World’s Best Martial Artist
chapter-101

Twenty minutes later.

Outside the practical assessment building.

A group of senior students were outside getting a look at the commotion. They were unsympathetic of the students walking out from the building with swollen faces.

“There are more that got hit this year, huh?”

“Who cares? Oh God, this is fun. We were being watched last year, too, and that was so embarrassing. This year it’s finally our turn.”

“Eh, what happened over there? That’s Fu Changding, isn’t it? The one who’s so arrogant yesterday. He’s all beaten to a pulp now?”

“F*ck, how did you manage to identify him? You’re good at this! Even his parents won’t know that it’s him!”

“He made an impression on me yesterday. He reminds me of my past. I felt that he would get beaten up today, and he really was!”

“…”

The crowd discussed with derisive smirks on their faces.

Fu Changding was held up by Fang Ping as he walked. When he heard the teasing words of the others, he said crossly, “I fought a thousand people all by myself. It’s an honor even if I lost!”

“Tsk!”

“I knew that he was shameless. He practically directed a duet yesterday with the other guy, but now he’s boasting by himself!”

“…”

They would have believed it if he told them that he fought ten people at the same time.

This was not an uncommon occurrence in the past few years. Although they looked at him with contempt, he had the skill for it. They had known this the past day.

Would everyone believe that he had fought a thousand people, though?

The senior students did not believe it at all. The freshmen kept silent.

Some simple-minded students retorted furiously, “What are you talking about, you fighting a thousand people? It’s the two of you against us! You’re only a side character in this!”

When the words were out, many of them turned to glare at them furiously.

Idiot!

Everyone had decided to shut up and let the two of them talk about it. No one would believe them!

This was so embarrassing! The fact that Fang Ping could still emerge standing was an embarrassment for them, no matter if he had won or lost.

Now everything was screwed when this idiot retorted!

His words proved that the thousands of them were really challenged by someone!

The fact that someone as stupid as that made Zhao Lei and the others doubt if what Fang Ping said was right. The students of MCMAU were indeed getting worse by the year!

Denial of something so embarrassing was common sense. Even if he did not want to deny it outright, he could at least shut up. Idiot!

The freshman’s words made the seniors freeze.

“Really?”

“All of them were really defeated?”

“Two people. Is the other one Fang Ping?”

“Should be. Look at the two of them, segregated by the others into a corner. This is really plausible…”

“One-on-more than a thousand. Do you really believe it? I don’t, at least. Not to mention that Fang Ping isn’t really injured.”

“…”

Fang Ping did not seem to be injured, at least judging from his appearance.

He was wearing a skintight practice outfit with long sleeves. There were no injuries on his face, so it was not that obvious that he suffered from injury.

Fu Changding was not as lucky. His face was completely swollen, and footprints covered his body from head to toe. It was obvious that he was beaten up seriously.

That was why the others were reluctant to believe that the two of them had really completed such a great feat.

As the freshmen remained silent and the senior students talked, a group of people walked out from the entrance of the building.

Huang Jing snapped, expression hard as stone, “The seniors, leave now. If you have the time to gossip, better spend it on your studies and training! MCMAU has lost face because of all of you!”

It was unclear if he had directed his last words on the freshmen or seniors, but the Dean of the School of Weaponry, a Grandmaster-level powerhouse, was cross either way.

Even the seniors dared not jest with a Grandmaster. Rascals that courted death incessantly, like Qin Fengqing, were an exception.

The watching students dispersed gradually, resorting to watch stealthily from afar through the windows of the classroom blocks nearby. No one dared approach.

…

After the seniors left, Huang Jing ordered stoically, “Line up according to the floors you were in!”

The thousand and more students formed queues hastily. No one dared to go somewhere they did not belong to.

Martial artists had better memory, and there was a surveillance system installed in the building. Faking it in front of martial artists was almost synonymous to courting death.

“Every batch is worse than the previous one!”

Huang Jing reprimanded after everyone was lined up.

His words showed his dissatisfaction while simultaneously warning them.

There were more than a thousand students in the building. Although only about a hundred of them took part in the chase, it did not change the fact that the sheer number of people against Fang Ping did not hinder his survival until the last moment.

MCMAU was not a school aiming to train individual geniuses.

It was different from NMAU. The latter was in a disadvantaged position for years; they needed a genius, a symbolic leader to hold the fort.

MCMAU aimed to produce more geniuses. Countless geniuses!

Now Fang Ping and Fu Changding were the only ones to perform well while the others fell short. This was not what Huang Jing wanted to see.

Despite feeling cross, he still showed the calmness befitting of a Grandmaster.

