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Chapter 87: Knocking Returns

A tearing sound echoed.

Zhang Xinxiong’s punch, as swift as the wind, came out of nowhere, startling everyone watching.

As a fellow practitioner of the Upper Spirit Realm, how could Su Qianqian not be aware of the terrifying punch coming from behind her? Yet, she reacted with surprising indifference, as if she truly hadn’t noticed the sneak attack.

“Zhang Xinxiong, you’re looking for death!”

Zhao Xidong’s voice suddenly rang out from the side. Zhang Xinxiong’s mind wavered, and he quickly looked over. The guy who should have been lying on the ground with a lecherous grin had, at some point, gotten up and was swinging a punch his way.

Zhang Xinxiong immediately changed his punch into a palm, swatting at Zhao Xidong like a giant beast swatting a fly. Zhao Xidong, however, did not take the blow. He cut through with an elbow, striking the opponent’s wrist.

Thud!

A dull impact. Once Zhang Xinxiong started fighting, he completely forgot everything else, turning with the momentum, pressing his palms together, and striking diagonally downwards. If this strike hit the neck, it could send a head flying.

“Again?” Zhao Xidong’s eyes widened. He didn't take the blow. “I’m a law enforcement officer now!”

Hearing this, Zhang Xinxiong finally sobered up a bit, stopping his hands just before the black robes. Clothes rustled, and a tense silence fell.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Good, good, no fight broke out. But at the same time, they felt it was a great pity. Why did it stop? The excitement in their hands suddenly lost its flavor.

Su Qianqian said with a mischievous smile, “Brother Xidong, he was going to hit me.”

“You!”

*Did you think I didn’t see you make the first move just because I was down a moment ago?!*

Zhao Xidong was furious, but he glared fiercely at Rao Yinyin, who was outside the immediate area. He truly hadn't expected that the unassuming woman who first entered the inner courtyard years ago could now bewitch him.

Rao Yinyin shrugged, offering a rare explanation: “I didn’t ‘make a move’.”

“Oh, please!”

Zhao Xidong rolled his eyes, looking at Su Qianqian, utterly exasperated. “Quickly return your master’s token!”

“Oh.” Su Qianqian quickly ran off.

“Still want to fight?” He looked at Zhang Xinxiong again.

Fight? Of course Zhang Xinxiong wanted to fight. His “Black Shark” had inexplicably broken just like that; how could he not want to fight? But was a fight even possible? Let alone Zhao Xidong, with any law enforcement officer present, a fight likely wouldn’t break out. But what about “Black Shark”? His Sixth-Rank spiritual artifact was inexplicably cut in half just like that?

Zhang Xinxiong’s eyes narrowed into slits, a clear sign of extreme rage. However, after glancing at the woman in the red dress, he still suppressed everything. He picked up the two broken pieces of the staff from the ground, gently rubbing them, then his gaze flickered towards Su Qianqian.

“If you dare to attack, this is the price,” Su Qianqian said.

The little girl was already shielded by Rao Yinyin. Zhang Xinxiong took a deep breath. “I’ll give you this much face.” This last sentence, however, was directed at Rao Yinyin.

Rao Yinyin didn’t reply, still rubbing Su Qianqian’s head. Zhang Xinxiong looked behind him. His spiritual site had been cut in half by the previous sword strike.

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Su Qianqian poked her head out. She paused, then added, “I already posted a task at the Spirit Affairs Pavilion; someone will come to repair it. I’ve already paid the Spirit Crystals.”

Zhang Xinxiong’s back seemed to tremble.

The onlookers were dumbfounded.

“My goodness, he endured that! Young Master Zhang truly has a deep affection for Senior Sister Rao!”

“Exactly! Who doesn’t know about the winding and complicated romantic entanglement between ‘He, Lan, Zhang, Rao, and Su’? If anyone dared to lay a hand on Su Qianqian, would Senior Sister Rao let them off?”

“Well, that’s true.”

Zhou Tianshen scratched his head in confusion, unable to figure out for a long time what kind of ‘Su’ they were talking about that was supposedly delicious. He could only sigh, “The inner courtyard is truly chaotic.”

