Chapter Ninety-Eight: The Shame of the Ancient Land!

Reputation?
What’s that? Does it put food on the table?
For an exiled settler from the Old Lands, nothing matters more than survival.
On that barren and perilous soil, if you talk about “reputation” or “credibility,” people would think you’re either mad or foolish.
So when Tang Fei heard that he could refuse the price others paid with nothing but a damaged reputation,
he didn’t hesitate to refuse.
Whenever there was talk of paying a fee to refuse, he would hesitate for just a few seconds longer.
“Why not give it a try?” Ran Ran asked.
How could this guy have no pride as a cultivator?
A warrior can be killed, but never humiliated. Wouldn’t you be angry if someone came to challenge you?
“No.” Tang Fei said. “What if I lose?”
Ran Ran was silent for a while, then said, “I’ll help you refuse.”
“Thanks, Teacher Ran,” Tang Fei said happily. “Just tell them I’m not here, that I don’t know them, or that I’m ill and can’t fight—any excuse will do.”
“I know what to do.”
While they were still discussing how to refuse, someone behind called out, “Tang Fei is here! Tang Fei is here!”
Suddenly, all eyes in the martial arts hall shifted toward Tang Fei’s direction.
Tang Fei shot a glare at the troublemaker who loved stirring up excitement. What’s it to you where I am? Why are you so worked up?
A young man with a buzz cut and a long knife in hand approached and asked, “Are you Tang Fei?”
“I’m Little Fatty,” Tang Fei replied. “The last disciple of Director Shang Xiulin of the Imperial First Military Academy.”
He wanted to test the prestige of Shang Xiulin to see if he could rely on him in the future.
Little Fatty.
Finally, the big brother’s grasp extended to him.
“I’ve seen your videos—you are Tang Fei,” Lu Yang said, stunned.
He hadn’t expected Tang Fei to deny being Tang Fei, especially when everyone already knew it was him, and to shamelessly lie in public, claiming to be Little Fatty, the last disciple of Director Shang Xiulin.
Where exactly are you fat?
Lu Yang had never encountered anything like this before. His mind was in a fog, unsure whether his intelligence was being crushed or humiliated.
“Are you an idiot? If you know, why ask?” Tang Fei snapped. “When I chat on StarLink, the thing I hate most is people asking ‘Are you there?’ Say what you want to say—why all this nonsense?”
Little Fatty’s face turned purple.
He knew big brother was talking about him, after all, big brother only had a few StarLink friends, and he was the only one who politely asked “Are you there, bro?” before chatting.
Had he upset big brother somehow lately? Did he steal the last pig’s trotter last night?
But that was because big brother told him to eat it.
Lu Yang, furious at being publicly called an “idiot” by Tang Fei, shouted, “Before challenging, I have to confirm your identity.”
“Didn’t you say you saw my videos and already know I’m Tang Fei? What more proof do you need? Want me to drop my pants for you?”
Despicable!
Shameless!
Disgusting!
He couldn’t understand how such a person could have defeated Shen Qingping.

