Chapter Twenty-Three: Challenging the Entire City?

“You filthy mouth, one day it’ll be the death of you!” Su Ye heard Li Weiqiang cursing him, and he retorted without hesitation. Having spent so long with Jiang Liuying, how could he not have picked up a few biting words?

Li Weiqiang seemed stunned that Su Ye dared to insult him, his fury making him leap to his feet, finger pointed at Su Ye as he shouted, “What’s this? You’re getting cocky, even learned how to curse!”

“I never curse anyone—except you!” Su Ye strode forward, surveying the hall. Jiang Liuying was present, as were several of her uncles, but the head of the Jiang family was conspicuously absent.

Li Weiqiang was taken aback, demanding, “What do you mean? Are you saying I’m not a person? Hmph, you little brat, are you rebelling now—”

“All right, enough! Stop your bickering!” One uncle slammed his cane against the floor, his face thunderous.

Jiang Liuying lifted her long lashes, glanced curiously at Su Ye, then at Li Weiqiang, and drawled, “Why don’t you fight? Just trading insults is dull. If someone dies, so be it.”

A man in his thirties, looking somewhat embarrassed, called out, “Liuying Aunt, most people are here now. Shall we begin?”

Because she was the only legitimate heir and the late-born daughter of the Jiang family head, Jiang Liuying stood high in both rank and status.

Li Weiqiang immediately shouted, “What’s left to say? Su Ye, pack your bags and leave the Jiang family! Ever since Yu Zhisha returned, the Yu family has gone mad, interfering in every Jiang family business, no matter what it is. We’ve suffered enough!”

Su Ye’s brow furrowed slightly; he had no grounds to refute this. Take Nansha North Bridge for instance—the Yu family had indeed forcibly taken it, not to mention countless other Jiang family businesses in secret.

A beautiful woman, seemingly in her forties and Jiang Liuying’s aunt by marriage, spoke in a low voice, “The Yu family’s intentions are clear! Everyone knows it, especially now that she’s about to graduate. That graduation challenge is attracting the whole city’s attention, and now someone wants to challenge her. How could the Yu family swallow that?”

“Exactly… The opponent is a Blue Sky Sparrow. I say, some people should be more sensible. If you’re seeking your own death, we won’t stop you, but don’t drag the Jiang family down with you!” Li Weiqiang sneered again.

Su Ye clenched his fists in secret and spoke in a deep voice, “Please rest assured, everyone! In three months, I will defeat Yu Zhisha!”

“You?” Li Weiqiang scoffed, his face full of contempt.

“Su Ye, I’ve heard you recently broke through your first acupoint, but she’s a Blue Sky Sparrow! And I heard she’s not just challenging you, but all the high schools in Sheep City. Are you aware?” an uncle said gravely.

“All the high schools?” Su Ye’s brow furrowed even deeper.

He didn’t need to think long; he knew it was true. With Yu Zhisha’s pride and the school leaders’ love of grand spectacles, they’d make it as sensational as possible.

It looked like a graduation challenge, and she’d accepted Su Ye’s challenge, but in reality, it was a chance for the Yu family to show their strength to all the families in Sheep City. Especially since Yu Zhisha had spent three years as an exchange student, who knew what heights her power had reached?

The Yu family wanted to show the others that they had a Blue Sky Sparrow—the future of Sheep City belonged to them!

Jiang Liuying stood up and spoke in a serious tone, “Enough, we keep discussing but can’t decide anything. My father returns tonight! When he’s back, we’ll hold a proper meeting.”

Everyone present acknowledged her logic, nodding helplessly. They could only wait for the Jiang family head to return.

Su Ye took a deep breath. Even though the Jiang family included people like Li Weiqiang with foul mouths, he had indeed benefited from their protection these past years. He hadn’t expected that, because of him, the Jiang family would suffer.

Power, the strength of one person alone, was so insignificant! Breaking through wasn’t nearly enough; he needed strength great enough to shield the Jiang family.

