Chapter 43: Battle? I've Never Been Afraid of One in My Life
Yeop Hyeon's carriage, packed full of all sorts of goods, was lumbering along at a slow pace. It hadn't gone far before three students from Chang Mok Academy caught up to him from behind.
Yeop Hyeon brought the carriage to a halt and leaped down. He fixed his gaze on the three men chasing after them.
As the distance between them closed, the leader shouted,
"You trash bastard! How dare you..."
Yeop Hyeon's figure blurred, and in an instant, he appeared right before their eyes.
A sharp kick sliced through the air!
The leader flinched in surprise and raised his left hand to block Yeop Hyeon's foot.
Thud!
Crack!
With the sound of shattering bone, the man was hurled backward into the mud wall behind him.
Boom!
The impact caused the wall to crumble in an instant, and the man scrambled on the ground, barely avoiding being buried. Right then, a foot stomped down on his abdomen.
He looked up to see Yeop Hyeon staring down at him with cold eyes. The man's face twisted into a savage, mad grin as he screamed,
"You'd better kill me now. Otherwise, I'll slaughter your entire family... Gah!"
Yeop Hyeon's foot crushed his throat, silencing him.
Crack!
Blood trickled from the man's mouth as he breathed his last.
The other two Chang Mok Academy students froze in panic at the sight.
The reason they'd so boldly pursued Yeop Hyeon was simple: their blind faith that no one would dare use lethal force against Chang Mok Academy.
But the reality before them shattered that illusion.
The two began backing away. Pride and humiliation meant nothing now—only their lives mattered!
Watching this, Mu Yun Qi and Bai Ze's faces grew grave. What had seemed like child's play moments ago had escalated into a serious crisis.
'This is trouble.'
"Let's go!"
Yeop Hyeon, already mounted, shouted at them.
With Yeop Ryeong aboard, he urged the carriage forward.
Bai Ze and Mu Yun Qi hurriedly followed behind.
A short while later, a group of warriors in black-and-white robes appeared at the site of the clash between Yeop Hyeon and the Chang Mok Academy students. Their faces darkened with fury at the sight of the gruesomely slain corpse.
One man stood out among them. Holding a black spear, his eyebrows arched sharply upward, his eyes sparkled like stars, his build was sleek and imposing, and his features were striking.
He was Zuo Li, one of the three great geniuses of Chang Mok Academy's outer courtyard!
"Lord Zuo Li!"
One Chang Mok Academy student cried out in rage.
"To kill our academy's student in broad daylight—those Canglan Academy scum must think they're invincible! Let's go rip them apart right now!"
As the student lunged forward, a spear blocked his path.
All eyes turned to Zuo Li, who gazed down the road ahead and spoke.
"Blood demands blood in repayment. Today, Canglan Academy will become a sea of blood!"
With that, he hefted his spear and strode toward Canglan Academy.
Twenty Chang Mok Academy students followed in his wake.
Meanwhile, Yeop Hyeon's group was whipping the carriage into a frenzy.
Mu Yun Qi called out to Yeop Hyeon.
"Wasn't that a bit impulsive?"
"I gave them a chance."
Mu Yun Qi asked no more.
Yeop Hyeon continued,
"If I hadn't killed him, they'd have kept chasing us. And if the roles were reversed, they wouldn't have shown mercy—they'd have killed us without hesitation. Right?"
Bai Ze nodded.
"He deserved death."
Mu Yun Qi gave a wry smile.
"Yeah, you killed him good. But what now? You think Chang Mok Academy will let this slide?"
Yeop Hyeon looked at him and replied,
"If the young ones come, I'll handle them. If the old fogeys show up, Dean Ji will take care of it!"
"What if we can't win?"
"Then we lose."
As Mu Yun Qi opened his mouth for more, Bai Ze cut in.
"Can't you shut up with the useless chatter?"
"......"
All three turned back. About a hundred zhang behind, a group of warriors was pursuing them.
Chang Mok Academy men. Yeop Hyeon withdrew his gaze and calmly said to Mu Yun Qi,
"Do me a favor. Take my sister and go back!"
Yeop Ryeong started to protest, but Yeop Hyeon glared at her, and she quieted down.
Mu Yun Qi glanced rearward, then scooped Yeop Ryeong under his arm and leaped from the carriage. A round object appeared beneath his feet, and they vanished dozens of zhang away in a flash.
"You go too."
Bai Ze shook his head at Yeop Hyeon's words.
"This mess is my fault!"
"Their target isn't you—it's Canglan Academy. Even if you vanish, they'll come after me and the academy."
