Proofreader & Editor: Lotas
In the darkness of the night, the crackling bonfire set the stage for the liveliest moment of the feast, when a man from the Helian tribe stood up to provoke, seeking to suppress the arrogance of the Central Plains people under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
Despite the disciples of the Confucian School present trying their best to keep a low profile.
Even Li Ziye, who was usually the most likely to stir up trouble, had yet to make a move.
"Why bother?"
Beside Bai Wangyu, Wen Xiuru sighed softly and murmured in a low voice upon seeing this.
They hadn't caused any trouble, yet someone was actively provoking them, and by Bai Wangyu's side was someone who enjoyed the spectacle and never shied away from a good commotion.
"Brother Li, eat some more."
Seeing trouble brewing, Bai Wangyu quickly passed his own plate of mutton to the young man beside him, trying to divert his attention.
"Xiuru."
Bai Wangyu also gave his second junior brother a look, signaling him to help quickly.
"Brother Li, have a drink."
Wen Xiuru smiled, lifted his drink, and offered a toast.
"What are you two doing?"
Li Ziye glanced suspiciously at the two and asked.
"It's nothing, we've known each other for so long, and I've never had a drink with Brother Li."
Wen Xiuru replied with a smile.
"Alright, just one bowl, but it's too big, I can't drink more."
Li Ziye picked up the bowl and drank it clean in one gulp, then immediately turned his gaze back to the Helian tribesman who was looking for trouble.
"Brother Li, I'll toast to you too."
Seeing this, Bai Wangyu also hurriedly picked up his drink to draw the former's attention back and said.
"Why are you toasting me, we've drunk together so many times!" Li Ziye said reluctantly.
"I've always been under Brother Li's care, today, I take this opportunity to toast to Brother Li." Bai Wangyu racked his brains for a reason and said.
"Alright, just one bowl, I won't drink more."
Li Ziye warned and then picked up the bowl, drinking all the wine in one gulp.
While Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiuru were distracting Li Ziye, the disciples of the Confucian School heard the Helian man's provocation and, despite their anger, no one responded.
The eldest and second senior brothers had already told them to follow the rules at tonight's feast and not to be rude.
The disciples of the Confucian School remained silent; in the front, the three instructors Li Qingshan, Yao Guihai, and Chen Qiao'er all frowned. They couldn't intervene in such matters, or it would seem like they were bullying the weaker party.
"Great Sovereign···"
Law and Confucianism spoke up, his face showing difficulty.
"Law and Confucianism does not know, our prairie men are fond of martial arts, if someone proposes a martial contest, unless they concede voluntarily, it cannot be refused, even I, the Great Sovereign, cannot say anything." The Helian Great Sovereign explained with a smile.
"I see."
Law and Confucianism frowned, glanced around, and said to the disciples behind him, "One of you come out and have a match with this brave warrior of the Helian tribe, remember, stop at the first touch."
Among the disciples of the Confucian School, one stood up and respectfully said, "Yes!"
At the table, Bai Wangyu and Wen Xiuru both breathed a sigh of relief when they saw their junior brother step forward.
Chang Yu was not weak and had a stable temperament. With him stepping forward, the contest should not lead to any accidents.
"Old Bai, who is this?"
Li Ziye asked doubtfully, "Can he handle it? Otherwise, let me do it. I've been feeling a surge in strength lately; I could take on several at once."
"No need, Brother Li, for such a small matter there's no need for you to step in."
Bai Wangyu quickly said, "Disciple Chang Yu has also opened two Divine Hidden Techniques, his strength is not weak, he can handle it."
"Alright then."
Li Ziye reluctantly agreed, actually feeling that he would be more suitable.
In the middle of the banquet, as Chang Yu stepped forward and faced the Helian warrior, he politely bowed and said, "I am Chang Yu, I would like to learn a few moves from you."
"Is it just you?"
The Helian warrior looked at him disdainfully and said, "I've heard that your eldest and second senior brothers have some skills. It would be better for you to let them come out; otherwise, if you get hurt, I won't take responsibility."
"No need, the eldest and second senior brothers have been traveling hard these past few days, it's too tiring. This small matter of a contest can be handled by me, their junior brother." Chang Yu said with a smile, remaining polite and courteous.
"Ignorant!"
The Helian warrior snorted coldly, shouted loudly, and like a tiger out of its cage, charged straight at him.
Chang Yu saw this and crossed his sword, not drawing his blade, as a sign of courtesy.
With a loud bang, Chang Yu blocked the Helian warrior's attack with his sword, his righteous energy shaking, his stance as immovable as a mountain.
"Ha!"
The Helian warrior's face darkened, he shouted again, and with both arms, he tried to lift him up.
Chang Yu's expression remained calm, he stomped his foot, kicked the opponent's knee, and used the momentum to leap into the air, retreating ten meters away.
Disciples of the Confucian School were mostly skilled with the sword, but since it was just a contest and not good to harm the friendly atmosphere, they did not draw their swords, which was a disadvantage.
"Can you run?!"
Seeing the Confucian School disciple retreat, the Helian warrior immediately charged again, his body trained to be as strong as steel and iron, showing his domineering strength.
"Gentleman's Breeze!"
