Chapter Seven: I Am a Man Too (Part One)

Seven days passed, not quickly at all. For modern people who must sit in meditation and practice breathing exercises every day, seven days are as short as can be. During this time, Kuangchi only managed to circulate the Starry Sky Technique eighty-one cycles, and practiced the Wild Dragon Technique forty-nine cycles; suddenly, five days had already gone by.

In the remaining two days, thanks to Zixia who found a wealth of duel footage of that delicate-faced young man, Kuangchi had to abandon any thoughts of proper rest and spent two days with Zixia studying the enchanting movements of that young man. Yet, this dance was not the kind of dance one might imagine.

By the end of the two days, Kuangchi found himself with a measure of admiration for the young man.

His full name was Pierre Hyde, not a direct descendant of the Hyde family; his connection to the current Hyde family head could be traced back thousands of years. From birth, Pierre Hyde displayed remarkable martial talent. At seven, he was taken as a disciple by an elder of the Hyde family. Since then, Pierre’s legend grew, and he became the first in line to inherit the Hyde family.

Of course, exceptional martial skills alone could not make him the family’s heir; the young man’s mind was as outstanding as his appearance.

Listening to Zixia’s appraisal of Pierre, Kuangchi felt a pang of bitterness but had to admit it was true. Compared to Pierre, Kuangchi’s life had been much more comfortable.

Finally, Zixia smiled and said to Kuangchi, “Actually, the feelings the Angry Lion has for Phoebe, and all that he’s done for her, have moved all of us women. Three years ago, he arrived at the Imperial Capital Star and fell in love with Phoebe at first sight. He began pursuing her, even though he was not yet the Hyde heir. The Karachi family taught him many lessons for his reckless behavior, and I heard even your Kuang family secretly sent people to beat him up a few times.”

“What?” Kuangchi exclaimed, “My Kuang family beat him up in secret?”

Zixia chuckled, “A year ago, right when you set out for Imperial Capital Star, they say he publicly declared more than once that as soon as you entered the Imperial Academy, he would challenge you and return everything your family gave him.”

With the opponent so dismissive, as if he had Kuangchi in his grasp, it was impossible for Kuangchi not to be angered.

---

After hearing Zixia’s words, Kuangchi laughed coldly, “He wants to teach me a lesson, but am I someone he can just teach as he pleases?”

Zixia smiled, but her worry was evident, “Fatty, you must be careful in tomorrow’s duel with Pierre. The Hyde family and the Kuang family are blood rivals. Now, with Phoebe between you two, he surely knows that even if he defeats you, the Karachi family would never break the engagement and give Phoebe to him. If he wants to obtain Phoebe, he must make the engagement void.”

She paused, and Kuangchi immediately understood, replying, “Zixia, you mean that delicate-faced young man might try to kill me?”

Zixia nodded anxiously, then said, “I’m certain he has that intention. Even if he doesn’t, those in the Hyde family will make sure he does. He’s nearly five years older than you, his cultivation is more advanced, and you've only recently begun practicing martial arts. If you face danger tomorrow, you must call for a halt immediately. Given your current situation, even if you lose, your reputation won’t suffer. After all, he’s been training for many more years than you. At your current pace, I believe you will surpass him in three years.”

Zixia didn’t seem to have much confidence in Kuangchi, but the more she spoke, the more defiant Kuangchi felt. Who wants their beloved to witness them looking weak? Especially when the duel was for the sake of another fiancée. Even if losing wouldn’t affect the engagement, Kuangchi knew his mood would be terrible afterward. How could he face Phoebe, how could he marry her, how could he claim to be Phoebe Karachi’s fiancé?

Though Kuangchi seemed indifferent to his two fiancées, if anyone threatened them, the ancient masculine pride within him would never allow it.

Kuangchi snorted angrily and returned to his room.

The Imperial Academy’s arena was vast and ancient, said to have been built nearly a century before the Academy itself. It was modeled after the oldest Roman coliseum on humanity’s ancestral star, though its scale far surpassed that of Rome.

The Imperial Academy arena could seat hundreds of thousands and was one of the highest-ranked dueling venues in the Carlo Empire. Many famous duels among nobility took place there, providing students with the most vivid practical lessons. Most people welcomed this, and the Academy was all the more eager to host.

When Kuangchi and Zixia entered the arena, Pierre Hyde was already standing at its center.

Seeing the sea of faces and hearing the thunderous cheers—especially the constant cries of Pierre’s name from women—it was clear how popular Pierre Hyde was among the ladies of the Academy.

---

By now, the arena was packed to capacity. The multitude of faces was truly a sight to behold.

The arena floor had been cleaned spotless; such a vast space could easily accommodate a hundred people dueling at once, but at this moment, only Pierre Hyde stood alone at the center.

The arena looked as if it had recently undergone maintenance; otherwise, a venue frequently used for duels would not be so free of battle scars.

Seeing this, Kuangchi muttered bitterly, “Damn, is this a duel or a spectacle for others?”

Noticing Kuangchi’s expression and hearing the persistent chant of “Pierre~~ Pierre~~” echoing throughout the arena, Zixia felt uneasy.

Kuangchi was her fiancé; at least for now, she had neither the intention nor possibility of breaking the engagement, thus Kuangchi was closely tied to her. If Kuangchi lost his reputation, she, as his fiancée, would inevitably be affected. Besides, Zixia genuinely liked Kuangchi, the little fatty.

Despite being a bit short and a tad plump, Kuangchi was truly adorable—especially for women not lacking in maternal affection, his appeal was considerable.

Moreover, Zixia was indeed a few years older than Kuangchi, and he looked younger by perhaps a decade. With her overflowing maternal affection, she herself couldn’t quite discern what her feelings for Kuangchi truly were.

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