Chapter 56: Trash, Next

“Bastard, calling me trash? Saying I suck up to Ning Ze?” Nanshan couldn’t stand the insult any longer. Seething with anger, he floored the gas pedal and sped straight toward An Harbor.

After all, his city—Hong’an—was only three hundred kilometers from An Harbor, a four-hour drive at most.

“Hello? Boss? I’m on my way to An Harbor!”

“I’ll tell you when I get back. Let me teach that kid a lesson first, then I’ll return!”

He drove straight to An Harbor, called for directions, and headed directly to the headquarters of Chongming. Then, he posted on the forum, tagging Gu Changqing: “I’m at the Chongming headquarters in An Harbor. Come down! Don’t tell me you’re too scared to show?”

As soon as he posted, replies flooded in:

“He actually made it to An Harbor this fast!”

“A face-to-face duel? Can we get a livestream?”

“I second that! Livestream it—I’m curious myself!”

“I heard there’s a newcomer in An Harbor, supposedly pretty strong and quite arrogant. He’s only been awakened for a month, probably level three.”

“I thought he was some big shot—he’s only level three and doesn’t know his place?”

“One month to reach level three is decent, but he’s way too arrogant. Nanshan, go easy on him!”

Gu Changqing was in his office, legs crossed, reading a romance magazine—the one confiscated from Tan Li.

Qiao Renxia hurriedly pushed open Gu Changqing’s office door. “Captain, that guy Nanshan really came to An Harbor—he’s downstairs!”

The speed at which Nanshan arrived startled Qiao Renxia, who rushed to inform Gu Changqing.

In fact, it wasn’t just Qiao Renxia—most of the headquarters knew already. The forum was ablaze with taunts, and word spread fast.

Across An Harbor, only one person had this kind of temperament.

Gu Changqing tossed the magazine onto his desk, stood up, stretched, and his joints crackled like firecrackers.

In Qiao Renxia’s eyes, Gu Changqing seemed to grow taller with the stretch.

“Send him to the training room,” Gu Changqing ordered as he strode downstairs.

The ground floor hall was crowded—members of both Team One and Team Two gathered, eager for a show.

Though Gu Changqing was an An Harbor man, on his first day he’d put Shi Qun in the hospital with a single kick, earning plenty of resentment. Plus, it was Gu Changqing who initiated the challenge on the forum.

So many were waiting gleefully to see Gu Changqing get humbled.

Nanshan was very active online and had reached level four two years ago—strong among level four awakened. Only a few from Team Two had faith in Gu Changqing.

Recently joined, Huo Rong—the “Fire Guy”—watched Gu Changqing with shining eyes, filled with anticipation. He longed to be bold and fearless like Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing glanced around and headed straight for the training arena.

Moments later, Nanshan stormed into the arena, only to see a tall young man waiting.

“You’re the one from the forum?” Nanshan demanded, visibly furious.

Gu Changqing sized him up—about twenty-five or twenty-six, short hair, tight T-shirt and athletic pants.

Gu Changqing gave Nanshan a thumbs-up, then turned it downward.

“Trash!”

Nanshan exploded at the insult.

He’d seen forum posts claiming Gu Changqing was only level three. He’d thought about going easy, lest he damage his reputation.

Now, Nanshan sneered, “If others said it, fine, but you’re not even qualified!”

“Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance—I’ll let you make the first move!”

Gu Changqing lowered his eyelids, then opened them, his gaze fierce and wild, lips curling to reveal sharp white teeth—a beastly presence, exuding terrifying pressure.

Even those watching from afar felt their hearts race.

Except for a few from Team Two, most had never seen Gu Changqing fight.

Even those who’d witnessed him kick Bai Mi across the room had felt his brutality, but not this monstrous aura.

Nanshan, at the center of it all, felt a chill and grew serious.

This pressure—level three? Who spread such nonsense!

Gu Changqing’s blood surged, veins bulging, his whole body seeming to grow larger. The agonized screams of countless souls echoed again.

Everyone in the arena broke out in goosebumps.

“What’s that sound?”

“Seems to be coming from Captain Gu…”

Nanshan had planned to take Gu Changqing’s first attack, then pummel him. But seeing this, he hesitated—no way he could just take it. If he hadn’t already declared he’d let Gu Changqing move first, he’d have attacked himself.

The arena floor and walls were metal, but the floor was padded.

