Chapter 168 - 142: Thrice Defeating Huang Zifeng (Part 1)

Chapter 168: Chapter 142: Thrice Defeating Huang Zifeng (Part 1)

Huang Zifeng had observed the entire exchange and quite approved of Lin Cheng’s persistence, believing he possessed the heart of a Swordsman. But ever since Lin Cheng’s second aptitude test, his eyes had been glued to Lin Zhen. Her tearful, pitiable beauty stirred something in him, and after hearing Lin Cheng recount their history, he couldn’t stop himself from stealing more glances in her direction.

Now, watching the siblings thank Xie Yuan profusely, Huang Zifeng felt a strange sense of displeasure, especially when he saw the shy look in Lin Zhen’s eyes.

Besides, his first impression of Xie Yuan had been poor. He saw him as a local strongman who had used his influence to make the restaurant owner pull strings, all to shove his people into the Sword Sect—just like all the other local tyrants he’d encountered on this trip.

The Lin siblings might have the aptitude to join, but that didn’t change the fact that Xie Yuan was just another petty and corrupt local. With his cold and arrogant personality, Huang Zifeng especially despised such people.

Cui Zhi saw Huang Zifeng rattle off his complaints, but it was too late to stop him. He couldn’t help but sigh.

"Zifeng, I’ve told you before. Senior Brother Lu sent you out on this journey to see the world and temper your personality. You’re always so..."

"Master Cui, I couldn’t help it."

Huang Zifeng said coldly.

Cui Zhi turned back to Xie Yuan.

"Master Xie, please don’t be offended. Zifeng is just blunt and speaks his mind..."

"It’s nothing, Mr. Cui."

Xie Yuan shook his head. He looked at Huang Zifeng, his gaze piercing.

"Brother Huang, I have an agreement with the Lin siblings and Landlord Lin to protect them should they face any danger. As for your request, I’m afraid I must refuse."

Huang Zifeng said coldly,

"Once they join my Sect, what danger could they possibly face? And even if they did, why would they need a mere escort master like you to solve it?"

"Your sect is powerful, and no one would dare offend it, which is ideal. But what if they are bullied by someone from within? Brother Huang, can you guarantee that would never happen?"

"Any internal competition, I guarantee, will be within the rules—fair and just."

Huang Zifeng’s patience wore thin. He waved a hand dismissively and retorted,

"Whether it’s a dispute within the Sword Sect or trouble that even its disciples can’t handle, what makes you think you’re qualified to intervene?"

"Whether I’m qualified or not isn’t something that can be decided by words alone."

Xie Yuan stared at Huang Zifeng, a faint glint in the depths of his eyes.

Huang Zifeng shot to his feet and stepped forward.

"Then I’ll make you understand."

Seeing this, Xie Yuan smiled faintly, feeling a surge of anticipation.

’I could tell this arrogant Swordsman from a major sect had a problem with me from the start. And frankly, I’m not a fan of his overbearing attitude either.’ A few choice words had been all it took to provoke Huang Zifeng into action.

Xie Yuan was itching for a fight. ’Just how strong is a true top disciple from a major sect? And how do I measure up?’

"Then please, Brother Huang, grace me with your instruction."

Xie Yuan cupped his fists, and the two men took their positions in an empty space in the private room.

Outside, the river surged, the sound of its waves echoing past the railing.

Chunjiang Building had two floors with fewer than ten private rooms in total. Each one was enormous, leaving just enough open space for a spar.

Cui Zhi frowned, not having expected a few words to escalate into a duel.

But seeing them both in their stances, he could only shake his head. He moved to the side to oversee the match and whispered to Huang Zifeng,

"Zifeng, hold back. Don’t injure him."

"Don’t worry. I won’t use my sword. He’s not worthy of it."

Huang Zifeng stated flatly.

Cui Zhi sighed again and turned to Xie Yuan.

"Master Xie, this is a friendly spar. We stop before anyone gets hurt, no hard feelings. If you wish to stop, just say the word."

His words were diplomatic, but the subtext was clear: Xie Yuan was no match for a disciple from their sect, and he should concede when the time came instead of stubbornly trying to save face.

Xie Yuan chuckled.

"Thank you, Mr. Cui."

He turned to the worried and conflicted Lin siblings and said reassuringly,

"It’s nothing. Just watch from the side. It’s only a spar."

