Section Two: The Pain of the Marketplace

A wooden stick whizzed past overhead, accompanied by the sound of the wind

However, this punch could not be delivered.

At the moment he executed this sword technique, Wang Tianyi's figure was light and agile, seemingly moving with the wind. His left arm retracted while his right arm extended straight, his garments billowing gracefully, exuding an unparalleled elegance. It is not only ordinary people who are unfamiliar with martial arts who would be amazed; even his instructor from Qingcheng would surely applaud loudly—deeply impressed by the exquisite swordplay, which was not only aesthetically pleasing but also increasingly fierce in its offensive power.

At this moment, the two individuals were almost colliding with each other. The scar-faced man, crouching down, was struck hard enough to turn his head away, yet he exerted himself to rise up, his battered head transforming into a third skull, which crashed into the chin of the young hero from Qingcheng, following the line of his clothing from top to bottom

There is no need for that, he is just a petty thief. Junior brother has already ranked fifth in Group A in just six months!

That posture resembles a lovesick girl about to leap into her lover's embrace. The problem is, while your sword may be able to pierce this girl's body, her knife will undoubtedly disembowel you as if you were a fish being sliced by a cleaver.

Bite fiercely, and once it has bitten down, jerk the neck violently.

However, due to overwhelming fear that made him forget his own terror, the young hero became more aggressive. He deflected the punch from the unskilled opponent with his left arm and, taking advantage of the momentum, delivered a precise downward punch right onto the scarred face.

Wang Tianyi turned his head in shock and urgency to evade, but the hilt of the knife, slicing through the air with a fierce wind, brutally grazed the corner of his brow

Wang Tianyi was taken aback and immediately crouched down, pulling his head in

A true expert can discern the quality with just a touch

However, this beautifully presented and profoundly intended sword technique, when faced with a scarred-faced common robber, seems akin to feeding barley to a turtle, resulting in a complete waste

Standing next to him was a third accomplice, who ignored his companion at his feet and fixed his gaze unwaveringly on Wang Tianyi. He was of medium build, and a scar on his face resembled a worm crawling from his forehead to his mouth. In his hand was not a wooden stick, but surprisingly, a steel knife.

Wang Tianyi leaned out to look out the window and saw a village girl sitting on the ground shouting, while a strong man was running wildly down the street holding a green package.

Only cats eat mice, Wang Tianyi, an outstanding disciple of a prestigious sect in the martial world, a martial arts expert who has been practicing since childhood, could never have imagined that his intention to teach a lesson to a few lowly thieves would turn into a situation where the ruthless thieves sought to kill him instead

Fortunately, martial skills are not practiced in vain. Wang Tianyi's lower body is incredibly stable, and surprisingly, the scar-faced man did not manage to knock Wang Tianyi down with that kick; he was momentarily taken aback.

Come on, who is afraid of whom?! Seeing his opponent with a knife, Wang Tianyi drew his sword, but his voice lacked the confidence it had moments ago. He lowered the proud head that a hero should possess, took a step back, and leaned his back against the wall. Alone, he faced the encirclement of three robbers, yet the tip of his sword was aimed at the one who was snatching the bag

At that time, his parents had spent most of their life savings on his tuition at Qingcheng. He had attended a private school for several years since childhood and later trained in basic skills with an old martial arts master from the local Shaolin. Therefore, he easily passed the entrance examination. After just six months at Qingcheng, he diligently practiced the Qingcheng sword technique and cultivated his internal energy

Wang Tianyi still did not understand what was happening, and with a loud bang in his head, stars began to swirl before his eyes, causing him to tilt his head back and fall.

"Brother, we are just trying to make a living, and we do not interfere with each other. Let us go, we do not want the package anymore." The wooden stump seemed to be the head. As he spoke these words, his eyes darted around, and Wang Tianyi felt a surge of anger in his heart

Staring at himself with red eyes, the fierce wolf that was gnashing its teeth and climbing up, Wang Tianyi felt his throat go dry. He held the sword in his hand, yet his feet could not move—facing the reckless madman, this fifth-ranked expert of the Qingcheng A team, who had been beaten to the point of losing his wits, surprisingly lacked even the courage to seize the opportunity to subdue his opponent.

