Silence filled the venue. Everyone watched as Jun Qiangwu walked off the stage and back to his seats. Along the way, the other disciples unconsciously parted as he made his way through. Unknown to them, their eyes displayed their newly developed fear. The ones that mocked and ridiculed the new disciple in his face couldn’t help but regret their actions. Those that didn’t care or kept their thoughts in their hearts thanked their lucky stars.
Once Jun Qiangwu sat down, the disciples looked back at the arena where an elder carried the defeated disciple away. Even if that disciple deserved it, to injure him to that extent…
Regardless of the disciples’ thoughts, the tournament continued. Soon, the next match began, but the atmosphere was more subdued than before.
“Senior Brother,” Xingyi said as she reached a hand out toward Jun Qiangwu, but Hou Yawen stopped her.
Xingyi looked at Hou Yawen, who only shook her head. Jun Qiangwu had returned to his previous position, leaning back with his eyes closed as if ignorant of the world around him.
“What happened? I don’t think Senior Brother is someone so cruel,” Xingyi said. She had seen Jun Qiangwu’s ruthlessness. It was impossible not to. After all, the two had hunted monsters together for five months. During the time, Jun Qiangwu had always used precise strikes to dispatch the monsters. He never needlessly prolonged the battle or tortured the monsters.
“Who knows,” Hou Yawen said. Although she said that, her gaze shifted toward Mu Long and Qian Jiafeng. Jun Qiangwu only closed his eyes and ignored the world after the two appeared. Was there a correlation?
The tournament continued as scheduled. Soon, the second round ended and the third round began. Neither Xingyi nor Hou Yawen could defeat their opponents. Xingyi met another opponent in the Fourth Stage, but he was just a step away from the Fifth Stage. Her defeat hadn’t been easy, but she still lost. Hou Yawen met another disciple at the third stage, but this time, her talent couldn’t overcome the experience and power difference between her and her foe. Thus, the two’s journey came to an end.
Jun Qiangwu paid no heed. All he wanted to hear were two names. More and more matches passed and finally, his desire came true.
“Next! Wuqiang and Qian Jiafeng, come to the stage!”
His eyes snapped open. He could feel Qian Jiafeng glance at him, but he did not return the action. If he did, he would charge at her regardless of the consequences to quench the flames of vengeance that burned within. However, he couldn’t act on his emotions.
If he killed a fellow disciple without rhyme or reason, then the Xi Immortal Dynasty would lock him up. If he was unlucky, then he would lose his life. More importantly, it would prevent him from completing the Nine Heaven Revenge System’s main mission.
The Xi Immortal Dynasty was a holy ground for cultivation, but for Jun Qiangwu, it only provided a haven for him to grow. The Xi Immortal Dynasty taught the Five Element Method, but compared to the Nine-Five Scripture, it was far inferior. It had numerous techniques and pills, but it couldn’t compare to the prizes won from the gacha wheel. In all honesty, if it weren’t for the system, he wouldn’t have joined the Xi Immortal Dynasty.
That’s not to say he didn’t enjoy his time. He did. Xingyi reminded him of his sister, who died in her sleep when the world changed. And he found a kindred spirit in Hou Yawen. She, too, understood loss and vengeance. If things continue as they had, Jun Qiangwu felt that the flames burning inside him would be extinguished, but seeing Qian Jiafeng again reminded him of his purpose.
He was an avenger, someone with no family or friends left. His sole purpose was to kill the ones who betrayed him. Only then will he put down the sword of vengeance and settle down. Even then, he must make the Jun Family invincible and beyond betrayal. No one will be able to destroy them again, not the Qian Dynasty, the Mu Dynasty, not even the Xi Immortal Dynasty. Even those almighty sects from the immortal realm aren’t allowed to.
His road was destined to be lonely. So it was better to distance himself from Hou Yawen and Xingyi, lest they hinder his resolve.
Once he stood upon the stage, Jun Qiangwu closed his eyes. This was the critical moment. He couldn’t mess it up.
Standing across from him, Qian Jiafeng stared at her opponent. He exuded a calm aura, as if he hadn’t brutally maimed his opponent. She couldn’t connect the plain face to such a brutal act. Even so, Qian Jiafeng felt something dangerous from him.
In all honesty, Qian Jiafeng felt the best course of action would be to forfeit, but she couldn’t do that. The image she forged in front of Mu Long was an externally strong woman who had been hurt by betrayal, causing her heart to become fragile. Even so, she was someone who could bravely face death itself.
She could admit defeat, but she couldn’t do it before even fighting. Her image would collapse, and she would become imperfect and different from the woman Mu Long expected, and not in a good way.
“Start!”
The referee said. Qian Jiafeng immediately raised her spear defensively in front of herself. To her surprise, her opponent stood there without taking action. Perhaps he only acted so brutally because his opponent pissed him off? Although it was heavy-headed, such an explanation was acceptable.
“Are you not coming?” Qian Jiafeng asked.
Jun Qiangwu still said nothing. Qian Jiafeng’s grip tightened. “In that case, I’ll attack first.”
She charged forward with her spear aimed at his chest. To her surprise, her opponent actually dodged. Not because she didn’t think he could, but because he had kept his eyes closed. Although it wasn’t a perfect dodge, since her spear had sliced through his robes and cut open his skin, causing a small amount of blood to flow down.
“What are you doing?” Qian Jiafeng brandished her spear again. “Do you think you can defeat me with your eyes closed? Stop looking down at me!”
Jun Qiangwu didn’t answer. He just crossed his arms. Unseen by Qian Jiafeng, his knuckles whitened from the amount of strength he used to grip his arms. ‘Endure, endure a little longer. Receive a few more injuries to make it more believable.’