Lin Cheng and Lin Zhen exchanged an uneasy glance.

Master Xie had come to meet the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect on their behalf. He had succeeded in getting them accepted, but in the process, he had somehow earned the enmity of this senior brother.

This Senior Brother Huang looked like trouble. Even if Master Xie was young and accomplished, he had trained in Yunzhao. The gap between his skills and those of a top disciple from Yunzhou’s number one sect was likely immense.

’If Brother Xie is humiliated by this Senior Brother Huang... I’ll stop it, even if it means offending him before I’ve even officially joined the sect!’

Lin Cheng resolved silently.

Lin Zhen’s beautiful eyes were fixed on Xie Yuan, her heart twisting into a knot. She bit her lip, her annoyance with Huang Zifeng reaching its peak.

’That stone-faced jerk... How dare he bully Master Xie!’

Huang Zifeng caught Lin Zhen’s gaze out of the corner of his eye and puffed out his chest slightly.

’Miss Lin... no, Junior Sister Lin is watching me. I have to put on a good show and make a great impression as her senior brother.’

He looked at Xie Yuan and said nonchalantly,

"I’ll let you make the first move."

Xie Yuan glanced at the sword on Huang Zifeng’s back. "Not drawing your sword?" he asked.

"If you can force me to draw my sword today, I’ll count it as my loss."

Huang Zifeng declared arrogantly.

Cui Zhi shook his head in secret.

’Zifeng’s personality... No wonder Senior Brother Lu wanted me to take him on this trip. He really needs his rough edges smoothed out. Something so rigid is easily broken.’

Huang Zifeng was the youngest disciple of Lu Pei, the Peak Master of Bamboo Sword Peak. He was exceptionally talented; despite his youth, he had already gained a preliminary understanding of the Sword Dao. He had never lost a duel against peers of the same rank within the sect and was widely hailed as Bamboo Sword Peak’s next Grandmaster of the Sword Dao.

But geniuses have their pride. Huang Zifeng was like a newly drawn sword—all sharp edges, blunt, and outspoken. He never minced his words.

While Cui Zhi disapproved of his personality, he couldn’t argue with his confidence. Given Huang Zifeng’s strength, the young escort master would be no match for him, even if he didn’t use his sword.

Seeing how little Huang Zifeng thought of Xie Yuan, Lin Zhen’s eyes flashed with anger.

Meanwhile, Huang Zifeng felt Lin Zhen’s gaze upon him grow more intense and couldn’t help but puff his chest out even higher.

At this, Xie Yuan let out a soft laugh. He didn’t draw his own blade, either.

"Alright. We’ll start with fists and feet, then."

Huang Zifeng shook his head.

"Use whatever weapon you’re skilled with."

Xie Yuan just smiled, settling into a fist stance before throwing a punch.

"Watch yourself."

Cui Zhi nodded slightly, approving that Xie Yuan wasn’t taking the offered advantage.

’This Xie Yuan has good sportsmanship. It’s just a pity about his strength... Huh?’

The thought had barely finished forming when he saw Xie Yuan’s punch and his expression shifted to one of surprise.

Huang Zifeng had been completely relaxed, not taking this spar seriously in the least. But as he saw Xie Yuan’s monumentally powerful fist slowly extend toward him, his expression changed instantly.

His expression turned solemn as he flipped his palm up to meet the incoming fist.

BOOM!

As fist met palm, a ring of force blasted through the private room, causing the bowls and chopsticks on a nearby table to RATTLE violently!

They were evenly matched.

Surprise flickered in Huang Zifeng’s eyes. Xie Yuan’s own eyes flashed as he twisted his wrist, his second punch already on its way.

Eight Trigrams Mountain-Shaking Fist—Kun Rune Skill!

Huang Zifeng felt as if Xie Yuan’s fist was as heavy and vast as the earth itself, leaving him no room to dodge. He could only meet it head-on.

He grunted, flipping his palm to slap at Xie Yuan’s fist once more.

SMACK! Xie Yuan’s fist was knocked aside, but the impact sent a numbing jolt through Huang Zifeng’s palm, and he instinctively shook his hand.

Xie Yuan, however, seemed completely unaffected. His fist circled and struck again, his attacks flowing one after another as if he never needed to pause for breath.

