Chapter 43: Chapter 41: Avoiding the Battle

Mo Qi’s words caused quite a stir in the crowd.

Those won over by the Medicinal Cuisine didn’t have much of an issue with it. After all, it was only natural for a person of his caliber to have a bit of a temper.

But the onlookers, and especially those with ill intent, scoffed at him.

"Boss Mo, everyone says the customer is king, but these rules of yours don’t seem to follow that principle," someone called out from within the crowd.

Mo Qi didn’t mind the title "Boss Mo." His expression remained unchanged as he replied, "Take it or leave it."

’The customer is king, sure, but it’s Mo Qi who decides who is a customer.’

’If he says you aren’t a customer, then you aren’t.’

Although Mo Qi’s attitude annoyed many people, there was nothing they could do about it.

In terms of status, the man was a Core Disciple of high seniority. In terms of martial prowess, he had a powerful subordinate to do his fighting. As for his backing, as long as a few old Undyings from the Secret Realm stayed out of it, Yang Ming and Yu Liang feared no one.

"Wait!"

Just then, a young man with a longsword strapped to his back flew out from the crowd and landed before Mo Qi.

He regarded Mo Qi with a sideways glance, his chest puffed out in disdain.

’Someone’s starting trouble?!’

The crowd stopped in their tracks, their interest suddenly piqued.

’They’d thought things would be quiet for a while after yesterday’s incident. Who knew someone would get restless so soon?’

"What is it?" Mo Qi asked, barely lifting an eyelid.

The young man drew his longsword and pointed it directly at Mo Qi. "You injured my brother yesterday. Do you dare to face me in battle today?"

"Insolent!"

Before Mo Qi could even speak, Liu Hui, who stood beside him, began to transform. Dragon Scales surfaced on his skin.

’To dare point a sword at Mo Qi right in front of me... he’s simply courting death!’

"Mo Qi, if you’re any kind of man, don’t hide behind someone else! If you’ve got the guts, face me yourself!" the youth hurriedly shouted, seeing Liu Hui about to make his move.

He had personally witnessed Liu Hui’s terrifying power and knew he was no match.

But he figured the only reason Mo Qi acted so fearlessly was because he was relying on the strength of others. ’In reality, he’s probably very weak.’

"You think you’re worthy?" Liu Hui sneered.

’Others might not know Mo Qi’s true strength, but how could I not?’

As his own Cultivation had surged, Liu Hui could clearly sense that the pressure emanating from Mo Qi hadn’t diminished in the slightest. In fact, it had grown even stronger.

If they were to fight, Liu Hui was certain he wouldn’t last three moves against Mo Qi.

’This guy can’t even beat me, yet he wants to fight Mo Qi? It’s laughable.’

"Worthiness isn’t decided by talk. Mo Qi, do you dare accept my challenge?" the young man demanded again.

Every eye in the place was now fixed on Mo Qi.

Though Mo Qi had once defeated and killed Wang Hao, Wang Hao had only been at the Refining God First Heaven, after all.

This sword-wielding young man, however, was at the Refining God Seventh Heaven—a completely different league.

’Will he accept? Does he dare?’

Liu Hui also turned to Mo Qi. This was a matter of Mo Qi’s dignity, so he couldn’t make the decision for him.

Besides, he was eager to see Mo Qi in action. He couldn’t stand seeing others look down on his master.

Mo Qi, however, just looked impatient and waved a dismissive hand.

"What are you looking at me for? Throw him off the mountain!"

With that, he turned to walk back into the tavern.

"You! Stop right there!" The young man, thinking Mo Qi was scared, lunged forward, thrusting his sword at Mo Qi’s back.

"You’re courting death!"

Liu Hui exploded with fury. Pointing a sword at him was disrespectful enough, but this man actually dared to attack.

His massive hand, now transformed into a Dragon Claw, shot out to intercept the blade. Though he had moved second, his hand arrived first, grabbing the sword in mid-air.

SCREEECH!

The longsword, caught in the Dragon Claw, let out a grating screech that set one’s teeth on edge.

ROAR!

With his attack thwarted, the young man was overwhelmed by the immense pressure radiating from Liu Hui, and his heart pounded in his chest.

