Chapter Sixty-Five: Avenging My Master

Chapter Sixty-Five: Avenging My Master

"Li Jiankui, have you lost your mind?" The Master of the Golden Blade Sect shouted as he parried Li Jiankui’s iron fists.

Li Jiankui’s punches rained down like a storm. His voice was cold: "You dared disrespect my grandmaster. How could I forgive you?"

Everyone was stunned. When had the Golden Blade Master offended Li Jiankui’s grandmaster? And, for that matter, who was Li Jiankui’s grandmaster?

Suddenly, the Golden Blade Master unleashed a powerful technique, forcing Li Jiankui back with a palm strike. He shouted, "Li Jiankui! Are you an idiot? I don’t even know who your grandmaster is. How could I possibly have offended him?"

Li Jiankui sneered, then dropped to one knee, bowing deeply to Shi Bai.

"Grandmaster! Your disciple came late and frightened you."

A resounding clang seemed to echo in everyone’s minds.

The Golden Blade Master, Liu Heming, Li Ruyi, Young Master Jin, the gatekeeper—all opened their mouths in shock, eyes wide.

"He... is your grandmaster?"

Shi Bai smiled calmly, helping Li Jiankui to his feet. "It’s nothing. You’re not to blame."

Li Jiankui hurried to his feet. "Thank you, Grandmaster!"

Shi Bai smiled. "How is your Iron Palm training coming along?"

Li Jiankui’s face lit up. "I’ve mastered the first level."

Shi Bai nodded with satisfaction. "To master a level in just over a month is no small feat."

Li Jiankui beamed. "It’s all thanks to your excellent teaching, Grandmaster."

The onlookers grew even more astonished. "What are they talking about?"

The Golden Blade Master strode over, his tone incredulous. "Li Jiankui, have you lost your mind? This child is your grandmaster?"

Li Jiankui snorted. "Are you deaf? Did you not hear us?"

He bowed again to Shi Bai. "Grandmaster, this man just attacked you. Should I continue to teach him a lesson?"

The crowd’s astonishment deepened. It seemed true: Shi Bai was indeed Li Jiankui’s grandmaster.

Shi Bai smiled slightly. "Continue. The attacker must be properly punished."

"Yes!" Li Jiankui somersaulted before the Golden Blade Master and launched another punch without hesitation.

The Golden Blade Master, both shocked and furious, cried, "Li Jiankui! You really are mad!"

Li Jiankui ignored him, swinging his fists relentlessly.

The Golden Blade Master was forced to retreat, finally unsheathing the golden blade at his waist with a metallic clang.

"Fine! If you show no mercy, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"

He slashed fiercely at Li Jiankui.

The Golden Blade Sect’s specialty was its blade technique, and the Master’s skill surpassed Li Jiankui’s. With the blade in hand, Li Jiankui began to lose ground.

Young Master Jin, arms crossed and lips curled in a mocking smile, said, "A mad dog dares challenge my father!"

"Ha!" Just then, with a loud bang, Li Jiankui unleashed a strange palm technique. The Golden Blade Master blocked with his blade, but still staggered back three steps.

"What!" The Golden Blade Master’s eyes widened. "What technique is that?"

Li Jiankui grinned proudly. "Iron Palm!"

"What?" The crowd gasped. They had overheard Li Jiankui and Shi Bai mention it earlier, but never imagined it was true.

But wasn’t the Iron Palm lost to history? How had they obtained it?

The Golden Blade Master narrowed his eyes, sneering. "Iron Palm? Li Jiankui, you expect me to believe that?"

He swung his golden blade, and the two resumed their fierce battle.

Yet now, the Golden Blade Master no longer had the upper hand. The Iron Palm was as hard as stone and completely impervious to his blade.

Young Master Jin, seeing his father lose his advantage, grew nervous and leaped into the fray.

"Father! Let me help you!"

With the Iron Palm, Li Jiankui and the Golden Blade Master were evenly matched. Now, with Young Master Jin joining, Li Jiankui began to struggle, retreating continuously and showing signs of defeat.

Li Yue’e watched anxiously from a distance. She wanted to help her father, but Li Jiankui’s techniques were all fierce and masculine, passed only to men, and she knew none of them.

Ye Ying’er glanced at Shi Bai, clearly hoping he would intervene.

Shi Bai frowned, considering whether to step in and help Li Jiankui. But just then, a booming shout erupted as a burly man flew into the melee.

"Father!" Ye Ying’er cried out.

Only then did the crowd realize the newcomer was Ye Ying’er’s father, Ye Xingzu.

Ye Xingzu’s fists were even fiercer than Li Jiankui’s. The Golden Blade Master and his son were thrown into chaos, forced to retreat.

The Golden Blade Master stared in shock. "Ye Xingzu! What are you doing?"

Ye Xingzu sneered. "You dared insult my grandmaster. How could I let you off?"

"Grandmaster! Again with the grandmaster?" The crowd was astonished. "Who is Ye Xingzu’s grandmaster?"

The Golden Blade Master was dumbfounded. "Your grandmaster? You mean your grandfather? When did I ever insult your grandfather?"

Ye Xingzu snorted. "That young gentleman over there is my grandmaster!"

Another resounding clang echoed in everyone’s hearts.

The Golden Blade Master, Liu Heming, Li Ruyi, Young Master Jin, and the gatekeeper all gaped, jaws dropping.

What in heaven’s name was happening? Even the patriarch of the Ye family recognized Shi Bai, that young boy, as his grandmaster! Was there any justice left in the world?

"Master! Your disciple is late to defend you. I deserve a thousand deaths!"

The crowd had barely begun to process this when suddenly, a white-haired elder swooped in like an eagle, landing and dropping to one knee.

"Master! It was my carelessness. I forgot to give you the token, causing you to be insulted."

Everyone was petrified on the spot.

"Ye Yulong!"

Ye Yulong’s standing in the ancient city was unmatched; his martial skill might not be the greatest, but his prestige was the highest. If even he was Shi Bai’s disciple, then Shi Bai’s identity was beyond imagination!

In an instant, the jaws of the Golden Blade Master, Liu Heming, Li Ruyi, Young Master Jin, and the gatekeeper all hit the ground.

Shi Bai helped Ye Yulong up and smiled. "It’s nothing. The fact that you stand up for me shows you hold me in your heart as your master. How could I ever blame you?"

Ye Yulong exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Master!" He suddenly turned and glared at the Golden Blade Master.

"Golden Blade! You insulted my master. Aren’t you going to kneel and admit your mistake?"

The Golden Blade Master awoke as if from a dream, rubbing his eyes hard as if to check if he was dreaming. "What did you say?"

Ye Yulong’s expression turned cold. "Admit your mistake!"

The Golden Blade Master slapped himself and cried out, "It’s true!"

He stared at Shi Bai as if seeing a ghost. "You... his master?"

Shi Bai folded his arms, smiling faintly. "Disciple and grand-disciple—you see, this man has no intention of admitting his fault."

Ye Yulong looked at Li Jiankui and Ye Xingzu. The three nodded in unison.

"I understand!" Suddenly, they lunged at the Golden Blade Master and subjected him to a merciless beating.

"Ah!" Amidst a flurry of blows, dust flew and the world seemed to darken.

...

"I was wrong! Spare me!" The Golden Blade Master screamed pitifully.

Li Yue’e and Ye Ying’er burst out laughing.

About five minutes later, Shi Bai clapped his hands. "Enough—let’s all go inside."

Ye Yulong and the others finally stopped, nodding. "Yes!"

At the gate remained a fat man, battered and bruised.

Tears welled in his eyes, blood dripped from his nose.

"What... did I do wrong?"