Chapter 42: Gu Hong’s Methods
Dian Jing was stopped by Su Yan at the corner. Looking at Su Yan’s expression, he was both surprised and ashamed, extremely complicated.
‘How could Su Yan have such fast movement techniques and speed?!’
According to his plan, he would leave immediately after making his move. Even if Su Yan chased after him, he would at most only see his shadow.
After all, he had achieved Great Accomplishment in Skin Refining, and with Mountain Hunting and the Monkey Leap Step, his proficiency was definitely among the top in the outer sect.
“Senior Brother Dian, tell me, why did you throw this thing?”
In Su Yan’s hand was the white object from before. When he chased after Dian Jing, he had casually grabbed it.
Only now did he realize that this object was actually paper wrapped around small pebbles.
He opened the paper, and it was crookedly written: “Be careful in the arena, someone is blocking you.”
Dian Jing, resigned to his fate, said in a deep voice, “I came to remind you. Someone wants me to knock you down in the arena and stop you from entering the inner sect. I dare not refuse.”
“Little Mountain Association.”
As soon as Dian Jing finished speaking, he heard Su Yan’s cold voice.
He looked up abruptly, “How did you know?”
Dian Jing was unaware of the conflict between Su Yan and the Little Mountain Association, so he naturally didn’t know the reason.
But for Su Yan, it was very simple.
Hunters ultimately relied on the mountains for their livelihood. For someone like Dian Jing to be so apprehensive, the Little Mountain Association was likely the greatest possibility.
Knowing it was the Little Mountain Association, Su Yan actually felt much more at ease.
After all, it was better for Gu Hong and the others to make their move than to hold back their malice.
“Did you agree to them? Why come to remind me?”
“I don’t want to offend people for no reason.”
Dian Jing didn’t offer any grand reasons, but instead got straight to the point: “Everyone in our village is a mountain hunter or a hunter. The Little Mountain Association occupies most of the mountain peaks. If I don’t agree, I can still make a living in the city, but if I’m implicated, my villagers will suffer. Moreover, you have good talent, and I don’t want to offend you.”
Although Dian Jing’s personality was straightforward, it didn’t mean he lacked a keen mind.
Stopping Su Yan from entering the inner sect was not the same as killing him.
With such talent, if he were to cultivate for longer, it would be easy to deal with him.
Why would he offend someone in advance like this?
Was it just because you said you would recruit him into the Little Mountain Association later?
“Besides you, who else did they find?”
Su Yan slightly raised an eyebrow. Dian Jing thought for a moment and said hesitantly, “I’m not sure who else they found, but there’s one person I’m certain of. Li Shun has had new income recently, and I haven’t heard of Bai Lu Lake catching any precious fish.”
Li Shun and Su Yan were at odds with each other. He was also petty and would definitely intervene on the arena.
Now that he inexplicably had new income, it was likely he had been arranged to do something.
“What a coincidence.”
Su Yan, however, smiled: “Pretend you didn’t come today. Feel free to make your move, but it’s best not to be the first one.”
He threw the note back to Dian Jing, leaving Dian Jing completely bewildered.
He had expected Su Yan to question him, but he didn’t expect him to just leave like this?
‘Could he have really reached Great Accomplishment?’
Su Yan returned to his room, thinking: ‘Gu Hong doesn’t dare to directly attack me, but instead wants to stop me from entering the inner sect. It seems becoming an inner disciple really has some benefits.’
He tidied up the bedding, a sharp glint in his eyes: ‘He’s two realms higher than me in the Blood Moving Realm, but if I reach the Muscle and Bone Realm, and the Yin Water Centipede and Velvet Fire Scorpion Insect break through to the Mature Stage or even higher, I might find an opportunity to make a move.’
‘Moreover, as Old Song and Old Xu said, once I enter the inner sect, I can learn the Golden Ape Jade Body Skill, a Hardening auxiliary skill, and my abilities will advance to a higher level, giving me a chance.’
Nothing unusual happened that night as Su Yan settled in. However, the people sharing the room were no longer Zhou Yong, Hu Qing, and the others from before.
The next morning, Su Yan, as usual, went to a corner of the courtyard to practice stance training.
