Chapter 64: Swear Allegiance to Me as Your Master

As soon as the words were spoken, everyone saw Xie Yan-Ke’s complexion darken visibly, as if a shadow had swept across his face. The crowd’s gaze shifted to Yun Zhong-He, their lips curling into gloating smiles. Yet, after Yun Zhong-He’s candid admission, the gloom on Xie Yan-Ke’s face melted away, like winter frost beneath the gentle sun.

“Good lad, you’re honest enough; I find myself increasingly fond of you,” Xie Yan-Ke said, his eyes fixed on Yun Zhong-He with unabashed admiration.

Hearing this, the crowd was instantly petrified. At this moment, shouldn’t Xie Yan-Ke have struck out in fury, slain Yun Zhong-He, and rid the martial world of its scourge? As they stood dumbfounded, Yun Zhong-He suddenly came to himself, his tense body gradually relaxing.

“Thank you for your generous regard, elder,” he replied.

“How about this? Why not become my disciple outright—I’ll impart every skill I possess to you,” Xie Yan-Ke suggested, already picturing Yun Zhong-He kneeling before him in the ceremony of apprenticeship. The thought of passing on his unrivaled techniques to a worthy successor brought a smile to his lips.

But before his smile could spread, Yun Zhong-He slowly shook his head. “Thank you for your kind offer, elder, but I have already joined the Ancient Tomb Sect and cannot pledge myself elsewhere.”

At those words, Xie Yan-Ke’s smile froze on his face. He turned pale, then flushed, utterly surprised. He himself had extended the invitation to Yun Zhong-He to become his disciple—and yet was refused!

“Young man, do you know what it means to be my disciple?” Xie Yan-Ke exclaimed, a tone rarely used by him, so shocked was he by Yun Zhong-He’s rejection. In the martial world, people would break their necks for the chance to be his pupil. He had always disdained the mediocre, refusing to let his techniques be sullied. Now, having finally found a young man of skill and temperament who suited him, he could scarcely believe he had been turned down. The Ancient Tomb Sect was but a minor group, utterly incomparable to him.

The crowd, too, fell into silence after Yun Zhong-He’s decision. They had expected him to leap at Xie Yan-Ke’s offer, but instead, he had refused—something none of them had anticipated.

“Has Yun Zhong-He taken leave of his senses?”

“He doesn’t even bother to pick up such a huge windfall falling from the heavens.”

“I bet Yun Zhong-He is playing hard to get, hoping to learn Xie Yan-Ke’s skills without becoming his disciple.”

The crowd muttered various opinions as all eyes fell on Yun Zhong-He. If he truly thought to gain something for nothing, he was destined for disappointment. Every sect and reclusive master in the martial world valued their legacy; without the bond of master and disciple, they would sooner let their arts die out than hand them to outsiders.

Xie Yan-Ke, seasoned in the ways of the martial world, quickly regained his composure after the initial shock. His gaze shifted to Yun Zhong-He, dark and inscrutable.

“What an arrogant youth! Today, I’ll see for myself how formidable this so-called Ancient Tomb Sect’s martial arts truly are!” Xie Yan-Ke’s eyes sharpened with a sudden ferocity. His robes fluttered though there was no wind, and a powerful aura emanated from him in waves.

Witnessing this, the crowd’s attention returned to Yun Zhong-He, amusement flickering in their eyes. Unanimously, they stepped back, clearing space for the two to duel.

A breeze swept through, stirring the fallen leaves and revealing the pristine stone slabs beneath.

“Dog… brother, would you mind stepping back?” Yun Zhong-He called to Dog Bastard.

“Alright.” Dog Bastard turned, glanced at Yun Zhong-He, and obediently moved aside. He added, “Hey, brother, when are you going to trade me those twenty meat pies for the token?”

Yun Zhong-He, eyes fixed on Xie Yan-Ke, replied, “Wait until the fight is over, then I’ll trade with you!”

Hearing their exchange, Xie Yan-Ke’s eyes flashed with anger. These two, treating his Xuan Iron Token as if it were nothing more than a barter for pies—what an outrage!

On the other side, Yun Zhong-He sensed a shift in Xie Yan-Ke’s mood, a gleam of cunning flashing in his eyes. With a light tap of his toe, his body soared like a wild goose, then plunged downward. Gathering true energy in his palm, he struck fiercely at Xie Yan-Ke’s face with the speed of a thunderbolt.

“Despicable!” the crowd cursed, seeing Yun Zhong-He seize the chance for a surprise attack.

In the blink of an eye, he covered several meters, the wind roaring in his ears. Xie Yan-Ke secretly praised him—good lad!

Using words to provoke and create a momentary vulnerability, then capitalizing on it—that was the mark of martial skill, intelligence, and timing. This youth was a rare talent; with proper guidance, his future would be limitless.

Thinking thus, Xie Yan-Ke’s actions were swift. As Yun Zhong-He’s palm neared his body, Xie Yan-Ke drew a half-circle before his chest, deflecting the blow. He then stepped back and spun in place, Yun Zhong-He’s palm brushing past his robe, his body pitching forward uncontrollably.

Xie Yan-Ke, famed in the martial world for years, would not fall so easily into Yun Zhong-He’s trap. If he did, he might as well dash his head against a block of tofu and die in shame.

Missing his mark, Yun Zhong-He was startled. He knew his earlier attack could not truly harm Xie Yan-Ke, but he had not expected him to dissolve the threat so effortlessly, using minimal force.

As Yun Zhong-He’s thoughts settled, his forward momentum stopped abruptly. Looking down, he saw that Xie Yan-Ke had grabbed his calf.

In the next instant, Xie Yan-Ke’s palm struck the ground, his energy scattering the small pebbles. Yun Zhong-He used the force to spin like a top, breaking free from Xie Yan-Ke’s grasp.

Immediately, he channeled true energy into his right leg, making it as hard as steel, and swung it at Xie Yan-Ke’s head with tremendous force. Xie Yan-Ke, however, calmly raised his palm.

Bang!

Palm and leg collided. An invisible shockwave radiated from their center. Yun Zhong-He’s expression changed; it felt as if he had kicked an iron wall, the backlash causing his leg to ache and tingle with numbness.

Before he could react, Xie Yan-Ke’s powerful energy burst forth, pushing him back. Each step he took left an inch-deep imprint on the ground. He retreated more than ten meters before he managed to dispel the force within and steady himself.

The difference in skill was unmistakable.