Tang San considered Xiao Wu his untouchable treasure, and nothing infuriated him more than seeing her get close to other guys.
From a distance, he watched as Xiao Wu shook hands with a handsome young man and then kept holding on, neither of them letting go. They stood there, fingers intertwined, staring into each other's eyes like sparks were flying between them.
How could Tang San just stand there and watch this?
Lu Feng glanced at Tang San and said coolly, "And you are? What right do you have to yell at us like that?"
In truth, it was Xiao Wu who had grabbed Lu Feng's hand in surprise and forgotten to let go.
"He's my brother," Xiao Wu finally snapped out of it, pulling her hand back with a faint blush. She turned to Tang San, scolding, "Tang San, you can't be this rude. Lu Feng is a kind person unlike you."
Her words carried a hidden meaning: she was still upset at him for eating rabbit meat, braised rabbit heads, rice-stuffed rabbit, all kinds of cruel dishes.
Hearing Xiao Wu take a stranger's side, Tang San's anger flared. He directed all his fury at Lu Feng.
This whole mess had started because Lu Feng had bought up all the carrots in the market, leaving Tang San with nowhere to get any.
Tang San's mind raced with suspicion. Something felt off. The more he thought about it, the more it seemed like someone was pulling strings behind the scenes.
His sharp, distrustful gaze locked onto Lu Feng.
Ignoring Tang San, Lu Feng took Xiao Wu's delicate hand again. "Come little sister Xiao Wu, take as many carrots as you can. If you don't, I'll just leave them here to rot."
Xiao Wu let him hold her hand without protest, not even sparing a glance at Tang San, whose face had darkened like a stormcloud.
Part of it was her anger at Tang San but another part was the sheer pressure of Lu Feng's overwhelming bloodline aura, making it impossible for her to refuse.
As Lu Feng helped her stuff the carrots into the storage pouch at her waist, his fingers accidentally brushed against her slender waist.
Xiao Wu didn't mind at all. Instead, she smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you!"
Watching this, Tang San felt like his head was turning green.
"You- you bastard!" he spat out, furious.
Lu Feng's smile vanished. "You're insulting me? Fine then. I, Lu Feng, 33rd-ranked Soul Elder, challenge you to a duel!"
After absorbing the Dragon God Left Leg Bone, his soul power hadn't increased much, most of its energy had gone into fusing with his bloodline.
But his words still sent shockwaves through Xiao Wu, Tang San, and everyone nearby.
"A 33rd-ranked Soul Elder?! No way!"
"By the gods, how old is he?"
"This… this is unbelievable. The most talented young soul master I've ever seen!"
The members of the Pan-Continental Merchant Alliance stared at Lu Feng with burning admiration. They already knew he was special after all, he held an Elder Token, but this exceeded all expectations.
Xiao Wu and Tang San froze, their breaths catching.
At 29th rank, they were already hailed as once-in-a-century geniuses by Notting City's Primary Soul Master Academy.
Yet here was Lu Feng, around the same age as them, already breaking into the Soul Elder realm.
If they knew he had reached 33rd rank in just a month, their jaws would've hit the floor.
Nobody was surprised that Lu Feng had challenged Tang San.
In the world of soul masters, strength was everything.
Fights breaking out over a few harsh words? That was just normal in this world.
Tang San had insulted him first. Lu Feng had already shown restraint, but after being called a bastard, if he didn't respond, where would his dignity be?
"So what if you're a Soul Elder? Don't think I'm afraid of you. Fine, let's fight. I, Tang San, 29th-ranked Grand Soul Master, accept your challenge!"
Tang San shifted into his battle stance, his Blue Silver Grass martial soul unfurling from his palm.
Even with a four-rank gap, he had his hidden weapons, Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, and Purple Demon Eyes, more than enough to bridge the difference.
Especially those hidden weapons.
A well-placed strike from the shadows could be lethal, catching an opponent off guard. He'd even killed before with a single surprise attack.
This wasn't his first time fighting above his rank. Back at the primary academy, he'd defeated Soul Elder-level opponents multiple times using his hidden weapons.
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"29th rank is still impressive! What kind of day is this, with two geniuses appearing at once?"
