The martial competition was in full swing, and the sounds of fighting were practically constant.
However, because Zhou Zixing had not placed any restrictions on the strength of the combatants, no one had managed to win three consecutive matches to claim the first prize yet.
Zhuang Xun watched on with boredom. After all, the strongest combatants to step up so far were only of the Seventh Rank.
With his martial arts attainment, he could read the intentions of both combatants at a single glance. To him, their moves were riddled with flaws and utterly unexciting.
He wanted to leave, but felt it would be rude. After all, he had been seated for less than the time it took for an incense stick to burn, and Zhou Zixing was being incredibly hospitable.
Over on Bai Yujing's side, he was busy humoring the talkative Zhou Zixing.
Meanwhile, Yan Pingsheng was starting to feel a bit full. Out of sheer boredom, he grabbed a cup and began mixing a drink.
A splash of milk, a bit of osmanthus honey, uh... let's add some goat's milk too. What is this? Let's throw some in and see.
Yan Pingsheng searched the long table for ingredients. Eventually, he just added whatever caught his eye, ultimately concocting an unidentified liquid with a highly bizarre color and smell.
Staring at the foul-smelling liquid he had brewed, Yan Pingsheng pondered for a few seconds before sliding the cup in front of An Dafu.
“Here, drink this.”
“Drink it yourself,” An Dafu rolled his eyes, carefully pushing the cup back.
“Li Zigeng of the Wanxing Martial Academy greets you all! Please, show me your guidance!”
Oh? Zhuang Xun raised his head.
“Hahaha! Does Brother Bai know that young brother?”
Hearing Zhou Zixing's question, Bai Yujing nodded slightly. “We were once in the same courtyard.”
“Hahaha! Your academy truly produces many outstanding disciples.” Watching Li Zigeng swiftly dispatch his opponent, Zhou Zixing laughed heartily before sighing. “Brother Bai, you have no idea. Not being able to enter your academy to practice martial arts has always been one of my greatest regrets.”
Sitting in the second seat to the right, Zhou Ziruo rested her chin on her hand and smiled. “Brother, it's not too late for you to join even now.”
“Well... hahaha!” Zhou Zixing pondered for a moment, laughed heartily, and then clumsily changed the subject. “Come, Brother Bai, let me propose a toast to you!”
“Yujing cannot hold his liquor, so I shall substitute tea for wine.” Bai Yujing raised his teacup, offering a distant toast to Zhou Zixing. He then shielded his mouth and nose with his long sleeve and took a light sip.
“No matter, no matter! Bottoms up!” Zhou Zixing drained his cup in a gentlemanly, hearty fashion, then showed his empty cup.
...
Chen Jinzhu had been keeping her eyes on Bai Yujing in the side seat the entire time. Hearing their conversation, she immediately slapped the thigh of the girl beside her in excitement.
“Qing'er, tell me, if I also go down and fight, will Senior Brother Bai pay attention to me too?”
“You mustn't, Fifth Young Lady! You are of noble birth, so how can you personally enter a fight? Besides, everyone knows Junior Brother Li is one of your people. His fighting represents you. Senior Brother Bai paying attention to him is no different from paying attention to you.”
Chen Jinzhu felt a bit annoyed when she heard she couldn't fight, but she found the latter part of the reasoning sensible. She casually pointed at someone and said:
“You, go up and tell Li Zigeng that he is not allowed to step down until he loses, and he is absolutely not allowed to surrender. He must show off my prestige.”
“Yes, Fifth Young Lady.”
In the center of the hall, Li Zigeng had defeated two opponents in a row. Feeling his stamina flagging, he was about to step down when he heard the message brought by his peer. He had no choice but to keep fighting.
He took a deep breath and shouted, “Is there anyone else who would like to step up and exchange some pointers with me?”
“I will!”
The one who stepped up was a martial arts school disciple from a neighboring county, who also possessed Seven Stones of strength.
Li Zigeng fell into a disadvantage at the start due to his lack of stamina. However, after a hard-fought battle, he found a flaw in his opponent's moves and ultimately defeated him at the cost of a dislocated arm.
“Thank you for the match!”
