Chapter 18: Being Cheated

“You want to kill me?”

Seeing the assailant pull out a dagger, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows twitched. Fortunately, he had been cultivating and hadn’t gone to sleep yet. Otherwise, with the assailant approaching so stealthily, he might really have been killed!

“First, I need to figure out who this guy is!” Zhang Xuan knew that someone attacking stealthily in the dead of night couldn’t be acting alone; there was likely an organization behind them. If he didn't figure out who wanted to kill him, even if he killed this assailant, more would come. He wouldn’t be able to sleep soundly until he found that organization.

“Who’s there?” As Zhang Xuan pondered how to get the assailant to reveal the organization behind him, he heard a hushed voice. The black-clad figure with the dagger was now standing nearby, though Zhang Xuan hadn't noticed when they arrived. Zhang Xuan had never tailed anyone before. Upon seeing the dagger, he tensed up, and his breathing betrayed him, instantly revealing his presence.

“I…” Discovered so quickly, Zhang Xuan’s eyebrows rose. He was about to charge forward and engage in battle when suddenly an excellent idea sparked in his mind.

“I’m here to kill that useless teacher, Zhang Xuan! Who are you?” Zhang Xuan lowered his voice to disguise it, then grunted. Since the assailant was here to kill him, claiming to have the same objective would surely confuse them.

“You’re here to kill him?” The black-clad figure was taken aback, but seeing Zhang Xuan’s masked, stealthy appearance, they couldn’t help but believe him a little.

“That’s right, he’s the worst teacher in the academy; keeping him around would only harm the students!” Zhang Xuan said this about himself without the slightest blush.

“Oh, then you go ahead. I’ll keep watch for you here!” the black-clad figure said.

“Huh?” Zhang Xuan looked odd, repeatedly declining. “No, you do it. We both have the same goal anyway, so it doesn’t matter who strikes the blow!”

“No, you do it. I don’t actually want to kill him, just teach him a lesson. But, if he gets killed, that’s fine too!” the black-clad figure urged.

“Teach him a lesson?” Zhang Xuan was confused. “Teach him a lesson… with a dagger? What kind of lesson?” He couldn’t help but ask, “How do you plan to teach him a lesson?”

“Hmph, that guy dared to be rude to our young lady! I plan to cut off *that* of his! I’ll turn him into a eunuch!” The black-clad figure spoke with a face full of hatred.

“…” Hearing the venomous words, Zhang Xuan felt a chill down his groin, and a shiver ran through him. Damn it, if he had been asleep tonight, he might have woken up to serve the emperor! Holy hell! Who the hell are you, so vicious?!

Rude to their young lady? Zhang Xuan racked his brain, recalling both his past life and his current one, but he couldn't remember ever being involved with any young lady!

“This Zhang Xuan, I’ve only heard he’s an unqualified teacher; I’ve never heard of him bullying girls. What’s going on?” Unable to hold back, Zhang Xuan asked.

“Hmph, that guy is a beast in human skin! What kind of teacher? He’s an animal! Our young lady… I won’t say more, it just makes me angrier the more I think about it!” The black-clad figure’s hushed voice was laced with intense anger.

“…” Zhang Xuan felt dizzy. What on earth happened for you to call me an animal outright? What did I do to your young lady? And who *is* your young lady anyway? If she’s beautiful, that’s one thing, but if she’s an ugly monster, letting me take the blame for nothing would be too unfair!

“Why do *you* want to kill him?” After his rant, the black-clad figure suddenly looked at Zhang Xuan.

“Me?” Zhang Xuan was startled that the other party would ask him. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and say, “I… I also can’t stand him bullying women!”

“You know he bullies women? Who did he bully?” The black-clad figure looked wary.

“He…” Zhang Xuan grunted, “I don’t need to tell you that!”

“Right. Since we both want to act, you go first!” Seeing that the other party was unwilling to say more, the black-clad figure, though still puzzled, didn’t press further and waved his hand.

“No, you first! If I strike, he’ll die. You emasculate him first, and then I’ll kill him!” Zhang Xuan said.

“This…” The black-clad figure hesitated, glancing sideways at Zhang Xuan, filled with doubt. He was already growing suspicious. What a coincidence! Just as he was planning to emasculate Zhang Xuan, someone else who wanted to kill him showed up right behind him? If he hadn’t been wary of the other’s strength, he would have knocked them out already.

“What? You don’t believe me? If I didn’t want to kill him, why would I be here in the middle of the night, full of energy and nothing else to do?” Seeing his suspicion, Zhang Xuan said.

