Chapter 18: Set Up

"You want to kill me?"

Seeing the other man draw a dagger, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows jumped.

Fortunately, he had been cultivating and hadn't slept yet; otherwise, if the man had come silently like this, wouldn't he have been killed?

"First, figure out who this guy is!"

Zhang Xuan knew that someone who attacked in the dead of night like this couldn't be alone; there was likely an organization behind him. If he didn't find out who wanted him dead, even if he killed this one, there would be others later. Without finding that organization, he wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully.

"Who's there?"

Just as he was thinking about how to get the man to reveal his organization, he heard a lowered voice. The black-clad man with the dagger was standing not far away, having somehow moved closer.

Zhang Xuan had never tailed anyone before. When he saw the man draw a dagger, he tensed up, and his aura leaked, immediately giving him away.

"I..."

Caught so quickly, Zhang Xuan's eyebrows shot up, and he was about to charge forward and fight. But then a thought struck him, and a brilliant idea came to mind.

"I'm here to kill that useless teacher Zhang Xuan! Who are you?"

Lowering his voice so it couldn't be recognized, Zhang Xuan snorted.

Since the other man was here to kill him, claiming the same purpose would surely confuse him.

"You're here to kill him?" The black-clad man was taken aback, but seeing that Zhang Xuan was also masked and looked sneaky, he believed it somewhat.

"That's right. The worst teacher in the academy, keeping him only harms the students!" Zhang Xuan said, not blushing at all while talking about himself.

"Oh, then go ahead. I'll keep watch for you here," the black-clad man said.

"Uh?" Zhang Xuan looked puzzled and quickly declined: "You go ahead. Since we share the same goal, it doesn't matter who does it!"

"You do it. I don't want to kill him, just teach him a lesson. But if you can kill him, that's best, of course!" the black-clad man urged.

"Teach him a lesson?"

Zhang Xuan was confused. Teach a lesson... then why the dagger? He couldn't help asking, "How do you plan to teach him?"

"Hmph, this guy dared to be rude to our young lady. I plan to cut off that thing of his and make him a eunuch!"

The black-clad man said with hatred.

"..." Hearing the man's venomous words, Zhang Xuan felt a chill in his crotch and shuddered.

Damn, if he had fallen asleep tonight, he might have woken up ready to serve the emperor!

Holy shit!

Who the hell are you, so vicious!

Rude to your young lady?

Zhang Xuan racked his brains, thinking back over his past life and his rebirth, but he couldn't recall ever having any involvement with any young lady!

"This Zhang Xuan, I've only heard he's an unqualified teacher, never that he bullies girls. What's going on?" Unable to contain himself, Zhang Xuan asked.

"Hmph, that guy is a beast in human clothing! A teacher? He's nothing but an animal! Our young lady... I won't say more; the more I think about it, the angrier I get!" The black-clad man's lowered voice was thick with rage.

"..." Zhang Xuan felt like his head was full of stars.

What the hell happened? You're cursing me as an animal? What did I do to your young lady? And who is your young lady anyway? If she's pretty, fine, but if she's ugly, I'm being saddled with this reputation for nothing—how unfair!

"Why do you want to kill him?"

After cursing, the black-clad man suddenly looked at him.

"Me?" Caught off guard by the question, Zhang Xuan hesitated, then gritted his teeth: "I... I also can't stand him bullying women!"

"You know he bullies women? Who did he bully?" The black-clad man looked wary.

"He..." Zhang Xuan snorted: "I don't have to tell you, do I?"

"True. Since we both want to act, you go first!" Seeing the other man was unwilling to say, the black-clad man, though suspicious, didn't press further and waved his hand.

"You go first! If I act, he'll die. You castrate him first, then I'll kill him!" Zhang Xuan said.

"This..." The black-clad man hesitated, glancing sideways at Zhang Xuan with suspicion.

He was starting to doubt.

What a coincidence—he was about to castrate Zhang Xuan when someone else shows up wanting to kill him? If he weren't wary of the other's strength, he would have knocked him out already.

"What? Don't trust me? If I didn't want to kill him, why would I come here in the middle of the night?" Seeing his suspicion, Zhang Xuan said.

"Hmm."

