134 Chapter 133: Xianxia Villain Logic (2/2)

Unfortunately, the spectators did not understand this principle. They were all staring greedily at the golden gauntlets that Zhu Jiao wore, completely discounting his skills and believing it was the Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets that gave him the edge in battle. That also mean that he had just become the center of attention.

Typical protagonist…always drawing the stupid crowd's attention so that they could flame and bash him at first, then get slapped in the face when he won and proved them wrong, and end up praising him to high heaven. Someone ought to eliminate all these stupid token crowds who exist for the most inane reasons ever conceived by xianxia writers. Just look at Lin Feng from Peerless Martial God, for example. Or Li Fu Chen from Eternal Reverence.

To be fair, the battle for all the other Spirit Treasure Armaments in the main hall had finally ended after ferocious conflicts, and the remaining seven Spirit Armaments were now in the hands of their current owners, each of whom had prevailed after fighting off competitor after competitor. With those fights concluded, everyone naturally turned to watch the only match that was still ongoing.

”Senior Jun Hao!”

Now that the fight for the other Spirit Treasure Armaments was over, the other Heavenly Way Sect members realized that their second senior was dueling with Zhu Jiao. When they saw Zhu Jiao casually punch away Jiang Jun Hao's killer move, they couldn't help but be stunned.

”That kid has also acquired a Spirit Treasure Weapon!”

Was it just me, or was the author trying to make every Heavenly Way Sect disciple greedy bastards who were envious of Zhu Jiao's success for no reason other than he was the protagonist? I mean, yeah, it was natural to be jealous of other people if they have something you want, but why only Zhu Jiao? Why weren't they staring at the other Spirit Treasure Armaments in the hands of the other wielders with the same expression?

”Such a powerful Spirit Treasure Armament!”

Similarly, Jiang Jun Hao was staring at the Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets that clad Zhu Jiao's hands. For those gauntlets to easily repel his killer move that he executed with his high-grade treasure weapon, Heavenly Spear, they had to be on par with them, meaning they were at least a high-quality Spirit Treasure Armament as well.

Upon that realization, Jiang Jun Hao's desire swelled up, and his grip on the Heavenly Spear tightened as he harbored the intent to drill it into Zhu Jiao (though I would think that Zhu Jiao would be more of the seme rather than the uke). Evidently he was under the sad misconception that if he acquired the Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets, he would be able to stand at the peak of his generation. Again, that was nonsense and nothing short of fantasy. A powerful, high-quality Spirit Treasure Armament did not automatically make you stronger. The outcome of a battle was completely dependent on your own skills and techniques, not the weapon you wielded.

”That brat tried to steal my Heavenly Spear and snatched that Spirit Treasure Armament from me! Let's attack and kill him together!”

His eyes gleaming maliciously, Jiang Jun Hao shouted.

”Are you kidding me?!” I yelled. ”You tried to kill Zhu Jiao with your Heavenly Spear and you're the one blatantly trying to snatch his Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets from him! How the fuck are you acting like you have the higher moral ground?!”

”Uh, he's right, you know,” one of the Heavenly Way Sect disciples said.

”Wouldn't this make us…you know, bullies and robbers?” another Heavenly Way Sect disciple agreed.

”Master wouldn't be happy if he hears about this,” another added.

Finally…somebody with an ounce of common sense. Perhaps Jiang Jun Hao was an anomaly in a sect that was supposed to be orthodox.

Unfortunately, Jiang Jun Hao was their second senior (and their first senior was locked away in isolation training, trying to make a breakthrough), and thus he held authority over his fellow disciples. Meaning he could order them about.

”Oh, shut up and help me! If nobody tells Master, then he won't hear about this!”

”You do realize there's a lot of witnesses here, don't you, Second Senior?” the first guy piped up as he indicated the large crowd of spectators surrounding them.

Whoosh!

”!!!!”

He was almost punished for his insolence with death when Jiang Jun Hao threw his Heavenly Spear at him. A slight trickle of blood dripped from a graze on his cheek and he froze, staring up at his second senior in fear.

”Anyone who questions me will lose their head. Is that understood?”

The fuck?! How the fuck did this bastard get into an orthodox sect?!

Unfortunately, that threat motivated the cowed Heavenly Way Sect disciples into obeying their second senior's command. Reluctantly shuffling about, the dozen or so of them got into formation and prepared to assault Zhu Jiao.

”Sorry, man,” one of them called out apologetically. ”But we have to obey Second Senior.”

Zhu Jiao didn't reply. He merely clenched his fists and steeled himself for the battle, his eyes staring icily at the dozen Heavenly Way Sect disciples. A golden aura surged from his body and a gigantic Golden Kirin appeared behind him in an intimidating manner.

He wasn't alone.

”Mind if I join in?” I asked as I stepped up beside him, gathering my qi and also bracing myself for battle. Even though we were still vastly outnumbered, the odds of two against twelve were twice as good as one against twelve.

”Thanks,” Zhu Jiao murmured. ”But don't worry about me. You should fall back. I don't want to drag you into this.”

I smiled wryly. ”Too late for that, don't you think? I've already involved myself in this ever since I did the tsukkomi role against Jiang Jun Hao's completely illogical villainous behavior. Besides, I believe in your plot armor.”

”Huh? Plot armor? What the hell are you talking about?”

Before I could explain, another voice cut across the vast hall.

”Jiang Jun Hao, what do you think you're doing?”

Just before Jiang Jun Hao and his fellow disciples could charge Zhu Jiao and me, exploiting their massive advantage in numbers, a cold voice echoed calmly across the main hall. Glancing in the direction of the familiar voice, I saw Bai Ning Xue and the White Tiger Sect swiftly approaching us. Kuang Hu, in particular, was grinning, his expression filled with bloodlust.

