Martial Hero Rebirth c28

Chapter 28 Zhang Xiong the mighty
After Shangguan Yun seemed to be done reprimanding, he unconcernedly waved his hand: "Enough, you lot can scram, go summon Zhang Xiong over!"

Zhang Xiong!

The ten collectively felt their hearts convulse, glancing at each other, eyes flowing with a glint of astonishment.

Could Senior Brother Shangguan be fearful of Lin Yi to such an extent?

Senior Brother Zhang Xiong, was one of the lower courtyard’s top hundred.

Although ranked one hundredth, but still one of the top hundred.

Of the tens of thousands of disciples in the lower courtyard, an existence that ranked at the hundredth strongest.

As far as the lower courtyard disciples were concerned, any who qualified to be ranked among the top hundred, were undoubtedly geniuses, the ones among them prided by the heavens.

"Hmph, did you think that my orders for sending out Zhang Xiong, is me being too wary of this Lin Yi?" Shangguan Yun observing the countenance of the ten, gave a cold sneer.

The ten did not reply, yet their eyes exposed the glint of disapproval.

Apparently they believed, sending out Zhang Xiong personally, was overkill, this was simply thinking too highly of that rascal Lin Yi.

"Hmph! Its hard to imagine you lot as anything other than incompetent, my words can’t possibly be more apt." Shangguan Yun heavily grunted, furiously pointed at the ten people’s noses: "Why don’t you start using your brains, if this Lin Yi could so swiftly handle the ten of you, then how strong is he exactly?"

Before the ten could retort, they were ruthlessly interrupted by Shangguan Yun: "Did you think that it was because Lin Yi was using a tricky sword move, that you lot were defeated, his true strength nowhere near surpa.s.sing your own? You are mistaken, utterly and irrefutably mistaken! Do not look for any excuses; you were effortlessly defeated, which proves that you are far outcla.s.sed by Lin Yi. I don’t care what strange methods he used, defeat means failure, which means you are forced to admit that, he is more formidable than you! "

"The battles in the underground martial world do no come down to one’s realm of Martial Insight. Whoever survives is the stronger!"

The ten were speechless, drove by Shangguan Yun’s words into a state that left them unable to retort.

They cupped their hands towards Shangguan Yun, and silently departed.

Rubbing his temples, Shangguan Yun lightly gave a sigh, frowning slightly while muttering to himself: "Looks like I’ve underestimated this batch of junior disciples, underestimate this Lin Yi. Who’d have thought that, in a little more than a month, he actually trained his Huashan Sword Arts to the peak of perfection, even those who are just a step away from transcendence are incapable of subduing him. "

"I can only hope Zhang Xiong is able to suppress him!"

"The time leading towards the selection of new upper courtyard members, nears. Hopefully this time, I can safely enter the ranks of the upper courtyard."

He faintly creased his eyebrows; deep in his heart was a tinge of anxiety.

It’s beginning to look like he was unable to suppress this batch of promising newcomers.

Just when he was aching over what to do, from outside the door came a tall figure.

"Senior Brother Shangguan, did you need me for something?"

Zhang Xiong came in from the door, with a hulking and muscular physique, husky like a great bear, yet sporting a simple and honest face, cried out to Shangguan Yun in an airheaded manner.

Upon seeing Zhang Xiong, Shangguan Yun no longer bore the high and mighty expression when facing the ten senior disciples. With unfurrowed brows, his originally hazy face brimmed with a smile, hurriedly rose to his feet, and came forward to take Zhang Xiong by the hand: "Junior Brother Zhang Xiong, you’ve arrived? Come, come, have a seat!"

He pulled Zhang Xiong aside towards a chair while constantly asking: "How goes your recent training in martial arts? Made any progress? Not stressed are you? Come have some tea, I spent a large sum of silver taels, in exchange for a bag of Dragon Well tea from Jiangzhe, have a taste. "

Such an attentive Shangguan Yun compared to before, seemed to have become another person entirely.

