Chapter 49: Revenge!
Chapter 49: Revenge!
“Huh?”
“What did he just say?”
“Did I hear that right?”
Upon hearing Tang Jinbiao’s arrogant words, those present showed stunned expressions, completely failing to process what had just happened.
“What?”
The Goddess Tang Yilin glanced at the unconscious Tang Shan lying on the ground, then looked at Tang Jinbiao’s current, wildly boastful demeanor. Her brow furrowed deeply. She couldn’t quite figure out this Tang Jinbiao. He clearly seemed to possess no imposing aura, yet the scene moments ago was too bizarre.
The notoriously unyielding Tang Shan had voluntarily licked Tang Jinbiao’s shoe, slapped his own face, and even let himself be beaten without resisting. It defied reason, utterly defied reason. Even paid actors wouldn’t be that convincing. A chill of fear prickled her skin; she felt Tang Jinbiao might very well target her next.
“Brother Biao!”
“Brother Biao!”
Tang Hu and Tang Bi had completely lost their composure. They’d forgotten all words of praise. Their eyes saw only Tang Jinbiao’s tall, imposing figure; their mouths could only chant the stylish epithet: “Brother Biao.”
Thud! (Sound of heart dropping)
“Could he be… possessed by something?”
“Don’t know, but… maybe?”
Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi exchanged a glance. Their hearts skipped a beat, and they began whispering anxiously between themselves.
“Has this kid gone mad during cultivation?”
“That was…?”
“Isn’t that kid supposed to be half-crippled?”
“There’s no way Tang Shan was throwing the match, was he?”
“Immortal Ancestor! Great Master! My path to immortality rests on you!”
On the Elders’ Podium, all the Elders, apart from the Third Elder who looked thrilled, frowned in confusion. Clearly, they too were baffled by whatever this performance was.
“Damn it! Who’s next? Who else dares?”
Tang Jinbiao stood at the edge of the Platform Stage, shouting loudly. He projected the image of someone unmatched in all heaven and earth, so overwhelmingly arrogant it was like he was demanding to be killed.
“Hmph! Tremble, Mortals! Damn it! Who else?”
Tang Jinbiao’s gaze swept casually across the gathering, a contemptuous snort escaping his lips. But just then, his eyes abruptly locked onto Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi.
Thud!
Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi’s hearts plummeted. Their legs began to tremble involuntarily.
“Heh. Yeah, that’s right. You two. Number One, Number Two. Get out here!”
Tang Jinbiao lifted his hand, pointing dismissively at Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi as he spoke.
As Tang Jinbiao shouted this, a faint memory flickered in his mind – a moment from singing karaoke once, seeing the suave back of some rich young stud who had pointed at a line of hostesses and said, “Yeah, you. Three, you leave. The rest of you stay!”
Thud!
Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi exchanged another terrified look, tension coiling within them.
They had naturally seen the scene earlier where Tang Shan was beaten up.
Although they hadn’t quite understood the specifics of what happened, that kind of eerie affair wasn’t anything they felt confident to confront.
“What are you gawking at? Hurry up and come up here to lick the boots of Brother Biao the Great Demon King?”
A faint hint of anger appeared on Tang Jinbiao’s face as he urged once more.
“He couldn’t really be calling us, could he?”
“I don’t know, seems like he might be?”
The two of them whispered as they discussed it.
“Yes, exactly, you two! Number One, Number Two! Aren’t you going to come up for Brother Biao the Great Demon King? Or do I need to invite you personally?”
Tang Jinbiao’s eyes rolled around, and a sly smile curled at the corners of his mouth as if he had thought of something.
He said, “If you just defeat me, you’ll get to become disciples of the Divine Wind Academy. Such a great opportunity— are you really going to let it slip away like that?”
Tang Jinbiao had resorted to tempting them with a spot in the Divine Wind Academy, and indeed, his words produced an effect.
“What?”
“A place at the Divine Wind Academy!”
As soon as the two heard this, their hearts suddenly thumped loudly.
Of course, it wasn’t fear but excitement now.
“Brother Huaxi!”
“Brother Xingchi!”
“Brother Huaxi, don’t worry— that spot is yours. Just give me the Foundation Building pill that the Third Elder gave you, and I won’t mind not going to the Divine Wind Academy!”
“All right, Brother Xingchi. This old bro will never forget your great kindness!”
“Mhm, Brother Huaxi, I believe you!”
“Mhm, got it, Brother Xingchi!”
The two actually started debating right there, as if they had already won and knocked Tang Jinbiao off the stage, discussing how to share the spot.
“Huh…”
“I…”
The crowd at the scene had already been speechless at Tang Jinbiao’s big talk, but after hearing what Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi said, they were even more dumbfounded.
“I…”
Tang Yilin’s face also wore a strange expression.
“That kid!”
“That kid has gone insane!”
The Elders were each utterly silent too.
As for Tang Shan, he had long passed out. If he had heard those words, he would probably have coughed up blood again.
…
“Hey, Number One and Two, are you coming up or not? Brother Biao the Great Demon King only cares about you two because of our good relationship. I didn’t call any of the many others below— just you two! So hurry up and come to show your gratitude!”
Tang Jinbiao saw that the two were swayed by the idea, and the sly grin on his face intensified.
