Chapter 118: This Internet Cafe Is Your Strong Backing

With the cultivation level of Song Qingfeng and his companions, how could their speed rival that of two academy instructors?

"Split up!" Song Qingfeng had a sudden flash of inspiration and hastily ducked into a small alleyway by the roadside.

"Yes, yes, split up!" Lin Shao immediately turned into another alley on the opposite side.

Xu Luo looked to his left and right, only to find two people gone in an instant. Glancing behind him, he cursed, "Holy sh*t!"

He plunged forward headlong in a frantic sprint!

"They split up. What should we do?" the noticeably younger, tall instructor asked.

The young instructor was clearly lacking in experience.

"We pursue one each! Subdue them and seal their cultivation first!" The short, middle-aged instructor possessed a square face and spoke with ringing, measured tones. His manner of conduct was evidently far more seasoned. "We will find the remaining one later!"

"A splendid idea, Instructor Zhou!" The tall instructor hurriedly selected an alley, surged with speed, and gave chase.

Zhou Kaibei had been an instructor at the Lingyun Academy for quite some years. He had trained many elite disciples, yet he still lacked that final spark to enter the ranks of the academy's senior instructors.

This occasion presented an opportunity. Chief Instructor Qin had personally dispatched this mission. If he could capture a few more disciples who frequented this small shop to play games, there might be hope for his promotion.

With this thought in mind, he immediately charged forward in pursuit!

"Hmm?" Zhou Kaibei soon saw Xu Luo darting swiftly into a fork in the path. Stamping his right foot heavily against the ground, the instructor launched himself into the air and, with his hands clasped behind his back, landed steadily upon the ridge of a rooftop.

Before long, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a silhouette darting into the darkness!

At the same time, Lin Shao found his path barred by a burly instructor!

"How are they pursuing so closely?!" A wave of numbness washed over Lin Shao's scalp, and almost instinctively, he threw himself into a defensive stance!

"Still wishing to resist?" The burly instructor let out a cold laugh. Lowering his center of gravity, he abruptly raised his right palm and thrust it forward with a deep shout!

Almost simultaneously, Lin Shao felt a colossal force, akin to a wall of compressed air, crashing toward him!

"The martial technique, Void Shock?!" Lin Shao's heart sank violently, and whatever lingering hope he held vanished without a trace. "It is over!"

Before he could make a move, the immense force sent him flying backward ruthlessly!

Lin Shao felt as though his internal organs were being squeezed together by the tremendous pressure. His body soared through the air as if riding the clouds, and by the time he struck the solid earth, his entire frame felt utterly devoid of sensation!

This martial technique utilized potent martial qi to unleash a concussive tremor, shaking the opponent's bones and internal organs. It was exceedingly difficult to defend against unless one was of equal rank. As a minor martial artist who had not even attained the rank of Martial Master, he was naturally incapacitated in a single strike, leaving no room for suspense!

Concurrently, Xu Luo was being carried by Zhou Kaibei like a helpless chick, his cultivation thoroughly sealed.

Zhou Kaibei gave a cold chuckle, looking down at Xu Luo in his grasp. "The academy has issued repeated injunctions forbidding disciples from entering this small shop. Yet there are still those who blindly walk straight into the crosshairs?"

Xu Luo felt his heart turn to ash. "How in the world could I be this cursed?!"

"There is still one more."

...

The night grew progressively deeper.

Having grown tired from playing games, Fang Qi opened the main doors, drew in a deep breath of fresh air, and stretched his arms.

Just then, Fang Qi suddenly glimpsed a figure sprinting frantically from the end of the street toward him, shouting breathlessly as he ran, "Bos... Boss! Save me!"

Fang Qi's face twitched. "Why have you run back here again?"

"In... In..." Song Qingfeng pointed behind him. "No time to explain, let me inside first!"

Song Qingfeng hastily slipped into the shop once more. He could not outrun them, so this was now the only safe haven. After all, no one was permitted to cause trouble inside the shop.

Beneath the moonlight, Fang Qi beheld a figure spreading his arms wide, swooping down once more like a great hawk!