Hearing this, the black-clad man hesitated, then nodded.

True, it was already past midnight. If he weren't here to kill Zhang Xuan, why would he come masked?

"It's not that I don't trust you. Since our goals align, let's go together!" The black-clad man thought it over and said.

He still didn't quite trust this guy.

"You're too cautious. Rest assured, I have principles! But since you don't trust me..." Zhang Xuan didn't waste words and beckoned: "Then let's go together!"

With that, he dashed forward.

"Martial artist, fifth level peak?" Seeing him move, the black-clad man immediately recognized his cultivation level, took a light breath, and followed closely.

Seeing him follow, Zhang Xuan quickly looked.

Boom!

The Library of Heaven's Path shook, and a book appeared.

Since the other man was following closely, he was also using martial techniques. As long as he used them, the Library of Heaven's Path could see the flaws and find the origin.

He looked at the book.

On the cover were two words: "Yao Han."

"That name sounds familiar... Where have I heard it?" Zhang Xuan was startled, then opened the first page.

"Yao Han, steward of White Jade City's city lord manor, martial artist sixth level Acupoint Opening stage initial, has opened eight acupoints!"

...

"It's him?"

Seeing White Jade City, Zhang Xuan suddenly remembered.

Wasn't this the head steward of White Jade City who had rushed over to interrogate him when he accepted Zhao Ya as his student today?

No wonder the voice and name seemed familiar!

But...

That would mean the young lady he mentioned was Zhao Ya... What did I do to her? That you'd come all the way to castrate me?

"Daring to slander me, even if you're stronger, I'll still teach you a lesson!"

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got.

If his predecessor had done something disgraceful, since he had transmigrated into him, he might accept it reluctantly. But the key was... he hadn't done anything, yet he was saddled with this accusation—it was infuriating!

With that, he continued reading.

"Cultivation technique: White Jade Circulation Art."

"Martial techniques: Profound Body Palm (Mastery), Profound Body Fist (Mastery)..."

"Weaknesses: sixteen points. First, the buttocks are the vital gate, cannot be defended... Second... Third..."

As before, the book recorded the man's weaknesses.

Having opened eight acupoints meant his strength was 12 tons. In a direct fight, Zhang Xuan was definitely no match!

But...

"So what if he's Acupoint Opening stage? So what if he has 12 tons of strength? If I don't teach you a lesson today, my name isn't Zhang Xuan!"

Whoosh!

With that thought, Zhang Xuan stopped.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing him suddenly stop, the black-clad man looked puzzled.

"Look, a flying saucer!"

Zhang Xuan pointed randomly.

"Flying saucer? What's a flying saucer?"

The black-clad man was startled and turned to look, exposing the vital gate at his buttocks.

At the same time, he was full of confusion: he knew about butterflies, official documents, and spies, but what the hell was a "flying saucer"?

"Get lost!"

Waiting for this opportunity, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate. Filled with rage, he kicked out.

Bang!

Before Yao Han could react, he was kicked in the vital gate, stumbled forward, and crashed headfirst into a rock nearby, immediately bleeding.

You want to castrate me? Believe me, I'll castrate you in a minute!

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got. Zhang Xuan charged again, sat on top of him, and punched him in the face repeatedly.

What Acupoint Opening stage powerhouse? What 12-ton strength? Aren't you tough? Find the vital gate, know the weakness, and catch him off guard—he's done for!

"You..."

Yao Han clearly hadn't expected that the guy who was supposed to be with him in teaching Zhang Xuan a lesson would suddenly go crazy and attack him. Worse, being kicked in the vital gate left his whole body stiff, unable to fight back. He trembled with rage, about to explode.

Weren't we supposed to deal with Zhang Xuan together?

Damn it!

What about integrity?

What about principles?

And... you're a martial artist at the fifth level Cauldron Force stage peak, a top expert—fight with dignity! Shamelessly tricking me, then sneak-attacking, sitting on me and hitting my face...

Where are your martial techniques?

Where are your moves?

Where is your cultivation method?

Even street thugs don't fight like this...

Feeling sharp pain on his face, Yao Han was going crazy.

Until now, he finally realized he had been set up by this masked man.

And set up badly.