Urban Martial Saint

These people don’t need to go out first; they have relatively more time, so they obviously carry a gloating attitude. Moreover, in this kind of marriage contest, driving away a competitor increases their chances of winning, so of course, everyone hopes Du Feng exits early, giving them a better shot.

Du Feng bit his lip, standing nervously in place. He was the first one; if he exited, he’d be utterly embarrassed, not only for himself but also for his grandfather, Du Longwang, who was also present. He couldn’t let Du Longwang be shamed too. But if he didn’t want to be embarrassed, did he really have to go out and risk his life? The fusion of the Five Poisons was genuinely life-threatening.

While Du Feng was feeling tense and at a loss, a hand suddenly stretched over from the side, directly taking the slip from his hand and handing him another one.

Du Feng was stunned and turned to look. Next to him stood a tall man. The man’s face was distinguished, and he looked at Du Feng with determined eyes, saying, ”I’ll go first!”

The man’s tone was calm, yet carried an irresistible magic power, as if his words were orders.

Everyone around was taken aback, having just heard Shen Da mention this man’s name earlier. His name was Li Qianqiu, a disciple of Helian Tiehua, and among the crowd, he held an extremely prominent position. After all, over the years, Great General Helian Tiehua’s name had become exceptionally renowned, and his disciple was well-respected outside, with few daring to disrespect him.

However, Li Qianqiu was indeed a very low-key person. Standing with everyone for so long, this was the first time they heard him speak, and he only spoke three words before leaving the room with Du Feng’s slip, leaving Du Feng in a daze.

Ye Qing watched as Li Qianqiu took Du Feng’s slip, and his heart was slightly moved. Clearly, Li Qianqiu planned to take Du Feng’s place as the first to go out and participate in the first event. This was not an easy decision for anyone to make because the first person to go out was at the most disadvantage. Who would be willing to go first? Yet Li Qianqiu made such a decision, giving up the slip he drew and going first for Du Feng, his magnanimity already leading among others.

”Damn, is this guy crazy?” Bei Shisan finally came back to his senses after a while, glaring and saying, ”Why go out for someone else? There’s no need to show off like this, right? Does he have a bubble in his brain?”

At this time, Du Feng also snapped back to reality. He looked at the slip in his hand; Li Qianqiu had actually drawn the last position. In other words, Li Qianqiu had the best slip and still switched to go out first. It was truly astonishing.

Du Feng gritted his teeth and suddenly turned to Bei Shisan, saying sternly, ”Watch your mouth!”

Earlier, when everyone was mocking Du Feng, he said nothing. But now, he didn’t need to go out first, and even though Bei Shisan was not talking about him, he started to lose his temper. Undoubtedly, he was angry because Bei Shisan defamed Li Qianqiu. When many ridiculed him, Li Qianqiu stood up to go first on his behalf. Regardless of the outcome, in Du Feng’s heart, he remembered this kindness firmly. What Li Qianqiu did this time had at least won him a friend—Du Feng!

”*****, did I talk about you?” Bei Shisan immediately got furious, glaring and saying, ”What’s it to you? Do you want to meddle with me?”

”Say what you want about me, but don’t talk about Brother Li!” Du Feng said sternly.

”Do you think you can control everything, huh? I just have to talk about him, so what can you do to me?” Bei Shisan’s explosive temper was ignited, angrily saying, ”Li Qianqiu, that bastard, does he really think he’s something, stepping up for others? What right does he have to step up for others? And you, you coward, drawn the first slip but don’t dare to go out, letting someone else go first for you—how disgraceful!”

As Bei Shisan spoke, Du Feng’s expression already began to turn fierce, breathing more and more rapidly. Finally, he couldn’t hold it anymore, letting out a loud yell, he suddenly lunged at Bei Shisan, swinging his fist towards him.

”Oh, the youngster is getting physical?” Bei Shisan sneered coldly, effortlessly reaching out to grab Du Feng’s wrist, twisting hard, and Du Feng immediately struggled, bending down directly.

”With your little skill, you’re not worthy to even lift my shoes, and you dare to lay hands on me?” Bei Shisan sneered mockingly. Du Feng’s strength was really lacking, utterly vulnerable before Bei Shisan.

But Du Feng’s character was quite resilient. Although Bei Shisan held his wrist, forcing him to crouch down, he continued to grit his teeth and persevere. Seeing this, Bei Shisan became interested, twisting Du Feng’s wrist harder, intending to press him down to the ground, making him lose face among the crowd. However, Du Feng just stubbornly held on, even as sweat poured down his face from the pain, he refused to surrender.

Everyone around was sneering, all adopting a detached attitude, watching the commotion without anyone stepping in to help. Only Ye Qing couldn’t stand by any longer, stepping forward, touching Bei Shisan’s arm with a cold voice, ”That’s enough!”

