Chapter 60: If I Put It Up, Won’t You Just Tear It Off?

“Fatty, stop giving us that glassy look. Brother Xuan really made sure this time. This love poem actually notes the woman’s figure too.” Jiang Taixuan declared seriously.

“Really?” Ximen the Fatty sounded doubtful.

“Of course! Listen carefully,” Jiang Taixuan straightened up, recalling that love poem from his previous life, and recited slowly: “Guan guan cry the ospreys, On the islet in the river. A graceful maiden pure and fair, A worthy match for the noble gentleman…”

“Good verse! Excellent verse!” Ximen the Fatty slapped his thick hands together in admiration, but then his voice turned plaintive. “Brother Xuan, why didn’t you teach me this one sooner?”

“Alright, alright, I just didn’t remember it before,” Jiang Taixuan waved impatiently, shooing the fatty outside. “Go memorize it yourself. I’m busy.”

The news of the duel between Clear Moon Academy and the Divine Devil Dojo had spread like wildfire throughout Clear Moon City, even stirring up the City Lord’s Manor. Several top-tier powerful factions were also joining the commotion to watch the spectacle.

However, they were only treating it as a joke. The Foundation Building Patriarchs paid no attention whatsoever. Even the heads and Elders of various families didn’t take it seriously.

In Clear Moon City, Clear Moon Academy was a colossal entity, uniquely positioned and aloof. They had guided the city’s youths into the Martial Arts for years, possessing deep roots and vast resources. It was absolutely not something a newly established force could hope to challenge.

Of course, those who knew a bit more held differing opinions. The Divine Devil Dojo was too miraculous. The Wang and Chen Families had already gathered all their available funds and placed bets entirely on the Divine Devil Dojo’s victory.

“Dad, we secretly mortgaged the land deed,” Wang Mingming voiced his concern. “If mother finds out, will she kill us?”

“What’s there to fear? In a few days, we’ll make a huge pile of money,” Wang Yuan patted his son’s shoulder with slight dissatisfaction. “Think loftily! We’re going to be Ascending to Divinity in the future. Think big!”

At the Divine Devil Dojo, Jiang Taixuan finished writing some notices and had Ximen the Fatty and Huang Ruoyan take the papers into Clear Moon City to glue up little advertisements. Ahuai, distrustful, went along too.

“Not a single person came all day.” Jiang Taixuan murmured, feeling a little disappointed.

He opened the Celestial Network. Unsurprisingly, everyone was discussing the coming duel, along with news about Huang Ruoyan. Words like ‘waste’, ‘blubber mountain’… if Huang Ruoyan saw them, she’d probably fly into a rage again.

Idly scrolling through the Celestial Network for a while, Jiang Taixuan walked back into the Dojo. Tomorrow was the final day. The duel was the day after. He wondered just how much Lin Yuan had improved inside the Hundred Broken Secret Realm?

“Li Yuanba, have you seen Lin Yuan?” Jiang Taixuan asked softly.

“Field Master, no,” Li Yuanba’s voice sounded in his mind. “After entering the Hundred Broken Secret Realm, they separated from Tang Yuelu and me. Miss Tang didn’t follow them either. We went in opposite directions.”

“Weren’t they causing you trouble?” Jiang Taixuan was surprised. The people from Clear Moon Academy should have guessed Li Yuanba was from the Divine Devil Dojo.

“I wish they’d dared to make a move,” Li Yuanba said flatly, his tone dismissive. “They were less gutsy than I thought. Otherwise, I could have dealt with them right there in the Secret Realm.”

Jiang Taixuan rolled his eyes and didn’t pursue it. “Focus on your tasks,” he instructed.

After that, Jiang Taixuan went to the counter and took out one God-Demon Pill – his daily free snack had been delivered.

Safely storing the God-Demon Pill, Jiang Taixuan closed his eyes and started cultivating.

The next morning, when Jiang Taixuan stepped out, Ahuai was carrying logs and diligently clearing the ground.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Taixuan’s lips twitched, a bad feeling rising.

“Field Master, Miss said she wants to stay here to be with Young Master Ximen. I’m building a house,” Ahuai explained.

“Then you should build it near Ximen the Fatty’s place! Why put it right here?” Jiang Taixuan couldn’t remain calm. Waking up to a mountain of blubber bouncing before his eyes?

“Young Master Ximen works here. He won’t need to go back. Building it here is perfect,” Ahuai stated seriously.

