Chapter 37: Such Brutality

"Chen Xiaofu!"

Ye Shaoyan had completely lost his calm, mountain-like composure. He was panicked. He felt that Chen Xiaofu was a demon! This guy... he was far too ferocious! What was he trying to do? Wasn't it said that the Jiangnan region produced scholars, while only the rough, rugged lands produced ruffians? This fellow was unreasonable and reckless, completely disregarding the consequences; he was going to beat Young Master Pan to death!

Panicked, he let out a shout: "Stop!"

"Do you know who he is?"

Chen Xiaofu, of course, did not stop. He ignored Ye Shaoyan entirely. He arrived in front of Pan Qingyun, who was furious. Pan Qingyun opened his bloodied mouth, pointed a finger at Chen Xiaofu, and roared through gritted teeth: "You ignorant bastard, you're in trouble! You're in big trouble! Do you know who I am?"

Chen Xiaofu grinned. "I am a reasonable man. I've only just arrived this morning, and to be bitten by a dog as soon as I enter—I can't just take that lying down, can I? So, I have no choice but to show you some of my moves."

His expression suddenly turned icy. He glared and snarled, "As for who you are? I couldn't care less! Now, I’m going to beat you so hard even your own mother won't recognize you!"

Pan Qingyun was startled: "Y-you wouldn't dare!"

Chen Xiaofu rolled up his sleeves. "There is nothing this young master doesn't dare to do!"

"I... I am..."

"You're a damn fool!" Chen Xiaofu threw a punch.

*Thud!* The blow landed square on Pan Qingyun’s right cheek. Pan Qingyun shrieked, spat out a mouthful of blood, and staggered back three steps. Before he could steady himself, the world went dark! A foot was rapidly expanding in his vision!

*Bang!* The kick landed squarely on his face.

"Ah...!" Pan Qingyun stumbled back five more steps and landed on his backside. Before he could crawl away, Chen Xiaofu was already on top of him.

*Thud!* A fist smashed into the bridge of Pan Qingyun’s nose. Pan Qingyun collapsed to the ground, his nose and mouth gushing blood. Chen Xiaofu straddled him, throwing punches with both hands, cursing as he struck: "Calling me shameless is one thing, but how dare you covet my wife, An Xiaowei! I don't care if you say I’m a disgrace to the men of the Great Zhou!"

"But how dare you compare Xiaowei to a toad... is there such a thing as a beautiful toad? Are you blind?"

Liang Jingru: "..."

An Xiaowei: "..."

The surrounding students: "..."

Pan Qingyun: "Ah, no, I... I meant I was comparing you to a toad."

*Thud!*

"That’s more like it... wait, no, open your dog eyes and look! I’m so handsome—have you ever seen a toad this handsome?"

"Ah... you're handsome, you're handsome... ah, ah... help! Help me...!"

Everyone was stunned! This... Chen Xiaofu was even more brutal today than he was yesterday! The young man from yesterday was still covered in bruises, and now this fan-wielding gentleman... he was truly going to be beaten to death by Chen Xiaofu!

An Xiaowei panicked as well. Though Pan Qingyun was detestable, his grandfather was the Left Chancellor! Chen Xiaofu might be feeling satisfied for the moment, but he was inviting a catastrophe. If he killed Pan Qingyun, there would be no turning back. She rushed over and grabbed Chen Xiaofu’s hand. "If you hit him again, you'll actually kill him!"

Chen Xiaofu stood up, looking at Pan Qingyun, whose face was so bloody he was unrecognizable. He wiped the blood from his hands onto Pan Qingyun’s clothes and glanced at Ye Shaoyan and Mei Changyu. At that single look, both men took two steps back.

"Some people like to beat dogs, but I prefer to beat the owner. I’ll say it one more time: I am a reasonable man. I have no interest in knowing who he is. Furthermore, I don't want to see you again! Take your master and get lost! Otherwise, every time I see you, I’ll beat you!"

"Get lost!"

Ye Shaoyan and Mei Changyu scrambled to help Pan Qingyun up, and Ye Shaoyan hoisted the half-dead man onto his back. He glared fiercely at Chen Xiaofu... and that was all it took. Chen Xiaofu lunged forward and delivered a kick!

Heaven have mercy. The blow landed squarely on Ye Shaoyan’s chest! Ye Shaoyan felt a sweetness rise in his throat and staggered backward, falling. With Pan Qingyun on his back, the weight crushed down, forcing another fountain of blood from the half-conscious Pan Qingyun.

"Ah...!" Another pig-like scream echoed.

Ye Shaoyan, his chest still throbbing with intense pain, scrambled up and hauled Pan Qingyun back onto his shoulders. This time, he didn't dare look at Chen Xiaofu again.

"What I hate most is people like you who have no skill but still try to save face. If you’ve got the guts, try glaring at me one more time."

By now, some of the residents of Lin'an City had paid their coins to enter the academy. Among them, the young women from Green Fish Alley were the most prominent. They had come to see the young master from Huaxi Courtyard challenge all the students of the Lin'an Academy. They had been promised a contest of poetry and prose, so why were they resorting to fisticuffs?

"Oh my, Young Master Chen is so fierce!"

"You came too late and missed it! It was thrilling! Young Master Chen gave that man a real beating!"

"That fan-wielding fellow is a mess; I'm afraid he’s disfigured."

"He didn't even grab his fan... he ran so fast."

"Wow, Young Master Chen is so handsome!"

"I love his 'beat first, ask questions later' attitude, and he’s so handsome even when he’s fighting... I want to marry him!"

"You're crazy. Would a man like Young Master Chen ever look at you?"

"If he doesn't like me, I'll introduce him to Hongxiu, the lead courtesan of the Moon Gazing Pavilion. He’ll surely like her, and then... I’ll just be a concubine!"

"...Hongxiu might not even like him!"

The gaudily dressed women held their fans, chattering away. Suddenly, one pointed to the ground nearby: "Were those two men in black on the ground also killed by Young Master Chen?"

"It was the Taoist priest with him who did that."

"This ten-tael entrance fee was worth it. Who is Young Master Chen going to beat next?"

Chen Xiaofu didn't beat anyone else, because the three of them had already scurried away, and no one dared block his path. He led An Xiaowei, Liang Jingru, and Alai toward the library.

Yufu and his two companions watched his retreating back in silence.

"This guy..." Yufu took a deep breath. "He is not as simple as the rumors suggest!"

The three of them also left the crowd and retreated to a corner of the square. Mo Zhixiu frowned. "Your Highness, the Sixth Prince, this matter must be considered carefully. We had better not provoke Chen Xiaofu lightly."

The young man called Yufu was actually the Sixth Prince of the Qi Kingdom! His face was grim, and he pondered for a moment. "Are we just supposed to watch Xiaowei marry him? I cannot accept this!"

"Do not be impatient, Your Highness. Once we reach the Imperial Capital of the Great Zhou, the Empress will grant you an audience. I believe that is the time for you to express your affections for Miss An, in the name of friendship between our two nations. I believe the Empress will agree. After all, the Great Zhou has suffered many disasters in the last two years; she needs our Qi Kingdom’s help, especially with grain!"

Yufu looked into the distance, where Chen Xiaofu was no longer in sight. His eyes narrowed slightly.

"Zhixiu is right. Then let him be smug for a little longer. In the literary gathering later, we must give it our all to ensure he is thoroughly humiliated!"