Chapter 66: The Crane Extermination Assembly

At this moment, the two combatants were truly ablaze with fury.

Judging by the outcome, the veteran Xie Yanke proved superior. Yun Zhonghe had suffered no small internal injury. The crowd's eyes turned to him, sighing inwardly. Yet Yun Zhonghe merely wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Where Xie Yanke stood, the ground could no longer withstand the immense force and had caved in entirely. What was even more striking, his azure robe remained as immaculate as when he first appeared—utterly uncreased.

A ripple of astonishment surged through the crowd as they followed Yun Zhonghe’s gaze. At this moment, Xie Yanke’s condition and Yun Zhonghe’s were as different as heaven and earth.

Yun Zhonghe had lost. Completely, utterly defeated. The difference in their strength seemed insurmountable, as if he’d been crushed.

“Elder Xie truly lives up to his reputation as a peerless master of the martial world—his skill inspires awe.”

“If you ask me, he only used a fraction of his strength against Yun Zhonghe. Had he gone all out, Yun Zhonghe’s life would have been forfeit.”

“No matter what, Yun Zhonghe’s ability to even face Xie Yanke in combat proves his martial arts surpass ours.”

At this, silence fell. The entire crowd grew still.

Suddenly, a wet, splattering sound broke the quiet. Heads turned toward the origin. Eyes widened in horror, as if they’d witnessed something unspeakable.

In front of them, Xie Yanke opened his mouth and vomited a great mouthful of blood. His purplish complexion paled visibly in the span of a breath. His once-upright figure lost its support and he sank to one knee. The powerful aura that had emanated from him now faded to a mere whisper.

This scene sent a shock through everyone present. Mere moments ago, Xie Yanke had been the very picture of vigor—how had he so suddenly become a man at death’s door?

As they reeled in confusion, Yun Zhonghe spoke at last, his voice calm: “Thank you, elder, for showing restraint.”

Xie Yanke took a deep breath, forcing down the roiling blood within, then looked at Yun Zhonghe and rolled his eyes, snapping, “Humility is a virtue, but excessive modesty becomes hypocrisy.”

Yun Zhonghe paused, a sheepish smile flickering across his lips. He cupped his fist respectfully: “I am enlightened by your instruction.”

Hearing this exchange, the crowd could no longer remain in the dark.

The truth was not as they had imagined.

Yun Zhonghe had not lost to Xie Yanke. In fact, it was Yun Zhonghe who had won this contest.

The realization struck them like a thunderbolt.

They all knew Yun Zhonghe’s martial arts were formidable, but none had expected him to be so strong that even Xie Yanke, a renowned master of decades, was no match for him.

Just then, a mangy beggar who had been watching the duel from the sidelines could contain himself no longer. Rushing forward, he looked at Yun Zhonghe and asked, “Brother, when will you give me those twenty meat pies you promised?”

A few dark lines flashed across Yun Zhonghe’s brow as he glanced at the token in the beggar’s hand, a strange light in his eyes.

“Brother, don’t worry. I see you have no home. Why don’t I find you a place to belong?”

The beggar’s eyes lit up, hope blossoming on his face. “Really?”

“Yes,” Yun Zhonghe nodded, then turned to Xie Yanke.

“Elder, you could use someone to look after you. How about this young man?”

Following Yun Zhonghe’s gaze, Xie Yanke saw the ragged beggar and looked distinctly displeased. “Him?” His face was etched with refusal.

But Yun Zhonghe had anticipated this. He took the black iron token from the beggar’s hand and waved it in front of Xie Yanke.

“I now hold the Black Iron Token. My condition is that you take this beggar back to Motian Cliff and teach him martial arts.”

Xie Yanke was visibly conflicted. The token’s owner could demand anything of him, unconditionally. Yet if he were to take this beggar as his disciple, what face would he have left if word spread? But if he refused, he’d be branded a traitor to his word.

Anyone else who dared bargain with him like this would already be dead, and the token taken by force. But this was Yun Zhonghe.

When Xie Yanke still hesitated, Yun Zhonghe saw through his difficulty—he simply didn’t realize the beggar’s extraordinary martial potential, mistaking him for an ordinary vagrant.

With that thought, Yun Zhonghe leaned close and whispered a few words in Xie Yanke’s ear. Xie Yanke looked the beggar up and down in disbelief, but Yun Zhonghe’s confident manner left him wavering.

After repeated assurances, Xie Yanke finally relented and agreed to take the beggar as his disciple.

Seeing this, Yun Zhonghe beckoned the beggar forward. The beggar, simple-hearted and trusting, obeyed without hesitation.

Yun Zhonghe was direct: pointing at Xie Yanke, he said, “Kneel and kowtow three times.”

The beggar didn’t know why Yun Zhonghe wanted him to kneel, but he trusted Yun Zhonghe meant well.

Brother Dog was a man of few words and great action. The moment Yun Zhonghe finished speaking, his knees gave way.

Bang, bang, bang! Three resounding kowtows, his head meeting the stone slab with a crisp sound.

Seeing such earnestness in the beggar’s bow, Xie Yanke’s resentment softened somewhat, and a rare smile appeared on his somber face.

“All right, that’s enough—get up.”

Yun Zhonghe quickly intervened, stopping the beggar before he could continue. Otherwise, with his temperament, the beggar would have gone on kowtowing until someone stopped him—and his already dull head might have been knocked senseless.

“Call him Master.”

“Master.”

The beggar now saw Yun Zhonghe as his closest friend and did whatever he said.

“Aye!” Xie Yanke responded, the smile on his lips growing broader. No matter what, his martial legacy at last had an heir.

“Brother, when will I get my meat pies?” The beggar’s question immediately soured Xie Yanke’s good mood.

“Be patient. Don’t you know how to cook?” Yun Zhonghe hurried to smooth things over. “Once you reach Motian Cliff, listen to your master, train hard, and you’ll never go hungry again.”

“Oh.” The beggar nodded.

Their conversation was entirely open; everyone present heard every word clearly. None of them had expected Xie Yanke would truly take a beggar as his disciple.

If this news got out, wouldn’t it become a laughingstock? Yet, on second thought, envy arose in their hearts. If only they’d possessed the Black Iron Token, they too could have asked Xie Yanke to take them as a disciple.

But all of this had fallen to this wretched little beggar.

And the one who made it all happen was none other than Yun Zhonghe, infamous throughout the martial world and hated by all.

It seemed the time had come to unite the righteous and convene a “Purge the Crane” assembly, to discuss how best to rid the world of Yun Zhonghe once and for all!