Chapter 16: The Legendary Warrior

Appearing in the Kemal Arena, Linoa was actually wearing the very same evening gown that Zhang Wen had seen in the library—a garment resembling a cheongsam but far more seductive.

Although Linoa had added a silk undergarment beneath the dress today, covering her cleavage, the way the silk and gown clung to her figure only made her full, high breasts even more irresistibly tempting, stirring wild fantasies in every man’s mind. Her fair, delicate neck only heightened the allure, awakening every man’s deepest desires and imagination.

However, Zhang Wen had already noticed during their previous encounter in the library that when Linoa wore this outfit, her voluptuous curves were merely an accessory to her true charm. What truly stood out—and what Linoa herself was most proud of—was her pair of flawless, ivory-like legs.

The gown’s waistline featured daring high slits that extended up to her hips, revealing just how long and shapely her legs were. These legs, nearly perfectly proportioned according to the golden ratio, gave Linoa her graceful, statuesque figure. What made this gown so maddeningly enticing was that when she stood still, the pleated skirt completely concealed her legs, not even revealing a glimpse of her ankles.

Yet, as Linoa took each step, with every lift of her leg, those high slits stretching all the way to her waist revealed her most prized assets—the pair of legs that could make any man’s heart race. Even with the closest scrutiny, those breathtaking limbs only appeared for the briefest moment. That fleeting glimpse brought both immense satisfaction and an unbearable itch of longing, almost making one want to rush forward, tear away the frustrating skirt, and fully appreciate the mesmerizing legs hidden beneath.

Compared to Taler and the others behind him, Zhang Wen had far greater resistance to Linoa’s charms. He only froze for a split second before regaining his composure. From Linoa’s attire, it was clear she hadn’t originally intended to meet Zhang Wen at the Kemal Arena.

“How did you end up here?” Zhang Wen asked Linoa with a smile.

“Of course, to find you,” Linoa replied with a slight smile.

“That’s not what I meant. How did you find me?”

“Naturally through telepathy. I marked you, so don’t even think about escaping me.” Linoa shot him a seductive glance, her eyes brimming with allure.

Zhang Wen had to admit that Linoa was indeed a born enchantress. Even a simple act like rolling her eyes became incredibly captivating when she did it.

However, after displaying her charm to Zhang Wen, Linoa turned around, and the seductive allure on her face vanished instantly. A gentle smile appeared, giving off the same impression everyone at the Almeyth Academy recognized—approachable yet dignified, with a special sense of reserved elegance.

If Taler and the others had merely felt surprise and envy when Linoa appeared beside Zhang Wen and acted familiar with him, now, witnessing Linoa’s transformation, they were practically driven mad with jealousy.

Linoa’s message was clear—her allure and beauty were reserved solely for Zhang Wen. Toward outsiders, she showed only restraint and distance. She was the perfect woman every man dreamed of!

How could this be? What did that guy Zhang Wen have? How could this woman possibly take a liking to him? Beside Taler, Jinna’s heart burned with raging jealousy, twisting her once-beautiful face into a contorted expression.

In Jinna’s mind, Zhang Wen should have been a pitiful fool hopelessly in love with her—a mere toy belonging to her alone. She could afford to lend this toy to her less-fortunate peers because she believed Zhang Wen would never forget her. With just a word, he would come crawling back to kiss her feet.

But before Linoa’s brilliance, Jinna’s world crumbled. She felt her pride—her beauty and sexy figure—trampled beneath Linoa’s feet. Even her toy had been stolen by Linoa. That was why, when Jinna saw Zhang Wen with Linoa, her jealousy burned even hotter than when she had seen Taler with other women.

Jinna struggled to suppress the urge to rush forward and tear Linoa apart, forcing herself to feign indifference. However, her flushed, crimson face betrayed her no matter how hard she tried to hide it.

But soon, Jinna witnessed something even more unbearable.

“Zhang Wen, let’s talk about our matters later. Why don’t you introduce me to your friends first?” As she spoke, Linoa casually and deliberately linked her arm with Zhang Wen’s!

The intimate gesture instantly shattered every one of Taler’s group’s composure, leaving them gaping in shock. The women around Jinna were no better, their mouths agape in undignified astonishment, utterly speechless.

