Chapter 102: Deceptive Clouds and Treacherous Waves

The statue, about the size of half a person, weighed at least two hundred pounds. Even a skilled fighter would have trouble lifting it, yet the man at the door had tossed it with apparent ease—his strength was clear. The Gray Wolf specialized in martial techniques, but lacked raw power. Jelandon snapped his fingers, and the giant beside him gave a low growl, catching the massive stone single-handedly. With a crack, he split it in two and tossed the pieces to the floor, glaring menacingly at the four figures in the doorway.

Yes, four people stood there. The one at the front had a cold, stern face, and the aura of blood about him seemed even more intense than the Gray Wolf’s. Of the two behind, one was tall, the other handsome, but neither was remarkable. The last was a towering minotaur, clearly of chieftain stature.

“Instructor...”

Zhao Kai and Gules were both stunned when they recognized the cold-faced youth striding forward. The Gray Wolf sneered, springing into the air with a knee bend. With a metallic clang, he drew iron claws from his coat and slipped them on, sending two arcs of silver light slashing toward Ye Ran.

A battle-hardened master, he could tell that Ye Ran gathered power with every step. He loved nothing more than disrupting his opponents’ techniques at the crucial moment.

But Ye Ran was every bit as unpredictable. In a blur, he vanished from his spot, then reemerged within striking distance. His living fist collided directly with the Gray Wolf’s iron claws. The force of their chi clashed above, sending the hair of those below flying, but neither of the two combatants budged an inch.

“Fourth stage chi... You’re not even as good as—”

He hadn’t finished before Ye Ran swept his hands, summoning a gust of wind that pressed the Gray Wolf’s chi down. Ye Ran chopped at his wrist, seized his head, and forced him down.

The floor beneath them cracked and splintered. As soon as they landed, fists and claws flew in a furious exchange. The Gray Wolf’s claws flickered from silver to blood-red; a single touch drew a bloody line—a deadly weapon. Yet he was up against Ye Ran, a master of close combat. The web of claw marks left no openings, but every attack missed its mark, and Ye Ran drove a fist into his chest at close range.

At last, the Gray Wolf frowned. Rarely did he meet someone his equal in martial technique. This unknown young man was among the most formidable opponents he’d ever faced in hand-to-hand combat.

He met Ye Ran’s punch with raw chi, neutralizing the force. He had little advantage in strength, but he couldn’t retreat; to do so would be humiliating. Yet as soon as he countered Ye Ran’s fist, another blow struck—this one carrying a fierce wind. With a muffled grunt, the Gray Wolf was sent flying.

He steadied himself in midair and landed without much embarrassment, but compared to the cold-faced youth, the difference in strength was obvious.

The tavern fell so silent you could hear a pin drop, then the whispers began. Many had recognized Ye Ran.

“Isn’t that the cold-blooded guy who killed two beastmen last night?”

“That’s him! It was dark, but I got a good look. No mistake.”

“He’s still as ruthless as ever...”

Zhao Kai, Gules, and Tiger Ben exchanged glances.

They knew Ye Ran’s strength—his hand-to-hand skill was formidable, though his chi had been lacking. But in just a few days, his chi had advanced by leaps and bounds.

“Friend, are you from Torrent City as well?”

Despite his defeat, the Gray Wolf remained composed.

“Torrent City. Ye Ran.”

Ye Ran? The Gray Wolf frowned. He’d never heard the name, yet the youth’s power surpassed even the White Tiger of Tiding Academy. How could he have gone unnoticed?

The girl in the straw hat turned and smiled. “Ye Ran—the one who fought Zhao Ziyang?”

Ye Ran nodded.

“You’re more deserving of your reputation than the others. Jelandon, let’s go. We’ll leave this place to them.”

She rose, took her straw hat, and set it on her head. Jelandon followed, snapping his fingers and tossing a few silver coins on the bar. “Drinks are on me.”

“If you’re interested, Ye Ran, you should visit Frostfall City. Torrent City can’t produce a true master.”

As she passed, she said this to Ye Ran.

“I’ll go if I have the chance,” he replied.

He had only intervened out of a sense of justice. After all, Zhao Kai and Gules had once been his students, and Torrent City was his hometown.

He felt no animosity toward the trio; they weren’t petty or vindictive. On the contrary, their characters suited Ye Ran’s own tastes.

“Xiao Meng, Brother Xin, Brother Banner, I’ll just have a word with them. I’ll be right back.”

Seeing the three leave, Ye Ran greeted his companions, then approached Zhao Kai and the others.

“Instructor...”

“Ye Ran...”

This meeting surprised everyone. Ye Ran hadn’t expected it, nor had Zhao Kai and his friends.

Ye Ran had once been an instructor at Tiding Academy, but had only taught them a single class before disappearing without explanation. The school gave no official statement; when asked, they’d simply say, “Instructor Ye resigned.”

“What are you doing here? The martial exams must be soon,” Ye Ran said, handing each of them a bottle.

Zhao Kai replied, “Exactly. Gules and I came here to train before the exams, but we ran into those bastards from Frostfall City.”

Speaking of the Gray Wolf and Jelandon, Zhao Kai couldn’t hide his anger.

Ye Ran smiled and turned to Tiger Ben. “And you, Brother Tiger?”

Tiger Ben smiled. “I bet you can guess.”

Ye Ran thought for a moment, then nodded, saying something that seemed unrelated.

“Tiger Ben, do you think someone obsessed with scheming can ever win people’s hearts?”

Even with the highest praise from Gao Taiqing, and having witnessed Luo Ning’s methods, Ye Ran still felt no affinity for Young Master Luo.

He and Luo Ning seemed destined for different paths—one believing in strength, despising clever schemes; the other valuing intellect far more than might.

Tiger Ben shrugged. “Maybe people’s hearts are just another part of her calculations.”

“Let’s hope her cleverness doesn’t backfire one day,” Ye Ran said, seeing their views would never align. He didn’t press the point, exchanged a few polite words, then went to rejoin his companions.

“Brother Ye, looks like something big is about to happen,” Xiao Meng said mysteriously as soon as Ye Ran sat down.

Ye Ran poured himself some tea. “Why do you say that?”

“Things have been strange lately. All sorts of people have been showing up—famous fighters like Hidden Dragon and Catwoman, ambiguous factions like Grusburg. There’ve been more experts arriving in this cursed place in a few days than in the past month.”

“There’s word that the Blood Clan’s secret treasure is about to emerge.”