parentshiftbook Chapter 68 Cleverness Backfires
Chapter 68 Cleverness Backfires
The man who walked out from behind Lin Wanxiong was also quite young.
He was agile, dressed simply, and carried a rather old longsword.
He walked towards the platform with a blank expression.
At first, everyone was puzzled, but then someone immediately realized what was going on:
"What a scheme the Lin family martial arts school has! They're just looking for temporary replacements!"
Once this person explained, everyone else understood what had happened.
The Chen and Lin families intend to let this round pass by, allowing the thirteen families and Changfeng Escort Agency to wear down Li Wei first.
Once they understood, the training ground erupted in chaos.
People discussed and condemned the Chen and Lin families for being shameless.
"Switch back to Lin Yuan!"
"What kind of shamelessness is this? The Chen family is unworthy of being called the number one family. What right does the Lin family martial arts school have to call itself the number one martial arts school?"
Even the disciples of the Chen and Lin families couldn't help but feel their noodles getting hot at this moment.
Adding extra people at the last minute, especially with the intention of wearing them down, is indeed somewhat disgraceful.
Hearing the comments, Lin Wanxiong snorted heavily, then suddenly stood up and shouted in the direction where the insults were loudest:
"Stop your incessant whining! There are three people in each family, what's the problem?! If anyone has a problem, come and say it to this old man!"
Lin Wanxiong was a veteran mid-stage Body Refinement martial artist, and Chen and Lin's side also had three late-stage Body Refinement martial artists. When he got angry, everyone fell silent and could only turn their attention to Zhenwu Camp.
Shen Yi's eyes showed neither joy nor sorrow. She tapped her right hand on the arm of the chair a few times, then suddenly spoke:
"In that case, let's also add one person to the Changfeng Escort Agency."
"Well done! Commander Shen is just!" The quiet crowd suddenly erupted in cheers.
"Commander Shen is just!"
"Justice! Justice! Justice!"
"..."
On the Changfeng Escort Agency side, Feng Qi and his two companions exchanged glances but secretly shook their heads.
What was the point of Shen Yi's actions regarding fairness?
It's clear they knew about Lu Cheng and Li Wei's sparring match.
This was to avoid running into Lu Cheng prematurely.
On the high platform, the young man who had come out of the Lin Family Martial Arts School was already standing opposite Li Wei.
He was extremely unwilling to be assigned to this task.
But he couldn't refuse when his master called his name.
Holding his sword in both hands, ready to register, Li Wei waved his hand dismissively and said:
"If you surrender now, you can remain unscathed. But if I make a move, I'll take at least one of your arms!"
As he spoke, he clapped his hands together, making a loud "snap" sound.
The man's expression froze. He turned to look at Lin Wanxiong, only to be met with a pair of cold eyes.
Turning his head, he looked at Li Wei hopefully and pleaded for mercy:
"Officer Li, I have an eighty-year-old mother to support and a wife I'm not yet betrothed to. It's really too much for me to be fighting like this... Please, Officer Li, go easy on me!"
Li Wei gave a cold laugh:
"Holding back? What do you mean by holding back? Sparing your life? Or letting you step down safely?"
He pointed to the Lin Family Martial Arts School as he spoke:
"Will they allow it?"
Upon hearing Li Wei's words, the man turned ashen-faced.
Li Wei shook his head:
"It's truly laughable that you don't beg him, but instead come to beg me. What kind of logic is that?"
Knowing he could not escape, the man drew his long sword before Li Wei could finish speaking, and charged at Li Wei with a ferocious expression.
They actually had the idea of launching a sneak attack without even saying a word.
Boos immediately erupted from the surrounding stands.
Li Wei remained completely calm, gave a cold smile, and instead of retreating, advanced.
Although he didn't have Chen Heng's gloves that were as sharp as swords and spears, he was still highly skilled and his Great Stele-Smashing Hand was quite powerful.
On the other hand, his opponent, although in the late stage of the Refining Strength realm, had never been taught the Pine Cloud Sword Technique.
Coupled with his loss of willpower, Li Wei knocked his longsword away in less than twenty rounds.
He then slapped the chest three times in succession, the sound of bones breaking was clearly audible, and blood gushed from the mouth like a fountain.
He then continued his offensive relentlessly, delivering a powerful palm strike to his opponent's shoulder.
With a "crack," the man let out a terrible scream and staggered backward.
