Chapter 22: Hitting People Where It Hurts, It's Too Unfair

"Utter nonsense."

Zhou Ping'an sneered coldly, watching Wei Dazui charge at him like a bear or a tiger, his momentum fierce.

Yet strangely, there wasn't the slightest bit of panic.

He even felt that the opponent's strike was very slow, so slow that he could see the palm tightening against the skin turning it bluish-black.

He could also see the large tendons in the arms twitching, the waist and back twisting to generate power.

As the fierce palm force and sharp wind approached, Zhou Ping'an felt a chilling sensation penetrating his body between the neck, as his pores tightened and the hairs stood on end.

His body instinctively bent over like wheat swaying in the breeze.

At the same time, one hand darted out like lightning, grabbing hold of Wei Dazui's wrist;

One hand pushed upward, twisting the waist, turning the back, bending the body...

Both hands drew an arc.

Whoosh...

Wei Dazui charged in fast.

He flew even faster.

From over Zhou Ping'an's head, he traced a wonderful arc and slammed heavily to the ground.

Thump...

The hard black earth surface was smashed, creating a three-inch deep pit.

"Did it feel good back when you were selected as the Protector, throwing everyone around, making them spit out blood?"

"Did it feel good?"

This shoulder throw was indeed extremely satisfying.

Especially throwing someone as heavy as the two or three hundred pounds Wei Dazui, the satisfaction was complete.

The ground even shook a little from the impact.

Ever since that day of the Protector selection, when he was grabbed by both hands of Wei Dazui, leaving him completely feeble, almost smashed face-first into the ground...

Zhou Ping'an had been thinking, there would come a day when he would throw him back, just as hard.

"How is that possible?"

"Wei Dazui's strength is immense, his Muscles and Bones have reached Great Achievement, how could he be thrown like that?"

"I didn't even see clearly just now how he was thrown out."

"Didn't you notice? Zhou Ping'an is a different man now, he's faster, stronger, and his Pile Stance is unshakable."

This person's insight was quite sharp.

With one sentence, everyone fell silent.

During the trial of the Gentle Water Eight Stances, everyone just wanted to stand firm, walk steadily, and block the sudden attacks of the sandbags.

But unexpectedly, those who learned the same Gentle Water Eight Stances can now easily apply it in real combat...

With a fall and rise, they had thrown Wei Dazui into a mess, leaving him no chance to fight back.

"I'll kill you."

Wei Dazui, finally getting up from the ground after hearing everyone's discussion, had eyes that turned blood-red, like a wild boar in fury.

With a roar, he charged forward again, having learned from his previous lesson.

This time, he did not strike rashly.

Instead, he gathered all his strength, his face and head turning dark red and his hair standing on end...

As his right arm swung out, ripples spread forward.

His muscles twisted and bulged as he exerted force.

In his extreme anger, he actually used the "Wave-Cleaving Jin".

"Good..."

It was unclear who in the crowd shouted out in praise.

Even Lin Ziqi nodded in approval at that moment.

He thought to himself that Wei Dazui had always lacked the final touch, no matter how much he trained, he could never bring out the true essence of power.

Strength is strength, Jin is Jin, unable to convert one into the other; no amount of advice from others would be of use.

Yet unexpectedly, after being humiliated to this extent, Wei Dazui had a breakthrough on the spot, touching the threshold of Refined Energy.

Could Zhou Ping'an still handle it?

...

Seeing Wei Dazui suddenly increase his momentum, his right arm's muscles bulged, becoming much larger than before.

A punch aimed at the chest brought out faint white ripples at the forefront of the fist.

Knowing the power of this punch was immense.

Zhou Ping'an was about to dodge, but then something occurred to him.

'No wait, it's not that fast, this punch isn't all that heavy.'

'It seems, perhaps, I can take it.'

As the thought flickered through his mind, Zhou Ping'an suddenly extended his left hand, fingers spread wide, while stepping back with his left leg to dissipate the force.

Boom...

Like an overwhelming force, the impact hammered into the palm of his hand.

At the same time, there was a great bouncing strength and vibrating force trying to tear his palm apart.

