Era of Mist

Chapter 162: Chapter 161: See If I Can Touch You

Ten meters! Shi Tiexin drove He Chong back a full ten meters before executing a ferociously powerful body slam. With two sharp snaps, bruises instantly blossomed at the base of both of Shi Tiexin’s shoulders, but the resulting force of the slam was astonishingly great.

BAM—! CRACK!

Needless to say, the light layer shattered. He Chong felt as if his spine had been broken. The air was completely knocked from his chest. For a moment, his mind went blank, and he was completely unable to resist.

”Can’t even touch a hair on your head?” Shi Tiexin straddled He Chong’s body. His left hand shot out, grabbing a fistful of He Chong’s hair and yanking his head up. Rage finally showed on Shi Tiexin’s usually calm face. ”The last time you cornered me, that’s what you said too. Now I’m asking you, can I touch you or not!”

With a snap, Shi Tiexin’s right fist came crashing down, viciously smashing into He Chong’s face.

SPURT. Blood splattered onto the floor. He Chong’s neck twisted so far it nearly broke. He flailed, trying to resist, but Shi Tiexin’s left hand didn’t loosen its grip in the slightest. Once again, he yanked He Chong’s face up by the hair.

He Chong’s eyes widened, met by the sight of Shi Tiexin’s face, which was blazing with fury.

In his daze, Shi Tiexin’s face seemed familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before. ’But not from this angle... not while looking up at it.’

”He Chong, I’ll ask you again! Do you remember what you did when you and your cronies ganged up on me?!”

BAM. Another punch, straight to the face. His nose instantly collapsed. THUD. The back of his head slammed against the ground. He Chong was dazed. But through the haze, he suddenly remembered. That’s right. The last time, when more than ten people ganged up on Shi Tiexin, he had been the one to step out at the end to humiliate and torture him. Back then, this big guy had worn this exact same expression, refusing to yield even at the very end.

’Back then, when I was the one looking down on him, seeing that expression had planted a sliver of fear in my heart. It was that fear that drove me to use any means necessary against Shi Tiexin, to do whatever it took to grind him completely under my heel.’

But right now, he was the one being ground underfoot. He was no longer the one looking down from on high.

This time, it was Shi Tiexin’s turn to look down.

Once again, he grabbed He Chong by the hair.

Shi Tiexin’s face was cast in shadow, his expression chillingly cold. ”Blood for blood, an eye for an eye. What you did to me that day, I will now do to you.”

He Chong still had some essence energy in his lower abdomen; he wasn’t completely without the strength to fight back. But his morale had collapsed, and psychologically, he was completely unable to resist. The fear that had long been festering in his heart suddenly erupted. He Chong actually let out a shriek, howling madly, ”No! No, you can’t! You damn peasant, how dare you—”

BAM!

One punch.

BAM!

Two punches.

BAM, BAM, BAM!

”Let’s see if I dare!” Shi Tiexin had gone berserk. He didn’t kill He Chong in one blow, instead striking non-lethal areas one by one. The explosive force of his fists, augmented by the power of his six-colored light layer, savaged He Chong like a rag doll.

Outside, the crowd was in an uproar, everyone crying out in shock.

”This boy is too ruthless! It’s just a match, yet he acts with such malice!” Someone on the main platform stood up and shouted angrily. ”How can the Student Union’s examination grounds tolerate such an incident? In my opinion—”

”In your opinion, what?” The enthusiastic young man suddenly turned his head, looking over with a smirk. ”Sir, you seem to have some thoughts on this preliminary examination? Why don’t you share them with us?”

The man was taken aback. Then he controlled his emotions and bowed his head slightly. ”My apologies, my apologies. I overstepped.”

A middle-aged man of no small social standing was bowing his head to a young whelp. This deference was not only due to the Dragon Map Scholar’s official rank within the Student Union but was also a sign of respect for the Student Union’s authority in organizing the exam. After all, the preliminary examination was ultimately run by the Student Union, and the chief proctor from the Union had the final say on what happened in the examination grounds, allowing no interference from others.

However, the Dragon Map Scholar seemed very willing to consider popular opinion. ”You’re too kind, sir. In fact, I also feel this examinee’s methods are a bit extreme.”

”Exactly, exactly!” ”It’s too cruel.” ”This is completely unnecessary violence!” Many people immediately chimed in.

”However, I noticed that they haven’t stopped talking during their fight. They seem to know each other. I wonder what the story is between them.” At this moment, the Dragon Map Scholar was the very picture of a cunning imp. ”It wouldn’t be appropriate to interrupt the exam, but why don’t we all have a listen to what they’re saying? We can see just what kind of person this aggressor is. How about it?”

”Well...” Those who knew He Chong hesitated. They were well aware of what kind of little bastard he was. They had just been using the situation as a pretext, taking a shot in the dark. If they could get that poor kid disqualified, all the better; it would be a nice assist. If not, there was no loss.

They never expected the Dragon Map Scholar to make such a proposal.

’But, it doesn’t matter. He Chong is the one getting beaten up, what could he possibly say? As long as he says nothing, with how pitifully he’s being thrashed right now, no one can find fault with the victim, right?’

So, one person nodded, then another, and finally, everyone agreed.

”Since everyone agrees,” the Dragon Map Scholar said, readily going with the flow, ”let’s have a listen.”

The sounds from within the Wenxin Secret Realm were immediately amplified. Every brutal impact and faint groan from the distant location echoed throughout the entire venue as if magnified hundreds of times by a sound system, allowing everyone to hear with perfect clarity.

His hand, hidden in his sleeve, casually formed a few Spells. Not a single one of the supervisors present noticed. The enthusiastic young man smiled faintly. Then, He Chong, who was being beaten on the ground, suddenly started to chuckle.

”Hehehehe...”

He Chong’s laughter was incredibly sinister. His jaw had been broken, and he had lost most of his teeth, but a certain emotion welled up from the bottom of his heart, making him continue to laugh darkly amidst the endless, excruciating pain.

Shi Tiexin’s face was like cast iron. He paid no mind to the man’s madness and brought his fist down on that foolishly laughing mouth.

But not only did He Chong not stop, his laughter grew even louder, turning into a wild cackle.

Finally, Shi Tiexin’s fist paused. He looked at the half-dead He Chong and barked coldly, ”What are you laughing at!”

”I’m laughing... I’m laughing at your futile struggle... It’s just pathetic... Hehehehe...” At that moment, He Chong no longer seemed to be the one pinned to the ground and getting pummeled, but had reverted to the high and mighty young master of the He Family.

A mostly dismantled, dilapidated version of the He Family’s young master.

Shi Tiexin’s expression darkened. He raised his clenched fist, preparing to strike again.

”You... wouldn’t dare... kill me...” He Chong’s mouth was full of blood, but his expression was one of contemptuous disdain. ”Don’t you forget... Your Orphanage... is still in my hands...”