The laughter of the Thunderclap Blade Sect disciples immediately ceased, replaced by startled expressions. Several of them exchanged glances before one stepped forward, his tone dripping with arrogance. "And who do you think you are, daring to interfere with us?"
Hengsheng’s sharp gaze swept over the group, his aura surging with suppressed rage. “I’m Lan Hengsheng of the Lan Clan. You dare bully my people here? You’ll regret this!”
The crowd around them whispered in hushed tones, surprised by Hengsheng's boldness. The tension in the air thickened as the Thunderclap Blade Sect disciples narrowed their eyes, clearly sizing him up.
"Lan Clan?" one of the purple-robed men sneered. "Your clan is nothing compared to the Thunderclap Blade Sect—"
Pakkk!
Hengsheng didn’t let him finish his villainous rant. With an explosive speed that left most Qi Gathering cultivators struggling to follow, he dashed forward and landed a heavy punch square on the man's face. The Thunderclap disciple was sent flying past his group, landing with a resounding crash on the ground several meters behind them.
“How dare you! Teach him a lesson!” one of the remaining disciples yelled.
The rest of the group swarmed Hengsheng, their movements coordinated and fueled by fury. But Hengsheng wasn’t one to back down. With fluid motions, he leapt toward the closest attacker, delivering a powerful kick to his head. As another disciple tried to ambush him from the side, Hengsheng twisted his body mid-air, dodging the strike effortlessly before countering with a palm strike to the chest.
The impact was devastating. The disciple's eyes widened in shock as he was sent flying backward, landing with a loud thud. The battle became a flurry of movements—punches, kicks, dodges, and counterattacks. Hengsheng’s control over his Qi was precise, amplifying his strikes and enhancing his speed.
One by one, the Thunderclap disciples fell to the ground, groaning in pain. The fight didn’t last long. Soon, the only person left standing was Hengsheng, his aura sharp and unyielding.
“How dare you!” one of the fallen disciples growled, struggling to his feet. His hand reached for the hilt of his sword, his intent clear.
"Ahem."
A calm yet authoritative voice interrupted the scene, halting the disciple in his tracks. All eyes turned to see a young man clad in golden robes, the unmistakable mark of the Golden Sword Sect. His expression was calm but carried a weight that demanded attention.
“Why not stop here and step back?” the golden-robed disciple said, his tone even yet firm.
The Thunderclap Blade Sect disciples exchanged worried glances. Reluctantly, they stepped back, helping each other to their feet. The one who had reached for his sword gave Hengsheng a venomous glare and spat, “This isn’t over!”
Hengsheng didn’t even bother acknowledging him. His focus shifted to the golden-robed man. Bowing respectfully, he said, “Thank you for stepping in. I might’ve caused trouble otherwise.”
The Golden Sword Sect disciple chuckled, waving off the thanks. “Hahaha, don’t mention it. It’s my duty to keep order here. If anyone draws a sword in the city, it’s my neck on the line. Just don’t cause any more commotion.”
“Understood.” Hengsheng bowed again before turning to his clanmates, who were now regaining their footing and looking at him with complicated expressions.
Gesturing for them to follow, Hengsheng led the group away from the scene. Once they were a safe distance, he stopped and turned to face them.
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“What happened?” Hengsheng asked, his tone sharp but not accusatory.
Baixing lowered his head, his voice tinged with embarrassment. “Brother Hengsheng… we didn’t provoke them. We were just walking through the market, looking at the stalls. The street got crowded, and one of us accidentally brushed against one of their disciples.”
Hengsheng’s eyes narrowed, his expression darkening. “A simple accident led to this?”
Baixing nodded, his face still flushed with shame. “Yes. We apologized immediately, but they wouldn’t accept it. When they knew that we were from second-rate force, They said that as members of a small clan from the rim of the Metal Flow Plain, we had no right to even walk in the same street as them. Then… they accused us of intentionally disrespecting their sect.”
