No one could accept this reality. Even Pang Shao stared at Ye Chu in a daze.
Defeating a third-level Intent Transformation martial artist in a single move was inconceivable. Among the younger generation, perhaps only the two legendary figures of Yao City could achieve such a feat. Yet Ye Chu had done it too.
Though Pang Shao knew Ye Chu was certainly stronger than Ding Kaiwei, he had not expected him to be this much stronger. Pang Shao had assumed that, at the very least, Ding Kaiwei could block a few moves. But the result was this. Ye Chu kicked out an iron rod with one foot and crippled the opponent.
“In just one year, how far has this guy grown?” Pang Shao muttered, suffering a massive blow to his confidence. His own realm had advanced considerably over the year. He had thought he could close the gap with Ye Chu, but now it seemed the distance had only widened.
“Damn it. You really can’t compare with him.” Pang Shao muttered again, finally giving up any thought of rivalry. This guy could not be judged by normal standards.
“Liang Shan!” Ye Chu suddenly called.
“Here!” Liang Shan rushed over in wild excitement, stepping quickly to Ye Chu’s side. Liang Shan had never felt more thrilled in his life. The mighty Ding Martial Hall had been beaten into silence by Ye Chu alone. What overwhelming dominance.
“Whoever hit you, you hit them back. If they punched you once, you give them ten punches. If they broke your arm, you break their legs.” Ye Chu said calmly to Liang Shan.
Liang Shan’s blood boiled. He nodded vigorously. In all his years, he had never been able to strut like this.
Liang Shan’s gaze turned to Fang Xinyuan. Fang Xinyuan’s face instantly drained of colour. He had never imagined that Ding Martial Hall could not stop Ye Chu. Now he was terrified, his courage shattered. Watching Liang Shan approach with menacing glee, he collapsed to the floor, pleading desperately, body scooting backwards, voice breaking into sobs. “Don’t come closer! Don’t come closer!”
As one of Yao City’s notorious bullies, Liang Shan was no saint. He grinned wickedly, cruelty flashing in his eyes. He picked up an iron rod from the ground and brought it down hard on Fang Xinyuan’s leg.
“Ah…”
A scream echoed through the hall, but Liang Shan showed no mercy. He swung the rod again and again.
Fang Xinyuan’s agonised cries sent chills through everyone, especially those who had beaten Liang Shan earlier. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Watching Fang Xinyuan reduced to a bloody mess, they could bear it no longer. They dropped to their knees, kowtowing to Liang Shan and Ye Chu, begging for forgiveness.
Ye Chu ignored them. His eyes fixed on the centre of Ding Martial Hall, where a plaque hung, bearing the gleaming golden characters for Ding Martial Hall.
The strokes flowed like clouds and water, full of grandmaster style.
Ye Chu walked step by step to the plaque, reached up, and yanked it down with force.
Whoosh…
Seeing this, the crowd’s hearts pounded in terror. They stared in horror, unable to control themselves. “Is Ye Chu really going to smash Ding Martial Hall? And does he even know who wrote those characters on the plaque?”
Clearly, Ye Chu did not.
Su Rong and Zhang Su’er watched in disbelief as Ye Chu swung the iron rod across the plaque. With swift, flourishing strokes, dragon-like and phoenix-like, a poem soon appeared on its surface.
“He’s mad! This guy dares to deface the plaque! And write such arrogant words on it!” That was the only thought left in everyone’s minds. Only now did they realise how bold Ye Chu was. He truly dared to smash Ding Martial Hall.
“Laughing, dancing, singing madly for seventeen years, reveling among flowers, kissing under the moon, I draw my sword and laugh at the heavens, only smashing the hall can resolve my hatred!”
Su Rong read the line on the plaque. The poem was unrestrained and free, yet laced with dominance, just like the Ye Chu she had encountered these past days. The words flowed naturally, full of grandmaster style.
If one ignored the plaque’s origin, the calligraphy was truly excellent. Ye Chu was nothing like the worthless wastrel rumoured to be. But… this was a plaque inscribed by the King himself. Ye Chu had ruined it anyway?
After finishing the line, Ye Chu tossed the iron rod aside. It clanged and rolled to a stop in front of Ding Kaiwei.
Ding Kaiwei stared blankly at the words, his face ashen. It was over. With this poem declared, Ding Martial Hall was truly smashed. And they had failed even to protect the King’s inscribed plaque.
Like Ding Kaiwei, the many disciples of Ding Martial Hall stood soulless and dejected. Their hall’s prestige had kept it untouchable, not only because of its own strength, but also because of the King’s inscription.
“Liang Shan! We’re leaving!” Ye Chu said to Liang Shan only after watching him beat everyone who had struck him into bloody pulps.
“Done!” Liang Shan followed Ye Chu excitedly, strutting proudly. His heart soared. With such a powerful backer, who would dare provoke him again?
As Ye Chu left with Liang Shan, Pang Shao hurriedly followed. Ding Kaiwei was no longer useful. He would not waste time on him.
“Laughing, dancing, singing madly for seventeen years, reveling among flowers, kissing under the moon, I draw my sword and laugh at the heavens, only smashing the hall can resolve my hatred!”
Watching Ye Chu depart, Su Rong could not help reciting the poem aloud. The first two lines still spoke of a romantic rogue, but the last two brimmed with arrogance. Though not a masterpiece, to compose something so perfectly matching his mood in such short time, he could not possibly be the useless idler people claimed.
Su Rong felt she could no longer see through Ye Chu. Since returning to Yao City, he constantly surprised them in ways they could never have believed.
“This guy’s handwriting is pretty good. Not inferior to your grandfather, the Prime Minister.” Zhang Su’er could not resist saying to Su Rong.
Su Rong shook her head. “In terms of layout alone, my grandfather cannot compare. I have never seen this style of calligraphy before.”
“Ah!” Zhang Su’er had not expected that answer and gasped in surprise. “Ye Chu is that impressive? His strength surpasses Ding Kaiwei, and his calligraphy surpasses the Prime Minister. Is he really, as he claims, accomplished in both civil and martial arts?”
“We underestimated Ye Chu before.” Su Rong exhaled softly. “Who knows what he went through these three years?”
“What? Interested in him now?” Seeing Su Rong lost in thought, Zhang Su’er giggled teasingly.
“Nonsense!” Su Rong glared at Zhang Su’er, her cheeks flushing. “If you’re interested, go find him yourself.”
“I don’t want him!” Zhang Su’er shook her head. “But you once said your ideal husband would be a prince on a white horse. First and foremost, accomplished in both civil and martial arts. Look at Ye Chu. He isn’t bad. In martial arts he defeats Ding Kaiwei, in civil arts he outdoes the Prime Minister. You could consider him.”
“Keep spouting rubbish and I’ll tear your mouth off!” Su Rong scolded, face scarlet. She had not expected Zhang Su’er to bring up those private words from her youth. In one’s younger days, who had not dreamed of a perfect partner on a white horse? What was there to say about it?
“I was only joking! Even if Ye Chu seems decent now, he isn’t worthy of our Miss Su Rong! Hmph. Even if he truly is accomplished in both, he’s still a bastard!” Zhang Su’er huffed angrily. In her mind, if Ye Chu were not such a bastard, she might have considered letting him join the list of Su Rong’s suitors.
