Chapter 51 Self-directed and self-acted?

Qi Dao is twenty years old this year. His so-called twenty years of seclusion was actually twenty years spent in prison.

He grew up in Dang Palace, merely serving as a plaything for one of the inmates inside.

Over the past twenty years, while acting as a plaything, he was also guided onto the path of martial arts by that person.

Possessing extraordinary talent, Qi Dao wielded considerable strength.

A few days ago, he broke out of Dang Palace, causing quite a sensation.

One thing was very strange: Dang Palace did not pursue the matter, nor did they send anyone to capture Qi Dao.

Due to the environment in which he grew up, Qi Dao developed significant character flaws.

In less than ten days since leaving Dang Palace, he had already injured countless people.

In his own words, the strong do not need to reason with others.

If you are not convinced, fight until you are.

Having encountered no rivals so far, Qi Dao became increasingly arrogant and contemptuous of everyone.

"You? Make me feel fear?"

Qi Dao deliberately dug his finger into his ear and looked at Tang Xuan with a mocking sneer.

"I think you are nothing more than good-for-nothing trash."

Tang Xuan’s figure burst forward.

The two of them instantly locked into close combat.

Their movements were so blindingly fast that onlookers could not catch a glimpse of what they were doing.

"Holy shit, he’s actually this powerful too!"

"I couldn't tell at all. He's an expert as well."

"Finally, someone is here to teach this arrogant bastard a lesson."

The two traded blows evenly.

Those who had initially not dared to speak up for Tang Xuan saw that he was not losing the upper hand and finally found their courage.

"Beat him to a pulp! Serves him right for being so arrogant."

"Let's see who the real piece of trash is!"

"Young man, give him a severe lesson!"

The longer the fight dragged on, the more alarmed and strained Qi Dao became.

He had never expected that such an inconspicuous figure in the crowd could actually match him as an opponent.

When Qi Dao left Dang Palace, that old geezer had told him that unless he encountered those reclusive masters aloof from the world, no one would be his match.

That old geezer had clearly lied; this young man looked nothing like a reclusive master.

As a powerhouse freshly released from prison, he was supposed to be invincible under heaven—how could he possibly fall into the hands of someone like this?

Bang!

A loud crash echoed.

Tang Xuan delivered a kick that sent Qi Dao flying, slamming him straight into the front desk.

Qi Dao showed signs of defeat, yet he refused to accept his fate.

"Damn you, this is getting interesting. Time for me to use my real strength."

Tang Xuan said nothing, pressing his attack relentlessly.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

A triple combo of heavy blows left Qi Dao battered and bruised, blood continually spilling from the corner of his mouth.

"I yield, I yield!"

Qi Dao hurriedly waved his hands at Tang Xuan.

At this moment, he finally realized that he was no match for Tang Xuan.

Tang Xuan sneered, having no intention of stopping, and closed in once again.

"Are you fucking bullying me on purpose?"

"I said I give up!"

Bang!

Qi Dao's body was sent flying once more.

The onlookers who had been watching the spectacle finally vented their pent-up anger.

"Weren't you being so arrogant just now?"

"You say you want to stop and so you stop? Who do you think you are?"

"Still feeling arrogant? Dare to act arrogant now?"

"Young man, you are truly amazing."

"Kid, you're awesome! Teach him a proper lesson for us."

Only when Qi Dao collapsed to the ground, unable to get back up with a vacant look in his eyes, did Tang Xuan finally stop.

Placing his foot atop Qi Dao’s head, Tang Xuan asked indifferently, "Are you convinced yet?"

Qi Dao never imagined that after enjoying his majestic dominance for just a few days, he would end up trampled beneath someone else's foot.

He refused to submit in his heart.

Yet refusal was useless; he simply was no match for this person.

At that moment, Su Qing led a group of people into the hotel.

On her way over, she had already heard the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.

"Miss Su is here."

"This guy is finished. The Su family will never let him off."