Although Bei Shisan’s strength was above Ye Qing’s, Ye Qing had that Stepping Technique. With this slap combined with a step, it left Bei Shisan at a loss, forcing him to step back, and thus releasing Du Feng.

Bei Shisan immediately frowned, glaring at Ye Qing, saying in a deep voice, ”Ye, this is between him and me, what does it have to do with you? Are you going to fight someone else’s battle?”

Ye Qing pulled Du Feng behind him, calmly looking at Bei Shisan, saying, ”Brother Du is still young, and it’s normal for his strength to be lacking. Aren’t you afraid of losing face by bullying the young with your age?”

”What’s it to you, bastard?” Bei Shisan angrily retorted, ”Ye, I suggest you get out of here, or I’ll sort you out along with him!”

”I intervene in things I can’t stand to see!” Ye Qing calmly replied, ”If you really want to fight, I’m game!”

”Fine, today I’ll show you what I’m really capable of!” Bei Shisan shouted angrily and was about to make a move when suddenly the door opened, and Shen Da walked in from outside.

”What’s going on?” Shen Da asked in surprise at the situation in the room. Bei Shisan was a bit embarrassed and quickly laughed, ”Nothing, just sparring a little for fun.”

”Oh.” Shen Da nodded and said, ”This room is too small, and everyone still needs to prepare; it’s not very suitable for sparring. So, I hope everyone can hold off a bit and not make too much of a ruckus here, okay?”

Ye Qing glanced at Bei Shisan and said, ”As long as Brother Bei doesn’t stir up trouble, I have no problem at all.”

Bei Shisan glared at Ye Qing angrily and said, ”Of course, I won’t cause any trouble. Uncle Shen, you don’t need to worry.”

”That’s good then.” Shen Da smiled and said, ”By the way, who’s second? Get ready to head out.”

”Huh?” Everyone looked surprised, and Huang Linxuan hastily asked, ”What about Li Qianqiu? Did he pass or not?”

”Of course he passed!” Shen Da smiled and said, ”He managed to retrieve the steel needle from there, so he’s passed the first challenge.”

”What!?” Everyone’s expressions changed again, and even Wanyan Ming’s eyes widened as he urgently asked, ”He...he got the steel needle? How is that possible? How did he do it? Weren’t those serpents and insects biting him?”

”Sorry, the specific method is a secret, to ensure fairness.” Shen Da laughed and said, ”Alright, if the second person is ready, they can head out with me.”

The second person wasn’t much better off than the first; holding a token, he followed Shen Da out dejectedly, leaving six people in the room who immediately started discussing among themselves, trying to guess how Li Qianqiu managed to pass. Because none of the six of them had figured out exactly how to get through yet.

Ye Qing stood in the corner, not participating in the discussion. In his mind, he was recalling the situation in the box earlier. He kept thinking there was something strange about those five poisonous creatures. When he went to the Miao Borderlands, he saw a similar set of Five Poisons in the main hall of Zhenmu Dong. Although it hadn’t been discussed at the time, he felt those Five Poisons seemed a bit different from these. But precisely what was different, he just couldn’t quite recall at the moment.

As Ye Qing pondered, Du Feng walked over from the side and said in a low voice, ”Thank you for earlier, Ye!”

Though young and not very strong-willed, Du Feng was polite and grateful. Earlier, when Li Qianqiu volunteered to go first for him, he fought hard against Bei Shisan for Li. Now that Ye Qing had helped him, he regarded Ye Qing as a friend and felt much warmer towards him.

Ye Qing smiled faintly and said, ”No problem.”

Du Feng said no more, just nodded to Ye Qing and stood beside him, saying, ”Ye, with this first challenge, I don’t think I can make it. When I go out later, I’ll just quit. But I’ve drawn the eighth lot; how about we swap, and you can go last, so you’re more prepared and we don’t waste the lot.”

Du Feng truly saw Ye Qing as a friend to suggest such a thing. Everyone was trying their best to go later, and he was placed last by Li Qianqiu. Yet now, he was willing to swap with Ye Qing, showing his true gratitude towards Ye.

”No need.” Ye Qing smiled gently, patted Du Feng on the shoulder, and said, ”This challenge isn’t too difficult; I believe you can definitely pass.”

”Well, I doubt I’ll get the chance!” Du Feng sighed, shaking his head, ”Actually, when I came here, I didn’t have much hope. Among the eight of us, I’m the weakest and can’t really compete with the others. My greatest wish, honestly, is just to go a bit further, at least not to embarrass my grandfather so much.”

(Finally finished with the wedding photos, after shooting a lot, I feel as exhausted as if I’ve shed a few layers of skin. The updates will return to normal tomorrow, and He Shuai will quickly make up for the nine chapters owed these past days. Thank you all for your continued support!)