Volume One: Emerging Brilliance Chapter 117: Who Are You?
In the days that followed, Wang Jue stayed home, living a leisurely life of eating well and sleeping soundly. Although he hadn’t been admitted to one of the top hundred martial schools, it was currently vacation time, so he didn’t have to attend classes. Moreover, he hadn’t intended to continue schooling, especially after passing the practical adventurer’s assessment.
Even though he stayed indoors all day, his parents said nothing. To them, it was better that Wang Jue, now an adventurer, remained at home rather than venturing out, which would inevitably cause them worry and fear.
...
One day, the adventurer’s certification finally arrived.
Wang Jue received a call from a staff member at the Martial Arts Association. He planned to visit the dojo to find his senior brother and catch a ride with him to the association, where he would collect the custom-made adventurer’s wristwatch.
This wristwatch was several levels above the one Lan Yiyi had given him before, and even superior to the one issued during the practical assessment.
In fact, the adventurer’s wristwatch combined the strengths of both previous designs!
Wang Jue headed alone to the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo.
As he approached a narrow alley beside the dojo, he noticed a figure clad in combat gear standing in the middle of the alley.
At first, Wang Jue thought the figure was a monkey trading with someone and paid it no mind.
But as he drew closer, he sensed something unusual.
He realized the person was not a man, but a stunning woman.
Her tight combat suit accentuated her curves impeccably.
However, the woman was empty-handed, and there were no bags containing star beast materials on the ground nearby.
Whether it was his imagination or not, Wang Jue felt that this woman was not here to sell materials to the monkey.
When she noticed him, a faint, barely perceptible aura of killing intent emanated from her.
If Wang Jue weren’t sensitive to such things, he might not have detected it.
What unsettled him further was that the woman began to slowly approach him.
Wang Jue narrowed his eyes, slowing his pace; beneath his ordinary demeanor lurked a barely restrained ferocity.
At the alley’s entrance, children laughed and played, weaving through the bustling street beyond.
Inside the alley, silence reigned, as if disconnected from the noisy world outside.
Wang Jue’s narrowed gaze locked silently with the woman’s.
Gradually, they drew closer.
The tension thickened with each step.
The distance between them shrank significantly.
Thirty meters.
Twenty meters.
Ten meters.
Eight meters.
Five meters.
Three meters.
The next moment, just as the woman was about to strike, a massive hand slammed down upon her shoulder like a mountain, halting her attack.
Feeling the crushing pressure on her shoulder, the woman’s expression shifted as she turned her head: “Who are you?”
Before she could finish, Zhao Qingming’s cold, merciless eyes fixed on her with indifference.
“If you don’t want to die, leave.”
“You—”
The woman’s face darkened; she was about to retaliate but suddenly felt Zhao Qingming’s overwhelming presence and the searing pain on her shoulder. Her face changed drastically, and with a swift motion, she retreated, vanishing in an instant.
Everything happened too quickly for Wang Jue to react or fully comprehend.
He had been ready for a life-or-death battle, but Zhao Qingming’s arrival forced the woman to flee.
Wang Jue looked at Zhao Qingming in astonishment.
“Master of the dojo?”
Zhao Qingming withdrew his hand, turned around with his hands behind his back, and regarded Wang Jue with his usual warm and simple expression.
“Wang Jue, why haven’t you been coming to the dojo lately?”
His tone was almost a reproach, yet he made no mention of the earlier incident.
“Uh...” Wang Jue hesitated, then instinctively replied, “I participated in the adventurer’s practical assessment a few days ago. After passing, I’ve been resting at home.”
“Good.” Zhao Qingming smiled and nodded, then gestured grandly. “Let’s go. We’ll head back together.”
Along the way, Wang Jue’s mind churned.
He’d known from their first meeting that Zhao Qingming was formidable.
At least a Red Star Mirror level.
But just now, Zhao Qingming had leaked an aura similar to that of Ning Chuan and Niu Zhen—no, even stronger!
No wonder the woman hadn’t dared to fight back and fled immediately.
She was also a Red Star Mirror expert, yet she’d been scared off.
...
Meanwhile,
The woman who had fled from Zhao Qingming returned to her hotel room.
Her name was Chu Yue.
She grimaced in pain as she tore off the left shoulder of her garment.
The place where Zhao Qingming had struck was now a stark black patch, sharply contrasting with the surrounding smooth, pale skin.
The area invaded by star energy blackened visibly.
A bone-piercing pain, like countless ants gnawing at her bones, spread from her shoulder throughout her body.
Chu Yue’s face turned deathly pale.
She never dreamed that such a powerful expert was concealed in a dilapidated dojo on the brink of closure.
Her only regret was failing to capture that kid.
Cold sweat poured down her forehead, streaming like rain down her cheeks.
“Hah!”
Chu Yue struggled to grasp a dagger, intending to cut away the necrotic flesh.