"Senior Brother Shangguan, no need for tea. If there is anything I can do for you, ask away. I’ve still got to work on my martial arts, lately while practicing Huashan Core Arts, I’ve made some headway, seemingly feeling a trace of Vital Sense." Zhang Xiong scratched his head, while laughing clumsily.

"Vital Sense?!"

Shangguan Yun’s eyebrow twitched, his eyes flashed with a trace of jealousy, but quickly disappeared without a trace, resuming his cordial and friendly demeanor.

"It’s like this; among the freshly recruited junior disciple is a character by the name of Lin Yi. Perhaps you have heard of him?"

"Lin Yi?" Zhang Xiong rubbed the back of his head with his hefty palm: "Feels like I’ve heard of him, this junior disciple has been pretty famous lately, many people have been mentioning, that he has the highest chance of charging into the top hundred."

"Senior Brother Shangguan, has this Lin Yi offended you? If it’s inconvenient for you to act personally, then I'll go and cut him down to size, see if he dares to disrespect Senior Brother."

Shangguan Yun gave a light chuckle while wearing a look of indifference: "Well, he is a new disciple, like a newborn that has yet to know fear, they start acting a little presumptuously...."

"Senior Brother Shangguan, I understand. This Lin Yi has definitely offended you, I'll go teach him a lesson in your place!" Zhang Xiong slapped his chest and roared.

"This... how embarra.s.sing indeed, to trouble Junior Brother so..." Shangguan Yun rubbed his hands with look of troubled discomfort.

Zhang Xiong interrupted his words: "Senior Brother Shangguan, there’s no need to be so cordial with me, if it wasn’t for your aid that very year, how could I have so easily entered the ranks of the top hundred? Like my mother says, a drop of goodwill, should be repaid by a fountain’s worth. Right now in Senior Brother Shangguan’s moment of difficulty, naturally it is up to me as your Junior Brother to help you. "

"Then..."

"Many thanks Junior Brother, that year I too came upon you being bullied, and you know how I just can’t stand watching people get bullied."

"Junior Brother needs to be careful, this Lin Yi is no trifle, several of my men, have fallen under his hands. That rascal has a strange Skill Style that can disarm a person’s sword, be wary of this move, don’t fall for his trickery."

Shangguan Yun’s eyes were red, as though emotionally stirred to the verge of welling tears, affectionately stroked Zhang Xiong’s hand while sincerely urging.

"Rest a.s.sured Senior Brother Shangguan, then, I’m off!"

Zhang Xiong gave a wave of his hand, his towering figure like the rushing winds, left the hall.

After a moment’s silence in the hall, Shangguan Yun’s cordial and friendly visage instantly disappeared. His reddened eyes flashed with trace of cruel intent while turning to watch Zhang Xiong’s towering silhouette, a face full of envy.

"Vital Sense?"

"Hmph, that dumb piece of work Zhang Xiong, who has neither competence nor capability, Is even more adept at Vital Sense than me?"

Just thinking, of that mentally deficient fellow, who came into contact with Huashan Core Arts one year later than him, was actually one step in front of him, Shangguan Yun’s eyes flashed with raging fires of jealousy.

"Hmph, even if you can feel Vital Sense, with your defective brain, you’d still end up being played in my, Shangguan Yun’s hands?"

With a sneer, Shangguan Yun expressed a look of disregard.

That year this Zhang Xiong, who was still a junior disciple, was already showing promise.

It was Shangguan Yun who sent people over to beat him down, after discovering how simple minded the fellow was, and how much he valued goodwill. He arranged a performance, by first sending people out to bully, before finally appearing, to beat off the people who were bullying Zhang Xiong.

From then onwards, that stubborn Zhang Xiong would steadfastly believe him a benefactor, followed him, willingly carrying out orders.

Never discovering, that the one who bullied him that year, the culprit being his most gracious benefactor Senior Brother Shangguan.

This matter, was known to many of the top hundred, but the vast majority of people in the ranks of the top hundred was a similar sort compared with Shangguan Yun, motivated by dark intentions, n.o.body would do a thankless job like telling Zhang Xiong the truth.

