Novel Full Chapter 44: Instigation
Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Instigation
The Military Officer in charge of the assessment quickly assigned matchups for the fifty Martial Examination candidates.
Fang Yue was pitted against the man ranked thirty-eighth in the stone-lifting portion—a scruffy, mature-looking Martial Artist.
Judging by the rankings, this man’s stone-lifting result should be just over 1,100 jin.
That was a two-hundred-jin difference from his own score—a significant gap.
’This Martial Artist looks like he trained with blades or other weapons. Now that he has to use his fists, I doubt he can display much of his true strength.’
Fang Yue glanced at the man, judging his Martial Arts Styles by the calluses on the web of his thumb and other marks on his hands.
It couldn’t be helped. In the Martial Scholar assessment, those who specialized in weapon-based Martial Arts were at a disadvantage in a test of pure combat prowess.
However, if one was strong enough and ranked high in the stone-lifting portion, the difference in strength alone would be enough to nullify the disadvantage of switching from a weapon to fists.
After all, this was a new initiative by the Great Wei Dynasty’s court. The Martial Scholar assessment was simple, but it was also riddled with problems.
The candidates fought in pairs, with ten groups competing at a time.
Soon, it was Fang Yue’s turn.
He and his opponent stepped onto the dueling platform. After exchanging names, they began their pre-fight preparations.
"Wang Ren Armor of Chenwang Village. I ask for Martial Master Fang’s mercy."
Although Wang Ren Armor was ranked low, he didn’t seem worried in the slightest. In fact, he looked full of confidence.
After some brief preparations, Wang Ren Armor appeared eager to begin.
"Fang Yue of Da Liushu Village."
Fang Yue smiled faintly and returned the cupped-fist salute.
Once they were ready, the supervising Military Officer waved his hand, and the two immediately began to fight.
~~~~~~~
"Lord Liu, although this is the court’s first time holding the Martial Scholar assessment, Xiahe County is brimming with talent! The Martial Students have all performed exceptionally. This is all thanks to Lord Liu’s excellent governance!"
In the center of the viewing stands, an official with a white beard and hair chuckled as he bowed to Liu Zheng. Judging by the style of his official robes, he was a Civil Servant.
The fights themselves held little suspense; they were merely to determine the final rankings.
The officials of Xiahe County present were there only to supervise. In reality, most of them weren’t paying much attention to the duels.
"County Magistrate Zheng, if you have something to say, just say it," Liu Zheng said coldly.
Zheng Sancai stroked his beard, not taking offense at the harshness in Liu Zheng’s tone. He smiled and said:
"This method of one-on-one assessment, while it prevents excessive casualties, will inevitably lead to some who are dissatisfied with their rankings. They might harbor resentment toward you, my lord..."
Hearing this, Liu Zheng finally turned to look Zheng Sancai properly in the eye.
"Hmph. Later, if anyone is dissatisfied, they may challenge someone ranked higher than them. However, if they fail the challenge, their score will be nullified, and the next person in line will take their place."
"A brilliant decision, my lord! This way, it’s the best of both worlds. Truly brilliant!" Zheng Sancai was thick-skinned. He was clearly much older than Liu Zheng, but because the other man held a higher office, he laid on the flattery without a hint of a blush.
After his suggestion was accepted, Zheng Sancai straightened up and looked toward a certain gray-clothed candidate on the field, giving him a subtle nod.
~~~~~~
A short while later, Fang Yue and Wang Ren Armor’s duel reached its final moments.
Having familiarized himself with Wang Ren Armor’s moves, Fang Yue began to exert his strength. Within a few moves, he forced his opponent into a corner, exposing one opening after another.
He then unleashed a Hungry Tiger Descending the Mountain.
This punch was a killing blow from the White Tiger Fist, and its power was not to be underestimated.
His opponent was not as strong as him. If he took the punch head-on, he would surely be grievously injured.
But if he dodged, he would have no choice but to fall off the platform.
Whether he dodged or not, the outcome was already decided.
However, at this moment, Wang Ren Armor also seemed to understand his predicament. Seeing that victory was impossible, his heart turned vicious.
He took a deep breath and suddenly unleashed his power, disregarding the consequences.
Facing Fang Yue’s powerful attack, he neither dodged nor retreated. Clearly, he intended to block the blow with his own body.
At the same time, Wang Ren Armor’s own attack landed on Fang Yue.
It was a life-or-death gamble!
Fang Yue was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected the man to risk serious injury rather than dodge.
’But did he really think such a move could force me to retreat?!’
The man was already at a complete disadvantage. In a direct clash, Fang Yue’s fist would land first, instantly scattering his opponent’s strength.
That way, even if his opponent’s strike connected, it wouldn’t cause much damage.
BANG!
The next moment, Fang Yue’s fist slammed squarely into his opponent’s body.
Thirteen hundred jin of force erupted. Wang Ren Armor’s skin, which he had tempered to be as tough as cowhide, only managed to dissipate a fraction of the power.
Then, with a CRACK, the sound of breaking bones echoed.
Wang Ren Armor was sent flying.
"This match, Fang Yue wins!"
The supervising Military Officer announced the result without even glancing at the man who had been sent flying. As long as he hadn’t died on the spot, someone would carry Wang Ren Armor away for treatment.
It was foolish for someone like him, who couldn’t read the situation, to take such a risk when he clearly had no chance. He wasn’t young, and after an injury like this, he would never have another opportunity to participate in the Martial Examination.
Fang Yue walked off the platform with a blank expression and headed to the edge of the training grounds.
His gaze then fell upon a young man in gray robes who was currently fighting on one of the platforms.
And just then, the young man’s eyes seemed to sweep over him unintentionally.
Their eyes met for an instant before they both looked away.
Fang Yue couldn’t help but cough, his face paling slightly. ’So... was Wang Ren Armor’s suicidal punch your doing?’
Just now, he had seriously injured Wang Ren Armor.
But in truth, Wang Ren Armor’s final punch had also hit him.
However, just as he had expected, he had scattered Wang Ren Armor’s strength, and the force behind that last punch was less than three hundred jin.
Such force might easily injure or even kill an ordinary person.
But to the many Martial Masters participating in today’s assessment, it was nothing.
As long as it didn’t strike a vital point, it was a trivial injury that was neither painful nor itchy.
But when Wang Ren Armor’s fist had landed on him just now, it had reversed the flow of his Qi and blood.
Now, he felt an almost debilitating sense of weakness.
’Recalling how Wang Ren Armor had exerted his force, and that strange, clearly unfamiliar technique... I have a feeling he must have known the Qi and blood circulation pathways of the White Tiger Fist. And he could use a special method to strike its nodes, causing immense damage to anyone who practices it.’
’But that was something even I didn’t know. Because striking the Qi and blood circulation nodes wouldn’t normally produce such an effect. If it were that easy, who would dare to learn this Cultivation Technique?’
’The fact that Wang Ren Armor could use such a special technique clearly meant it wasn’t his own skill—someone had told him how to do it. In that case, his desperate attack just now was obviously on someone else’s orders!’
’Recalling Chen Cheng’an’s earlier words... could it have been orchestrated by that gray-clothed youth, who is also from the White Tiger Boxing Hall?’