White Ape Martial Arts Hall, Inner Courtyard tearoom.

Inside the dim room, the air seemed to have frozen.

A large, crimson challenge letter with gilt lettering lay silently on the rosewood table. Its glaring red was especially jarring in the dim tearoom.

"Ding Mianyue of Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall challenges White Ape!"

The calligraphy was sharp, exuding an aggressive, overbearing aura.

Qin Fangqiong sat in the Grandmaster’s Chair, his expression dark. Beside him, a plate piled high with chicken feet sat completely untouched.

Before him, Lin Wanzhu and Xu Feng stood with their hands at their sides, their expressions grave.

"Master, this Ding Mianyue is a menace."

Xu Feng’s voice was low. "She’s challenged her way through seven or eight martial arts halls in the last few days, and she’s crippled every opponent in a single move..."

Qin Fangqiong heaved a long sigh, a flicker of exhaustion in his cloudy eyes. "Su Yu and Chen Fan are geniuses, but they haven’t been training for long. Su Yu just broke through to the Second Acupoint. Even with his saber intent, his chances of winning against Ding Mianyue—who is at Qi and Blood Perfection and has mastered a Superior Slaughter Skill—are less than ten percent."

"Master, then what you’re saying is..." Lin Wanzhu bit her lip, asking worriedly.

"We forfeit."

Qin Fangqiong closed his eyes, finally uttering those two words.

"Forfeit?" A flash of anger crossed Xu Feng’s eyes. "Master, a martial artist can die fighting but never retreat! If we forfeit, the White Ape Martial Arts Hall’s reputation will be utterly ruined!"

"A ruined reputation is better than a crippled disciple!"

Qin Fangqiong’s eyes snapped open, his gaze piercing. "Su Yu and Chen Fan are the future of this hall. I will not let them throw away their own futures for the sake of our reputation!"

A dead silence fell over the room.

Lin Wanzhu and Xu Feng exchanged a look, each seeing the sorrow in the other’s eyes. Their master had been fierce and domineering his entire life; now, he was forced to bow his head to protect his disciples. The bitterness of this moment was a private pain, not meant for outsiders to understand.

Perhaps it was their eldest brother’s death that had changed him.

...

「Several days later, in Black Stone City.」

News that the White Ape Martial Arts Hall had refused the challenge spread through the city like wildfire.

A tide of public opinion surged, filled with mockery and contempt.

"So this is the famous White Ape Martial Arts Hall? Someone challenges them at their own doorstep and they don’t even dare to fart. What a disgrace!"

"I bet that Su Yu is all show and no go. All that hype about him, and the moment a true prodigy from Liangzhou shows up, he just cowers in his shell like a turtle."

"A martial artist must be brave and full of spirit! Better to die on your feet than live on your knees! The White Ape Martial Arts Hall is an absolute disgrace!"

"With cowards like that, I say the White Ape Martial Arts Hall should just close its doors and stop taking disciples!"

White Ape Martial Arts Hall, front courtyard Martial Arts Arena.

Xu Feng was instructing a few apprentices when a group of timid new students approached him.

"Senior Brother Xu..." The boy in the lead didn’t dare to meet his eyes as he stammered, "We... we just joined a few days ago and haven’t started training yet... We’d like a refund on our tuition."

Xu Feng’s movements faltered for a moment before he composed himself. His voice was calm. "Are you sure?"

"Yes..."

The boy looked embarrassed, his voice barely a whisper. "The Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall said they’d only charge seventy percent of the tuition for any disciples who transfer from White Ape... And now, whenever we go out, people from the other halls look down on us..."

’Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall!’

’They killed our Eldest Brother, and now they’re kicking us while we’re down!’

A pang of pain shot through Xu Feng, and a flicker of rage appeared in his eyes, but it ultimately dissolved into a long sigh.

"It’s fine. Go to the rear courtyard and find Senior Sister Qin for your refund."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xu!" Their faces lit up, and they started toward the rear courtyard.

"Wait!" Xu Feng suddenly stopped them. "I’ll handle it for you."

"Alright, Senior Brother." Although they were confused, they obediently agreed.

...

Rear courtyard, the tearoom.

CRACK!

With a loud noise, Qin Yu slammed her palm down, shattering the golden rattan tea table in front of her. Her pretty face was a mask of fury, and she was trembling with rage.

"Those damn bastards! Do they think the White Ape Martial Arts Hall is a place they can just come and go as they please?! I’ll go cripple every last one of them!"

"Get back here!"

Qin Fangqiong rebuked his daughter, his expression calm. "The great waves wash away the sand. If they want to leave, then let them leave!"

"Dad! Then what’s going to happen to the White Ape Martial Arts Hall? Without new apprentices, the hall can’t stay in business!" Qin Yu’s chest heaved with anger as she raised her hand to strike a nearby chair.