Yeop Hyeon chuckled silently and dismounted. Bai Ze stood beside him. In the distance, the Chang Mok Academy warriors approached.
As they drew nearer, Yeop Hyeon's expression grew increasingly ferocious.
'Battle? I've never been afraid of one in my entire life!'
Yeop Hyeon's strength came not from training, but from endless real combat. After becoming crown prince, he'd roamed Qingcheng daily, clashing nonstop with rival factions.
To him, battle was daily life.
At that moment, Zuo Li planted his spear in the ground, halting his followers.
"I can handle this alone!"
With those words, he stomped the earth. The ground cracked, and a surge of qi erupted from beneath his feet. His spear shot toward Yeop Hyeon and Bai Ze like lightning.
Control Qi Realm!
As Zuo Li's spear closed in, Yeop Hyeon bent backward like a bow to dodge, then kicked forward.
Clang!
Zuo Li gripped his quivering spear and was pushed back dozens of zhang. As he steadied himself, Yeop Hyeon charged like a lion eyeing prey.
Zuo Li narrowed his eyes and swung his spear.
"Horizontal Sweep Thousand Armies!"
Whoosh!
A razor-sharp whistle cut the air as the spear arced toward Yeop Hyeon.
A faint smile tugged at Yeop Hyeon's lips. He didn't dodge—instead, he thrust his fist forward.
Fist Collapse!
Layered over his sword intent, the low-grade technique unleashed devastating power.
Fist versus spear—a clash deciding heaven and earth!
Boom!
With the explosion, Zuo Li slid back several zhang.
Yeop Hyeon pressed without pause, unleashing another fist.
Fist Collapse!
A straightforward, technique-less strike—brutal and overwhelming!
The immense pressure and force behind Yeop Hyeon's punch were no joke. Zuo Li channeled his internal energy through the spear and thrust straight ahead. A piercing screech rent the air as black light flashed at the tip.
In tense silence, fist and spear collided head-on, raw and unadorned!
Boom!
Both figures exploded backward. Yeop Hyeon recovered first and charged again.
Zuo Li had no time to defend.
Yeop Hyeon's fist slammed into his chest.
Splat!
Zuo Li spewed blood, his body bending like a bow as he flew away.
As Yeop Hyeon moved to finish him, Chang Mok Academy students blocked his path.
Just then, Bai Ze, who'd been watching, charged at them.
Each step he took cratered the ground.
Yeop Hyeon leaped toward the foes as well.
'One-on-one doesn't scare me. Even against a crowd, same thing!'
"Hold on!"
A voice rang from behind Yeop Hyeon and Bai Ze.
Turning, Yeop Hyeon saw Mu Yun Qi racing toward them at blinding speed. He arrived in a blink and stood beside Yeop Hyeon.
Eyes fixed on the twenty warriors, Mu Yun Qi said,
"No problem killing them, right?"
"Damn right! Otherwise, they'd kill us."
"Hahaha!"
Mu Yun Qi laughed heartily and bellowed,
"What a stupid question! Let's go—slaughter them so they never look down on Canglan Academy again!"
With that, he clapped his hands. As his palms parted, two flashes of cold light burst forth.
Flying Daggers!
Two Chang Mok students at the rear lost their heads. As Mu Yun Qi smirked smugly, one student hoisted him up. Yeop Hyeon's sudden fist exploded the student's skull. Before Yeop Hyeon could withdraw, another rammed into him with his body.
Chaos erupted in seconds. Screams, wails, and snapping bones filled the air nonstop.
A brutal brawl!
Though Yeop Hyeon and the others were strong, they were outnumbered and couldn't seize the advantage easily. Chang Mok students weren't weaklings either!
Yet Chang Mok Academy wasn't faring well—far from it. Six already lay dead and sprawled.
Boom!
One Chang Mok student soared into the air. As Yeop Hyeon moved to finish him, a spear hurtled toward him.
Zuo Li's spear!
Yeop Hyeon didn't dodge—he let it aim for his chest.
Thud!
His body slid back several zhang. Zuo Li's face twisted in shock. He hadn't expected Yeop Hyeon to take the hit directly! The price would be steep!
But Yeop Hyeon, closing in swiftly, seized the spear barehanded. He slid along it and kneed Zuo Li's gut.
Thud!
Zuo Li flew dozens of zhang and crashed.
Boom!
Bleeding and writhing, Zuo Li felt his organs twisting in agony.
Suddenly, Yeop Hyeon's foot loomed before him. Looking up, Zuo Li roared in fury,
"I admit I underestimated you. But after we die, Chang Mok Academy won't!"
Then, shouting to his surroundings,
"Go!"