Even an inch will do

The young hero tilted back and fell, a droplet of blood scattering through the air along the contour of his mouth and ear, uncertain whether it was his own blood or that of the ear.

The second punch aimed by the scar-faced man was directed at Wang Tianyi's groin. He desperately pulled back his fist and then exerted all his strength to strike there.

You fool, do you even know how to use a knife! Unexpectedly, the other party ignored him, and Wang Tianyi, taken aback, cursed inwardly.

Even someone as ruthless as a wolf cannot endure such excruciating pain, and the scarred man's punch went awry, landing on the ground between Wang Tianyi's legs.

The scarred face ignored the long knife that had slipped from his hand; there was no time to rectify mistakes on the battlefield. He continued to advance, his fingers, numbed from the impact, instantly clenched into a hard fist, striking directly at the young hero's face, where the mouth was still biting down on a severed ear.

Before I could react, my calf was struck by the enemy's kick. The scar-faced man's every attack was as despicable as a street brawl among petty thugs, yet each time it proved effective

Thus, even the manner in which they toasted each other became increasingly formal

Temporarily distancing themselves from the tedious and arduous martial arts training, descending the mountain for leisure undoubtedly represents the best choice for the youth

The meal is actually quite ordinary, yet when three people partake in it, it seems as if they are witnessing several years into the future, where a few elegantly dressed young talents from the martial world are dining on exquisite delicacies in the finest restaurant. Is it merely a meal? No, it represents success and glory

However, the grinning wooden stump took this punch, threw away the wooden stick, and lunged forward, tightly embracing Wang Tianyi along with his arm.

With ease, Wang Tianyi seized the wrist of the little thief holding the short knife with his left hand, while his right hand delivered a punch to the thief's face

His prestigious sect instructor from Qingcheng has never taught this

I will kill you! The scar-faced man furiously thrust the knife forward, offering his entire body except for the tip of the blade to the opponent; he only needed the tip to pierce, disregarding everything else.

How could I have fallen from Group A to Group E? Am I really an idiot? The lively laughter of my fellow housemates filled my ears, and Wang Tianyi stared blankly at the beams of the room, murmuring to himself.

How could this happen? Remembering the life-and-death struggle just now, experiencing that kind of fear of having crawled out from the jaws of a tiger, he could hardly imagine that such a thing would occur to someone like him, a disciple of the Qingcheng sect, who could dedicate himself specifically to martial arts, he couldn't help but murmur to himself

Wang Tianyi was wholeheartedly trying to break free from the entanglement and create distance. Both hands were firmly on the sword hilt, the sword was pushing against the knife, and his feet were stepping back, not firmly planted on the ground, making it impossible to evade this punch.

Wow! Amidst the earth-shattering screams, blood splattered high enough to reach two people. The wooden stump released the fish it was holding, collapsing to the ground, covering its head and rolling sideways, with blood gushing out between its fingers

Dream on. If you don't want me to knock you down, then obediently drop your weapons and come with me to see the authorities. My sword is not blind!" Wang Tianyi glanced around; this place was relatively quiet, with few pedestrians nearby, so there was no need to worry about harming bystanders

He had only one thought in his mind: I do not want to die

Who would have thought that a battlefield veteran could use the handle of a knife in such a manner

This fellow seems completely unaware that if he does not evade or parry this sword strike, his left arm will be injured. Perhaps his martial skills are too low, and he lacks the awareness of such a master. He actually disregards Wang Tianyi's sword attack, letting out a loud roar as he swings his blade horizontally to slash at Wang Tianyi's left rib

However, this wooden stump is quite strong. Wang Tianyi's arms and body are held together by it, and coupled with the continuous injuries, he simply cannot muster any strength to break free.

