Chapter 535: Do You Want to Give It a Try?
"Am I particularly good at kicking people?"
The moment he said this, not only Li Dajiao and the others but even Zhu Qi was stunned.
Zhu Qi was no ordinary person, after all. His father, Master Zhu, though not a Martial Artist, had been a prominent figure in Jiangling. Furthermore, while the Zhu family wasn’t native to Jiangling, with their background, what was this backwater town to them? For this kid to dare mock him like this... he must be tired of living!
"Kid, are you looking for death?" Zhu Qi pointed at Lin Mu, his voice sharp. "My father was this chamber’s president, and he died for it! Therefore, this position belongs to the Zhu family. No one else is qualified to take it!"
"Anyone else who wants it will have to get through my Zhu family first!"
Everyone’s expression soured at his words. His threat was clearly aimed at Lin Mu. There was a cold glint in his eyes, a silent promise that he would kill Lin Mu if he dared to take the president’s seat.
"Zhu Qi, that’s enough!" an elder from the Chamber of Commerce retorted. "Master Zhu made great contributions, but the presidency isn’t a throne to be passed from father to son!"
"Exactly! And Master Zhu was never the president when he was alive. He only handled some of the Chamber’s affairs."
Hearing the opposition, Zhu Qi just laughed, a sinister edge to his smile. He sneered at the crowd. "I’m here today to change the old rules. Once I become president of the Jiangling Chamber of Commerce, this seat will belong to the Zhu family from now on!"
"Ridiculous!"
"What an absurd joke!"
"On what grounds does your Zhu family think they can monopolize the presidency?"
The Chamber members were furious, universally rejecting Zhu Qi’s claim. It was preposterous. They had finally found a president in Lin Mu; they couldn’t just let the Zhu family snatch the position away.
"Zhu Qi," Li Dajiao’s face had also turned grim, "out of respect for your father, we’ve already decided to grant your family some extra points. But if you push your luck, don’t blame this uncle for forgetting old ties!"
He hadn’t expected Zhu Qi to be so brazen. Vying for the presidency was nothing short of courting death. Was Lin Mu someone who could be so easily offended? And not only was Zhu Qi being reckless, but the men he brought with him were just as foolish!
"And what if I don’t agree?" Zhu Qi sneered, his gaze fixed on Lin Mu. "I, Zhu Qi, have what it takes to be president. Others do not!"
"Absolutely ridiculous!" Just then, Zheng Mingye and Xie Dingtian arrived together.
Xie Dingtian shot Zhu Qi a cold look. "A snot-nosed brat who’s barely weaned wants to be president of the Jiangling Chamber of Commerce? Why don’t you go take a piss and look at your own reflection?"
"You dare to humiliate me?" Zhu Qi’s face darkened as he pointed at Xie Dingtian. "What the hell are you? Who gave you the right to interrupt me?"
"Oh?" Xie Dingtian chuckled, amused. It had been years since anyone had dared to speak to him like that. This kid was certainly aiming high.
It wasn’t surprising that Zhu Qi looked down on him. Xie Dingtian’s current attire was misleading. With his tank top, shorts, flip-flops, and balding pate, he looked exactly like some sleazy, middle-aged slob. What kind of background could a man like that possibly have? As a result, Zhu Qi didn’t bother with any courtesy.
"Go ahead," Xie Dingtian waved a hand. "Teach this kid a good lesson. Let him know what kind of ’thing’ I am."
"Yes, sir." Xie Dingtian rarely went out without bodyguards, and today was no exception. He had brought four with him.
"So he’s just some nouveau riche. No wonder he’s so arrogant." Zhu Qi chuckled. He leaned back in his seat, coolly crossing his legs before lighting a cigar. "This trash is all yours," he said to his man. "While you’re at it, show everyone that I, too, am good at kicking people. I just can’t be bothered to do it myself."
"Yes, Young Master!" The man in sunglasses sitting behind Zhu Qi stood up and slowly advanced on Xie Dingtian’s four bodyguards.
"Get him!" Xie Dingtian sneered. He’d paid a hefty price for these four bodyguards; each one could handle four or five ordinary men with ease, let alone a single opponent.
However, what happened next was beyond Xie Dingtian’s wildest expectations. Before his four bodyguards could even touch the man, they were sent flying, landing in a motionless heap on the floor.
"This..." Xie Dingtian was dumbfounded. The others were equally shocked. They hadn’t seen the man move at all, yet all four bodyguards were down. This man in sunglasses was clearly on another level.
"You’re a Martial Artist?!" Only Zheng Mingye and Lin Mu had actually seen it. The four bodyguards had all been taken out by a single kick from the sunglasses-wearing man.
A Martial Artist? The others were shocked, but then it clicked. No wonder the man was so strong. If he was a Martial Artist, it all made sense.
Although the Jiangling Martial Arts Association had martial arts practitioners, their training was mostly for health and fitness. It wasn’t like the stories where masters could kill a tiger with one punch or slay a lion with a single palm strike. However, given their status, they knew that such people truly existed in the world—people like Zheng Mingye, Li Dajiao, and the man in sunglasses standing before them.
"Hm? I didn’t expect you to be a Martial Artist too." The man in sunglasses looked at Zheng Mingye with a flicker of surprise. "From your aura, I can tell you’ve attained Inner Strength. I presume you must be the strongest practitioner of the Martial Way in Jiangling?"
"It’s a pity. Your vital energy is depleted, and your Internal Energy is as fragile as a withered branch. You’re no match for me."
The man in sunglasses shook his head, his tone dripping with disdain. "It seems the Martial Way of Jiangling has truly fallen. I alone am enough to sweep through the entire Jiangling Martial Arts World."
"What a load of horseshit!" Xie Dingtian exploded in anger. "Sweep the Jiangling Martial Arts World? Aren’t you afraid you’ll sprain your jaw with all that big talk?"
"Hmph?" A sharp, menacing aura flared from the man in sunglasses. "You’re courting death!"
With that, the man shot forward, striking a palm at Xie Dingtian.
"Watch out!" Zheng Mingye’s expression changed as he leaped forward to intercept the blow.
BANG!
As their fists met, Zheng Mingye grunted, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth as he staggered backward.
But the man in sunglasses pressed his advantage, refusing to let up. He surged forward again, raising his leg to kick Zheng Mingye squarely in the chest. If that kick landed, Zheng Mingye wouldn’t survive.
Just as the kick was about to connect, a figure suddenly appeared behind Zheng Mingye, pulling him to safety. It was Lin Mu.
Seeing Lin Mu, the man in sunglasses paused for a split second, but the sneer on his lips only widened.
"Kid, since you’re so eager to die, I’ll be happy to oblige!" His kick accelerated, a piercing aura erupting from his foot as he aimed straight for Lin Mu’s head.
He was trying to kick his head clean off.
However, just as the man’s foot was about to connect, Lin Mu moved faster. He lifted his own leg and kicked viciously at the man’s crotch.
AIEEEEE!
An ungodly scream ripped through the air. The man in sunglasses was launched backward, sent flying upside down before landing squarely in the open doorway as if it were a goal.
HISS!
Every man in the room instinctively crossed his legs, a collective wave of nausea washing over them as their faces turned pale. They all stared at Lin Mu in horror.
Lin Mu lowered his leg, standing firm. He turned to face Zhu Qi. "What was that you were saying just now? That you’re also good at kicking people?"
He paused, a slight smile on his face. "So... want to give it a try?"