Huang Jing tamped down his anger and continued, “The school allocation has already ended. Some did well while some were terrible.

“If you are one step behind now, you will fall more and more behind!

“The instructors, including me, have all remembered your performance today.

“If the instructors’ first impression of you is not good, do you think they will think highly of you in the future?

“There are many geniuses. We can train and support you, but you’ll have to demonstrate that you are worth everything!

“If we don’t see your worth, why should we support you?

“Only because you are a student of MCMAU?

“Of course, don’t be too full of yourself if you did well today. Those who didn’t do well today, don’t feel discouraged. Today’s fight is only a toddlers’ tussle. Even if you lord over the kids, there’s no point to be too proud of it.

“The king of a nation of children is only that no matter how strong he is, in front of adults, he is still a precocious toddler.”

Huang Jing did not intend to discourage Fang Ping and Fu Changding. He was only speaking the truth.

Forget about the instructors. Fang Ping would be nothing in a class of sophomores or juniors.

If he had looked down on MCMAU just because he had defeated the freshmen, he would be underestimating MCMAU.

If Wang Jinyang had come to MCMAU, more than 10 current students of MCMAU could easily overpower him if they wanted to.

There were six Rank-4 martial artists currently studying in MCMAU.

There were two students at Rank-5, too!

Few of those middle-ranked martial artists stayed in school, though. Some of them guarded the Catacombs, some of them interned in the Department of Investigation, some of them joined governmental institutions or the army in assistance of those higher-ranked officers…

Huang Jing did not stay long after his short reprimand. As a Grandmaster, he needed to take care of multiple affairs. It was with difficulty that he had taken some time off to oversee those kids.

After he left, instructors yelled loudly, “Students in the School of Weaponry, Field 1!”

“School of Tactics and Strategy, Field 2!”

“…”

Fang Ping followed the party heading to Field 1. He could not help muttering, “Where are my credits?’

Fu Changding said awkwardly, “I don’t know. Maybe the Dean felt embarrassed, so…”

“Shut up, the two of you!”

Tang Feng from the School of Weaponry appeared behind the two of them without them noticing. He said, somewhat wryly, “Is the Dean someone like that?

“The credits will be given to you after the school allocation.

“Did you think that less than a hundred credits are enough of a cause for the Dean to award them to you personally?”

Tang Feng smiled slightly and continued, “The both of you have done well. Fu Changding, especially.”

“Ah?”

Fu Changding was startled. Fang Ping was unhappy, too; had he not done well?

Tang Feng smiled serenely, “I’m only saying what I think. I don’t like disciples that are too slippery. Fu Changding is forthright and blunt, which suits my style more.”

He was renowned for his blunt, direct fighting style. He was given the nickname “Crazed Lion”.

Fu Changding had first challenged Tang Songting, and faced the attacks of the crowd of students fearlessly… This might be a little too flattering. Rather, it should be said that Fu Changding had not managed to escape.

All in all, Tang Feng approved of Fu Changding more, comparatively.

He liked Fang Ping too but taking Fang Ping under his wing when he had Fu Changding as well seemed overkill.

The two of them were the most outstanding in their batch.

Although he was a Peak Rank-6 martial artist, ranked highest after the Dean, there were quite many Rank-6 instructors. There was no point to feuding with them just for a student.

He would take Fu Changding. Let them all fight for Fang Ping.

With his position, no one would take Fu Changding from him.

There was no need to state his intent. The two of them understood the meaning behind his words.

Fu Changding was a little embarrassed and anxious. What should he do?

He had had his eyes on Instructor Luo Yichuan, but he had done so well that the top instructor in the School of Weaponry, Tang Feng, approved of him.

He was not the average instructor. If he rejected his offer, would he appear to be unappreciative of the other’s approval?

If he did not… If he did not reject him, he would need to learn hand-to-hand combat from Tang Feng, would he not?

He wanted to learn how to use a spear!

Spears were cool!

Saber were uncouth, and swords androgynous.

The other weapons were not what he wanted. Spear combat techniques were extremely cool!

Hand-to-hand combat… Fu Changding hesitated. ‘Do I really look like a muscled goon?’

Fu Changding wanted to cry, but no tears came out. ‘What’s with the instructor’s taste? I was beaten up so badly, and yet you approve of me and tell me that I did well? There’s no rhyme or reason to this!’

…

While Fu Changding moped and Fang Ping speechless, Guo Shen was baffled.

‘Who am I?’

‘Where am I?’

This was mostly what Guo Shen was thinking about.

