He was a nobody, a being even below trash in his eyes. And yet...
Zhao Gun was still trying to process everything as Long Huang approached.
"Hahh... hahh... huff... Well, that was fun," Long Huang bent over, gasping for air, sweat dripping down his neck.
"Though I have to say, for a guy with such a fancy title, he really didn't live up to the hype," said Long Huang as he stretched his arms overhead, rolling his shoulders with a satisfied groan.
"Hehe"
A nervous chuckle rippled through the caravan members, their initial terror giving way to hesitant relief. The caravan leader, with sweat still beading on his brow, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Young master, we are forever in your debt! If there's anything...."
"Yeah, yeah, save me the speech."
"Just pay me what you promised. And maybe throw in some extra for emotional damage. That guy's breath was noxious."
Long Huang interrupted, waving a hand. Zhao Gun then finally found his voice, saying.
"You...." He swallowed hard, forcing the words out.
"Tell me right now how you did that?"
Long Huang arched an eyebrow. "Did what?"
"Oh, I understand."
"Well, it's not that hard when your opponent's entire strategy is to be big and yell a lot. Plus, he's just a normal cultivator without a bloodline."
"I could defeat that trash with one hand tied behind my back, " said Zhao Gun with complete confidence.
"Even so, it should still be impossible for trash like you to win."
"You're merely at the Meridian Tempering Realm. He was Peak Blood Tempering. That's a whole two major realms above you! And your bloodline..."
"Is Ordinary, yes, yes, we've all heard the lecture," Long Huang sighed, inspecting his bruised knuckles.
"But here's the thing. Cultivation realm and bloodline mean nothing. What really matters is how you use what you've got." He tapped his temple.
"And I've learned how to use what I got, and he doesn't even have a bloodline, so it was easy."
"Plus, no one speaks about my parents and gets away with it," said Long Huang, his voice still holding a bit of resentment as he walked past Zhao Gun.
"Hmm, a waste like you was probably just lucky."
"Maybe I was who knows, but I do know I don't lie," said Long Huang, grinning. The wild, unhinged edge was gone, replaced by his usual lazy smirk.
"Even if that's true and he's a waste just like you, that still doesn't explain how you defeated him so easily," said Zhao Gun
"It's all the same to me, even if his realm was higher and he had a bloodline, things wouldn't have turned out differently." Zhao Gun, who heard this, was filled with disbelief, pausing before saying.
".....You're a monster!"
Zhao Gun began to see Long Huang in a different light. For he knew that Long Huan's words meant, from the very beginning, he hadn't used all his strength, and that's also when he realized Long Huang hadn't used his sword.
Zhao Gun opened his mouth to question Long Huang more, but suddenly, a bandit in the distance shouted.
"RUN! before they kill the rest of us!"
The bandits who had been watching from the sidelines exchanged panicked glances before bolting into the forest, their footsteps crashing through the underbrush. Long Huang made no move to stop them.
"Aren't you going after them?" Zhao Gun demanded.
"Why bother?" Long Huang shrugged. "They're not stupid enough to come back. And if they are, well..." He cracked his knuckles again.
"I could use the exercise."
Zhao Gun stared at him, torn between awe and frustration. This wasn't how things were supposed to work. Cultivation was about hierarchy, about bloodlines and realms and unshakable rules. But this monster, Long Huang, broke them all.
"I wish that I had never followed you."
"And yet, here you are, still following me around like a lost puppy," Long Huang teased, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"Admit it, Zhao Gun. You're intrigued by me."
"You can't resist the curiosity of the 'Ordinary' disciple who keeps getting lucky."
"I am not—" Zhao Gun had his.
"Admit it." Long Huang continually pressed, leaning closer and lowering his voice dramatically.
"You're dying to know my secrets. How does Long Huang, the so-called 'Ordinary' disciple, keep defying the odds?" He raised an eyebrow playfully.
"Maybe I'll share them... if you call me big brother."
'Wished the Zhao Gun's face flushed with a mix of embarrassment and indignation.
"I'd rather fight the Bandit King with my hands tied behind my back."
"Psshh, like if you did anything," thought Long Huang.
"Suit yourself."
Long Huang said, straightening and slinging the axe over his shoulder with an exaggerated flourish.
"But just so you know, the offer expires at midnight. After that, the price doubles. Don't say I didn't warn you."
