Chapter Twenty: The Contest of Rank (Part One)

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Zhao Li had no desire to engage in private combat under the watchful eye of the instructor, so for the time being, he remained inactive. Li Xiuyuan, however, was plotting furiously in his mind, searching for a way to handle the situation.

Oddly, the instructor seemed oblivious to the tension between the two, adopting a leisurely air. Such behavior puzzled them both—could the notoriously strict instructor have suddenly changed his ways?

As Zhao Li and Li Xiuyuan glanced his way, Instructor Xiao Qiang performed an unbelievable gesture: he spread both hands wide and shrugged. Then, withdrawing one hand, he made a beckoning motion, as if he thought they were just about to go somewhere together, ignoring the sparks flying between them.

What was this supposed to mean? Not only were Zhao Li and Li Xiuyuan stunned, even their teammates watching nearby were at a loss, exchanging bewildered glances.

The instructor saw their confusion, shrugged again, and turned away, disappearing into an office, making it clear he had no intention of interfering with their contest.

Such an obvious hint—if anyone failed to catch it now, they were fools. Li Xiuyuan's eyes immediately brightened. "So, Zhao Li, it seems the instructor isn't backing you anymore. Today, I'm going to give you a proper lesson."

"Just you?" Zhao Li sneered. "Don’t think being at level six is anything special. Maybe in your next life!"

Li Xiuyuan ignored Zhao Li's taunt and glanced around at the others. "You all, decide now—are you with Zhao Li or with me? Make your stance clear, or don’t blame me for dealing with you all together." He was seizing the opportunity to assert his authority and reclaim every slight he'd felt before.

Zhao Li despised people like this the most—usually meek as a mouse, but the moment they sensed an advantage, they'd turn on anyone. How had he hidden this face all along?

Since Li Xiuyuan wanted everyone to draw lines, Zhao Li was curious to see which teammates truly stood by him. This wasn't like the previous phase, when Zhao Li was the temporary leader and could often have heart-to-heart talks with them. Instructor Xiao Qiang had filled their training schedule to the brim, leaving no such opportunities.

The teammates hadn't expected a matter between two people to become everyone's concern. Yet, the power balance was clear—at least five sided with Li Xiuyuan, while only three stood with Zhao Li, and all three practiced level-four techniques, not much of a match.

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Everyone hesitated for a moment. First, a few of the outer circle teammates shifted subtly toward Li Xiuyuan. Those slight movements set off a domino effect, causing a chain reaction.

Apart from the two or three who had always been close to Zhao Li, everyone else drifted toward Li Xiuyuan. The instructor’s indulgence had been plain to see, with no intention of stopping them, prompting everyone to reconsider their positions.

Zhao Li had always been the instructor’s favored pupil, but now it seemed the instructor cared little for him. If they chose Zhao Li, they’d end up beset by Li Xiuyuan, who was at level six, plus several others at level five. Though they were teammates, nobody wished to get beaten for nothing.

After a while, only a handful remained at Zhao Li’s side—three or so, all at level four. Even these teammates looked uneasy, as if still torn between Li Xiuyuan and Zhao Li.

"Very well, it seems you’ve chosen to stand against me!" Li Xiuyuan threatened them fiercely, sweeping away half a year’s frustration. He hardly knew how he’d developed such a strong desire for revenge, as if anyone not with him was an enemy.

"Zhao Li, what now?" Zhang Dongsheng, who was usually friendly with Zhao Li, whispered anxiously. Facing a dozen opponents, he couldn’t help but worry. "Should I go get the instructor?"

That was obviously impossible—the instructor had made his stance clear; if he wanted to intervene, he would have done so already. Now was not the time to unsettle his friends. Zhao Li shook his head. "You three, step aside."

Zhang Dongsheng glanced at Zhao Li, then at Li Xiuyuan and his group, gently nudging the other two teammates and pulling them into another corner. In the middle, Zhao Li faced the crowd alone.

"Teach him a lesson!" Li Xiuyuan seemed to savor his newfound authority, waving his hand with the air of command.

Yet, the surrounding teammates didn’t give him the respect he sought; though they stood with him, none moved to attack. Li Xiuyuan’s triumphant orders went unheeded, making him even more furious. He shouted again, "Hit him!"

Still, no one moved. Zhao Li muttered under his breath, "Idiot." Before Li Xiuyuan could react to the insult, Zhao Li called out loudly, "Come at me—all of you!"

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Strangely enough, though Zhao Li should have been their enemy, his words had the effect of an imperial edict—several of them charged forward without hesitation.

Li Xiuyuan failed to notice the difference, even matching Zhao Li’s command with a wave of his own hand. Seeing his teammates rush out gave him a sense of supreme command, as if he had thousands of troops at his disposal. With his natural talent and level-six cultivation, he believed he’d have a bright future in the military. Perhaps one day he’d become a senior officer, truly leading vast armies—a goal that would make his time here worthwhile.

Of course, Li Xiuyuan hadn’t let the feeling go to his head. To reach his ambition, he first had to defeat Zhao Li—the man who’d always overshadowed him. If anyone was to blame, it was Zhao Li for always being favored by the instructor and always keeping him just beneath.

Not far away, inside the office building, everything unfolding was clearly seen by two observers. Christine’s eyes were fixed intently on Zhao Li, as if she wished to scrutinize his every move for signs of excellence.

In another office, Instructor Xiao Qiang lit a cigarette, blowing smoke rings and wearing a look of satisfied cunning on his face.

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This chapter is a bit late; hope you understand.