"He's here to kill me?"
Seeing the dagger flash in the man's hand, Zhang Xuan's brows jumped.
Luckily, he hadn't gone to sleep yet. Otherwise, with how silently this person had approached, he really might have died without ever knowing how.
First, I need to figure out who this bastard is.
Anyone sneaking in under cover of night to assassinate a teacher was definitely not acting alone. If he killed this man without uncovering the force behind him, there would surely be more trouble later.
Before Zhang Xuan could decide how to extract information, the sound of footsteps reached his ears.
The black-clad man holding the dagger had somehow already appeared less than ten meters away.
Zhang Xuan had been too focused—his aura leaked slightly.
He'd been discovered.
Just as Zhang Xuan prepared to rush forward, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
An idea—perfect and shameless.
Lowering his voice, he growled,"I'm here to kill Zhang Xuan, that trash teacher. Who are you?"
The black-clad man froze.
"You're here to kill him?" he asked suspiciously.
Seeing that Zhang Xuan was masked and dressed for stealth as well, the man believed him—at least a little.
"Yes," Zhang Xuan said coldly."That academy's worst teacher does nothing but harm students. Leaving him alive only poisons the place."
Saying this about himself, Zhang Xuan didn't feel even the slightest embarrassment.
"Oh? Then you act," the black-clad man said."I'll keep watch."
"…Huh?"
Zhang Xuan's expression turned strange. He waved his hands hurriedly.
"No, no, you should act. We have the same goal—who does it first doesn't matter!"
"You do it," the man urged impatiently."I don't actually want to kill him. I only want to teach him a lesson. But if he dies, so be it."
"Teach him… a lesson?"
Zhang Xuan stared."Exactly how do you plan to 'teach' him?"
The man let out a vicious snort.
"That bastard dared to be disrespectful to our young lady. I'll cut off that thing and turn him into a eunuch!"
"…!"
Zhang Xuan felt a sudden chill shoot straight up from his crotch to his scalp.
Damn it.
If he'd gone to sleep tonight, he might have woken up serving the emperor.
That was vicious. Absolutely vicious.
Disrespectful to your young lady?
Zhang Xuan searched his memories—both before and after transmigrating—and found nothing. He hadn't so much as spoken improperly to any girl.
"Are you sure?" Zhang Xuan asked cautiously."I've only heard that Zhang Xuan is incompetent. I've never heard of him molesting women."
"Molesting?" The man's voice trembled with rage."He's worse than an animal! As for our young lady—don't make me say more!"
Zhang Xuan's head spun.
Animal?Your young lady?Who exactly is this 'young lady'?
If she was ugly, this was even more unjust.
"Then why do you want to kill him?" the black-clad man suddenly asked, narrowing his eyes.
"I—"
Zhang Xuan froze for a split second, then clenched his teeth.
"I can't stand seeing him bully women!"
"You know he bullies women?" the man pressed."Which woman?"
"He—" Zhang Xuan snorted."That's none of your business."
The man hesitated, suspicion flickering in his eyes. After a moment, he waved it away.
"Fine. Since we're both acting, you go first."
"You go first," Zhang Xuan replied calmly."You castrate him. I'll kill him afterward."
"This…" The man squinted at him.
He was starting to doubt.
Why would this fellow be so cooperative?And why would he know my plan?
"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan said impatiently."Don't trust me? If I weren't here to kill him, would I be wandering around masked in the middle of the night?"
The logic made sense.
After thinking it over, the man nodded.
"You're right. Since our goals align, we'll go together."
"Good." Zhang Xuan smiled beneath his mask."Stick close."
He turned and moved forward.
"Martial Artist Fifth Layer… peak?"
The man's eyes widened slightly as he sensed Zhang Xuan's movement. He immediately circulated his Qi and followed.
The moment the man unleashed his cultivation—
Boom.
The Library of Heaven's Path trembled.
A book appeared in Zhang Xuan's mind.
He glanced at the cover.
Yao Han.
"That name…"
Zhang Xuan flipped it open.
Yao Han — Chief Steward of the White Jade City Lord's MansionCultivation: Martial Artist Sixth Layer, Open Acupoint Realm (8 acupoints opened)
Zhang Xuan's pupils shrank.
White Jade City?
So that was it.
This was the same steward who had interrogated him earlier that day—Zhao Ya's attendant.
The "young lady" he kept mentioning…
Zhao Ya.
Realization struck—and rage followed immediately.
"So that's how it is," Zhang Xuan thought coldly."Framing me for something I never did, and you even came to castrate me?"
He kept reading.
Cultivation Technique: White Jade Heavenly Cycle SkillMartial Skills: Profound Body Palm (Great Accomplishment), Profound Body Fist (Great Accomplishment)Flaws: 16 total. One—Vital Gate located at the buttocks…
Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.
Eight opened acupoints meant twelve cauldrons of strength. In a direct fight, he'd be crushed.
But—
Knowing your flaws?That's a different story.
"Open Acupoint Realm expert?" Zhang Xuan sneered inwardly."Today, if I don't beat you senseless, my name isn't Zhang Xuan!"
He suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Yao Han asked warily.
Zhang Xuan pointed upward casually.
"Look! A flying saucer!"
"…What?"
Yao Han turned instinctively.
In that instant—
His Vital Gate was completely exposed.
"Die!"
Zhang Xuan struck.
Bang!
A vicious kick landed squarely.
Yao Han flew forward like a sack of grain and smashed into a nearby rock.
Before he could recover, Zhang Xuan pounced, pinning him to the ground.
Punch after punch rained down.
Face. Nose. Jaw.
No technique. No form.
Pure street brutality.
"YOU—!"
Yao Han's body stiffened. His Qi scattered wildly. The blow to his Vital Gate had completely disrupted his circulation.
He couldn't fight back.
Couldn't even scream properly.
Didn't we agree to work together?!Where's your integrity?!
You said you had principles!
You said you were Martial Artist Fifth Layer—where's your dignity?!
This wasn't martial arts.
This was a brawl.
A ruthless, shameless beating.
Stars exploded in Yao Han's vision as he finally understood—
He'd been completely, utterly played.
And played badly.