It was a short, middle-aged man who carried a person in his grasp. Upon seeing Fang Qi, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he condescendingly swept his gaze up and down the unremarkable youth standing at the threshold. "Little fellow, if I remember correctly, you are the proprietor of this shop?"

At that moment, the burly instructor also leaped down from the rooftop. "This one is caught as well! Let us see who dares come to this little shop now!"

Zhou Kaibei nodded and extended his hand. "Hand over that one as well. Please do not interfere with the private affairs of our Lingyun Academy, Proprietor."

Though he used the word 'please', his tone carried no civility whatsoever, bearing instead a subtle trace of intimidation.

Fang Qi chuckled. "You prevent me from doing business on one hand, and yet you demand people from me on the other?"

"I am aware that there is an expert backing your establishment," Zhou Kaibei said with a cold smile. "But our Lingyun Academy is not to be trifled with either. I will not cause trouble inside your shop, but we shall wait outside. Tomorrow morning, a quick check at the academy to see which class is missing students will naturally reveal their identities!"

Fang Qi's face twitched. These academy instructors truly were relentless...

It would be one thing if they enforced bans within the academy, but to flagrantly press against his very storefront?

Did they truly believe this proprietor was made of clay?

Just then, Fang Qi's eyelid jumped, and he suddenly noticed a task popping up on the system panel.

New Task: One only needs peace of mind to play games in this internet cafe (II)

Task Description: Defeat the Lingyun Academy instructors blocking the door and rescue the students

Task Reward: Random Treasure Chest * 1

Task Explanation: Blocked by instructors while playing games in this internet cafe? Please remember, this internet cafe is your powerful backer

"Oh? There is actually a task?" Fang Qi expressed genuine surprise.

"How about this? Come into my shop and let us have a friendly duel." Fang Qi flashed a polite smile. "If you win, you may take the boys and I will not interfere. If you lose..."

Fang Qi pointed to Xu Luo and Lin Shao, whose cultivations were sealed. "They stay with me."

Zhou Kaibei was taken aback at first, then let out a derisive sneer. "Enter your shop? Who knows what tricks you have deployed in there? Do you take me for a fool?"

"Unless we fight outside!" the burly instructor grinned. "You win, the boys are yours."

"Fighting outside works too," Fang Qi shrugged.

"You must not use that weapon of yours that spouts fire!" Zhou Kaibei hastily added. Before arriving, he had conducted some investigations and knew that even a Martial Ancestor would find that device troublesome.

"Boss! You cannot agree to this!" Song Qingfeng quickly opened the door and shouted.

"Not agree?" Zhou Kaibei chuckled. "Little Li, escort these two lads to the Academy Enforcement Office first. To knowingly violate the rules—this time, it will certainly be a severe punishment! They might even be expelled from the academy!"

Fang Qi promptly spoke to halt them. "Fine, I will not use the rocket launcher."

"Hmm...?" Zhou Kaibei stroked his chin. "Your friends? You seem to care quite a bit about these two lads?"

Lin Shao and Xu Luo were moved to tears.

"The boss is so good!"

"Mm!"

"The boss is far too righteous..." Jiang Xiaoyue, watching from behind, felt a wave of emotion. "I actually thought he was black-hearted before, but I never expected him to be so dependable at a critical moment!"

Fang Qi's face twitched. I am truly just doing a task.

"Boss! You really cannot agree!" Seeing that Fang Qi seemed intent on accepting, Xu Luo said anxiously, "The strength of a Lingyun Academy instructor is not something an ordinary martial artist can compare to!"

Though Fang Qi seemed reasonably capable, that was entirely reliant upon the rocket launcher!

"Am I to simply allow these two to flaunt their authority before my shop and seize people at will?" Fang Qi glanced at the two boys and stepped into the center of the street. "Who among you is first?"

The captives instantly felt their hearts turn to ash. "It is over, the boss actually agreed."

"The boss is wagering against the instructors of Lingyun Academy?!" By now, the remaining players inside the internet cafe had also noticed the commotion at the entrance and hurriedly looked over.