Martial Arts: I Have a Wilderness World-Chapter 86 - 85: Ninth Grade, My Ass

"If the black market is pulling stunts like this, aren’t you worried word will get out and you’ll be out of business?" Cheng Zongyang’s expression was grim as he looked at the two unmasked young men across from him, one holding a saber and the other a sword.

But one of them, a young man in white holding a saber, stepped forward. He didn’t attack, but instead asked, "Where’s your family token?"

Cheng Zongyang paused and frowned. "I don’t have one. I’m on my own."

The white-robed youth suddenly smiled. "If you’re on your own, then why are you sneaking through the alleys instead of taking the main road?"

Cheng Zongyang had to resist the urge to curse at him.

’If I took the main road, wouldn’t the government officials and constables just stop me and slap me with a fine?’

"In that case, I’ll be on my way." Cheng Zongyang cupped his fists, then turned to leave.

"Trying to leave? Leave your things behind!" the youth barked, charging at Cheng Zongyang.

The other youth, dressed in green, quickly followed suit.

The white-robed youth drew his Long Saber, leaped to land in front of Cheng Zongyang, and executed a wide, horizontal slash.

A cold glint of steel flashed. Cheng Zongyang stopped in his tracks, his body instinctively leaning backward.

With a sharp RRRIP, the cloth over his chest was sliced open, revealing a black layer underneath.

Cheng Zongyang came to a halt and glanced down at his chest, his eyes turning cold and sharp.

’The Python Armor!’

’I wore the Armor made from the Black-Horned Python Hide tonight for extra protection.’

’If it weren’t for this Armor, I would’ve been wounded just now.’

"Not a bad reaction. Looks like you really are just Ninth Grade," the white-robed youth said with a mocking smile.

"Hahaha, he must be from one of the Gangs..."

But Cheng Zongyang suddenly spun around, picked up speed, and charged the happily laughing, green-robed youth.

’Laugh, my ass!’

Muttering the curse, Cheng Zongyang channeled his accumulated Power into his fist and threw it with all his might.

The green-robed youth was closer, and he was stunned to see Cheng Zongyang suddenly turn on him. Before the shock could even register, a black shadow was already in his face.

"What the hell!" the youth exclaimed, hastily crossing his arms in front of his chest to defend himself.

THUD!

CRACK...

A dull thud echoed as fist met elbow, followed by the faint, sickening sound of a bone fracturing.

THUMP THUMP THUMP...

The force of the impact sent the youth stumbling backward, his expression a mask of horror.

The long sword in his left hand CLATTERED to the ground as his arm dropped limply to his side, trembling.

"Eighth Gr—"

But his opponent gave him no time to be shocked. He charged again, looking like he was fighting for his life.

"Damn it!" The green-robed youth’s face was a picture of terror as he turned and fled.

His response had been too hasty; he hadn’t gathered enough Power, and he hadn’t been able to channel it properly in his rushed defense.

As a result, his left elbow was fractured. The arm was useless, devoid of strength. He couldn’t possibly continue to fight.

Besides, judging from the force of that blow, his opponent clearly possessed the immense Power of an Eighth Grade Martial Artist! He was no match for him as a mere Ninth Grade Martial Artist.

’After lying in wait for so many days, how could my luck be this bad tonight? I actually ran into a Martial Artist playing the wolf in sheep’s clothing!’

’If I don’t run now, I’m going to die here tonight!’

The white-robed youth, who was catching up from behind, was stunned to see his partner turn and run. He couldn’t help but shout:

"What are you panicking for? He’s only Ninth Grade! Let’s take him together!"

But the fleeing youth completely ignored him, ducking into another alley and shouting back a curse as he went:

"Ninth Grade, my ass!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

When Cheng Zongyang saw the man flee, he didn’t give chase. Instead, he also turned to escape, darting into a different alley.

BAM!!

Suddenly, a figure was sent flying out of the alley’s entrance, crashing heavily to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood.

The sudden development made both Cheng Zongyang and the white-robed youth, who had been about to give chase, freeze in their tracks. They both turned to look.

It was the youth who had just fled. He clutched his chest with his right hand, struggling to sit up, his eyes locked on the person inside the alley.

