Volume One, Chapter 8: Another Wave Arises

"So, you intend to fight?"

As soon as Fan Ci finished speaking, the disciples from the Tyrant Body Academy on both sides closed in on command.

Seeing their posture, Xie Yunlin knew that if he retreated or showed fear now, no martial arts school in Lin'an City would ever be able to stand its ground again. The children of poor families would lose their only opportunity to practice martial arts and cultivate their strength.

He could not escape this battle!

With this realization, Xie Yunlin furrowed his brows and lunged forward, launching the first strike against Fan Ci.

Fan Ci waved his hand to signal his men to step back, then leaped off his horse, ready to engage. Two years ago, during the Tyrant Body Academy’s final graduation examination, both men had been stuck at the third stage of the Tyrant Body realm—the Great Strength stage. The match had ended in a draw back then, and now, with the passage of time, neither was willing to concede to the other.

Their struggle was like a giant eagle grappling with a fierce beast. Xie Yunlin soared into the air, unleashing ten palms and six punches in an instant, each strike aimed directly at his opponent's vital pulse points. As the aggressor, his movements were agile, swift, and forceful, resembling a vigorous goshawk.

Fan Ci countered on the ground, eschewing intricate techniques in favor of raw power and instinct to neutralize each strike. As the defender, he was impenetrable; every move he made was heavy and powerful, like a ferocious wild beast.

The moment Xie Yunlin touched the ground, he skillfully flicked his wrist, his fingertips locking onto Fan Ci’s pulse point. A surge of domineering energy erupted from his palm, clamping tightly onto Fan Ci’s wrist.

At the same time, Fan Ci’s other hand, encased in an iron gauntlet, struck back with blinding speed, pressing firmly against Xie Yunlin’s waist.

In just a few exchanges, both had locked onto the other's vital points. As fellow disciples who had trained together for years, they were intimately familiar with each other's techniques and reactions.

Despite having his vital point seized, Fan Ci said confidently, "Do you know the consequences of making an enemy of the Cultivation Academy?"

Xie Yunlin knew that most members of the Cultivation Academy were well-intentioned and fair, but a few instructors and heads, accustomed to their privileged positions, had developed malicious greed. Furrowing his brows, he replied firmly.

"I do not!"

"Then don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

Both men let out a muffled grunt, simultaneously igniting their Tyrant Body energy and aiming for the other's weak spots.

"Enough!"

With a loud shout, Mo Daoke, who had not intended to intervene, flashed out from the crowd. With a sweep of his arms, he separated the two men, who were both intent on delivering a lethal blow, in just two moves.

Though Mo Daoke’s reputation at the Spirit Appraisal Academy had been poor in his early years, he had later earned the respect of many through his own strength, including the two men currently facing off.

"Senior Brother Mo?"

Xie Yunlin looked at the suddenly appearing Mo Daoke with surprise, thinking to himself, "The Spirit Cultivation Academy never involves itself in these messy affairs. Could it be that even they have turned corrupt?"

Don't be fooled by how Mo Daoke acted like a fool for Yan Jin’s sake; when it came to serious business, he was never muddled.

If Si Nanxi saw this, he might consider upgrading his assessment of Mo Daoke from "sycophant" to "a sycophant whose intelligence is occasionally online."

Mo Daoke was merely doing a job for money. If the two of them fought to the death, he would be implicated. He had intervened only out of necessity.

"Senior Brother Xie, I haven't seen you in years, but your skills haven't diminished a bit."

Seeing their fighting spirit gradually fade, Mo Daoke carefully released their hands and continued.

"Junior Brother Xie, we at the Cultivation Academy support you in opening a martial arts school and teaching the way of martial arts. However, your unauthorized collection of security fees on Liuhua Street is truly inappropriate."

"Inappropriate? Where is it inappropriate?"

"It is inappropriate because your pricing is too low, which breaks the rules. You know how many privileges disciples of the Tyrant Body Academy and the Spirit Cultivation Academy enjoy in Lin'an City. We need money for all kinds of spiritual herbs and elixirs. We are paid handsomely by the Spirit Cultivation Academy for capturing spirits, hunting beasts, and killing bandits, especially when there are injuries or deaths. Now, your Weiyuan Martial Arts School has cut off our financial path with these incredibly low prices. Don't you feel that you are using good intentions to do evil?"