In fact, even Zhang Wen himself was slightly taken aback by Linoa’s boldness. But Linoa leaned close to his ear, her warm breath sending shivers down his spine as she whispered, “These people are annoying. I’ll help you deal with them—just consider it a favor I’m doing you.”

Seeing the playful glint in Linoa’s eyes, Zhang Wen smiled slightly and remained silent. After all, Linoa’s actions posed no harm to him, and he was more than happy to enjoy the show.

However, to everyone’s astonishment, just as Linoa linked arms with Zhang Wen, another girl’s voice rang out from behind him.

“Professor Zhang, what are you all talking about? You promised me tonight’s date, right?” A young beauty, Amylis, suddenly bounced out from behind Zhang Wen, linking her arm with his other one, gazing at him with a look of gentle reproach.

Seeing Amylis suddenly appear beside Zhang Wen, flanking him alongside Linoa, Taler’s group was utterly petrified. Although Amylis lacked Linoa’s mature allure or Jinna’s sensuality, she possessed something both women had long lost—the most precious treasure of all—youthful charm!

A perfect woman every man dreamed of, and a lively, youthful girl full of vitality—both had ended up in the hands of this so-called “waste” named Zhang Wen! Taler’s jealousy now burned just as fiercely as the woman in his arms.

“Right! Zhang Wen, how exactly do you know this young lady? Shouldn’t you introduce her to us?” Taler quickly asked, his face flushed with envy, feigning casualness.

“Of course, we met at school,” Amylis cheerfully answered for Zhang Wen, completely oblivious to the jealousy thickening the air around them.

“School? Which school?” Taler asked again with a forced smile, his right hand tightening painfully around Jinna’s breast beneath her collar.

“Oh… just a small, obscure school. Not worth mentioning,” Linoa replied with a casual shrug. She wasn’t foolish enough to reveal the name of Almeyth Academy under these circumstances—it would only invite trouble.

“I see,” Taler nodded, though his lips twitched uncontrollably. He had just vented his frustration into Jinna’s chest, but it did nothing to ease his jealousy or make him feel any better. No matter how he tried to reason it, he couldn’t understand why Linoa and Amylis would take an interest in Zhang Wen. Women like them were meant for him!

“Haha, Miss Linoa, I also work at a school—Maur College. You’ve heard of it, right?” Taler said proudly, then changed his tone. “Miss Linoa, if you’re unhappy at those smaller schools, feel free to come find me. I’m close with several professors there. If I ask, they’ll definitely help you transfer to Maur College. Unfortunately, they don’t hold Zhang Wen in high regard, so he’ll have to stay in his little school.” He ended with a mocking laugh directed at Zhang Wen.

As Taler laughed, Jinna also turned to Zhang Wen with a sly smile. “Oh, it’s fine. I’m sure Zhang Wen won’t mind. After all, those small schools are a bit beneath him. Maur College is far too prestigious for someone like him. Imagine if he got expelled again—where would he even show his face? Haha!” Jinna laughed cruelly, venting all her jealousy toward Linoa and Amylis onto Zhang Wen.

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In the sudden silence, Taler and Jinna’s laughter also stopped abruptly. Like everyone else, they frowned in confusion, glancing around to find the cause of the sudden hush.

Soon, Vent and Boboka discovered the source of the strange phenomenon. As their gazes fell on the staircase behind them—the very one they had just descended moments ago—both men froze in shock once again.

Then, Vent excitedly pounded on Taler’s back, pointing in a certain direction and whispering in a hushed, trembling voice, “Look! Look! Ironface—it’s Ironface!”

“Ironface? Which Ironface?”

“You idiot! Don’t you have eyes? Who else could it be? Didn’t you see the highest-ranked identity plaque on the wall when you walked in? The legendary gladiator of Kemal Arena!”

As Vent whispered in excitement, similar murmurs erupted from every corner of the arena.

Following Vent’s pointing finger, the two women beside Zhang Wen also turned their gazes. Like everyone else, they were filled with curiosity about the figure who had silenced the entire arena in an instant.

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Soon, Linoa and Amylis caught sight of a man in his early thirties, wearing a blue jacket and black trousers. He wasn’t conventionally handsome, but his sharp, angular features and upright posture radiated an extraordinary sense of determination and strength.