Just thinking about playing a gifted individual in the palm of his hand, made the corners of Shangguan Yun’s lips curl into self-satisfied smile.

This incident has always been his most deeply prided achievement.

Able to dispatch the ranks of the top hundred to do their work, in the entire lower courtyard, few could manage such a feat.

And Shangguan Yun was one such person.

"Hmm, this Lin Yi is so talented, if I could put him under my command, wouldn’t that be nice?" Shangguan Yun began to fantasize, having felt its feasibility, with great confidence, he raked his brain to compose a scenario, where Lin Yi would steadfastly stick alongside him.

......

Zhang Xiong left Shangguan Yun’s number 10 courtyard, and did not return to his own courtyard to rest, but went straight towards the top hundred junior disciples courtyard.

He had a one-track mind; his least favourite thing was using his head.

He was also had a short fuse.

The things Senior Brother Shangguan urged him to accomplish, he must immediately carry out in order to be at peace of mind.

What’s more, it made him thought, a junior disciple who has not even practiced martial arts longer than two months, to what extent could one like that have taken his martial prowess?

With him as top hundredth who had Inner Power and Vital Sense on the job, it should be a piece of cake.

It wasn’t because he was being proud or arrogant, but it was his impression, that in Huashan lower courtyard’s history, there was never a junior disciple who practiced martial arts for less than two months, who could become an existence that could take on the lower courtyard top hundred.

Experience has taught him, that Senior Brother Shangguan’s given task was not difficult in the least.

As to why the matter of teaching a lesson to a presumptuous junior disciple, required arranging a top hundred to deal with, he did not even stopped to think it over.

His unwillingness to use his brain, had caused him to never feel that he was anything special among the lower courtyard top hundred.

He was the type to first eat and then sleep, and after sleeping would then move on to practice martial arts, a very simple kind of person.

As Zhang Xiong headed for the top junior disciples courtyard, many senior disciples spotted him as he was pa.s.sing.

"Wasn’t this Zhang Xiong the top hundredth? What business did he have in the top hundred junior disciples courtyard?"

"Eh, you still don’t know? Recently there was the appearance of a junior disciple by the name of Lin Yi, who fought back two waves of Senior Brother Shangguan’s men sent to suppress him! The first wave three, the second wave up to ten! These people were close to rivaling the top hundred in strength, but were all defeated by Lin Yi! "

"Ah? There was such a character among the junior disciples? I did not even know?"

"Hey, with you training martial arts all day to the point of obsession, of course you wouldn’t pay attention to these things? With Zhang Xiong looking like this, he must have been sent out by Senior Brother Shangguan for suppression’s sake, off to make trouble for Lin Yi! These recent years Zhang Xiong has been steadfastly following Senior Brother Shangguan while fighting his way into the top hundred. He’s capable of immense strength. Senior Brother Shangguan has been too shameless, in all these years, every batch of junior disciples were beaten into suppression by him, and now he actually sent out one of the top hundred, truly disgraceful! "

"Can’t stand it? What then could you possibly do? This is none of your business; we’ve all been through it. Don’t fret over it, just hurry up and see what’s gonna happen, I'd like to witness, what sort of character this junior disciple is who could make Senior Brother Shangguan send out a top hundred! "

"Haha, just how I like it, let’s go quickly, or else there won’t be any places left to watch the show! A top hundred personally crushing a junior disciple, such an incident has been unprecedented for how many years? What a momentous event, a must see! "

Many senior disciples who noticed the commotion, came to follow along, very quickly, they became a huge gathering of senior disciples following Zhang Xiong, an utterly boisterous crowd.

Upon arriving at the territory of the top hundred junior disciples, the many junior disciples who discovered this, gawked with widened eyes, apparently shocked into a stupor.

When they noticed the towering figure walking at the forefront of the senior disciples, they felt dumbfounded, followed by a sense of indignation, every single one of them broke into a riotous fit of aggrieved protest.