Chapter 33: Come at me all together!

Li Qunfan had not been having a pleasant few days.

Ever since he was beaten by that newcomer, the way his fellow disciples looked at him had become strange. He had been training diligently in the Inner Sect for over two years, having already broken through the first barrier of the Profound Gate, gaining strength enough to lift a cauldron and crush a skull with his bare hands. Yet, with such prowess, he had been knocked unconscious by a boy who had been in the sect for less than two days. Although he had been restrained, caught off guard, and unable to retaliate due to sect regulations, it was humiliating nonetheless.

But this was not what hurt Li Qunfan the most. What tormented him was the doubt: "Does Xiaofang really not love me?" Lying on his bed, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, Fang Can’s mocking words echoed in his mind: *She never loved you! Never loved you! You...*

Li Qunfan’s goal in martial arts was to become strong enough to be worthy of her, so they could be together in mutual affection. Fang Can’s whisper had cruelly shattered that truth; Xiaofang had never liked him at all.

"Impossible! Xiaofang must love me!" Li Qunfan stared with bloodshot eyes, trying to use the "method of role-playing" to comfort himself, but it had no effect. Fang Can’s indifferent words were like a dagger plunged into his heart, causing his wounds to bleed continuously. The so-called "Idealistic Martial Arts" required one to find a goal, a belief, and follow it unwaveringly. But when the practitioner himself began to doubt, there was no turning back.

After days of manic self-training, Li Qunfan discovered with horror that his martial arts level had not improved; instead, it was regressing. With the loss of his martial will, the proportion of "new blood" in his body was dwindling. In just four or five days, his physical strength had permanently decayed by a full ten percent. If this were exposed, he would likely be demoted to the chores department.

"Fang Can! It’s all that Fang Can’s fault! I’m going to break every one of his limbs!" Filled with hatred, Li Qunfan smashed the table in his room, his eyes brimming with blood. "One month. In just one month, the sect rules will allow for normal sparring." He roared, "I will beat him until he admits that Xiaofang loves me!"

Thinking of this, Li Qunfan’s emotions finally calmed slightly. Feeling his weakened body, he drifted into a troubled sleep. His sleep quality remained poor.

...

"Why am I on the floor?"

The next day, Fang Can slowly opened his eyes and looked around, realizing he had woken up on the floor. Rubbing his slightly dizzy head, he began to recall the events of the previous night. *I remember I was practicing before I lost consciousness. Because I took ten doses of arsenic at once, my body felt worse the more I practiced. I thought I’d sit for a while to recover, and then I blacked out.*

Realizing he had likely overdosed, he stood up and put on fresh clothes. "I should take it easy next time. Even if it doesn't kill me, passing out keeps me from practicing." Seeing his progress at 9.2%, he tightened his belt, remembering what he had to do today.

Stepping out of his hut into the cool morning air, Fang Can headed toward the Martial Arts Hall. Along the way, he exchanged cold nods with fellow disciples before arriving at the grounds. Though it was early, some were already practicing. Compared to seven days ago, Fang Can could now easily discern their techniques; movements that were once unclear were now as transparent as fire.

*None of the brothers in this hall have exceeded 20% bloodline alienation; most are hovering around 10%,* Fang Can mused. The hall was only for training newcomers, who would be sent out after three years. Breaking the 20% barrier of the second Profound Gate within those three years was considered a mark of significant talent.

As he pondered, his gaze drifted forward. In the distance stood Li Qunfan, sporting dark circles under his eyes and glaring with murderous intent. His two cronies stood beside him, eyeing Fang Can with malice. They dared not approach, fearing not only a fight but being mentally broken by Fang Can again.

"Just in time." As he moved toward them, Instructor Yang Lie called out, "Fang Can, come here."

"Yes?" Fang Can turned to see Yang Lie approaching. "Is something wrong, Instructor Yang?"

"Nothing much, just a rule I forgot to tell you." Yang Lie stood with his hands behind his back, clutching a wine gourd. "It is the custom of the Martial Arts Hall to hold a sparring session every month. I heard you had some trouble with Li Qunfan and his group. Be careful once the month is up. Although you were recommended by Hall Master Li, as long as they don't cause you severe injury, I cannot intervene."

Fang Can smiled. "Thank you for the advice, Instructor. But what if I want to spar with them now?"

"What are you talking about?" Yang Lie straightened up. "Are you tired of living? If you provoke them yourself, even the sect rules won't be able to protect you."

Ignoring the warning, Fang Can walked past him toward Li Qunfan.

"What do you think you're doing! Looking for trouble? Don't think I won't hit you!" Li Qunfan gritted his teeth, but he was truly afraid to make a move. He stared with bloodshot eyes, hoping his murderous gaze would make Fang Can back down.

What met him was a simple, unadorned slap from Fang Can.

*Bang!*

It was like a heavy cannon blast. Fang Can’s right palm slammed into Li Qunfan’s face. In an instant, Li Qunfan felt as if his left cheek had been struck by a solid block of iron, and he flew sideways.

*Boom!*

Amidst the shocked silence of everyone present, Li Qunfan’s body slammed into the stone wall of the arena and crumpled to the ground like a dead dog. Seeing the distinct cracks left on the stone wall from the impact, the entire hall fell into a deathly hush.

Yang Lie rubbed his eyes in disbelief. *Has he developed a sense of Qi? No, he’s at least approaching the first level of the Profound Gate. How is this possible? How is this possible!*

Under the gaze of all present, Fang Can walked over to Li Qunfan, grabbed him by the hair, and hoisted him up—the man had already lost consciousness again. Disinterestedly casting the body aside, Fang Can turned, grinned, and said, "Brothers, why don't you all come at me together?"