Chapter 025: The Battle at Luoyang Martial Arts Academy Once More (Ninth Update)

Meng Linglong was pulled along by Xin Lang, her delicate hand firmly gripped in his as they dashed out of the school gates. All the way out, Meng Linglong had tried more than once to wrench her hand free from Xin Lang’s wolfish grasp, but her efforts were in vain.

How strong he is! His strength seems to have grown again—could he have advanced to another level? Meng Linglong was startled by the thought.

Dragged by Xin Lang for some distance, unable to break free, she finally spoke, “Xin Lang—could you let go of my hand, please?”

Xin Lang glanced at her and replied, “Don’t worry. I don’t have any other intentions. I just grabbed your hand out of urgency. Next time, I’ll be more careful.”

Looking into Xin Lang’s earnest eyes and seeing his serious expression, Meng Linglong knew he was telling the truth.

When they arrived at Luoyang Academy, they witnessed Qian Baidu, battered and bruised, being thrown out by seven or eight students.

“Hmph! Just because Luoyang Academy slipped up in a friendly match, do you think we’re easy prey now? Go back and tell your Xuyang Academy mates, if you dare cause trouble here again, you’ll never see another sunrise!” Luo Shan spat at Qian Baidu, who lay sprawled on the ground.

Qian Baidu, struggling, raised a trembling finger at Luo Shan and his companions. “You bastards, if you’ve got guts, take me on one-on-one!”

“So you’re still not convinced! Brothers, beat him until he can’t even take care of himself!” Luo Shan barked.

Luoyang Academy had deliberately thrown Qian Baidu into the street for this beating—not for his sake, but to strike at Xuyang Academy, to humiliate them publicly.

Qian Baidu was already gravely injured, unable even to stand, let alone face the elite students. All he could do was cower and take the blows.

“Stop!” A thunderous roar echoed from across the street before fists could land. As everyone froze, a figure shot forward and positioned himself before Qian Baidu. “Let’s see who dares lay a finger on my classmate!”

“Xin… Xin Lang!” Luo Shan recognized the newcomer and jumped back a couple of paces, putting a safe distance between them.

Qian Baidu, seeing Xin Lang shielding him, wept tears of gratitude. “Class rep… classmate…”

“It’s all right. With me here, they won’t touch a hair on your head!” Xin Lang thought fiercely, Let’s see which bastard dares touch my point-farming machine—I’ll rip them apart!

During the exchange match between Xuyang and Luoyang Academies, Xin Lang had left a deep shadow in the hearts of Luoyang’s twelve elites. Now, with him standing in front of Qian Baidu, none of them dared make a move.

Lacking any interest in a fight without experience points, Xin Lang lazily helped Qian Baidu to his feet. “Are you all right?”

“I’ll live,” Qian Baidu gritted out through clenched teeth.

Luo Shan and the others could only watch as Xin Lang supported Qian Baidu, not daring to intervene.

Seeing her own student beaten so severely, Meng Linglong was furious. She strode to the academy gates and confronted Luo Shan. “The exchange matches between academies are for learning, not for such brutality. Was that really necessary?”

“Hah! Fists have no eyes. He lost; he can only blame his own lack of skill,” Luo Shan sneered.

“Bah!” Qian Baidu, his face swollen like a pig’s head, spat. “Ganging up on me—what sort of heroism is that? Try me one on one if you’ve got the guts!”

Luo Shan stepped forward with a grin. “Fine! With all these neighbors as witnesses, I accept your challenge. One on one!”

“Damn it!” Qian Baidu, struggling, tried to accept the duel.

Xin Lang pulled him back. “Luo Shan is a sixth-level martial apprentice, and you’re in this condition—you’re no match for him.”

“I can’t swallow this humiliation! I’ll fight him!” Qian Baidu protested.

“Hmph. What’s the point of a one-on-one? If you want a challenge, take on all of them yourself!” Xin Lang declared.

“Uh… Classmate…” Qian Baidu looked embarrassed by Xin Lang’s boldness. “I’d love to take them all on, but I’m not strong enough. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be beaten like this!”

“A gentleman’s revenge is never too late. Go back, train hard, and beat me first—then you won’t need to fear them!” Xin Lang encouraged him.

“Beat you?” Qian Baidu looked up with yearning.

“Are you a man or not? Don’t tell me you lack even this much resolve!” Xin Lang shouted.

“Damn it, of course I’m a man! I’m a real man, through and through!” Qian Baidu, his face swollen, thumped his chest.

Meng Linglong, watching Xin Lang restore Qian Baidu’s confidence in just a few words, raised her estimation of him once more.

Luo Shan, still unwilling to let it go, taunted, “What’s wrong, kid? Weren’t you eager to challenge me? What, lost your nerve now?”

Qian Baidu, riled by the provocation, was about to lose his cool again, but Xin Lang stopped him and responded to Luo Shan, “You call my classmate a coward—what if I challenge you instead? Will you accept, or will you play the coward?”

“You…” Luo Shan, knowing he was no match for Xin Lang, was momentarily lost for words.

At that moment, a voice rang out from within Luoyang Academy. “Xin Lang, what if I challenge you? Will you accept, or will you be the coward?”

Everyone turned to see Shi Lang, the martial arts instructor at Luoyang Academy, step out, followed by several students—though the headmaster, Luo Yuan, was conspicuously absent.

Luo Yuan, having spotted Meng Linglong, had hidden himself away, leaving Shi Lang to deal with Xuyang Academy.

Meng Linglong, recognizing the speaker, snapped, “Shi Lang, as a respected martial arts instructor, you’d challenge one of our students? Aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock?”

Shi Lang laughed. “Everyone knows your student Xin Lang defeated five of ours single-handedly—he’s clearly stronger than Luo Shan, yet he was about to challenge someone much weaker than himself!”

“Hmph! It was Luo Shan who challenged me first!” protested the battered Qian Baidu.

Xin Lang soothed the agitated Qian Baidu and handed him over to Meng Linglong. “Take care of your student.”

He strode up to Shi Lang. “So you want to challenge me?”

“I do! What’s wrong, afraid?” Shi Lang grinned. “If you’re scared, you can always back out.”

As soon as Xin Lang received Shi Lang’s confirmation, his upgrade system chimed in: “Four-star side quest: Defeat tenth-level martial apprentice Shi Lang! Reward: 20 experience points for success, no penalty for failure! Defeat him in a single move for an extra point!”

PS: Another chapter will be posted at 11:58!