Chapter 649 - 409: Lost Heart

Yao Che looked at Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan standing on the outskirts of the crowd, his gaze cold.

This batch of newcomers is just entering the Tower Forest. On this first day, besides teaching them the necessary rules, he is ready to find an opportunity to quell their restless hearts. This has already become a routine for tutors in the Tower Forest.

Just as he began speaking, he saw Duan Rong and Ximen Kankan laughing and chatting.

Especially that short, chubby one with a big bump on his forehead, clearly a sign he sneaked out of the tower last night.

Such unruly fellows ought to be properly disciplined, setting an example for the others and showing them what kind of place the Tower Forest is!

Yao Che pointed at Ximen Kankan, saying, "You go first!"

The sturdy dark-skinned boy stood silently there, making Yao Che feel unexpectedly pleased. But the short and chubby fellow beside him, with his eyes nervously darting around, irked Yao Che for some reason.

Ximen Kankan was startled and asked, "Just me alone?"

He still hoped to cling to Duan Rong; if Duan Rong went up, he could just stay on the side and observe. But he didn’t expect the tutor to call on him alone.

Yao Che replied coldly, "The rules are one person at a time."

Ximen Kankan hesitated in fear.

Yao Che added, "Sooner or later, you must challenge this group. Otherwise, you won’t make it out of the Tower Forest. This is also an opportunity for practice. If you keep dawdling, I’ll throw you over there myself!"

"No need! Tutor Yao! I’ll go myself!"

Ximen Kankan grew anxious, fearing Yao Che might really throw him over.

Ximen Kankan wobbled nervously to a spot three meters away from the baboon family and halted there.

The huge male baboon, with its mountainous frame, eyed Ximen Kankan as he approached, its large copper bell-like eyes suddenly showing a fighting spirit.

Ximen Kankan stopped in his tracks, looked at the baboon family three meters away, and unexpectedly bowed, saying, "Brother Baboon, let’s not hurt our harmony. I’ll pick some fruits for you later, okay?"

The baboon paused, seemingly surprised by his behavior.

Yao Che was also taken aback but then chuckled. He suddenly realized this chubby fellow was not only slippery but an amusing character.

The crowd was also chuckling quietly.

However, the baboon clearly wasn’t buying it and abruptly roared ferociously.

Ximen Kankan’s face turned dark as the male baboon suddenly transformed into a shadow, hurtling towards him like a thunderbolt.

Ximen Kankan immediately maneuvered his body to dodge to the side. But as he moved, a shadow flickered in front of him. The baboon, unbeknownst to him, had already closed in, its clenched fist like a boulder, aiming straight at his face with an impressive force!

Despite a single encounter, Ximen Kankan had already judged that the baboon’s strength and speed far surpassed his own! He couldn’t possibly win!

Ximen Kankan quickly crouched and rolled to the ground, unexpectedly rolling behind the baboon. Then, leaping up, he drew his saber midair, a flash of blade light slicing towards the baboon’s rear skull with the Sky-Cleaving Saber’s killer move.

Seeing this, Yao Che expressed slight surprise. He had long noticed Ximen Kankan was at the True Qi Realm Second Level, but this roll and slice were quite impressive, with his timing grasped perfectly.

Yao Che nodded slightly. "He may be a slippery one, but his aptitude looks promising!"

However, as Ximen Kankan drew his saber midair, the baboon turned again, throwing another punch towards him.

Suspended in midair, Ximen Kankan had to resort to slashing the saber against the baboon’s incoming large fist!

Upon contact, a "ding" sound echoed, reminiscent of metal hitting stone.

A surge of violent force came, sending Ximen Kankan’s saber flying out of his hand as he was also smacked to the ground by the baboon. Before he could react, the baboon stomped him into the soil with its foot, burying his lower half of the body.

The female baboon merely watched gently from the side, while the small baboon on its shoulder was excitedly screeching, seemingly cheering.

The male baboon stomped on Ximen Kankan’s waist, its fist clenched tightly, eyes emitting a savage light, about to smash its fist into Ximen Kankan’s head.

Among the crowd, there was a collective intake of breath.

Initially, they were amused, but seeing Ximen Kankan about to be tragically killed by the baboon, they experienced unexpected empathy, with no hint of mockery left.

Yao Che, however, watched coldly.

The male baboon, having been on Iron Peak Mountain for nearly a hundred years, was already very familiar with human nature. It knew it wouldn’t kill anyone. It understood that everyone in the Tower Forest was an inner sect disciple, and killing anyone would mean its own demise!

The baboon’s punch was intended to toss the chubby fellow fully into the mud, then sit on him.

The newcomers from last night didn’t know this.

Being defeated by the baboon in a match meant this standard treatment, happening every time.

Who in the Tower Forest hadn’t been sat on by this big baboon before?

Ximen Kankan, however, didn’t know, thinking he was truly going to die.

He instantly mobilized his True Qi, gathering it at the back of his head, hoping to lessen the force of this punch. But he knew this was just a futile lifeline and wouldn’t be of much use.

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the scene of his father forcing him to train every day. If he had listened, maybe he wouldn’t be facing death now!

Just as the baboon’s boulder-like fist was about to smash down, Yao Che saw a flash before his eyes, and Duan Rong had leaped out!