Zhang Xuan's fists came down like a storm.
Only when his arms finally grew sore did he stop, exhaling deeply as a wave of relief washed over him. He lowered his head to look.
The mask on Yao Han's face had fallen away. His features were so swollen and distorted that even his own mother would not have recognized him.
"Ugh…"
As the lingering rage drained from his body, Zhang Xuan's mind cleared.This man is the White Jade City Lord's chief steward… and Zhao Ya's uncle. I can't kill him.
No matter how much he deserved it, killing Yao Han would spell disaster. Zhao Ya was his newly accepted disciple—how could he possibly explain murdering her uncle? Worse still, White Jade City was the third-largest city in the Heavenly Profound Kingdom. Anyone powerful enough to serve as its steward was backed by terrifying influence. If Yao Han died, an investigation would surely follow, and Zhang Xuan—new to this world and barely standing on his feet—would never escape the consequences.
Keeping a low profile is best.
Another thought flashed through his mind.
But I can't let him suspect me either.
Yao Han had clearly come to ambush him. If he limped away beaten half to death, suspicion would inevitably fall on Zhang Xuan.
Unless…
Right. A scapegoat.
During the day, Shang Bin—Elder Shang Chen's grandson—had mocked and provoked him relentlessly. If the blame were shifted onto that arrogant brat, even if Yao Han realized the truth, he would hesitate to retaliate. And if retaliation did happen? Let them bite each other.
Perfect.
Zhang Xuan crouched beside the barely conscious Yao Han and lowered his voice.
"Listen carefully. Zhang Xuan and I have a deep grudge. I planned to teach him a lesson tonight. If you end up crippled and Zhao Ya finds out, she'll assume I did it. That would be troublesome. You happened to run into me—wrong place, wrong time."
Yao Han tried to retort, but his mouth was so swollen he couldn't even form words.
"Now get lost."
Zhang Xuan stood, stepped on him once for good measure, then kicked him flying more than ten meters away.
Damn it…
Yao Han gritted his teeth as he staggered upright. He knew better than to fight again. Whoever had attacked him was far stronger than expected.
But two details were burned into his mind.
First, the attacker clearly had a grudge with Zhang Xuan during the day.Second, that person seemed to be a romantic rival pursuing a woman whose name contained "Lan."
With those clues, finding the culprit would be easy.
Watching Yao Han limp away, Zhang Xuan finally relaxed. He straightened his clothes and returned quietly to the dormitory.
That was too close.
He hadn't rested since evening, cultivating and dealing with danger nonstop. Thankfully, the immediate threat was gone.
But one truth became painfully clear.
"In this world… strength is everything."
Sitting on his bed, Zhang Xuan murmured softly before exhaustion finally claimed him.
At dawn, Zhang Xuan awoke refreshed despite sleeping only a few hours. His body felt energetic, far better than expected.
"Time to attend class."
After dressing, he strode toward his classroom.
The moment he pushed the door open, a familiar chubby figure rushed over.
"Teacher Zhang! You're here! Look—I cleaned the room!"
Yuan Tao, the fat student he had finally recruited, beamed proudly.
"Good," Zhang Xuan nodded.
"Hehe… Since I did well, shouldn't there be a reward? A cultivation technique, maybe a martial skill—anything works!"
Zhang Xuan waved him off. "Sit first. When the others arrive, we'll start together."
The second student to enter surprised him—it was Liu Yang, the one who had lost the wager. His face was filled with reluctance and thinly veiled contempt.
The third was Zheng Yang, the spear-wielding youth. After Zhang Xuan corrected a flaw in his spear technique yesterday, his strength had soared. Among the students present, Zheng Yang trusted him the most.
Fourth came Wang Ying. Shy as ever, she blushed when she saw the others and quietly hid in a corner.
Meanwhile, Zhao Ya opened her eyes.
Today… he should be able to solve my problem.
She had tossed and turned all night. Whether Zhang Xuan was a fraud or not—today would reveal the truth.
After washing and dressing, she left her private courtyard. As the White Jade City Lord's daughter and a top-ten entrant in the academy's entrance exam, she naturally lived alone. Yao Han resided nearby.
"Uncle Yao, I'm going to class!"
No response.
She stepped outside just as the door opened. Yao Han emerged.
The moment she saw him, Zhao Ya froze.
"Uncle Yao… what happened to your face?!"
His face was swollen, eyes bruised black, features barely recognizable.
"Oh—just trained too hard last night. Hit myself by accident," Yao Han replied stiffly.
"…Who trains martial arts by beating their own face?"
Her suspicion flared. "Uncle Yao, tell me the truth. Who did this? I'll tell Father!"
"This is my own matter," Yao Han said quickly. "But I must see the teacher you chose. If he's unworthy, I'll report him immediately."
Despite his words, sweat streamed down his face as pain wracked his body.
"Uncle Yao, you're injured. You should rest."
"I can't," he insisted. "If this Zhang Xuan is as incompetent as rumored, I'll expose him in front of you."
They soon arrived at the classroom.
The door creaked open.
Inside stood Zhang Xuan—along with four students.
Yao Han felt as if he'd been slapped in public.
Didn't Zhang Xuan fail to recruit even a second student?
Zhao Ya's face burned with embarrassment.
Yao Han stared at Zhang Xuan in disbelief.How is he perfectly fine?
He, a Martial Artist at the Sixth Layer Open Acupoint Realm, had ambushed him—yet now stood battered like a beggar, while Zhang Xuan looked untouched.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Xuan glanced over calmly. "And who's this… disabled man?"
"Disabled?!"
Yao Han nearly spat blood. "I am Yao Han, Chief Steward of the White Jade City Lord's Mansion!"
"Oh. Then leave," Zhang Xuan waved lazily. "We need silence. Random people aren't welcome."
"You—!"
Before Yao Han could explode, Zhao Ya stepped forward.
"Uncle Yao, please leave. I need to attend class."
Her eyes shone with determination.
The door slammed shut behind him.
Outside, Yao Han's fists trembled.What sorcery does this man possess…?
Inside, Zhang Xuan surveyed his five students.
"Since you've acknowledged me as your teacher, you are fellow disciples. Conduct yourselves well."
The students exchanged awkward glances.
Power and prestige…?
Zhang Xuan cleared his throat. "My teaching style is different. I teach according to aptitude. You will each receive personal guidance."
He gestured toward the inner room.
"Wang Ying. Come first."
She hesitated, then followed obediently.
Wang Ying's heart was full of regret.
She had been deceived, hadn't she?
This teacher didn't even examine her leg yesterday—yet claimed he could cure it. Even famous physicians had failed. Zhang Xuan had a zero evaluation score, the worst teacher in academy history.
I should withdraw…
"Demonstrate your martial technique," Zhang Xuan said calmly.
She complied, performing her fist technique once more.
Zhang Xuan nodded.
Then he spoke.
"Your leg injury occurred two years ago during a fight."
Wang Ying froze.
"You… how do you know?"
"An impact damaged your strength acupoint," Zhang Xuan said evenly. "Blood essence backflowed, sealing it. That's why your strength is inferior."
Her body trembled violently.
Those were the same words spoken by Grandmaster Yuan Yu.
"Teacher… can it be cured?" she whispered.
Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.
"A trivial matter."
Her pupils shrank.