Chapter 120: A Hero’s Entrance

Chapter 120: Chapter 120: A Hero’s Entrance

"Uncultured rabble from the Martial World! How outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"

Outside the city, the Captain of the Guard, who was preparing to return to the capital, stared at a disdainful youth not far away. His hand trembled on his steel saber, shaking with rage.

It was said that the Martial World and the imperial court kept to themselves, and the government had next to no control over those within the Martial World.

But this kind of blatant provocation—this naked contempt and disregard—still made the Captain of the Guard’s anger boil over.

’Whispering behind my back is one thing; I can turn a blind eye to that. But now that we’re face to face, you could at least show me some respect!’

’A few Transcendent Body Martial Artists are already this arrogant? If they ever get on the Heaven-Ascending Road, they’ll think they own the sky.’

Noticing the Captain of the Guard’s glare, the youth raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong? Want to have a go at me? I’ll even give you a handicap. How about I take on your whole group with one hand?"

Seeing that the situation was about to erupt into violence at any moment, the young woman inside the phoenix carriage behind him said, "Commander Yan, don’t start a conflict. Let’s pull back for now."

With the princess’s order, Commander Yan felt a wave of relief.

They had left in a hurry, and there were no generals at the Heaven-Ascending Road level in their ranks to hold the line.

In other words, Heaven-Ascending Road Martial Artists were a precious commodity; a princess on a routine trip had no authority to commandeer them for her protection.

’If a fight really breaks out, by the time the city reacts and sends reinforcements, they’ll probably only find what’s left of us guards ground into paste.’

As the guards moved aside, the youth swaggered, lifting his head high. He was carried by his followers and brought before Fang Can’s procession.

Looking at the Heart Image Martial Artists at the front, who looked like they were facing a formidable enemy, the youth gave a roguish grin.

"Hey! Get your master out here. I heard he beat Wan Chenyu, number 325, after a fierce battle. He’s clearly got some skill, so how about a match with me, Fu Yuxiang?"

As the youth spoke, the surrounding onlookers snapped to their senses.

"Fu Yuxiang? Isn’t that the guy ranked 257 on the Hidden Dragon Roll?"

"But Fang Can actually managed to defeat Wan Chenyu, who’s ranked 325? Hasn’t he only been training for a short time?"

"In the top one thousand of the Hidden Dragon Roll, every fifty ranks is a massive gap in power. Looks like Fang Can is in for it this time."

...

As the crowd of spectators chattered, the waiting royal guards looked on with disgust.

’These ruffians from the Martial World only know how to fight. They ignore the law, gather in mobs to brawl... a bunch of unrefined peasants.’

Unlike the guards around her, the young woman inside the phoenix carriage looked on with anticipation. Having lived a sheltered life for years, combat and bloodshed were a distant world to her.

The only other time she had witnessed a real fight was at the last Inter-Kingdom Grand Tournament ten years ago. Her memory of it was hazy, but she recalled it being incredibly intense.

Meanwhile, in another group, a different young Martial Artist wore a contemptuous expression. Rank 257 was nothing compared to his own rank of 249.

’Let 257 fight Fang Can. Only the winner will be worthy of facing me. It’ll save me the trouble of fighting twice.’

Facing the youth’s provocation, Ye Yonglie stepped out from the procession and said with calm dignity, "Our Lord Deity has already gone into the city for a stroll. If you wish to issue a challenge, you can wait here."

’Fang Can isn’t here? He’s already in the city?’

The youth’s expression stiffened at the thought. He quickly pressed, "Then when will he be back?"

"The affairs of our Lord Deity are not for us followers to predict. He will return when he wishes to return," Ye Yonglie stated as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Knowing full well what zealots were like, 257 waved his hand impatiently. ’I’ve already traveled all this way just to pick a fight. Might as well wait a little longer.’

With that thought, Fu Yuxiang—257—crossed his arms with a hint of annoyance and began to wait on the spot.

