C20 The Challenge Is Coming
As Xu Ming sized up the group, they were also taking his measure. Sensing his strength as a Martial Artist Grade One, they showed a hint of surprise.
"This young man appears to be no more than sixteen or seventeen, yet he's already achieved the status of Martial Artist Grade One!"
Jiang Yutong observed Xu Ming, his brow furrowing at Lee Zhen's remark. "I am Jiang Yuyan's brother, Jiang Yutong. Did you deceive my sister out of her jade pendant?"
"Deceive?" Xu Ming glanced at Jiang Yuyan and her companions. It was clear that Jiang Yutong had been there for a while and should have known that Xu Ming had saved his sister. The accusation about the jade pendant took him aback—did they really think he had tricked them?
His face turned icy, and a cold smile played at the corner of his mouth. "It was a fair transaction. How can you call it deceit? If she wasn't willing, how could I possibly deceive her? Are you implying that your sister is foolish?"
"You—" Jiang Yutong's eyes hardened, and he spoke with a harsh tone, "Isn't this the same as robbery? Do you realize the value of the jade pendant you tricked my sister into giving up?"
"I'm unaware of its worth. All I know is that the deal was made in good faith, with no deception involved," Xu Ming replied coolly, unfazed by the pendant's potential value of thousands or even tens of thousands of gold coins. It was an exchange made willingly.
Jiang Yutong let out a disdainful snort. "That jade pendant is a masterpiece by the Martial God Continent's foremost sculptor, Old Master Soong Zhe. It's invaluable. Without the relationship between our Old Patriarch and Old Master Soong, you wouldn't be able to purchase it even for a hundred thousand gold coins! Do you really think you're entitled to such a treasure?"
"And furthermore," Jiang Yutong's voice grew chillier, "that jade pendant is tied to my sister's freedom—you must give it back to her!"
"Give it back to your sister?" Xu Ming rolled his eyes, casually taking a seat on a wooden stump. "If your sister can regurgitate what she's consumed, then perhaps I'll consider it."
Xu Ming cast a cold glance at the silent Jiang Yuyan and surveyed the covetous onlookers with an air of fearlessness.
Even Jiang Yutong had to admire his bravery. Putting himself in Xu Ming's shoes, Jiang Yutong doubted he could remain so composed in the face of such a crowd—at least, he would feel some fear.
However, Xu Ming's words provoked annoyance and disgust. "How shameless," he said. "Who decided that the meat of a mere Comfortable Beast is worth hundreds of thousands of gold coins?"
"I make the rules on my turf. As I've said before, the jade pendant was part of a fair deal—willingly made by both parties. It's like visiting a brothel; you can't decide after the fact that you weren't satisfied and demand your money back."
Xu Ming retorted while lounging casually on a wooden stump, causing a visible shift in the crowd's demeanor.
"Shameless!"
"Despicable!"
"Disgraceful!"
Some women blushed, muttering curses under their breath, "This man is utterly vulgar, speaking without any filter."
Jiang Yuyan and Jiang Yutong looked even more displeased. Such a comparison was a direct insult to them.
The young Martial Artist Grade Five's gaze turned icy as he glared at Xu Ming, his anger barely contained.
"This man is nothing but a boor. You have no idea—if it weren't for my discreet use of the Jiang family's tracking powder, we wouldn't have found him. At our most vulnerable, he exploited the situation to extort two hundred gold coins."
Azhu, who had always disliked Xu Ming, seized the moment to twist the truth.
Xu Ming's eyes narrowed, a flare of anger rising within him. So that's how they had managed to track him to his home—they had used the chaos to plant a tracker on him.
The peril Jiang Yuyan and the others faced was no mere happenstance. In Xu Ming's mind, it seemed more like an elaborate trap.
"Exactly. Where were Jiang Yutong and the rest when Jiang Yuyan and her companions were in danger? And now that Jiang Yuyan has shown up here, Jiang Yutong and his group have promptly followed."
The more he thought about it, the angrier Xu Ming became. His gaze toward Jiang Yuyan and her companions carried a glint of murderous intent.
"So, you have no intention of returning the jade pendant?" Jiang Yutong's voice was icy as he towered over Xu Ming, his patience wearing thin.
The jade pendant was crucial to Jiang Yuyan—it was imperative that she retrieve it.
"Leave. The jade pendant is rightfully mine as compensation, and I won't hand it over to you."
"Very well," Jiang Yutong replied, not with anger but with a smirk. "Considering you saved my younger sister, I propose a battle between us. If you win, we'll leave and never bother you for the jade pendant again. But if you lose, you will return it to my sister without fuss."
"Do you think I'll just agree to a fight because you demand it?" Xu Ming stood up defiantly. "Don't bother; the jade pendant is mine and I have no intention of parting with it."
"That's not up to you," Jiang Yutong retorted, launching himself at Lee Zhen with a fist ready to strike. "Let's see if the youth who killed a Rank One Jade Cloud Snake with a single punch is truly as formidable as they say."
"This is typical of Aristocratic Family Disciples!"
Xu Ming's anger flared as Jiang Yutong advanced. He didn't consider himself presumptuous in keeping the jade pendant—it was part of a deal, not a game.