Inside Zhou Ping'an's body, his major tendons suddenly moved like a vibrating bowstring...

With a slight vibration of his left forearm, he dissipated most of the force from the punch.

Huh...

Zhou Ping'an then understood.

The Mastery of Muscles and Bones was the same.

But strength and defense were not.

With the addition of that Blue Wave Pill and a transformation that was like a renewal of life, his strength felt almost twice as much as Wei Dazui, who was like a bear.

Who says strength can't beat skill?

It's just because the strength isn't great enough.

With this in mind, Zhou Ping'an grabbed the other's fist with his left hand, dragged it backward, and swiftly retreated...

His right hand reached forward, pressing down heavily on Wei Dazui's elbow joint.

Pfft...

Wei Dazui, having landed a punch, felt infinite recoil, numbing his fist and forearm.

Moreover, he stumbled forward as he was dragged.

Not only was his fist caught and unable to be withdrawn, but his elbow was also pressed, forcing him to involuntarily kneel on one knee to the ground.

He couldn't move.

"Can everyone lose but you?"

"If a Strength-Training Martial Master beats you, you don't dare to let out even half a fart; in the end, isn't it just because you prey on the weak and fear the strong?"

"Fine, so I don't deserve to learn Gentle Water Posture, don't deserve to learn Chopping Wave Knife? Beating you means I'm concealing my identity with ulterior motives, but who are you to count for anything?"

"Jealous of the talented, using personal feelings for revenge, pouring all your thoughts into this, no wonder you can't become an Offering."

Zhou Ping'an pressed Wei Dazui to his knees on the ground, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't get up.

It was as if a mountain was weighing down upon him.

This sight sent a chill down everyone's spine.

What was most impressive was that not only did he suppress Wei Dazui, but he also rebuked him sentence by sentence, leaving Wei Dazui defeated and shamed, yet unable to argue back.

To defeat the man and also crush his spirit.

After saying this, Zhou Ping'an let go and lifted his leg.

With one kick, he sent Wei Dazui tumbling twice before crashing heavily to the ground.

Then he turned his head and smiled, "Whether or not I'm concealing true skills and entering the Lin Residence with ill intentions, Wei Dazui might not see clearly, but I presume that Chief Commander Lin can tell."

"It's the Tidal Breathing Technique."

Lin Ziqi's voice sounded as if squeezed from between clinched teeth.

It was filled with utmost distress, but he was forced to come out and explain.

"Only the Tidal Breathing Technique, especially taught by the Third Miss Lin of the Lin Family, could allow someone to transform so quickly, reaching Great Achievement of Root Bone."

Boom...

Suddenly, the area around erupted like boiling water.

There was a flurry of discussion.

No one paid any more attention to Wei Dazui, who was ashen-faced.

Compared to the Guardian Instructor who was beaten like a dead dog, Zhou Ping'an, who was highly regarded by the Third Miss Lin of the Lin Family, became the focus of everyone's attention.

It was apparent when even the Protectorate Leader, Lin Ziqi, had to reluctantly justify Zhou Ping'an's background and explain the source of his cultivation technique.

"He has just entered the residence and hasn't established any merit; how could the Third Miss possibly regard him highly?"

"Is it just because he's handsome? Where is the justice?"

"But I too wish to be regarded highly by the Third Miss."

"It's so unfair."

"Count me in too... Brother Zhou, with your exceptional talent, you are favored by the family. Please look after me in the future."

"Me too, me too."

"Same here."

If a few days ago, Zhou Ping'an was only envied and hated for winning against Wei Dazui by a trick and obtaining the rank of First-Rank Guardian,

now that he had gained the attention of the Third Miss and was cultivating the core secret technique of the Lin Clan, "Tidal Breath Control Technique," the jealousy was even beyond reach.

They swarmed around him, loudly complaining about the unfairness, yet the looks in most people's eyes were full of flattery and congratulations.

This was getting interesting.

Zhou Ping'an shook his head with a wry smile.

When one began to grow powerful and move towards success, he would find all the people around him becoming friendly.

Even stray dogs on the street would wag their tails at you.

Such are the oddities of the world.

No more so than this.