A moment later, a man holding a saber slowly emerged from the alley.

"Li Xiaofei! The Vice Hall Master of the Celestial Eagle Gang’s War Martial Hall! You... you used a sneak attack! Despicable!" the green-robed youth spat, wiping the blood from his lips and speaking through clenched teeth.

Cheng Zongyang hadn’t expected Li Xiaofei to be lying in ambush in the alley either.

’Is he following me? Or is this just a coincidence?’

He leaned toward the former. ’He was obviously following me.’

’Damn it, there’s danger everywhere!’

Ignoring the white-robed youth, who had also stopped, Cheng Zongyang quietly backed away a few steps.

’I’m waiting for a chance to run,’ he thought. ’The second I get an opening, I’ll find somewhere deserted and slip into the Wilderness World to hide.’

’I only managed to take out that blood-spitting youth because I caught him off guard. It doesn’t mean I’m actually stronger than them.’

’I have a Cultivation Technique but no actual fighting skills. I know exactly how a real fight against these people would end.’

The youth near Cheng Zongyang immediately ran to his companion’s side. Li Xiaofei stared at the two of them and sneered.

"Making trouble outside the black market is just a way to ruin its business and cut off our revenue stream, isn’t it? So, tell me. From the Zhao King Ma Fan group, which family’s turn is it tonight?"

The injured youth stood up with his companion’s help and stared at Li Xiaofei.

"We are outside the black market; we haven’t broken any of its rules. The Celestial Eagle Gang is interfering in the Zhao Family’s affairs, and I will report this to the Patriarch. Just you wait!"

"Hmph. Gutless cowards, only good for sneaking around in the dark! The Zhao Family is nothing but a Martial Arts Hall that got shit-lucky and became a Noble Race! If it weren’t for the County Magistrate, do you think the Celestial Eagle Gang would be afraid of you?"

"Let’s go!" The injured youth had no interest in a war of words. He spoke to his companion, and they turned to leave.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang also turned to leave immediately.

But Li Xiaofei’s voice stopped him.

"You’re a Martial Artist, so you should know the situation in the County Town. Every Martial Artist in the city has already picked a side; neutrality isn’t an option. Refusing to choose just means you’ll make enemies of both factions. If you don’t want us—or them—to eliminate you first, you’d better make a choice."

Hearing this, the two youths who were about to leave suddenly stopped in their tracks.

They looked at Cheng Zongyang with considerable surprise. ’So he really is unaffiliated?’

’We’ve checked almost everyone in the city. How did a Martial Artist like him slip through the cracks?’

The white-robed youth suddenly spoke up. "Friend, my apologies for our earlier offense! If you’re willing, the Zhao Family would also..."

"No need. I’ll think about it," Cheng Zongyang cut in, then turned and walked away.

This time, a faint smile touched Li Xiaofei’s lips. He had no intention of stopping Cheng Zongyang.

’Even if the Celestial Eagle Gang couldn’t recruit him, he’s not likely to join the Zhao Family now,’ he thought.

’Besides, my sneak attack only succeeded because Cheng Zongyang had already disabled one of the guy’s arms.’

’The fact that he disabled a Zhao Family goon’s arm proves Cheng Zongyang is quite strong.’

He then frowned. ’Judging by the aura of his vitality, he should have Just Entered the Grade. But his Power was enough to disable a Ninth Grade’s arm—that’s Eighth Grade Power! Did he use a Secret Technique? Or is he on the verge of becoming Eighth Grade?’

Watching the figure disappear at the mouth of the alley, Li Xiaofei shook his head slightly and turned back toward the black market.

Li Xiaofei spat into a corner and muttered to himself.

"Pah! All this scheming is filthy. If you’re going to fight, then fight. Why wait? What the hell are we waiting for? If this drags on any longer, even the refugees who fear death will be forced to choose between starving, dying of thirst, succumbing to disease, or just being killed!"

Night fell, blanketing the County Town in a quiet peace. But outside the town’s four gates, several figures moved furtively through the crowds of refugees.

Slowly, the sounds of wailing and shouting began to rise and fall, growing in volume.

On the city walls, the night-watch soldiers were drowsy, paying no mind to the sounds from below.