The Elegant Gentleman [1]

"Little brother…" 

Having seen Pig Yun's shifty eyes, Li Chen stood up. 

[Was it taken from you?]

"Taken from me? Who would dare fight this great one?" 

[Then what did you do with it?]

"I exchanged it for points." 

[!!!] 

Li Chen slumped back to the bench. He heard the tall and short duo whispering and shot them a hard glare.

"Little brother, I couldn't take missions. I already took a task."

[From whom?]

"Little brother, don't think much about it."

[You took a task from which disciple?] Li Chen asked again, but this time his voice was much deeper.

In addition to his floating words, which seemed to respond to his emotions, sweat beads ran down Pig Yun's temples.

Li Chen's glare felt like the gleams of a sword and his unrestrained aura enveloped the surroundings.

"He took a task from senior Li Mei. Speak up, Pig Yun!" The short man snickered, inwardly laughing at Pig Yun's dilemma.

[Who's that?]

"She's a beauty who Yun fawns after. He's like a dog before her," the tall man scowled.

"How dare you!" Pig Yun roared. A swirling force burst forth from his mouth, blasting both men backwards.

[Brother Yun, how could you give that weapon to a woman you just met in a day? I would have sold it!] 

"Pig Yun!" A feminine voice rang and the same group Li Chen met emerged from the distance. His hawkish gaze located their leader.

A woman with a curvy figure. Casually overlooking her slightly pretty looks, he tried to sense her accomplishment.

"Brother Yun, this axe is great!" The man wielding it tapped the axe, and a wide smile spread across his lips.

"Who's this?" Li Mei looked at Li Chen. His regal posture, broad shoulders, and mask stunned her.

[Brother Yun, I have no choice but to report you to Miss Ying.]

Pig Yun's eyes flew wide open and he fell on his knees, hitting his head against the ground. 

"Little brother, spare me!" His voice echoed, scaring away the birds.

None of them expected such a response, not even Li Chen.

[Give them back their points and return that axe to me in a week!] Li Chen ordered, flung his robe, and walked away. 

When his figure had vanished into the distance, Pig Yun lifted his head, his small eyes focused on Li Mei.

Seeing Pig Yun's different gaze, Li Mei was stunned. Her lips curled upwards and she crossed her hands under her ample bosom.

"I'll be returning your points and taking back my axe." Pig Yun said softly.

"What axe? This will be your last payment." Li Mei scowled.

"Fatty, I know you're slow to understand but this axe is worthless in your hands. It's better you let me use it." The man holding the axe grinned.

"You want to mess with me? Good!" Pig Yun bellowed and got to his feet. Right before their eyes, his muscles bulged, and he grew a bit bigger.

His beards were like needles and his skin was like bronze. BOOM—!

Pig Yun shot forward. His knee sank into the man's abdomen, launching him into the distance.

CLANG —!

Li Mei tried to strike him from behind but her sword rebounded, causing her arm to tremble. "P…P…Pig Yun…" Her eyes trembled and she fell to the ground.

She watched Pig Yun wrap his palm around her comrades heads and smash them against each other.

Was this the gullible man who swept her courtyard? Was Miss Ying so scary that Pig Yun would turn into a raging beast?

"KEEP MY AXE. I'll be back for it." The power of his breath caused her hair to flutter. 

From afar, ascending the stairs, Li Chen heard Pig Yun's roar and sighed.

'He's voice is just too loud.'

[Where is Lu Buping?] Li Chen asked softly.

"I'll take you there." The short man responded hurriedly and they led him to a grand arena.

Hundreds of outer disciples watched a man garbed in purple and a man wielding scimitars battle.

'Ning Chuan.' 

The arena was located in a flat, round valley, while the hills on all sides were carved into seats. Li Chen, who had just arrived, stood at the highest level and his keen eyesight locked on the fighters.

With a mighty roar, Ning Chuan slammed his hammer against the ground and spikes emerged from the ground, heading in all directions.

His opponent flickered through the gaps, his movement fluid and dangerously stealthy. He sheathed his blades and threw seeds into the air.

The moment they landed, roots burst from the ground, binding Ning Chuan's feet up to his waist.

Roaring, Ning Chuan struggled to release himself, only to see a scimitar aimed at his throat.

The young man sheathed his blades, cupped his fist, and left a growling Ning Chuan on the platform.

"I knew the newbie was pushing his luck. He thinks after defeating four rankers he could humiliate all of the top ten elites."

"You forgot he just arrived. There's no doubt Ning Chuan's talent is on par with the top three." 

"The girl is also good. She could accurately hit a target three hundred meters away. She's also a beauty!"

"Hey, isn't that the no. 1 newbie?" A girl pointed at Li Chen.

"It's actually him!"

"I heard he has some sort of relationship with fairy Mo Xueyi's sole disciple."

"That's a fat lie. Control what spills out of your mouth!"

"But I was there. She was staring at him and shot an arrow that killed a luminous butterfly a mile away!" 

Ning Chuan turned to Li Chen, who descended to the first row, close to the platform.

"What are you doing here? They summoned us here to tell us that they're stronger. Leave while you can."

[This is out of your character. What changed you?]

"Ren Xing came before me and lost badly. I couldn't even handle sixth rank despite trying my best. Our strength gap isn't large so you can't either."

"Brother Li, Senior Lu Buping is over there."

Li Chen turned to where the short man pointed and saw a handsome man elegantly fanning himself.

He held an oval folding fan and crossed one leg over the other. His noble aura, sharp brows, and deep black eyes revealed a certain sense of nonchalance.

Beside him was the man who just defeated Ning Chuan, a pretty woman and a short youth who had a mischievous smile.

[So, the drink was supposed to lure me into the trap, huh?]