The scar-faced man and the wooden stump were still on the ground, helplessly screaming, while the bag-snatching thief had somehow made it back to the alley where he had come from. Upon locking eyes with Wang Tianyi, he let out a shriek and vanished without a trace.

With a dull "crack," the broken sword in Wang Tianyi's hand forcefully embedded itself into the shoulder bone of the scar-faced man

In a rush, I quickly turned my head, and my right eye was struck by a punch. Instantly, the world went dark, and tears and snot flowed out. I was knocked down to one knee.

How far can it go, and how little can it be

Wang Tianyi felt a great sense of peace in his heart as he exchanged swords.

Brother, take revenge for me and kill that dog from Qingcheng! The thief behind him also got up.

Observing the opponent's sprinting physique, the gestures of wielding the sword, and the strength and angle of the long blade, it is merely a matter of great strength and proficiency; their skills are mediocre and cannot be compared to those of an apprentice from a martial arts sect like myself

With a powerful swing of the sword, striking fiercely with the long knife, the force of the impact combined with the strength of two frenzied wolf-like warriors produced a tremendous sound in the air, mingled with a burst of sparks

The scar-faced man was momentarily taken aback, but quickly regained his sinister smile and said, "Not killing? Are you playing with swords and knives?"

Before the words had left his mouth, a growling sound emerged from his throat, akin to a wild beast pouncing forward.

The young hero of Qingcheng, gripping his sword, with reddened eyes, tightly biting down on a severed half of a human ear that he had forcefully torn off.

Wang Tianyi, facing his opponent, surprisingly refrained from using the more skillful thrust and instead opted for a reckless horizontal slash, filled with the desire to distance himself from this reckless individual.

He pointed his sword at the scarred face, his voice trembling slightly: "Are you... are you going to kill... kill someone?"

At this moment, Wang Tianyi turned around and saw a short but sturdy man struggling to get up from the ground, as solid as a wooden stump

It was as if he had been struck in the thigh by a bull with its head lowered, causing the scar-faced man to be thrown forward, colliding with Wang Tianyi, who had fallen backward.

Leaning against the ground, he frantically thrust his weapon to momentarily block his opponent's chance to catch their breath. Only then did Wang Tianyi stand up, his head covered in dirt, with only one eye open. The fierce demeanor he had just moments ago was replaced by a face full of terror.

At that moment, the waiter came up again with a jug of wine, raising his thumb and saying, "Gentlemen, this is a gift from our boss to all of you heroes."

After being scolded back by Wang Tianyi, the scar-faced man remained silent. He grinned menacingly and suddenly lunged forward with his knife, stepping aside as he charged silently towards Wang Tianyi.

The young hero of Qingcheng met the gaze with equally blood-red eyes; this time, he did not hastily evade this mutually destructive strike, for the distance was too close, and he could not avoid it.

With a slight lean to the side, the left hand extends backward, grasping the sword technique, while the right hand moves freely. The long sword sweeps in from the outside to the inside, directly slicing towards the opponent's left arm

As soon as the mouth opened, the ear that had been tightly clenched between the teeth fell out, already chewed to pieces by its own teeth

Suddenly, the young hero, struggling like a giant fish, lowered his head and opened his mouth, fiercely biting down on the rogue's ear

"Hand me the package and come with me to see the official," Wang Tianyi said leisurely while crossing his arms. He made an effort to lift his head higher as he spoke, striving to project an air of arrogance like a hero in front of the bandits.

Without a word, the scar-faced man did not need to push the long sword with the blade; instead, he swiftly raised his hand and struck upwards with force. The knife immediately reversed, its edge still grinding against the sword's blade with a clattering sound, but the end of the knife's handle angled upward, directly colliding with Wang Tianyi's face

With a sidelong glance, the scar-faced man had already gotten up, picking up a knife and charging towards him. Those fierce, hate-filled red eyes resembled a wolf demon that had come to life, and at a mere glance, he was filled with an overwhelming fear of being killed.

