C17 Fatty and Skinny Brothers

Here stood a strikingly handsome young man with a lean build and pale complexion, draped in a moon-white robe that lent him a somewhat delicate appearance.

The arm he had used to block Chu Lin's advance was now faintly shimmering with a green glow, exuding an eerie presence.

"This is the Green Rock Palm, a mid-level Rank One martial skill!"

"Green Rock Palm? Could it be that this young man is Yuh Qing, one of the Sword Edge Alliance's ten great captains?"

"Yuh Qing's signature move is the Green Rock Palm. It has to be him."

"Yuh Qing, a renowned captain of the Sword Edge Alliance, also holds the fifteenth spot on the Outer Court's Expert Rankings. Rumor has it, he's reached Level Nine of the Body Tempering Stage!"

A chorus of gasps rippled through the crowd, tinged with a note of fear.

"Mr. Qing," Yuh Chen said, breathing a sigh of relief and offering a respectful greeting.

Yuh Qing nodded, clearly pleased with the reaction of the onlookers. His expression was one of pure arrogance. He gave Chu Lin a dismissive glance and declared, "By showing disrespect to the Sword Edge Alliance, you've committed a grave offense. But considering our shared sect, I'll spare your life if you cripple one of your arms right now."

Chu Lin's expression darkened. The Sword Edge Alliance's arrogance irked him deeply. He could sense Yuh Qing's formidable strength, but he wasn't about to maim himself without a fight. Facing a Body Tempering Stage Level Nine expert like Yuh Qing, Chu Lin felt his fighting spirit ignite, a rush of excitement coursing through him.

"I won't strike anyone who doesn't strike me first. But if I'm offended, I'll fight back!" Chu Lin's voice boomed. "And that includes anyone from the Sword Edge Alliance!"

"You'll only realize your mistake when you're cornered. You're nothing but a pathetic insect," Yuh Qing retorted, his face unchanging except for a disdainful snort as his hand once again glowed with a green light.

"Seems Black Wind Town is quite the hotspot today." As Chu Lin was about to engage Yuh Qing, a sly voice cut through the tension.

The crowd parted, revealing two figures—one fat, one thin. The fat man's tight-fitting clothes strained over his large belly, the buttons threatening to pop off with each step, his flesh bulging from the seams. The thin man, by contrast, was so gaunt that his clothes hung loosely, sleeves fluttering in the breeze, his wrists the only indication that he wasn't armless.

The odd pair commanded everyone's attention as they sauntered toward Chu Lin and Yuh Qing.

"Good heavens, it's the Fatty and Skinny Brothers!" Yang Hu's voice reached Chu Lin, heavy with concern.

"The Fatty and Skinny Brothers? Who are they?" Chu Lin's face grew serious. The brothers' auras suggested they were no slouches. Chu Lin might have stood a chance against Yuh Qing alone, possibly even escaping with Yang Hu amidst the chaos. But with the Fatty and Skinny Brothers as potential allies, escape would be far more difficult.

"The Fatty and Skinny Brothers are legendary siblings of the Outer Court. The fat one is Yih Feng, and the skinny one is Yih Shaan, both only eighteen and already in the top ten of the Expert Rankings. They've even defeated a senior brother from the Inner Court who had reached the Spirit Martial Stage," Yang Hu explained, his voice quivering slightly.

"They're not Sword Edge Alliance members, are they?" Chu Lin asked, eyeing Yih Shaan and Yih Feng with concern.

"Yih Feng and Yih Shaan aren't part of the Alliance, as far as I know. They've never joined any group. Maybe they're just passing through," Yang Hu replied, almost as if wishing it to be true.

As Yih Feng and Yih Shaan approached, Chu Lin tensed. The brothers walked past him, heading straight for Yuh Qing. Yih Shaan, the thin one, gave Chu Lin a quick, enigmatic eyebrow raise as he passed—a gesture that left Chu Lin puzzled.

What could Yih Shaan's eyebrow raise mean? A warning? Chu Lin pondered the encounter as the Fatty and Skinny Brothers came to a halt before Yuh Qing.

"Senior Brothers Yih Feng and Yih Shaan, what brings you to Black Wind Town?" Yuh Qing's eyes twitched slightly as he spoke, his usual arrogance noticeably diminished.

"I've heard quite a bit about the Sword Edge Alliance lately. Seems like you've been throwing your weight around, huh? Is bullying servant disciples the only way you can make it now?" Yih Feng's cheeks jiggled as he spoke with booming confidence.

"Yih Feng, Yih Shaan, your purpose here eludes me, but the affairs of the Sword Edge Alliance are under the jurisdiction of Yuh Xiu. You're overstepping," Yuh Qing said, his face darkening. He was well aware that he was no match for the Fatty and Skinny Brothers. He couldn't pinpoint how he had crossed them, but Yih Feng's earlier remark was a clear sign of their hostile intent. In response, Yuh Qing invoked the name of the Alliance Leader, Yuh Xiu, hoping to deter the brothers.

Upon hearing "Yuh Xiu," Yih Shaan hesitated, coughed awkwardly, and adopted a look of feigned righteousness. "Junior Brother Yuh Qing, that's no way to talk. Senior Brother Yih Feng is just being direct. His words might be harsh, but his intentions are for the betterment of the Sword Edge Alliance. He speaks out of a desire to see the Alliance prosper. As Martial Academy disciples, it's our duty to promote justice, love, and peace in this world, and to work together..."

Yih Shaan rambled on, his righteous facade occasionally slipping to reveal a sly grin.

Chu Lin felt a twinge of embarrassment, but his concern also lessened considerably. It appeared that the Fatty and Skinny Brothers weren't his adversaries after all.

"So, with the noble goal of bringing beauty to this world and embracing love, tolerance, and open-mindedness, neither Yih Feng nor I want to see our fellow sect disciples at each other's throats. Right, Yih Feng?" Yih Shaan finally wrapped up his lengthy speech after more than two minutes, slapping Yih Feng on the shoulder for confirmation.

"Absolutely!" Yih Feng bellowed, thumping his chest in agreement. "Should we witness such fratricide within our sect, we'll ensure justice is served. We will not stand for such behavior!"

As Yih Feng made his bold declaration, a blood-curdling scream pierced the air.

Yuh Chen was writhing in agony, clutching his right arm, which was now grotesquely deformed.

"I gave Yuh Chen a choice: clean my brother's clothes with his tongue or lose the use of his hand. That was the recompense I demanded for Yang Hu," Chu Lin said coldly. Taking advantage of Yuh Qing's distraction, he had grievously wounded Yuh Chen. Then, swiftly retreating to the Fatty and Skinny Brothers' side, he hoisted Yang Hu onto his back and bolted.

Yuh Qing, momentarily stunned, quickly grasped the situation and shook with rage, glaring at the brothers. "Are you making a fool of me?"

Yih Feng scratched his head awkwardly, turning to Yih Shaan. "Brother, Yuh Qing thinks we're mocking him."

"Mocking Yuh Qing?" Yih Shaan touched his nose, maintaining his righteous demeanor. "We've made it clear that we won't forgive any disciple who harms another from our sect. But we certainly didn't see Chu Lin attack Yuh Chen, did we?"