Chapter 83: The Wicked Cry Foul First
The burly middle-aged man at the front was Fan Xiong, the very man who had once gone to protect Ye Tianci, only to be driven back by Lei Hong with a single punch.
As soon as Fan Xiong entered, he barked, “Wang Shuang, who dares bully you?”
Wang Shuang was his most prized disciple, and also the senior martial brother of the Zhenjiang Martial Hall. Fan Xiong had always favored him.
Even before coming upstairs, Fan Xiong had already made up his mind: whoever had dared to bully his most prized disciple would be made to understand the strength of the Zhenjiang Martial Hall.
Touched by his master’s concern, Wang Shuang pointed at Ye Tianci. “That brat.”
Fan Xiong glared over with a fierce look.
The instant he saw Ye Tianci, the brutality in his eyes cleared at once.
Not even a moment’s hesitation.
“Ye... Mister Ye?”
The abrupt change in his gaze left Fan Xiong looking utterly strange. “Mister Ye, why is it you?”
“Why can’t it be me?”
Ye Tianci regarded him coolly and pointed at Wang Shuang. “Is that your disciple?”
Fan Xiong nodded mechanically, still not fully reacting.
“Your disciple came to avenge his uncle, made trouble for me, demanded five million from me, and even wanted me to kneel and kowtow.”
“Since you’re here, why don’t you be the judge.”
Ye Tianci looked at Fan Xiong, the smile at the corner of his lips faint and indistinct.
Fan Xiong swallowed hard.
That day, when the old master of the Tang family had sent him to protect Ye Tianci, he had intended to teach Ye Tianci a lesson, only to be taught one himself.
He had witnessed with his own eyes how Ye Tianci, without lifting so much as a hand, subdued Lei Hong, one of the Four Tigers, and even crippled Qi Qingming, the young master of the Qi family. What was more, Ye Tianci had declared that he would destroy the Qi family.
Only later had he heard that, in order to curry favor with Ye Tianci, the old master of the Tang family had brutally punished his own son and granddaughter.
In Fan Xiong’s heart, Ye Tianci had long since been confirmed as a terrifying big shot.
For his disciple Wang Shuang to go looking for trouble with him was nothing short of courting death.
“Master, why waste words on him? Teach him a hard lesson!” Wang Shuang strode forward, shouting.
Without even turning around, Fan Xiong swung his hand and slapped him across the face.
A loud crack rang out.
That single blow not only stunned Wang Shuang, but everyone in the room as well.
“Master, why did you hit me?” Wang Shuang clutched his face, baffled, eyes wide.
“Master, you hit the wrong person. You’re supposed to hit that brat, not Senior Brother.” One of the younger disciples, who usually liked to curry favor with Wang Shuang, came forward and said to Fan Xiong with a servile smile.
Fan Xiong slapped him too.
“Shut that filthy mouth of yours!”
Fury on his face, he glared at Wang Shuang and snapped, “You’ve got some nerve, making trouble for Mister Ye! Do you even know who Mister Ye is?”
“Who is he? Isn’t he just a lame cripple?” Wang Shuang not only refused to back down, his tone was downright insolent.
Fan Xiong slapped him again. Both of Wang Shuang’s cheeks swelled red and swollen.
“You still dare show disrespect to Mister Ye? Can’t you see the mountain for the clouds!”
“Get down and apologize to Mister Ye, now!”
Fan Xiong roared in exasperation.
But Wang Shuang did not awaken to the situation; instead, he grew furious.
He had been spoiled since childhood, had never suffered any setback, had never been scolded by any elder, let alone been slapped twice in front of so many people.
He felt as though all his dignity had been trampled underfoot.
Clutching his face with clenched teeth, Wang Shuang shot flames from his eyes. “You’re my master, yet you side with an outsider? You hit me, and now you’re forcing me to kneel and apologize to him?”
“Wang Shuang, listen to me. Kneel and apologize, or you’ll regret it.”
Fan Xiong spoke patiently, wanting to pull his disciple back from the brink one last time.
But Wang Shuang waved him off brutally. “Calling you master is me giving you face. Push me too far, and I won’t even acknowledge you as my master!”