There is a saying: one doesn't fear a thug with martial arts skills, but rather a thug with an education. Mo Daoke’s rhetoric truly had Xie Yunlin cornered, leaving him unable to find a rebuttal.

"How about this? Do me a favor, Junior Brother Xie. I will take charge on behalf of the Academy and lower the fee by twenty percent. From now on, you will no longer interfere in the affairs of this street, and I will ensure that your martial arts school remains undisturbed. How does that sound?"

Xie Yunlin had not expected this matter to involve the Spirit Cultivation Academy. If he remained stubborn, the dozens of people in his martial arts school might suffer. With gritted teeth, he accepted Mo Daoke's terms.

"Junior Brother Fan, your Senior Brother Xie is a reasonable man; why make things so awkward? Isn't it resolved now? Hahaha, let's go."

Having dealt with Xie Yunlin, Fan Ci waved his hand, ordering his disciples to go door-to-door to collect the security fees, while he prepared to treat Mo Daoke to drinks and entertainment at the Zuihua Pavilion.

Taking advantage of the moment before Mo Daoke entered, Fan Ci quietly gestured for a few men to gather and whispered, "In addition to next month's security fee, collect the arrears from the previous two months as well. We'll split the extra."

The lead disciples nodded in understanding and went off to execute the order.

Watching them leave, Xie Yunlin sighed toward the heavens, blaming his own uselessness. Between surviving and resisting, he had ultimately chosen to submit.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

"Is anyone in this courtyard? Open up!"

Accompanied by heavy pounding on the door, the disciples of the Tyrant Body Academy went from house to house collecting security fees, eventually arriving at Si Nanxi’s residence.

Little Liuli had been exhausted for the past few days and had intended to sleep in for most of the day. Unexpectedly, she was jolted awake by the pounding in the afternoon. Rubbing her bleary eyes, she opened the door with a touch of morning grumpiness.

"Little girl, call whoever is in charge here."

Seeing that it was just a young girl who opened the door, the disciples of the Tyrant Body Academy couldn't be bothered to waste words.

"I am the one in charge here. What is it? Speak."

"You’re in charge? What can a little girl possibly manage?" the tall, thin man standing in the back said with a mocking laugh.

The leader, a fat man named Shi Yong, happened to be the same person who had whipped Si Nanxi while trailing behind Mo Daoke that day. Whether by coincidence or fate, Assistant Instructor Fan had brought him along to collect fees on Liuhua Street.

Shi Yong was short-tempered. Seeing that everyone else had finished their tasks and had gone to the Zuihua Pavilion to drink and make merry with Assistant Instructor Fan and Senior Brother Mo, while he was still stuck collecting money, he grew impatient.

If he didn't hurry, he would only be left with whatever scraps the others chose from the women at the Zuihua Pavilion.

In his frustration, Shi Yong pushed Little Liuli aside and forced his way in. How sturdy was Little Liuli? Shi Yong, a brute, didn't control his strength and shoved her to the ground with one push.

"Ouch..."

"You? What are you doing? Can't you just talk properly? Why are you barging into someone's home like this?"

"Stop hiding. In such a large courtyard, I don't believe there's only this little girl left to guard the house."

Shi Yong led the way, searching the entire courtyard. Indeed, he saw no one else. Estimating the number of rooms and the approximate area, he wrote down the owed security fees on a slip of paper and tossed it at the door.

"Whether you're in charge or not, remember: next month, when we come to collect the security fees, this is the amount. Not a single coin less."

Seeing that Little Liuli was quite pretty, the men couldn't help but tease her a bit before leaving.

"Little girl, you’d better be careful. This is a street of brothels; don't get tricked into the place across the way."

"Hahaha, exactly. This family is really heartless, leaving such a delicate little girl home alone."

"Maybe in a couple of years, we’ll see this little lass in the building across the street. With that figure and that face, I wonder which man will get lucky with her later."

"Hahahahaha."

The lewd remarks of Shi Yong and the Tyrant Body Academy disciples echoed throughout the courtyard.

Little Liuli pouted, sitting on the cold floor, staring blankly at the sky, her delicate face stained with tears.

Having been well-protected by Si Nanxi, Little Liuli had never heard such vulgar and obscene teasing, and her sadness and hurt were written plainly on her face.