Chapter 193: Victims Always Come in Pairs
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation
A gentle breeze stirred the surface of the blue lake, rippling its mirror-like surface. The nearby bamboo forest swayed with a soothing rustle, while golden vine trees glimmered in the sunlight. Clusters of flowers and plants filled the air with a delicate fragrance.
Qin Ming and Wu Yao Zu had each moved into separate houses, both equipped with spacious courtyards. Compared to the gloomy forest cabins they had left behind, this new setting, with its sparkling fire springs and panoramic views, was a refreshing change, lifting their spirits.
Yao Zu remarked, “Brother, looks like Xin You Dao lost. Do you think it’s because he still hasn’t recovered from that last battle? I feel a little guilty about it.”
Meanwhile, in the Mountain and River Academy, spectators roared and cheered as two prodigies clashed. Even those not present at the scene could hear the thundering excitement that swept through the crowd like waves crashing on a shore.
Regardless of any lingering concerns, the two were enjoying their new accommodations, their moods brightened by the picturesque surroundings.
“Cheng Rui,” called Xin You Dao, addressing the young woman in yellow as she stormed away. “Wait! Let me explain.”
“Don’t bother!” Cheng Rui retorted. “I don’t believe for a second this is just a coincidence. He must have brought in some high-level divine seed to suppress his power and ambush you before the final match.”
Cheng Rui refused to accept the notion that two formidable new students could emerge in one year. Such an occurrence was beyond belief. Across all the elite academies in Kun Lun City, apart from figures like Ling Yu or individuals with the Pure Yang Physique, no one else among the freshmen could rival Xin You Dao.
Her strides quickened as she approached her former residence. From a distance, she spotted the two intruders. One of them was using her old fishing rod to leisurely fish for five-colored dragon carp in the lake. The sight made her chest tighten with frustration.
“There they are!” she snapped. “Don’t even try to tell me you don’t recognize them.”
Ling Yu, clad in black, with shoulder-length hair and piercing eyes, radiated an aura of restrained strength and confidence. Having just defeated Xin You Dao, one of the strongest freshmen, he seemed to have undergone a transformation, his entire being brimming with newfound vitality and power.
“Is that the one Master Wu values so highly?” Ling Yu thought to himself, his pupils narrowing as he scrutinized the figure by the lake.
In an instant, Ling Yu moved like a shadow across the golden vine trees, appearing silently in front of Qin Ming, who continued fishing unbothered.
Carrying a grill on his shoulder, Yao Zu emerged from the courtyard just in time to see this unfold. “We just moved in,” he remarked dryly. “Are people already challenging us to take the house back?”
“What were you thinking?” Ling Yu demanded, fixing his gaze on Qin Ming.
“None of your business,” Qin Ming replied with a glance.
Ling Yu hesitated briefly, then declared, “I want to challenge you!”
He had decided to act decisively, hoping to dispel Xin You Dao and Cheng Rui’s doubts. More importantly, he was personally eager to test Qin Ming, given Master Wu’s high regard for him.
His approach was direct and without pretense—he wasn’t one for elaborate explanations.
Qin Ming was taken aback. “So straightforward?”
Ling Yu believed in simplicity and, with his reputation as one who constantly sought challenges, felt no need for further justification.
“No thanks,” Qin Ming said flatly. He had no interest in pointless sparring.
“It won’t take long. Right here, right now,” Ling Yu insisted, his black hair flowing in the night breeze, his deep eyes gleaming with unshakable determination.
“Right here? Are you out of your mind, or am I?” Qin Ming shot back. “One fight already left us nearly broke. If I fight again, Yao Zu and I will have to sell ourselves to the academy just to survive.”
Nearby, Qian Chuan, a senior student on duty, groaned in frustration. “Another fight? Really?”
As he got a closer look, his frustration turned into alarm. “Wait… is that Ling Yu?”
