Nightmare Despair

Chapter 107 Testing
The Red Star Martial Arts faction and the official authorities are intertwined, colluding and exchanging information.

However, due to their control over resources, the authorities often have the final say when it comes to crucial moments.

In order to secure more resource allocations, the various small martial arts schools and sects under the Broken Wings Sect secretly kept a close eye on official developments every day.

Once the authorities let slip a hint, they swarmed in like hungry wolves smelling blood.

Just like Xishan City today.

A nightmare-like invasion of Xishan City occurred without warning; at the same time, several mirage events continued to spread, with new signs appearing every day, yet they remained unresolved. With manpower stretched thin, the Xishan City authorities were forced to make an exception and seek external assistance.

This is the first time in nearly five years.

Upon hearing the news, the White Bird Boxing School from the neighboring city of Mingjiang (formerly Xijiang City) and the Crane Stork Martial Arts School from Dachang immediately led their respective teams to Xishan City, flocking there in droves.

This trouble is neither too big nor too small, and the difficulty is just right. Whoever arrives first and resolves it quickly will gain more influence.

The Dachang Crane and Stork Martial Arts School, which arrived in great fanfare, was even more confident that it could bring Xishan City into its new sphere of influence before the forces from Dakang and the other four southern cities could make a move.

Shen Hui stepped on a Falcon Wing disciple, his gaze sweeping freely over everyone present, his smile particularly blatant and joyful.

Normally, with his older brother and master watching over him at his own Crane Stork Martial Arts School, Shen Hui would never have the chance to play so freely.
Shen Hui's mockery was undisguised as he scoffed, "Waiting for Chen Ping to come? Do you really think everything will be fine once he arrives?"

"A group of districts, a community trained by the district king."

Shen Hui continued to ridicule with a smile, and as soon as he finished speaking, the faces of the people in the Falcon Wing Boxing Gym became even more unpleasant.

"Two years ago, Wu De brought Chen Ping to challenge our Crane Stork's gym. My brother was really strong back then, but he was no match for Chen Ping."

"And look at things now? My brother has been at the Qi Refining stage for half a year, and even I am at the peak of True Strength... But what about Chen Ping? Ha, he's still standing still!"

“My brother doesn’t even need to lift a finger; I can avenge that day.”

"If you know what's good for you, you should quickly hang up our Crane & Stork sign and turn it into a branch."

Shen Hui didn't actually have any new grudges against Falcon Wing, but old grievances were hard to let go. His actions were mostly an attempt to vent his resentment.

The fellow disciples from the Crane and Stork Martial Arts School who came with them all knew what was going on, so naturally no one spoke up to dissuade them.

Harmony brings wealth?

In the realm of martial arts, there is no such thing.

Let alone the three major sects, even the dozen or so branches under each sect are nothing more than fierce beasts fighting for food.

If you eat one more piece, there will be one less piece in my bowl.

Cultivation is crucial to one's own future; who cares about camaraderie among fellow disciples...

Let's talk about this kind of thing when a real catastrophe threatens everyone.

"Have you laughed enough?"

Just as Shen Hui was laughing unrestrainedly, a cold voice rang out from the crowd.

Shen Hui was slightly taken aback, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He hadn't expected that even after he had taken down more than a dozen people, someone would still dare to step forward and become the first to stick their neck out.

The name Chen Ping flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.

The sound difference is too great, no.

Shen Hui's gaze pierced the crowd, and the dozen or so Falcon Wing students seemed to be pricked by a needle, scattering to both sides to reveal Zhou Kai standing behind them.

Zhou Kai?

Is he going to step forward?

The disciples of Falcon Wing immediately looked embarrassed, and their breathing became rapid.

They never expected that, after such humiliation, the one who would finally stand up for Falcon Wing would be Zhou Kai.

That newcomer they usually considered a relative.

A wave of shame washed over everyone, but people are all capable of some degree of self-consolation.

"So it was him... How stupid! He's only been here a few days and he dares to go toe-to-toe with a true martial arts master?"

"Alright, stop making fun of him. At least he still has the heart, so it wasn't for nothing that Senior Brother Chen gave him extra help back then."

