Let's give a quick update on the situation: Martial Arts Training is temporarily ranked eleventh on the new book list, which counts as making the list, but it's in the last position.
Xiao Mo isn't satisfied; we must not rest on our laurels, always eyeing the next prize while holding onto what we have, striving for a higher rank.
So, early this morning, Xiao Mo again rolls around on the floor begging for recommendation votes, favorites, and member clicks. These three seem to be the scoring factors for the new book list. As the old saying goes, 'Vote for a book and you'll become handsome'; the ancients never deceive you.
********** The next day, a group of Lingxiao Pavilion disciples were gathered together practicing martial arts, chatting and laughing, enjoying themselves despite the hardship, when suddenly one of them looked terrified in a direction and stammered, 'Su… Su Shao…' 'What's wrong?' Su Mu wondered.
'He really came.' 'Who came?' Su Mu, slightly annoyed, followed the person's pointing finger and saw Yang Kai walking over with a smile, holding a broom.
Everyone's faces changed dramatically.
'Good morning, junior brothers and sisters, getting up this early to train—really diligent.' Yang Kai greeted the group, then specifically glanced at Zhao Hu and Li Yuntian, whose faces were bruised and swollen; they instinctively shrank back, recalling the weight of Yang Kai’s fists, their skin tightening.
'What are you here for?' Su Mu’s face fell a little; although he knew Yang Kai’s purpose, he still asked, after all, yesterday he had boasted in front of everyone.
'A challenge.' Yang Kai beamed, scanned the group, and asked amiably, 'Which junior brother hasn’t been challenged these past few days? Let’s spar with a senior brother.' The rules of the Lingxiao Pavilion sect state that in sparring among fellow disciples, one must not avoid or fear combat; violators are expelled from the sect.
With this rule in place, even though Su Mu’s subordinates feared Yang Kai, if he issued a challenge and they hadn’t been challenged in the past five days, they knew they’d get beaten badly but still had to accept.
That day, Su Mu’s subordinate Zhang San got a thorough beating; Yang Kai left satisfied, and Su Mu cursed his back.
The next day, Yang Kai came again; Su Mu’s subordinate Li Si was beaten up, Yang Kai left satisfied, and Su Mu’s threats were incessant but to no avail.
On the third day, Yang Kai returned; Su Mu’s subordinate Wang Wu was unlucky, getting beaten black and blue; Yang Kai left satisfied once more, and Su Mu’s curses were weak and feeble.
When Yang Kai came again, Su Mu had learned his lesson; he neither cursed nor threatened him, knowing it was useless, for this senior brother Yang feared none of his threats.
Su Mu only stared at him hatefully, his eyes filled with a deep, bone‑aching hatred.
After being put through this repeatedly, Su Mu’s gang of underlings suddenly refused to continue.
Yang Kai, this bully, picks on them despite there being many ordinary disciples in Lingxiao Pavilion; he deliberately targets this group, clearly seeking revenge. Moreover, the group is sizable; Yang Kai challenges one each day in rotation, never returning empty‑handed.
Yang Kai’s actions stirred up a huge commotion throughout Lingxiao Pavilion; the Trial Disciples’ salted‑fish spectacular comeback drew everyone’s attention. Since the day he defeated Zhao Hu, he seems to have become a completely different person—no longer the soft persimmon anyone could pinch, he now seeks a fight every day and wins every bout. Moreover, rumors say that Su Mu has lost all his temper after being tormented by him—what kind of person is Su Mu? He’s someone with a powerful backing.