Gu Changqing stomped, shattering the padding beneath his feet, launching himself like a cannonball.

In a flash, he was at Nanshan’s side.

Yet Nanshan calmed—this speed was indeed level three body-strengthening, despite the intimidating aura…

Gu Changqing punched. Nanshan grabbed his fist, intending to toss him aside.

But in the instant of contact, Nanshan’s face contorted, skin twitching.

His hands were wracked with pain, as if pierced by dozens of needles.

Not as if—they really were. Dozens of tiny holes, with red lines shooting from his hands.

And the punch’s force was immense, blasting through his grip and slamming into his chest.

Boom!

A whirlwind tore through the arena, accompanied by a thunderous crash. Nanshan was embedded in the metal wall, ribs shattered, spitting blood as he collapsed.

Thud!

Silence fell over the training arena.

One punch? Just one?

Gu Changqing relaxed, took out his phone, walked over, nudged Nanshan to turn him over, and snapped a frontal photo.

He wasn’t cruel—having won, he wouldn’t torment him further.

He tossed out a casual, “Trash!”

“I told you to suck up to me! What good is sucking up to others?”

Nanshan, barely conscious, heard this and felt his heart and lungs explode, coughing up another mouthful of blood.

Gu Changqing mused, “Is he trying to spit blood at me?”

He kicked Nanshan out of the way, then turned and left.

Everyone moved aside, silent.

“Take him to the hospital!”

“Qiao Renxia, come upstairs with me!”

With Gu Changqing gone, the arena erupted.

“A level four awakened—knocked out with a single punch?”

“Is Captain Gu really this strong?”

“Is he a body-strengthening awakened?” Many were just now realizing Gu Changqing’s powers.

“No! He’s not!” Li Tiefeng hurried to check Nanshan’s hands—covered with tiny punctures, edges corroded.

On Nanshan’s chest, only a single fist mark.

Gu Changqing’s ability was blood manipulation, so how was his punch so powerful?

Nanshan was a level four body-strengthener, yet he’d been severely wounded in one punch?

…

“Captain, you’re amazing!” Qiao Renxia followed Gu Changqing, eyes shining with excitement.

“Of course,” Gu Changqing replied absent-mindedly, thinking about the punch.

Being able to use Blood Prison with a punch was convenient.

So what if Ba Huang Fist is a martial art?

He’d used his fist—no mistake.

Gu Changqing suddenly felt he should get a pair of knuckle dusters.

He wasn’t sure where to get cultivators’ artifacts, but he could order a spiritual gear from logistics.

Why knuckle dusters and not gloves? Because knuckle dusters make using Blood Prison easier.

He sat at the computer, had Qiao Renxia transfer the photo, and posted on the forum: “Trash. Who’s next?”

The post sent the forum into chaos.

On the highway, Ming Xue, upon learning Nanshan had arrived and that he was facing a supposed level three awakened, turned her car around.

No point in ganging up on some clueless level three.

Yet barely five minutes later, she saw Gu Changqing’s photo and taunt.

Ming Xue spun her car back toward An Harbor.

“Are you playing musical chairs?” joked the young man in the passenger seat.

“I can’t take this! Check that guy’s info—is he really a level three awakened, only awakened for a month?”

“I had a friend look into it—An Harbor does have a newcomer named Gu Changqing, awakened for a month, strength uncertain… But Nanshan lost to him!”

After a few minutes and a couple phone calls, the young man turned to Ming Xue. “Guess what the fight was like?”

“What?” Ming Xue was surprised—the question suggested the battle was unusual.

“One punch,” he held up a finger.

Ming Xue slammed the brakes, staring at him in disbelief.

“One punch,” he repeated. “But Nanshan’s hands had multiple wounds—not just from the fist.”

“During the fight, that guy seemed like a body-strengthener, but he definitely isn’t!”

“Are you still going?”

“Of course—I need to see this person for myself!” Ming Xue gritted her teeth. She was already out—she couldn’t just turn back. She had her pride.

Besides, she was confident in her strength.

“A lot of people are on their way to An Harbor,” the young man said, scrolling the forum. “That guy’s strong, but his mouth is infuriating.”

An hour later, the two arrived at Chongming headquarters.

They parked at the entrance. Ming Xue strode in, brimming with fury. “Where’s Gu Changqing?”

(End of chapter)