Chapter 57: Trouble

"Puchi!" Amidst the crisp sound, his Adam's apple shattered like a crushed date. Tian Yaozong's eyeballs bulged, and blood vessels instantly flooded his eyes.

A desperate, wheezing sound escaped from the ruptured windpipe, mixed with viscous bloody froth, splattering onto the slightly protruding veins on Chen Qing's hand.

Chen Qing's gaze was icy as he released his grip and stepped back.

He knew that Tian Yaozong had completely lost his combat effectiveness; his life hung by a thread.

This moment of sudden reversal, where life and death flipped in a flash, was so fast that it left the brains of most onlookers blank.

Tian Yaozong's three consecutive killing moves had surged like overlapping waves of a raging tide, demonstrating the ruthless and fierce mastery of the Wind-Breaking Hand to perfection, truly worthy of his reputation as a master of Great Success in Hidden Force.

However, Chen Qing had proven even more ruthless and seasoned. Amidst that killing intent, he had precisely captured that fleeting sliver of an opening to strike down his enemy in a single blow.

"I... I..."

With his windpipe heavily damaged, Tian Yaozong's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz, leaving only a whistling, airy rasp.

"Quick, call a doctor!" Wu Manqing's willow-leaf brows furrowed tightly as she shouted sharply.

Two Wu family guards rushed forward in a panic, clumsily lifting the limp Tian Yaozong.

Tian Yaozong's unfocused gaze struggled to turn toward Wu Manqing. His throat rolled as he exerted every effort to squeeze out a few words: "Three-year-old... son... five-year-old... daughter... take... care..."

"I understand."

Wu Manqing took a deep breath, suppressing her churning emotions, and said urgently, "Get him to the clinic immediately! At any cost!"

The Wu family guards carried the blood-soaked Tian Yaozong and disappeared hurriedly into the crowd.

Chen Qing shook his head inwardly; the chances of Tian Yaozong surviving were slim.

In the duel just now, neither side had held back. His final 'White Ape Severing the Throat' was a genuine killing move; the Hidden Force had completely destroyed the vitality of the man's throat bones.

Even if he were lucky enough to survive, he would be no different from a cripple.

But Wu Manqing had to devote all her efforts to his treatment. Tian Yaozong was an expert she had hired at great expense; if she showed even a hint of indifference now, the Wu family's reputation and credibility would vanish instantly.

Only at this moment did the frozen air around the stage seem to flow again, and the crowd erupted into a long-suppressed uproar!

Tian Yaozong had lost to Chen Qing!

The Cheng family members felt as if they were in a dream, but soon, ecstasy surged over them like a tide.

This unbelievable scene was actually real!

"Won... we won?!"

Cheng Huan's eyes were wide, his voice trembling with excitement as if he were still trying to confirm this illusory fact.

Cheng Ming was even more visibly overjoyed, slapping his thigh hard. "We really won! A-Qing! Well done!"

He had originally only held a sliver of hope for Chen Qing and had never even considered a desperate turnaround.

In stark contrast to the Cheng family's jubilation, the faces of the Wu family members were ashen, looking as if they were attending a funeral.

Tian Yaozong's crushing defeat meant that their meticulously planned scheme had completely collapsed; the loss could be described as bone-deep.

Even though the Wu family's influence had expanded in recent years, they had taken a heavy blow today.

Losing a duel in front of everyone meant that even if the Wu family was unwilling, there was no way to backtrack.

In doing business in Gaolin County, bumps and frictions were inevitable. To avoid bloodshed, "dueling" to decide winners and losers had become an ironclad rule.

It was rare to find a top-tier expert below the level of Transformation Force like Tian Yaozong who was willing to duel.

His fall was a piercing pain for the Wu family.

The surrounding shopkeepers and wealthy residents looked toward the direction where Tian Yaozong was being carried away, all sighing in lament.

When they looked back at the calm young man on the stage, Chen Qing, an unmistakable trace of fear and dread had quietly appeared in their eyes.

This young man looked youthful, yet his methods were so ruthless and sharp.

Although Tian Yaozong had not yet reached the level of Transformation Force, he was a somewhat famous expert.