Qin Fangqiong quickly grabbed her shoulder. "Don’t you go destroying my tearoom. As long as I’m here, this hall will not fall."

"The Yuan Lantern Festival is in a few days. We can’t beat an expert like Ding Mianyue, so we’ll have Su Yu and Chen Fan challenge the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall. That should at least help us win back some of our reputation."

"As for all this troubling business, don’t tell Su Yu and the others yet. Let them prepare for the festival in peace."

...

「On the eve of the Yuan Lantern Festival, at the Su Mansion.」

On the Martial Arts Arena, Su Yu relaxed his stance and stood up straight, taking the hot towel Yang Zhen handed him to wipe the sweat from his brow.

"Brother Su, the Yuan Lantern Festival is tomorrow. Someone from the hall came to ask you to head over," Yang Zhen said in a soft, gentle voice, like an obedient young wife.

Su Yu nodded and summoned his status panel.

[Martial Arts]: White Ape Fist (Layer 1) (Major Achievement 8000/12000)

[Martial Arts]: Spiritual Ape Demon-Slaying Saber (Layer 1) (Major Achievement 700/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Black Stone Body Forging Skill (Layer 1) (Minor Achievement 4000/10000)

[Martial Arts]: Seven Fiends Thunder Collapse Step (Minor Achievement 1600/3000)

[Breakthrough Points]: 2 (Progress: 10%)

During this time, he had shut out the world, focusing solely on his training and studying Yang Zhen’s Wood Spirit Body with her.

With the help of the Wood Spirit Qi, his Martial Arts had progressed much faster than he’d anticipated.

’I’m close. In less than half a month after the Yuan Lantern Festival, I’ll reach Perfection in White Ape Fist. Then I’ll be an expert at the Flesh Refining Realm!’

’But I’m out of meat from the Black Rock Iron-Backed Crocodile, so accumulating Breakthrough Points is going to slow down.’

...

White Ape Martial Arts Hall, the tearoom.

Su Yu and Chen Fan stood attentively. Lin Wanzhu, Qin Yu, Xu Feng, and Jiang Liuchuan were all present as well.

Qin Fangqiong wore a relaxed smile, his tone light. "Tomorrow is the Yuan Lantern Festival. The various powers will all take to the stage to spar."

He paused, his gaze falling upon Su Yu and Chen Fan. "If you face a challenge from the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall or the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, forfeit immediately! No matter how nasty their insults are, you are forbidden to fight back!"

"But if you’re up against the Bone-breaking Martial Arts Hall, I want you to beat them mercilessly! Show them the might of White Ape!"

"Understood, Master!"

Chen Fan immediately cupped his fist in agreement, inwardly delighted.

’Su Yu was the one who offended the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall, so why should I stick my neck out? Besides, I heard that not only has Sun Yan completely recovered, but his Martial Arts have improved. Should I go up there just to get beaten to death by him?’

’As for Ding Mianyue of the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall, he wouldn’t dare face her. She was an expert from Liangzhou Prefecture, and no one had yet managed to withstand a single one of her moves.’

Su Yu, however, remained silent.

He slowly raised his head, his calm gaze meeting Qin Fangqiong’s directly. "Master, I believe that is unwise. This Yuan Lantern Festival is about our hall’s reputation. If we continue to avoid every challenge, the spine of the White Ape Martial Arts Hall will truly be broken."

Su Yu’s voice was not loud, but every word was firm and resolute:

"Whether it’s Sun Yan of the Iron Armor Martial Arts Hall or Ding Mianyue of the Flying Fish Martial Arts Hall, leave them to me."

At his words, everyone’s brows furrowed.

"Nonsense!"

Qin Yu immediately grew anxious. "Junior Su, are you insane? Sun Yan and Ding Mianyue are both incredibly powerful and utterly ruthless. How could you possibly be a match for them?"

Jiang Liuchuan snapped his folding fan shut, his face full of anxiety. "Old Su, where there’s life, there’s hope! That mad dog Sun Yan has already declared he’s going to cripple you in the ring. If you go up there now, you’ll be walking right into his trap!"

Xu Feng took a step forward and clapped Su Yu on the shoulder. "Junior Brother, don’t act rashly."

Lin Wanzhu’s beautiful eyes filled with worry. "Junior Brother, we all know how talented you are. You’re certain to reach the Flesh Refining Realm in the future. But now... now isn’t the time. Just bear with it for a little while, and this storm will pass!"

Chen Fan, meanwhile, sneered inwardly. ’Idiot!’

’He must be crazy for the spotlight. Since you want to go get yourself killed, be my guest. It’ll be perfect. Once you’re crippled, you won’t be competing with me for resources anymore!’

Faced with their pleas, worries, and even their doubts, Su Yu’s expression remained unchanged. He simply said, "I’ve broken through to the Third Acupoint."