Su Fan had stepped outside to find the front courtyard already overrun with people.
In the yard, which was three to four hundred square meters, stood seventy to eighty individuals.
There were very few people on the side of the Taiji Martial Arts Hall, aside from Chen Tai and his daughter Chen Ruoshui, there were only a few youths with inexperienced faces.
On the opposing side, there were as many as fifty or sixty people.
Young and old alike were there, some dressed in black, others in white or green, clearly not from the same martial arts hall.
The leader was a middle-aged man in his fifties wearing a dark red long robe and exceptionally vigorous, as if he was enveloped in blazing flames, exuding an overwhelming aura. He was followed by more than a dozen young men in uniforms similar to his own.
This man was none other than Xu Lie, Vice Chairman of the Yang City Martial Arts Association and master of the Fiery Fire Martial Arts Hall.
At that moment, Chen Tai was negotiating with the opposition.
"Master Xu, as a prominent figure in the martial arts community of Yang City, don't you think it's a bit disgraceful to lower yourself to create trouble here at our Taiji Martial Arts Hall with so many people?"
Xu Lie sneered dismissively.
"Master Chen, being a martial artist yourself, have you forgotten the rules of martial arts?"
"In our martial arts community, it has long been a tradition to challenge other halls. What rules are you talking about?"
"If you have the ability, the doors of the Fiery Fire Martial Arts Hall are always open to you, welcoming you to challenge us."
Chen Tai was left speechless.
Xu Lie was right; it indeed was an old tradition in the martial arts community to challenge other halls.
There is no first in literature, but there is a definite second in martial arts.
For martial artists seeking fame, the best way is to challenge other halls.
"Master Xu, we've had no past grievances; perhaps there's been some misunderstanding today?"
Chen Tai still wanted to ease the tension.
However, Xu Lie had no intention of backing down.
"Hehe, Master Chen, someone from your Taiji Martial Arts Hall has become famous in Yang City. Can't I come to learn just how good your Taiji skills are?"
"Or are you saying your Taiji skills are nothing more than mediocre tricks? Fine, just offer me a cup of tea as an acknowledgment of defeat right now, and I'll turn around and leave. How about that?"
The quick-tempered Chen Ruoshui immediately snapped upon hearing this.
Pointing at Xu Lie, she rebuked him sharply.
"My Taiji skills are a revered tradition passed down for hundreds of years. When did it become your place to insult them? If it's a fight you want, bring it on. Who's afraid of you?"
"Ruoshui, hold your tongue…"
Chen Tai tried to stop his daughter, but before he could finish speaking, Xu Lie cut him off.
"Very well, such a fierce response from a young lady, not even giving me any regard. It seems that today, I must see for myself just how capable your Taiji skills are."
"Master Chen, today, if anyone loses, should they not remove their martial hall's placard, wash their hands with a golden basin, and retire from Jianghu?"
"Master Xu, aren't you taking things a bit too far?"
The expression on Chen Tai's face grew cold; he had thought Xu Lie had come today merely to flaunt his power, but now it seemed he intended to completely eradicate the Taiji Martial Arts Hall from the martial arts community of Yang City.
Su Fan was also quietly observing.
Xu Lie's demeanor was undeniably domineering, not befitting a high-level martial artist but rather resembling an unprincipled rogue of the martial world.
However, the old fellow indeed possessed substantial strength.
Su Fan's divine eye could clearly see a fiery flow of qi circulating within Xu Lie's meridians.
Though not as strong as his own, it was clearly superior to everyone else present, including Chen Tai.
It seemed that, at the appropriate moment, he would have to step in and lend a hand to the Taiji Martial Arts Hall.
At that moment, Chen Ruoshui had already stepped forward.
"If we're going to fight, let's fight. Why all this nonsense?"
"Let me test your so-called superior skills."
With that, Chen Ruoshui assumed her stance and launched an attack with the move "White Crane Wing" towards Xu Lie.