Chapter 37 0039: The Difference Between Genius and Mediocrity (Revised Edition)

Just as Ye Linglong was at a loss, Chu Yun laughed, his voice loud and contemptuous: "I find you people truly amusing—bullying a woman!"

For Ye Linglong to muster the courage to say what she did was already enough in Chu Yun's eyes. The rest, he would handle himself. The engagement involved him as well; Ye Linglong needed him, and he needed her.

"Hey, you there—from the Duanmu family, right?" Chu Yun turned to Duanmu Ci and said, "If you're interested in my fiancée, you shouldn't ask her. You should be asking me whether I agree."

"Oh?" Duanmu Ci's smile grew wider. "So you mean..."

He hadn't finished speaking when Chu Yun interrupted, responding, "Let me ask you first: if I were interested in your mother, would you agree?"

"You!" Duanmu Ci shot up from his chair, his face darkening. "If you have the guts, say that again!"

"I'm from the slums," Chu Yun smiled, feeling no need to apologize. "My words may be a bit rough for your taste."

"Chu Yun, I demand you apologize," Duanmu Ci pointed at him, roaring in anger. "Otherwise, you won't leave here today."

Chu Yun smiled, pursing his lips as he glanced at Cui Yuanhao. "He also won't let me leave. Adding you to the mix makes no difference."

"Is that so?" Duanmu Ci's face twisted into a snarl. "Just because you're from the slums, today I'll show you what class means!"

Ye Linglong turned to look at Chu Yun, her gaze unsettled. She hadn't expected Chu Yun to draw all the attention and conflict onto himself at this moment.

Chu Yun said, "Are you going to kill me?"

"Kill you?" Duanmu Ci laughed. "Killing someone is just a nod of the head; that would be letting you off too easily. I have a thousand ways to destroy you, but what I really want is to break your spirit!"

Staring at Chu Yun, Duanmu Ci enunciated each word, "I want you to fear me, to fill your heart with demons so you'll never escape my shadow for the rest of your life!"

Mo Yu, suspended nearby, closed his eyes in despair. Faced with Duanmu Ci, the genius of Sentinel City, he had no idea what to do. Even if he pleaded for Chu Yun, Duanmu Ci would likely ignore him.

To ruin a cultivator, instill fear in him. Cultivators walk a path against heaven, their hearts fearless; once fear takes root, their cultivation will be hindered.

Chu Yun's smile faded. "To make me afraid? You're saying that to someone who's already died once?"

Duanmu Ci suddenly stepped down a stair, prompting everyone to stand up, eager for the drama about to unfold.

"He's finished!"

"Master Duanmu Ci is angry."

"Has this kid never heard of Master Duanmu Ci, Sentinel City's number one genius? Barely seventeen, already at the peak of Warrior Level Nine, halfway into Fighter Level One!"

"This is interesting—a Warrior Level One facing off against a quasi-Fighter Level One! I've never seen someone with such a gap in strength still stubbornly run his mouth."

"I bet Master Duanmu Ci won't even reach Chu Yun before the guy breaks down and admits defeat."

Before Duanmu Ci had finished descending the stairs, Ye Linglong blocked his path. "Can you let it go for the sake of our old friendship?"

"Move!" Duanmu Ci raised his brows coldly. "Today you two have gone too far. Only trash would swallow such humiliation!"

Ye Linglong knew she'd embarrassed Duanmu Ci today; words would do no good. She could only step aside, hoping Chu Yun's strength would let him escape unscathed.

"Master Duanmu, spare his life for me. I suspect my sworn brother, Fan Zhiming's death is connected to him—I still need revenge," Cui Yuanhao reminded Duanmu Ci.

"Don't worry. Killing this trash would only tarnish my reputation, not bring honor!" Duanmu Ci replied. "I'll leave his life to you."

"Thank you!" Cui Yuanhao bowed in gratitude.

Duanmu Ci strode up to Chu Yun, staring into his fearless eyes. "You know, I really dislike people like you—born in the lower classes yet acting as if you're noble. Do you deserve it? Don't you know that without strength, status and face mean nothing? I don't know how you've survived this long. With your temperament, surely no one has taught you how to live. Today, I'll be your teacher. You should feel honored!"

Chu Yun laughed.

"What's so funny?" Duanmu Ci's eyes flashed with anger.

Chu Yun laughed at himself. "It's nothing. I just feel pathetic. I was once someone of importance, and now I've fallen so far as to watch garbage like you parade in front of me. I almost despise myself."

One of Duanmu Ci's friends shouted, "What are you pretending for, you slum-dweller? Do you not know why Ye Linglong is marrying you? Do you really think you're some chosen one? As a senior of the academy—even though you've left—I must clean up the house today!"

Unable to contain himself, this senior flipped forward and landed before Chu Yun.

"Master Duanmu, trash like this isn't worth your effort!"

With those words, he swung his fist in a wide arc at Chu Yun.

"I recall Senior Changkong is at Warrior Level Eight, isn't he? That punch will cripple the guy!" Those who knew the senior snickered. "They should've just beaten him and thrown him out, instead of all this talk. If it was a fight between real experts, there'd be something to see, but this Warrior Level One is just a joke."

No sooner had the words left their mouths than the whole room collectively gasped and fell silent.

Changkong's punch was firmly caught by Chu Yun.

Chu Yun absorbed all his strength, not retreating a single step, his feet planted like a mountain, his gaze as solid as stone.

Duanmu Ci's eyes grew deeper.

Changkong, seeing his punch trapped in Chu Yun's hand, stared in shock. When he tried to pull back, he found Chu Yun’s grip unyielding—no matter what he did, he couldn’t break free. He was stunned!

In the next moment, Chu Yun kicked Changkong in the stomach. Changkong arced through the air and crashed into a sofa, shattering it.

All the academy students rose to their feet, staring in disbelief at what they'd just witnessed.

Chu Yun withdrew his leg, lightly dusted off his knee, as if mocking those around him, "What is class? How high is the gap between the slums and your family-born elites? Was that kick enough to reach you?"

Beside him, Duanmu Ci’s face darkened. "You haven’t even touched true class yet!"

"Then come," Chu Yun turned to face him. "Let me feel the difference between genius and trash!"