Chapter 142: Your Apprentice is No Good!
Humiliation! This was blatant humiliation!
Wang Wu’s sole purpose was to humiliate Lin Mu. He had found his chance to get revenge for Lin Mu’s previous disrespect toward his master, Tian Boguang.
While Lin Mu remained calm, Guan Jiaojiao, who stood beside him, was visibly indignant. "That guy is despicable! He’s not that strong, but he sure talks big!" she snorted.
Wang Wu’s gaze swept over to her. "You seem upset," he said mockingly. "Why don’t you come up here for a spar?"
Jiang Xia had said the same thing earlier, but Lin Mu had ignored him. Now that Wang Wu repeated the challenge, everyone’s eyes shifted to Lin Mu, waiting for his response.
"Jiang Xia already lost. Why must you be so unrelenting?" Ye Tong said through clenched teeth. Although she didn’t like Lin Mu, they were still classmates. Since Wang Wu was so obviously targeting him, she naturally chose to stand on Lin Mu’s side.
"Hmph, he couldn’t even defeat me. How could he possibly dare to accept?" Jiang Xia glared at Lin Mu, his eyes sullen. In his mind, his own humiliation at Wang Wu’s hands was all Lin Mu’s fault.
"He’s just a nobody. How could he possibly be a match for Master Tian’s disciple? Going up on stage would be nothing but asking for humiliation," someone sneered, their gaze filled with disdain.
"That’s right. In a few years, Master Tian’s disciple will surely become a prominent figure." The crowd lavished him with praise, clearly using Lin Mu’s predicament as an opportunity to curry favor with Tian Boguang.
"Kid, don’t say I’m bullying you. I’ll even fight you with one hand. Do you dare?" Wang Wu’s smile widened, his gaze growing more disdainful. I told you I’d make you pay, kid. This is the price for disrespecting my master.
At last, Lin Mu spoke. "Forget it. I don’t like to bully the weak."
His voice wasn’t loud, but since everyone was focused on him, they all heard his words clearly. Doesn’t like to bully the weak? This guy really knows how to make himself sound good. Countless people sneered inwardly, their contempt for Lin Mu growing.
"Oh? What’s this? Are you saying you want to challenge my master instead?" Wang Wu sneered. "Who do you think you are, and who is my master? You dare challenge him? Are you even worthy?"
Lin Mu gave a wry smile and shook his head. "You’re mistaken. I have no intention of challenging your master."
Wang Wu was speechless. So was the crowd. Is he that much of a coward? He doesn’t even dare challenge Master Tian? Then again, that’s understandable. After all, Tian Boguang is incredibly strong.
Wang Wu roared with laughter. "So you do have some self-awareness, kid! Otherwise, with your pathetic skills, dreaming of challenging my master would just be asking for pain."
Lin Mu’s tone was placid. "You seem to have misunderstood. What I meant was... your master is not worthy of my challenge."
The statement sent a shockwave through the crowd. Lin Mu’s words were like a boulder crashing into a placid lake, creating a massive uproar. Everyone stared at him in disbelief. Has this kid been kicked in the head by a donkey? Saying something so outrageous right in front of Master Tian... he’s courting death!
Sure enough, Tian Boguang’s eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing within them. But he had to maintain his dignified composure, so he would not be the first to speak.
"Kid, do you have any idea what kind of disaster you’ve just brought upon yourself?" Wang Wu’s face darkened as he stared daggers at Lin Mu. "Believe it or not, killing you would be as easy as slaughtering a dog!"
Lin Mu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his calm gaze fixed on Wang Wu. "An ant who has yet to even cultivate Internal Energy dares to spout such nonsense before this venerable one? Are you not afraid you’ll bite your own tongue?"
Though his voice was calm, a mysterious and transcendent aura emanated from him, giving him an air of intangible authority.
"An ignorant child, daring to use such a title for himself! He’s asking to die!"
"How presumptuous! How ignorant!"
"He’s simply digging his own grave!"
Lin Mu’s words had provoked a wave of condemnation. As everyone knew, only a Grandmaster dared to refer to themselves with such an honorific. It was a title of utmost respect. For Lin Mu, a man of no discernible ability or virtue, to use it was tantamount to seeking death.
"Boy, be careful what you say." Tian Boguang finally spoke, his voice cold as ice. "Have you never learned that a careless tongue invites disaster?"
Lin Mu merely sneered, ignoring him completely.
"Good! So you even ignore my master’s words! You’re courting death!" On the stage, Wang Wu bellowed, then leaped into the air and threw a punch straight at Lin Mu. "Die, kid!"
Wang Wu’s speed was immense, and his punch carried a sharp, powerful momentum.
"He’s using his fist to break through! He’s converting raw power into true strength!" The entire audience was stunned.
No one expected Wang Wu to officially cross the threshold into External Strength at this moment. Even though it was just a wisp of Internal Energy, he could now be called a true Martial Artist, completely set apart from ordinary people.
Tian Boguang was stunned for a moment before bursting into hearty laughter. "Excellent! Worthy of being my, Tian Boguang’s, disciple! A breakthrough in the heat of battle! A true Martial Artist!" He was visibly emotional, his face filled with gratification.
The others immediately chimed in with their own lavish compliments and congratulations. Tian Boguang’s face flushed red, as if he had drunk fine wine. The girl beside him was also smiling, her eyes brimming with admiration and love.
Wang Wu felt an immense power welling up inside him. He felt as if he could sunder heaven and earth with a single punch. Elated, he let out a long, exhilarated howl. "Boy, take this!"
At that moment, Wang Wu looked at Lin Mu as an Immortal looks down upon a Mortal, as a god regards an ant. From this day forward, I am a Martial Artist. We are no longer the same. His next punch was even faster, bursting with savage, murderous intent.
"Lin Mu, get out of the way!" Ye Tong cried out from a distance, her expression changing drastically.
"Shut up!" Jiang Xia snapped.
"What are you doing?" Ye Tong yelled back at him.
Jiang Xia grabbed her arm. "Are you trying to get us killed? He’s a Martial Artist now! If you provoke him, he could kill us all!"
"But Lin Mu..." Ye Tong was fraught with worry.
Jiang Xia scoffed. "That kid brought this on himself. He has no one else to blame."
Ye Tong froze, then slowly calmed down. He’s right. Lin Mu brought all of this on himself. There’s no one else to blame.
At this moment, Lin Mu seemed to be frozen to the spot as if scared stiff. The onlookers sighed and shook their heads. The young man was finally about to pay the price for his arrogance.
Wang Wu closed the distance, the smile on his face growing colder. When he was just an arm’s length from Lin Mu, he let out a low grunt and brought his fist crashing down.
CRACK!
A sharp sound echoed through the venue. It was the sound of breaking bone. Everyone assumed it was the sound of Lin Mu’s cheekbone shattering.
"AARGH!"
A scream tore through the air. A figure flew backward in a blur, smashing through the stage railing before collapsing limply on the ground below.
It was Wang Wu!
Lin Mu, however, still stood in the exact same spot, his hands clasped behind his back, looking as if he hadn’t moved a muscle.
"The light of a single grain of rice dares to compete with the bright moon." Not even sparing Wang Wu a glance, Lin Mu turned his gaze to Tian Boguang. "Not only is your own strength lacking, but the disciple you’ve trained is utterly unremarkable."