Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

This was followed by a burst of brazen laughter, causing many of the Imperial Academy students to frown. The laughter sounded crude, vulgar, and sleazy. The men themselves didn’t look like good people, either. Each had a brawny, scowling face and a menacing glint in his eyes. The group of seven or eight men all wore matching uniforms, looking like they belonged to some mercenary corps.

Long Xiang was just about to make his move and curry favor when he was interrupted, and he was quite annoyed. Coupled with his noble background, he looked down on professional Adventurers and Mercenaries from the bottom of his heart. ’Just a bunch of mud-legged peasants,’ he thought. ’Uncouth and vulgar are words practically made for them.’

"Sir," Long Xiang began, his eyes icy as he glanced at the Mercenary who had just spoken. "Apologize immediately and slap yourself across the face twice. Do that, and I can pretend I didn’t hear what you just said!"

Many of the Imperial Academy students behind him had expressions of vindication on their faces. To them, Mercenaries and Adventurers were nothing to be afraid of. The pride and arrogance of this group of young, wealthy, and noble students was on full display.

The large Mercenary who had just catcalled Shangguan Yutong tilted his head and dug a finger into his ear with a hairy hand. Then he said to the man beside him, "What’s that pretty boy saying? Fuck, is he talking in his sleep?"

"Heh heh, he’s in front of a beauty, of course he has to act like a hero!" another Mercenary said, looking at Long Xiang with a sneer. His gaze swept over Shangguan Yutong, filled with desire. ’A woman like this is the real deal!’ he thought. ’It’s so rare to find one. Compared to her, those bitches in the brothels can’t even be considered women!’

"Who are you calling a pretty boy! You dare say that again!" Long Xiang glared at the big man, his chest filled with a boundless rage. He fought the urge to draw his sword and cut the bastard down.

"I’m talking about you! What, you think you’re so great just because you’ve got a bunch of kids behind you?" the big man said flippantly. "I was just complimenting this little hottie. What’s it got to do with you? Get the hell out of my way!"

"You’re courting death!" With a SWISH, Long Xiang drew his longsword. It glinted coldly in the sunlight as he unleashed a streak of Sword Qi, slashing toward the big Mercenary’s left arm!

The big man never expected this pretty boy to be so treacherous, attacking without warning. Not only was he a Great Sword Master, but his strike was utterly ruthless. The mercenary had just started to dodge when the Sword Qi struck. A spray of blood erupted, and the man’s left arm separated from his body, falling to the ground with a sickening THUD.

"AH!"

The big man let out a bloodcurdling scream and staggered. His companions were all stunned. One of them caught him and pulled out some styptic powder from his waist to apply to the wound. The others drew their weapons and surrounded Long Xiang, their eyes burning with intense fury.

The man whose arm had been severed was surprisingly tough. He clutched the bleeding stump, gritting his teeth against the immense pain, and snarled at Long Xiang, "Good, kid. You dare launch a sneak attack on your old man? From this day on, we are mortal enemies!"

Seeing a real conflict erupt, the fifty-odd students gathered closer. Although the more timid among them were frightened by the sight of blood, not a single one backed away. In fact, many faces lit up with excitement. ’This is the real adventurer life! Drawing your sword at the slightest disagreement—how thrilling!’

Shangguan Yutong’s elegant eyebrows were tightly furrowed. She had been about to speak up and stop them, but she never expected Long Xiang to act so quickly.

’That man was detestable, certainly, but it’s never a good thing to start a conflict so easily when you’re away from home.’ If it were just the few teachers, they could always run if they couldn’t win. But there were over fifty students, none of them particularly strong. These students were all from wealthy or noble families. If even one of them got hurt, the teachers would face consequences they couldn’t possibly bear. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

’I can’t believe Long Xiang was so impatient and ruthless.’ But what was done was done; there was no point in saying more. Shangguan Yutong glanced at Su Embroidery and said in a low voice, "Sister Su, you and Teacher Xiao Lin take the students and go first. This is a private matter."

"Let Teacher Su Embroidery take the students. I’ll stay!" Xiao Lin strode forward and said in a deep voice. He then turned to the Mercenaries. "Many people saw what happened today. You were the ones who provoked us first. Although my companion’s actions were overly ruthless, none of this would have happened if not for your insolent words. If you think a fight will solve the problem, then... I’ll be happy to oblige!" As he spoke, his entire aura surged, and he stood there as steady as a mountain, calmly watching the Mercenaries.

The Mercenaries weren’t fools. They could tell from the middle-aged man’s aura that he was not someone to be trifled with. Their expressions grew solemn.

"However, if you are willing to resolve this peacefully, we can discuss compensation," Xiao Lin added calmly, having made his show of force.

The man with the severed arm was drenched in sweat. Enduring the pain, he roared, "This will only be over when I cut off one of his arms! Otherwise, don’t even think about it! And you—none of you are leaving! If you don’t satisfy me today, you will face the frenzied retaliation of the Night Owl Mercenary Corps!"

Hearing this, Shangguan Yutong’s expression changed. Having been an Adventurer herself, she knew about many of the famous Mercenary Corps. The Night Owl Mercenary Corps wasn’t actually that large; they were currently only a Level 6 Mercenary Corps with just over 1,500 members. However, they were quite famous in the Imperial Capital’s Adventurer Realm because their leader, Night Owl, was a Tier Three Demon Swordsman!

He once led his men to successfully surround and kill a Tier Five Ice and Snow Wolf King. Although they suffered heavy losses at the time, they managed to return with the carcass and Crystal Core of the Tier Five Magical Beast. The incident caused a huge sensation in the Imperial Capital, and the Night Owl Mercenary Corps shot to fame overnight. Before that, they had been a mere Level 8 Mercenary Corps with only two or three hundred members.

"Haha, that’s hilarious. What a scary name! I’ve never even heard of it!" Long Xiang said, looking at the big man with a sneer. "I wonder who has more people, your Mercenary Corps or our Imperial Academy?"

Long Xiang’s words made many of the Imperial Academy students frown. Yisha whispered softly into Ling Xiao’s ear, "Teacher Long Xiang is going a bit too far. This is clearly his own private affair, but he’s trying to drag all of us into it!"

Another student nearby muttered in dissatisfaction, "Does Teacher Long Xiang need the entire school to help him chase a woman?"

The expressions of Shangguan Yutong and the other teachers also turned grim. Long Xiang’s words were far too irresponsible.

However, the mercenaries on the other side hesitated when they heard this. The Imperial Academy... Even their leader, Night Owl, an extremely arrogant High-level Martial Artist, had never said a word against the Imperial Academy. That place was the cradle that produced talent for the Empire.

Long Xiang flicked his longsword and sneered, "Still not moving? Do you all want to die?"