234: Chapter 234 Fang Tong Hosts a Banquet!

"Aren't those Li Fan and Sha Li? How did they end up together? Don't they have a grudge?"

"I heard that the Formal Student Li Fan beat up before was the very one who chose Sha Li!"

"Fang Tong, right? That news spread on the forums ages ago, did you really need to say it?"

"They're together, and it looks like they're leaving. I feel like something's about to happen again."

"Who knows?"

...

Many people watched as Sha Li led Li Fan out, their gazes following them as whispers rose and fell.

The conflict between the two had actually been slowly spreading through the Sparring Partner circles.

Logically, there shouldn't have been any friendly interaction between them; it was unlikely they'd even stand near each other.

Seeing this scene now, everyone was naturally filled with doubt.

However, some clever individuals guessed the reason but didn't voice it.

Back to Li Fan.

Under Sha Li's lead,

Li Fan quickly left the dormitory area and headed toward Fang Tong's Manor.

Along the way, he received a message from Duan Ping.

The content was simple.

He wanted Li Fan to come over so he could apologize in person, while also warning Li Fan to be wary of Fang Tong's retaliation.

Looking at the message, Li Fan couldn't help but chuckle.

Duan Ping was being too polite. In fact, just the act of Duan Ping kneeling and begging for mercy had already earned Li Fan's approval; there was no need for another apology.

Besides, he had turned misfortune into a blessing. Not only did he lose nothing, but he even gained something.

So, an in-person apology was truly a bit redundant; it almost made him feel a little embarrassed.

As for worrying about Fang Tong's retaliation...

The warning had come too late.

Because he was already almost at Fang Tong's Manor.

But it wasn't a big deal.

He was practically itching for Fang Tong to retaliate!

If Fang Tong didn't try to get back at him, he'd actually look down on the guy!

"Li Fan, those fifteen days in Confinement Valley must not have been easy, right?"

At this moment, Sha Li, who had been silent for a long time, turned his head toward Li Fan with a mocking expression and a contemptuous smile.

Looking at Sha Li and the approaching manor, Li Fan shrugged and said with a smile,

"I was wondering why you dared to speak to me like that. It turns out the dog is almost home and has a master to back him up."

"To tell you the truth, your granddaddy here had such a comfortable time in Confinement Valley that I almost wanted to stay for another half month."

As soon as those words were spoken,

Sha Li's smile froze, his expression changed drastically, becoming incredibly ugly.

"Li Fan! You're about to see Brother Tong. How much longer do you think you can keep acting so high and mighty?"

"To be honest, your end is near! Don't think that just because you luckily won against Brother Tong last time that you're something special. That was only because Brother Tong was careless and wasn't being serious!"

Just as Li Fan said, Sha Li immediately brought up his master, Fang Tong.

However, to Li Fan, this held absolutely no deterrent power.

Instead, it only made Li Fan find Sha Li more pathetic.

"Oh, so that's how it is. I'm so scared then," Li Fan said in a mock-fearful tone, though anyone could tell he was just messing with him.

"You!"

Sha Li's face turned red with rage, wishing he could kill Li Fan on the spot.

But knowing he was no match for Li Fan, he could only endure it.

Once Fang Tong acted and Li Fan was down to his last few breaths, he would step in. Then, he could vent all the frustration he'd been holding back.

Thinking of this, his mood balanced out significantly when he looked at Li Fan again.

Endure!

Just endure Li Fan for a little longer!

Seeing Sha Li's cowardly 'furious but silent' look, Li Fan really wanted to laugh even more.

However, at this point, the two had already arrived at the entrance of Fang Tong's Manor.

He couldn't be bothered to continue provoking Sha Li.

Deep within the manor,

A modest banquet was currently underway.

The host of the banquet was none other than Fang Tong.

There were about twenty Formal Students present.

Judging by their bearing and gestures, every single one of them exuded the air of a descendant from a prominent family.

The reason for this small banquet was entirely due to Fang Tong's personal motives.

It was simple.

Half a month ago, he had been severely injured and knocked unconscious by Li Fan, causing him to lose face in front of the other Students. This had left him fuming with a grudge.

And now, Li Fan had just been released.

He could use this opportunity to crush Li Fan in front of these Students, showing the world that punishing Li Fan was effortless for him and that the last time was just an accident.

The Students present would serve as the primary witnesses and spreaders of the news.

Of course,

He wouldn't kill Li Fan.

After all, that would violate the regulations.

But he would beat Li Fan until he was hanging on by a thread.

That way, he would stay within the rules while still venting some of his anger.

And this was only the first step of his revenge.

The second step was to heal the heavily injured Li Fan, pretend to make peace with him, and then encourage him to participate in the New Student Competition, dangling the carrot of becoming a Formal Student in front of him.

Once inside the New Student Competition, he could "accidentally" kill Li Fan legitimately, without violating any rules!

From his childhood to the present, everyone who had ever provoked him was dead.

Li Fan, naturally, would be no exception!

And now,

He only needed to wait quietly for Li Fan's arrival to complete the first step of his plan!

"Fang Tong, when are you going to take the stage and say a few words? You didn't invite us here just for eating and drinking, did you?"

At that moment, a dark-skinned Student with rugged features raised his wine glass and laughed loudly.

"Yeah, when are we getting to the main event? The New Student Competition is in half a month; our time is very precious!"

Another Student chimed in with a half-joking tone.

Following that, more and more Students began to voice their agreement.

Facing everyone's questions, Fang Tong calmly took charge of the situation.

"Everyone, don't be in a hurry. There's someone who hasn't arrived yet. Once they're here, the show will officially begin."

These words immediately piqued everyone's interest.

"Someone hasn't arrived? Who is it?"

"Exactly, who? It couldn't be Duan Xuan, could it?"

"If it's Duan Xuan, then it's certainly worth the wait."

"Huh? Didn't I hear that Duan Xuan is already in secluded cultivation?"

The crowd buzzed with discussion, guessing the identity of the guest.

Fang Tong didn't keep them in suspense and gave the answer directly.

"No need to guess, everyone. This person isn't my big brother, Duan Xuan, nor is he any other Student. It's Li Fan."

Hearing Li Fan's name,

The expressions of everyone present became quite interesting.

The name Li Fan was not unfamiliar to them at all.

The fierce guy who could defeat Fang Tong!

However, their knowledge of Li Fan was limited to the fact that he had beaten Fang Tong. As for Li Fan himself and what exactly happened during that battle, they were completely in the dark.

Don't Fang Tong and this Li Fan have a grudge?

What was Fang Tong's goal in calling Li Fan here?

Could it be that Fang Tong wanted revenge?

To be honest,

They were quite curious to see what kind of level this Li Fan, who could crush Fang Tong, actually possessed.

At that moment, Fang Tong's voice rang out again.

"But don't misunderstand, everyone. A lowly Sparring Partner like him could never have a seat at our table. I called him here just to provide some entertainment for everyone."

"I know everyone has heard about my defeat at this fellow's hands. In truth, there were many misunderstandings involved."

"If it hadn't been for that villain's sneak attack combined with my own carelessness, he wouldn't have been able to scratch me."

"In a moment, I'll use him to test my latest combat insights and, while I'm at it, clear up those rumors. A mere Sparring Partner thinking he can be compared to me is simply too laughable."