In this head-on confrontation, the outco between the two was imdiately clear.
"Puh!"
Xu Xiu spat out blood and staggered back, almost losing his grip on his spear.
The young man only turned pale, his body leaning back, but quickly steadied himself and charged again, thrusting the spear tip towards his opponent's throat.
Seeing that Xu Xiu was about to et his end, a silver spear intervened in front of the spear tip, causing the young man to leap back with just a shake.
"Enough."
Xu Seng stood in the middle of the arena, spear in hand, looking across:
"Senior brother, back then when the master passed on the position of Martial Arts Hall Master to , it explained everything. You coming back now changes nothing."
"That was his senility." The crowd parted as a middle-aged man with a lean figure and strikingly red eyebrows stepped forward:
"Back then, you were no match for , and your son is no match for my disciple. Why should the position of Martial Arts Hall Master go to you and not ?"
"What do you want?" Xu Seng stepped forward, an evil qi emanating from his face:
"Cai Jiuyuan, do you really think Xu has any fear of you?"
"Clatter..."
As his voice fell, the martial arts academy disciples rushed out from behind him, taking up a large space, their spears pointing directly at the master-disciple duo opposite.
"What's this?"
Cai Jiuyuan looked on coldly, unafraid:
"Planning to bully us with numbers?"
"Junior brother."
He looked at Xu Seng and slowly said:
"The duel between us back then was interrupted by the master and never concluded. I've always been disgruntled by him passing the Martial Arts Hall to you."
"How about we have another match?"
"..." Xu Seng squinted.
"Father." Xu Xiu's face changed drastically as he gently tugged at his father's sleeve:
"Don't."
"What's wrong?" Cai Jiuyuan laughed lightly with disdain:
"Afraid!"
"Alright." Xu Seng raised his voice:
"When?"
"Three days from now." Cai Jiuyuan's eyes glinted coldly:
"Right here, with a life-and-death agreent set!"
"Agreed."
Ignoring Xu Xiu's obstruction, Xu Seng nodded in agreent.
'So, it's a brotherly falling out situation, but for Cai Jiuyuan to dare to challenge, he must have so skill, though it seems he still hasn't attained True Qi.'
'If he had attained True Qi, he wouldn't bother wasting words with Xu Seng.'
Fang Zheng lowered the carriage curtain, deep in thought:
'Xu Seng's spear technique is comndable. According to Du Sheng, Master Du, the Thunderbolt Spear heritage is quite remarkable, considerably superior to Pan She Martial Arts Hall's martial arts.'
'Furthermore, it might have a Dharma Gate for subsequent True Qi cultivation, so his willingness to accept the challenge suggests he thinks he has a chance.'
'Hmm…'
"Barehanded, I should be a bit stronger than Xu Xiu and that young man, but not by much. A real fight would be hard to predict."
"However, if I wield a blade and execute the One-Character Heart-Clearing Slash, even against soone like Xu Seng, the Martial Arts Hall Master, I would have a solid chance."
"Alas, it's hard to maintain for long."
He was quite aware of his current prowess.
*
*
*
"In the north, there is a maiden, peerless in all the world!"
In the parlor.
Liu Qinghuan swirled her long sleeves gracefully as she spoke, her voice clear and resonant like flowing water, silently yet irresistibly flooding into one's heart.
"A single glance conquers a city, another glance conquers a nation."
She moved her steps lightly, her body swaying, her exquisite face gleaming seductively in the candlelight, her beautiful eyes as clear as autumn water.
A sight to stir the heart.
The sound of the zither arose, lodious and lingering, blending with the song, not overshadowing it at all, but rather enhancing Liu Qinghuan's ethereal recitation.
"Nonetheless, not knowing if a city's fall or a nation's, never would such beauty be found again!"
Long sleeves fluttered, dancing in the air, as the woman swayed elegantly within, like a picturesque wonderland.
"Clap!"
"Clap!"
Fang Zheng clapped his hands in admiration:
"Bravo!"
"What a splendid dance and music! The coordination between you two is flawless. My eyes and ears have been blessed beyond asure today."
"It's Young Master Fang's lyrics that are outstanding, and the choreography excellent." Jin Shu gently pressed the zither strings and slowly said:
"In the north, there is a maiden, peerless in all the world. What kind of woman could evoke such sentint in Young Master Fang to compose such a piece?"
"Certainly not I." Liu Qinghuan giggled softly:
"If soone could write a poem like this for , it would be worth dying for."
Her voice carried a profound sense of appreciation.
Jin Shu tilted her head, her beautiful eyes flickering beneath the thin veil.
She understood Liu Qinghuan's temperant; perhaps due to experiences in her youth, she harbored an inexplicable admiration for n's talents rather than appearances.
In contrast, she wasn't particularly impressed by handso looks.
Initially,
those who could make her willingly dance were all renowned scholars of the ti. Alas, while she was willing, they were indifferent, leaving her heart slowly cold.
Yet she was still utterly defenseless against beautiful poetry.
"Miss Liu, you overpraise."
Fang Zheng chuckled:
"With your looks, saying it could conquer a city wouldn't be an exaggeration. I heard this tune from soone else. If you like, you can keep it."
"Heard it from soone else…" Liu Qinghuan giggled:
"Young Master Fang knows quite a few people, indeed."
She didn't believe it at all; hearing one or two songs might be explainable, but there were more than just a couple of masterpieces he ntioned, all well-crafted.
If such works were widespread, how could she possibly never have heard of them?
She thought for a mont, then spoke crisply:
"I wonder if Young Master Fang has heard other poems praising won. If one suits , that would be perfect."
This Maiden's Song indeed was impressive; however, her own looks were more on the side of charming and lovely, unlike Jin Shu's more seductive allure that could conquer a city with a smile."
"Once I hear sothing, I'll be sure to let you know."
Fang Zheng raised his cup, about to take a celebratory drink when his ears twitched, frowning as he looked outside.
"There's unrest again."
Jin Shu sighed softly:
"We've traveled south from Kyoto, passed by flourishing Prefecture City, through the land of abundance, and even stepped foot in desolate and devastated places."
"It seems…"
"Nowhere is peaceful."
"Indeed." Liu Qinghuan seated next to Jin Shu, curiously asked:
"Gu'an County has been stricken by disaster in recent years; it's normal for the people there to live difficult lives. But why are people in such prosperous places equally miserable?"
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