Chapter 39: Joining Forces

“Aren’t these people your acquaintances? Aren’t they your companions? I’m just an outsider—what are you afraid of?”

“You’re such a sly, petty man, always suspicious and paranoid—you deserve to be looked down upon!” Zhao Junhong shouted as he unleashed a fierce slash with his blade.

Zhou Yi, however, kept a wary eye on Zhang Jinyi even as he defended against Zhao Junhong’s assault. He wasn’t concerned about Luo Yuxin—he wasn’t the type to attack from behind. Zhang Jinyi was different; with his playful attitude, he just might throw a couple of daggers for fun.

As for ‘companions’...

Ha! Which of your eyes sees us as comrades?

Under these circumstances, Zhou Yi gradually began to lose ground. Even he could sense something was amiss.

“What an idiot!” Zhang Jinyi sneered. “He’s so busy guarding against me, he’s about to lose.”

“No, something’s wrong!” Luo Yuxin’s brow furrowed, his eyes fixed on Zhao Junhong. “It’s not Zhou Yi watching out for you. It’s that Zhao has grown stronger.”

“Stronger?”

“Yes!” There was a hint of shock in Luo Yuxin’s gaze as he looked at Zhao Junhong. He’s gone mad! Each attack was decisive, completely abandoning defense, pouring his full strength into every strike. This reckless approach was hardly worthy of praise; out of ten who fought like this, nine and a half would die. Zhou Yi could easily take him down by risking a single wound.

But Zhao Junhong was different.

His attacks flowed with uncanny smoothness, as if innate. Each strike was more urgent, each blade sharper than the last. A terrifying momentum was building. At this tempo, Zhou Yi found no opportunity to counterattack. To fight back by risking injury would likely mean death.

This Zhao Junhong...

…

In the City Lord’s mansion, the city lord and others sat in silence. Such a remarkable one had slipped through the net!

“What is this…” one of the officers muttered uncertainly, “some kind of special constitution?”

The city lord replied gravely, “There are too many peculiar constitutions in this world. Not even the greatest sages could know them all, let alone us. Still, there’s definitely something unusual about this boy’s condition.”

“He’s… excited!”

“Clearly on the back foot, nearly cut down—yet he’s excited. This boy…”

Indeed, Zhao Junhong was exhilarated. As the fight raged on, he became aware of his pounding heartbeat—so loud, it echoed like the great bell of the Eastern Emperor. He could sense the coursing of his blood, like a waterfall hurtling through the sky. His breaths came in great gulps, exhaling crimson vapor. His veins bulged, his pupils gradually turned a deep red.

Bang! Bang! Bang, bang!

With every clash, Zhou Yi was forced back step by step. Cold sweat streamed down his face, disbelief filling his eyes. He was furious! Frantic! Terrified! Regret consumed him—fear too. The man he’d always dismissed had erupted with such power!

He wasn’t just suppressed—he was barely hanging on to his life.

Zhao Junhong wasn’t using any special techniques, just simple, powerful slashes. Yet every time Zhou Yi tried to unleash a martial skill, Zhao Junhong would precisely intercept him, breaking or dispersing the technique.

This was unnatural—utterly abnormal!

“Help—help me!” Zhou Yi twisted around, looking pleadingly at Luo Yuxin and Zhang Jinyi.

Both stood cold and unmoved.

“I’m also a noble from the Greenwood District,” Zhou Yi shrieked, his voice nearly cracking. “If I lose to an outsider, how will that look for you?” His terror was plain for all to see.

Still, they remained rooted to the spot.

“Zhang Jinyi, if you step in, I’ll never trouble Murong again!”

This gave Zhang Jinyi pause.

“You know as well as I do—our families want to see us together. If they go through with it, I’ll agree. I don’t know what Murong thinks, but she’s the only one opposed—her opinion alone won’t change anything. You help me now, and I’ll refuse the engagement myself!”

“Remember your words!” Zhang Jinyi retorted coldly, drawing two knives as thin as cicada wings and charging at Zhao Junhong from the side.

“Oh, so he whines a bit and you come for me?” Zhao Junhong shot Zhang Jinyi a frosty glare, raised his blade, and attacked, shouting, “You’re just another good-for-nothing!”

Zhang Jinyi’s expression grew even colder. “What did you say?”

“Angry, are you? I’m talking about you—useless!” Zhao Junhong’s strikes rained down as he taunted, “So it’s all about a woman, isn’t it?”

“You like a woman—are you an idiot? You don’t fight for her yourself, but expect another man to hand her over? Isn’t that disgusting?”

“You—” Zhang Jinyi’s eyes reddened with fury.

“What, you got something to say?” Zhao Junhong kept up his barrage of insults. “If you like a woman, use your strength to win her over! If she refuses, beat her down. If her family objects, beat them down too! Understand, you pig?”

“Just now, watching you pressure this bastard, I thought you had some skill. Turns out, you’re just another loser!”

These words left even the audience of the entrance exam at a loss for words. Principal Zhang fixed Principal Sun with a cold stare, mocking, “Your school truly is full of talent!”

Principal Sun sneered, “Oh? Was he wrong? I think it makes perfect sense. In this world, the strong rule. If you were just an ordinary man, who knows whose bed your wife would be in.”

“What did you say?” Principal Zhang erupted in rage.

Principal Sun shot back icily, “You’ve been provoking me from the start, and your students are the same—acting like the world owes them. But the moment they lose, they grovel. I suppose they learned it from you? Like father, like son.”

Principal Zhang’s veins bulged as his power spiked.

“Thinking of starting something?” Principal Sun scoffed. “I’ve long had enough of you.”

He’d been angry from the start, ever since Zhou Yi set his sights on Zhao Junhong, only to be outsmarted by him. And still, he wouldn’t let it go—why? Because Zhang Jinyi was too tough, but Zhao Junhong seemed easy prey!

Yet Sun’s fury only earned a single reply from Principal Zhang: “Students squabbling is nothing new. Don’t forget the true nature of this trial—it’s not for elders to intervene. Have some dignity!”

Heh. You accused me of lacking dignity, and now you talk like this?

“Enough!” The city lord barked, “One more word, and you’re both out of here.”

“Hmph!” Both men snorted coldly.

Old Li stood by, silently observing, muttering inwardly. If this display from Zhao Junhong shocked them, just wait until Fang Qingyun appears—he’ll truly leave their jaws on the floor.

But now, a scene even more astonishing unfolded. Faced with the combined assault of Zhou Yi and Zhang Jinyi, Zhao Junhong did not retreat in the slightest. On the contrary, he grew even more ferocious, his long blade whirling and sending out arcs of deadly light. He balanced speed with overwhelming power.

Zhang Jinyi, caught off guard, was sent flying by a single blow.

This sight made Luo Yuxin’s eyes light up, eager for a challenge. Born with natural strength, he relished contests of raw power. Zhao Junhong’s strange state only made the prospect more enticing.