Chapter 251: Yun Keqing's Helplessness
"Fuck your mother! So what if I talked about you? You damn piece of trash! Last time, I was at the seventh level of the Grandmaster Realm. Now, I'm at the eighth. Crushing you will be as easy as squashing an ant!" Dong Bowen cursed.
At this moment, Dong Bowen's heart was brimming with rage. As a Core Disciple of Zixiao Academy and a Grandmaster at such a young age, he was showered with praise wherever he went. Yet, he had been mercilessly beaten by some kid of unknown origin, and worse, it had happened right in front of Yun Keqing! She was the woman he secretly loved. To be beaten in front of his crush? No man could stand for that.
For some time, Dong Bowen had been cultivating in seclusion and had finally achieved another breakthrough. He'd spent the last few days asking about Zhao Dong's whereabouts, itching for revenge. Now that he had run into him, the fury in his heart blazed like an uncontrollable fire.
Zhao Dong cracked his knuckles, a mischievous glint in his cold eyes. "Looks like I didn't beat you hard enough last time. Your dog mouth is barking again. This time, I'll be sure to knock your dog teeth out!"
"I'm going to fucking kill you, you son of a bitch!" Dong Bowen roared. With a low growl, he launched himself off his right foot, shooting forward like a bullet.
Zhao Dong moved at the same instant, his body blurring as he stomped the ground. The floorboards shattered beneath his feet as he shot toward Dong Bowen like an arrow loosed from its bowstring.
Dong Bowen's pupils shrank. How does Zhao Dong seem even stronger than before?
His scalp tingled, but having come this far, he certainly wouldn't back down. His fists and feet rained down on Zhao Dong like a storm. Zhao Dong also unleashed his fists and feet. The two men exchanged brutal, flesh-on-flesh blows as their fists collided in midair.
With a dull THUD, they both landed firmly on the ground. Dong Bowen twisted his neck, a cold glint in his eyes, but his heart was filled with even greater astonishment. Zhao Dong... is definitely stronger than before! This man must not be allowed to live, or he'll become a major threat in the future!
A murderous intent flashed in Dong Bowen's eyes. A sky-piercing killing aura erupted from his body as he charged at Zhao Dong.
"Purple Cloud Palm!"
Dong Bowen let out a low roar. A faint purple light enveloped his hand, emanating a terrifying pressure.
Zhao Dong's pupils constricted. This is no ordinary palm strike!
In the next second, Dong Bowen's palm was right in front of him. Zhao Dong threw a punch to meet it.
The force of the collision threw them both back a step, each coughing up a mouthful of blood.
Dong Bowen was utterly shocked. He was a Core Disciple of Zixiao Academy! In the entire Longdong Province, the academy's power was immense; it was a major sect. As a Core Disciple, he was already an outstanding talent, far surpassing his peers. And yet... I still can't defeat this Zhao Dong of unknown origin?
Dong Bowen gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging. "Zhao Dong, I must kill you! Purple Light Claw!"
In an instant, Dong Bowen's five fingers formed a claw and tore toward Zhao Dong. A fierce wind rose, and a biting chill swept over him. Zhao Dong leaped back just in time. Dong Bowen's attack struck the concrete wall behind him, leaving five deep gashes in its surface.
Zhao Dong drew a sharp breath. Although Dong Bowen was at the eighth level of the Grandmaster Realm, his strength was considerable. As a Core Disciple of Zixiao Academy, he's certainly not weak.
Seeing Zhao Dong dodge the attack, Dong Bowen grew even more frenzied. "Folding Fan Kicks!"
Instantly, Dong Bowen's legs became a series of afterimages that scythed toward Zhao Dong. Zhao Dong crossed his arms to defend himself, blocking the first few kicks, but the last one broke through his guard. He was sent staggering back seven or eight meters, his shoes leaving a deep black skid mark on the ground.
Dong Bowen sneered, "What's wrong, you coward? Do you realize your mistake now?"
A strange smile played on Zhao Dong's lips. "That was just the warm-up. Now, I'm getting serious."
As the last word left his mouth, Zhao Dong was already in front of Dong Bowen. To Dong Bowen's surprise, Zhao Dong's hands shot out, clamped onto his arms, and then squeezed with ferocious power.
"AHHH!!!"
Dong Bowen let out a piercing scream. It felt as if his arms were being crushed by a hydraulic press. The spots Zhao Dong had grabbed were now a mangled mess of flesh and blood. An excruciating pain shot through Dong Bowen's arms, and they went completely numb.
"Did you really think I couldn't handle you? I was just playing around, afraid that if I defeated you too quickly, the psychological blow would be too much for you to handle."
With his final word, Zhao Dong delivered several sharp slaps across Dong Bowen's face, followed by a final kick to the chest.
BANG!
Dong Bowen's body flew backward, landing heavily on the ground. His face bruised and swollen, he passed out immediately.
Zhao Dong shrugged, lit a cigarette, and said disdainfully, "That's it? He's out just like that?"
Standing to the side, Yun Keqing watched with a pale face. Without a moment's hesitation, she rushed to Dong Bowen's side and helped him up. "Senior Brother, wake up! Are you all right? Should I take you to the hospital?"
Zhao Dong's mouth twitched slightly. I'd forgotten Yun Keqing is also from Zixiao Academy. Beating her Senior Brother this badly might have been a bit inappropriate...
Yun Keqing lifted her head, her gaze complex as she looked at Zhao Dong. He cleared his throat and asked, "Miss Yun, you don't blame me, do you?"
Yun Keqing sighed. "How could I blame you? My Senior Brother was the one who started it. But the root of all this is me... I'm at fault, too."
"You're not at fault. Your Senior Brother is just a despicable villain."
Yun Keqing bit her lip, her beautiful face etched with helplessness. "But he is my Senior Brother, after all. Zhao Dong, if you two truly become enemies... he will definitely get people from Zixiao Academy to deal with you. What will you do then?"
Zhao Dong shrugged. "I'll handle whatever they throw at me. As a cultivator, am I just going to let him bully me?"
Yun Keqing gave a bitter laugh. Zhao Dong flicked the ash from his cigarette. "Alright, you should take him to the hospital. I'll hold onto the Dragon Blood Stone for you for now. Also, you have a medical condition. If you can't find a cure, come find me. I can treat it."
Leaving her with those words, Zhao Dong departed under Yun Keqing's complicated gaze.
Instead of returning, Zhao Dong headed for the Han family's compound. He needed to borrow their alchemy materials to refine a pill for himself and another for Xu Yafei. Once he was finished, he would have to pay her a visit.
It's been a while since I've seen her. I wonder how she's doing. She was poisoned before... I hope it hasn't relapsed.
Zhao Dong soon arrived at the Han Family estate. Standing before Han Qingtian's villa, he called out, "Old Master, are you there?"
When no one answered, Zhao Dong frowned and muttered to himself, Is no one home? That's strange...
He reached out and pushed the door, and to his surprise, it swung open. Zhao Dong froze, hesitating whether to enter, when a strange scent reached his nostrils. He paused, his pupils contracting instantly. Something isn't right!
Without a second thought, his heart sinking, Zhao Dong strode into the villa. The first floor was empty. His muscles tensed, and his entire body went on high alert as he crept up to the second floor without making a single sound.
The second floor also seemed fine. When he reached Han Qingtian's bedroom, he hesitated for a moment before gently turning the doorknob and pushing the door open.
The moment he saw the scene inside, Zhao Dong was utterly stunned.