Before Zhao Gun could retort, he knew this was what Long Huang wanted him to do.
"I'm turning out like Huang Min. She's such a bad influence." I couldn't help but remember that senior of his.
Just then, a commotion erupted at the edge of the pass. Sensing this, Long Huang tensed and said to the group.
"Prepare for an attack," as he held the giant axe with both hands, ready for the attack.
The rustling of leaves and rising murmurs grew louder as a group of figures emerged from the thicket, disciples from the Azur Lotus Sect, led by none other than Huang Min. Her expression was a strange mixture of relief and irritation, her robes rumpled from a hasty journey.
"Long Huang!" She called, striding forward.
"You idiot! Do you have any idea how worried I was...."
Her words faltered as she took in the scene: the headless Bandit King, his followers either incapacitated or fleeing into the woods. Long Huang stood among the chaos, an enormous axe in hand.
Her eyes darted to Zhao Gun, who looked as if he'd seen a ghost, and then back to Long Huang.
"...You did this?"
Long Huang rubbed the back of his neck, feigning innocence. "Uh, maybe?"
"Asshole, stop trying to be mysterious and answer the damn question!" said Huang Min, somewhat annoyed.
" Yes."
Long Huang replied honestly with his head hung low, not wanting to provoke the tigress any further.
"Hhhf!"
Huang Min exhaled sharply while massaging her temple, seemingly fed up with the whole situation. Huang Min then walked up to Long Huang and, to everyone's surprise, delivered a punch to his arm.
Thud!
"Next time, could you at least tell someone before you run off and challenge a Bandit King?"
"Ow! What was that for?" he protested, rubbing his arm theatrically.
"For being reckless," she retorted, though her tone lacked true anger. Then, softer, she added, "And for making me think you were dead."
Long Huang blinked, then grinned. "Aw, Huang Min. You do care."
"Shut up, and it's senior to you."
She punched him again, this time playfully.
"Thank you for the gift," softly escaped her lips as she thanked Long Huang for the jade bed. Hearing this, Long Huang just smiled.
They couldn't believe this was the fierce Huang Min and the man who killed the bandit king, and barely had a scratch on him.
The journey back to the sect was anything but quiet. News of Long Huang's astonishing victory spread like wildfire, whispers following them at every turn. By the time they reached the sect's gates, a crowd had already formed.
Disciples peeked from behind pillars, elders stroked their beards in deep contemplation, while a few young masters scowled in disbelief.
"I still don't believe it was that pretty boy who did it."
"Yeah, I bet he took Young Master Zhao's credit."
"But don't you see, Young Master Zhao is behind him instead of in front, so it must be true."
"Let's not mess with him before we end up like that Bandit King."
In the midst of it all, Long Huang strolled through the bustling courtyard as if he hadn't just upended everyone's expectations. He hummed a carefree tune, occasionally waving at curious onlookers, his demeanor unbothered.
Zhao Gun, trailing behind him like a storm cloud, finally couldn't hold back any longer.
"You're loving this, aren't you?" he snapped.
"Immensely," Long Huang admitted, amusement dancing in his eyes.
"Look at their faces. It's priceless," he said with a hearty laugh.
"You realize this changes nothing, right?" Zhao Gun hissed, voice low and urgent.
"To them, you're still an Ordinary-bloodline cultivator."
"Maybe, maybe not," Long Huang replied lightly, "but they'll think twice before underestimating me again."
He paused, smirking. "And so will you."
Zhao Gun fell silent, his jaw tightening. That was the crux of it, wasn't it? Long Huang had shattered his assumptions, leaving him questioning everything he thought he knew about talent and potential.
What else had he been wrong about?
That night, as darkness settled and the stars began to twinkle above, the air buzzed with the promise of change. Long Huang returned to his home in the western mountains, as he sat on his bed, recounting today's events.
Gurrrrrr!!
"Note to self," he muttered to the ceiling, his voice tinged with frustration.
"Next time, bring snacks. Fighting on an empty stomach is exhausting work."
His stomach growled in agreement, a stark reminder of the rigorous clash he had just endured. The battle had left him drained, both physically and mentally.
"Hhhhhh..."
He sighed, the weight of fatigue pressing down on him. Then Tok Tok Tok! A series of three crisp knocks at the door shattered Long Huang's moment of solitude.