As 257 waited, it was like the scene at a concert. A massive crowd formed, with people calling their friends and running toward the city.

"Fang Can is in the city, and he’s about to fight someone from the Hidden Dragon Roll?"

"For real? I have to get more people to come watch."

"Hey, hey! Someone from the Hidden Dragon Roll and the Ascending Dragon Roll are about to fight at the gate!"

...

At that moment, Fang Can and Ye Qingshi were at a teahouse, sitting at a table listening to a storyteller and sipping tea.

The storyteller had just reached the part of his tale titled, "Blood in the Tiger’s Den: The Slayer, Ascending Dragon Fang Can!"

’He had to admit, this part of the story was pretty well done.’ Even Fang Can himself was a little captivated.

When the story reached a climax, some well-off patrons tossed a few strings of copper plates as a reward.

Just as the teahouse patrons were completely engrossed, a sudden uproar from outside shattered the atmosphere.

Someone was about to curse instinctively, but a man burst in from outside and shouted:

"There’s a huge spectacle at the South City gate! The Ascending Dragon Roll’s Fang Can is about to fight someone from the Hidden Dragon Roll! If you don’t go now, you’ll miss it!"

As soon as he said this, there was a CLATTER of shifting chairs as countless people shot to their feet.

’Who gives a damn about some story when the real Fang Can is fighting right outside the gate?’

The fastest to leave wasn’t a patron, but the storyteller himself.

In the open-air teahouse, the storyteller, a man in his sixties or seventies, cupped his hands to the audience. "Esteemed patrons, since a new story is now unfolding, this old one will take his leave!"

With that, he stomped his feet hard, leaped high into the air, and landed directly on the eaves of a roof before speeding off toward the city gate.

Inside the teahouse, Fang Can and Ye Qingshi exchanged a look of bewilderment. ’Since when was I in a fight?’

"Don’t just stand there! My father and the others must have run into trouble at the gate," Ye Qingshi said, grabbing Fang Can’s arm. "Hurry, come with me to the city gate."

"Hey, you’re too slow," Fang Can said with a sigh. Then, to the young woman’s crimson-faced gasp, he swept her up into his arms, carrying her princess-style.

Savoring the soft weight in his arms, Fang Can leaped lightly, jumping directly onto a rooftop with the young woman. From there, he could see countless figures running and leaping across the city.

As expected of a major city, there were at least several thousand Martial Artists at the First Layer or higher. With a spectacle to watch, they were all taking to the air, heading straight for the city gate.

As the news spread by word of mouth, all sorts of rumors began to brew.

"What! The Ascending Dragon Roll’s Fang Can is fighting someone from the Hidden Dragon Roll!"

"What! The number one on the Ascending Dragon Roll is fighting the number one on the Hidden Dragon Roll!"

"What! Fang Can already beat the number one on the Hidden Dragon Roll!"

...

As the news spread, Fang Can, still mid-air, carried Ye Qingshi in his arms and leaped onto the city wall’s watchtower.

The place was already surrounded by a sea of people who had come to watch the commotion.

From his bird’s-eye view, he could see the three groups of varying sizes below.

"Wait here for me for a bit." On the wall, Fang Can gently set the young woman down and gave her a confident smile. "I’ll come get you after I’m done with them."

"Okay. Be careful," Ye Qingshi murmured, her green dress fluttering in the wind.

"Of course. Watch closely. Next up is..." Fang Can leaped lightly, his voice carried by the wind to the young woman’s ears: "The hero’s entrance!"

As he spoke, Fang Can’s figure traced an arc through the air before landing silently in the middle of the arena below.

Fang Can walked slowly out of the settling dust, looking at the waiting 257 and 249. "So, you’re the ones who want to challenge me?"

As the last word left his lips, Fang Can’s body swelled in the wind, growing to two-point-two meters tall. He stared down at them with blood-red eyes.

"To show my respect, I’ll use my red power form on you two from the start."