Chapter 98: Chase Out
Tan Wang walked over and tapped against his temple. “He Xiaoxing? I think I’ve heard about you. Aren’t you a lecturer in Martial Valor University?”
He Xiaoxing grunted. “I’m still considered one as long as the university hasn’t removed me from its records.”
“Let’s consider you one, then. Why are you here? Don’t you know that this isn’t a place for lecturers to enter?” Tan Wang said. “The manor at the center of the lake isn’t considered part of Yangzhi City, but of Central City. The owner can chase away or use extreme measures to attack all those who trespass into it.” Tan Wang slowly rolled his arms, wrists, and neck.
As he spoke, he stopped about eight meters away from He Xiaoxing. Even though Tan Wang was tall, he seemed slender when compared to the large man before him. It was like a python going up against a lion.
“Those things mean nothing to me. I’m just here to see how strong the lecturer from Central City is,” He Xiaoxing answered casually.
“If that’s what you want, I’ll gladly satisfy your wish.” Tan Wang exercised his fingers, making them let out cracking pops. Then, he raised a leg with an air of nonchalance before shifting his center of gravity forward. When his foot landed, he moved eight meters forward, pressed his fingers together, and thrust his fingertips straight toward He Xiaoxing’s heart.
His fingertips should have torn through He Xiaoxing’s chest, but he was met with a powerful resistance. The muscles he touched only sank a bit. Tan Wang was unable to push his hand any further in.
He Xiaoxing seemed disappointed. “Is that all you have?”
Tan Wang let out a strange cackle, and veins popped up on his arm. Then, as if they were alive, they shot out from under his skin and turned into whips that moved like snakes.
They spread across He Xiaoxing’s chest and bound him tightly. Then, like snakes, they raised their tips, and He Xiaoxing saw sharp teeth aimed at all his vital points. One of them was even close to his face. Its tip was already pressed against his neck.
“Oh? The Secret Python Cult? I remember that your cult took the path of training until your bodies mutated into a monstrous form. You’re not using implants as a replacement?” He Xiaoxing asked. He remained still, and his voice was calm, as if he was not the one bound.
Tan Wang narrowed his eyes. He did not answer. The veins tightened, and the sharp teeth closed onto He Xiaoxing’s body like snakes biting their prey.
Yet it was as if they ran into an invisible wall and could not advance forward. Green tattoos resembling a human face appeared on He Xiaoxing’s chest and started spreading through his entire body.
“The Arcane Phase Force...” Tan Wang blurted out in shock.
He Xiaoxing raised a fist, and the veins binding him snapped one by one. Tiny particles of dust around him started floating as he breathed. When he brought his arm up to its highest point, he swung it down.
***
Qiao Linhu was teaching his disciple how to perform stances in his house next to the lake. He was pleased with his disciple. The youth was talented and serious about his training. He also carried out all of Qiao Linhu’s instructions meticulously. Every single movement he made was systematic, and he did not stray from the standard in the slightest. Even though he was not as lively as someone his age should be, Qiao Linhu thought that this was perfect.
Within the year, he should be able to master the secret refined force passed down through generations. Then, he would teach his disciple, and his school’s refined force would continue to be passed down.
Just then, a loud tremor came from the center of the lake. Surprised, he asked his disciple to continue practicing while he walked out through the corridor to the lakeside.
All the lecturers who lived in the houses beside the lake and were at home walked out to look toward the center of the lake. They could see dust coming out from there. Once it settled, a large hole had appeared in the wall of the white training hall.
Tan Wang was leaning against the tree directly in front of the hole. Dried leaves were scattered all around him. Then, a well-built man walked out of the hole.
Qiao Linhu was taken aback when he saw him, and his eyebrows rose in surprise. “He Xiaoxing? When did he come back?”
He Xiaoxing flung off the veins binding his arm and walked over in front of Tan Wang to look down at him. “Let me tell you something. I hate people who stuff things into their bodies.”
Tan Wang wiped off the blood at the corner of his mouth as he stared at him. “You’re... from the purity faction?”
He Xiaoxing did not answer his question. He walked past Tan Wang, went straight into the lake, and just let the water submerge him.
Soon, he emerged on the opposite side of the lake. As he walked out, water droplets rolled off of him. In no time, there was no trace of water on him. He ignored the other lecturers’ gazes and took the path out.
***
After Chen Chuan returned to the dormitory, he called Cheng Zitong to tell him about Tan Wang, but no one answered. His mentor was most likely not in his office.
