forward, and threw a punch.

"Ahh!" The short and fat young man clutched his hand and retreated, his face pale, beads of sweat the size of soybeans appearing on his forehead.

"Stupid and overconfident!" Zuo Feiyang sneered, not even looking, and scanned the crowd, "Who else wants to try?"

The short and fat young man opened his hand, and the crowd's hearts sank.

His hand was broken at the wrist, the white bone visible. He practiced the Meteor Fist, which made his hands extremely hard, yet he ended up like this, showing how powerful Zuo Feiyang's punch was.

The crowd felt a chill and frowned, realizing Zuo Feiyang wasn't as weak as they thought.

Zuo Feiyang scanned the crowd and sneered, "A bunch of cowards, do you think I'm just a name? You guys are stronger than me, how foolish!... Come on, who else wants to try?"

"I'll challenge your sword skills!" A tall and thin young man stepped out of the crowd, his face solemn.

They didn't dare underestimate Zuo Feiyang's martial arts, but he was too arrogant and overbearing. It was unbearable to back down, so they had to try, and if they lost, they would be convinced.

"Come on!" Zuo Feiyang drew his sword and sneered, "If I don't beat you all to a pulp today, I won't be a Zuo!"

This remark further enraged the crowd, who whispered and cursed, the training ground buzzing with noise.

Zuo Feiyang drew his sword and sneered, "I'll let you have three strikes!"

The tall and thin young man drew his sword and thrust three times, swift and light. Zuo Feiyang merely moved his body slightly, barely avoiding the strikes, looking relaxed and indifferent.

"Three moves!" Zuo Feiyang shouted and threw a punch.

**Clang...** The long sword flew out and landed behind the crowd.

Zuo Feiyang retracted his fist and sneered, "A good-for-nothing!... Anyone else? Can't even last two moves?"

The crowd calmed down a bit.

The few who had challenged him were top-notch, eager to challenge the title of top young martial artist, believing they were qualified.

The rest knew they couldn't match them, and coming out to fight Zuo Feiyang would only bring shame.

Zuo Feiyang scanned the crowd, seeing no one step forward, and sneered, "A bunch of good-for-nothings!"

He turned and walked away, Bái Zhijie glaring at them and following closely.

As he followed Zuo Feiyang, he whispered, "Master, this is trouble!"

"Take me back, then find Elder Ding!" Zuo Feiyang sneered.

"Yes." Bái Zhijie nodded quickly.

Zuo Feiyang was introduced to the mansion by Elder Ding, a contributing elder of the Martial Hall. The Zuo family had done him a favor, so he introduced Zuo Feiyang to the mansion. Now that Zuo Feiyang had caused trouble, he could only rely on this connection.

Hitting people in public was a serious violation of the mansion's rules, and he might be expelled and have his martial arts skills revoked.

Once on the boat, Zuo Feiyang's face turned pale, and he slumped down. Bái Zhijie wasn't panicked, having experience, knowing it was the aftereffect of the Blood Burning Technique, which would pass in a couple of days.

---

Chu Li returned to the East Garden, Li Yue grinning all the way, unable to stop smiling.

Back in the East Garden, entering the small courtyard, Li Yue laughed heartily, "What a relief! What a relief!"

Chu Li smiled and sat by the stone table, "What's so relieving?"

"I bet Zuo Feiyang is furious and won't dare to oppose you anymore!" Li Yue chuckled, "Three hundred thousand taels, he must be bankrupt!"

Chu Li shook his head, "The Zuo family is wealthy, it won't hurt them much."

"So rich?"

"Otherwise, how could Zuo Feiyang be so talented? He's been eating medicinal herbs since he was young," Chu Li sighed, "But I couldn't slap him, which is a regret."

He had the thought but ultimately gave up.

Going too far would be counterproductive, and it wasn't necessary to seek revenge. This time, he had already humiliated him and destroyed his confidence.

"Ah..." Li Yue sighed, "He's really unlucky, meeting you, his nemesis!"

