Chapter 096: Cut the Nonsense, or I'll Crush You with Gold Coins

After Gu Song, the chubby one, forcefully bounced Du Muhan back, he stood tall and proud, declaring to Du Muhan, “I’ve already taken your punch head-on. Now you can admit defeat!”

Du Muhan stared at Gu Song in astonishment. His strongest punch had done nothing to the other man—not only had it failed to injure him, but he had been bounced back instead. All fighting spirit drained from Du Muhan, and he said helplessly, “I... I... I admit defeat!”

Gu Song had won the match. He turned to the audience on the platform and shouted, “Ladies, if you want to go out with me, come find me at the boys’ dormitory, room 9527. If you all come together, even better!”

Gu Song leapt from the main arena and came before Xin Lang, saying, “Boss, how about it? I didn’t embarrass you, right?”

Xin Lang kicked the chubby Gu aside. “Get lost! You dare to snatch my points? Go back to your dorm and reflect for three days!”

“Ah, Boss, please don’t! If you make me reflect for three days, how will I flirt with girls or... Just kill me instead!” Gu Song wailed.

Everyone in the battle hall nearly turned to stone at the scene. “What’s going on? Who is this guy? That chubby fellow is already incredible, but now this one is even more formidable. Even that terrifying fat guy calls him ‘Boss’! Damn, how are there so many outstanding newcomers today?”

The crowd began speculating about Xin Lang’s identity. Some had watched his matches earlier in the day and knew that Gu Xin Lang was the one who had challenged nineteen arena masters in a row.

Now that Gu Song had defeated Du Muhan, the main arena’s master had lost. Xin Lang knew there was no longer any point in trying to challenge him, so he went to the battle hall’s registration desk to sign up as usual.

Xin Lang thought, “If I sign up at several battle halls, I can earn more points.”

He registered at six battle halls in one go. Since he had to run between them, and some matches proceeded faster than others, he ended up missing one event, participating in five out of the six for which he’d signed up.

Today, he didn’t encounter a single powerful bronze-level student. Fearing he’d delay his matches at other halls, Xin Lang made quick work of every fight. Even when he faced tough opponents, he used the power of the “Celestial Halberd,” ending the battle in a single move.

By day’s end, Xin Lang had earned twenty-five points. At this pace, advancing to silver-level student within ten days would be no difficult feat!

Moreover, during today’s matches, he triggered several hidden tasks, earning over seventy experience points, which brought his experience meter up to 1,600.

At dusk, after finishing his matches, Xin Lang returned to his dormitory.

He gazed at the Saint Grade, First Quality “Blue Silver Holy Dew” in his storage compartment, pondering, “Now I have 1,600 experience points. Should I upgrade the ‘Blue Silver Holy Dew’ to a higher quality? With my current rate of recovery, in about twenty days, my meridians should be fully healed. Should I wait a bit longer?”

But then Xin Lang reconsidered. “If I fail the five-diamond main quest of the upgrade device this time, I’ll be wiped out. I won’t even have my life anymore—what’s the use of holding onto so many experience points!”

With this thought, he no longer hesitated and upgraded “Blue Silver Holy Dew” two levels straight, bringing it directly to Saint Grade, Third Quality!

He used it as before: one bottle taken orally, another for soaking in the bath.

“The Saint Grade, Third Quality is indeed several times more effective than the First Quality!” Xin Lang soaked in the bath barrel, feeling the medicine work.

Though the upgraded “Blue Silver Holy Dew” didn’t immediately clear his blocked meridians, Xin Lang believed that with two or three more uses, his meridians would be fully healed!

He’d only need two or three days; there was no need to waste another hundred experience points. After spending two hundred points, he still had 1,400 left.

After finishing his medicinal bath and dressing, someone knocked on his door. Gu Song called from outside, “Boss, can I come in now?”

Xin Lang opened the door and looked at Gu Song. “Didn’t I tell you to go back and reflect in your dorm? What are you doing here?”

Gu Song grinned mischievously. “Isn’t today the fifteenth? I promised everyone a feast on the first and fifteenth of each month! Tonight’s free, so let’s take a stroll around Xiadu City!”

Xin Lang wasn’t serious about making Gu Song reflect; it was just a scare tactic.

Seeing that Xin Lang didn’t immediately reject him, Gu Song quickly added, “Boss, Qian Baidu and Hong King Kong are already waiting for us at the school gate. What do you say?”

“Alright, I’ll let you off this time. But if you dare to snatch my points again tomorrow, I’ll break your third leg!” Xin Lang said.

“Hehe... How could I dare compete with you for points, Boss? I’m only out there for the girls! Seriously, until you advance to silver-level, I won’t compete with you for points again!” Gu Song promised.

Xin Lang knew that Gu Song’s impersonation of his achievements today had indeed won over several female students—whether he’d succeeded with any of them was another matter, and Xin Lang couldn’t say for sure.

Xin Lang and Gu Song arrived at the Martial Arts Academy’s gate, where Qian Baidu and Hong King Kong were indeed waiting.

Gu Song said, “Didn’t I tell you two to wait outside?”

Qian Baidu laughed, “Since you’re treating us, you ought to see it through! I doubt you mind spending a few more gold coins.”

Fearing Xin Lang might change his mind and send him back to reflect, Gu Song didn’t bicker with Qian Baidu and paid four gold coins. The four of them left the Martial Arts Academy together.

Although the sun had set, Xiadu’s nights were still brightly lit, with crowds filling the streets and alleys, no different from daytime. Entertainment venues—taverns, brothels, casinos—were even livelier than during the day.

Gu Song led the group to a tavern called “Flavors Supreme.”

“My old man says Flavors Supreme is one of the most famous taverns in Xiadu. They say this branch isn’t the main one—the headquarters isn’t even in our Great Xia Empire,” Gu Song explained.

Business was booming. Upon entering the hall, the four found no available tables.

Gu Song called over a server. “Do you have any private rooms? Find us one!”

The server glanced at the four, noting their ordinary attire—not the look of wealthy patrons. “All the upstairs private rooms have been reserved. If you’re not in a hurry, you can wait downstairs; a table should open up soon.”

“Gu, maybe we should try another place. We can come back here on the first of next month!” Qian Baidu reminded Gu Song about the next feast.

Gu Song said, “No way! We’re here, so we’re staying!”

He pulled out a gold coin, flicked it elegantly with his thumb, and it traced a graceful arc through the air, landing in the server’s hands.

“Find us a private room. If you utter one more useless word, don’t blame me for smashing you with gold coins!” Gu Song threatened.