The crowd was still buzzing with disbelief. Fu Yang had walked off the stage without lifting a finger, surrendering immediately. Whispers swirled like restless snakes among the spectators.
"He didn't even fight…"
"Is he mocking everyone?"
"Coward. He just gave up!"
"No, no, What's going on?"
Different voices clashed, but all eyes soon turned toward one figure.
Li Wei.
The tall boy's face twisted in rage, his pride shattered by the thought that someone gave up who has defeated a strong inner deciple ( shi tian) and now is looking down on him.
His chest rose and fell violently, breath hissing through clenched teeth. His fists trembled at his sides, nails digging into his palms until blood beaded.
Then, like a maddened beast, he roared.
"FU YAAAAANG!"
His voice boomed across the arena, cutting through the confusion of the crowd. Gasps rose as he suddenly charged across the packed earth of the fighting circle. His fist, brimming with fury, arced toward Fu Yang's face.
But Fu Yang did not move.
He stood still--, unyielding as stone. He neither raised his hands to block nor flinched at the rushing figure. Instead, he watched Li Wei with a quiet intensity, gaze piercing through the boy's rage as though he were nothing more than a tantruming child.
The punch was only inches away when a blur intervened.
A hand, calloused and iron-strong, seized Li Wei's wrist mid-strike. The momentum jolted to a halt, the tall boy's entire body trembling from the impact as though he had struck a wall of iron.
The arena erupted in startled cries.
"Instructor Shen!"
It was Master Shen—the overseer of the tournament. His grip was like a vice, unyielding as forged steel, and his scarred face bore the authority of a man who had fought countless battles. His presence alone was a storm pressing down on everyone's chest, demanding obedience.
"LI WEI!" Master Shen's voice cracked like thunder, silencing the arena in an instant.
The boy's body shook under the pressure of that single shout. His chest heaved, his eyes blazing like wildfire, but he dared not move under that suffocating aura.
"You dare disrupt the sacred order of the tournament with this recklessness?" Master Shen's voice carried the weight of judgment, sharp and merciless. "Step back, or you will be cast out from this place, stripped of all honor."
Li Wei's jaw clenched. Slowly, reluctantly, he tore his wrist free. His eyes, however, did not leave Fu Yang. They burned, full of venom, his hatred festered deeper with every heartbeat.
The whispers of the crowd swelled again, their tones mocking and cruel.
"Did you see? Li Wei lost control."
"He couldn't accept it—so pathetic."
"But Fu Yang…he didn't even fight. Isn't that cowardice?"
"It's arrogance.Humph because he's an inner deciple "
The words cut at Li Wei's ears, making his blood boil hotter. His voice trembled with suppressed rage as he spat at Fu Yang.
"You surrendered," he snarled, pointing a trembling finger at him. "You stood there, acting above us all, and walked away as though I wasn't even worth your time. You mock me, Fu Yang! You insult me in front of everyone!"
Fu Yang's expression remained unreadable. His tone, however, was steady—calm, but with a weight that seemed to cut through the chaos of the arena.
"I didn't surrender to mock you, Li Wei," he said evenly. "I had my reasons. If you want a fight, then earn it in the ring, not by attacking from the shadows."
The words, simple as they were, only added fuel to the fire in Li Wei's heart. He opened his mouth to retort, his fury spilling over, when Master Shen's voice thundered once more.
"Enough."
The single word cracked the air, and silence fell again.
"The tournament will move forward," Master Shen declared coldly. "But both of you should know this: Li Wei, though you have advanced, your actions shame you. Fu Yang, though you surrendered, you will not escape the consequences of this moment. As an inner disciple, you are bound by duty. If you refuse this fight, your identity as an inner disciple will be revoked!"
The words rang like a heavy gavel striking down judgment.
The arena erupted in shock.
"What?!"
"They're forcing Fu Yang to fight!"
"This is getting interesting…"
Fu Yang's eyes flicked toward the raised platform where the elders sat, their robes pristine, their expressions cold and unreadable. But one face was missing. Li Tian—was not present. The realization struck Fu Yang immediately.