"I wouldn't step in that position... Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"

The whispers and murmurs around him reached Zhou Kai's ears, but he remained unmoved, his expression calm and composed.

Since joining the gym, Zhou Kai has been met with hostility. He had long since figured it out: there were only a handful of people in this gym worth getting to know well. Chen Ping, Little Ma, and maybe Du Feng at most.

Oh, now even Little Ma isn't considered one anymore; he's "changed sides."

As for the others, just ignore them.

……

Zhou Kai met Shen Hui's gaze and slowly walked onto the arena.

Shen Hui's originally arrogant demeanor, like an ordinary wave encountering a tsunami, retreated step by step as Zhou Kai approached, until it disappeared completely.

Especially when Zhou Kai walked to within half a meter of Shen Hui.

He was a full half a head taller than Shen Hui, and looking down at him, his figure and aura enveloped Shen Hui's face.

Shen Hui's expression completely changed.

His pupils contracted, and he instantly made a judgment: this person is not simple.

"Oh? Who are you?"

Shen Hui kicked the Falcon Wing disciple to the side, crossed his arms, and squinted at him, saying, "It seems like there's no one like you in the Falcon Wing Boxing Gym... Brother, judging from the looks of it, they don't seem to like you much either."

"Given the situation, you're still sticking up for them? Why don't you just join our Crane Stork group?"

Nowadays, very few people at the Falcon Wing Boxing Gym have even mastered the Falcon Strike Technique. Apart from Zhou Kai, the strongest person here is still far from reaching the True Strength realm.

After all, the Falcon Wing Boxing Gym was severely weakened after that incident. Among the new disciples recruited afterward, the one who had been training for the longest time had only been practicing for a little over three years.

This group of weaklings, who couldn't even see the threshold of true strength, naturally couldn't see the strangeness hidden in Zhou Kai.

But Shen Hui himself had been immersed in the True Strength stage for more than half a year, and he could see the difference clearly.

He could tell at a glance.

This guy... at least he's really good!

Zhou Kai looked down at him, casually stretched his shoulders, and a smile appeared on his lips: "Didn't you want to take revenge on Chen Ping?"

"If he's not here, then look for me."

Shen Hui looked him up and down suspiciously: "You? His senior brother? Junior brother?"

Zhou Kai looked him straight in the eye: "Neither."

"I have only paid homage to the founder, and have not yet formally joined the Broken Wing Sect."

"If I had to say, I'd say I'm Chen Ping's apprentice."

Zhou Kai's words were not self-deprecation, but a statement of fact. Although his strength was likely greater than Chen Ping's, according to the rules of the martial arts world, he could at best be considered a martial arts school apprentice.

Although he is still nominally Chen Ping's junior brother for the time being.

They're no different from the boxing gym students who're huddled up like quails right now.

"Ha ha ha ha……"

As soon as Zhou Kai finished speaking, the disciples of the Crane and Stork Martial Arts School brought by Shen Hui burst into laughter.

"Haha! Chen Ping himself is a piece of trash who has been stuck in the True Strength stage for many years. Does he even deserve to take on disciples? He's just a laughing stock."

An older disciple of the Crane and Stork Martial Arts School waved his hand and shouted, "Junior Brother Shen, beat him into submission! From today onwards, this place will be a branch of our Crane and Stork Martial Arts School!"

Someone nearby whispered, "Wouldn't it be bad to really tear off the mask? Their master is just out... he's not dead."

Shen Huiyuan, standing on the arena, said, "Things at the Qi Refining level will be handled by those at that level. We at the True Strength level should just do what we're supposed to do and not worry about anything else."

As soon as he finished speaking, Shen Hui lowered his body and assumed a fighting stance, his pupils slightly contracting.

Shen Hui looked at Zhou Kai and said coldly, "I have a lot of things to do and don't have time to waste with you."

"Chen Ping was afraid of battle and never dared to show himself..."

"Since you're willing to help Chen Ping, then come on, let me see what kind of person you are as Chen Ping's disciple."

　Fifth update.

　
(End of this chapter)