Fan Xiong was both shocked and enraged. “I’ve taught you martial arts for fifteen years, and this is what you say?”
Wang Shuang curled his lip. “You don’t need to keep repeating that. So what if my skills were taught by you? Those two slaps you just gave me have repaid everything I owed you!”
“Very well. From this day on, you, Wang Shuang, are no longer a disciple under my name, Fan Xiong.”
“You are also expelled from the Zhenjiang Martial Hall!”
Fan Xiong said expressionlessly.
Wang Shuang sneered. “Fan Xiong, you’re only an instructor at the hall. What right do you have to expel me from the Zhenjiang Martial Hall?”
“Hall Master Li Chong is the real authority here, and he values me even more than he values you.”
Ye Tianci suddenly spoke. “Wang Shuang, you ungrateful wretch who betrayed your master and your sect, if Li Chong knew what you’ve done, he would definitely follow Instructor Fan’s decision and cast you out.”
“Bullshit!”
Wang Shuang glared. “In a few days, the Zhenjiang Martial Hall and the Song family’s Lingjiang Martial Hall will hold their annual martial contest. Only the younger generation can take part, and Hall Master Li is counting on me to win!”
“You don’t need to think so highly of yourself. Li Chong would never put a man like you to use.”
“If you don’t believe me, call him here. You can tell him these are the words of Ye Tianci.”
“You brat, you asked for this! When Hall Master Li gets here, don’t you dare kneel!”
Wang Shuang pointed at Ye Tianci furiously and immediately called Li Chong, asking him to come to the River Viewing Tower.
Li Chong refused outright. He had no time to spare.
Only after Wang Shuang mentioned Ye Tianci’s name and added a few embellishments did Li Chong agree at once.
After hanging up, Wang Shuang said smugly, “Little cripple, Hall Master Li is nearby and will be here any moment. Let’s see how arrogant you are once he arrives.”
He then turned to Fan Xiong and said with a mocking smile, “Instructor Fan, this is your last chance. Decide whether you stand with me or with this cripple.”
“If you insist on standing with this cripple, don’t blame me for turning my back on old ties and having Hall Master Li expel you from the martial hall!”
Fan Xiong gave a cold laugh. “Wang Shuang, you really know how to make trouble.”
“I’ve always protected you. You didn’t appreciate it, and you don’t remember kindness. I tried to pull you back, and you thought I was trying to harm you.”
“In a moment, don’t you dare cry.”
Wang Shuang laughed contemptuously, paying no heed to Fan Xiong’s words.
Thud, thud, thud.
Heavy footsteps came from the staircase outside.
“Hall Master Li is here!” Wang Shuang cried excitedly.
The martial hall disciples gathered by the door all stepped aside. The door opened, and Li Chong, as imposing as a steel tower, strode in.
Knowing Ye Tianci was here, Li Chong glanced around as soon as he entered and spotted him at once. He moved forward, intending to pay his respects.
Wang Shuang rushed ahead and said, “Hall Master Li, you’re finally here!”
“This little cripple has been bullying people and speaking recklessly, looking down on our Zhenjiang Martial Hall.”
“Not only does Instructor Fan refuse to punish him, he’s even protecting him, praising others while belittling our own side! A man like that is unworthy of being an instructor at the Zhenjiang Martial Hall!”
“Hall Master Li, teach this cripple a hard lesson, then expel Fan Xiong from the hall!”
Pointing at Ye Tianci and Fan Xiong, Wang Shuang preemptively accused the innocent.
Li Chong was stunned for a moment and looked at Fan Xiong in confusion.
Fan Xiong cupped his fists and said, “Hall Master, Wang Shuang offended Mister Ye, forced Mister Ye to kneel, and even tried to extort several million from him. I gave him two slaps, and he has now turned against me and severed our master-disciple ties.”
Li Chong was shocked by this and looked at Ye Tianci with widened eyes.
Ye Tianci smiled faintly and nodded. “Instructor Fan is completely right.”
Wang Shuang hurriedly shouted, “Hall Master Li, don’t listen to their nonsense. I think Fan Xiong and this cripple must be...”
Before he could finish, a palm like a giant fan came slicing through the air with a fierce whistle and struck his face savagely.
Wang Shuang was sent flying straight out.