When Shi Dafeng heard these people making fun of Yan Liqiang, he glared at them and was about to confront them when Yan Liqiang held him back by his wrist.
Yan Liqiang looked at these people and smiled. He was trying to identify these people in his head quickly but he recognized none of them. Damn it! Why were these people finding trouble with him? He didn't offend anyone either at the academy. Could it be that they were related to the Shatu people? But that seemed to be unlikely as the influence of Shatu people shouldn't be that powerful to this extent yet.
Although thoughts were swiftly running through Yan Liqiang's mind, his mouth didn't stop for a second. He stared at the person who was talking earlier and said, "I'm fourteen this year and have already achieved the first amongst the top three in Qinghe County's Martial Arts County Trial Examination. For those who were laughing, if none of you have ever achieved such a ranking before the age of fourteen, then you are all trash who are no better than a country bumpkin. A trash alone would certainly have no courage to make fun of someone who is more powerful than him, but a group of trash together can boost each other's courage. Or perhaps you are showing off your talent in reincarnating. Is that the case? Needless to say, your performances have really opened up my eyes!"
The laughter of that group of people came to an abrupt halt, like a duck that had been grabbed by its neck. Shi Dafeng were stunned too as he looked at Yan Liqiang in surprise as if it was the first time he met Yan Liqiang. It had never occurred to him that such harsh words would actually come from Yan Liqiang, who was usually so gentle and sophisticated.
"What did you say?" The youth from earlier yelled while he took a step forward with a flushed face.
"I just made myself loud and clear. Unless you need me to call you trash one more time?"
That youth couldn't hold it in anymore and right away threw a punch in Yan Liqiang's direction.
Without flinching, Yan Liqiang took a stride forward and similarly threw a punch towards him as well.
Both of their knuckles collided hard against each other.
Yan Liqiang didn't budge an inch. However, the youth was sent flying backward, groaning from a single punch by Yan Liqiang instead, knocking into the wall his companions who were standing behind him had formed. Those who were supporting him were also knocked a step back at the same time by the force. Each and every one of their expressions contorted in no time.
Nobody had expected the strength of Yan Liqiang's punch could be so powerful. From earlier on, it was evidently clear to everyone that those who had set their hands on Yan Liqiang were effortlessly thrown away by that unreasonable force from his fist.
Yan Liqiang only didn't want to act on it. He had gained the upper hand by a show of strength in no time as soon as he acts on it and his aura itself had put these men down too.
"What are you doing?" a loud voice could be heard from a nearby distance. Along with this loud voice was a bearded man who was walking over from a near distance. With a strict gaze, he looked at everyone who was on the scene.
"Greetings, Teacher Xu..." Yan Liqiang and those who were blocking him greeted that man at once.
That man, who was an academy tutor from the Martial Arts Academy, taught spear techniques and had given Yan Liqiang two basic courses on it. Usually, when Yan Liqiang was practicing in the spear training field, Teacher Xu would always be at the side to point out on Yan Liqiang's movements and basic techniques. Yan Liqiang had greatly benefited from his pointers.
"You've been in the Martial Arts Academy for so many years, don't you know personal fights in the Martial Arts Academy are strictly prohibited, Wang Haofei?"
Wang Haofei?
Yan Liqiang's heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name. He had vaguely guessed why these people had come to find trouble with him.
The person who had voiced out first among that group forced a smile, "We heard that there's a stronger newcomer called Yan Liqiang from this new batch. So, we're here to get acquainted with him today!"
"Through fists?" The academy tutor who taught spear techniques was not a fool. He gave Wang Haofei a glare as soon as he heard the explanation.
"Yes! Sun Yang was trying to spar with him just now. It wasn't an actual fight…."
"Spar, my ass! Don't try to find trouble here! I am very well aware of your cultivation. If you really want to fight, give Yan Liqiang a spear and come up to him in a line. You will only find yourself getting impaled to your death because none of you will be able to block Yan Liqiang's spear when he lunges. What's there to spar? It is only sensible to polish your own techniques when you have some time on hand. Do not waste your time on meaningless things!" The spear technique tutor waved his hand and spoke impatiently.
Everyone's expression in that group turned unpleasant all at once when they heard what the spear technique tutor had said. They exchanged looks with each other as though they were still in disbelief.
"Teacher Xu, isn't that... a little too exaggerated…?" Wang Haofei argued unconvincingly. "Regardless, we have been cultivating in the Martial Arts Academy all these years. I have already passed the Stretching Tendon and Extending Bone stage as well as the first level of basic sword technique…"
"So what if you have passed the Stretching Tendon and Extending Bone stage? It doesn't mean you are invincible. You may have passed the first rank in the basic spear technique, but both your strength and speed are inferior to his. You think your sword technique will be able to block the attack of someone whose basic spear technique is about to pass the second level? How many lunges will you be able to block?"
What?! Yan Liqiang's basic spear technique was about to pass the second level? Every single one of them who were in Yan Liqiang's way was staring at him in disbelief. As a student in the Martial Arts Academy, they understood the strength of the second level of the basic spear technique. This second level basic spear technique shouldn't be underestimated because just the two movements of blocking and slashing were incomparably firm, sharp, swift and violent. Killing a person would appear to be as simple as poking a hole through a piece of paper. In recent years, out of those who had advanced to Marital Warriors, there hadn't been a lot of people who could cultivate up to the second level of the basic spear technique by the time they left the Martial Arts Academy.
"Teacher Xu…" Yan Liqiang smiled bitterly while he looked at the plain-spoken spear technique tutor. He didn't expect Teacher Xu to actually spill such information at a moment like this.