”Do we get to kill someone?” he asked, rubbing his hands in glee. Bai Ning Xue gave him a baleful stare.

”No. None of you are to move without an explicit instruction from me. Especially you, Kuang Hu. Understand?”

”Yeah, yeah…”

Kuang Hu rolled his eyes and swallowed any complaints he had about her decision. The rest of the White Tiger Sect, on the other hand, nodded quietly, trusting in their vice-leader. Unlike Jiang Jun Hao, Bai Ning Xue didn't need to threaten her fellow disciples to get them to obey her.

She had earned their respect long ago.

The White Tiger Sect glanced at Zhu Jiao, impressed that he had managed to snare a Spirit Treasure Armament. Bai Ning Xue looked proud of her boyfriend, but she concealed that emotion well. Easy enough, as right now she was filled with rage as she glared at Jiang Jun Hao.

”Do you seriously intend to rob a martial artist in broad daylight? And you call yourself an orthodox martial artist? You should adhere to the law and protocol set down by the Martial Arts Alliance! As members of the Heavenly Way Sect, you should be ashamed of yourselves!”

”We told you so,” one of the discples muttered grumpily, sending an accusing glare at Jiang Jun Hao.

”So what?” Jiang Jun Hao sneered, ignoring the snipe. ”And what does this have to do with you? This brat isn't part of the White Tiger Sect, so you have no right to interfere!”

”Actually, we do.”

One of the other martial artists who had claimed the Spirit Treasure Weapons stepped up. I saw that it was the guy who succeeded in grabbing the staff and attaining ownership over it. He was drawing his newly obtained staff and pointing it at Jiang Jun Hao now.

”As orthodox martial artists, we have a code of conduct to adhere to. Otherwise we might as well become demonic martial artists and join the demonic sects. Are you sure you're from the Heavenly Way Sect and not the Heavenly Fiend Sect?”

”This is none of your business, Gun Bang!” Jiang Jun Hao snarled. Gun Bang smiled thinly.

”Oh, but it is. How can I, a warrior of the righteous way, stand by and watch injustice being meted out? Not only are you bullying someone, you're ganging up on him. Not to mention your treatment of your own sect members, threatening them to obey you.”

”Yeah!” the guy who claimed the spear, who I traded blows with earlier, also stepped out. ”And if you're already pulling this sort of stunt and trying to rob Zhu Jiao, then how do we know you won't be bold enough to rob the rest of us too? That you'll stab us in the back and snatch our Spirit Treasure Weapons when we let our guard down!”

”There you have it.”

Bai Ning Xue nodded and then proceeded to draw her sword. No…two swords. The first, I recognized as the one she used during the semifinals against Zhu Jiao and in the last sixteen against Tang Qi Hong, a beautiful silver sword that was elegantly crafted with White Tiger markings embroidered into the blade. The second sword was a pink Spirit Armament that emanated a fearsome amount of qi that was not inferior to the golden aura exuded by Zhu Jiao's Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets. Evidently Bai Ning Xue had won the battle and acquired the sword-type Spirit Treasure Armament inside this hall.

Well…that was to be expected of the main heroine, I guess?

”You…!”

Jiang Jun Hao turned pale when he saw the swords that Bai Ning Xue was wielding, trembling when he was hit by the incredible qi pressure they emitted. He swallowed, understanding the grim situation he was in. Never mind the other two Spirit Treasure Armament wielders, which included Gun Bang, he would have difficulty fighting Bai Ning Xue alone. Not to mention his target, Zhu Jiao, had earlier clearly demonstrated that he was able to wield the full power of the Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets.

The Heavenly Way Sect Second Disciple realized that he was at an overwhelming disadvantage.

”You bastard…just you wait! I will definitely grab back what is rightfully mine!”

”Really now…?” I sighed. ”Haven't we been through this already? It's not as if your name is written on the Heaveny Golden Draconic Gauntlets. Stop being a sore loser and accept that they don't belong to you.”

Though, clearly, with his antagonistic attitude, Jiang Jun Hao would surely attack Zhu Jiao in the near future to snatch away his Heavenly Golden Draconic Gauntlets in an underhanded manner. Of course, this would justify Zhu Jiao ruthlessly killing the bastard, for what was a xianxia story without senseless murder? But it would do Zhu Jiao no credit if he just killed without good reason, which was why poor Jiang Jun Hao was reduced to a ridiculous, one-dimensional, shallow caricature who existed solely to be ”evil” and for Zhu Jiao to kill.

I had seen all this before, and quite frankly, it sickened me. If only there was a way to avoid all these cliché tropes and have Jiang Jun Hao reform instead of just indulging in villainous deeds for the sake of being the guy the protagonist killed.

Unfortunately, right now, I couldn't think of anything.

”Sooner or later, we'll settle this once and for all!”

Suppressing the fury building up in his chest, Jiang Jun Hao spun away and stomped off after glaring fiercely at Zhu Jiao. The rest of the Heavenly Way Sect members glanced at each other, but then decided not to follow him.

After all, he had nearly killed one of them just because they questioned his…uh, questionable orders.

”Sorry about that,” one of the disciples told Zhu Jiao as he dabbed at the cut on his cheek. ”Our Second Senior is known for being…pretty extreme.”

”I can't believe Master still hasn't straightened out his character,” the second Heavenly Way Sect disciple complained. ”We ought to report this.”

”If the fucking bastard doesn't kill us first,” the third disciple muttered under his breath.

When even your fellow disciples hated or were afraid of you, something was very wrong. Not that Jiang Jun Hao would listen to reason.

”Don't worry about it,” Zhu Jiao assured them. ”It's not your fault. If anything…” he smiled as he glanced in the direction where Jiang Jun Hao stomped off toward. ”I will welcome a fight anytime, anywhere.”