Although Shen Qingping didn’t handle things gracefully, his strength was formidable—no waste came from the Shen clan.
Suddenly, another thought flashed through Lu Yang’s mind.
“Could this guy be deliberately provoking me?”
“I barely spoke to him and I’m already unsettled—this is a grave mistake for a warrior.”
“From his forest battle with Shen Qingping, it’s clear he’s both brave and cunning, cunning enough to be downright villainous. How could he do something so low without reason?”
“Yes, he must be playing the fool to conceal his true strength, trying to disturb my mind so he can find my weakness and defeat me.”
Calming himself, Lu Yang forced down his anger and resentment, clasped his hands, and said to Tang Fei, “I am Lu Yang. I wish to challenge you.”
“I don’t accept.” Tang Fei replied.
“Why not?” Lu Yang asked.
“I don’t want to.”
“If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.” Tang Fei attempted to bypass Lu Yang and headed toward the outside of the martial arts hall.
He truly didn’t want to do anything without benefit.
If he won, more challengers would come.
If he lost, countless people would mock him.
What’s the point?
Lu Yang blocked Tang Fei’s path with his long knife, his expression dark. “Why won’t you accept?”
“I’m in a bad mood, I haven’t eaten enough today, and I don’t like the look of you.”
Seeing the knife pressed against his chest, a flash of deadly intent passed through Tang Fei’s eyes.
On the Old Lands, this behavior marked an enemy, not a friend—and warranted killing.
In a place where even a glance could spark a massacre, who would allow a blade to be pressed against their chest?
If this were the Old Lands, Tang Fei would have already stabbed him.
This fool didn’t even know what he was doing.
Tang Fei’s face broke into his trademark smile. “Why must I accept your challenge? I’m so famous—if I accepted every challenge, I’d be dead tired.”
“Don’t you have any pride as a warrior?” Lu Yang growled. “Are you afraid you’ll lose and just scared to fight?”
“Fine, fine, whatever you say.”
Lu Yang paused. That phrase sounded so familiar.
Oh, it was something his girlfriend said when she was caught leaving a hotel with another man.
Thinking of that, Lu Yang’s anger flared uncontrollably.
“Tang Fei, are you even a man? Losing your head is no bigger than a bowl of scars! How can you be so cowardly?”
“Whether I’m a man, someone will prove it,” Tang Fei said. “But I refused your challenge, so why are you holding a knife to my chest?”
Ran Ran’s expression shifted as she looked at Lu Yang. “Lu Yang, the school only allows fair challenges—no private fights. If the other party refuses your challenge, your actions are against school rules and will be severely punished.”
“Coward!” Lu Yang sneered.
No private fights?
Suddenly, Tang Fei stepped forward, and Lu Yang’s knife blade instantly tore through Tang Fei’s training uniform.
“Private fighting and injuring a fellow student will be punished,” Ran Ran said as her long legs blurred into countless afterimages.
With a whip-like kick, she sent the unprepared Lu Yang flying.

Lu Yang had been focused on defense against Tang Fei’s sudden moves, never expecting an attack from the school’s beautiful teacher.
After all, she wore the uniform that marked her as faculty.
Ran Ran was determined to punish him. Lu Yang flew through the air for a long distance before crashing heavily to the ground.
Just as Lu Yang was about to stand, a sharp pain in his chest forced him to cough up a mouthful of fresh blood.
Ran Ran approached him, her face cold as ice. “When the other party refuses your challenge, you still dare to attack? This severely violates our school’s regulations.”
“Lu Yang, I will report this to the school’s Disciplinary Committee. According to rules, you will be expelled.”
“I didn’t hurt him! He came at me first!” Lu Yang shouted hoarsely, blood at the corner of his mouth, pointing at Tang Fei.
“I was just walking along, and you pressed your knife to my chest and now you want to falsely accuse me? Lu Yang, don’t you have any shame? Are you even human?” Tang Fei trembled with anger.
“I just wanted you to accept my challenge.”
“I refused—in front of everyone! You lost your temper and pulled a knife?” Tang Fei turned to Ran Ran, pointing at his chest. “Teacher Ran, I hope the school can give me an explanation. I’m a student who just transferred from the Old Lands, and this is the kind of bullying I must endure?”
“Tang Fei, rest assured,” Ran Ran straightened her chest. It was time for her, as a teacher, to step up. “I will explain the situation to the Disciplinary Committee and give you a satisfactory answer.”
Why did she feel a little guilty saying that?
“Thank you, Teacher Ran.” Tang Fei bowed respectfully.
“Upholding school rules and justice is our duty as teachers,” Ran Ran said sternly, proud of her own dignity.
“You guys...” Lu Yang sank to the ground, unable to believe what he was witnessing.
Those two—
Shameless! —

Ancient Martial Arts Department, Class A3 StarLink Group.
“Brothers, brothers, check out this funny thing.”
No sooner had he spoken than a short video was shared in the group.
The footage showed the entire scene of Tang Fei being challenged by Lu Yang in the martial arts hall.
Soon, various comments poured into the group.
“Damn, this guy is so shameless! Is this the so-called ‘Light of the Old Lands’?”
“That’s definitely Tang Fei. I watched his videos and thought he was impressive, but now my idol is shattered.”
“Too shameless, just too shameless.”

Similar discussions spread to other class groups.
“He actually said he’s not Tang Fei and boasted about being Little Fatty, Director Shang’s last disciple.”
“Little Fatty is the last disciple, but that guy is his younger brother.”
“This guy has no warrior spirit at all, he’s a disgrace to our school.”
“Lu Yang’s restless—what did he do wrong? He just wanted to challenge Tang Fei.”
“What kind of ‘Light of the Old Lands’ is this? This is clearly a disgrace.”
“He said someone will prove he’s a man. Who is this proof?”
“Shut up, upstairs!”
“Shut up, upstairs!”
“Shut up, upstairs! +1”

(End of chapter)