“Professor Zhang, why do they call him Ironface?” Amylis couldn’t help but whisper to Zhang Wen after a while.

“It’s a nickname from the arena. It means his expression never changes—it’s like he’s wearing an iron mask.”

“Oh!” Amylis nodded thoughtfully, but soon furrowed her brows in confusion again. “By the way, Professor Zhang, Vent mentioned he’s a ‘legendary gladiator’? I don’t remember the tour guide mentioning that title when we first arrived at the arena.”

“That title isn’t earned here,” Zhang Wen leaned in and whispered into Amylis’s ear. “Every four years, Kemal Arena holds a Legendary Gladiatorial Tournament. They invite all fighters with the title of ‘Imperial Gladiator’ to compete at the capital’s headquarters. The top ten fighters in each tournament earn the title of ‘Legendary Gladiator.’”

“So it must be super hard to get that title, right?” Amylis gasped.

“Of course. I remember that in last year’s Royal Daily ranking of the Empire’s Top Ten Warriors, four of them were Legendary Gladiators from Kemal Arena.”

“Wow!” Amylis playfully stuck out her tongue and made a cute face. However, her expression quickly turned to shock as she noticed something—Ironface, the man who held absolute authority in the arena, was walking straight toward their direction!

Besides Amylis, Taler’s group was also stunned into silence. The women around Vent and Boboka were flushed with excitement, barely holding back screams of joy. At this moment, only Linoa remained composed enough to notice that Zhang Wen hadn’t shown much surprise upon seeing Ironface. In fact, he seemed to have anticipated Ironface’s arrival, showing no sign of shock at all.

As Ironface approached Vent and Boboka, he slowed his pace, causing both men to grow even more excited. They exchanged a glance and hurriedly stepped forward.

“Master Ironface, it’s truly an honor to meet you! I’m Vent, an honorary gladiator of this arena.”

“My name is Boboka,” Wen Te and Boboka excitedly announced their names, extending their hands toward Tie Mian, the Iron-Faced.

“Hmm.” Tie Mian gave them a brief nod, his expression exactly as Zhang Wen had described—like he was wearing an iron mask, completely unchanging. However, his footsteps didn’t fully stop; he simply walked straight past the two.

When Taler saw Tie Mian walking directly toward him, he couldn’t help but feel ecstatic, nearly wanting to burst into laughter. Judging from Tie Mian’s direction, the person he was looking for could only be one of two people—either himself or Zhang Wen.

But how could Tie Mian possibly be looking for Zhang Wen? Taler found the very idea amusing. What connection could there possibly be between Tie Mian, a legendary gladiator of the Kemel Arena, and Zhang Wen, a nobody who hadn’t even managed to step into the second level of the arena? Tie Mian was definitely here for him!

Perhaps Tie Mian had seen his incredible performance during the honor gladiator challenge? Taler thought confidently. Clearly, Jina shared exactly the same thoughts as Taler. As Tie Mian approached, she once again seemed to lose all her bones, clinging tightly to Taler.

But Tie Mian acted as if he hadn’t even noticed the two of them, not even glancing their way as he walked past.

When Tie Mian finally stopped walking, Linoah, who had been carefully observing the surroundings, couldn’t help but glance toward Taler and the others nearby. In that instant, Wen Te and Boboka, the two honor gladiators, had already widened their eyes in astonishment. Jina and the women beside her, who had just been laughing heartily, were now staring with wide eyes and mouths slightly open, like chickens with their necks pinched.

As for Taler, his face displayed a strange mix of shock, jealousy, disappointment, and a heap of other negative emotions—an expression that made Linoah feel secretly satisfied.

However, Tie Mian didn’t care about what others might think. He walked straight to Zhang Wen and only then did he stop.

“Hey, Tie Mian! Long time no see. Have you been in retreat again recently?” Zhang Wen knew he couldn’t avoid the situation, so he could only smile helplessly. With both arms hugged by Linoah and Amelis, he simply nodded slightly toward Tie Mian as a greeting.

