Chapter 16: Lady Gongsun

“Hmph, what an arrogant young man!”
Chu Tianhe’s eyes widened with rage, and a surge of fierce innate energy swept around him, domineering and intense.
Seeing this display, Chen Yang remained unhurried, moving at a leisurely pace.
Such paltry innate energy was nothing to him.
“Young man, this is your last chance. Will you come back with me or not?”
Chu Tianhe’s gaze was icy, his face etched with anger.
Chen Yang replied coolly, “Since you’re itching for a fight, I’m happy to oblige.”
Chu Tianhe roared in fury, “You’re courting death!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than he lunged forward, channeling innate energy into a powerful punch.
To bystanders, his attack seemed swift and terrifyingly potent.
But in Chen Yang’s eyes, it moved like a snail.
With a casual sidestep, Chen Yang easily evaded Chu Tianhe’s strike.
Chu Tianhe was surprised but not flustered; he knew well that Chen Yang had some real skill—otherwise, the Martial Association’s higher-ups wouldn’t have taken notice of him.
In a matter of milliseconds, Chu Tianhe adjusted his rhythm and launched another indiscriminate assault with his innate energy.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The sound of energy clashing echoed across dozens of meters.
And this was happening in the middle of a busy street.
Unsurprisingly, their scuffle quickly attracted a curious crowd.
“What are they doing? Is this a fight?”
A bespectacled man pushed his glasses up, asking with curiosity.
“I don’t think so. Looks like they’re filming something—their moves are so professional!”
A portly uncle commented calmly.
Soon, whispers spread through the crowd, everyone assuming it was a movie shoot.
Chen Yang and Chu Tianhe were surrounded.
Off to the side, Yin Tianxue looked helpless; she hadn’t expected things to escalate like this.
After all, the Martial Association’s higher-ups had clearly decreed that, except in special circumstances, martial skills must not be displayed in public—to avoid unnecessary chaos and negative impact on the city.
In the throng, Chen Yang retreated step by step, fending off attacks without rushing to counter.
He wanted to see just how capable a second-level enforcer really was—to gauge the Martial Association’s true strength.
For nearly two minutes, Chu Tianhe threw everything he had at Chen Yang, but still got nowhere.
The longer the fight went on, the more alarmed Chu Tianhe became. He simply couldn’t fathom how Yunzhou had produced such an extraordinary talent.
“You don’t seem to have much skill after all!”
Chen Yang’s voice was lazy, “It’s time to end this farce.”
Truth be told, Chen Yang didn’t wish to draw too much attention.
So he decided to use a little bit of his real power.
He moved with ghostly speed, leaving behind a blur; in the next instant, he appeared behind Chu Tianhe like a phantom.

Without pausing, Chen Yang delivered a light palm strike that sent Chu Tianhe coughing up blood.
Chu Tianhe didn’t even have time to react before he was defeated—utterly, completely.
There was no doubt: he hadn’t the slightest chance of winning.
Chu Tianhe knelt on one knee, blood staining the ground before him.
His eyes were filled not just with shock, but with terror.
Yin Tianxue, meanwhile, looked as if she’d discovered a new world; her beautiful eyes shone with delight.
Chu Tianhe slowly turned, his face ashen, “You—you can teleport! You’re a young Grandmaster!”
A young Grandmaster, again?
Chen Yang couldn’t be bothered to explain, “Believe what you wish.”
Chu Tianhe struggled to stand.
Yin Tianxue stepped forward, speaking with respectful deference, “Chen Yang, your martial skills are indeed high. However, the Martial Association has no shortage of Grandmasters. I hope you’ll come with us and clarify matters.”
Chen Yang did not respond.
Yin Tianxue continued, “Chen Yang, as a young Grandmaster, your status in the martial world is extremely high. Rest assured, unless you’re a dangerous criminal, the higher-ups generally won’t trouble you. But—”
Chen Yang cut in, “But I still have to follow procedure, right?”
Yin Tianxue nodded, “Exactly, it’s the Martial Association’s rule.”
Chen Yang considered for a moment, then smiled, “Fine. I’d like to see this world’s power structure anyway, so I’ll go with you.”
This world’s power structure?
Yin Tianxue was puzzled; only an alien would say something like that.
Could it be Chen Yang wasn’t from this world at all?
But how could that be?
It was the twenty-first century—a new era of advanced science and technology. Surely there weren’t so many mystical oddities.
Soon after, the three boarded a car and sped away.
The crowd was left bewildered: Was that the end of the shoot?
......
Forty minutes later, led by Yin Tianxue, Chen Yang arrived at a grand mansion—far more imposing than the Murong estate.
Chu Tianhe, wounded, had gone elsewhere to recover—likely the Chu family’s residence.
Inside the mansion, they passed through an expansive garden and arrived at a lakeside pavilion called Breezewood.
The scenery was exquisite, the air fresh and invigorating.
A place like this couldn’t be bought with money alone.
On the stone table in Breezewood sat an array of exquisite pastries and a jug of wine—evoking an ancient, poetic atmosphere.
Chen Yang made himself comfortable, eating without restraint; he feared no poison, for his body was immune to all toxins.
Munching away, he asked with his mouth full, “Weren’t we going to the Martial Association? What are we doing here?”
Seeing Chen Yang’s lack of decorum, Yin Tianxue was at a loss.
She patiently explained, “Only serious offenders are sent to the Sky Vault Prison. You’re neither a criminal nor a dangerous person—and as a young Grandmaster, you don’t need to follow the usual procedure.”