"Miss Su should thank this young man; otherwise, heaven knows how many more people would have gotten hurt."

Listening to the surrounding discussions, far from feeling grateful toward Tang Xuan, Su Qing’s eyes were filled with chilling coldness.

"It's you again."

"Are you trying to catch my attention with this kind of trick again?"

Hearing Su Qing’s words, Tang Xuan felt utterly bewildered.

He had no intention whatsoever of catching Su Qing's attention.

Su Qing walked up to Tang Xuan and said through gritted teeth, "I won't let myself be fooled by you again."

"I'm warning you, if you dare to stir up trouble in Junyang City again, I won't let you off."

The onlookers were dumbfounded.

Had Miss Su gotten the wrong person?

Clearly, this young man had helped her resolve her trouble, so why did she harbor such intense hostility toward him?

Tang Xuan was equally baffled.

"What do you mean by that?"

Su Qing sneered, "Isn't this person someone you deliberately hired to make a scene?"

"You got him to cause trouble and then pretended to step in and solve it yourself, hoping to make me grateful to you?"

"Did you really think I wouldn't see right through such a petty trick?"

Su Hu had previously told Su Qing that Tang Xuan was deliberately trying to approach her by various means, and Su Qing had believed it—implicitly and completely.

Therefore, the moment she saw Tang Xuan, Su Qing was entirely certain that this was a drama staged and directed by Tang Xuan himself.

This man was going to such painstaking lengths to approach her simply to extract benefits from her.

More importantly, Su Qing felt that she had been deceived by Tang Xuan twice; having her hopes ignited and then shattered twice was something she simply could not accept.

Third time's the charm—she refused to allow herself to be tricked by Tang Xuan again.

The surrounding crowd broke into a chorus of astonished murmurs.

This turned out to be a play he directed all by himself!

"Holy shit, and here I thought he was a hero."

"He fooled all of us; this guy is truly scum."

"That means all these injured people got hurt because of him too!"

Tang Xuan said indifferently, "I don't know why you would have such thoughts. I don't even know this person."

Su Qing looked at Tang Xuan with derision.

"Still spinning stories? Am I a fool in your eyes?"

"I won't believe a single word you say."

Su Qing walked toward the front desk.

"Help this gentleman check out. From now on, this person is no longer welcome here."

Tang Xuan walked straight out of the hotel.

He saw no need to explain himself any further.

Although he was interested in half of the Su family's assets, it was not an absolute necessity for him.

As for money, there were countless ways for him to make it.

Qi Dao followed closely behind Tang Xuan, sticking to him wherever he went.

"What are you doing? Clinging to me now?"

Qi Dao said, "I am so strong, how could I possibly lose to you?"

"Losing simply means you are not strong enough."

These words left Qi Dao completely speechless and unable to refute.

"Do you know? I grew up in Dang Palace. Everyone there said I was a favored son of heaven, an expert fresh out of prison. Why on earth did I lose to you?"

Hearing the words "Dang Palace," Tang Xuan furrowed his brows.

He did not know much about that place, but ordinary people were certainly not qualified to enter that prison.

And yet, this fellow had actually grown up inside Dang Palace!

"Want revenge?"

Qi Dao nodded repeatedly. "I do, but not right now. That's why I'm following you."

Tang Xuan smiled faintly. "Why don't you become my disciple, and I'll make you even stronger?"

Qi Dao gave a disdainful chuckle. "What kind of thing are you, wanting to be my master? Do you have any idea how powerful my master is?"

"If you have the ability, have your master show up. I'll beat him into a pig's head just the same."

Qi Dao grinned viciously. "Fine then, come with me to Dang Palace for a trip, and I'll introduce him to you."

In Qi Dao's mind, if this guy dared to go to Dang Palace, he would undoubtedly die there.

Tang Xuan waved his hand. "I don't have time for that right now. If you're willing to tag along with me, then follow along."

"However, I'm warning you—if you dare to harm ordinary people again, I'll cripple you."