"So this is how it is," he murmured under his breath, a sigh escaping him.
The crowd's anticipation boiled over. The air trembled with their bloodlust. They had come for battles, and now they would witness a grudge match that promised violence.
Master Shen's voice carried across the arena, loud and undeniable.
"The council has decided: Fu Yang, you will face Li Wei here and now. This is no match for advancement or points. This is a battle of honor. Refuse—and your title as inner disciple will be stripped."
They were now forcing him to battle which was against the rules, but fu yang accepted it and a looked at the instructor,. Memorizing his face.
Li Wei's lips twisted into a cruel smile. He cracked his knuckles, his voice a low growl dripping with malice.
"I'll make you regret ever stepping into this ring," he said.
Fu Yang met his gaze. His eyes flickered—not with fear, but with a deeper, unreadable emotion. Perhaps resignation. Perhaps resolve.
"If this is what you need," Fu Yang said quietly, "then so be it."
The heavy toll of the tournament bell echoed across the arena.
The dust swirled around their feet as the two boys faced each other, one trembling with barely restrained fury, the other standing still as an untouched pond, calm yet unfathomable.
"Begin!" Master Shen commanded.
Li Wei exploded forward like a released arrow, his first strike aimed straight at Fu Yang's chest. His fist was fueled by rage, wild and merciless, but Fu Yang shifted lightly to the side. His body moved like a reed swaying in the wind, letting the blow pass harmlessly by.
The crowd gasped.
Li Wei snarled, pressing forward with a storm of punches and kicks. His limbs lashed out with reckless abandon, every strike seeking to crush.
"Fight me!" Li Wei roared, desperation creeping into his voice as Fu Yang slipped past every strike with effortless grace.
A spinning kick sliced toward Fu Yang's head, but again he ducked, body folding with fluid precision. Not a single blow found its mark.
"Fu Yang!" Master Shen's voice cut across the clash, heavy with warning. "You must fight. You cannot dodge forever. If you refuse to strike, this will be your last match as an inner disciple!"
(Old man…do you think I don't see through your ploy?) Fu Yang thought bitterly. (Don't worry. I'll make you regret this.)
Li Wei's breath came in ragged gasps. His fury only grew, his vision red with shame.
"You won't run this time!" he bellowed, throwing his full weight behind another punch.
But before his fist could even graze Fu Yang, a sudden blur struck him.
A kick.
It slammed into his stomach, the force sending him stumbling back. Pain shot through his body, nearly doubling him over. But Li Wei gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand. His pride demanded he endure.
He barely regained his footing before another strike came—this time Fu Yang's fist, snapping forward like lightning.
CRACK!
Blood sprayed from Li Wei's mouth as his front teeth shattered, the blow knocking him off his feet. He hit the ground hard, dazed, tears welling in his eyes from the impact.
The crowd gasped in shock, but Fu Yang did not relent.
Before Master Shen could even move to intervene, Fu Yang's next strike came low—brutally, mercilessly.
His kick landed squarely on Li Wei's lower body.
The soundless agony that followed was unbearable.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Li Wei's scream tore through the arena. His body convulsed, his eyes rolled back, foam and blood spilling from his lips. Then darkness claimed him, his consciousness shattering under the pain.
Silence fell.
Every man in the audience instinctively clenched his legs together, faces pale with sympathy pain. Murmurs of curses rose.
"Too cruel…"
"He went too far…"
"Is he even human, how could he struck at that part?"
Master Shen's face darkened as he appeared between them in an instant, halting Fu Yang from pressing further. His expression was stormy as he crouched to examine Li Wei's limp body. Two assistants rushed forward, lifting the unconscious boy and carrying him toward the medicine hall.
When Master Shen stood again, his gaze locked on Fu Yang, fury burning in his eyes.
"Fu Yang," he thundered, "how could you attack like this?! You nearly killed him. You are a disgrace to the title of inner disciple. Get out of my sight!"
Fu Yang bowed slightly, expression calm, voice steady.
"Instructor," he said, "please announce the result."
Master Shen ground his teeth, his anger barely restrained. Finally, he barked:
"You win. Now get out."