He was completely out of the loop. First, he had gotten a fist to the head when he was watching the commotion. Next, he fervently decided to demand an explanation from Fang Ping.

And then…

There was no “and then”!

And then the others went to clear the extras out while he stood at the corner, confused and alone. No one took notice of him.

He did not leave, too… Yes, he did not leave!

He only wanted to ask Fang Ping why he hit him!

So that was why he stood near Fang Ping and readied to ask him, when he came down from the ceiling, why the other hit him when he was so kind a person.

No one drove him away. Maybe it was because no one wanted to go near Fang Ping. Maybe it was because the number of people they had was about right.

When the building opened, he was already at the fourth floor!

With no drama at all…

After everything, he followed the group forward, full of confusion. He walked and walked, until he started doubting his luck. ‘How did I just get in the School of Weaponry?’

…

Field 1.

The instructors at the School of Weaponry set up tables in the field.

Tang Feng did not bother with pleasantries. He walked to his table and said, “Free choice of instructors. Remember, look at the requirements each instructor has listed in front of them!

“Everyone should know that the instructors are all experts in different fields. One that suits most is one that is the best!

“Some instructors are skilled, but they don’t know how to teach.

“Some might seem weaker now, but they are still much stronger than you are! Don’t bite off more than you can chew, thinking that you’re invincible and that the teachers can’t teach you anything!

“Now, I won’t talk much. Choose quickly. After the selection, you’ll get tomorrow off. From the day after tomorrow onwards, you’ll attend a week-long group training session, and then finally start school for real.”

After that, many students ran to Tang Feng.

The instructors did not bother with an explanation. Their requirements were listed clearly on the tables in front of them.

“Martial artist. Gender not limited. Twice-honed students preferred. Will mainly teach basic fist and leg techniques and Grade 08. Will only take in 5 students!”

These were Tang Feng’s requirements. They were neither stringent nor lenient. The first requirement, at least, would have eliminated Fang Ping.

Of course, he would not say no if Fang Ping were to choose him. Most instructors would not turn twice-honed or thrice-honed practitioners away.

Fang Ping gave it a glance before turning to the other instructors.

Luo Yichuan, the instructor that Fu Changding had his eyes on, listed way higher demands. “Martial artist, or one whose Vitality is above 180cal.

“Prefer those who hone their upper limbs, and those whose stance is Stable.”

Fu Changding saw them too. He then said dejectedly, “What’s his deal? I honed my lower limbs first, and that’s not okay?”

The guy did not hesitate to turn to look at Instructor Bai Ruoxi’s requirements.

“Female. Progress on bone-honing is not considered. Loves sword fighting with a passion. Will mainiy instruct on basic sword fighting techniques. Sword fighting style is flexible. Those who fight without finesse, don’t pick me!”

“…”

“F*ck, she’s only taking girls!”

Fu Changding was more dejected than ever. Luo Yichuan would maybe not reject him if he went over, and Tang Feng had already expressed his interest.

He had options, but he was still hesitating.

Fang Ping did not bother with him. He looked on. In no time, he saw the table that belonged to Xu Jianzhou, the instructor he had wanted to pick yesterday.

Fang Ping had not met him before, but his name was written on the table, so he had no chance of mistaking him as the wrong person.

“Open to all genders. Twice-honed students are preferred. Will mainly instruct on the basics of Saber Techniques.

“PS. Quite busy at the moment, so will be neglectful of pupils. Mainly will be instructed by senior Luo Feng…”

Fang Ping furrowed his brow. Lion Tang did not approve of him and thought Fu Changding more superior to him. He had his pride, too, so he did not want to pick Big Lion.

As for Luo Yichuan… He did not care about the spear combat techniques, but the other had asked for pupils that honed the upper limbs first, which did not suit Fang Ping that much – he had practiced the Horse-riding Stance because he wanted to hone his lower limbs.

Of course, there would be no difference either way if he broke through to Rank-2 – Fang Ping felt that he could achieve that quickly.

Xu Jianzhou did not ask for much; he could definitely fulfill his requirements. The instructor asked his disciple to instruct the newbies instead, though, and that was not what Fang Ping wanted.

There were five freshman instructors at Rank-6.

The other two was an older man who was well-versed in palm combat techniques, instead of the common leg techniques and fist techniques. His Iron Palms were quite famous.

This, Fang Ping did not like, as he felt it too restricting.

The other one was that middle-aged woman from before with the badass name.

It was very badass. Many students were looking at her name steathily – Unconquerable Wu!

Yes, it was that show-stopping, that confident! She was Unconquerable Wu!

Her requirements were equally unconquerable.

