16 Chapter 15: Talent Restored (1/2)

After that, nothing happened for the next day or two. Teacher Jiao told me to finish up the rest of my Shadow Steps learning, which was nearing completion. Once I did so, I was to see him and we would proceed from there.

For a martial arts academy, the students were left to their own devices to do a whole lot of self-learning. I was beginning to wonder what the point of joining a martial arts academy was, given that the only things the teachers and staff taught us were theoretical subjects that we could learn in any regular school.

What was the point of enrolling in a martial academy then?

The answer was the competitive environment.

”Hah!”

”Oraaaa!”

Instead of going on a run today, I had taken a detour to watch an official duel between two of my schoolmates. Feng Tian Yong was dueling against a student from Class 1-3, and they were viciously trading blows.

Boom!

Fires erupted from Feng Tian Yong's hands as he slashed at the other guy with his Flaming Phoenix Claws technique. The other guy countered with Soaring Eagle Talons, a light blue aura of predatory qi shrouding his hands. The clash between their attacks caused the colliding qi to detonate and both fighters staggered back.

The other guy, who was from the Soaring Eagle Sect, was a student named Fei Ying…if I remembered correctly. No, he had no relation with me, and the Chinese character for our family name was completely different. In any case, I heard of him. He was a highly competent Three Star Constitution practitioner, and for him to fight this long against a Four Star Constitution cultivator like Feng Tian Yong proved his ability.

”Heh…not bad.”

Feng Tian Yong looked impressed. Grinning excitedly, he increased the intensity of his blazing yang qi, shrouding himself within a ravenous inferno.

”You're pretty good! There's no need for me to hold back!”

Fei Ying watched him silently, but I could see the perspiration dripping down his face. Nonetheless, he clamped down on his fears and bravely faced the human torch that Feng Tian Yong had become. A pair of azure wings materialized on his back and spread out, and I could almost see feathers made of qi fluttering to the ground.

”That's the…Soaring Eagle Double Wings technique!” one of the students from class 1-3 murmured.

”Fei Ying is really going all out, eh?”

”Do it! Beat that guy from class 4!”

While the students from class 1-3 roared their approval, the students from class 1-4 refused to back down.

”Feng Tian Yong!” I hollered. ”Do your best!”

”Yeah!”

The girls joined me, screaming and cheering. Feng Tian Yong was one of the most handsome guys in class, and thus garnered a huge following from our female classmates.

”You can win!” Zhu Jiao shouted beside me.

Feng Tian Yong smiled as he glanced at us, then he turned back to smirk at his opponent.

”Wings, huh?” he asked. ”I can do that too.”

Blazing wings of fire burst out of his back, unfolding to unleash a rain of fiery feathers onto the ground. Even more massive and majestic than Fei Ying's, the flaming wings took on a golden tinge that enveloped the entire arena in a yellowish glow.

”…”

Fei Ying watched his opponent cautiously, but he did not back down. Gritting his teeth, he hardened his resolve and sped forward. His wings flapped and he soared high in the vast space of the arena, which despite being an enclosed space was about twenty meters in height and fifty meters in length and breadth.

There clearly was enough space for both duelists to fly around.

Not wanting to be upstaged, Feng Tian Yong flapped his fiery wings as well, and took off. The two of them wheeled, jinked and cartwheeled in the air, using their heightened mobility and agility to dodge each other's attacks.

It was almost like watching a pair of fighter jet planes dueling in the skies.

”Amazing…even though Feng Tian Yong and Fei Ying are only middle school first year students, they've already reached such a level?!”

”Geniuses…both of them are geniuses!”

”The only one who can surpass them is Bai Ning Xue!”

Just so you know, this was most certainly not a normal duel between middle school first year students. It resembled the high-level battles between high school students. Most of our duels were a lot more low-key than this, which was exactly why this was one of the rare instances I actually bothered to watch a duel between my classmates.

