Chapter Seventy-Five: The Clash

“Heh… Ye Ran.” Yu Bo naturally remembered this face. The duel between Ye Ran and ** during the martial exam was still vivid in his mind.

Yu Bo let out a light chuckle. This fellow was hardly any better than **—they were about evenly matched—yet now he dared to stand in his way. He clearly had no idea that brutes like ** were worlds apart from someone like himself.

Sweeping his gaze around, he caught sight of the eerily composed Sinclair, and Yun Meng, bow drawn, arrow nocked, aiming in their direction.

Only three of them?

His heart settled. In the distance, yet another barrier unfurled, shielding the entire Lanxie Avenue. Three layers of barriers now: one protecting Red Leaf Academy, one trapping the wardens in the underground lair, and one enveloping Lanxie Avenue.

Several massive beasts rampaged through the avenue, sending buildings crashing to the ground, the earth shaking beneath their onslaught. Shadows darted toward the wardens emerging from the underground lair, while above Red Leaf Academy, eight figures hovered in the air, their powerful auras rippling outward.

The ground thundered with a deep roar. If not for the protection of the barriers and the suppression from the city’s experts, even those on the battle’s periphery might have been swept up by the chaos.

But here, for now, it was safe.

Yu Bo turned his head and looked at Ye Ran with a mocking smile. “You intend to block our path?”

Something bulged inside his arms, as if he were concealing an object.

Ye Ran offered no words—he simply struck out with a fist at close quarters.

“Ye Ran…” Du Yu frowned, unable to fathom what new grudge had flared up between these two. Yet from the frost in their eyes, it was clear their enmity ran deep. By rights, he ought to step in on Yu Bo’s behalf, but Yun Meng’s stance made him hesitate.

Perhaps he alone understood that, among these three who had appeared so suddenly, the one not to be trifled with was neither the so-called Lion King of Shali Academy nor the cold-blooded Ye Ran, but the third Miss Yun.

Yu Bo hadn’t expected Ye Ran to attack without so much as a word. Though he prided himself on his speed, at such close range he struggled to fend off Ye Ran’s assault. With only two exchanged blows, Ye Ran drove a fist into his chest; then, with a deft motion, snatched the bulging object from Yu Bo’s arms.

It was a long, cloth-wrapped item, the white fabric streaked with blood.

“Bastard, give that back!” Yu Bo’s face twisted with rage, but before he could move, Yun Meng let loose an arrow. The watery missile exploded at his feet, halting him in his tracks.

Ye Ran tore away the bloodstained cloth, revealing the object’s true form—a crimson axe, its blade flickering with a faint red glow. Yet the most arresting sight was at the haft: a severed, bloody hand still clenched tightly around it.

Cries of shock erupted from the onlookers.

Du Yu’s brow furrowed as well. He remembered clearly that this axe had dropped when Ye Ran’s group slew the mutated spider. Now it was in Yu Bo’s possession, with a severed hand still attached—the truth was obvious.

Ye Ran handed the axe to Sinclair.

Sinclair’s fingertips trembled as he accepted the weapon. Coldly, he stared at Yu Bo. “You wounded others and stole their belongings. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Yu Bo shrugged and laughed. “What’s there to say? The strong prey on the weak. That’s all there is to it.”

“You scum!”

Even now, Yu Bo wore an air of nonchalance. Sinclair, unable to contain his rage, swung his warhammer at Yu Bo’s head. Yu Bo twisted aside and leapt back.

Ye Ran cast a glance at the Red Leaf Academy crowd. “The matter is clear. This is a private grievance between us and Yu Bo. If anyone wishes to interfere, we’ll be happy to oblige.”

Cracking his knuckles, he snorted coldly. “Some people never learn respect until they’ve been taught a lesson.”

With a sharp crack, he stomped the ground, opening a fissure, and shot forward like a panther, his hand slicing through the air toward Yu Bo.

Not a single person from Red Leaf Academy moved to help. Only Saman Bichu of the Temple of Thunder rumbled, “So many against so few—is that fair?” He leveled his spear, ready to charge, but Yun Meng’s arrow had him firmly in her sights, streams of water rising at her command.

No threat, no warning—yet this bow-wielding girl exerted a pressure on him that few experts from the Martial Hall could match.

He couldn’t help but feel a chill. Who was this girl, to make even him feel so threatened?

Casting a last look at the battlefield, Du Yu decided not to involve himself any further.

“We’re leaving,” he ordered, leading his people away. Behind them came the sound of splitting stone; glancing back, he saw Saman Bichu facing Yun Meng as if confronting a dire foe, and Yu Bo floundering under the combined assault of Sinclair and Ye Ran.

Sinclair’s warhammer, swung in fury, sent gusts whistling through the air with every blow—his strength was truly formidable.

Had it been only Sinclair, Yu Bo could have handled him with ease; he’d once escaped even the Demon Son of Slaughter. But once Ye Ran joined the fray, everything changed.

Ducking the incoming warhammer, Ye Ran pressed in, landing a palm on Yu Bo’s chest, then transforming the strike into a fist that hammered him again. Before Yu Bo could retreat, Ye Ran seized his wrist and dragged him back into range, forcing him to defend against Sinclair’s warhammer and Ye Ran’s unrelenting blows. Soon, Yu Bo was clearly at a disadvantage, every strike from Ye Ran landing with full force.

Fury welled up within Yu Bo. As an elite of the Martial Hall, his pride would not permit him to fall to the likes of Sinclair and Ye Ran. His eyes cold, he focused all his inner energy on Ye Ran, determined to kill him first.

But this proved his undoing. Just as his energy converged, Sinclair’s warhammer shattered his concentration. Ye Ran seized the opportunity, leaped up, and drove a crushing elbow down on the crown of Yu Bo’s head.

Even Saman Bichu, trapped in the streams of water, heard the heavy thud. Ye Ran’s elbow landed squarely, his energy erupting outward. Yu Bo’s knees buckled under the force, and he dropped to one knee.

Supporting himself on trembling fingers, Yu Bo raised his head and glared ferociously at Sinclair and Ye Ran.

Their eyes were equally cold. In that charged moment, what could remain between them but the hatred of sworn enemies?

Yu Bo sneered. “I cut off his hand and regret nothing. If I had the chance to do it a hundred times over, I would.”

Ye Ran stared at him in disbelief. Even now, Yu Bo showed not a hint of remorse.

“Yu Bo, you’re beyond redemption.”

“Hmph. The ones beyond redemption are you, cradled in your safe little world. This world is cruel by nature—why should I pity the useless?”

“Enough.”

Unable to bear his coldness and mockery any longer, Sinclair roared and brought his warhammer crashing down.

Ye Ran started in alarm. “Brother Sinclair, don’t kill him—!”

Crack.

…