"Still, 29th is nothing compared to 33rd. That Lu Feng is a monster among monsters."
Lu Feng raised a hand, calm as ever. "Wait. Fighting here risks harming bystanders or the rabbits. Let's take this to the primary academy instead."
"Lu Feng, you're so kind! Even now, you're thinking of others… and the rabbits…" Xiao Wu's eyes sparkled, her lashes damp with emotion.
The crowd murmured in approval. {t/n; is a fcking show going on?}
"Now that's character."
"Thank you, Noble Lu!"
"That Tang San, though… not even a comparison."
Tang San's face stiffened.
Why didn't I think of that?
This wasn't like him.
It's all Lu Feng's fault. Calm down. Stay calm!
But staying calm was impossible when Xiao Wu was gazing at Lu Feng like he hung the stars in the sky.
"Fine! The academy it is!"
At least there, he'd have home-ground advantage.
Rumors Spread Like Wildfire
News of the duel reached Master Yu Xiaogang, Tang San's teacher.
The moment he heard that Tang San's opponent, a boy his age, was already 33rd rank, Yu Xiaogang dropped everything and rushed to the scene.
Teachers, the academy head, and hordes of students swarmed the training grounds.
Tang San was the academy's top student, unbeaten in combat. But his reliance on underhanded hidden weapons had earned him quiet resentment. No one dared say it to his face, but the whispers were there.
And now, rumors from outside seeped into the school:
"I heard Tang San started this by cursing at that guy for no reason."
"The guy's name is Lu Feng. He's fighting for his honor."
"They say Lu Feng's a real gentleman, he refused to fight in the streets to protect civilians."
Some added juicy details: "I heard Xiao Wu fell for Lu Feng at first sight, and Tang San got jealous. That's why he lashed out. This is a duel for Xiao Wu's heart!"
The gossip spread like wildfire.
So even though Lu Feng was the outsider, he had no shortage of supporters.
And then there was his appearance.
After absorbing the Dragon God's bloodline, his features had sharpened into something almost ethereal, a snow-robed youth with effortless grace, his every movement radiating quiet confidence.
Compared to Tang San's brooding intensity?
The crowd's sympathies were already decided.
The moment the girls at the academy caught sight of Lu Feng, their favorability skyrocketed, instantly switching sides.
"Brother… please go easy on Lu Feng," Xiao Wu whispered to Tang San.
She knew just how deadly Tang San's hidden weapons could be. He'd already defeated multiple Soul Elders with them. And right now, with him this furious? There was no telling how ruthless he might get.
In this world, Tang San was the only one who possessed hidden weapons so naturally, there were no rules against using them in combat.
And Tang San exploited that loophole.
Back in his past life, martial arts tournaments had strict bans on hidden weapons. Fights were supposed to be honorable—face-to-face, skill against skill.
But hidden weapons? Too vicious. Too unpredictable. If everyone used them, chaos would follow.
Fists and kicks were one thing. But a needle dipped in poison? A blade launched from the shadows?
In his previous world, hidden weapons weren't exclusive to the Tang Sect either. There were the Flying Dagger Sect, the Divine Shuriken Hall—all second or third-rate factions that relied on underhanded tricks because their real martial skills were lacking.
Steel Bone Soul-Seeking Nails. Death Gate Spikes. Blue Feather Arrows. Silver Needles. Fire Phosphorus Bombs. Iron Chicken Claws. Caltrops. Green Lotus Seeds. Meteor Hammers. Hexagonal Files. Flying Forks. Locust Stones.
The variety was endless.
And that "Iron Chicken Claw" Tang San remembered? That was just the Tang Sect's Sky-Soaring God Claw, rebranded to sound more impressive.
But right now,
Hearing Xiao Wu still worrying about Lu Feng, Tang San's anger burned even hotter.
He didn't answer her.
Because if he didn't use his hidden weapons? He wasn't confident he could win.
"Xiao Wu, you really are a kind girl," Lu Feng said, having overheard her plea. Then, with a teasing smirk at Tang San, he added, "Don't worry—I'll go easy on you… brother-in-law."
The moment the words "brother-in-law" left his mouth—
Tang San nearly coughed up blood.