“Hmm!” Hearing this, the black-clad figure hesitated for a moment before nodding. It was true. It was late at night; why else would someone be running around masked if not to kill Zhang Xuan?

“It’s not that I don’t believe you. Since our goal is the same, let’s go together!” the black-clad figure said after careful consideration. He still didn’t fully trust the person in front of him.

“You’re still too cautious. Don’t worry, I have basic principles as a person! But since you don’t believe me…” Zhang Xuan didn’t waste words. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Then let’s go together!” With that, he darted forward.

“Martial Artist Stage Five Peak?” As Zhang Xuan moved, the black-clad figure immediately recognized his cultivation level. Drawing his qi to lighten himself, he followed closely behind.

Seeing him follow, Zhang Xuan quickly looked. Rumble! The Library of Heaven’s Path vibrated, and a book appeared. The assailant following closely behind was equivalent to performing martial arts, and as long as they performed, the Library of Heaven’s Path could reveal their flaws and origins.

He looked at the book. On the cover, the two characters "Yao Han" were written.

“This name sounds familiar… Where have I heard it?” Zhang Xuan was stunned, then flipped to the first page.

“Yao Han, Butler of the White Jade City Lord’s Mansion. Martial Artist Stage Six, Aperture Opening Realm early stage, having opened eight acupoints!”

…

“It’s him?” Seeing “White Jade City,” Zhang Xuan immediately remembered. Wasn’t this the Head Butler of White Jade City who had rushed over to question him when he accepted Zhao Ya as his student today? No wonder the voice and name seemed so familiar!

But… if that’s the case, the ‘young lady’ he mentioned must be Zhao Ya… What did I do to her? Enough to make you specifically come here to castrate me?

“How dare you slander me! Even if you’re stronger than me, I’ll still teach you a lesson!” The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. If his predecessor had done something despicable, since he had transmigrated into this body, he would accept it, even reluctantly. But the crucial point was… he hadn’t done anything at all, yet he was being accused of this. It was truly outrageous!

Thinking this, he continued to read the book. “Cultivation Technique: White Jade Heavenly Cycle Art!” “Martial Skills: Profound Body Palm (Mastery), Profound Body Fist (Mastery)…” “Flaws: Sixteen in total. First, the buttocks are a vital point, unprotected by his moves… Second… Third…”

As before, the book detailed the man’s flaws. Opening eight acupoints meant he possessed 12 ding of strength. In a direct confrontation, Zhang Xuan definitely wouldn’t be able to match him!

However… “So what if he’s in the Aperture Opening Realm? So what if he has 12 ding of strength? If I don’t teach you a lesson today, I’m not Zhang Xuan!”

Whoosh! With that thought, Zhang Xuan stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing him suddenly stop, the black-clad figure looked confused.

“Look, a flying saucer!” Zhang Xuan pointed casually.

“Flying saucer? What’s a flying saucer?” The black-clad figure was startled and quickly turned to look. This action immediately exposed his vital point on his buttocks. At the same time, he was filled with confusion. He knew about butterflies, ultimatums, and spies, but what was a "flying saucer"?

“Get lost!” This was the opportunity Zhang Xuan was waiting for. Without hesitation, fueled by rage, he kicked out. Bang! Before the black-clad figure, Yao Han, could react, he was kicked in his vital point. He stumbled forward, flying through the air, and crashed head-first into a nearby rock, immediately bleeding from his head.

You want to castrate me? Believe it or not, I’ll castrate you in minutes! The more he thought, the angrier he became. Zhang Xuan lunged forward again, sitting directly on top of the man, and started ferociously punching him in the face, blow after blow.

So what if he was an Aperture Opening Realm expert, a 12-ding strength master? Weren’t they formidable? Find their vital point, know their flaws, launch a surprise attack, and they’re finished all the same!

“You…” Yao Han clearly hadn’t expected that the person who was supposedly allied with him to teach Zhang Xuan a lesson would suddenly turn on him like a madman. More importantly, being kicked in his vital point had stiffened his entire body, making him unable to retaliate. His body trembled with rage, feeling as if he would explode.

Didn’t we agree to deal with Zhang Xuan together? Damn it! Where’s your integrity? Where are your basic principles as a person? And… no matter what, you’re a Martial Artist Stage Five Peak expert, a master among masters. Battles should have dignity. Shamelessly deceiving me, then launching a sneak attack, sitting on me, and punching me in the face…

Where are your martial skills? Where are your moves? Where are your cultivation techniques? Even street thugs don’t fight like this…

Feeling waves of intense pain on his face, Yao Han was on the verge of madness. Only at this moment did he finally realize that he had been utterly tricked by this masked man. And he had been tricked miserably.