Chapter 71: Chapter 71: The Fight Begins

“If you two masters can agree to this, I’m willing to offer a Kung Fu technique in exchange,” Leader Ma added.

Having spent years in the Jianghu, he knew he couldn’t hide his intentions forever. The Weiyuan Escort Agency needed two Martial Arts Scholars to take over, and Da Wu and Xiao Wu were currently the most promising candidates.

“Alright,” Tie Zhennan nodded.

He agreed in order to force Guo Wei’s hand. He wasn’t worried about Da Wu and Xiao Wu telling blatant lies—all that mattered was that he and Guo Wei could see for themselves whose disciples were stronger.

“And you, Master Guo?” Leader Ma asked urgently.

“Lin Guang and Hei Hu can spar with Da Wu and Xiao Wu. But even if they win, I won’t promise to teach Da Wu and Xiao Wu my Kung Fu. Whether I decide to teach them will depend on my mood.”

Guo Wei had his own pride and principles.

He was a master of every kind of martial art, so Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu had no need to seek instruction from anyone else.

“This…” Leader Ma felt a headache coming on.

Meanwhile, Tie Zhennan’s face darkened. Guo Wei’s aloof attitude was humiliating; it made his own offer of teaching Kung Fu seem cheap, as if he would give it away to just anyone.

“Well then, let’s just have them spar first!” Leader Ma said, trying to ease the tension.

“Hold on.” Tie Zhennan sensed something was off.

“Surely you’re not backing out, Master Tie!” Leader Ma goaded.

“If everyone is to spar with Da Wu and Xiao Wu, my disciples would have an advantage. So, I’d like to ask Da Wang and Xiao Wang: how many rounds can Master Guo’s two disciples last against you?” Tie Zhennan said meaningfully.

Da Wang and Xiao Wang exchanged a look. When Leader Ma signaled for them to answer, Da Wang cupped his fist and said, “Master Guo is an excellent teacher. It would take us eighty rounds at full strength to defeat them.”

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu remained silent, acknowledging the assessment.

Aside from their relatively poor Mounted Archery and Lance skills, Da Wang and Xiao Wang were exceptional in several other forms of Martial Arts. Even though Chu Lingguang had developed Skillful Force, if Da Wang used his full strength, Chu Lingguang could only hold out for about eighty rounds.

“And you, Da Wu and Xiao Wu?” Tie Zhennan asked.

Da Wu and Xiao Wu understood his intention. Da Wu cupped his fist and replied, “Liu Quan and Jin Shan are exceptionally talented. They can each last forty rounds against either of us brothers.”

“In that case, let my disciples fight Da Wang and Xiao Wang. If they can’t last ninety rounds against them, then it’s their loss. As for Master Guo’s disciples, as long as they can hold out for forty rounds against Da Wu and Xiao Wu, they’ll be considered unbeaten. What do you say?” Tie Zhennan proposed.

“Excellent, I agree,” Leader Ma said without the slightest hesitation. He had wanted Tie’s disciples to fight Da Wang and Xiao Wang anyway, as a way to test the brothers’ progress over the past two months.

“A magnanimous proposal, Master Tie. Very well.” Guo Wei knew he had gotten under Tie Zhennan’s skin.

’Still, Tie Zhennan’s proposal was acceptable. Liu Quan and Jin Shan were already familiar with Da Wu and Xiao Wu’s techniques, and their limit was forty rounds. Since Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu were facing them for the first time, lasting forty rounds would indeed mean they were unbeaten.’

’As for making Liu Quan and Jin Shan last ninety rounds against Da Wang and Xiao Wang, that was clearly a matter of pride. At the end of the day, Tie Zhennan simply believed his disciples were superior and wanted to one-up me on this. I’ll indulge him.’

Guo Wei would indulge him.

“Da Wang’s left shoulder is injured,” Hei Hu whispered, worried that Da Wang wouldn’t be able to use his full strength, giving Liu Quan and Jin Shan an unfair advantage.

“It’s just a scratch. Nothing to worry about.” Da Wang said, forcefully swinging his left arm. Tie Zhennan’s words had spurred the two brothers on. His earlier claim that Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu could last eighty rounds against them had been a conservative one; he still hoped to ask Guo Wei for pointers on Mounted Archery and the Lance in the future.