These Aristocratic Family Disciples acted as if they were entitled to do as they pleased, like demanding a refund after fully using a product. If the merchant refused, would they simply take it by force? Such behavior was nothing short of thievery!
And Jiang Yuyan, along with her group, showed no gratitude for being saved from the Jade Cloud Snake, remaining silent instead of acknowledging the debt they owed.
In his past life, Xu Ming was a Martial Dao Grandmaster, a genuine Dark Strength powerhouse. He achieved this status at thirty and became the preeminent figure in the martial arts world, not through luck but through relentless effort and the sacrifices of blood and sweat. Before gaining renown, he had fought in arenas, underground boxing rings, and challenged countless esteemed masters from various sects and martial arts schools, amassing vast combat experience.
Xu Ming was steadfast and unyielding by nature. At this moment, whether Jiang Yutong attempted persuasion or intimidation, Xu Ming's resolve remained unshaken. It had been the same in his past life, and it was no different now.
"If you seek battle, then battle we shall have!"
Xu Ming watched Jiang Yutong's fist draw nearer, his eyes reflecting nothing but calm.
In stark contrast to Xu Ming's composure, nearly everyone in the courtyard was eagerly anticipating the spectacle.
Even though Jiang Yutong was merely the illegitimate son of the Jiang family patriarch, with mediocre talent and strength overshadowed by the family's legitimate heirs, he was a seasoned Mercenary from the Distance Calming City Mercenary Union, known for his formidable combat skills. No one present believed Jiang Yutong could be defeated.
Even a young Martial Artist Grade Five spectator doubted Xu Ming's chances: "I wonder which family this lad belongs to. He appears to be just sixteen or seventeen, yet he has attained Martial Artist Grade One. Nonetheless, against Mr. Jiang, he stands little chance of victory. He'll likely be defeated within ten rounds at most."
"Martial Artist Grade One!"
Those below Martial Dao Grade Nine were taken aback by the revelation. They hadn't anticipated this youth to be a Martial Artist.
"What's there to fear? Our Young Master is no pushover. Even Young Master Ling, at Martial Artist Grade Five, would at best manage a draw with the Ninth Young Master," Azhu exclaimed with excitement. "Once Ninth Young Master steps in, that fellow is bound to lose!"
However, Jiang Yuyan's eyes betrayed a flicker of reluctance. "The jade pendant means too much to me—I'm sorry."
"Rest assured, Miss Yuyan, Mr. Jiang is sure to win," the eldest son of the Ling family declared with confidence, his gaze fixed on Jiang Yuyan's exquisite features, a glimmer of possessiveness in his eyes. "Even if Mr. Jiang were to lose, I would reclaim the jade pendant for you."
The decision to venture into the Vast Sea Forest had been Jiang Yutong's initiative. As his close friend, Ling Yun, the heir of the Ling family, understood that Jiang Yutong sought his backing, ensuring support for the future when the Jiang family might no longer be a reliable ally.
Ling Yun was captivated by Jiang Yuyan's beauty and naturally wouldn't refuse her.
However, a few days prior, they had inadvertently trespassed into the territory of a Rank One Peak Spirit Beast. The Spirit Beast attacked, and in their panic, they were separated. To Ling Yun, this was a source of shame, a loss of face before a beautiful woman.
Ling Yun was aware that their separation, though due to the urgency of the situation, likely left a poor impression on Jiang Yuyan. Now was his chance to make a statement and change her perception of him.
"There's no need for Young Master Ling to trouble himself," Jiang Yuyan said with a hint of firmness. She was well aware of her brother's intentions and that Ling Yun was smitten with her looks. However, Jiang Yuyan felt indifferent towards Ling Yun's infatuation, even though he was the sole heir to the Ling family's patriarch. In her eyes, Ling Yun was no different from the other aristocratic family disciples in Distance Calming City, unlike Xu Ming, who seemed indifferent to her beauty. They seemed eager to dominate her, which she found repulsive.
Jiang Yuyan, feeling a mix of emotions, watched the imminent clash without giving Ling Yun a single glance. She whispered, "Since my brother has already made a wager, we can't back out now."
"I do hope Jiang Yutong loses to this young man."
Ling Yun's gaze chilled as he watched Xu Ming, who was on the verge of being struck by Jiang Yutong, and murmured to himself, "When the time comes, I doubt Jiang Yutong will care about any bet."
As everyone harbored their own thoughts following the brief exchange, Jiang Yutong had already covered the ten-meter gap and was now before Lee Zhen.
"Jiang Yutong is proving to be quite the challenge—flawless in his form," Xu Ming noted silently. With his extensive combat experience from his past life, he had a keen eye for weaknesses. He stood his ground, searching for any vulnerability in Jiang Yutong's defense. However, Xu Ming had significantly underestimated Jiang Yutong's abilities. Even as Jiang Yutong approached, Xu Ming couldn't spot any openings, and any that might have existed were deftly concealed by Jiang Yutong.
"Kid, you look like you've seen a ghost," Jiang Yutong taunted with a smirk, his eyes reflecting an easy confidence. He stood poised, certain of his victory, as he observed Xu Ming, who appeared to be frozen in fear. "I'm going to teach you the vast gap that lies between Martial Artist Grade Three and Martial Artist Grade One!"
Jiang Yutong's fist inched ever closer to the still Xu Ming, who hadn't budged an inch.