Chu Li smiled, "I'm not his nemesis, there are many stronger than me."

"You're the top young martial artist now!" Li Yue smiled, "Brother, you'll have a lot of challenges in the future."

"Sure, the usual deal, one hundred thousand taels!" Chu Li said.

"Ah—!" Li Yue's eyes widened.

Chu Li smiled, "No one hundred thousand taels, no deal."

"This is too..." Li Yue shook his head, "Not good, not good. Getting a reputation for being greedy won't be good. We're guards, and we need to be trusted. Who would dare to use you?"

Chu Li smiled, "My time is valuable, no one hundred thousand taels, no disturbance."

This was also exposing a weakness, giving his enemies a way to attack him.

If he were under someone else's command, he would care about his reputation, but Xiao Qi was different. She saw through his true nature, and his great mirror wisdom could deceive her, earning her trust. Reputation didn't matter.

By tarnishing his image, he was also catering to human nature.

People need an excuse to look down on others and comfort themselves. Chu Li was giving them that excuse: "His martial arts are good, but he's too greedy, not suitable for high places."

Li Yue sighed, "Brother, this isn't a small matter, think about it!"

Chu Li smiled, "There won't be any challenges soon, I'm going back to Yu Qi Island."

"Okay, go, let the beautiful maid help you relax!" Li Yue chuckled, grinning.

Chu Li glared at him and sailed back to Yu Qi Island.

In the small courtyard, Xue Ling, dressed in a moon-white outfit, looked heroic and beautiful, her face radiant in the bright sunlight.

She was practicing the Taiyin Eight Postures, graceful and smooth. Seeing him return, she finished and offered him a jade teacup, "Master, did you win?"

"Yep." Chu Li responded lazily.

He sat in the pavilion, absorbing the aura of the Heavenly Spirit Tree, practicing his healing technique, quickly healing a minor injury and adjusting his body to its best state.

Xue Ling's bright eyes fell on his face, examining him.

Chu Li looked at her, and she met his gaze confidently, "Did Master Zuo lose?"

"Of course." Chu Li smiled, "I won, how could he win?"

"Isn't he the top young martial artist?" Xue Ling asked, her eyes sparkling.

"He is strong." Chu Li nodded.

Without the Sutra of Withering and Flourishing, he wouldn't dare to practice the Boundless Sea Technique or the Self-Sacrificing Life-Ending Blade. He wouldn't be a match for Zuo Feiyang, who had mastered the powerful Blood Burning Technique in a short time, showing his exceptional talent.

"Then Master is the top young martial artist?" Xue Ling's eyes shone.

Chu Li laughed, "What top young martial artist, don't take it seriously. Let's continue practicing!"

He pointed to the iron rod outside the pavilion.

Xue Ling bit her lip and nodded reluctantly.

Chu Li went outside the pavilion and began practicing the 72 Postures of the Vajra Deliverance Divine Technique. Xue Ling struck the rod, **bang**, he stood firm, unaffected. She struck again.

**Bang bang bang...** One strike after another, Xue Ling counted her breaths, one strike every five breaths.

The courtyard gate opened, and Su Ru, dressed in a light yellow robe, floated in, smiling, "You're quite at ease!"

Chu Li finished his practice and sat with her in the pavilion, Xue Ling serving tea and standing aside.

Su Ru, beautiful and elegant, smiled, "You're in the spotlight again!"

Chu Li smiled, "The Chief Steward knows about the challenge?"

"Do you know what happened after you left? Zuo Feiyang went crazy!" Su Ru smiled.

Chu Li was taken aback.

Su Ru sighed, shaking her head, "It's a problem! This guy is too immature!"

Chu Li asked, "What happened?"

Su Ru explained, and Chu Li frowned, "Expel him from the mansion? That would be a pity!"

Though Zuo Feiyang was against him and wanted to cripple him, he was a genius and a valuable talent for the Duke's Mansion, worth cultivating.

---

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