Realizing who he was dealing with, Qian Chuan sighed in exasperation. Initially dismissing Qin Ming and Yao Zu as nobodies, he was stunned to see them repeatedly attracting trouble with such high-profile figures.
“This fight is inevitable,” Ling Yu declared, advancing with an aura of quiet menace. His black clothes billowed, and his entire form seemed to resonate with a radiant celestial energy. Above his head, a faint spiritual cascade shimmered, a testament to his extraordinary cultivation.
With each step, the ground trembled faintly. His aura grew sharper and more imposing, like a blade being honed to perfection. Ling Yu’s body glowed faintly, synchronizing with his intense spiritual energy, creating a harmonious yet overwhelming presence.
Suddenly, a grill hurtled through the air, aimed directly at Ling Yu, but it disintegrated into sparks upon contact with his protective celestial glow.
Ling Yu turned sharply, surprised to find someone daring to intervene. Yao Zu stood nearby, the earth beneath his feet cracked from his abrupt arrival. A mystical brass pestle gleamed in his hands, emitting a radiant light.
Yao Zu felt partly responsible for Xin You Dao’s earlier defeat and saw this as an opportunity to make amends. Without hesitation, he stepped forward to engage Ling Yu.
The clash was instantaneous and cataclysmic. The ground buckled under the impact, and the surrounding vegetation was flattened by the shockwave.
“You’re trying to bankrupt us!” Yao Zu exclaimed in frustration. His divine rainbow light formed a golden bridge, surging toward Ling Yu, aiming to neutralize his destructive power.
Ling Yu, momentarily startled, marveled at Yao Zu’s strength. “How can this short-haired boy be so powerful?”
It was almost absurd. He prided himself on knowing the standout individuals among the freshmen, yet here were two figures who completely defied his expectations.
Yao Zu, as the sole survivor of the Fourth Forbidden Land, was naturally formidable. His golden bridge seemed to tug at Ling Yu’s consciousness, attempting to wrest it from him altogether.
Ling Yu’s ambition of testing his swordsmanship across the world was backed by his terrifying foundation and exceptional strength. Now, his body erupted in radiant light, resembling a phoenix bathed in flames, spreading its wings to tear apart all obstacles and illuminate the surrounding land.
In the distance, exclamations rose as spectators seemed to witness a blazing sun ascending into the night sky.
Then, with a sudden thud, Ling Yu felt a sharp pain at the back of his head. He tried to turn and look but found himself powerless. His vision darkened, and he collapsed to the ground.
In his final conscious moments, fury overtook him. The boy whom Master Wu held in high regard had no sense of fairness and had resorted to a sneak attack!
Qin Ming casually lowered his hand, showing no remorse.
Since Yao Zu had already made the first move and with the painful lesson of their near-bankruptcy fresh in mind, Qin Ming decisively put an end to the situation with straightforward brutality.
Nearby, Cheng Rui, the girl in yellow, let out a shriek before bolting from the scene. After all, she had led Ling Yu there and now feared the two boys might turn their aggression on her.
At that moment, she was convinced. Ling Yu had no connection to the two rough youths—he himself had been taken down.
Xin You Dao, still nursing his injuries, arrived late to the scene, accompanied by a dozen young men and women. From a distance, they witnessed Ling Yu lying on the ground and were struck speechless. Shock washed over them as they processed the scene.
They had expected the night’s stars to be Ling Yu and Xin You Dao, but now, two mysterious boys had brutally defeated these prodigies one after the other.
If word of this incident spread, it would undoubtedly stir a massive uproar. What would the onlookers feel if they knew such a bizarre “sparring session” had unfolded in secret?
Xin You Dao’s emotions were a whirlwind. He and Ling Yu now shared the dubious honor of being overpowered by the same pair of strangers—a strange sort of unity.
Cheng Rui whispered, “You Dao, I believe it now. Ling Yu didn’t set anyone up to ambush you. He… he became a victim himself.”
The group surrounding them had no words.
