Chapter 87: The Knocking Sound Returns

Rip!

The punch came as fast as the wind, and Zhang Xin Xiong's sudden strike startled everyone watching.

As fellow practitioners in the Shang Ling Jing realm, how could Su Qian Qian not sense the terrifying fist coming from behind? Yet, she showed no reaction at all, as if she truly hadn't noticed the sneak attack.

"Zhang Xin Xiong, you're asking for death!"

Suddenly, Zhao Xi Dong's voice rang out from the side, making Zhang Xin Xiong's focus waver as he quickly turned to look.

The guy who should have been lying on the ground laughing lewdly had somehow gotten up and was throwing a punch of his own.

Zhang Xin Xiong immediately changed his fist to a palm strike, swatting at Zhao Xi Dong like a giant beast swatting a fly.

But Zhao Xi Dong didn't engage directly; instead, he delivered an elbow strike, knocking it against the other's wrist.

Thud!

With a dull sound, Zhang Xin Xiong, once in the fight, completely forgot about everything else. He spun around, clasped his hands together, and chopped down diagonally.

This strike, if it hit the neck, could send a person's head flying.

"Again?"

Zhao Xi Dong glared, not taking the hit. "I'm an enforcement officer now!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xin Xiong finally came to his senses a bit and stopped his hands just short of the black-clad figure.

Clothes rustled in the silence.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Thank goodness, they hadn't started fighting.

But at the same time, it was disappointing. Why did it stop? The drama they were enjoying suddenly lost its appeal...

Su Qian Qian said with a grin, "Xi Dong brother, he tried to hit me."

"You!"

Did you think I didn't see you make the first move just because I was down earlier?

Zhao Xi Dong was furious, but he shot a fierce glare at Rao Yin Yin off to the side.

He truly hadn't expected that the woman who had entered the Nei Yuan quietly and unassumingly back in the day could now manipulate him so effectively.

Rao Yin Yin shrugged and offered a rare explanation: "I didn't 'make a move'."

"Hah!"

Zhao Xi Dong rolled his eyes and turned to Su Qian Qian, fuming. "Hurry up and return your master's token!"

"Oh." Su Qian Qian quickly scampered off.

"Still want to fight?" He looked back at Zhang Xin Xiong.

Fight?

Of course Zhang Xin Xiong wanted to fight—his "Black Shark" had been inexplicably broken, so how could he not?

But was that even possible?

Not to mention Zhao Xi Dong, even if any enforcement officer was around, this brawl probably couldn't happen.

But what about the "Black Shark"?

His sixth-grade Ling Qi had just been mysteriously shattered like that?

Zhang Xin Xiong's eyes narrowed into slits, a sign of extreme anger. However, after glancing at the woman in the red skirt, he held back everything.

He picked up the two broken pieces from the ground, gently stroking them, then glanced toward Su Qian Qian.

"You dared to strike, and this is the price," Su Qian Qian said.

The little girl was already sheltered behind Rao Yin Yin. Zhang Xin Xiong took a deep breath: "I'll give you this face."

But this was said to Rao Yin Yin.

Rao Yin Yin didn't respond; she just kept rubbing Su Qian Qian's head. Zhang Xin Xiong looked toward the back.

His Ling Zhi had been cleaved in two by that earlier sword strike.

"Don't worry about that. I already posted a task at the Ling Shi Ge; someone will come to fix it," Su Qian Qian piped up, pausing before adding, "I already paid the Ling Jing."

Zhang Xin Xiong's back seemed to tremble.

The onlookers were stunned.

"Wow, he actually held back. Zhang Shao must really be head over heels for Rao Shi Jie!"

"Of course, who doesn't know about the twisted love line of 'He Lan Zhang Rao Su'? If anyone dared to touch Su Qian Qian, would Rao Shi Jie let them off?"

"Tsk, tsk, you're right."

