"I, Xue Kai, have never been one to willingly stir up unnecessary trouble. But that doesn't mean I'll swallow my pride and endure it when others try to bully me. Besides, the truth is on my side!"
On the training grounds of a military camp, a young man barely out of his teens, who called himself Xue Kai, found himself surrounded by six soldiers. Instinctively, clenching his fists.
"You don't belong here in the first place. Taking you in when you were injured was already an unnecessary act of kindness. Now it seems we've picked up a stray dog that only knows how to bite indiscriminately," sneered a burly soldier with a face full of scars.
Xue Kai's expression remained calm despite the man's mocking and deliberate provocation. Not a trace of anger flickered on his face, though a glimmer of coldness flashed briefly in his eyes. He understood well that in someone else's territory, no matter how justified he might be, it would be difficult to come out on top. Even in a military camp known for its strict discipline, small cliques working together to target others were far from uncommon.
Raising his head, he gazed at the last rays of the setting sun in the distance. With a cold smirk, he said, "Tell your squad leader that I accept tonight's duel. No matter the outcome, all past grievances will be settled. Otherwise, if I beat a soldier, the squad leader will come seeking revenge. If I beat the squad leader, then the platoon leader will come after me. In the end, it might even escalate to the general. Wouldn't that be ridiculous?"
"Bah!" spat one soldier angrily onto the ground, his eyes filled with fury. However, the burly man from earlier placed a hand on his companion's shoulder and said, "We're just here to deliver a message from the squad leader, not to brawl."
Private fighting was strictly forbidden in the military and punishable by fifty lashes; public duels, on the other hand, were permitted instead.
This was precisely why Xue Kai had refused to strike back despite being provoked earlier. As the saying goes, 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do.'
Although he was merely an injured outsider rescued and brought to the camp, the military rules still applied to him.
The anger in his heart needed an outlet, but it had to be done at the right time. Xue Kai was someone who always repaid kindness and sought vengeance for wrongs done to him. Yet, before taking risks, he had an uncanny ability to calmly analyze the situation and minimize danger—a trait that had once allowed him to escape death.
Paying no further attention to the group of soldiers delivering the message, Xue Kai turned and walked away to avoid unnecessary trouble. With their numbers, even if a conflict arose, he would find himself at a disadvantage, unable to defend himself effectively.
After walking for about half a quarter of an hour, a hand suddenly reached out from his side and grabbed his left shoulder.
Reacting instinctively, Xue Kai dropped his shoulder, using the left side of his body to pin the intruding hand. Then, with a swift motion, his right hand shot backward, locking onto the person's throat. In one fluid motion, he yanked them forward and threw them to the ground.
"W-Wait!" the person cried out hastily.
Xue Kai raised his knee, pressing it against the person's stomach to keep them from falling completely to the ground. Then, with a quick shove, he steadied the figure back onto their feet.
"It's you?" Xue Kai said, recognizing the person's face. A faint apologetic smile appeared on his lips.
The visitor forced a faint smile and said, "Why are you so on edge? I guess the way you injured Zheng Hu's men this morning was similar?"
Xue Kai replied, "Who told them to mess with me yesterday? This morning, they tried the same tricks again, so I taught them a lesson. Who knew one of them was so fragile? Just one punch, and he lost two front teeth."
The visitor patted Xue Kai on the shoulder and said, "Zheng Hu is known for fiercely protecting his own and is notoriously difficult to deal with. Other than the commander, he doesn't give a face to anyone. His merits and faults are about equal. Otherwise, with his fifth stage in the Elementary Spirit Realm, he wouldn't be just a squad leader. Why not come with me to see the captain and explain the situation?"
"Xiao, you're the person who treats me the best here, aside from Miss Luu. If I have the chance, I will repay you in the future. But this is my matter, and you'd best not get involved," Xue Kai rejected the offer without hesitation.
Xiao shrugged and said, "Alright, take care. Zheng Hu cultivates fire-based inner energy. His specialty is a simple martial technique where he wraps his fists in flames before striking."
"Thanks for the information," Xue Kai clasped his hands in gratitude.
"Also, I'll keep this from Squad Leader, but I can't guarantee how long I can keep it up."
"Her? That's fine," Xue Kai replied.
Without looking back at Xiao, Xue Kai walked away. He was determined not to linger here for long, and he didn't want to form too many ties with others. Xiao was merely a cook with no real skills or backing. If Zheng Hu's men retaliated in secret, it would be Xue Kai's responsibility to handle it.
Using fire-based energy to enhance punches? Perfect. Xue Kai felt a bit more confident. Three months ago, with his strength, he could have easily crushed someone at the fifth rank of Elementary Spirit Realm. But now, his power was only at the fourth rank. That cursed massacre had taken everything from him.
Thinking of this, Xue Kai unconsciously clenched his fists tightly. Even as his nails dug into his palms and fresh blood flowed, he felt nothing.
...
...
...
'Revenge—there was no reason not to pursue it. But in his current state, Xue Kai had no means to confront his enemies. All he could do was endure. Three months ago, he had reached the peak of the ninth rank in the Elementary Spirit Realm, hailed as the greatest talent in his clan, yet he had still been powerless against the overwhelming enemy that struck without warning. Now, with his strength inexplicably reduced to the fourth rank, the odds were even slimmer.
