Chapter 106: If The Dog Won’t Do It, I Will!
“When it’s No. 14 Middle School’s turn, beat them hard!”
Principal Zhao returned to his seat in their area with a face full of malice, saying to the two high-spirited youths in the front row:
“Three people, you can at least match up with one, Fu Chuxue or Li Ye, don’t hold back. Especially Li Ye, beat him into serious injury in one breath, best if he lies in the hospital until the Gaokao!”
The two exchanged a glance and laughed, “Don’t worry, Old Zhao, since you invited us, we’ll definitely handle it for you.”
Principal Zhao smiled upon hearing this, then looked at Hua Zihang with a gloomy expression beside him, patted his shoulder, and comforted:
“Zihang, rest assured this time, we’ll definitely avenge you.”
Hua Zihang forced a smile: “Thank you, Principal.”
Actually, he wanted to redeem his previous humiliation himself more.
Being defeated in the district Martial Arts Competition, he only felt it was an accident; if he had been more cautious and focused, that Li Ye absolutely couldn’t have knocked him down with one fist.
But the principal and teachers didn’t think so; for insurance, they brought in two external aids.
The appearance of two Second Realm geniuses brought a huge impact to his worldview.
He knew there were mountains beyond mountains, and Wuyu Middle School’s teaching philosophy wasn’t that closed off; world-renowned experts were strong from a young age.
But knowing was knowing, and life was life; in Ningjiang City, he was second only to Fu Chuxue, and he didn’t yield to anyone else.
From childhood to adulthood, he had always been evaluated as a genius, but these two geniuses made his status plummet in Wuyu, a school full of Martial Artists where the strong are respected.
This strong contrast made his mood even worse.
He clenched his fist tightly, staring intently at No. 14 Middle School’s seating area opposite.
There was still a chance.
As long as he could match up with Li Ye and defeat him, he could still prove himself!
Bang!
With fireworks exploding in the sky from somewhere unknown, the Ningjiang City Martial Arts Competition officially began.
The format was two-into-one; thirty-three high schools, last year’s city Martial Arts Competition champion, Wuyu Middle School, had a bye, while the others proceeded with the normal Martial Arts Competition.
Thirty-two into sixteen, sixteen into eight, eight into four, four into two, two into one, thereby competing for the top three.
Wuyu Middle School would join in the sixteen into eight, eliminating one school to become the new top eight.
“First match, Ningjiang City No. 14 Middle School versus Jingpu County No. 1 Middle School!”
The host’s announcement excited the No. 14 Middle School side.
Putting Wuyu Middle School aside for now, they were first up and needed to make a good showing.
“Just rotate normally.”
Gu Yang didn’t even need to think about how to field them; unless they met Wuyu Middle School, they would win no matter what.
Just send them out in the order of Yang Jie, Li Ye, Fu Chuxue.
Jingpu County No. 1 Middle School was a strong school; they had faced them in last year’s city Martial Arts Competition, and No. 14 Middle School narrowly lost.
They had a student who practiced High-level Martial Arts and passed the Qi Meridian Pass, Six Dragon Gate, who defeated Xiang Feipeng at the time.
Two Exquisite Martial Arts users, one Six Dragon Gate, one Five Dragon Gate; even the weakest could fight Yang Jie to a draw, and with only Fu Chuxue last year, they had to withdraw.
But this time was different; they could definitely secure two wins.
“I’ll go first!”
Yang Jie took a deep breath and walked to the center of the sports stadium; the opponent sent a Five Dragon Gate practitioner too, and in Li Ye’s eyes, this one also practiced Hardening Technique.
Perfect, this Martial Arts Competition was also a chance to scout talent; later check the information, and if suitable, poach some over.
Both were Hardening Technique practitioners; Yang Jie focused on Internal Training of a breath of qi, while the opponent was the opposite, walking the External Training path—six of one, half a dozen of the other, with little difference.
To defeat the opponent, Yang Jie needed to constantly attack to break that External Training body. Conversely, the opponent needed to find Yang Jie’s Life Gate and shatter that breath of qi.
But both Hardening Technique; in Li Ye’s view, the opponent wasn’t as flexible as Yang Jie—this match would be a fight.
Sure enough, once both entered the field, it turned into a grinding mutual brawl, cursing each other while fighting; clearly they knew each other.
The opponent wanted to find Yang Jie’s Life Gate but wasn’t as fast as Yang Jie, instead getting hit a few extra times due to superfluous movements, finally giving up outright and raising fists to clash hard with Yang Jie.
Fists and feet, elbows and knees, shoulders and hips—every part attacking and being attacked—fought for over half an hour; Yang Jie was slightly more skilled, landing a final fist straight to the chest, breaking the External Training, and barely winning.
It also drew applause from around the sports stadium.
As an opener, it was decent—no genius instantly killing an ordinary one, but solid flesh-to-flesh hits, fought well.
It was just that Jingpu County No. 1 Middle School’s people didn’t look too good.