“Fang Ping, Fu Changding, Zhao Lei, Yang Xiaoman, Chen Yunxi (the above five can be formal disciples).

“Zhao Xuemei, Tang Songting, Jin Lei, Xu Yikai, Zhang Han… (the above 14 can be interns. They can be promoted to formal disciples with excellent performance).”

Fang Ping had to make sure that he did not read all that wrong!

They were the 19 people from yesterday, who had managed to hold themselves up against the pressure. He was the only thrice-honed student, while the other four were twice-honed martial artists.

That was why they could be formal disciples. The other fourteen were apparently considered to be only interns!

Did the Dean know how badass this woman was?

Did the Vice-chancellor know?

Unconquerable Wu… Was this lousy name truly real?

Fang Ping was not the only one looking. Students looked. Some teachers looked, their lips twitching.

“Unconquerable, seriously?”

Tang Feng wanted to gouge his eyes out at the sight of that. What was this lunatic woman planning?

The other Rank-6 instructors inched their tables away surreptitiously. ‘The University was shaping up to be unlucky this year. Better distance ourselves from the crazy people!’

As Fang Ping prepared to avert his eyes, Unconquerable Wu said jovially, as if she had seen Fang Ping’s eyes land on her. “Fang Ping, come over here!

“I’ll protect you, make sure that you’re safe!

“If not, you’ll definitely be screwed!

“Wang Jinyang’s enemies are everywhere. No one can protect you. He has defeated disciples of Tang Feng’s, Luo Yichuan’s, Xu Jianzhou’s…

“He’s gotten his hands on everyone’s pupils except for mine!

“Don’t take this as a joke. In a battle of martial arts, losing to someone in the same year is a catalyst for a huge rivalry. They will not stop until Wang Jinyang has been defeated!

“And you’ve angered all the freshmen too! You have enemies everywhere. You have to come here. If not, even Lion Head can’t protect you from harm!”

Tang Feng frowned. He said exasperatedly, “My students aren’t that bitter!”

Unconquerable Wu said lightly, “It’s fine if the two of them are only from the same hometown. What’ll happen, if Wang Jinyang is Fang Ping’s pseudo-mentor? Lion Head, can you promise that your pupils won’t seek revenge?”

“You…”

Tang Feng grunted, but he did not vie for Fang Ping any longer.

It was nothing if the two of them came from the same city, the same school, or even if they were seatmates, because it was unrelated to martial arts.

However, everything would be different if Wang Jinyang was Fang Ping’s pseudo-mentor!

If Fang Ping were at the same rank as his other pupils, and were in the same university, it was highly probable that Fang Ping would not get a moment’s rest before one of the sides collapsed completely.

“Pseudo-mentor?”

Many people furrowed their brows lightly. Some instructors did not look happy with that.

Old Wang did not show them any respect. Many of their students were defeated painfully.

If they had really taken Fang Ping in, their students might fight.

Of course, they were not wary of that. They would take Fang Ping in if he really showed interest in them, but the most they could do was ensure that higher-ranked students would not bully Fang Ping.

They could not ban normal battles.

Fang Ping felt that he had been tricked, just by looking at the instructors’ expressions.

With his performance, he could have gone to anyone he wanted, including Tang Feng.

After Unconquerable Wu’s words, it was made clear to him that his presence would cause trouble to some degree, despite the instructors not voicing it.

He had not met Wang Jinyang that often actually. The public could not pinpoint their exact relationship.

Unconquerable Wu was only making a guess, but she had thrown this guess of hers out for the masses to discuss. Fang Ping did not look happy at that moment.

Anyone who was tricked would find it difficult to accept the truth for what it was with a happy face.

Unconquerable Wu did not care about that. She said with a laugh, “Come, come under my wing! I ensure you that you won’t regret it!

“In MCMAU, I’m beneath Grandmasters, but I can still put up a fight against Lion Head!

“I have stocks in the pill production company. You can take all the pills you want!

“If you’re bullied, just call for me. Your mentor, I, will come to you effortlessly, no matter where I am!

“In the past days, the old man from the Fang family in East Lake bullied me just because he was a Grandmaster. I pursued him for ten years. Everyone knows that I, Unconquerable Wu, am most adept at holding a grudge!

“Do you understand?

“Your mentor has a Grandmaster standing behind her!”

Fang Ping was completely shocked. The other instructors loathed to associate themselves with her!

Of course, no one could retort, because what she said was true. That was why she dared call herself Unconquerable – she had someone ranked high backing her up! Not only were they unable to provoke a Grandmaster, they would not want to provoke her!