C16 Provocation

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, three days had whisked by.

At that moment, the County Seat of Brittlecoast was adorned with festive red lanterns and a vibrant carpet. Servants clad in celebratory attire scurried about under the steward's direction, preparing the mansion for the grand event.

Yang Rui, donning celebratory attire, stood at the entrance of the County Seat's inner courtyard, his face beaming as he welcomed guests from Brittlecoast and the other eleven subsidiary cities.

The guests who had the honor of entering the inner courtyard were no ordinary individuals; each possessed either formidable martial prowess or an illustrious background, warranting a warm, personal reception from Yang Rui.

Wang Hai, the commander of the City Guards, stood by, ready to introduce these esteemed visitors to Yang Rui.

As Wang Peng, the Young Lord of Duskmond, and Wang Lei, the Head of the Thunder Dojo, approached the courtyard entrance, Wang Hai eagerly greeted them with a broad smile and introduced them to Yang Rui.

"Yang Rui, this is Wang Peng, the Young Lord of Duskmond. At just sixteen, he boasts the skills of a first-rate warrior—a true prodigy. You two should definitely get to know each other better in the future! And this is Wang Lei, the Head of Duskmond's Thunder Martial Dojo. With the cultivation of a peerless warrior and mastery of the thunder element, his strength is unmatched. He's among the top ten masters of Duskmond!" Wang Hai exclaimed.

"Wang, Head Wang, thank you both for coming to my engagement ceremony!" Yang Rui said, stepping forward with a gracious smile to express his gratitude.

"Yang Rui, I've heard that at just sixteen, you've achieved the status of a peerless warrior and even vanquished Zhao Kui, one of the top ten masters of the Blood Wolf Gang. Is this fact or fiction?" Wang Lei inquired, his tone laced with skepticism as he scrutinized Yang Rui.

Wang Lei, a peerless warrior himself, projected his voice so that his questioning words reverberated throughout the County Seat, leaving the guests in both the inner and outer courtyards in a state of astonishment.

None of the guests had anticipated that someone would dare to challenge Yang Rui's reputation during his own engagement celebration.

This was a direct affront to Yang Rui and Qin Ming, showing utter disregard for them both.

At the mere age of sixteen, Yang Rui had already slain Zhao Kui, one of Brittlecoast's top ten experts. This feat was not only Yang Rui's claim to fame but also the foundation of his marriage to Qin Xue.

Now, someone dared to cast doubt on Yang Rui's battle achievements, which was essentially a provocation, aiming to metaphorically slap Yang Rui in front of everyone.

"Of course it's true! Do you think such a thing could be falsified?" Yang Rui replied, his brow furrowed and his tone icy.

"How can you claim it's true? Let's have a spar then. If you can defeat me, it will confirm you possess the combat strength of a peerless warrior, and that your victory over Zhao Kui, the Blood Wolf Gang leader, is legitimate."

No sooner had Yang Rui finished speaking than Wang Lei responded loudly, his eyes full of challenge and an eagerness to test his skills.

"Wang Lei is clearly looking for trouble! Doesn't he fear the mayor's retribution?"

"While Wang Lei is stirring up issues, the mayor is not in a position to intervene today. It's uncertain how Yang Rui will respond."

"Wang Lei is among Duskmond's top ten experts and has mastered the thunder element. His combat strength is immense, dwarfing that of Zhao Kui. If Yang Rui were to spar with him, wouldn't he be biting off more than he can chew?"

"Still, rumors say that Yang Rui, at only sixteen and without any internal energy, is merely an advanced warrior, yet he boasts the strength of a peerless warrior. I've always been skeptical, but will Yang Rui accept Wang Lei's challenge to prove his combat prowess?"

"..."

Upon hearing Wang Lei's resounding voice, the guests within the County Seat's inner and outer courtyards began murmuring among themselves and swiftly made their way toward the entrance of the inner courtyard.

"Wang Lei, today is a day of great joy for the County Seat. Are you here to disrupt the celebrations and challenge our authority?"

As the murmurs grew louder and the guests converged in his direction, Wang Hai, the commander of the City Guards, seethed with anger. A glint of ferocity flashed in his eyes as the imposing aura of an Innate Martial Warrior bore down on Wang Lei, intent on delivering a stern lesson.

"Wang Xunkai, I assure you there's been no mischief nor any intention to provoke the County Seat! My concern lies solely with Yang Rui's battle record; I believe he's unworthy of the Mayor's daughter. I aim to unveil the truth about Yang Rui, to prevent the Mayor's daughter from a disastrous marriage to an undeserving man."

Confronted with Wang Hai's innate pressure, Wang Lei's face showed a hint of strain. He summoned the power of his thunder element to counteract Wang Hai's force while calling out loudly.

"Wang Xunkai, Head Wang Lei would never dare to challenge your County Seat. It's merely some doubts about Yang Rui's battle achievements that trouble me. To me, the solution is straightforward. If Yang Rui were to spar with Head Wang and demonstrate the prowess of a peerless warrior, wouldn't that settle the matter?"

Witnessing Wang Hai exert his innate pressure on Wang Lei, Duskmond's Young Lord, Wang Peng, stepped forward to shield Wang Lei, speaking with a friendly grin.

Wang Hai's brow quivered at Wang Peng's intervention, and after a brief pause, he withdrew his imposing aura.

Wang Peng, as the Young Lord of Duskmond and the sole son of Mayor Wang Qi, held a prestigious status. Even as an Innate Warrior, Wang Hai would not dare to make a move against him.

"If every Tom, Dick, or Harry questioned my battle achievements and challenged me to a spar, I'd be run ragged. That's why I don't entertain every challenge thrown my way.

However, if someone of Young Lord Wang's esteemed stature has doubts about my record, I'd be willing to spar with him to validate my combat strength. So, does Young Lord Wang question my achievements and wish to test them through a spar?"

Yang Rui, realizing that Wang Peng was behind the scheme, turned his attention to him and spoke with a smile brimming with confidence.

Wang Lei seethed with rage upon hearing Yang Rui's dismissive words, his eyes glinting with menace. He addressed Yang Rui with an icy tone, "Yang Rui, a man of Young Lord Wang's elevated position should not have to stoop to sparring with you! If you truly wish to prove your worth, then face me in combat. Otherwise, you're nothing but a fraud and a thief of honor!"

No sooner had Wang Lei's words ceased than Yang Rui's eyes gleamed with an icy glint. With a swift movement, he closed the distance to Wang Lei's side. Unleashing the Hurricane Fall, his enormous fist, imbued with a fearsome force, brutally struck Wang Lei's chest under his astonished gaze.

Crash!

A crisp impact resounded as the power of over twenty thousand kilograms burst forth, instantly fracturing Wang Lei's ribs and hurling him backward. He crashed through the inner courtyard wall and landed heavily on the ground, emitting a piercing scream while bright red blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

"Wang, that annoying fly has been swatted away by my hand. I wonder if you still question my combat prowess and would like to test your skills against me! Rest assured, I'll hold back enough to ensure I don't finish you off."

Having dealt Wang Lei an unexpected blow, Yang Rui's frosty gaze shifted to Wang Peng.

Since Wang Peng had sought to trouble him at his own engagement ceremony, showing him no respect, Yang Rui openly challenged him before the assembled crowd. He delivered a metaphorical slap to Wang Peng's face, signaling that he was not one to be underestimated. He also made it clear to the guests of the County Seat that he was no pushover, not someone who would submit without a fight.