Chapter 33: Let Me Cheer Up Kun

But! The flattery truly was expertly delivered; one could hardly bring oneself to dislike them, only feeling these two children were somewhat peculiar. Pan Pingping had wondered who this Brother Kun was, boasting as if he could pierce the heavens, only to discover it was this bald boy right in front of him! Such a young child, nearly praised into a Sword Emperor by their words, had even made him a little nervous himself—thinking back, it was truly embarrassing.

“Hahaha!” Pan Pingping burst out laughing.

“Look, using laughter to cover up his own fear,” Feng Dian shouted, pointing at Pan Pingping.

Pan Pingping lost control for a moment and ended up choking.

Ye Kun wondered how he had never noticed before—the mouths of Yuan Zhen and Feng Dian could kill without a blade.

“Brother Kun, he’s afraid of you!”

“Yes, I can sense it.”

The two continued to fan the flames from the sidelines, but there was nothing to be done—they were experts at this.

“Who says I’m afraid of him!” Pan Pingping retorted coldly, folding his fan with a flourish, instantly radiating an unusual aura.

The teacher, drinking beneath the eaves, glanced over. So young, yet already possessing the strength of a Sword Apprentice—truly a youth from Ankang Continent.

The children could not distinguish the aura; they only felt an oppressive force emanate, making them deeply uncomfortable.

Yuan Zhen swallowed nervously and said with bravado, “What’s with the sour face? Brother Kun, the stage is yours. Everyone, step back—don’t interrupt Brother Kun’s duel. He doesn’t know his own strength; if you get hurt, it’ll be your own fault.”

“Clear out, clear out,” Feng Dian joined in, shouting from the side.

What had never happened before was now brought about by these two—truly they were geniuses of mischief.

“Brother, be careful. This one’s unusual,” Ye Qin said confidently to his brother. His brother had never lost; a brash youth was nothing before him.

Ye Kun had no idea what he was doing—the situation had developed like this, and he, Brother Kun, never fought.

Ba Wanqing whispered to Pan Pingping, “Mind your manners. My father values Ye Kun highly.”

“That’s your father, not mine!” Pan Pingping grew angry too, feeling today’s humiliation was all thanks to this damned bald boy. If he didn’t teach him a lesson, he’d never sleep easy again.

“If you hurt Ye Kun, you’ll bear the consequences yourself!”

“Ha! Even if I killed him, I, Pan Pingping, would remain unscathed!” Pan Pingping replied coldly. A mere lowborn wants to toy with Pan Pingping? Today, you’ll taste your fate—break your legs to teach you a lesson!

“Ba Wanqing, what are you still doing here? Don’t interfere with Brother Kun’s duel. Let us learn a thing or two from this—doesn’t the teacher always say so?” Yuan Zhen quickly pulled Ba Wanqing aside, not forgetting to hype up Ye Kun.

It was true; in the academy, Old Wei often told students to learn from Ye Kun.

The teacher from the cultivation institute now turned his gaze to the arena, curious to see what kind of student Old Wei praised so highly—was he truly as remarkable as claimed?

In the sand arena, Ye Kun and Pan Pingping stood at the center, a gentle breeze stirring up fine dust.

A swirl of dust blew toward Pan Pingping.

“Cough, cough, cough!” Pan Pingping hurriedly waved his sleeve to disperse it, cursing under his breath, “What kind of place is this? So shoddy! Should be shut down! Trash people use trash places!”

Even Ye Kun, as composed as he was, could not help but react to such insults; after all, Brother Kun had his pride—there was a limit to tolerance.

“Come then! Let me see just how impressive someone from Ankang Continent truly is!” Ye Kun clenched his fists, stepped forward with his left foot, body slightly tilted back, lowering his center of gravity.

Ye Kun had never studied any fighting techniques; at most, he had watched Uncle Zhang practice boxing in the courtyard. This stance was simply Uncle Zhang’s opening move.

Pan Pingping tucked his folding fan at his waist, looked at Ye Kun two yards away, and sneered, “Full of flaws!”

“Come over and try, then!” Ye Kun beckoned with his finger, his arrogance reaching three stars.

Pan Pingping couldn’t stand such provocation; his steps shifted, kicking up a storm of yellow sand, moving so fast that Ye Kun felt a bit panicked—this opponent clearly used footwork techniques, something Brother Kun had never learned!

What to do! This was definitely the rhythm of being beaten!

Normally, Brother Kun would be relieved—finally, his winning streak would end.

But today wasn’t just about him; it concerned the entire cultivation institute. No matter what, he could not lose!

There was no time to think!

Ye Kun saw his opponent attacking from the right and instinctively defended.

“Lowborn remains lowborn!” Pan Pingping mocked, his move instantly changing—what had seemed a feint was actually an attack through the center.

Ye Kun sensed trouble; the opponent’s fist was already heading for his abdomen, too fast to defend!

It was over! Brother Kun’s winning streak was about to break, and at such a crucial moment.

No matter how lucky he was, it probably wouldn’t help now—unless lightning struck from the heavens.

Bang!

A muffled sound suddenly echoed. All the children held their breath, the moment eerily silent.

Pan Pingping’s punch had landed squarely on Ye Kun’s abdomen.

“Brother!”

Ye Kun looked down at his stomach, his first thought: Was this a rigged match? Why didn’t he use any force? Does he look down on me?

But Pan Pingping’s first thought was: Shouldn’t he have flown backward? Then lay helpless in the sand, ready for my mocking words—why didn’t he fall?

Yuan Zhen and Feng Dian were equally baffled. What had just happened?

Feng Dian quickly shouted at Pan Pingping, “I’m telling you, kid! Don’t expect Brother Kun to forgive your mistake. Brother Kun hates nothing more than holding back; use your strength and make him happy!”

“Exactly! Brother Kun’s unbeaten; the loneliness of a master is now routine. Use your real strength and help him stretch his muscles!”

Ye Kun really wanted to have a heart-to-heart with these two, as if they were helping him, but they were actually telling Pan Pingping not to hold back.

But that wasn’t the focus now.

According to how things usually went, there should have been a turning point—every time danger arose, there was always a twist.

But today’s twist was odd; was the opponent’s fist too soft, or was his own stomach too hard?

Pan Pingping stared in confusion, tightened his left fist, and no longer held back!

Though only a Sword Apprentice, in his rage, his aura surged outward, stirring up yellow sand and filling the air with smoke. The children shielded their faces with their hands.

Another muffled sound, louder than before.

Everyone watched the sand. When it settled, the posture was the same as before—just the other hand.

Ye Kun looked down at Pan Pingping, while Pan Pingping stared at Ye Kun in disbelief.