Hearing this, Chen Yang smiled meaningfully, “So that’s how it is. Should I thank you, then?”
“No need for thanks.”
Just then, a woman’s voice echoed from the void.
A shadow flickered, and a woman in a black horse-faced skirt appeared in Breezewood like a wraith.
She seemed about twenty-seven or twenty-eight, dressed in ancient style, a three-foot sword at her waist—a classic heroine of old.
As soon as she arrived, Yin Tianxue bowed respectfully, “Master, you’re here!”
Chen Yang remained unruffled; even with his eyes closed, he could sense that this woman’s skill was extraordinary—far beyond innate energy.
“So this is the Grandmaster of this world?”
A faint answer formed in Chen Yang’s mind.
The woman glanced at Yin Tianxue and smiled, “You’ve worked hard, Tianxue.”
“You flatter me, Master.”
Yin Tianxue dared not be careless, choosing her words with care.
The ancient-styled woman sat down, her beautiful eyes turned to Chen Yang across the table, smiling, “As expected of a young Grandmaster—your temperament is remarkable.”
Again, Chen Yang didn’t bother to explain.
He popped a pastry in his mouth, took a sip of wine, and said coolly, “Out with it. Why have you come to see me? If it’s about the Wang and Chu families, I advise you not to waste your time. That’s my personal business—none of yours.”
“Chen Yang, mind your manners!”
Yin Tianxue frowned, “Do you know who she is?”
The ancient-styled woman gestured for Tianxue to hold her tongue.
She looked to Chen Yang, “Forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Gongsun Lü’e, President of the Martial Association in Yunzhou, Jiangnan.”
Gongsun Lü’e?
Chen Yang was momentarily stunned; the name seemed familiar, though he couldn’t recall from where.
Seeing his confusion, Gongsun Lü’e smiled, “Yes, my name is taken from a character in Master Jin’s novels. I liked it so much, I adopted it myself.”
Chen Yang regarded her seriously, “So what do you want, Aunt Gongsun?”
He used that term deliberately, to provoke her and see her reaction.
Truth be told, he wasn’t wrong—though Gongsun Lü’e looked young, her real age was at least fifty, preserved only by her profound skill.
That wasn’t unusual.
Called ‘Aunt Gongsun,’ Gongsun Lü’e was taken aback, but she kept smiling, “You do like to joke. It doesn’t matter what you call me, as long as you’re comfortable.”
Chen Yang was surprised; he hadn’t expected Aunt Gongsun to be so tolerant.
“We’re all busy, so let’s be direct.”
He dispensed with further pleasantries.
Gongsun Lü’e nodded, “Agreed. I’ve investigated your background—there’s no power behind you. I hope you’ll join the Martial Association. With your ability, you could at least be a deputy special enforcer.”