"Mo Qi, you cowardly piece of trash! You’ve got the guts to have your lackey hurt people, but you don’t have the guts to fight me yourself! You’re not worthy of the title of Core Disciple!"

Though the young man already wanted to retreat, the thought of the person who had given him this task made him steel himself and hurl one last curse.

"Hmph!"

Liu Hui was genuinely enraged now. With a twist of his claws, the longsword was mangled like rope before shattering inch by inch.

The tremendous force set off a chain reaction. The youth’s sword arm was obliterated—the bones pulverized to dust, the flesh and blood reduced to a mangled pulp.

"Aargh! You’re vicious!"

The agonizing pain and the irreversible damage to his arm made the young man’s face drain of all color.

He had been prepared to get injured when he took this mission, but he had never imagined losing an arm or a leg.

"Vicious?"

Liu Hui grabbed the young man by the neck and sneered. "My master didn’t agree to your challenge, yet you attacked him anyway. At best, that’s a violation of sect rules. At worst, it’s insubordination—an assassination attempt on a Core Disciple. Forget just crippling an arm. Even if I killed you right here and now, no one would hold me responsible."

The young man was utterly terrified. He could tell Liu Hui wasn’t joking—he would actually dare to kill him.

"That’s enough. This is a restaurant, and people are trying to eat. Don’t ruin our customers’ appetites." Mo Qi’s voice drifted back calmly as he neared the tavern entrance. He never once looked back, his pace remaining steady the entire time.

"Hmph. Consider yourself lucky. If there’s a next time, I won’t be so merciful!" With a backhand slap, Liu Hui sent the young man flying off the mountain peak.

Liu Hui’s decisive show of force silenced many who had been nursing their own little schemes.

’That was a Sword Cultivator at the Refining God Seventh Heaven!’

’Defeated in a single exchange, and even his sword was destroyed.’

’Strength like that... it was probably comparable to the Refining God Eighth Heaven, or maybe even the Ninth Heaven.’

’Unless one of the top-ranked Elite Disciples made a move, it was likely no one could handle Liu Hui.’

"He lets someone show up on his doorstep, point at his nose and curse him, and he doesn’t even dare to fight back. Tell me, why would the Sect Leader make a special exception to make someone like that a Core Disciple?"

"Are you stupid? Look who his master is. It’s Master Yu, the head Alchemy Master! Of course they have to give the old man some face."

"My master told me that the Inspector Elder broke through to the Vajra Realm and formed a Grotto Heaven, reaching the Void Realm. And on top of that, he and Mo Qi are like sworn brothers."

"Sigh. It’s infuriating. Some people just have all the luck."

The crowd murmured amongst themselves, all coming to the same conclusion: Mo Qi had only become a Core Disciple by pulling strings. He didn’t actually have much ability himself.

Even those who had been won over by the Medicinal Cuisine started to think the same way. Otherwise, why wouldn’t he have accepted the challenge?

Inside the tavern, Liu Ruyan, who had witnessed the entire exchange, was very confused.

’He clearly had the power to defeat that man, so why was he willing to endure being wronged and misunderstood?’

Seeing Liu Ruyan’s expression, Mo Qi smiled and ruffled her hair. "What’s wrong? You think Brother Mo was disgraced?"

"No," Liu Ruyan said, shaking her head again and again. "I just don’t understand. Brother Mo, you clearly could have..."

"...clearly could have defeated him?" Mo Qi finished for her with a laugh. "Ruyan, you have to live for yourself in this world. I couldn’t care less what other people think of me. Plenty of people don’t like me, and plenty more want to fight me. If I had to accept a challenge from every single person who showed up, would I ever get anything else done?"

Understanding dawned on Liu Ruyan. Her beautiful eyes sparkled as she gazed at Mo Qi, her heart filled with deep affection.

’Brother Mo is so amazing. Even the way he explains things is captivating,’ Liu Ruyan thought to herself. She had forgotten, however, that Liu Hong had told her much the same thing countless times before.

News of Mo Qi avoiding the fight spread quickly, and Liu Hui’s name became famous.