This was a place where power reigned supreme. The strongest ruled as leaders, possessing everything they desired—wealth, beauty, power, and loyal followers. The foundation of cultivation lay in absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, converting it into true energy that could be stored in the body and utilized at will.
The cultivation hierarchy was strictly divided into three major tiers: Elementary Spirit Realm, Profound Spirit Realm, and True Spirit Realm. Each tier was further split into nine ranks or stages. The Elementary Spirit Realm was merely the beginning, allowing one to integrate minor elemental attributes into hand-to-hand combat. The Profound Spirit Realm signified a breakthrough to a new level, where practitioners could manipulate the spiritual energy of the world for their own use. As for the True Spirit Realm, it required the creation of one's own unique domain, representing the pinnacle of existence on the continent.
Reaching the True Spirit Realm had always been Xue Kai's ultimate dream. It still was, but his motivation had undergone a profound transformation. What was once a desire to prove himself as his clan's greatest prodigy had now become a burning drive for vengeance.
He sighed deeply, realizing that his current focus needed to be on the duel scheduled for the evening.
Time flew by, and before long, dusk arrived. The military camp's arena, the liveliest spot during the evenings, was bustling as usual. For soldiers who had spent the day training, the arena provided rare entertainment and relaxation.
After dinner, soldiers with free time flocked to the arena. Word had spread about the notoriously unruly Zheng Hu issuing a challenge to an unknown newcomer. The prospect of the match had drawn a crowd eager to watch the spectacle and make it their evening's amusement.
"Place your bets! Quick, step right up! Zheng Hu pays one-to-one, and Xue Kai pays six to one! Make your bets now!" the bookmaker shouted enthusiastically.
Gambling in small amounts was permitted as a light diversion, and the arena, though part of the military, allowed betting under controlled circumstances.
Within moments, the table for Zheng Hu was piled with gold coins, while Xue Kai's side held only a meager few.
"I'll bet two hundred gold coins on Xue Kai."
A crisp, ethereal voice rang out from the crowd, silencing the chatter. The soldiers gathered around the betting table immediately stepped aside, parting to make way for the speaker.
A petite girl dressed in a light green Hanfu stepped out from the crowd and placed a pile of gold coins heavily onto the betting table.
"Miss, what brings you here?" The junior officer managing the bets exclaimed in surprise.
The girl simply smiled sweetly but didn't respond.
Meanwhile, at the center of the arena, the duel had begun.
Without any unnecessary words, Zheng Hu lunged directly at Xue Kai.
Xue Kai's build was of medium height and slender, while Zheng Hu towered over two meters tall, with a frame packed with rippling muscles. The stark contrast in their physiques made for a comical scene. The audience erupted into deafening cheers and shouts, filling the air with excitement.
After eight exchanges, Xue Kai was clearly at a disadvantage. He relied on his agility to stay in the fight, but it was evident he was being pushed back. Zheng Hu, on the other hand, only grew fiercer with every strike, his powerful punches generating gusts of wind.
Three more rounds passed, and Xue Kai's retreat became increasingly desperate. Sensing victory, Zheng Hu finally unleashed his trump card. With a loud roar, he raised his right fist, and his forearm began to glow a fiery red. A crackling sound, like flames consuming dry wood, echoed in the arena as his fiery energy surged.
"So you were saving this move," Xue Kai muttered, a sly smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
Rather than retreat, Xue Kai stepped forward, raising his right palm. A faint, semi-transparent spiral began to form in his palm, spinning rapidly. However, the detail was so subtle that no one in the audience noticed.
The result seemed inevitable—Zheng Hu was certain the fight was over. But what happened next shocked everyone, including him.
As Zheng Hu's flaming fist struck out, it was stopped in its tracks by an invisible barrier surrounding Xue Kai's palm. The fiery energy on Zheng Hu's fist scattered upon contact, dissipating harmlessly into the air. At the same time, the flame-like energy on his arm was forcibly torn apart by Xue Kai's palm.
Before Zheng Hu could react, Xue Kai countered with a quick strike to his chest. As the force of the punch reverberated, Xue Kai withdrew his fist slightly before delivering another blow, unleashing explosive energy in close quarters.
The impact sent Zheng Hu's massive body flying through the air. He crashed heavily onto the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The fight was over.
Xue Kai looked in the direction of where Zheng Hu lay within the cloud of dust.
Once the cloud of dust began to dissipate, Zheng Hu stood up, slightly battered, "Not bad, kid. You've got some skills. I don't know what kind of trick you pulled at the end, but a loss is a loss. I, Zheng Hu, accept it. As I said earlier, our grudge is settled," Zheng Hu declared, surprisingly magnanimous.
Xue Kai nodded slightly and turned to leave.
As Xue Kai's figure disappeared into the distance, the girl in the green dress finally tore her gaze away from him. She grabbed the bag overflowing with gold coins, slung it over her shoulder, and skipped away, humming a soft tune. The defeated gamblers could only glare at her in silent frustration, too intimidated to say a word. She, however, seemed completely unfazed by the weight of the bag.
Interestingly, the direction the girl took was the same as Xue Kai's.