He had long wanted to teach them both a lesson, but only his low Cultivation Level had held him back. With no chance before, it was better to make good use of this moment to really punish them.
“Hehe!”
Tang Jinbiao thought this while shifting his gaze towards Tang Yilin. Clearly, he couldn’t let her slip by either during this opportunity; he had already assigned her a number in his mind!
Yes, that’s right, number three!
Thump!
As soon as she met Tang Jinbiao’s gaze, Tang Yilin felt another tremor run through her.
“Could he possibly be eyeing me now?”
A faint unease prickled Tang Yilin’s heart, as her notoriously unreliable woman’s intuition screamed that she was Tang Jinbiao’s next target.
…
Tang Xingchi: “Brother Huaxi, what do we do? Should we go up?”
Tang Huaxi: “Go up? Why wouldn’t we? Are we just supposed to let such a golden opportunity pass by?”
Tang Xingchi: “But… Brother Shan was smashed so easily without even fighting back? I just feel like there’s something fishy about that Platform Stage. And look at his mouth… is he drooling? Yes! And he’s smiling, he really is smiling! He isn’t going to… eat us, is he?”
Tang Huaxi: “Scared? If something happens, the Elders will handle it. He’s nothing but a measly first-tier Body Refiner apprentice. Look at you, trembling like a leaf!”
Tang Xingchi: “But I kinda feel like… maybe those Elders aren’t his match either!”
Slap!
Tang Xingchi: “Ah! Brother Huaxi? Why did you hit me?”
Tang Huaxi: “Stop babbling. Let’s go!”
…
“Heh heh!”
Watching Tang Huaxi drag Tang Xingchi charging onto the Platform Stage, a strange grin spread across Tang Jinbiao’s lips. He then slowly walked towards the center of the Platform Stage, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to meditate.
“Hmph! Brat! I hadn’t imagined a few short months could turn you so arrogant! Seems I went too easy on you before!”
Upon reaching the stage, Tang Huaxi initially wore a guarded expression. But after observing carefully, finding nothing obviously wrong besides a vague feeling of something being off, a mocking smile surfaced on his face. Still, he didn’t immediately approach. He stood near the edge of the Platform Stage; a sliver of doubt remained in his heart.
“Little punk, you dare pretend to be mystical to us? More than that, you dared to publicly beat Brother Shan in front of so many people? Today, the two of us brothers are here to reclaim that honor for Brother Shan!”
Tang Xingchi also scanned his surroundings. Unable to pinpoint anything specific, just sharing that nebulous feeling of difference, he too began to mock.
“You little punk! Aren’t you a Body Refiner? Well, big brother here won’t be using any Spells today! Just my fists to scatter your ugly teeth and have you crawling on the ground begging for mercy!”
Once Tang Huaxi was sure it was safe, he began taking slow, deliberate steps towards Tang Jinbiao, who sat meditating cross-legged, eyes closed. As he walked, he rolled up his sleeves.
“Hmph! Brat! Ever seen fists big as cymbals? If not, big brother will show you right now!”
Tang Xingchi followed right behind, also rolling up his sleeves and raising his fists.
“Hmph! Brat! Stopped moving, eh? Stopped running? Realized you’re wrong?”
“Brat! Kneel and lick your grandpa’s shoes. If grandpa’s feeling generous, he might go easy on you!”
“Brat! Scared stiff?”
“Brat! What? Can’t move anymore?”
…
Tap tap tap!
In the blink of an eye, the two men stood before Tang Jinbiao.
“Kid, die!”
“Kid, death to you!”
They arrived right in front of Tang Jinbiao, exchanged a glance, and saw that Tang Jinbiao was still sitting there, perfectly motionless; he made no reaction at all. Thinking he had been scared witless, they both threw punches straight at Tang Jinbiao.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Although they were Cultivators, their punches were driven by Spiritual Energy. The force behind each blow was in no way weaker than a normal punch, possibly even a bit stronger—both aimed ferociously at Tang Jinbiao’s face.
Glare!
But just as their fists were about to connect with Tang Jinbiao’s face, Tang Jinbiao abruptly opened his eyes.
“Beat him!”
Tang Jinbiao’s eyes held utter calm. He spoke faintly and with total composure.
Bam!
Boom!
“Aah!”
“Aah!”
A bizarre sight unfolded. Immediately after Tang Jinbiao spoke, the fists of Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi that had been heading straight for his face suddenly veered off course. They slammed into each other’s faces instead. The force was so immense that both men flew backward in opposite directions.
“Why did you hit me?”
“Why did you hit me?”
Heavily crashed to the ground, they felt like the bones in their faces had fractured from the impacts. Struggling to their feet, they angrily demanded answers.
“Beat him; beat him viciously!”
Tang Jinbiao’s voice commanded once more.
“Aah! My foot—my foot won’t obey me!”
“Not good! My hand—my hand is out of control!”
Tang Huaxi and Tang Xingchi had barely regained their senses when, abruptly, they felt as though their bodies had been seized by someone else. Moving entirely of their own violation, they charged toward each other.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Rrrragh! Aaaiiiieee!
In the next instant, the two were locked in a savage tangle of limbs. Piercing howls of pain and the thunderous sound of strikes filled the entire arena…