Chapter Seven: The Half-Month Pact

"To vent some anger?" Xiao Chunkong and the others listened to Chen Fan's words, their lips twitching and faces darkening. Turning to look at the girl, they saw her nose bright red, blood streaming down—she looked utterly pitiable.

"You!" Before Xiao Chunkong could say anything, a tall young man behind him suddenly rushed toward Chen Fan from across the arena.

"How dare you hurt our Yuyong!"

This young man was just over twenty, tall and imposing, radiating a fierce aura—clearly not someone easy to deal with. In the blink of an eye, he closed in, his fist swinging toward Chen Fan.

Yet, faced with this threat, Chen Fan remained unmoved, watching coldly as the youth approached.

Suddenly, Xiao Chunkong’s voice rang out, "Mu Lei, stand down!"

Buzz!

Mu Lei’s fist halted mere inches from Chen Fan’s face. He could go no further.

Chen Fan’s lips curled into a smile. "Do you dare strike me?"

A duel was one thing; Dong Guzhi welcomed competition among his disciples. But outside of official matches, to attack the master’s personal disciple would mean Mu Lei would be expelled from the martial hall immediately! Not to mention, there was no real enmity between Chen Fan and him—the girl had simply been injured in a friendly match.

Mu Lei clearly had a special relationship with Xiao Yuyong, at least harboring feelings for her.

At this moment, Lin Shiyu and the others stepped forward, standing protectively in front of Chen Fan, glaring coldly at Mu Lei.

"Don’t forget, Brother Chen is the master’s personal disciple. He may be young, but that doesn’t mean he’s easily bullied!"

Mu Lei’s face twitched, his anger palpable as he stared at Chen Fan. Yet, he finally withdrew his fist, fixing Chen Fan with a glare.

"I... challenge you!"

Lin Shiyu scolded, frowning, "How long have you been practicing true martial arts? Shameless!"

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, sizing up the tall youth called Mu Lei. He spoke directly, "You want to challenge me? Tell me—your age, level, and what’s the wager?"

Lin Shiyu and the others’ faces changed. "Chen Fan, you must not!"

Lin Shiyu hurriedly added, "Don’t agree to it—Brother Feng lost to him!"

Chen Fan was taken aback, giving Mu Lei another look. So this was the man who had defeated Feng Yuancheng.

Feng Yuancheng had a solid foundation; to lose to a first-level true martial artist was surprising even to Chen Fan.

Mu Lei glared fiercely at Lin Shiyu and the others, then stared at Chen Fan, deliberately provoking, "What, are you afraid?"

Chen Fan laughed, replying, "Did you not understand my question?"

Mu Lei’s eyes flashed. "I am Mu Lei, nineteen and a half, first level in martial arts. If you agree to the duel, let’s wager today’s stake along with all the resources you’ve won!"

Lin Shiyu interjected quickly, "Brother Chen, be careful. Mu Lei may only be at the first true power level, but he’s been training for nearly two years!"

Chen Fan was intrigued. The transformation of a martial artist’s true energy was a basic stage; unless your bone structure was poor, it shouldn’t take more than a year. Mu Lei had mastered a first-class force technique, so his bones couldn’t be bad; yet at nearly twenty, he was still at the first level—something was odd.

To defeat Feng Yuancheng, he must rely on some true energy martial technique. Chen Fan was curious about his strength.

Chen Fan shook his head, thinking for a moment. "I’ll agree to the duel, but I’ll wager three hundred energy pills. You must match that value in resources."

Mu Lei’s eyes sparkled; he turned to Xiao Chunkong, who nodded. Mu Lei turned back and said, "Agreed!"

Chen Fan paused. "But I have a condition. Our match will be held half a month from now..."

Mu Lei was only first level, and to have defeated Feng Yuancheng made him formidable. Though Chen Fan had grown stronger, he couldn’t guarantee absolute victory...

This opponent was not like Xiao Yuyong, who had only just begun training in true martial arts—their skill levels were different.

With resources flowing in, Chen Fan’s training efficiency soared. Another ten days, and he would not only master the White Cloud Pine and Crane Palm, but finish all the extra techniques he’d been practicing!

His skills and foundation would be much improved, and new techniques would need real combat to refine their efficiency.

He welcomed challenge and pressure, but wasn’t foolish enough to hand over resources for nothing...

Mu Lei’s cultivation wasn’t exceptional, yet he had easily beaten Feng Yuancheng, making him a dangerous opponent.

Mu Lei hesitated, a bit impatient. "Half a month? That’s so long..."

Xiao Chunkong had already stepped up beside Mu Lei, agreeing for him, "Half a month it is! But today, we must sign a pre-match agreement—no backing out!"