His posture took on an ape-like form, and he stood with long breaths.
Two portions of Insect Yuan were absorbed into his body, flowing with his Qi and Blood into the Skin Membrane, while also being distributed to his entire Muscle and Bone.
After only half an hour of stance training, a sarcastic voice suddenly came: “Hey, you mountain brat, you’ve taken my spot.”
Su Yan slowly concluded his stance. Two young men were already standing beside him.
They wore short hemp shirts, had dark skin, and their eyes flashed aggressively, their faces arrogant.
“Are you a Mountain Household, a Lake Household, or a City Household?”
Su Yan’s tone was calm, his gaze putting immense pressure on the man.
Zheng Chuan was startled by his gaze, but anger flared up. He was just a mountain bumpkin, what was there to fear?
If he beat him up, he’d also get half a tael of silver, why should he be afraid?
“What do I care about Mountain Household or Lake Household, why aren’t you leaving?”
Zheng Chuan stepped forward to push Su Yan. This conflict, which seemed coincidental, was not light in its execution; this push carried real force.
Su Yan took a step forward, and with a crackling sound, Zheng Chuan’s hand was broken.
A pained howl shattered the peace in the courtyard.
Everyone looked over and saw Zheng Chuan lying on the ground, his arm bent at an unnatural angle.
“Let’s all attack together, let’s see how capable you are.”
Su Yan’s voice was calm, as if no one else was present.
“This kid is bullying people, beat him up.”
The few people accompanying Zheng Chuan saw this scene, their hearts panicked, and they wanted to swarm Su Yan.
But in the next moment, Su Yan had already made his move.
His long arms were like an ape’s. With a grab, a hold, and a twist, he had them all subdued in just a few moves.
Su Yan’s gaze swept across the people in the courtyard: “Anyone else want to make a move? If you’re impatient, you don’t have to wait until the assessment day.”
“Su Yan, you have a lot of nerve, to be so heavy-handed.”
Zhou Hui stepped forward, scolding Su Yan.
Su Yan merely looked at him coldly: “Senior Brother Zhou, the martial arts school doesn’t prohibit sparring. Has the rule changed to where you have the final say?”
This remark made Zhou Hui’s face darken.
“Why is Zhou Hui still arguing with a junior brother? Someone provoking fellow disciples like this, it’s fine to hit them. You’re just thinking of evil ways.”
Gao Zheng appeared in the courtyard at some point.
“Gao Zheng, hmph.”
Zhou Hui snorted coldly and turned to leave. Zheng Chuan and the others who were injured saw this and had no choice but to leave dejectedly.
With this action, everyone knew who Gao Zheng was siding with. Furthermore, Zheng Chuan was someone who had achieved Minor Accomplishment in Skin Refining.
With his hand broken in such a manner, and Su Yan being so formidable, who would dare provoke him?
“Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Gao. Otherwise, I would have been in trouble.”
Su Yan thanked him with a smile, but Gao Zheng did not accept his words.
“Don’t flatter me. I heard that you defeated Wei Kang within days of entering the sect. Even someone at Minor Accomplishment is no match for you now. Your bone structure and comprehension must be even better than when I first saw them.”
Gao Zheng came up to Su Yan and said, “The inner sect assessment this time will be very intense, so be careful. This time, not only will the True Disciples be present, but Master Bai will also personally preside over the assessment.”
Su Yan’s eyes flickered slightly: “Please, Senior Brother, guide me a little.”
Gao Zheng glanced around and said, “Follow me.”
The two, one after the other, left the courtyard and found a secluded spot outside.
“The specific details are only known to the True Disciples and Master, but one thing is confirmed: Master Bai wants to cultivate young disciples, especially those under thirty.”
Gao Zheng spoke with veiled meaning, hinting subtly, “Although there are many inner disciples now, they are either at the age limit or slightly past it. Master Bai is hesitant. Only the True Disciple, Senior Sister, fits the criteria, but there are still too few of them.”
“Senior Brother, do you think I can enter the inner sect?”
“You can’t?”
Gao Zheng smiled: “Junior Brother, don’t worry. Senior Brother asks for nothing else. I just hope that once you enter the inner sect, we can support each other and help Senior Brother become one of the True Disciples.”