The Martial Arts Teacher from No. 1 Middle School comforted the staggering returning student a couple times, then looked at one person on the contestant bench: “Qi An, make the opening flashy, don’t lose our prestige.”
This time, he arranged for the Six Dragon Gate Qi An to go second.
No. 14 Middle School got lucky this year; besides Fu Chuxue, the senior year produced a Li Ye who defeated Hua Zihang and walked the Three Passes path.
Actually, no matter how they fought, they were bound to lose; Qi An was good, but not as good as the other two.
But if losing, lose flashily; being easily defeated by Fu Chuxue or exchanging a few moves with Li Ye before failing—he chose the latter.
The curly-haired student named Qi An nodded, “Rest assured, even facing Fu Chuxue, I won’t concede easily!”
While speaking, he grimaced a bit, as if in pain somewhere.
Then he stepped forward, showing lightness skill, kicking the air continuously a few times, leaping from the contestant bench to the competition field, cupping hands to the crowd.
His sleeves rolled up, revealing skin wounds below the wrist, as if whipped by something.
“Li Ye, make it flashy!” Gu Yang encouraged.
Li Ye waved his hand and walked to the competition field; unlike that student, he simply walked over plainly.
That student had ample strength in every gesture, good progress in Qi Meridian Pass martial arts, decent lightness skill in his martial arts, and good power in gestures; his arms’ casual movements seemed suited for long weapons.
Somewhat familiar.
Had he seen him somewhere?
Li Ye frowned slightly, sizing up the curly-haired student.
Seeing the person stand steady, the opponent immediately raised his hand with a fawning smile: “Director Li, my father Qi Yuan sends his regards; you’ve worked hard.”
Li Ye was stunned for a moment, then realized: “Oh, the son of the Hook Scythe Spear user from Jingpu County. I remember, your father is pretty good.”
That Qi Yuan was a Second Realm Martial Artist; previously unclear on his path, but now that Li Ye practiced Six Extremes World Subduing, recalling carefully, he should be a Qi Meridian Pass ‘String’ level Martial Artist.
But he was quite rule-abiding, so he surrendered quickly and sensibly back then, not giving Li Ye a chance to kill him.
“Yes, my father always speaks well of you.”
Qi An said respectfully: “Director Li, I won’t embarrass myself or waste your time.”
With that, he raised his hand to surrender.
“Wait a moment.”
Li Ye said: “You’re not bad. Interested in joining our Disinfection Bureau?”
Qi An jolted, shaking his head repeatedly: “Director Li, I’m just an ordinary person, not like a genius like you. My willpower isn’t strong enough to withstand demonic creature pollution; I’d easily cause trouble. Better not.”
Disinfection Bureau?
Both life-risking and grueling, with zero benefits.
Only Li Ye’s emergence changed it, but he would eventually leave; once he did, the Disinfection Bureau would be back to its ghostly state.
Besides, if he didn’t go, Qi An could.
Worst case, move somewhere else to live; only Ningjiang’s Disinfection Bureau was weird—others were all the same.
The Disinfection Bureau could fool ordinary folk, but for someone with family background like him, practicing High-level Martial Arts, zero interest.
Happily finish Martial Arts University, reach Second Realm, then retreat to inherit family business for a lifetime of leisure, or advance to a big place big company for onboarding, enjoying luxury—way better than Disinfection Bureau.
Disinfection Bureau job had no status, insufficient benefits, and was life-risking—even dogs wouldn’t
“Perform well, and Hulong Palace’s fiefdom, I’ll let you enter to cultivate.”
“Damn! Dogs won’t, but I will!”
Qi An said excitedly: “Director Li, to be honest, I’ve always yearned for the Disinfection Bureau. My father said the Disinfection Bureau thirty years ago was the model for our generation. To restore its glory, I’d willingly step up!”
That was a fiefdom!
The foundation of the Ren Family—only heard of, never seen—and Li Ye was giving it out; Director Li was generous!
That said, the Disinfection Bureau sucked elsewhere, but in Ningjiang City…
This man in front said it was good, so it was good!
“Why aren’t they fighting yet?”
People in the audience seats looked puzzled at the two chatting in the competition field center; the atmosphere grew impatient.
But soon, they saw Qi An raise his hand, in a stance like he was about to start…
“I concede!”
His voice was loud and full, catching everyone off guard; Qi An turned and left, flying back to his seat with even faster lightness skill.
At this point, their Martial Arts Teacher came to his senses, gritting his teeth: “Didn’t you say even against Fu Chuxue you’d fight flashily?!”
Surrendering in the first Martial Arts Competition match without even completing three rounds—how would other schools view them later!
“Yeah, against Fu Chuxue I’d fight flashily with all my effort.”
Qi An shrugged, “But I didn’t encounter her, did I?”
Joking, did he dare fight Li Ye?
If he fought today, tonight he’d be hung up and beaten again when he got home.
And this guy would soon be his direct superior; just demon-slaying—assign him to Jingpu County, plus family influence, demonic creatures couldn’t stir up waves.