"You've come to the spearing field to practice so many times and I'm not blind either. You think I can't tell what's your standard in the spearing technique? Yan Liqiang, you made me wonder where did you learn to be so tricky at such a young age. You even concealed your strength to look like you are not even someone who practiced with spears!" The man criticized Yan Liqiang.
What else could Yan Liqiang say?
"The strength of the spear is just like the strength of a fist. The technique of the spear is just like the technique of a fist. Didn't any of you realize that the punch Yan Liqiang threw earlier on was just like a spear lunging forward? Yan Liqiang held back just now when he threw the punch. Otherwise, Sun Yang, your fist would now have been crippled. It wouldn't be healed without taking half a year to rest. What else do you have to show off about?"
Teacher Xu kept on scolding them while the few of them who were at the side hung their head, losing their morale all at once. Right after he finished lecturing them, Teacher Xu left the scene.
In the end, Wang Haofei gave Yan Liqiang a hatred-filled glare, "I'm the one who Lu Beixin likes. Don't think so highly of yourself that you can snatch Lu Beixin from me!" Wang Haofei and his men left the place right after he spat that out.
Frankly speaking, this Wang Haofei was indeed a charmer. With his pair of long, strong legs and his handsome appearance, he could easily charm a few girls without any problem. However, the hint of evil intentions in Wang Haofei's expression when he left completely destroyed his charm. Yan Liqiang couldn't help but frown.
As soon as these people left, the stare that Shi Dafeng who stood at the side had on Yan Liqiang seemed as though it was glowing. He suddenly burned with the flames of gossip. He grabbed on Yan Liqiang's shoulder and asked impatiently, " When did you pass the first level of the basic spear technique? And, what's going on with that Lu Beixin? You didn't even tell me that you have a babe now, to think that I have treated you like my brother, how dare you?"
"Certain things are simply too much of an unfathomable mystery that I don't even know how to say it!" Yan Liqiang shook his head and took a deep breathe, "Let's go! We should return to the courtyard first…."
...
It had been two months since Yan Liqiang came to the Martial Arts Academy. But Yan Liqiang had not seen Lu Beixin nor any other Lu Clan's disciples. He had only known about Lu Beixin being grounded by Old Master Lu from the letter Qian Su had sent to him a few days ago.
He realized that Lu Beixin somehow seemed odd when he visited the Lu Residence for the arranged marriage with her last time so he indirectly alerted Lu Peien about it. Lu Peien was also a wise person, after Yan Liqiang's warning, he quietly sent someone to Pingxi City to secretly investigate and track Lu Beixin down. In the end, they discovered that Lu Beixin was, in fact, seeing someone and that someone whom Lu Beixin was seeing was no other than Lu Clan's archenemy in Huanglong County, one of Wang Clan's disciples, Wang Haofei.
Upon receiving such news, Old Master Lu was furious. The Lu Clan's disciples who were in the Martial Arts Academy were all summoned back to the Lu Residence during summer vacation and were harshly reprimanded. Needless to say, Lu Beixin was grounded in the manor by Old Master Lu and was unable to go anywhere at all. The other Lu Clan's disciples got dragged into it as well for either not realizing the issue with Lu Beixin while they were in the Martial Arts Academy together or not reporting anything unusual that they had discovered to the Lu Clan in time. They too were grounded and forced to do manual labor work back in the manor at the same time. That was precisely the reason why not even one of the Lu Clan's disciples were seen in the Martial Arts Academy now.
The one and only reason why Wang Haofei had come to look for trouble with him today, was because he had just found out about the arranged marriage between Lu Beixin and Yan Liqiang which Old Master Lu had set up. Hence, he pinned all his anger on Yan Liqiang and confronted him in rage to vent all his anger on him. But little did Wang Haofei expect that Yan Liqiang was not that easy to handle. He had rounded up a bunch of friends to pick a fight with Yan Liqiang this time but it ended up with them getting their stuffing knocked out.
The fact that Wang Haofei had come to look for trouble with Yan Liqiang today proved that he previously didn't know what had happened between him and Lu Beixin. And now that he knew, what did it mean? It proved that either the Wang Clan had an insider in the Lu Residence and that insider informed the Wang Clan upon finding out the news, or Wang Haofei and Lu Beixin were still able to communicate. Perhaps the more accurate explanation was that although Lu Beixin had been grounded, she was still able to relay information to Wang Haofei through someone. And the possibility of the latter was reckoned to be slightly higher…...
Or perhaps he should inform Sixth Master about this so that he could pay attention to it…
The thought flashed through Yan Liqiang's mind, but after thorough consideration, Yan Liqiang shook his head and decided to leave it be. The last time he secretly alerted them caused all of the Lu Clan's disciples to be grounded. If he were to alert them once more, Lu Beixin's maids would probably be out of luck. Judging from the Lu Clan's traditions and Old Master Lu's temper, someone's life might even be at risk.
When Wang Haofei came to cause trouble with him, he probably didn't think about the consequences of the informant from Lu Clan who relayed the message to him would suffer due to his rash decision. Or maybe he had thought about it but couldn't be bothered to care at all. If it was the former, then it proved that this person had no brains. If it was the latter, then it showed that this person had no conscience. No matter which of the two types of person he was, this person would never be worthy of Lu Beixin.
He had no regrets in separating this pair of lovebirds…..
He ran the whole scene from the beginning till the end in his head once more. After he understood the main point in his heart, Yan Liqiang felt relieved when he left the Martial Arts Academy. He descended the mountain and returned to his small courtyard in Blue Ox Alley.
Outside the small courtyard, Yan Dechang, who was travel-worn and covered in snow, stood under the eaves, waiting for Yan Liqiang's return...
"Father…"
Yan Dechang turned around when he heard Yan Liqiang call out. He then saw Yan Liqiang, who was standing not too far away, staring at him blankly.