There was an explosion as the two combatants collided in the air again, Feng Tian Yong's Flaming Phoenix Claws clashing against Fei Ying's Soaring Eagle Talons. Both of them plummeted toward the ground, exchanging vicious blows, striking and slashing at each other's faces, chests or arms. Flames pounded against a blue sheen, while sharp azure qi scratched against a blazing barrier. For a moment, it seemed neither duelist would give ground.

Boom!

Wrestling with each other, the duo slammed into the ground and vanished in a cloud of dust. Slight tremors shook across the arena, but the reinforced material – which was far more durable and sturdier than the one used in the training facilities – held. The spectators held their breaths as they waited for the cloud to dissipate.

It didn't take long for the cloud of dust to dissipate, and when it did, many of the spectators gasped. Both figures were lying on the ground.

”That's…”

”It's a…draw?”

”No…wait!”

Someone shouted when one of the figures rose unsteadily to his feet. Holding his fist up, diminished flames flickering weakly but surely, Feng Tian Yong yelled triumphantly.

”OOOOOH!”

”Awesome!”

”Amazing!”

The spectators broke into applause, having enjoyed that fight tremendously. As for me, I was both pleased for my friend as well as satisfied that I had learned something from this fight.

”Feng Tian Yong is super strong, isn't he?” Zhu Jiao commented, thoroughly impressed. ”He's probably one of the best in our cohort.”

”Yeah,” I agreed, watching as Feng Tian Yong strode over to his fallen opponent. He offered Fei Ying a hand, and the latter took it, allowing Feng Tian Yong to pull him to his feet.

”You were amazing,” Feng Tian Yong praised Fei Ying, patting him in the shoulder. ”You really pushed me all the way.”

”Heh. Thanks. But I still lost.” Fei Ying shook his head. Feng Tian Yong beamed in response.

”You know I'll accept your challenge anytime. I would love to fight against you again.”

”Of course.” Fei Ying smiled back. ”Next time the result might be different.”

Feng Tian Yong laughed. ”I look forward to that!”

”Let's go congratulate Tian Yong,” I told Zhu Jiao, getting ready to descend to the backstage of the arena. The girls in our class were already heading in that direction, no doubt trying to appeal to him by offering him a towel or something.

”Oh? Where do you think you're going?”

I felt a chill run down my spine when I heard the familiar voice. Turning around, I caught sight of Qi Fu Ren showing up in the spectator box, his flunkies in tow.

”Hey, it's been a while.” Forcing my discomfort away, I looked up at him and waved absentmindedly. ”Hello.”

Qi Fu Ren's lip curled and he glared at me. He seemed pretty annoyed by my sarcasm. Good. That was the point of my sarcasm.

”Why haven't you bowed down already?” he sneered. I stared at him, taken aback by the ridiculous words.

”Why should I bow down to you?”

Shrugging, I made to brush past him and head downstairs to where Feng Tian Yong and the others were, but Qi Fu Ren reached out and shoved me back.

”Where do you think you're going?”

I met his gaze evenly. ”I don't believe that's any of your business?”

Qi Fu Ren placed a hand on my shoulders, and in a single motion, slammed my knees into the ground. I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to let out a cry of pain to the sadistic bully. As if he was disappointed, Qi Fu Ren exerted more force into his hand on my shoulder, grinding my knees painfully against the concrete.

”Kneel. Didn't you learn from your months in Wu Ling Academy? The correct way of greeting a superior and stronger person is to prostrate themselves. I'm already magnanimous in only letting you kneel instead of prostrating.”

Bloody fucker…

”Hey, what are you doing?” Zhu Jiao growled as he hurried over to help me. He was the only one who did so. Even though most of the student spectators from all the different classes had remained behind in the box, the majority of them had gathered behind Qi Fu Ren and his underlings to spectate. They either stood by, doing absolutely nothing, or they enjoyed what they perceived as entertainment. ”Get your hands off Fei Wu!”

”What's going on here?” Ban Zhang emerged. ”Why are you all standing around, watching…? Hey! Qi Fu Ren! What do you think you're doing?”

