3. Fight

The atmosphere was thick with tension as Wu Sansi raised his hand, cutting off General Lu's tirade. A warm smile spread across Wu's face. "As long as you successfully pass the guest assessment for this government, securing that recommendation letter will be a mere formality."

"In that case, I am willing to become your disciple!" Li Yifei responded, bowing deeply. As he lowered himself, a flicker of resolve flashed in his eyes. Wu Sansi, you and the Demon Queen conspired against my parents. Today, I will begin to claim my revenge before I even step into your home.

Wu Sansi, completely unaware of the young man's hidden intentions, was already captivated by Li Yifei's strength and poise. When Yifei agreed, Wu eagerly helped him up. "Very well, you can come with me to the mansion. Whether you earn the recommendation letter will depend on your capabilities. I have no use for deadweight."

"Don't worry, Your Excellency. Once we're at your house, we'll see who's truly fit for this role," Li Yifei replied, a hint of defiance in his tone.

Wu Sansi chuckled, seemingly impressed by the youth's confidence. "Come then, follow me home!"

Wu Sansi's mansion stood grandly on Xuanwu Avenue, the most bustling street in Luoyang City. The estate, situated in the heart of the avenue, was surrounded by the opulent residences of other court officials.

Li Yifei followed Wu Sansi through the ornate pavilions and towers, dazzled by the luxury. He silently vowed that one day he would own an estate even grander than this.

After winding through the mansion, they finally arrived at the entrance of a large hall. From outside, Yifei could hear the lively chatter within. However, the moment they stepped inside, the room fell silent.

The guests in the hall, all officials and warriors, stood and greeted Wu Sansi with bows. Their eyes, however, quickly turned to scrutinize Li Yifei.

Noticing the curious gazes, Wu Sansi laughed heartily. "Gentlemen, this young man here is a new guest I've invited. From now on, he's one of us!"

A burly man in the hall immediately stood up, sneering, "Master Wu, can this wet-behind-the-ears kid really be one of us?"

Laughter erupted in the hall, but Li Yifei remained unfazed, his expression one of cold disdain.

Zhang Chu, the burly man, noticed Yifei's contemptuous gaze. He smirked, stepping forward. "It's not that I, Zhang Chu, underestimate him. But I doubt this scrawny kid could take a punch from me."

Although Li Yifei appeared well-built, he was undeniably smaller than Zhang Chu. It wasn't surprising that Zhang Chu was skeptical of him.

"Haha, Brother Zhang, some things can't be judged by appearances alone. Some who seem strong on the outside are as weak as women," Li Yifei retorted, bowing mockingly.

Even the dense Zhang Chu could sense the sarcasm. The hall erupted in laughter again, this time directed at Zhang Chu.

Feeling his pride wounded, Zhang Chu's face darkened. He roared, his eyes flashing with anger, "You little brat! I'll tear you apart for that!"

With that, Zhang Chu leaped towards Li Yifei, his powerful footfall shaking the hall as if an earthquake had struck.

What brute strength! He really is a beast! Li Yifei thought, his eyes narrowing.

"Zhang Chu, this young man is my guest. Show some respect!" Wu Sansi's commanding voice echoed through the hall.

Zhang Chu halted, turning to bow to Wu Sansi before pointing at Li Yifei, his voice dripping with dissatisfaction. "Master Wu, I question whether this boy is worthy of being a guest official of the Wu Mansion."

Zhang Chu, despite his rough exterior, knew how to navigate the politics of the court. Rather than directly addressing the insult, he cast doubt on Yifei's qualifications.

"Li Yifei, Zhang Chu doubts your ability. Do you have anything to prove him wrong?" Wu Sansi asked, his tone expectant.

"Hey, kid! Master Wu's asking you a question. Are you too scared to answer? If you're just a useless twig, you might as well run home now before you embarrass yourself further," Zhang Chu taunted, smiling smugly.

"Zhang Chu, you're bullying him. He's just a kid! To make it fair, let him have ten moves first," someone jeered from the crowd.

"Ten moves? Hah! He could hit me a hundred times, and it wouldn't make a difference!" Zhang Chu boasted, his tone dripping with overconfidence.

He then turned to Yifei, taunting him. "So, what's it going to be, boy? Do you have the guts to step up?"

Li Yifei smiled coolly, a glint of cunning in his eyes. "Brother Zhang, since you insist, it would be rude of me to decline!"

That cold smile sent a shiver down Zhang Chu's spine, though he quickly dismissed it. Before he could react, Li Yifei had already stepped out onto the martial arts field.

The guests in the hall, who had initially doubled Li Yifei's courage, now watched with bated breath. They knew Zhang Chu's strength-he was a second-rate master, nearly unbeatable in combat.

Even Wu Sansi followed them outside, his interest piqued. He was curious to see what this young man was truly capable of.

"Boy, if you can withstand three of my moves, you win!" Zhang Chu said, glaring at Li Yifei.

"Three moves? That's too many," Li Yifei replied, shaking his head with a smile.

"What? You scared already? Fine, I'll make it easier. If you can survive just one move, I'll concede defeat!" Zhang Chu sneered, his arrogance growing by the second.

"Since Brother Zhang is so confident, I won't keep you waiting. Prepare yourself!" Li Yifei's chuckle was laced with menace.

If Zhang Chu had known Li Yifei better, he might have realized that someone was about to get hurt. But Zharng Chu, blinded by pride, waved dismissively. "Come on, then! Give it your best shot, if you even have one!"

"Funny, that's exactly what I was going to say to you," Li Yifei shot back, his body moving in a flash. His steps were light and unpredictable, like a ghost slipping through shadows.

"What-?" Zhang Chu started to laugh, but his laughter turned into a gasp as he lost track of Li Yifei's movements.

In a panic, Zhang Chu unleashed his full strength, throwing a barrage of powerful punches at the air, trying to hit Yifei's elusive figure.

Damn it! He's fast-too fast! Zhang Chu thought, as his fists hit nothing but air. Yifei's afterimages dissolved before his eyes, and a cold sweat broke out on Zhang Chu's forehead.

Then, out of nowhere, a pale, slender hand appeared, cutting through Zhang Chu's defenses like a knife through butter.

No! Zhang Chu's mind screamed as he realized too late that he couldn't evade.

With a thunderous roar, like an ancient dragon awakening, Li Yifei's fist collided with Zhang Chu's chest. The force sent Zhang Chu flying across the martial arts field, his body slamming into a bluestone with a bone-rattling crash.