Chen Fan was young, newly admitted; Xiao Chunkong didn’t dare push too hard, so he hadn’t let Mu Lei challenge him outright at first.

Unexpectedly, after his sister’s injury and Mu Lei’s impulsiveness, he got the result he’d hoped for.

Chen Fan nodded.

"Brother Chen, you—" Lin Shiyu looked at Chen Fan, puzzled, not understanding where his confidence came from.

Having seen Chen Fan win once, he realized how little he truly knew about him.

Everyone envied this young disciple for being chosen by the master, but none truly grasped the extent of his talent. Where did his confidence come from?

"Brother Feng never told me much... Who exactly is this Chen Fan?"

After parting ways with Chen Fan, Lin Shiyu wrote a letter, sending it to Feiling County to inquire about Chen Fan’s origins.

Meanwhile, Xiao Chunkong and the others gathered to discuss.

Xiao Yuyong had recovered, a piece of gauze on her nose. "I said we should investigate Chen Fan’s background first, make sure everything is safe before acting, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look—hundreds of silver gone... and I ended up getting hurt!"

Before strangers, Xiao Yuyong was a cold beauty; among friends, she spoke much more.

"I was worried that if we delayed the challenge, others would take the lead. The master doesn’t forbid challenges, and we’re not the only ones eyeing Chen Fan and Feng Yuancheng as easy pickings!"

Xiao Chunkong’s lips twitched. "Who would have thought Chen Fan, so young, would be so formidable? I thought at best he’d master a complete set of White Cloud Pine and Crane Palm, achieve inner breath—but I never expected he would defeat my sister!"

Xiao Yuyong’s skill was not less than Mu Lei’s, and among her peers she was exceptional.

In fact, Xiao Chunkong had overestimated Chen Fan—he hadn’t yet mastered the White Cloud Martial Hall’s signature technique...

But he’d mastered a multitude of miscellaneous skills.

Mu Lei was now calm and serious. "This kid’s blood is strong, his constitution unusual—he’s not to be taken lightly..."

Xiao Yuyong sighed. "If that’s the case, why are we agreeing to a second duel? Are you certain Mu Lei can defeat him? The wager is nearly a thousand silver—if we lose, we’re in for a huge loss!"

If Chen Fan bought things himself, three hundred energy pills would cost only six hundred silver, but in reality, many items can’t be bought for any price—outsiders might not get them even for a thousand silver!

Mu Lei flexed his arm, showing off his biceps. "Do you really think he can beat me? Hmph. I delayed my true skill training for the sake of mastering the Mighty Eagle Claw technique, suppressing my level just to win more duels!"

Transforming true energy is hardly difficult—even mediocre talents with good roots can finish in a year or two. The best disciples in White Cloud Martial Hall, aided by Dong Guzhi, complete it in a month or two.

Mu Lei intentionally stayed at this stage, training true martial techniques, just to challenge prodigies like Feng Yuancheng who are new to the hall.

These gifted newcomers think a first-level true martial artist isn’t much stronger, agree to the duel, and end up defeated.

Of course, lingering at the first level wastes some talent, but it earns more resources, making the martial path easier ahead—it’s a matter of personal choice.

Xiao Yuyong pouted, rolling her eyes. "We know you’re formidable, but who here knows how strong Chen Fan really is?"

Mu Lei fell silent.

That was the key.

They underestimated Chen Fan because of his age, losing hundreds of silver. Now, they wouldn’t repeat the mistake.

Xiao Chunkong’s eyes flashed. "Yuyong is right. We need to thoroughly investigate Chen Fan’s background and strength. The stakes are too high—we must win. I plan... to go to Feiling County myself!"

Know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll win a hundred battles. Having suffered once already, Xiao Chunkong wouldn’t be careless again.

...

The night Chen Fan defeated Xiao Yuyong and accepted Mu Lei’s challenge.

Feng Yuancheng came to see him, saying bluntly, "You shouldn’t have accepted Mu Lei’s challenge!"

This Brother Feng was as proud as ever.

Chen Fan frowned. "Is Mu Lei really that formidable?"

Feng Yuancheng nodded. "Mu Lei’s cultivation isn’t strong, his foundation inferior to mine, and even less than yours—but his martial techniques are too powerful!"

He sighed, his expression complex. "When I fought you, I was at a disadvantage, but if I attacked aggressively, I could still gain the upper hand. Against Mu Lei, I felt like a child—my strength was no less than his, yet he toyed with me with ease..."

Chen Fan was astonished.

This Mu Lei was truly formidable!