And this time, he had to defeat Yu Zhisha in the challenge, or else she would truly become a Blue Sky Sparrow and soar beyond reach!

That day, Su Ye continued his arduous training at the Jiang residence.

He was already familiar with the various acupoints, but he kept practicing their power, honing his techniques. If he wanted to defeat Yu Zhisha, merely possessing the Lightning Meridian wasn’t enough—he needed special techniques.

“The Jiang family’s techniques, even their secret killer moves, must be known to the Yu family, perhaps even countered specifically.”

Su Ye knew the Jiang and Yu families had clashed for years; it was impossible to rely on Jiang family techniques.

The next day at school, he leveraged his connection with Jian Muqian to enter the Martial Hall and sift through their training techniques, but he could only shake his head.

“The school’s techniques are all too common. With Yu Zhisha’s talent, she probably mastered them three years ago! As an exchange student, she must have learned killer moves I know nothing about.”

For three days, Su Ye found no suitable techniques. Would he have to use his own family’s secret arts? But he quickly dismissed the thought. When he left his family, he vowed never to use anything from them again—not even his name, which he changed to Su Ye. How could he secretly train their techniques?

At school, rumors about the graduation challenge in three months swirled everywhere.

Everyone knew that in three months, Sheep City Number One High would host visiting talents from other schools, prompting many students to train frantically.

Counselor Cai Weisong proudly announced, “Students, you all know the challenge in three months will be unique! With so many participants, only the top thousand seniors have the right to compete! As for those ranked after a thousand—or…”

He swept a cold gaze toward Su Ye and hinted, “Or the school’s absolute bottom-ranked waste—no right to challenge! Hmph! Right now, the thousandth-ranked student has broken through seventeen acupoints. I hope you all push harder. I’ll personally fund a new challenge arena—ha! I hope to see you on it. The top hundred will receive rich rewards, especially the first place, ha…”

Su Ye sensed there was more beneath the surface. Everyone knew Yu Zhisha had been famous in Sheep City three years ago—why would so many show up now just to be supporting cast?

For the moment, Su Ye couldn’t figure out the reason.

Shortly after class began, Su Ye was summoned to the office.

He expected trouble, but when he entered the principal’s office, he found a stunningly beautiful woman chatting animatedly with the principal. Her voluptuous figure trembled with laughter, and when she saw Su Ye, she rose and greeted the principal, “All right, Principal. I’ll take my leave now—see you next time!”

Su Ye looked carefully and recognized her: it was Ning Shuang, the Taoist priestess he’d met at the seaside, the one who sent away wandering spirits.

“Ning Shuang, what are you doing here?”

Ning Shuang smiled with mature charm, her outfit accentuating her curves. “I came looking for you! Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten—when I saved you, you promised to come with me somewhere?”

Su Ye recalled, yes, she’d helped deal with Jiang Shao and Hong Can in exchange for a favor.

“Where are you taking me? I’m really busy lately!”

Ning Shuang leaned close, her fragrance enveloping him, and laughed, “What, afraid I’ll sell you off? Didn’t seem that way that night. You’re not bad-looking! Come on, get in the car with me.”

Su Ye knew staying meant only attending class, not proper training, so he decided to settle this debt of gratitude.

“Imagine that, you actually dared challenge the Yu family’s genius. You’ve got guts!” In the car, Yu Zhisha laughed again.

Su Ye winced, “Seriously? It’s spread across the whole city?”

“Just about! But there’s nothing that happens in any Sheep City school that I, Ning Shuang, don’t know about.” Ning Shuang was full of confidence, biting her luscious lips.

When the car stopped, they both got out.

“We’re here. I hope you can help me,” Ning Shuang said solemnly.

Su Ye looked up at the grand house ahead, saw the photo above the entrance, and read the glaring words: “Healing Hands Rejuvenate—”