After landing a successful blow, Li Wei quickly followed up, raised his right foot, and kicked down hard.
The man let out another scream, his body went limp, and he collapsed to the ground.
Li Wei flicked his hand, his expression quite disdainful:
"Hmph, if it were a fair fight, I might spare your limbs. But this sneak attack will let you taste the bitterness of broken arms and legs!"
This tragic scene did not elicit any sympathy or pity from others; on the contrary, many people cheered in hushed tones.
Chen and Lin were seated at the table, while Lin Wanxiong and his group looked grim.
To his utter surprise, the disciple he sent out only lasted twenty moves. Not only did he fail to wear down Li Wei, but he also lost face.
Shen Yi also revealed a cold smile before announcing the results.
Then, everyone's attention turned to Changfeng Escort Agency.
Lu Cheng slowly stood up. Li Wei was so ruthless; he absolutely couldn't let the other disciples take the fall.
One against three...
To be honest, Lu Cheng wasn't really sure either.
"I'll go first!"
Before Lu Cheng could take a step, a figure had already darted out.
Judging by his figure, it's Zhuang Xing!
Lu Cheng hurriedly went up and pulled him back:
"Senior Brother Zhuang, how can we joke about this? This Chief Li's 'Great Stone-Smashing Technique' can split gold and shatter rocks. You saw it yourself with that Lin family disciple just now; his fate cannot be described as merely tragic."
Zhuang Xing slowly freed himself from Lu Cheng's hand, put his hands behind his back, raised his head, and said calmly:
"What's wrong, Junior Brother Lu? Are you scared?"
Lu Cheng:
"..."
Zhuang Xing shook his head:
"Don't worry, junior brother. I know you care about me, but this mere duel won't hurt me."
Lu Cheng took a deep breath, feeling somewhat helpless, and could only look at Li Wei.
Their eyes met, and Li Wei nodded slightly.
Lu Cheng breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, Li Wei was willing to give him some face.
Zhuang Xing, however, did not notice the two men's movements. He simply raised his head and straightened his chest as he stepped up the stairs.
Step on each step, and sing a line:
"If one day I shatter the heavens, I will stand alone atop the clouds, eternally empty. Looking back at the desolate place I came from, there will be neither wind nor rain, neither sunshine nor gloom."
After reciting, he stood on the high platform:
"Zhuang Xing, the chief disciple of Changfeng Escort Agency!"
Li Wei's expression was strange; he looked at Lu Cheng, then at Zhuang Xing:
"Aren't you afraid I'll cripple you?"
Zhuang Xing chuckled.
"If you strike first, I will naturally be afraid, but if I strike first, the outcome is uncertain."
Li Wei was greatly surprised:
"Oh? So you possess some powerful martial arts skills! In that case, I'll let you make the first move!"
Zhuang Xing shook his head slightly, looking indifferent:
"In that case, are you ready?"
Li Wei narrowed his eyes, spread his feet apart, and positioned his palms one above the other, forming a bridge-like stance:
"Come!"
Zhuang Xing raised his right hand high, took a deep breath, and shouted:
"I give up!"
After saying that, without giving Li Wei a chance to react, he jumped off the platform.
He was already stopped at the top of the steps, and this time he moved even faster and more steadily.
By the time Li Wei came to his senses, Zhuang Xing had already walked halfway back.
"you!"
Li Wei glared at Zhuang Xing with a grim expression.
Zhuang Xing quickened his pace, and only after he had walked back behind Feng Qi and the other two did he say loudly:
"As the chief disciple of Changfeng Escort Agency, I must not take advantage of others. Chief Li has just finished a match; how can I interfere now?"
The people on the training ground were both amused and exasperated by what they saw.
Firstly, it was Zhuang Xing's playful antics; secondly, it was the Lin family martial arts school's petty cleverness.
Li Wei took a few deep breaths, not bothering to deal with Zhuang Xing, and looked in the direction of the thirteen families.
The two residents, Xu and Huang, whispered a few words to each other, then one of them raised his voice:
"We concede defeat in this match."
Li Wei bowed to the direction of the crowd, then looked at the Lin Family Martial Arts School with a cold smile.
Others may not understand Lu Cheng's strength, but he does.
Even though Lin Yuan is strong, after being worn down by him, he will surely be defeated by Lu Cheng.
Lin Wanxiong's elaborate scheme, which involved abandoning all sense of shame, ultimately came to nothing.