Qian Jiafeng continued to attack, and Jun Qiangwu continued to close his eyes, stymying the audience. He dodged most of Qian Jiafeng’s strikes, but they weren’t perfect. His clothes became tattered and whatever attack he unleashed, Qian Jiafeng would block it with her spear or dodge it.
The princess of the Qian Dynasty couldn’t understand. Just what was Jun Qiangwu playing at? If she hadn’t seen his matches, she would have thought that Jun Qiangwu really couldn’t gain an upper hand against her. Now, it just seemed like he was playing around.
A sense of unease filled her heart. Qian Jiafeng’s eyes sharpened. She suddenly swung the spear at a low angle. Jun Qiangwu couldn’t react in time and he fell onto his back. This was her chance! Qian Jiafeng raised her spear up and swung down with all her strength.
Jun Qiangwu opened his eyes. Hate spewed from those pupils, and she could see bottomless hatred behind those eyes.
Qian Jiafeng’s body shivered. The strength she used to swing increased. If before, her attack would have incapacitated Jun Qiangwu, breaking a bone or two. Now it would take his life or maim him permanently.
“Grahhh!” Qian Jiafeng screamed. Why? Why is it me that’s screaming in pain? Her mind blurred. On instinct, she looked down to see Jun Qiangwu lunging at her.
The shadow of death slowly surrounded the princess. Qian Jiafeng knew this was the juncture of life and death for her. Adrenaline flowed through her veins, and a burst of energy whose source was unknown to her filled her body. With a roar, she stomped the ground and flew backward.
Jun Qiangwu’s expression didn’t change, only the intensity of his eyes did. He closed the gap that had appeared between them in an instant.
Fear overwhelmed Qian Jiafeng as she saw Jun Qiangwu’s fist inching toward her. The moment the fist landed, she knew she was dead. Time slowed. She saw each individual strand on Jun Qiangwu’s head flowing slowly, the wrinkles on robes changing, and the stray clothes still attached ruffling.
Just as Jun Qiangwu’s fist touched the first layer of her dress, a silver arc flashed in front of her. The next thing she knew, something had burst inside her chest and she spat out a mouthful of blood. Then, she felt something gentle catching her.
Qian Jiafeng looked up to see Mu Long staring at her with worry. She opened her mouth, but the only thing that came out of your mouth was blood.
“Don’t worry, Jia’er,” Mu Long said. His left hand held Qian Jiafeng while his right held a sword. “You’ll definitely be saved.”
Mu Long didn’t know if Qian Jiafeng understood him or not, but she closed her eyes and fell unconscious. He stood up and rushed off the stage, seeking medical aid. At least, until someone stopped him.
“Stop, what are you doing interrupting the match?” Jun Qiangwu asked, his voice full of seething wrath. His eyes never left Qian Jiafeng. He even ignored the bleeding stump that once linked his hand to his arm.
“What did you say?” Mu Long asked, his voice deathly low. He turned around and stared into Jun Qiangwu’s eyes. Spewing hatred met tranquil fury. “Instead of asking this, should you not be punished for attempting to kill your opponent?”
“Kill? She attempted to kill me first. Unless you’re so blind as to whether her last blow was fatal or not? If you are, your title as number one disciple is a joke,” Jun Qiangwu snapped back. He clenched his remaining fist as his muscles became taut.
Mu Long looked away. “I’ll settle the score with you later.”
He ignored Jun Qiangwu and rushed off the stage. However, he heard a bang, and a sense of danger erupted behind him. Tranquil fury turned to boiling wrath. “Since you insist, don’t blame me for taking your worthless life!”
Mu Long turned around, sword flashing. The tip pierced toward Jun Qiangwu’s head, while a flower-like pattern appeared in Jun Qiangwu’s icy blue eyes. Just before the two collided, a shadow appeared between them. When the two recognized the shadow, it had already halted their attacks.
““Elder?!””
“Enough,” the elder said. “Mu Long, lay Disciple Qian on the ground. I’ll heal her.”
He turned toward Jun Qiangwu. “You, too. Stop your actions, or do you think I can’t sense your killing intent? If you continue your actions, don’t blame me for sending you to the Punishment Department.”
Jun Qiangwu snorted and lowered his fist, and the flower-like pattern in his eyes disappeared as well. He walked toward where his dismembered hand was and picked up. Turning his back, he walked away.
“Wait, where are you going?” the elder asked. “You need to have your hand healed.”
“No need,” Jun Qiangwu said, walking off. A layer of ice had coated his stump, preventing it from bleeding.
The elder shrugged. Since Jun Qiangwu didn’t want his help, it saved him the trouble. He focused on Qian Jiafeng and placed his palms on her chest. A light shrouded his hands and flowed into her body.
He couldn’t help but shake his head. Her lungs had ruptured, ribs had fractures, and parts of her heart had torn. Had he not been a core formation master specialized in healing, then she would have died within ten minutes. Only after entering the Core Formation Realm would a cultivator have the ability to survive such injuries. Though, it would be serious all the same.
“Thank you so much, elder,” Mu Long said after the elder stood. He scooped Qian Jiafeng in his arms, bridal style.
The elder snorted. “Interfere with one more match, not only will you be disqualified, but you’re going to rank last among all the disciples, too.”
He turned toward Jun Qiangwu, who had reattached his hand and swallowed a pill. His hand already returned to peak condition. “That goes to you, too. One more time showing killing intent, and I’ll lock you in the prison, regardless of Elder Hui!”
Neither Jun Qiangwu nor Mu Long took it to heart. Instead, the two stared at each other. Each had the same thought, ‘KILL!’