“Exactly. Hasn’t Almihus Academy been busy lately? You and your ‘friend’ certainly haven’t visited in a while. Regarding the technique your friend showed me last time, I’ve recently made some progress in studying it. Tell him I owe him a favor.” Tie Mian said, giving Zhang Wen a faint smile.

“Yeah. I don’t have it as easy as you do.” Zhang Wen replied with a slightly sentimental chuckle.

“Kemel Arena never gives anyone an easy time. Alright, don’t waste time here. Come with me. We have a small problem and need your friend’s help.” Tie Mian quickly noticed the unusual atmosphere around them. Frowning slightly, he turned and walked back toward the staircase he had come from.

This time, even Amelis and Linoah, who had been clinging to Zhang Wen’s arms, were greatly surprised. They had never imagined that Zhang Wen actually knew Tie Mian, the legendary gladiator of Kemel Arena, a warrior nearly on par with the Ten Strongest of the Empire!

But compared to Linoah and Amelis, Taler and his group were even more shocked. When they saw Tie Mian actually speaking to Zhang Wen, Wen Te and Boboka’s eyes were practically popping out of their sockets! The few companions who had been laughing with Jina moments ago instinctively turned their gazes toward her.

The mention of “Almihus Academy” made both Taler and Jina’s faces instantly pale, only to redden moments later! They could hardly believe their ears—Zhang Wen had actually entered Almihus Academy! After all, it was the sacred place in the hearts of everyone on the entire Kasares planet. And when Tie Mian later mentioned that he even owed a favor to Zhang Wen’s friend, Taler and his group almost all thought they were dreaming.

Zhang Wen noticed that Tie Mian had used the word “we” in his last sentence. Thinking for a moment, he smiled and gently pulled his arms free from Amelis and Linoah’s grasp: “I have something I need to handle alone. You don’t mind, right?”

“Don’t forget our date tonight!” Amelis, who already had a mission, muttered slightly before quickly leaving. But Linoah simply smiled faintly, leaned close to Zhang Wen’s ear, and whispered softly: “You’re not trying to get rid of me too, are you? You still owe me a favor. Take me with you, and we’ll call it even.”

“Oh?” Linoah’s words made Zhang Wen chuckle in slight surprise. It was only now that he remembered—Linoah, dressed in her familiar outfit and deliberately chasing him into the Kemel Arena, was probably still suspicious of his connection to the mysterious figure in the library that day, wanting to observe his reaction.

Putting all the clues about Linoah together didn’t take much thought—Zhang Wen quickly deduced her true intentions. However, today she was destined to be disappointed. Zhang Wen slightly lifted the corner of his mouth. Even as sharp as Linoah was, she probably couldn’t have predicted that his strength had improved yet another level in just these few days!

“What? You don’t want me to come?” As Zhang Wen was thinking, Linoah provocatively leaned closer. At this point, the distance between them was so small that Zhang Wen could almost feel the warmth radiating from Linoah’s chest through their clothes.

Hmph! Since this woman was so eager to discover his abilities, then by all means, let her try. After all, she was only bringing trouble upon herself. Still, this woman was indeed clever—she had set up quite the trap for him right from the start.

“Alright then. If you’re so interested, follow along.” Resolved, Zhang Wen gave Linoah a deep look before turning to follow Tie Mian. His unexpectedly easygoing attitude caught Linoah slightly off guard, but she merely hesitated briefly before smiling and following as well.

After leaving the first floor hall, Tie Mian didn’t go far. He waited on the staircase leading to the second floor. When he saw Zhang Wen appear with Linoah, Tie Mian’s expression remained unchanged, but Linoah could clearly sense his surprise.

“I owed Teacher Linoah a favor earlier. She told me that if I bring her up to watch a few matches, the debt will be cleared. I thought it was a pretty good deal.” Zhang Wen smiled and shrugged at Tie Mian.

“Fine. Follow me then.” Tie Mian nodded calmly. As long as Zhang Wen himself had no objections, he certainly wouldn’t mind having one more spectator for the upcoming matches.

“What’s the situation?” Zhang Wen, accompanied by Linoah, followed Tie Mian and quietly asked.

Zhang Wen clearly understood what Tie Mian meant when he said “we”—it meant that the bounty gladiators living on the highest levels of this arena had been provoked and were now furious.