“This is my land! Want to build a house and live here? Where’s the payment?” Jiang Taixuan demanded, displeased.

“Miss will pay you when she arrives later. Food expenses won’t be shortchanged either,” Ahuai answered promptly.

“Huang Ruoyan? Where’s she gone?” Jiang Taixuan frowned.

“Miss went to practice Martial Arts with Young Master Ximen. They’ll be back soon.” Ahuai said. He glanced at the sky, tossed down the log, and asked, “Field Master, where’s the Foundation Building Demonic Beast meat? I’ll cook.”

“…you just want to eat demon beast meat, don’t you?” Jiang Taixuan sighed and took out a piece of Foundation Building Demonic Beast meat.

Ahuai quickly snatched it, smiling. “Field Master, I bought some fine wine in Clear Moon City last night. We’ll have a good drink later.”

Jiang Taixuan’s expression softened slightly. Just as he was about to leave, Ahuai suddenly spoke up. “Field Master, are you sure you won’t check the Celestial Network?”

“What happened on the Celestial Network?” Puzzled, Jiang Taixuan opened the network, and his face instantly darkened.

“Jiang Taixuan, you shameless, despicable scoundrel!”

“Hateful Jiang Taixuan, with your dirty tricks! Give up! Your Divine Devil Dojo will never succeed!”

Jiang Taixuan’s face was grim. He clicked into the posts and immediately understood why people were berating him and condemning the Divine Devil Dojo.

Last night, the trio – Ximen the Fatty, Huang Ruoyan, and Ahuai – had gone forth to plaster their little ads. They stuck them not only at the Mercenary Guild entrance but also on the grand gates of top families and even the City Lord’s Manor.

What truly surprised Jiang Taixuan was that they’d stuck two fliers on the front gate of Clear Moon Academy. They’d plastered them crosswise, like a seal.

Were they trying to seal off Clear Moon Academy?

No wonder people were furious. Nobody felt good opening their door to find a small ad slapped right on their gate.

The Mercenary Guild and Clear Moon Academy were the angriest; the Divine Devil Dojo was clearly their opponent.

The trio had worked late at night. Armed with Ahuai, an Innate Martial Artist, the gates were no barrier – after all, they didn’t have Innate Martial Artists guarding their entrances.

And so, Jiang Taixuan posted a single line: “Got any Innate Realm Warriors to guard your gates? If I stick it up, can’t you just tear it off?”

“Too vile! This Jiang Taixuan is too vile!” That single line almost choked the crowd with rage.

Innate guards? Innate Martial Artists were the strongest force beneath the Foundation Building Patriarchs, the pillars and foundation of any power! You wanted such elite fighters put on gate duty??

And ‘tear it off’? How about YOU don’t paste it there in the first place?!

“Clear Moon Academy! Be strong tomorrow! You have to crush Jiang Taixuan!” Many posts demanded.

Lin Chen seized the chance to jump out too: “Jiang Taixuan! See how universally hated your Divine Devil Dojo is? Kneel down now, admit your wrongs, and cripple your cultivation yourself. I, representing Clear Moon Academy, might spare you.”

“Lin Chen, do you really mistake yourself for someone important?” Jiang Taixuan sneered his reply as he closed the network. “Tomorrow, you’ll gain an extra ‘daddy’, and possibly a couple of uncles.”

Lin Chen fumed, wisps of steam almost visibly rising, longing to annihilate Jiang Taixuan on the spot.

Shutting down the network, Jiang Taixuan asked where Huang Ruoyan and Ximen the Fatty were supposedly training and hurried off. This battle allowed no mistakes.

Two hundred meters behind the Dojo was a stretch of unused land. Originally, the academy planned to cultivate herb fields here. But after only managing to create those two barren patches that belonged to Jiang Taixuan and Ximen the Fatty, Clear Moon Academy abandoned the project, leaving it deserted ever since.

“Practicing Martial Arts? Why is there not a sound? Could they be…?” Jiang Taixuan’s expression turned peculiar, and he slowed his pace.

Moving cautiously with Faraway Yet Close, Jiang Taixuan reached the edge of the clearing. Two plump figures were lying sprawled on the ground, holding stones and muttering.

Jiang Taixuan frowned slightly and crept closer. Their conversation became clear. He heard Huang Ruoyan say, “Truly brilliant, Young Master Ximen, to invent such a game as Gobang!”

Jiang Taixuan: “…”

Weren’t you supposed to be training? Why are you both lying here playing Gobang!