Extra's Strategy: Cultivate Protagonists, Become Invincible-Chapter 235: A Fatal Injury And A Fatal Information

As soon as that suspicion took root in his mind, Chen Yan felt like he had stepped into his own shit.

Observing the duel between Han Xuhan and Xiao Mei, and recalling how Han Xuhan had dealt with Jiang Chen and Yang Kai, he became absolutely certain of it.

Someone, most likely a disciple from the inner circle of his juniors, had sold them out.

Only a person who had first-hand experience and in-depth knowledge of their abilities, combat tactics, and martial arts, and knew their exact cultivation levels, could traffic enough information for Han Xuhan to take them down so easily.

"Who is it? Who could it be...?"

Crouching under the foliage, still concealed, Chen Yan could only curse himself for his oversight.

"Back then, I should’ve been more thorough while selecting who Xiao Mei could befriend in this sect. She’s too prideful for her own good.

"She must have exposed her true abilities to get herself a few meaningless victories while practicing with her peers."

As he vowed to himself that he would figure out who this backstabber was and teach them about the harshness of the world of cultivation, the duel in front of him came to an end.

The outcome was hardly a surprise.

Xiao Mei had an advantage in terms of experience. But in every other aspect, Han Xuhan held an edge over her, especially psychologically, which was bound to play a significant role in a martial duel.

Seeing him rain down punches on the bruised young lady without a hint of mercy, Chen Yan could no longer hide. It looked like he was intent on crippling Xiao Mei.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?!"

The moment Chen Yan shouted, he picked up a small stone from the ground and hurled it at Han Xuhan’s back at a speed far beyond what his minuscule cultivation level could handle.

Heh! He had already warned the other party. If they couldn’t dodge in time, the injury couldn’t be his fault!

The stone hit him in the blink of an eye. Han Xuhan was given no opportunity to react before it struck the back of his left shoulder and shattered upon impact.

Blood, skin, and fragmented bones flew out alongside the pieces of the stone.

The overwhelming kinetic energy completely threw Han Xuhan’s body out of his control, so much so that his feet left the ground for a few seconds as he spun a couple of times in the air and crashed into the yard fence nearby.

He didn’t even have the energy to scream. By the time his vision settled, he was on the ground, leaning against the fence. His back felt like someone had skewered it with several iron rods and hung it over a bonfire.

While he was gasping for breath, Chen Yan showed up in the distance, face livid.

Hurrying over, he carried Xiao Mei to her hut and tried to apply some medicine to her wounds, only for her to kick him away in fury.

"Who told you you could interfere in my affairs? Did I ask for help?"

"You were already defe-"

"Did I allow you to touch me, Chen Yan?! Don’t forget whose dog you are! My imperial father-"

"Xiao Mei-"

"Get out of my sight! Get lost!"

Chen Yan walked out of her hut far more furious than he was going in. His eyes fell on Han Xuhan, who was still groaning and gasping like a fish out of water, lying over a pool of his own blood.

Seeing Chen Yan’s face appear in front of him seemed to give him some mental clarity. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small pill bottle.

The label on it made Chen Yan squint.

"Mid-Grade Flesh And Bone Reforging Pills? Do you carry around pills worth a thousand spirit stones everywhere you go?"

Popping one into his mouth casually, Han Xuhan tried to grin. "As you can see, for good reasons."

"There would be no reason for you to get injured like this, had you not attacked my junior sister so viciously.

"Do you think you can get away with such an act? The first thing I’m going to do after settling the situation here is to arrest you again."

To Chen Yan’s surprise, the threat didn’t seem very effective. Han Xuhan didn’t look like he had heard anything unexpected.

"What charges are you going to place on me this time, senior brother? I’m curious."

Chen Yan scoffed. "Ambushing a fellow disciple, assaulting her to the point of inflicting grievous injuries, breaking the rules of personal duels-"

"Which rule did I break?" Han Xuhan said mockingly.

"Go ask Sister Mei if I broke any rules. I offered her an opportunity to redeem herself with another duel, and she agreed."

Chen Yan’s voice was caught in his throat. He knew Xiao Mei’s temper well enough to know that she would truly agree to a challenge like that, even if her chances of victory were close to zero.

Someone as shameless as Han Xuhan would face no issues in goading that fiery young lady into an unfair duel.

Chen Yan wanted to switch his tactics and claim that Han Xuhan was tricking his opponents by using the poisonous fog...

But if he pointed it out, there was a chance that Han Xuhan would find a more elaborate way to cheat in his future battles.

With the money, connections, and resources in his hand, there was no guarantee that Han Xuhan’s next ’cheating device’ wouldn’t pose a threat to Chen Yan’s goal of fleecing him.

Chen Yan was willing to swallow his frustrations for the sake of the big picture, but he wasn’t willing to let go of the matter so easily.

"Still, I can’t excuse the fact that you took advantage of her and struck her too harshly-"

"Can’t I accuse you of doing the same thing?" Han Xuhan laughed.

"How difficult would it have been for you to intervene in our duel without such a violent method?

"If I hadn’t broken through to the third phase of the martial path recently, half of my torso might have disintegrated. I’m so lucky to be alive right now!"

"...What was the point of doing this, anyway? Just to get back at me?" Chen Yan asked in exasperation.

"Why did you have to target poor Xiao Mei? As a man, how can you bully an injured woman?"

Han Xuhan winked at him. "Xiao Mei? It’s the first time I’m hearing the first part of her name. Is Xiao her surname? Where have I heard that surname before..."

Chen Yan clenched his fists so hard that his nails nearly dug holes into his palms. Cold sweat began to form on his temples.

So, he had specifically targeted Xiao Mei, knowing the connection he had with her?

How much did he know? Who gave him that information?!

Whoever it is that’s been spying for Han Xuhan... must be eliminated at all costs!

Watching the blood draining from his face seemed to give Han Xuhan a boost in recovery. Slowly, holding onto the fence, he climbed back up on his feet.

The injury in his back might have been fatal, but the mid-grade pill he had consumed was enough to restore even a heavily injured, fourth-phase martial artist back to full health.

Chen Yan didn’t doubt that this scourge would be running around, causing him more trouble in no time...