“Shh…”
The moment the blade pierced the flesh, her complexion turned even paler.
Black blood seeped along the cold steel.
“Ugh…”
She bit down on a towel, her breathing growing rapid.
Pain.
Excruciating pain.
But she knew if she didn’t act quickly, her shoulder might be ruined.
After about twenty minutes, she finally removed the dead flesh but was pale from blood loss.
“Crack.”
At that moment, the door opened from outside.
A young man wearing black-rimmed glasses and combat gear burst in.
Seeing Chu Yue’s condition, his face paled.
“Chu Yue, what happened to you?”
“I’m fine.” Chu Yue expressionless, covered her exposed shoulder.
The young man frowned deeply at the blood-stained bandages on the floor.
“No, you’re coming with me immediately!”
Chu Yue said nothing, pain radiating from her shoulder as she buttoned her shirt.
She slowly rose, her eyes meeting her reflection in the mirror—her face drained of color, lips slightly parted.
“My brother is dead. My own brother!”
“What did you say?” The young man froze, then snapped to attention, shocked. “Who did this?”
“Ugh…”
Pain shot through her shoulder, forcing a sharp intake of breath.
After calming herself, she whispered, “I don’t know…”
“You don’t know?”
The young man was stunned. “Then what about your injuries?”
“I found a clue. I planned to test that kid today, but unexpectedly, he had a protector.”
Chu Yue’s voice was filled with hatred.
“If not for that person, I would’ve gotten the killer’s name from that kid.”
...
The young man remained silent.
Chu Yue closed her eyes in pain.
“You know,” she said, “I saw a secret message from Xiao Liang. He came here to kill the Blood Wolf King...”
“The Blood Wolf King? Has Xiao Liang gone mad? How could he kill the Blood Wolf King with his strength?”
The young man was taken aback, cautiously asking, “So, you think the Blood Wolf King killed Xiao Liang?”
“No. A few days ago, materials from the Blood Wolf King appeared on the black market.”
Chu Yue shook her head.
“If the Blood Wolf King had killed Xiao Liang, its materials wouldn’t show up on the black market.”
“A mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?”
The young man shuddered.
“You think someone ambushed them during their fight?”
“That’s right, according to my information.”
Chu Yue opened her eyes, speaking coldly.
“That kid is one of the contacts. I only suspected him before, but the arrival of that strong expert only confirmed my suspicions!”
The young man’s gaze swept over Chu Yue’s injured shoulder as he frowned.
“You mean the person who attacked you is the one who killed Xiao Liang?”
“It has to be connected to that kid!”
Chu Yue’s voice turned icy.
“I planned to capture him today and extract information, but who knew…”
Her words trailed off.
For some reason, thinking back to the look Wang Jue had given her made her inexplicably restless.
The young man furrowed his brows deeply.
“Could you be mistaken? Since you’re no match for that expert, let’s go back and plan carefully. Revenge is better served cold.”
“I won’t leave until I find out who killed my brother.”
Chu Yue ignored him, her gaze serious.
“Wu Hao, do me a favor. Keep an eye on that kid for now. I’ll handle everything else.”
“No problem, but I’m worried about provoking that expert.”
The young man hesitated.
To him, this was a dangerous game—one misstep could cost him dearly.
Chu Yue was a formidable member of their adventurer squad, and if she was injured like this, he’d be certain death.
“Blood debt must be repaid in blood!”
Chu Yue turned away.
“I only need the intelligence. Once this is done, I promise to give you a ten percent cut from future missions.”
A gleam flickered in the young man’s eyes, but he said nothing.
“Twenty percent!” Chu Yue emphasized.
A trace of delight flashed in the young man’s eyes.
Sensing the moment was right, he quickly nodded.
“It’s a deal. You can count on me.”
With that, he left the room.
Chu Yue’s eyes narrowed, a murderous intent gathering, though it was unclear toward whom.
...
At this moment,
Inside the Extreme Martial Arts Dojo, the students stopped in their tracks and bowed respectfully when Zhao Qingming appeared.
“Greetings, Master!”
Even Chen You nodded slightly.
Though silent, this gesture was unlike his usual aloof arrogance, showing his respect for Zhao Qingming.
However, when they saw Wang Jue following behind Zhao Qingming, expressions shifted to surprise.
Zhao Qingming suddenly spoke, “Wang Jue, come inside with me.”
“Huh?”
Wang Jue was taken aback.
Zhao Qingming’s room was a forbidden place; no one had ever been inside.
For a moment, Wang Jue didn’t know why Zhao Qingming wanted him to enter.
As the two disappeared inside, the training ground erupted in whispers.
“Why did the master let him in?”
“When did Wang Jue become so close to the master?”
“Could it be some special treatment?”
“Without the strength, would you even understand what they say in there?”
“Yeah, then why haven’t the senior brothers gone inside?”
“..."