Haha, I feel honored. It is the responsibility of us, the young heroes of Qingcheng, to uphold justice and support the weak against the strong. The two exchanged a smile.

In the first selection competition of Group A, he stood out, ranking fifth in swordsmanship, and successfully obtained the qualification to participate in the competition

and the long sword was also shaken out of hand

However, Wang Tianyi did not cease his assault; he suddenly kicked out with his tilted body, landing a kick on the thigh of the scar-faced man who was holding his neck up.

Wang Tianyi lay on the ground, delivering a punch to the scarred face that had fallen onto his leg, while the first punch from the scarred face that struck Wang Tianyi's thigh caused him to sit up abruptly.

Enduring the excruciating pain in his shins, Wang Tianyi finally seized an opportunity in his opponent's defense. He sidestepped and positioned himself laterally to the enemy, delivering a powerful kick to the scarred man's hip.

Ah! The scarred face erupted with a sound that was not quite human from his throat, resembling both a painful outburst and a battle cry gathering strength before an attack. He actually raised his other hand to continue striking at Wang Tianyi's vital points.

At this moment, Wang Tianyi felt as if his entire body was exhausted and falling apart. He raised his trembling right arm, which was in pain, and touched his left arm, finding it covered in blood

His thoughts flew back to three years ago, when he had just entered Qingcheng.

Qingzhou City is not large, nor is it as prosperous as the capital or the famous cities of Jiangnan, but every disciple of the Qingcheng Sect loves it here. This affection stems not only from the fact that it feels like their second home, but also from the following reason: in Qingzhou City, the disciples of the Qingcheng Sect enjoy the privilege of moving freely. This is because the Qingcheng Sect is the major landlord of the surrounding one thousand acres of fertile land. The pawnshops and escort agencies in the city are all properties of the Qingcheng Sect, as only they can provide adequate protection. Every year during festivals, the shops in the city must pay a holiday fee to the Qingcheng Sect as a reward for their assistance in maintaining public order. The disciples of the Qingcheng Sect enjoy the privilege of moving freely, as the Qingcheng Sect is the major landlord of the surrounding one thousand acres of fertile land. The pawnshops and escort agencies in the city are all properties of the Qingcheng Sect, as only they can provide adequate protection. Every year during festivals, the shops in the city must pay a holiday fee to the Qingcheng Sect as a reward for their assistance in maintaining public order.

It is truly going to be fatal! Wang Tianyi felt a chill run down his spine; at this critical moment between life and death, he forgot that he was a martial arts master, forgot that he was an elite among the disciples of the A Group of Qingcheng, and forgot that he was a proud hero of the martial world

He shouted, "Brother Cao, hurry up!"

Wang Tianyi struggled violently, wanting to both draw his sword and kick him away. With a "crack," the broken sword shattered further, and the scarred face fell to the ground, half of the sword still embedded in his shoulder

"How dare you negotiate with someone like me, the Young Hero? Do you think you are worthy?" The anger stems from the fact that the Young Hero's pride has been wounded

The original man with the wooden stump took advantage of Wang Tianyi's hesitation as he stood motionless, staring at the scar-faced man. He seized the wooden stick and launched a surprise attack, striking Wang Tianyi's right arm with a single blow.

Cursing is one thing, foolishness is another, and expertise belongs to the skilled; however, swords and blades are solid and unforgiving, and even if one does not die from a wound, they will still be injured

The scar-faced man charged again, rushing towards a terrified and bewildered disciple of Qingcheng who had been injured. Faced with a strong man who had no martial arts skills, the latter, despite being someone who had practiced martial arts since childhood, found himself in a somewhat flustered and panicked response, his face filled with fear

In pain to the point where he could barely hold his sword, Wang Tianyi, filled with both fear and surprise, turned and punched the wooden stump in the face.

The accomplice of the thief! Without a moment to look back, Wang Tianyi straightened his back and, with a single hand supporting the ground, executed a powerful backward kick that struck the assailant squarely in the chest, sending the enemy flying out.

