'Why do these two seem so confident?'
'If they're both here, who could be fighting with the town lord?'
'Even if there's a trap, with the lord's skill and experience, it's impossible for him to lose to these two families.'
Though finding the situation odd, the academy director's trust in the town lord's capabilities kept him from worrying, and he spoke firmly, "Whatever you're planning, it doesn't matter. Forget hurting Lei To or leaving here tonight."
"Don't worry, since you've come all this way, we wouldn't let you leave without a bit of fun."
"Leaving isn't an issue, but I'm curious to see how you plan to protect Lei To."
The leaders of the Han and Lee families exchanged smug looks as they taunted the academy director.
"Even as the academy director, you can't harm us here. You know what will happen if you attack us in front of so many people," Han said, boldly challenging him.
"Chehhh..."
'These sly foxes...'
If he were to attack any of their family members tonight, it would mean that the academy had interfered with the town's affairs, a blatant challenge to one of the academy's strictest taboos.
"Oh, you sly foxes. Alright, tonight, I'll make sure you two get all the entertainment you desire."
As the battle at the Lei family house heated up under the academy director's challenge, big developments were unfolding in the clash between the two young masters and the town lord at the town center.
"Damn it, the bleeding won't stop!"
"Step back. Bind it tighter. I'll hold him off."
Even though the fight had been going bad from the start, Lee Zhong had managed to graze the town lord's shoulder with his sword, coated in a potent poison, which quickly tilted the situation in their favor.
At that time hopeful, the two young masters tried to defend themselves and search for an opening to escape, but the town lord, unmindful of his own exhaustion, rained down powerful martial techniques upon them.
The young masters, unable to find a chance to flee under the relentless attacks, had begun making mistakes as fatigue set in. One such mistake left Lee Zhong with a deep spear wound on his leg.
'Damn it, what's the point of winning if I end up dead at this old dog's hands?'
Lee Zhong, realizing he couldn't escape with his injured leg, grew increasingly anxious.
"Aaahhh!"
'Why is he attacking more aggressively all of a sudden? Did he realize we poisoned him?'
While attempting to block one of the town lord's powerful strikes with his staff, Han Fei cried out in pain.
'Damn it... Damn it... Damn it!'
Meanwhile, the town lord cursed internally, continuing his aggressive assault.
Unbeknownst to the young masters, the reason for his relentless assault was that the town lord's martial practice was on the verge of advancing to the peak level.
Moments ago, during the heat of battle, the town lord had suddenly felt his eyelids grow heavy, which led to his wound. It was a sign that his practice was about to break through to the next level.
In this world, one fundamental truth known to all martial practitioners was that when someone reached the seventh stage of their current level, there was a chance of progressing to the next level. This was called a "breakthrough," and it could come at any time of day, bringing an overwhelming feeling of heaviness and a deep sense of sleepiness.
What happened to the town lord just now was exactly that. His martial master-level practice, which had been stagnant for years, was now showing signs of progressing during the battle.
Although the breakthrough might seem like a blessing, it was, in fact, a stroke of terrible luck for the lord.
For thousands of years, martial practitioners had referred to breakthroughs during battle as "breakthroughs to death."
The moment the signs of a breakthrough appeared, the practitioner was supposed to quickly find a secure position to fall asleep. During this deep slumber, the body would undergo significant changes and ascend to the next level.
If the practitioner failed to fall asleep promptly, they could suffer severe injuries or even botch the breakthrough entirely. For ages, no practitioner who failed a breakthrough had ever succeeded in reaching the next level.
'As long as I don't die, the Han and Lee families can't touch my family. All they can do is run and hide.'
'If I can kill these two swiftly, no one will ever find out.'
The town lord, mistakenly thinking the young masters had noticed his breakthrough, knew that if he left, they would inform their families, so he was determined to eliminate them both quickly and go to his secluded spot to sleep.
"Lei Lei, come here!"
The town lord continued his attack on the young masters, shouting without taking his eyes off his enemies.
"Master!" A young man soon rushed over to his side.
Without looking, the town lord pulled out an oddly-carved wooden item from his chest and tossed it to the young man, saying, "Take this to the academy director, now."
'Now that I've informed him of my breakthrough, the academy director will protect my family while I'm sleeping.'
The young man dashed off into the darkness under the bewildered stares of those around, while Lee Zhong shouted at the fighters nearby, "Quick, somebody kill him before he escapes! What are you waiting for?"
'Damn it! He figured out he's been poisoned and is calling for backup.'
'We need to flee before help arrives.'
While one side, having fulfilled their mission to poison him, believed the lord had realized he was poisoned and was calling for help, the town lord assumed they'd noticed his breakthrough.
Both sides fought fiercely for a few more minutes, but the town lord's body, nearly forcing him into sleep, was making it difficult for him to keep his eyes open.
Although the young masters realized the truth and saw it as an opportunity, they knew that, with their worsening injuries in the current situation, they had no chance to escape.
"Han family members, go inform the others, the town lord is attempting a breakthrough in the fight!" Desperate and furious, Han Fei shouted into the air, realizing that the lord was determined to kill them.