Chen Chuan did not think much about it. Even though Tan Wang had told him to think about it, there was not much for Chen Chuan to consider. He was not going to make that choice.
As for the consequences?
Chen Chuan was not scared. While it was true that Tan Wang came from Central City, he did not represent Central City itself. Once the university learned about this, Chen Chuan was sure that they would help him fend off Tan Wang.
If the university was incapable of it, Chen Chuan had the weapons permit, so he could go wherever he wanted in the vast world.
Of course, things were far from the situation where Chen Chuan would have to run away, since the cost for putting pressure on the university was just too high. Unless someone had a huge grudge, they would not do something so troublesome and unrewarding. Also, if Tan Wang really had the ability to do that, he would be enjoying life in Central City instead of coming to teach students.
Once Chen Chuan returned to his room, he continued his daily training, and time passed by slowly. After dinner, he started practicing his breathing technique.
He could maintain it nonstop for almost three hours. As he continued training, the length of time kept increasing.
Based on this speed and without taking running into bottlenecks into account, he would need around two years to reach the stage where he could maintain his breathing technique nonstop for twenty-four hours.
Of course, that was just for the basic breathing technique. In time, he would practice more advanced breathing techniques. Once he added them into his training regimen, he might be able to maintain his breathing technique for even longer. The two breathing techniques could complement each other’s growth and shorten the time he needed to reach twenty-four hours of continuous usage. The possibility of that happening was quite high.
A knock on the door interrupted his training. Based on the rhythm and the strength behind the knocks, Chen Chuan could tell that it was Cheng Zitong. He checked his watch and found that it was a little past 8 p.m. Cheng Zitong seldom came to find him at this hour. It was probably related to what had happened during the day.
He stopped practicing and went over to open the door. Just as he expected, Cheng Zitong was standing behind it. Chen Chuan greeted him and let him in.
The moment Cheng Zitong sat down on the sofa, he said, “I learned about Tan Wang looking for you during the day. Don’t worry, though. Someone has already solved that problem for you.”
Chen Chuan mulled over his words before asking, “Are you saying that this person isn’t part of the university staff?”
“He’s still in the records, but he had been gone for two years,” Cheng Zitong replied.
Two years? A theory formed in Chen Chuan’s mind.
Cheng Zitong took a deep breath, exhaled, and said, “The university actually wanted him to be your mentor, but he didn’t come back even after repeated calling, so I was brought in as his stand-in.
“You know, the entire time I’ve been your mentor, I thought I wasn’t good enough. I was afraid of not being able to give you proper guidance, but lucky for me, you’re a good mentee, and there was nothing for me to worry about.”
“But I think that I’m the lucky one to have gotten you as my mentor,” Chen Chuan said as he looked straight into Cheng Zitong’s eyes.
Cheng Zitong laughed at that. “I’m happy to hear you say that. But being my mentee doesn’t mean that you can’t learn things from the other lecturers. I’m not that close-minded.
“I came here tonight to talk to you about this. I’d like you to meet Mr. He, because he’s leaving tomorrow and might never come back.”
“Is it because of this?” Chen Chuan asked.
Cheng Zitong nodded. “Do you know how he solved the problem for you? He beat up Tan Wang in front of the senior lecturers. Tan Wang was incredibly humiliated and too embarrassed to continue staying there. That left him with only two choices. First, move into the villa of the recommended student he’s mentoring, or second, head back to Central City. When I was coming to your room, I received word that he was on his way back.”
He shook his head. “This means that Lao He can’t stay here, not after what he did. In any case, he hasn’t been back in the university for two years, so it’s not a huge problem, but he’d like to meet you before he leaves.”
“Since Mr. He is forced to leave because he helped me, it’s only right that I meet him and thank him,” Chen Chuan said.
Cheng Zitong stood up. “Okay, follow me.”
“Alright,” Chen Chuan said and went after him.
The pair walked out of Chen Chuan’s room and left the dormitory. They got into Cheng Zitong’s car and drove eastward.
Around ten minutes later, they arrived at South Hill, where the Hall of Judgment was, and Cheng Zitong drove up the winding path.
Chen Chuan saw a built man standing at the edge of the hill with his back turned toward them. He had his face turned to the starry sky above him. As the cool night breeze blew at him, it made his shoulder-length hair dance.
Cheng Zitong got out of the car with Chen Chuan and walked over to the man.