Jin Country sent out a servant to participate in the third round of competition, which truly shocked the conventional.
All eyes were on the field at Zhongba, eager to see who the prodigy was, only to find a thin teenager about thirteen or fourteen years old.
With an ordinary appearance, he did not seem to have the air of a youthful genius.
The envoys from Jin closed their eyes, sighing deeply and frequently.
The envoys from Qi were polite in words, claiming that heroes do not ask about one’s background, yet their eyes could hardly conceal their amusent.
Who wouldn’t want to see their opponent make a fool of themselves?
The gong sounded.
The contest was about to begin.
Xing Daman passed by Feng Yun, his fingers clenched nervously.
"Madam..."
The young teenager, although he had received so training from Feng Yun recently, was still young and had never seen such a grand occasion. Looking at the dense ranks of the Imperial Guards and the envoys from two countries, facing well-known scholars and literati of the ti, nervousness was inevitable.
"Do not fear," said Feng Yun, her face unchanging as she looked at him, her gaze lowered, speaking a few words in a voice only the two of them could hear.
"Go ahead. Do not panic."
Xing Daman’s tense body relaxed, he took a couple of deep breaths and then proceeded to the competition field.
He faced Yan Buxi from Qi and gave a deep bow.
"Elder, I am from Xing Zhou, pleased to et your acquaintance."
Yan Buxi snorted and did not respond.
In his view, sending a wet-behind-the-ears youngster from Jin to compete against him was clearly knowing they were no match and intended as an insult. That he did not lose his temper on the spot was an act of great magnanimity.
Xing Daman did not let Yan Buxi’s cold reception affect his emotions...
After all, the other person was a notable figure, and having the chance to compete against Yan Buxi here was due to the lady’s blessing—how dare he have any complaints...
"Dong!"
The gong sounded abruptly.
Chunyu Yan glanced at the incense stick by the side of the field.
"The third round begins."
The barricade made by Qi was simply a bamboo fence about half human height, winding and erect on Zhongba like a maze.
Xing Daman and Yan Buxi each took their positions, starting to walk toward the center; at every corner was a small door with a sealed question hanging. They had to open it to read the question and then write down the answer.
At every point, an attendant from Yunchuan waited with the correct answers to the questions.
If answered correctly, you were allowed to pass and continue forward.
After the last question, one could claim the prize.
Perhaps because Xing Daman was a bit nervous, he was secretly reciting the mnemonics and formulas Feng Yun taught him in his mind, not expecting the first question to stump him.
"There are four bridges over Shagang River, three tall and one low. Last year, Shagang had three floods, subrging the three tall bridges each ti, but the short bridge only once. Why is that?"
This didn’t seem like a mathematical problem at all.
Xing Daman, sweating profusely from his forehead, couldn’t help but look towards Yan Buxi’s position, subconsciously thinking the other wouldn’t be stumped by this problem.
As for him...
Less experienced than Yan Buxi, if it were simple calculations with accounts, he could be quick, but this kind...
Xing Daman racked his brain, the more he thought, the more panicked he beca, his mind a complete blank, filled with annoyance.
anwhile, Yan Buxi on the other end passed swiftly through.
Seeing the young boy still hesitating on the spot, the watching crowd buzzed with discussion.
"What else is there to say? He doesn’t know how to solve it."
"Truly a straw man, pretending to be a mathematical genius. Is he aiming for the rewards from Empress Dowager Jin?"
"How can they send an ignorant child to compete against Master Yan..."
"Making a laughingstock of himself."
The comnts from the crowd faintly reached his ears.
Xiaoman, Daman, and the Ge brothers stood beside Feng Yun, their palms sweaty with anxiety for Xing Daman.
Puyang Yi looked at Li Sangruo’s changing complexion, her palms sweaty with tension, her heart about to leap out from her throat.
This was the matter she had assured in front of Empress Dowager Li, promising that Xing Daman was a mathematical genius without precedent or peer, even declaring General Wen couldn’t compare...
General Wen Xingsu also affird it on the spot.
Who would have thought he’d be stuck at the first barrier?
She stood behind Li Sangruo, her eyes endlessly signalling Feng Yun.
But Feng Yun was expressionless.
As if she hadn’t noticed the peril in the arena.
Puyang Yi couldn’t stand it any longer and sneaked over to ask Feng Yun.
"Madam, can this boy really do it? Don’t deceive ..."
This competition was of great significance; she would beco a sinner for all ti if she wasn’t careful.
Had it not been for overhearing General Wen Xingsu personally confirm Xing Daman’s mathematical talent last night, she wouldn’t have dared to bet so heavily, even if beguiled by his handso looks.
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