Wang Tianyi is not very familiar with Qingzhou, but as a martial artist, he is much faster than that thief from m. hetushu. com. With years of training and his internal strength, he quickly cornered the petty thief who had mistakenly entered a dead end.

That is also true

Before he could even adjust to his tear-filled eyes, he suddenly felt a strong wind above his head, as the opponent had actually swung at him.

"Do not overestimate yourself!" Wang Tianyi shouted loudly, brandishing his sword and executing the Qingcheng Sword Technique. The two engaged in a fierce battle.

Dressed in a dark green warrior outfit from Qingcheng, he strode through the streets, deliberately raising his head high to feign ignorance of the awe and envy in the eyes of passersby. Wang Tianyi felt as though with each step he took, he was treading upon the soaring spine of a dragon.

However, the smile that emerged from the pride and self-satisfaction of the youth did not last, as the wind began to rise behind his head

"Little brat, don't push your luck." The scarred face suddenly narrowed his eyes.

This scar, combined with that unblinking stare fixed on his opponent, made him appear extremely menacing

Ah! Wang Tianyi let out a cry as a long knife had already cut a gash in his left shoulder

Three days of leave before the competition naturally called for a celebration for the elated Wang Tianyi

The thief looked at Wang Tianyi with suspicion, feeling a bit intimidated by the warrior attire and the long sword hanging at his waist. However, Wang Tianyi, who had an average build and appeared somewhat slender, did not exert much pressure on him.

How dare you do this! Is this a street brawl? Stumbling back, Wang Tianyi was both shocked and angry; wasn't this the way street thugs fought?

Shi Shi ran walked into the tavern, and the perceptive waiter promptly led him to the best window seat. The three young talents exchanged knowing smiles and ordered fine wines and dishes that could not be found on the mountain, indulging in a hearty feast.

The longsword is broken in the center

This kick was solid and genuine, a true display of skill. Although, under the opponent's fear, this kick was delivered without the intent to harm, even someone like the scar-faced man, who had not practiced martial arts rigorously, could not withstand it. He stumbled sideways for a few steps after being kicked, ultimately tripping himself and falling to the ground

As long as this punch lands, the opponent will either die or be left incapacitated

Wang Tianyi personally stood up to toast the two senior brothers. In a slight haze of intoxication, the two individuals across from him transformed from mere disciples of Qingcheng into the managers of a prominent trading company and the instructors of a powerful faction. As for himself, he might be the promising young escort of Qingcheng or perhaps a high-ranking official in the wood industry, for it is not the wine that intoxicates, but the people themselves.

When the two swords clashed for the second time with a hard impact.

Wang Tianyi struggled desperately, like a large fish writhing in the embrace of a wooden stump

Gripping the bare sword hilt, Wang Tianyi suddenly kicked away the enemy who was pinning down his legs and finally stood up

With a cry of anguish, the little thief threw down the dagger and fell to the ground, covering his eyes

Ha! Looking at the defiant bandit, Wang Tianyi couldn't help but let out a laugh. He almost shouted his thoughts: "I couldn't wish for anything more! How can I showcase my chivalry without a fight?"

Hehe, trying to compete with me? Now you know how formidable I am. Wang Tianyi tilted his head, and the mocking smile on his face filled his heart with ecstasy

Let me show you the prowess of the Young Master of Qingcheng! Wang Tianyi wore a cold smile at the corner of his mouth. With a surge of strength, he pushed aside his opponent's long knife with his sword. In the brief moment as both retreated simultaneously, Wang Tianyi had already identified the flaw.

Shall we go?

But he could not see the other person's features; all that was before him was a rapidly enlarging black sphere rushing towards him

Wang Tianyi, reluctantly cursing the opponent for their foolishness, had no choice but to abandon his sword techniques and instead used his sword to block the long knife for self-protection

Wang Tianyi, who had never seen such a gaze, felt an inexplicable sense of fear creeping into his heart. However, he immediately crushed this fear into pieces, declaring, "I am from the Qingcheng Sect, a future hero of the martial world, the chief escort of a major escort agency, and a formidable official of the court. How could I be afraid of such a bandit!"

