Rise in the Martial Chaos: Starting From a Martial Arts School

Meanwhile, Sun Ningxiang noticed the commotion and turned to look.

But when she saw it was Yang Jing, her tense, icy expression instantly melted. A genuine light of joy flashed in her eyes as all her annoyance and displeasure vanished, replaced by pure delight.

She couldn’t be bothered to spare Yuwen Mingjue another glance. She turned and hurried toward Yang Jing, her steps light and her voice bubbling with excitement and surprise. "Junior Brother, what are you doing here?"

Her voice was sweet and carried an unconcealable joy—a stark contrast to the cold, hard tone she had used with Yuwen Mingjue.

Yuwen Mingjue watched the stark change in Sun Ningxiang’s demeanor. One moment, she was as cold as ice; the next, upon seeing Yang Jing, she bloomed like a spring flower. Even her eyes danced with a smile. It was a charming, joyous side of her he had never seen before.

A sudden wave of anger and jealousy surged through him. His expression grew darker and darker, so foul it could have dripped poison, and his hands unconsciously clenched into fists.

Yang Jing hurried over to Sun Ningxiang. His eyes first landed on her face as he asked, "Senior Sister, what just happened? Was someone giving you a hard time?"

His words barely out, his gaze slowly swept over Yuwen Mingjue and the others nearby. His eyes turned sharp and cold, like a drawn blade, carrying an intimidating aura.

Having mastered three martial arts to the Transformation realm, he possessed a sharp aura that far surpassed that of an ordinary expert at the Peak of Transformation.

Anyone who met Yang Jing’s gaze at that moment couldn’t help but feel a chill run down their spine.

Sun Ningxiang quickly shook her head. "It’s nothing serious."

With that, she pushed the matter to the back of her mind, looking up at Yang Jing with curious eyes and a smile. "Anyway, Junior Brother, did you need me for something?"

Seeing that she didn’t want to elaborate, Yang Jing didn’t press the issue for now. A gentle smile touched his lips as he said softly, "I successfully passed the Dragon Gate martial trial today, so my wish has been fulfilled. I was hoping to ask you, Senior Sister, to come off the island with me tonight. We could get a meal in the town on the shore, to celebrate."

Upon hearing this, Sun Ningxiang’s face lit up, and she immediately agreed. Her eyes sparkled as she said, "Yes, of course! I haven’t been off the island in ages."

With that, she naturally took Yang Jing’s arm and started down the mountain, not sparing Yuwen Mingjue and his group another glance, as if they were nothing but air.

Yang Jing let her lead him.

As he turned, his gaze swept coldly over Yuwen Mingjue one last time before he walked away side by side with Sun Ningxiang. Their figures soon disappeared at the end of the small path.

Yuwen Mingjue remained where he stood, glaring at Yang Jing’s departing back as his expression steadily darkened.

Seeing this, a Yunxi Peak disciple beside him quickly leaned in and whispered, "Senior Brother Yuwen, should we find an opportunity to teach that guy a lesson? Show him who’s boss so he won’t dare get near Junior Sister Sun again?"

At his words, a cold smirk touched Yuwen Mingjue’s lips. He slowly shook his head and sneered, "There’s no need. There’s never been a woman I, Yuwen Mingjue, wanted but couldn’t have."

He paused, his gaze turning sinister as he stared in the direction Yang Jing had disappeared. "This Sun Ningxiang... she’s just young and naive, too simple-minded to weigh the pros and cons. That’s the only reason she’d refuse me. Once she’s seen more of the world, she’ll understand that being with me is her best option. Then she’ll know who to choose."

After speaking, a calculating glint flashed in his eyes. He then ordered the disciples beside him, "However, you all need to be sharp. Tail them, quietly. See how often they meet. Report any and all of their movements to me immediately."

"Yes, Senior Brother!" his followers immediately chorused, nodding in agreement. A fawning smile flashed in each of their eyes.

...

Yang Jing and Sun Ningxiang walked side by side down from Yunxi Peak.

The evening breeze swept along the mountain path, gently rustling the hems of their robes.

Sun Ningxiang nervously twisted the corner of her robe. Remembering Yuwen Mingjue’s pestering, she frowned slightly and began to explain what had happened to Yang Jing in a low voice as they walked.

"Junior Brother, that man’s name is Yuwen Mingjue. He’s a young master of the Yuwen Family from the Prefecture City. The Yuwen Family are prominent, wealthy merchants in Jintai Prefecture. Ever since he joined Yunxi Peak, he’s been constantly using his family’s influence to throw his weight around the sect. And for some reason, he’s been pestering me nonstop lately."

Yang Jing listened in silence, a cold glint passing through his eyes. He turned to Sun Ningxiang and said, "If you don’t want to, Senior Sister, you just have to reject him clearly. He may have a powerful family, but at the end of the day, he’s still a disciple of the Xuanzhen Sect. I doubt he’d dare to openly pressure you."

"But if he doesn’t know his place and dares to pressure you in the slightest, I absolutely will not spare him."

He spoke in a calm tone, but his words carried an unshakable confidence.

’Now that I’m an Inner Sect Disciple, my Cultivation is steadily advancing, and I even have the system panel to help me train.’

’As long as I have enough time, I can increase my strength rapidly and without any bottlenecks.’

’When that day comes, never mind a single Yuwen Mingjue—even the entire Yuwen Clan will be nothing to me.’

Sun Ningxiang nodded quickly and said earnestly, "Of course I’m not interested! There’s no way I would ever say yes to him."

Afraid that Yang Jing might get the wrong idea about her and Yuwen Mingjue, she quickly added, "I’ve been perfectly clear with him. I’ve flatly refused. Besides, Master would never agree to it either."

"Master is very good to me and has always been protective. I made myself perfectly clear just now, and I even threatened to report him to Master. Even if he were ten times as bold, I doubt Yuwen Mingjue would dare to pressure me so easily again."