Chapter 12: Might Makes Right!
Everyone turned toward the sound to see a young woman in a fox-fur coat striding quickly toward them. Her steps were fast but neat, every movement graceful and composed.
The girl bore a noble air and looked quite similar to Xie Ting—she was her older sister, Xie Yingying.
Someone from the Xie family had clearly gone to fetch reinforcements after seeing their side get thoroughly beaten.
"Big sis!"
The moment she saw Xie Yingying, Xie Ting's eyes reddened, and she cried out with a face full of grievance.
In the plaza, the crowd—including Lin Fan—quickly recognized the newcomer.
After all, Xie Yingying was the number one junior of the Xie family and quite well-known in Qingyang Town.
"So, you're the Lin Fan who's been making waves lately in the Lin family?" Xie Yingying's eyes, as clear as autumn water, locked onto him. Her voice carried a faint chill. "What you did just now was very inappropriate. Recklessness could cost your family dearly."
Lin Fan replied lazily, "No need for all the fake sympathy—acting like the Xie family is some innocent victim. Let's be honest, it all comes down to whose fists are bigger."
"Your Xie family has long despised mine and tried to push us out of Qingyang Town. Too bad you've failed. This time, Xie Ting picked a fight first. She got beaten because she wasn't strong enough—simple as that."
"If you're here to get revenge, just fight. If you win, I'll accept the outcome. No need for all that useless posturing—it's just embarrassing."
The crowd murmured in agreement. What Lin Fan said was true—and a pretty accurate reflection of how this world worked.
Xie Yingying's face turned sour, speechless in the face of such blunt honesty.
"Heh, well said. Might does make right!"
A light chuckle suddenly rang out.
A figure leapt down from the second floor of a nearby building. His upright posture exuded powerful pressure that immediately made the surrounding juniors tense.
Seeing the newcomer, Lin Xia and the other Lin juniors instinctively moved to stand behind Lin Fan, their expressions grave.
"Brother Lei Li!"
The Xie family juniors cheered upon seeing him. Xie Ting beamed with excitement.
Lin Fan naturally recognized Lei Li—Qingyang Town's acknowledged number one among the younger generation, and Xie Yingying's fiancé.
But what no one knew was that Lin Fan had already surpassed him!
"Yingying, let me handle this," Lei Li said softly to her, offering a gentle smile.
"Mm." Xie Yingying returned his smile, her expression softening.
Lei Li stepped forward and stopped in front of Lin Fan. "So, you're Lin Fan? I agree with what you said earlier... but—"
Before he could finish, Lin Fan interrupted, "Since you agree, then skip the meaningless chatter. Let's fight. No need to waste everyone's time."
"After today, the title of Qingyang Town's number one junior might have a new owner."
Lei Li's face darkened. He was already annoyed at being cut off, and now Lin Fan's arrogance pushed him over the edge. "Good. You've succeeded in pissing me off!"
Boom!
As his voice fell, Lei Li stomped the ground, launching himself forward like a cannonball, his fist punching straight toward Lin Fan's chest.
The punch surged with brilliant Yuan Power, and the wind it generated was so fierce that even Lin Xia and the others turned pale.
But Lin Fan stood calmly in place. His right hand lifted and moved just slightly, perfectly intercepting the strike.
Boom!
A muffled thud rang out through the air as palm met fist.
A wave of invisible force exploded outward, forcing the spectators to back away!
Step! Step! Step!
To everyone's shock, Lei Li stumbled back six full steps before managing to steady himself.
Lin Fan's eyes flickered. Remembering the upcoming hunting tournament, he feigned effort and took four steps back.
He wanted to appear just slightly stronger than Lei Li—enough to provoke the Lei and Xie families into action.
If he revealed too much strength now, they might cancel the gambling challenge during the tournament, which would prevent the Lin family from winning the Yang Essence Stone Mine.
To secure that future gain, a little sandbagging now was well worth it!
Even so, the crowd was left stunned.
"He blocked it?!"
"And only took four steps back, while Lei Li took six!"
"Could it be… Lin Fan is already stronger than Lei Li?"
...
Recalling what Lin Fan had said before the fight, the spectators' gazes toward Lei Li turned complicated.
The Lin family juniors, stunned at first, soon erupted with joy.
Xie Yingying and Xie Ting, on the other hand, looked absolutely awful. Who could've imagined this rising star of the Lin family was so powerful?
"You've reached the ninth level of Body Tempering?" Lei Li growled, his face grim.
Lin Fan smiled faintly. "What do you think?"
Lei Li's voice lowered. "Even at the same level, there's still a difference in strength! I wasn't going all out just now!"
With those words, he suddenly bent his hands into a strange arc. His fingers flicked like serpents, poised to strike.
It was the Lei family's second-tier martial art—Spirit Serpent Palm, a sinister and vicious technique!
"Heh… things are getting lively now, huh?"
Just as Lei Li gathered his Yuan Power to strike again, a discordant voice sounded from the crowd.
A group of ten figures parted the spectators and walked into the square.
They all wore identical outfits, each with a large, whirlwind-shaped saber embroidered on the chest.
Just by their uniforms, everyone recognized them—they were disciples of the Mad Blade Martial Hall.
At the head of the group stood Wu Yun, the strongest junior from the martial hall.
Wu Yun first glanced at Lei Li, then grinned and gave Lin Fan a thumbs-up. "You're Lin Fan, right? The Lin clan's new top dog? Not bad—beating Lei Li back like that!"
"Wu Yun, this is between me and him. Mind your own damn business," Lei Li snapped, scowling at Wu Yun's carefree grin.
But Wu Yun clearly had no intention of backing off.
Lei Li's mind spun. With Wu Yun and the martial hall backing the Lin family now, even a joint effort from the Lei and Xie families might not be enough.
Still, retreating now would look like they were afraid—and that was unacceptable.
"Alright, you brats have stirred up enough trouble," came a slightly exasperated voice from above.
It was one of the trading fair's overseers, finally stepping in.
Lei Li seized the opportunity and withdrew his Yuan Power. "You got lucky today. We'll settle this at the hunting tournament—see who protects you then."
With those parting words, he turned and left with Xie Yingying and the rest, likely planning to enter closed-door cultivation to break into the Earth Origin Stage before the tournament and exact revenge on the Lin family and Mad Blade Martial Hall.
Once they were gone, Wu Yun chatted casually with Lin Xia and Lin Fan, then prepared to leave with his people.
"Brother Wu, wait a moment," Lin Fan suddenly called out.
Wu Yun paused and looked back curiously. "What is it, Brother Lin?"
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