Hengsheng’s frown deepened. The arrogance of the Thunderclap Blade Sect disciples was no surprise, After this event they’ll surely aim for my head inside the Secret Land. A faint smirk crossed his lips. Good. Let them come—it’ll save me the trouble of seeking them out.
His gaze shifted back to Baixing and his group, his tone sharp. “You’re weak!.”
Their faces paled instantly, but before they could respond, Hengsheng continued, his voice cold yet commanding. “Don’t let anyone bully you like that again. If someone’s going to knock you down, it’ll be me don't so let others bully you easily! Go back to the skyship and focus on your cultivation. If I see you wandering around outside again, you’re dead. Understand?”
“Yes, Brother Hengsheng!” they shouted in unison, bowing deeply before running off at full speed. Despite the harshness of his words, their eyes glimmered with a newfound respect. For the first time.
Hengsheng watched them go, shaking his head slightly. “Fools,” he muttered, though his lips curled into a faint grin. He wouldn’t admit it, but he felt a small sense of satisfaction seeing their respect.
With that, Hengsheng turned his attention back to the bustling streets of Golden City. No point in heading back to the skyship now. I might as well explore a bit before returning. He adjusted his robes and began walking deeper into the city, blending into the vibrant crowd while keeping his senses sharp.
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Wei Bujia POV
Wei Bujia stood with his arms crossed in the dimly lit chamber within the Thunderclap Blade Sect’s temporary quarters in the Golden City. The air was thick with tension, the faint scent of blood lingering as a reminder of the earlier disgrace. His sharp eyes glinted with restrained fury as he looked down at the kneeling disciples before him, their torn robes and battered faces a stark contrast to the pride they once carried.
One disciple, his face swollen and discolored from Hengsheng’s punch, stammered nervously, “Senior Brother Wei… it was the Lan Clan brat. He—he humiliated us in front of everyone.”
Wei Bujia’s brow rose slightly, his voice low and cold. “The Lan Clan? A second-rate force on the rim of the Metal Flow Plain? You’re telling me a group of my Thunderclap Blade Sect disciples couldn’t handle some backwater bumpkin?”
The disciples flinched as his words cut through the room like a blade. Another disciple, his voice trembling, tried to explain, “We… underestimated him. He’s stronger than he looks.”
Wei Bujia stepped forward, his boots clicking ominously on the stone floor. His gaze bore into them, suffocating them with his mere presence. “Stronger than he looks?” he repeated, each word deliberate and sharp. “You mean to tell me that a single disciple—a nobody—managed to overwhelm all of you?”
The room fell silent, the kneeling disciples lowering their heads further. Their shame was palpable, but Wei Bujia’s calm demeanor only made their humiliation worse.
Turning his back to them, Wei Bujia approached the window, gazing out at the sprawling Golden City and the towering Golden Pillar beyond. His reflection in the glass revealed a faint, sinister smirk as he murmured to himself, “Lan Hengsheng… a name I didn’t know"
One of the disciples dared to speak, his voice laced with desperation. “Senior Brother Wei… what should we do?”
Wei Bujia’s smirk deepened, though his tone remained icy. “What should you do? You’ll heal your wounds, and you’ll prepare. The Land of Pillar Foundation will open soon, and once we’re inside, there will be no elders, no patrols, and no rules to stop us.”
He turned sharply, his gaze slicing through the air like a blade. “Inside that secret land, I don’t want excuses. I want him dead. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Senior Brother Wei!” the disciples shouted in unison, their voices trembling but resolute.
Wei Bujia’s expression softened into a mockery of warmth as he nodded. “Good. Let him savor his little victory. Let him think his defiance of the Thunderclap Blade Sect will go unanswered. When the time comes, we’ll teach him the cost of disrespecting us.”
The disciples bowed deeply before shuffling out of the room, their resolve hardened by their leader’s words. Wei Bujia remained by the window, the faint smirk fading into a thoughtful expression.
“Lan Hengsheng…” he murmured, his voice carrying a mix of malice and curiosity.
His eyes gleamed with dark intent as he turned away, his mind already weaving plans for the secret land. The Thunderclap Blade Sect always collects its debts.