And yet, he had fallen to Chen Qing today.

"The duel—the Cheng family wins!"

A high-pitched declaration rang out like metal striking stone, echoing throughout the entire pier.

"A-Qing!"

Cheng Ming rushed onto the collapsed stage and hurriedly supported the slightly swaying Chen Qing. "How are your injuries?"

"I'm alright."

Chen Qing's voice was somewhat low.

Fortunately, he had practiced the Fishing Toad Strength; otherwise, he truly wouldn't have been able to withstand Tian Yaozong's punch.

However, Chen Qing naturally wouldn't expose this, so he simply pretended to look physically exhausted and depleted.

"This is no place to linger. Let's go."

Cheng Ming said heavily, supporting Chen Qing to lead him off the stage.

"Stop! Don't you dare leave!"

A crisp yet angry shout suddenly rang out, aimed directly at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing looked toward the sound. The voice came from the Wu family camp, but the speaker was not Wu Manqing, but a young girl in plain white clothing standing behind her.

The girl had an ordinary appearance, but her eyes flashed with sharp intelligence, and she was currently staring fixedly at Chen Qing.

"Hmm!?"

Chen Qing's gaze sharpened.

The girl took a step forward and questioned sternly, "It was merely a duel to determine superiority, yet your moves were so malicious! Every strike was lethal, and in the end, you even used a death blow! Now you want to just brush it off and walk away? There is no such easy way in this world!"

Chen Qing sneered inwardly.

Martial arts were, by nature, techniques for killing. In a proper duel, there was no need to sign a life-and-death contract, because everyone fought with full strength, and casualties were common occurrences.

After all, in the thin line between life and death, anyone who dared to hold back was merely seeking their own demise!

It was common to see people killed or maimed on martial arts stages. Hadn't Gao Sheng of the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall intended to kill Qin Lie on stage? He had only missed by a hair's breadth.

Risking one's life on this stage, leaving life and death to fate, was nothing out of the ordinary.

Chen Qing's expression remained calm, but his voice carried a hint of coldness: "The rules of dueling state that life and death are not considered. What? Is the Wu family unable to bear defeat and looking for an excuse for revenge?"

"Xiao Lian! Do not be insolent! Come back!"

Wu Manqing's face darkened as she gave a low command, then turned to Chen Qing and cupped her hands in a salute. "Brother Chen, please forgive her. Xiao Lian is not a member of our Wu family; she is young and impetuous, speaking without thinking. Our Wu family wins with honor and can afford to lose with grace! I admire your skill today, Brother Chen. The mountains and rivers are long; we shall meet again!"

With that, Wu Manqing said no more, leading the various-faced Wu family members away in a hurry.

Only after the Wu family's figures had disappeared from sight did Cheng Ming lower his voice, speaking with a hint of lingering fear, "That girl just now was named Zhu Lian'er, a disciple of the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall! Her jumping out just now was definitely not simply to protest for Tian Yaozong. I think she wanted to take advantage of you being injured and your breath being unsettled to provoke a fight and make a name for herself by stepping on you!"

The Songfeng Martial Arts Hall!?

Hearing this, Chen Qing's brow furrowed slightly.

The head of the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall had a deep grudge with Zhou Liang. Qin Lie had been crippled by Gao Sheng of the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall.

Once he learned that Zhu Lian'er was a disciple of the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall, everything became clear.

Wu Manqing seemed like a smart person; she certainly wouldn't suddenly launch an attack just because Chen Qing had killed Tian Yaozong in a duel, as that would only embarrass both herself and the Wu family.

Chen Qing had passed the martial imperial examinations and had defeated Tian Yaozong, which meant he had gained some level of fame.

Coupled with the grudge between the Songfeng Martial Arts Hall and Academy Zhou, if he were to be defeated by a disciple like Zhu Lian'er in a few moves, he would undoubtedly become a stepping stone for the latter.

Especially since he was currently injured and in a weakened state.

A cold sneer rose in Chen Qing's heart.

Did she really think she could scavenge a win while he was injured!?

If Zhu Lian'er truly had such designs... it wouldn't matter.

He, Chen Qing, was not one to show mercy to a delicate lady.

(End of Chapter)