“Hahaha! Impressive, impressive! As expected of a disciple from the Wanxing Martial Academy—so full of grit! You are the first one today to win three consecutive matches.” Zhou Zixing laughed and clapped, instructing his attendant behind him, “Ah Fu, bring the prize for this young brother.”
“Yes, Master.”
Li Zigeng accepted the prize with one hand. He looked back at Chen Jinzhu, stepping down only after receiving her nod of approval.
On his way back, he saw Yan Pingsheng and An Dafu smiling at him. He couldn't help but smile back before quickly suppressing his expression and continuing forward.
Watching Li Zigeng's departing back, Yan Pingsheng said to An Dafu, “Zigeng is really pushing himself too hard.”
“It's probably because Senior Sister Chen gave him a strict order. I saw him trying to leave after his second match, but then someone came over and whispered a few words to him before he continued. The sponsorship of a great family is truly not easy to hold,” An Dafu sighed.
“Indeed.”
Zhuang Xun recalled that there were also great families who wanted to sponsor him back then. Fortunately, he hadn't been swayed by greed and accepted.
...
“Not bad. Go to the accountant's office later to collect your reward,” Chen Jinzhu said indifferently.
“Yes, Fifth Young Lady!” Li Zigeng was delighted, and even the pain in his arm seemed to lessen significantly.
He calculated in his mind that with the Zhou family's prize this time, along with the Fifth Young Lady's reward, he would be able to temper his body to Nine Stones of strength even faster. He could then spend more time practicing low-tier martial arts, and perhaps stand a chance of promoting to the Upper Two Courts during the promotion assessment!
“Sss—” A sudden sharp pain from his arm cut off his train of thought.
Li Zigeng looked up and said carefully to Chen Jinzhu, “Fifth Young Lady, my arm... could I...”
“Go, go.”
Chen Jinzhu waved her hand dismissively.
Since Li Zigeng had won the first prize and earned her immense face in front of Senior Brother Bai, she was in a good mood. Thus, she did not reject his request to leave early to find a physician.
Having said that, Chen Jinzhu looked at Zhou Ziruo, casting her a provocative glare.
Sitting with a dignified posture, Zhou Ziruo smiled. She gestured to the maid behind her and whispered a few instructions into her ear.
Consequently, of all the people under Chen Jinzhu who stepped onto the stage after that, not a single one managed to make it past the first round.
...
“What a bunch of useless trash!” Chen Jinzhu cursed with a dark expression as she glared at the submissive crowd before her.
“Fifth Young Lady.”
Just as she was about to berate them further, Qing'er softly reminded her from the side.
Only then did Chen Jinzhu remember that Bai Yujing was also present. Gritting her pearly white teeth, she finally let out a cold snort to suppress her anger. Resting her pale hand, adorned with silver rings, against her face, she looked toward the field in a sullen mood.
After a while, she saw a disciple from a branch of the Zhou family secure a two-match winning streak. Her face instantly turned cold as she pointed at one of her subordinates.
“You, go up and defeat him! If you lose again, don't bother coming back!”
Me? Defeat him?
The selected Cui Youlin stared at the Zhou family branch disciple in the center of the hall, who had just displayed at least Eight Stones of strength. He then thought of his own strength of only Seven Stones, his mind instantly filling with questions.
Faced with Chen Jinzhu's increasingly cold gaze, he did not dare refuse. Steeling himself, he stood up.
“Yes.”
“Cui Youlin of the Wanxing Martial Academy is here to seek your guidance, brother!”
Once Cui Youlin stepped onto the field, he was utterly no match for the Zhou family branch disciple. He barely managed to exchange a few blows at the beginning, but after that, he was completely on the receiving end of a one-sided beating.
However, due to Chen Jinzhu's order, he did not dare surrender, enduring the beating with bitter struggle.
This Cui Youlin was in the same courtyard as Zhuang Xun, and they would usually greet each other when they met.
Seeing him beaten so miserably, Zhuang Xun felt speechless at how toxic Chen Jinzhu was. He controlled Bai Yujing to speak up and stop it:
“This is not a battle of life and death. Stopping at a touch is enough.”
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