In an all-out fight, both Da Wang and Xiao Wang believed Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu could last seventy-five rounds at most. The fact that Tie Zhennan thought his own disciples could last ninety rounds against them was a clear insult to their strength.

“Then let’s begin!” Leader Ma urged, unable to wait and afraid the two masters would go back on their word.

Tie Zhennan pulled Liu Quan and Jin Shan aside to give them some serious instructions. Having seen Da Wang and Xiao Wang fight in the Martial Arts Examination, he gave his disciples a clear and simple breakdown of their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses.

He suggested that Jin Shan face Xiao Wang, and Liu Quan take on Da Wang.

“Yes, Master.” The two of them complied.

“You two, come here.”

Seeing the other side strategizing, Guo Wei also called Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu over, explaining Da Wu’s and Xiao Wu’s strengths and weaknesses to them in detail.

He then advised Chu Lingguang to face Da Wu. Da Wu specialized in the saber, and since Chu Lingguang had developed Skillful Force with his Spear Technique, his defense was quite strong. As long as he focused on defending, there was a high chance he could last forty rounds.

Meanwhile, Hei Hu would face Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu was equally skilled with both the spear and the saber. Guo Wei told Hei Hu to use his Saber Technique. He reasoned that Xiao Wu, conscious of his superior standing, would feel compelled to meet a saber with a saber. Although Hei Hu’s Saber Technique was not as good as Xiao Wu’s, he had the advantage of a quick and flexible mind. If he focused on maneuvering and stalling, he had a good chance of lasting forty rounds.

When Leader Ma saw this, he also called Da Wang, Xiao Wang, Da Wu, and Xiao Wu to his side. He had only one command for them: “Use your full strength and knock the weapons from their hands! Only then will Guo Wei and Tie Zhennan fulfill their promise and help you achieve good results in the Martial Examination!”

Whether Da Wu and Xiao Wu or Da Wang and Xiao Wang, all four were older than Chu Lingguang, Liu Quan, and the others. Their advantage was due entirely to having several more years of cultivation under their belts.

Leader Ma knew that Da Wu and Xiao Wu could only become Martial Arts Scholars with the wholehearted guidance of either Guo Wei or Tie Zhennan. As for Da Wang and Xiao Wang, while they were sure to pass this year’s Daoist Examination, they would need the two masters’ help to place in the top ten.

His Weiyuan Escort Agency needed Martial Arts Scholars as successors, and Da Wu, Xiao Wu, Da Wang, and Xiao Wang were the future of the agency. That was why he had so carefully orchestrated all of this.

“Yes, sir!” The four of them understood Leader Ma’s intentions and the heavy responsibility they shouldered.

And so, the three factions each harbored their own agenda.

Leader Ma fought for his legacy.

Tie Zhennan fought for his pride.

Guo Wei fought for the growth of his disciples, Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu. He cared for his reputation, too, but not with the same intensity as Tie Zhennan.

“I await your instruction!” Jin Shan stepped forward, cupping his fist at Xiao Wang.

He had become Tie Zhennan’s disciple two years ago and had developed Fist Force in just five months. While his talent might not have matched Liu Quan’s, it was certainly a cut above that of Hei Hu and Chu Lingguang.

At only sixteen, he was already nearly six feet tall, his body showing clear signs of Qi Blood Fullness. It was apparent he had not only received Tie Zhennan’s true teachings but had also consumed his fair share of Qi Blood Pills.

Combined with the fact he had started his training earlier than Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu, Tie Zhennan had high hopes for him, believing he could achieve a high rank in the Daoist Examination.

“Begin!” Seeing that Jin Shan carried a long saber, Xiao Wang chose a saber as well.

SWISH!

The two charged at each other, both having already achieved the Sword Sound with their blades.

CLANG!

Jin Shan opted for a direct, head-on clash, trading blows with Xiao Wang. As their long sabers met, the force of the impact made him shudder, yet his feet slid back less than an inch. This meant his Qi Power was nearly on par with Xiao Wang’s.

Chu Lingguang and Hei Hu stared in shock.

Xiao Wang, however, felt his pride had been wounded.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep