Today was the last day for registration for the Linhai martial arts competition, and most of those who wanted to participate had already signed up.
Zhang Yang and his group didn't have to wait long in line before they successfully registered for the Skyhawk Martial Arts Hall.
Looking at the number 128 tag in his hand, Zhang Yang was somewhat surprised.
"There are so many people, they're already at number 128."
"These are just the registration numbers for teams. The numbers for individual registrations are probably in the hundreds," Yun Fang explained.
"I see," Zhang Yang nodded, then said.
"Let's go, we should head back."
Leaving the registration hall.
As Zhang Yang and Yun Fang were about to leave, Chen Yaowu, whom Zhang Yang had dealt with earlier, blocked their path.
They had brought people to surround the entire registration hall.
Clearly.
While Zhang Yang was queuing to register, Chen Yaowu had called for backup.
At this moment.
He stood beside a middle-aged man.
The middle-aged man had a mustache and a gloomy expression. He looked at Zhang Yang and said.
"The crippled martial arts hall on West Street dares to injure my Panshan Martial Arts Hall. Do you want to die? How can you, of all people, dare to lay hands on my disciples at Panshan Martial Arts Hall?"
As his words fell.
Chen Panshan's cultivation realm erupted, his vital energy surging and scattering. His mid-stage True Yuan realm was clearly displayed!
Seeing this.
The onlookers immediately let out gasps of surprise.
"Chen Panshan has actually broken through to the mid-stage True Yuan realm! Amazing! The people from Skyhawk Martial Arts Hall are finished!"
Yun Fang's expression changed drastically. She grabbed Zhang Yang's hand and said gravely.
"Let's sneak away, don't confront them head-on!"
In Yun Fang's eyes.
Zhang Yang's cultivation was at most early True Yuan realm, and he was no match for Chen Panshan.
Now that they had registered for the competition, it was best not to clash with Chen Panshan before it began.
Otherwise...
If Zhang Yang were to get injured, Skyhawk Martial Arts Hall would have no one to represent them in the competition.
"No need to run, these people aren't enough to worry about. I can handle this," Zhang Yang replied with a smile, shaking his head, and then walked forward directly.
This action terrified Yun Fang. She couldn't hold Zhang Yang back and could only follow him with a heavy heart.
"Chen Yaowu bullied my senior brother first, so what if I hit him? You, as Chen Yaowu's master, not only failed to discipline him but also came to question me?" Zhang Yang retorted.
"Heh, I will naturally discipline my disciples when they make mistakes, but no matter what, it's not your place to point fingers. Tell me, what explanation do you intend to give me today?" Chen Panshan said with a gloomy expression.
Now that Chen Panshan had personally arrived.
Simply beating up Zhang Yang was no longer enough.
Before dealing with Zhang Yang, he wanted to trample on the dignity of Skyhawk Martial Arts Hall and regain the face that Panshan Martial Arts Hall had lost.
"Hmph, no wonder you can be a master, you're truly birds of a feather!" Zhang Yang was also angered, snorting coldly.
Then he said directly, "If you truly want an explanation, then I can only defeat you!"
Upon hearing this, the people from Panshan Martial Arts Hall burst into laughter.
"Haha, truly ignorant of death's approach, daring to challenge the hall master!"
"This kind of person is just arrogant, thinking that a little talent makes them invincible, not realizing how many geniuses have perished!"
...
The onlookers also shook their heads, thinking Zhang Yang was too arrogant.
Yun Fang was even more frightened. She quickly stood in front of Zhang Yang and apologized to Chen Panshan.
"Hall Master Chen, it was indeed someone from your martial arts hall who made the first move. Perhaps my junior brother's actions were a bit too heavy. I apologize on his behalf. Will that suffice?"
"Heh, who do you think you are? How can the reputation of my Panshan Martial Arts Hall be restored by the apology of a little girl like you?" Chen Panshan sneered.
"If you truly want an apology, then make this brat kneel and kowtow to admit his mistake! Furthermore, have your father, Yun Ying, come here personally to apologize to me, otherwise, this matter will not end here!"
After speaking.
Chen Yaowu, standing beside him, feigned surprise and loudly reminded.
"Master, you seem to have forgotten something. Yun Fang's father hasn't shown his face for a year. Perhaps he's already dead!"
Chen Panshan also laughed and then said to Yun Fang.
"Haha, I did forget about that. If your father is dead, you can bring his spirit tablet, that would also work."
"Hahaha. ~" The disciples of Panshan Martial Arts Hall also burst into laughter.
Humiliation.
Blatant humiliation.
What Chen Yaowu and Chen Panshan did just now was certainly not a lapse in memory.
They did it intentionally, aiming to completely humiliate and trample on the reputation of Yun Ying Martial Arts Hall.
"You're going too far. My father is not dead! He's alive!" Yun Fang clenched her fists, filled with anger!
"Oh, he's alive? Then have him come out. As long as he comes out and apologizes, we'll surely give him some face," Chen Yaowu said with a smile.
After speaking.
He even raised his chin towards Zhang Yang, looking very smug.
Seeing this, Zhang Yang's gaze turned cold.
Just as he was about to make a move, Yun Fang firmly grabbed him.
"Junior brother, don't be impulsive. Try not to fight if possible. Otherwise, we'll be at a disadvantage with our fewer numbers," Yun Fang advised.
"Senior sister, please let go. I can handle them without any pressure," Zhang Yang said helplessly.
But Yun Fang refused to budge, almost hugging Zhang Yang to stop him.
In response, Zhang Yang could only watch for the time being, feeling helpless.
However.
What he had said truthfully was met with mockery from Panshan Martial Arts Hall.
"Hmph, hiding behind a woman. You think you can handle us? Aren't you afraid of the wind blowing your tongue off!"
"Exactly. When it comes to real trouble, you're not even as courageous as a woman. You don't even dare to stand up, just hiding behind a woman and boasting!"
...
Yun Fang, afraid that Zhang Yang would get angry again, quickly said loudly.
"Hall Master Chen, let's dispense with the pleasantries. Give us a way out, how can we appease you?"
Chen Panshan sneered.
"Kneel down, kowtow to our injured disciples at Panshan Martial Arts Hall, and then..."
He trailed off, and Chen Yaowu picked up where he left off.
He first spat a thick glob of phlegm on the ground, then pulled over a chair, and stepped on it with one foot.
"Then crawl between my legs, lick up the phlegm from the ground, and shout that Yun Ying Martial Arts Hall is nothing compared to Panshan Martial Arts Hall!"
"As long as you do as we say, perhaps I'll be in a good mood and let Master not hold you accountable for what happened earlier."
Chen Yaowu said with a cold smile.
Even if Yun Fang and the others did as he said.
Chen Yaowu would only persuade Chen Panshan not to pursue the matter.
As for Chen Panshan, he would naturally not agree!
After the humiliation, they would naturally seek revenge, so how could they let Yun Fang and Zhang Yang off so easily!
Meanwhile, Yun Fang's expression turned extremely grim upon hearing Chen Yaowu's conditions, feeling powerless.
"Do we really have to do this, Hall Master Chen? Must you push things to such extremes?"
"Haha, little girl, do you want to abandon your dignity and continue living, or do you want to die sooner for the sake of dignity?" Chen Panshan suddenly laughed.
"I, Chen Panshan, am not someone who likes to bully the weak. Otherwise, why would I waste time talking to you here? Why would I give you this opportunity for no reason?"
"Since the conditions have been laid out, don't be ungrateful if you want to live!"
This...
Yun Fang fell silent.
But Zhang Yang could no longer hold back. He immediately shook off Yun Fang's hand!
Bang! .oγg
But!
Before Zhang Yang could make a move, Yun Fang knelt down first!
"Hall Master Chen, can I kneel alone? My junior brother is rather stubborn, so I will kowtow and apologize to you!"
Upon seeing this, Chen Panshan and Chen Yaowu immediately laughed.
With Yun Fang's kneeling.
Half of Panshan Martial Arts Hall's dignity had been restored.
"No, it won't do for just you to kneel!" Chen Yaowu suddenly stepped forward, pointing at Zhang Yang and sneering.
"This brat also has to kneel, and he has to crawl between my legs. Didn't he just say he'd settle things with his fists? Let him do it!"
Zhang Yang's gaze was icy as he surveyed the people from Panshan Martial Arts Hall.
However, he didn't make a move. Instead, he first helped Yun Fang up.
"Senior sister, there's no need to kneel to these people. They're not worthy!" Zhang Yang said in a deep voice.
"But..." Yun Fang was startled.
Before she could try to persuade him, Zhang Yang had already made his move.
With a slap!
Chen Yaowu, who had stepped forward, was instantly hit by Zhang Yang's palm.
He was sent flying rapidly, knocking over a group of people from Panshan Martial Arts Hall.
His move instantly escalated the atmosphere to a breaking point, and the people from Panshan Martial Arts Hall were enraged!
"You brat, you're asking for death!"
"Our master is here, and you still dare to make a move? Everyone, charge! Beat him to death!"
Immediately.
A group of disciples from Panshan Martial Arts Hall were about to rush towards Zhang Yang.
"Stop, I'll handle this myself!"
Chen Panshan stopped his disciples and walked towards Zhang Yang with a gloomy expression.
Zhang Yang's sudden move just now made Chen Panshan realize that the opponent was not simple.
With the Linhai martial arts competition imminent, he couldn't afford to have his disciples injured!
"You have some ability, no wonder you could injure Yaowu. However, you must have just broken through to the True Yuan realm, right?"
"Your strength is nothing before me. Do you believe I can make your life worse than death and cripple your cultivation?" Chen Panshan threatened.
Zhang Yang's gaze sharpened. He stared at Chen Panshan, contemplating how to deal with him and to what extent he should use force.
At this moment.
An angry voice suddenly came from outside the crowd.
"Chen Panshan, it's been a year. Have you only learned to bully juniors? With me here, let's see who you can cripple!"
This!
Hearing the voice, Chen Panshan found it somewhat familiar but couldn't recall it for a moment.
Yun Fang, however, was extremely excited, tears welling up in her eyes as she shouted.
"Dad!"
This shout of "Dad" immediately made everyone react!
Chen Panshan also realized who was calling him and quickly turned his head to look.
He saw.
A figure in a white training uniform, his vital energy rippling.
As he approached, he directly overturned the encirclement of the Panshan Martial Arts Hall disciples and walked straight towards Yun Fang.
"Dad, you're finally here!" Yun Fang, tears of joy streaming down her face, hugged Yun Ying.
"Daughter, Dad is late. Are you alright?" Yun Ying held Yun Fang and patted her back to comfort her.
"I'm fine, it's just been a bit tough this past year," Yun Fang said with a hint of grievance.
Yun Ying's mouth twitched, feeling immense heartache.
Tough.
How could it not be tough?
Yun Ying already knew everything that had happened during his year of seclusion.
His disciples and this little girl, Yun Fang, had endured so much hardship!
They had used their frail bodies to bear all the humiliation from Guo Hanxiong!
Yun Ying tenderly stroked Yun Fang's head and said.
"Daughter, it's my fault for being useless and letting you suffer. Don't worry, it won't happen again!"
After speaking, Yun Ying turned to Zhang Yang, his eyes filled with respect as he nodded to Zhang Yang.
Zhang Yang also nodded in response.
He could see Yun Ying's current physical condition and chose to remain silent, concealing his own strength.
With Yun Ying's current state, he should be able to handle the situation.
"Chen Panshan, it's been a year. You've become quite imposing, only knowing how to bully juniors?" Yun Ying sneered.
"Yun Ying, you're still alive!" Chen Panshan said with a grave expression.
"Guo Hanxiong's despicable methods couldn't possibly kill me?" Yun Ying said dismissively.
Then, his expression darkened, and he stepped forward to stand before Chen Panshan.
"Let's talk about the present matter. Today, don't you owe me an explanation? My daughter and disciple can't be beaten for nothing!"
With that, Yun Ying's aura erupted.
A powerful surge of vital energy enveloped the disciples of Panshan Martial Arts Hall, causing them all to feel a sense of dread.
"You!"
Chen Panshan was startled and instinctively took several steps back.
"You broke through?"
"Are you surprised? Or did you think I was just messing around during my year of disappearance?" Yun Ying sneered.
Chen Panshan's expression was grave, and sweat was already trickling down his forehead.
At this moment.
He could feel that Yun Ying, standing before him, was very strong, and the vital energy fluctuations he released were even more potent than his own.
As for how strong he was, he couldn't determine yet!
"Yun Ying, although my disciple was in the wrong first today, your junior disciple beat up all my martial arts hall members and forced them to kneel. I..."
"Shut up, I don't want to hear it. I'm asking you now how you plan to give me an explanation. If not, shall we try each other?" Yun Ying interrupted forcefully.
His demeanor was incredibly domineering!
It was even more so than Chen Panshan's earlier attitude.
This was the prevailing custom in Linhai City; might made right!
The onlookers let out exclamations of surprise.
"Hall Master Yun Ying's charisma is undiminished. He has already intimidated the people from Panshan Martial Arts Hall just by appearing."
"It seems Hall Master Yun Ying has become much stronger, even making Chen Panshan lose his nerve."
"Panshan Martial Arts Hall has kicked a steel plate this time. They're finished."
...
Chen Panshan's expression was grim.
In the current situation, he was in a difficult position.
If he had known earlier, he should have ended things sooner. Now, not only had the lost dignity not been recovered, but it would also be completely trampled upon.
"I can have my disciple apologize."
"Just an apology isn't enough. Kneel! Kowtow. As for crawling between the legs, let's forget about that. My Skyhawk Martial Arts Hall doesn't have such perverse tastes! However..."
Saying that, Yun Ying also noticed the glob of phlegm on the ground and added.
"Everyone is responsible for maintaining hygiene. Have him eat this phlegm!"
Chen Panshan frowned.
These were the conditions they had set earlier.
Now that Yun Ying had returned them all, it wasn't too excessive.
After some thought.
Chen Panshan did not refuse and nodded.
"Yaowu, go ahead."
"Ah?"
Chen Yaowu, who had just been slapped away by Zhang Yang, his expression changed rapidly, showing extreme reluctance.
"Master, I don't want to. We have so many people, we don't need to be afraid..."
Slap!
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Yaowu was directly slapped away by Chen Panshan!
"Do as I say! Don't ask questions!" Chen Panshan glared at Chen Yaowu.
Of course, he wasn't exactly afraid of Yun Ying.
Uh...
Not *that* afraid of Yun Ying.
It was simply because the Linhai martial arts competition was imminent, and Yun Ying's true strength was still unclear.
Chen Panshan did not want to have a direct confrontation with Yun Ying over such a matter.
This would only affect Panshan Martial Arts Hall's performance in the Linhai martial arts competition!
"Fine, I'll do as you say."
Chen Yaowu felt very wronged. Why was he always the one getting hurt?
However.
He did as he was told, knelt on the ground, kowtowed, and then...
With a slurping sound, he ate the phlegm back.