Zhou Tian Can scratched his head in confusion, unable to make sense of what they meant by that "Su" thing and whether it was tasty. He could only sigh, "The Nei Yuan is really chaotic."

"Rao Jie Jie, let's go." Su Qian Qian pulled the woman in the red skirt and left.

Zhao Xi Dong thought for a moment and ultimately didn't step forward to stop the two.

Hmm, giving Xiao Lao Da some face. I'll pretend I didn't see what happened today.

He narrowed his eyes, savoring the earlier heavenly moment, then turned back to He Yu Xing. But he found the guy still staring intently at the giant sword Su Qian Qian had left behind.

As expected of He Feng Zi...

"Going?"

He Yu Xing withdrew his gaze, full of regret, picked up his long sword, and followed Zhao Xi Dong.

"Break it up, everyone!"

The onlookers hurriedly packed their stools and scattered.

It was fine to watch the excitement, but sticking around after it ended to face the Nei Yuan's top thirty-three would be terrifying.

Zhou Tian Can hurried away, but a voice came from behind.

"From the Zhou family?"

He turned around and saw Zhang Xin Xiong looking at him. He grinned. "From the Zhang family?"

"Not bad guts, but your strength is lacking."

Zhang Xin Xiong walked up to Zhou Tian Can and looked down at him.

Zhou Tian Can was already quite burly, but in front of Zhang Xin Xiong, he was still a head shorter. Even so, he held his head high, not backing down an inch.

"How's Zhou Lao Ye Zi doing lately?"

"No need to worry; he's doing great." Zhou Tian Can chuckled. "Has your father's right arm been reattached?"

Zhang Xin Xiong gave him a deep look but didn't reply. In the end, he just smiled lightly and walked past him.

"Let's go."

Lan Xin Zi quickly followed.

Zhou Tian Can suddenly froze in place, his body trembling, struggling to move.

A aura like a primordial beast ready to devour him didn't fade with Zhang Xin Xiong's departure—in fact, it seemed even more terrifying, making it impossible for him to breathe.

His knees bent, as if about to kneel.

Crash!

The ground was pierced, and Zhou Tian Can's feet sank in, blood flowing nonstop.

Yet, his body remained straight as a spear.

"Huff..."

With the crowd gone and only him left, Zhou Tian Can was drenched in sweat but finally endured it.

He pulled himself out of the ground and looked toward where the last two had disappeared, clenching his fist.

"One year!"

...

This was a cramped guest room.

Last night had been utterly exhausting, so Xu Xiao Shou slept soundly even on the hard wooden bed.

His dream seemed to be reaching a delightful peak.

Xu Xiao Shou's body twisted and turned, his expression growing more brazen, his hand slowly rising.

Knock, knock, knock!

A slow and steady knocking sound—so familiar!

Snap! Xu Xiao Shou jolted like a startled bird, his body flying up, not caring about the dream shattering. His "perception" instantly enveloped the entire courtyard.

"Not yet inside!"

All fatigue vanished; his spirit was on high alert as he tiptoed toward the door.

Focusing intently, his "perception" struggled through the barrier and saw what was outside.

A little girl in a white short skirt, delicate as a porcelain doll, with a giant sword on her back, was adjusting her clothes.

"Su Qian Qian?"

Xu Xiao Shou relaxed and thought to himself that he was just being too jumpy.

But why was she here?

Xu Xiao Shou racked his brain for memories. Vaguely, he recalled that when Su Qian Qian first arrived, he had just helped her out a bit.

Later, as her senior brother, he had guided her for about a month before she entered the Nei Yuan...

Hmm, he felt a bit ashamed thinking about it, so he decided not to dwell.

The favor was there, but it wasn't that significant.

Besides, they hadn't seen each other much since, except this year when she came to encourage him at the "Feng Yun Zheng Ba"—probably just to say goodbye.

Well, that was pretty loyal of her.

Thinking this, Xu Xiao Shou opened the door.