"I uphold justice, while you commit crimes. How dare you turn against me?" Wang Tianyi was not only stunned but also frightened. Despite being a skilled fighter, he felt fear when faced with a vicious rat that, disregarding its own life, dared to attack a cat. The cat, too, was afraid, as it had never considered wagering its life for such a trivial matter.

He never expected that the other party would dare to take advantage of the proximity of their bodies, using his head as a ball to smash through the gaps between swords and blades, and crash headfirst into his own forehead

Feeling deeply insulted, Wang Tianyi let out a loud roar, gripping the sword hilt with both hands. He forcefully pushed the long knife away with his sword while simultaneously leaping backward, attempting to create distance to execute his sword techniques

Wang Tianyi, drenched in sweat, squinted his injured eyes and had no choice but to lean back to evade the attack. The scarred face rushed in close, drawing his knife for a slash. The third clash of blades met with a hard impact, and the two once again leaned against each other.

"Bold rogue! Robbing in broad daylight?" Wang Tianyi was furious. "Senior brother, wait for me a moment, I will be back soon!" Before the words had left his mouth, he seized his sword and leaped out of the window, chasing after the burly man.

If this escalates, both sides will undoubtedly suffer heavy losses

Thus, he and his two senior brothers, Luo Tian and Liu Yuan, went down to Qingzhou City to have some fun

It is once again a mutually destructive approach

However, the opponent did not give the swordsman a chance to create distance. After colliding with Wang Tianyi, he did not draw his sword but instead directly swung his left fist at Wang Tianyi.

It is a move from the Qingcheng Sword Technique: "Dividing Flowers and Brushing Willows." In this move, the horizontal slash to the left is a feint; when the opponent swings their blade to defend, the right arm naturally opens up. The long sword then transforms into a thrust, striking the enemy's right arm that holds the weapon.

Disciple, be careful; we are waiting for you

But the beautiful dream has not yet awakened, when a woman's piercing scream froze the outstretched arm offering a toast in mid-air: "Catch the thief, he stole my bag!"

But soon the two of them were entangled and fighting like wild beasts

Useless! Scar didn't even glance at the sword light. He gripped the knife with both hands, holding it defiantly upright, with the back of the blade pressed against his chest as he lunged towards Wang Tianyi.

At that moment, a sudden sharp pain shot through his right arm, and with a loud cry, Wang Tianyi's entire body arched up like a shrimp.

The scar-faced man leaves his head and shoulders completely unprotected, inviting you to strike! He only knows how to attack, attack, and attack again, until he turns his opponent into a pile of mush.

Just by hearing this sound, without even looking, Wang Tianyi knew that the first-rate sword he had painstakingly saved up to buy must have been chipped by the opponent's broken knife. He felt both heartbroken and furious. As he stepped over the intertwined swords and knives, Wang Tianyi glared fiercely at his enemy, thinking to himself: This fool who knows nothing about martial arts! I will definitely beat you half to death soon!

This disdain made Wang Tianyi grit his teeth, and he said: "You are just a little brat! You don't even deserve to lick the soles of our Qingcheng's feet!"

After hesitating for a moment, he threw the package to the ground, drew a short knife, and lunged forward.

At the critical moment of life and death, Wang Tianyi could no longer care about the demeanor and face of a master; he rolled like a stubborn donkey and desperately dodged to the side

"I give you my nose, and you just put it on your face! Do you know who this Brother Cao is?" Unexpectedly, he hit a snag. The wooden stump was stunned for a moment and then began to curse. He pointed at the scar-faced man with the knife, swallowed hard, and continued, "Brother Cao just returned from the army; he is from the suicide squad! He has killed more barbarians than you little brat have ever seen. From Qingcheng, think it through!"