The central training square of Azure River City fell completely silent.
Hundreds of spectators stared at the figure who had just stepped into the arena.
Fan Lin.
A young man who was once known as the weakest member of the Fan Clan.
Someone who had often been mocked and beaten during public martial contests.
And now…
He had just challenged Zhao Ming.
Whispers spread through the crowd.
"Is he crazy?"
"Zhao Ming is already Body Tempering Level 8."
"Fan Lin couldn't even defeat ordinary guards before."
Zhao Ming himself looked surprised for a moment.
Then he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Fan Lin… you really came to embarrass yourself again?"
His eyes were filled with ridicule.
"Last time I broke your ribs in three moves."
"Have you already forgotten the pain?"
The crowd laughed loudly.
Many people remembered that fight.
Fan Lin had been humiliated badly that day.
But Fan Lin simply stood calmly in the arena.
His expression showed no anger.
No embarrassment.
Only quiet confidence.
"Zhao Ming," he said calmly.
"Are you finished talking?"
Zhao Ming's smile froze slightly.
Fan Lin continued.
"If you're done…"
"…then let's fight."
The calmness in his voice made the atmosphere strangely tense.
Zhao Ming frowned.
Something about Fan Lin felt different today.
But he quickly dismissed the thought.
No matter what had changed, Fan Lin was still the same weak young master.
Zhao Ming stepped forward.
"Fine."
"I'll teach you another lesson."
The two of them stood facing each other in the middle of the square.
A city referee raised his hand.
"Begin!"
The First Move
Zhao Ming attacked first.
His body shot forward like a charging bull.
His fist flew toward Fan Lin's face.
The punch carried the strength of Body Tempering Level 8.
The crowd gasped.
"That punch could break bones!"
But Fan Lin didn't move.
At least…
Not until the very last moment.
Just before the fist reached him—
He shifted slightly.
WHOOSH.
Zhao Ming's punch missed completely.
The crowd blinked.
"What?"
Zhao Ming frowned.
"You got lucky."
He attacked again.
This time faster.
Two punches.
Then a kick.
WHOOSH.
WHOOSH.
WHOOSH.
Fan Lin avoided every strike effortlessly.
His movements were light.
Almost like wind.
The crowd slowly began to realize something.
"This… doesn't look like luck."
Zhao Ming's expression darkened.
"Stop running!"
He gathered more strength and launched another punch.
But this time—
Fan Lin moved forward instead of dodging.
He raised his hand.
SLAP.
The sound echoed clearly across the entire square.
Zhao Ming froze.
A bright red handprint appeared on his face.
The crowd exploded.
"Did… did Fan Lin just slap Zhao Ming?!"
Zhao Ming's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You… you dare—"
SLAP!
Another slap landed before he finished speaking.
Fan Lin's voice remained calm.
"That was for last year."
Zhao Ming roared in anger.
"I'll kill you!"
He unleashed his strongest attack.
A powerful punch aimed directly at Fan Lin's chest.
But Fan Lin simply raised his hand.
CLANG.
He blocked the punch effortlessly.
Zhao Ming's eyes widened.
"How…?"
Fan Lin smiled faintly.
"You're too slow."
The True Strength
Fan Lin finally moved.
His body blurred like a gust of wind.
Before Zhao Ming could react—
Fan Lin appeared beside him.
SLAP!
Another slap echoed across the square.
Then another.
SLAP!
And another.
SLAP!
Zhao Ming stumbled backward, completely unable to defend himself.
The crowd stared in shock.
No one had expected this.
Zhao Ming—the proud genius of the Zhao Clan—was being publicly slapped like a child.
Fan Lin stopped after the fifth slap.
Zhao Ming's face was swollen.
His hair was messy.
His eyes burned with humiliation.
"You… you…!"
Fan Lin sighed.
"You talk too much."
Then he placed his hand on the Wind Spirit Jade Sword.
The moment the blade appeared—
A powerful aura spread across the square.
Several experienced martial artists in the crowd gasped.
"That aura…"
"A spirit weapon!"
Fan Lin raised the sword slightly.
Wind energy gathered around the blade.
"Wind Phantom Blade."
WHOOSH!
A compressed wind slash shot forward.
CRACK!
Zhao Ming's weapon shattered instantly.
The force knocked him flying across the arena.
He crashed heavily into the ground.
The square fell completely silent.
No one spoke.
No one moved.
Because everyone had just realized something.
Fan Lin…
Was no longer the weak young master.
He was now far stronger than Zhao Ming.
Fan Lin slowly walked toward the fallen opponent.
Zhao Ming struggled to stand.
His eyes were filled with disbelief.
"How… how did you become this strong…?"
Fan Lin looked down at him calmly.
"By surviving things you wouldn't dare face."
Then he turned around.
The fight was already over.
But just as he was about to leave—
The system panel appeared.
DING
Mission Completed
Return to Azure River City
Objectives:
✔ Defeat Zhao Ming
✔ Restore Fan Clan Honor
Rewards:
EXP +500
SP +200
System Shop Level 2 Unlocked
Fan Lin smiled slightly.
The crowd slowly parted as he walked through them.
People stared at him with shock.
Fear.
And respect.
But Fan Lin knew something else.
Humiliating Zhao Ming in public meant one thing.
The Zhao Clan would not stay silent.
And soon…
Azure River City would become far more dangerous.