Meanwhile, Qian Chuan, the senior student on duty, was left dazed. Ling Yu, one of the night’s two leading figures, had been knocked out cold on this very patch of grass.
He knew Ling Yu and Xin You Dao were destined to grace the headlines of tomorrow’s paper. Yet, behind the glory, there lay this hidden episode of humiliation—a secret they would likely want buried.
And it all revolved around these two inconspicuous boys.
To Qian Chuan, the battered piece of ground seemed almost magical, radiating an inexplicable aura. He dared not step closer, feeling a growing sense of awe toward both the field and its mysterious occupants.
As the echoes of the clash lingered, conversations about the incident flared up. People began heading toward the scene, drawn by the commotion.
Xin You Dao sent some of his companions ahead to discreetly block others from seeing Ling Yu in his embarrassing state.
“Brother, wake up,” Qin Ming said, shaking Ling Yu.
Yao Zu stood frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief as he watched Qin Ming nonchalantly pull three gold tickets from Ling Yu’s coat. “So this is possible too?” Yao Zu thought, feeling as though he had just glimpsed an entirely new world.
Qin Ming, too, was momentarily stunned. “Is Tang Jin’s group this wealthy?” he wondered. Each ticket was worth 500 daytime gold—a fortune compared to what he had painstakingly accumulated.
“This isn’t robbery,” Qin Ming explained calmly. “He attacked me first. I was forced to retaliate, and he’s now my captive. However, since you intervened midway, Yao Zu, I’ll return 500 daytime gold.”
He slipped one ticket back into Ling Yu’s belongings, keeping two and some smaller coins for himself.
“Brother, you’re so principled,” Yao Zu said admiringly. “What a good man! At least we won’t go bankrupt now.”
After his initial excitement, Yao Zu groaned. “I can’t believe I forgot to loot Xin You Dao when I beat him!”
Xin You Dao overheard this as he approached, and veins bulged on his forehead.
“That’s different,” Qin Ming replied. “You challenged him. You can’t stoop to such thoughts in a duel. But when someone attacks me, taking ransom as a captive is perfectly fair.”
Ling Yu regained consciousness, immediately furious and ready to retaliate.
However, his head throbbed painfully, leaving him groggy. Fighting in this condition would only guarantee another loss.
Xin You Dao stepped in. “Ling Yu, calm down. You should leave for now. Everyone’s returning, and tonight is not the time for more trouble.”
Xin You Dao wanted to contain the situation, dreading the fallout if these events made the news. Such a scandal would be nothing short of a storm.
Pointing a trembling finger at Qin Ming, Ling Yu’s chest heaved with rage. But in the end, he turned away. Naturally, he didn’t want to become tomorrow’s laughingstock.
“I’ll fight you properly in a formal setting!” Ling Yu declared before leaving.
“There’s no need,” Qin Ming called after him, trying to dissuade his adversary from harboring such resentment.
As the residents of the academy—disciples of the Secret Sect and the Immortal Path—returned, they grew excited at the sight of Xin You Dao and Ling Yu, swarming around them with enthusiasm.
“Ling Yu, you are the pride of our generation! I can’t wait to see you sweep through the competition and ascend to the peak!”
“Xin You Dao, though defeated, your brilliance still stuns the heavens!”
Under normal circumstances, Ling Yu and Xin You Dao would have taken such praise in stride. But tonight, every word felt like a whip against their wounded pride.
Only after what seemed like an eternity did they manage to escape the crowd, drenched in sweat and utterly drained.
Later that night, Tang Jin turned sharply toward a sullen Ling Yu, her expression incredulous. “You lost to one of the Black and White Mountain boys?”
“I didn’t lose!” Ling Yu shouted, his voice rising with frustration. “He was dishonorable—he ambushed me!”
Clenching his fists tightly, he added, “Please, Senior Sister, arrange a proper duel for me. I want to defeat him fair and square!”
The purple-eyed crow perched nearby interjected coolly, “He might not accept your challenge.”