Tap! Tap! Tap…

  Side by side, a man and woman pair sprinted down the maze-like intersections of the Central District like students late for class.

  Their racing speed was more gliding than running, making them look like blurs weaving across the street.

  One relied on the explosive power of his leg muscles.

  The other’s plump jade-like legs simply can’t reach the same level.

  Yet, the figure-hugging Qipao and high heels did little to slow down the swan gliding on land.

  Even though the redhead’s lightness skill let her keep up, she was not even close to being a happy camper.

  “Now you know how to hurry?! Why didn’t you just sit in that stall until tomorrow while you’re at it?!”

  Miss Hong’s words were barbed arrows, but Bubai still wore a laid back face.

  “Relax~ I’ve calculated it. Even if the incense burns fast, it’ll still be at least a quarter of an hour. Add on the battle time and we’re golden. We might even have some time to spare.”

  "Tsk! You better hope you’re right. If not, don’t blame me for not lifting a finger when they slap chains on you!"

  Who’s they?

  Bubai’s eyes casually darted over to the fleeting shadows leaping from wall to wall like ninjas.

  Look! It’s their escort! Or to be more precise... his escort.

  If others didn’t know better, they would’ve thought he was some V.I.P. of this demonic sect!

  Who would’ve thought a crime suspect deserves such grandeur treatment!

  Well, all the more reason to not lose his current status.

  Without his Inner Disciple status, any courtesy will go poof.

  In that case, they’ll directly lock him up instead of putting up with all this fanfare!

  Still, having so many eyes keeping tabs on his every movement was bad news.

  But look on the bright side.

  Being escorted by these “tigresses” meant nobody obstructed his road back.

  Soon, they turned another corner and was welcomed by the boisterous roars of the coliseum that echoed through the street.

  Seeing the straight path to the coliseum ahead, Bubai smiled and his pace slowed down.

  “Hey, looks like the match’s still on. Or by now, we would already be getting an earful from Elder Ma for being late.”

  “Tsk…”

  Finally getting a breather, Miss Hong scowled, blowing aside the red bang stubbornly hanging over her face while trying to even out her own labored breaths.

  Bubai threw her a side-long glance.

  Hmm, not bad. This hottie really wasn’t just a flower vase, after all.

  As for the rest…

  Bubai looked around.

  Perching atop a nearby pavilion was a raven-masked lady in black who had no trouble keeping up, while the lagging bunch that he outran were gradually catching up…

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  What fun. This impromptu race gave him a rough gauge of their levels.

  If this is all they got, then…

  Once he went all out, he could completely break away from their surveillance!

  Of course, he knew better than to test their myriad tracking skills, especially since there’s no point in trying that now.

  Patience. The time will come. For now, just take it easy...

  The last walk back was enough for the rest to temper their uneven breaths.

  Noticing this, Bubai similarly dropped his own “tired” act.

  Yet, even when they stepped back through the coliseum’s yawning mouth, the broadcast for the next challenger still hasn’t come down.

  “Still not done?”

  The battle between side characters that lasted much longer than usual really piqued Bubai’s interest.

  “Go. Let’s head up to take a look.”

  Finding the nearest archway leading out to the audience stands, the pair climbed the stairs.

  The roars of the disciples grew louder...

  "My money’s on you, Lucky Seven! Do it to him!"

  "Iron Sand Jin, fly that baldie out of the arena!"

  "Quit showing mercy and cut off his arms already!"

  "Hit him! Rip him apart!" "Baldie, turn him to ashes!"

  And the chant that almost drowned it all. "Burn! Burn! Burn!"

  Passion. Excitement. Bloodlust. Everything was there.

  The staircase opened up to a walkway crammed with standing disciples that wanted a front-row view.

  Rising step by step on along both sides of the stairs were the upper viewing terraces, packed full of shaggy-robed spectators.

  Some were watching seriously.

  Others abandoned all decorum and were either pumping fire into the air or pumping their excitement into female concesionaires selling tofu.

  There were no less covetous eyes landing on the hot peacock following after him, but Bubai ignored them and simply walked forward, pushing his way into the human tide to get a front-row view.

  "Hey, watch it!"

  "Korahhh! Which pisspot dares lay hands on this grandpa?"

  "You! Who in da Yama’s name ya think ya arrrrr—hic!"

  The angry curses came but many zipped their own mouths after seeing who he was.

  Some even hastily stepped aside on their own accord.

  Others wisely followed suit, and the human sardines squeezed out a path for the newcomer.

  Once upon a time, his plain "Ah Niu" face was able to blend into the crowd.

  But now, his every step was in the limelight.

  Showing power had its downsides… and its perks.

  Reaching the front of the terrace, Bubai stopped before the transparent barrier sealing off the arena like a glass dome.

  Here, he finally laid eyes on the ongoing duel below.

  On one side was the bald acquaintance calling himself “Lucky Seven”, Jia Hu.

  On the other was the foundation realm cultivator being challenged...

  A lean, middle-aged man in light, breathable desert garbs embellished by arm guards.

  With feet kicking up a wind on every step and hands calling out to the wind spirits on every wave, his style really looked like a cookie cutter cultivator.

  “That should be Jin Tiesha… Hmm, that beta-looking face looks a bit familiar...”

  Bubai squinted, rummaging through his memories and found a match in a dusty attic.

  “Huh? Isn’t that the windsurfer patrol guy I bumped into once at the outer district tower? Well, what a small world.”

  Now, he can see a reason why this particular guy got challenged.

  Not all inner disciples warranted a challenge, even if they were easy pickings.

  What’s the point of beating up a dirt-poor foundation builder who still had to grind sect tasks to pay their courtyard rent?

  Most cultivators live by the motto: Benefits must be worth the risk.

  A patrol job quota happened to be something worth fighting for.

  Of course, no matter how good the job is, none of that mattered if the challenger can’t win the fight.

  It wasn’t so easy for a Qi Refiner to take down a Foundation Realm cultivator!

  “This Jin Tiesha’s footwork is not bad… even quicker than that Du Ge. At this level...”

  It’s good enough to let him fly his challenger like a kite!

  Looking back at the broad-shouldered baldie bearing a round iron shield, Bubai can see the wind slashes clawing him nonstop like angry birds and leaving gashes all over his muscular body.

  Blood dyed his bronze skin and what’s left of his rags red.

  A mortal might’ve passed out from hypovolemic shock by this point.

  But all that bleeding only seemed to make the baldie even more wild... almost like a berserker!

  Those eyes of his glowed red, and his charge didn’t slow down at all, actually matching the foundation builder’s speed stride for stride!

  “This Lucky Seven… he really wasn’t simple to survive till this point. As expected of a genius combat maniac of the Jia Clan…”

  Bubai’s attention jumped back over to Jin Tiesha, who looked mostly unharmed.

  It was clear who had the upper hand, but...

  Anyone can see this Jin Tiesha’s labored breathing and tense expression.

  Bubai didn’t know what other tricks this foundation-realm spell caster already used, but...

  Chaining wind scythe after wind scythe like a machine gun definitely took a toll on both his Qi reserves and physical stamina.

  After how long this fight had dragged on, it wasn’t surprising that he’s finally nearing the end of his ropes.

  “Oh, looks like I’m just on time to watch the finale. Haha. Seems there really might be chance that something fun happens here…”

  Bubai’s eyes glinted with interest.

  So far, except for the under-the-table deal, all other challengers got a very personal shut down from the handsome Grandpa Fang.

  Now that this lucky ducky jumped out of the script...

  Will this fight be the first actual upset?