Chapter 412: The Strange Path
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Challenging an entire family on something is absolutely not a simple task. It requires technique and a savage bravery to shoulder the risk. Unless in a law's film, you probably would never see a nobody challenging a prestigious family out of nowhere. So it is only natural to see a well-known person challenging someone else's home.
Guan Zhengyuan was at the porch. He could not help but to take a deep breath upon seeing the crowd. The Shi family came for real, with an army of 35 experts which probably equalled to one-third of the entire family. And Guang Zhengyuan could perceive the diabolic cunning nature in their eyes. He might not be the best alchemist but he was at least experienced to know that the entire family of his would likely be unable to handle such intrusion.
Whatever that is going to happen, happens. Sighed Guan Zhengyuan in his mind. Looks like he could only rely on Ling's students now...
Guan family would regain its esteem and rise again, if they won that is. If they lost, it would be a news in the ridge that would lure all other new families who coveted the single slot of residence at the heaven of alchemy. When that happened, Guan family would perish.
That was when Ye Chong exited the porch with the noises crowding behind him.
Countless stares rested upon him. There were respects, envies, doubts and confusions...
So that is the alchemist who took a shortcut back to the ridge? The crowd began rustling again. It was the first time for the majority to see such a young alchemist.
Ye Chong's arrival had increased the intensity of the place. Ye Chong was fairly calm but a few of the crowd had already their hands wetted. He was leading the group of young apprentices of Guan family, looking fearless and excited. They were anticipating Teacher Zhu Feng's performance, for he was so great in his teaching that they felt the need to have a cult for him. So to those challengers who blindly came for our family, are you ready to have your butt kicked?
Ye Chong was pretty aware of the situation. At this point he probably would be the only person to take the challenge, since he knew the apprentices of Guan family were matchless against the foes in front of them. He did teach them a few new tricks but it surely would take some time for them to master those skills.
Simply, no way they would win against the challengers.
He was the only hope, he thought as he helplessly walked towards Guan Zhengyuan.
"If it wasn't for my Zhufeng," said Guan Zhengyuan with a bright smile, as if liberated from the pressure exerted by the Shi family.
"Mhm," nodded Ye Chong. The next question however came so unexpectedly that almost everyone tripped their steps, "So... how do people do this 'challenge' thing usually? Is it a contest?" That was a good... question...
"Haha..." Laughed Guan Zhengyuan joyfully, "Nothing much. Just some troublemakers wanting some troubles at our porch."
"I see," Ye Chong nodded. The word "troublemakers" made perfect sense. And suddenly he had a thought - if it was Lunatic Guan, how would she handle these troublemakers? Ye Chong knew Lunatic Guan well, in most cases, she would annihilate the entire army and take a sprint to Shi family's home for another massacre.
"Zhu Feng, please do not hesitate, you could do whatever you want with them. Even if you want to shatter the ground, be my guest." Guan Zhengyuan's tone was calm, frigidly calm, the typical tone one would use when mentioning the public enemy. His words were crudely translated as - all you can smash.
"Whatever I want?" Ye Chong's face was filled with the you-sure confusion.
Guan Zhengyuan looked at the army of Shi family, smiled, "Yes, whatever you want."
And Ye Chong vanished, a faint voice rang, "Alright."
There Ye Chong was figuring out a strategy to finish this fight in shortest time possible.
It would still be the classic brawling. Picking the right strategy suiting to the situation is vital to the battle, that was the lesson he learned from all battles he had experienced. So, brawling it is.
He had activated the techniques of September Lan style as his assassination went. He did not have his wooden spear with him but being barehanded actually made him better.
The fox joining the hares in the pen - that would be the analogical summary of what happened next.
The alchemists were utterly unprepared towards Ye Chong's assassination. As known an alchemist was just fragile in front of a martial arts practitioner. They could not react to his overwhelming speed in time. They could not even move a muscle when facing this Jie expert.
Ye Chong zapped through the crowd, with his afterimages stamped on every corner.
Crack... Crack... Klink... Crack...
Those were the sound of throats breaking.
It felt like autumn all over again, when the nuts cracked.
The formation of Shi family army was dense to begin with. And Ye Chong was simply talented at crowd control. They were fighting a losing fight anyway since their flasks contained a massive poison which could have hurt their allies if simply thrown.
The slaughterhouse ran smoothly.
The wails continued.
22 seconds lapsed.
Corpses were all over the ground. Dents could be found over the throats. Ye Chong was expressionless as he stood back.
It was a total massacre.
Thought the spectators in fear.
Nobody would have expected this young alchemist being also a martial arts practitioner, a brutal one too. He was indifferent, satanically indifferent that he did not even bother to have another look at the bodies on the ground.
The apprentices would probably be having nightmare tonight. Guan Jin's eyes went wide like saucer, her face was pale as in disbelief she looked at the kind, inquisitive Brother Zhu Ling being at the bloody pool.
God of Slaughter...
Thought Guan Zhengyuan, feeling his heart just skipped a beat. Somehow the title appeared in his mind.
People were expecting a battle in alchemy but this young man simply finished everybody without using a single flask, that was something new in the ridge. No one had done this before. May Night's Ridge was a residence filled with alchemists, there was no practitioner before.
Finishing challengers with brutal force... would this count as victory...? There were debates regarding Guan family's success since the ridge committee never said one would be allowed to take on challenges only with alchemy.
There was one thing that did not require debates however - Guan family was untouchable and should never be touched! Ever since that incident, no one had come to their porch despite all the bloodshed at other families.
Ye Chong had demonstrated the cruelty of war to the people. The brutal gruesome side of the war too. They had never seen a hand-on-hand before and Ye Chong had shown them. People were stunned and became very convinced that Ye Chong would be a true horror because of the fact he knew both alchemist and martial arts.
Shi family had suffered a great loss this time. One-third of the family's force got all wiped out in less than a minute. These master-alchemists-to-be were not even able to last till the end.
The debate went on as people argued, "What's wrong of using martial arts when taking on challenges anyway?"
Guan family remained low on this, as they had their gates tightly shut and forbade everyone from leaving the house.
The incident had also affected the committee, that Guan family was assigned with the most resources this year. Guan Zhengyuan was very delighted since that only signified the elevated status of his family in the ridge.
5 days later, Guan family had also submitted a report on possible improvements that could be made on bilayered liquid tempering technique. That was an earth-shattering discovery. The ridge was shocked again. The technique was an invention by Guan Ling and was recognized as the top recent invention years ago. Attempts on improving the technique had been ongoing ever since, but nobody had succeeded so far. And they actually submitted a report on it?
People once doubted the standard of that mysterious boy till they saw the report. They were totally convinced. On the cover page the author might be "Guan Jin", the daughter of the family, but everybody could feel the contribution of that someone between the lines.
It looked like Guan family was hopeful of resurrection, while the other families were bitter at it.
Why can't it be our family that gets a talent out of nowhere?