Before he could get to our position, Hu Shuo and Ba Dao barred him. Craning my neck, I saw that it wasn't just Ban Zhang. A few other guys, and girls such as Qing Xin Xia and Xiang Xun Yi had quickly stepped forward, but the two cronies continued to block them.

”Stop it! Stop picking on Zhu Jiao and Fei Wu!”

”You guys should be ashamed of yourselves!”

”Heh.” Qi Fu Ren relaxed his grip on my shoulder, and I quickly seized the chance to withdraw. Ignoring me. Qi Fu Ren turned to glare at the classmates who dared gathered in front of him. ”None of you are a match for me.”

”That's not the point! You shouldn't be bullying other people…”

Ban Zhang barely finished his sentence when Qi Fu Ren struck him. Lightning exploded and Ban Zhang was sent hurtling across the air, crashing onto the ground heavily in a heap. After carving a trail, he lay motionlessly on the floor, his body smoking.

Qi Fu Ren raised a lightning-wreathed fist. ”Anyone else wants to interfere?”

Nobody said anything after that. Qing Xin Xia quickly hurried over to treat Ban Zhang with her healing techniques from the Green Dragon Sect. after a few moments, Ban Zhang began to stir, and I finally let out an exhalation of relief.

Meanwhile Qi Fu Ren turned gleefully toward me and despite being a distance away, he punched out.

At first I thought he was merely threatening me, but a lightning bolt rippled from his hand and slammed into me. I shrieked as electricity incinerated and shocked me, causing my body to jerk uncontrollably.

”Ha ha ha ha! Would you look at that?” Qi Fu Ren and his two flunkies guffawed at the sight. ”Did you take dance lessons, Fei Wu? Those are some pretty good moves!”

I collapsed onto the ground wordlessly, fumes rising from my electrocuted body. I coughed, feeling numb all over. Gritting my teeth, I tried to crawl to my feet, only for Qi Fu Ren to approach and hit me.

However, before his blow could land, Zhu Jiao caught his fist. Lightning crackled and surged violently, but Zhu Jiao didn't seem the least affected. Instead, he shoved Qi Fu Ren away.

”Is it that fun picking on the weak?” he demanded.

”Eh?” Qi Fu Ren looked astonished that his lightning didn't seem to have any effect on Zhu Jiao, but he quickly wrote that off as an aberration. Regaining his malicious grin, he mocked Zhu Jiao derisively. ”Of course! There's no greater joy than putting trash in their place…in the bin!”

Zhu Jiao met his scornful gaze evenly, his eyes steely and cold. ”If you want to pick on Wu, you'll have to go through me first.”

”Hah! That's what I wanted! I wanted to teach you a lesson as well! You're getting pretty uppity lately, aren't you?” Qi Fu Ren sneered as he glowered at Zhu Jiao. ”And stop bluffing. None of the teachers are here today. Don't think you can rely on Teacher Jiao to save your sorry ass now, like he did the last time.”

A cold smile spread over Zhu Jiao's handsome face. ”Good. Then you won't be able to hide behind Teacher Jiao.”

”What did you say?!” Qi Fu Ren roared. Zhu Jiao smirked.

”Oh, so you're deaf as well as stupid? I said that it's a pity you won't be able to hide behind Ning Xue today.” He shrugged. ”How pathetic of you to always hide behind adults. Are you planning to be a kid forever?”

Qi Fu Ren stared at him, astounded. Then he began chuckling, his laughter quaking with barely concealed rage.

”Good. Very good. I see that you've finally lost your mind. Being trash must have damaged you psychologically. I feel so sorry for you.” he reached out to strike Zhu Jiao, but the latter caught his Lightning Fist without breaking a sweat. Qi Fu Ren's brow furrowed, but he retained his composure. ”Since you're so confident, then you won't refuse my challenge, right?”

Zhu Jiao sighed and shook his head exaggeratedly. ”You're not my match.”