“Sister Rao, let’s go.” Su Qianqian pulled the woman in the red dress and left.

Zhao Xidong thought for a moment and ultimately did not step forward to forcibly detain the two. *Hmm, I’ll give Boss Xiao some face. I didn’t see anything today.* He narrowed his eyes, savoring the ‘paradise’ he had just experienced, then turned to look at He Yuxing, only to find the fellow still staring intently at Su Qianqian’s departing greatsword. *As expected of He the Madman...*

“Leave?”

He Yuxing withdrew his gaze, his face full of regret. He picked up his longsword and followed Zhao Xidong.

“Break it up, break it up!”

The onlookers quickly gathered their stools and collectively fled. It was fine to join the crowd, but staying after the excitement ended, to face the thirty-three inner courtyard members alone, that would be a bit terrifying.

Zhou Tianshen hurried away, but a voice came from behind him.

“From the Zhou family?”

He turned, saw Zhang Xinxiong looking at him, and couldn’t help but grin, “From the Zhang family?”

“Good guts, but your strength is lacking.”

Zhang Xinxiong walked up to Zhou Tianshen and looked down at him. Zhou Tianshen was already an extremely burly man, but he still stood a head shorter than Zhang Xinxiong. Even so, he held his head high and puffed out his chest, his imposing aura not diminishing in the slightest.

“Old Master Zhou, how have you been lately?”

“No need to worry, I’m doing very well.” Zhou Tianshen chuckled. “Has someone been found to reattach your esteemed father’s right arm?”

Zhang Xinxiong gave him a deep look, offered no reply, and finally let out a soft chuckle, passing by him.

“Let’s go.”

Lan Xinzi quickly followed.

Zhou Tianshen suddenly froze in place, his body trembling, finding it difficult to move. An imposing aura, like a prehistoric beast choosing its prey, did not disappear with Zhang Xinxiong’s departure. Instead, it seemed even more terrifying, crushing him until he could barely breathe. His knees buckled, as if he was about to collapse.

Bang!

The ground was pierced, and Zhou Tianshen’s feet sank in, bleeding profusely. Yet, his entire body remained straight as a javelin.

“Phew...”

The crowd dispersed, leaving only him. Zhou Tianshen, drenched in sweat, finally endured it. He pulled himself out of the ground, looked back in the direction where the last two had disappeared, and clenched his fists.

“One year!”

***

This was a cramped guest room. Xu Xiaoshou had been truly overworked last night, causing him to sleep soundly even on the stiff wooden bed. His dream, it seemed, was getting better. Xu Xiaoshou’s body began to twist and turn, his expression gradually becoming uninhibited, and his hand slowly rose into the air.

Thump, thump, thump!

A slow, steady knocking on the door, so familiar!

*Snap!* Xu Xiaoshou shot up like a startled bird, launching himself into the air. Ignoring the shattered illusion of a beautiful woman, his “Perception” immediately enveloped the entire courtyard.

*Not inside yet!*

His fatigue vanished. His mind was stretched to its limit, and he tiptoed towards the door. Focusing his attention, his “Perception” struggled to pass through the barrier, revealing the situation outside. A little girl in a white short skirt, delicately pretty, with a greatsword on her back, was currently adjusting her clothes.

“Su Qianqian?”

Xu Xiaoshou breathed a sigh of relief, muttering to himself that he was indeed overly nervous. But what was she doing here? Xu Xiaoshou struggled to search his memories, vaguely recalling that when Su Qianqian first arrived, he had merely given her some assistance. After that, he had mentored her for about a month as a senior disciple, and then the little girl was admitted into the inner courtyard.

*Hmm, thinking about it, he felt a bit ashamed, so he decided not to think about it anymore.* There was indeed kindness, but it wasn't particularly significant. Furthermore, the two had barely seen each other since, except for this year’s “Wind and Cloud Battle” when the little girl came to encourage him, probably thinking it would be their last meeting. *Hmm, that counts as quite thoughtful.*

Thinking this, Xu Xiaoshou opened the door.

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