Facing a tough opponent, Chang Yu no longer held back, shouted softly, concentrated his true essence, wielded energy as a sword, and struck the opponent's chest.
A violent impact erupted, and the Helian warrior grunted, retreating several steps.
"Batou is going to lose."
Outside the battle, a tall Helian man spoke in a deep voice.
Around him, the watching Helian tribespeople were all shocked.
How could it be? Batou's strength was definitely among the best of the younger generation of the Helian tribe; how could he be defeated by an unknown disciple of the Confucian School?
Indeed.
As the Helian tribespeople watched in shock, Chang Yu's figure flashed out, instantly appearing in front of Batou, his unsheathed sword revealing a hint of Cold Light, stopping three inches from his throat.
Instantly, Batou tensed up, not daring to move.
"Thank you for the match."
Chang Yu sheathed his sword, bowed politely, and said.
"I haven't lost yet!"
Unwilling to lose face in front of everyone, a fierce light flashed in Batou's eyes, he reached out and grabbed Chang Yu's shoulder, shouted loudly, and threw him flying.
Chang Yu's expression changed, he twisted in mid-air, and landed staggeringly.
"Disgraceful!"
At this moment, the Helian man who had previously declared Batou would lose leaped into the fray, swept his leg, and kicked Chang Yu several meters away.
With a loud crash, ten meters away, Batou hit the ground, spitting out blood.
"Ao Qiong!"
"It's Ao Qiong, our Helian tribe's number one warrior."
After the man intervened, the surrounding Helian tribespeople all became excited, shouting and cheering.
"I am Ao Qiong, I apologize for the rudeness of our warrior just now; are you hurt?"
Ao Qiong looked at the Confucian School disciple in front of him, speaking politely.
"I'm fine."
Chang Yu suppressed the turmoil of blood within him and replied.
Ao Qiong nodded, turned to the Helian Great Sovereign with a respectful look, and said, "Great Sovereign, shall I exchange a few moves with our friends from the Central Plains to liven things up?"
"Good!"
The Helian Great Sovereign laughed and replied, "Be careful not to injure my guests."
"Yes!"
Ao Qiong's mouth curved slightly as he replied.
"We're done for."
At the table, Li Ziye glanced at the Helian tribe's number one warrior and muttered softly, "Another smiling fox."
After speaking, Li Ziye turned to Little Red Riding Hood beside him and reminded, "Old Bai, it's better to call your junior brother back; this guy is not easy to deal with."
Bai Wangyu frowned slightly and said, "Disciple Chang Yu should be able to handle it."
"Not heeding the old man's words, you'll suffer right in front of you."
After Li Ziye's reminder, he said no more. It wasn't that he could see how formidable this number one warrior of the Helian tribe was, but he could tell that this guy wasn't as upright and honest as he appeared. Such people often resorted to any means to achieve their goals, and the disciples of the Confucian School were too naive, easily taken advantage of.
"My brother."
In the middle of the banquet, Ao Qiong looked at the Confucian School disciple in front of him and calmly said, "Shall we have a few exchanges? But since you've already spent a lot of energy with Batou, for fairness, I'll only use one hand."
As he spoke, Ao Qiong put his left hand behind his back to show his grace.
At his words, the Helian tribespeople immediately cheered loudly, proud of the spirit of their warrior.
Seeing this, the Helian Great Sovereign also showed a satisfied smile.
Ao Qiong was definitely one of the strongest among the younger generation, and he also had intentions towards Lan Ruo. The Great Sovereign was happy to see Ao Qiong establish his reputation among the Helian tribe.
Amid the cheering of the Helian tribespeople, Chang Yu's expression became serious, and he politely bowed, "Please!"
This man is not easy to deal with!
"Please!"
Ao Qiong returned the gesture, then his eyes flashed with sharpness, and his figure burst forth.
Faster than Batou had been before.
"Gentleman's Breeze."
Chang Yu's expression changed slightly, he gathered his energy, formed a sword with his qi, and struck at the incoming figure.
However!
As their bodies neared, Ao Qiong suddenly twisted, avoiding the incoming energy, and then punched out with full force, the power of his fist shattering the air.
Boom!
The terrifying punch came, Chang Yu blocked with his sword, but his arms went numb, and his body flew back more than ten meters, blood at the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you for the match!"
With one punch defeating his opponent, Ao Qiong did not strike again, his gaze on the Confucian School disciple in front of him, smiling.
Chang Yu suppressed his injuries, his complexion changed, but he did not argue, and bowed, "I have lost."
"Good!"
"Indeed worthy of being the strongest warrior of our Helian tribe!"
"Well done!"
The Helian tribespeople at the banquet saw this satisfying outcome and shouted excitedly.
At the front of the banquet, Li Ziye gritted his teeth in anger, almost unable to hold back from rushing forward.
It was infuriating; they were bullying the Confucian School disciples for being simple-natured. This was no fair contest; the Confucian School disciples showed courtesy by not drawing their swords, while he went all out to injure people.
"I'll go up and fight!"
Li Ziye stood up, wanting to go up and deal with this despicable hypocrite.
"Brother Li."
Beside him, Bai Wangyu held him back and stood up, calmly saying, "I'll do it!"
At this moment, a rare true anger flashed in Bai Wangyu's eyes.