Caught off guard, Huang Zifeng was immediately forced onto the defensive.

Cui Zhi stared in a daze as Huang Zifeng was driven back again and again, punch after punch. He never would have imagined such a scene!

The Lin siblings were just as shocked. Master Xie’s Fist Skill was actually superior to that of a Cloud Mountain Sword Sect disciple?

Xie Yuan’s Eight Trigrams Mountain-Shaking Fist was like a range of overlapping mountains, each blow rising higher and weighing heavier than the last. Once he had the disadvantage, Huang Zifeng couldn’t keep up. His palms moved so fast they left afterimages, but he still couldn’t block every strike.

BOOM! Xie Yuan broke through Huang Zifeng’s defense and landed a punch on his chest, sending him stumbling back several steps.

Xie Yuan retracted his fist, cupped it in his other hand, and smiled.

"You went easy on me, Brother Huang."

The expression on Huang Zifeng’s face shifted, finally settling into a grim look.

"A fine Fist Skill."

"You flatter me."

Xie Yuan gave a slight nod. ’This Huang Zifeng’s palm skill is quite profound. In terms of raw power, it’s nearly on par with my Mountain-Shaking Fist.’

This round had been a pure contest of fists and feet, using only the power of the Fourth Training. Xie Yuan could feel that his opponent’s techniques were powerful and heavy, a clear sign that the Sword Sect’s cultivation methods were of an extremely high grade.

However, his own physique was even more robust. After a prolonged struggle, the moment he gained the upper hand, he was able to overwhelm his opponent completely.

’Has the Body-Nourishing Art really strengthened my constitution this much?’

Huang Zifeng’s brow furrowed. He said stiffly,

"Master Xie, it seems you also practice Inner Power?"

"Brother Huang has a sharp eye."

Xie Yuan didn’t deny it. Their exchange had been one of pure physical force. Though neither had used their Inner Strength, in such a closely matched fight, they had both gotten a sense of the other’s true capabilities.

Huang Zifeng’s expression grew serious.

"Master Xie, your cultivation level is unexpectedly high. I was careless just now and lost by a hair. But holding back our Inner Strength isn’t a true measure of our abilities. Why don’t we go again, this time at full power, and see whose fists are truly superior?"

Xie Yuan chuckled.

"Got a little stuck there, did we? No matter. We’ll do as Brother Huang suggests."

"After you, Master Xie."

Huang Zifeng was much more serious now. He assumed his stance and watched Xie Yuan.

Xie Yuan nodded. The Body-Nourishing Art began to circulate silently within him as he once again swung his fist.

A fierce wind suddenly whipped through the private room.

Standing far to the side, the Lin siblings felt the air catch in their throats. They exchanged a look of utter shock.

Master Xie’s fists had seemed so powerful just moments ago, and yet he had been holding back? He possessed a profound Inner Power as well?

Cui Zhi had thought that once Huang Zifeng used the Inner Power of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect, the victor would be decided. Yet, after only one punch from Xie Yuan, his expression changed drastically. He was utterly astonished.

’This Inner Power... it’s so dense! This young man... Oh, Zifeng is in trouble!’

Huang Zifeng saw the punch leave Xie Yuan’s side. Before it even reached him, he felt as if the air had been stolen from his lungs. His eyes went wide.

He hurriedly circulated the Sword Sect’s Inner Power and thrust out a palm with all his might.

Fist met palm. Huang Zifeng’s face changed as if he’d taken a heavy blow. He staggered back two steps, leaving his chest wide open.

He stomped one foot down, cracking the wooden floorboards to halt his retreat. With a great shout, he swung his palms around to meet Xie Yuan’s second punch.

With a dull THUD, Huang Zifeng’s palms failed to completely block the heavy blow. His arms went numb, leaving his chest defenseless. He could only watch as Xie Yuan retracted his fist, then immediately, without a hint of pause, launched a third.

The fist struck his chest. Xie Yuan had pulled back some of its force, but Huang Zifeng was still sent sliding backward until he slammed into the far wall and collapsed to the floor.

The private room fell silent.

Huang Zifeng stared blankly, unable to comprehend what had just happened. He had used his Inner Power, yet he had been defeated even more quickly than before.

Three punches. Xie Yuan had defeated him in only three punches.