Chapter 237: Chapter 226: The Mighty Dragon and the Local Snake (Part 1)
The other patrons stopped their conversations and turned their gazes to Zhong Yewu. Anyone could tell that Little Moustache was deliberately looking for trouble.
Even a mighty dragon can’t crush a local snake. Though Zhong Yewu was furious, he hadn’t lost his head.
He narrowed his eyes, sizing up Little Moustache, and said in a low voice, "That’s quite a stretch, don’t you think? I’m still asking about the price. Is it your turn?"
Zhao Lin walked to Zhong Yewu’s side, and Xiang Bao and Li Liang followed.
"What’s going on?"
Xiang Bao asked in a low voice. He had been standing farther away and wasn’t sure what was happening.
"They probably recognized that we’re from Great Yue and want to provoke us."
Zhao Lin said calmly.
At this point, five disciples from the Lotus Sect also walked over, creating a tense standoff between the two groups.
Little Moustache had already seen that among Zhong Yewu’s group of four, three were in the early Blood Realm, while only Zhao Lin was at the First Layer of the Blood Realm.
His own side had the upper hand in both numbers and cultivation, so he felt completely confident. "You’ve been hemming and hawing for ages," he said dismissively, "but you haven’t said you want to buy it, nor have you even asked the price. For all we know, you’re just shooting the breeze."
Xiang Bao had a fiery temper and was about to explode with anger, but Zhao Lin clapped him on the shoulder, signaling him not to be impulsive. Zhao Lin then took a step forward and announced loudly:
"Everyone, this is our first time in Xiuzhao. We have heard that Xiuzhao, like the Great Yue of the Central Plains, is a land of propriety."
"I didn’t realize its reputation was so overblown. To think you don’t even understand the simple principle that a gentleman does not take what another covets."
He finished with a disappointed shake of his head.
Little Moustache was so taken aback he was speechless, frozen in place for a moment.
Just then, someone behind him sneered, "We’re martial artists, why bother with so many rules? You want to buy it, right? Fine! Go on, ask the shopkeeper if he’ll sell it to you."
Hearing this, Little Moustache immediately perked up. He pointed at the clerk and demanded, "You! Tell us, who are you selling it to?"
"Ah..."
The clerk was just an ordinary person who couldn’t afford to offend either side. How could he dare answer such a perilous question? He stammered, "This... I... I don’t know."
Little Moustache said smugly, "See? The shopkeeper didn’t say he’d sell to you, either."
"Enough talk. Since we’re all martial artists, let’s settle this the martial artist’s way. Hand Pushing!"
Several other Lotus Sect disciples chimed in, "That’s right, Hand Pushing! Whoever wins gets it."
"Do you dare?"
Zhong Yewu was taken aback. He hadn’t expected them to make such a proposal.
Hand Pushing is a way for martial artists to spar.
The rules are simple: the two competitors stand face to face and push out with one palm at the same time. Whoever moves loses.
If both move, then the one who takes fewer steps back wins.
There is only one restriction: the force must be contained and not released, to prevent injuring the opponent or bystanders.
This method of competition is relatively refined, so it is also called a "civil duel."
"Fine, a match it is!"
Zhong Yewu could see that Little Moustache was at the First Layer of the Blood Realm, but he cultivated the Golden Bell Force, which specialized in strength. He wasn’t afraid at all and agreed immediately.
"If I win, the mother-and-son swords are mine."
"Fine, it’s a deal!"
Little Moustache let out a sneer, thinking his plan had succeeded.
When the onlookers heard this, their interest was piqued. They all gathered around, clearing an open space in the middle for the two to compete.
Zhong Yewu strode into the center of the ring and said to Little Moustache, "State your name."
Little Moustache announced proudly, "Lotus Sect, Huang Ye."
Zhong Yewu replied just as crisply, "Xingyun Sect, Zhong Yewu."
The two stood facing each other and took their stances. Little Moustache pointed a finger at the clerk from before and said, "You, come over here and count."
The clerk had been quietly trying to slip away but was caught. With a pained expression, he walked back, pinched his own thigh hard, and shouted, "One, two, three!"
The moment his voice fell, Zhong Yewu and Little Moustache pushed out with a palm simultaneously.
As their palms met, Zhong Yewu’s body swayed, but his feet didn’t move an inch.
Little Moustache, however, tilted back, lost his footing, and took a step back.
"You let me win."
Zhong Yewu smiled faintly and exchanged a look with Zhao Lin and the other two.
Little Moustache’s face changed drastically. He had assumed his cultivation was a layer higher and that this would be an easy victory. He never expected Zhong Yewu to not only be as strong as an ox, but also for his force to be of the metal attribute, which perfectly countered his own Wood Attribute True Qi.
The instant their palms met, his opponent’s force had surged into his body like a long spear, leaving his palm stinging and his arms numb.
Zhong Yewu’s smile vanished. He held out his hand to the clerk and said, "Bring me the swords!"
"Wait!"
Losing face, Little Moustache gritted his teeth and said, "I wasn’t using my full strength. Let’s go again."
Zhong Yewu’s expression darkened. He shot him a sidelong glance. "What was it you said before?"
Little Moustache argued slyly, "I said if I lost, the items were yours, but I never said how many rounds we’d play. Let’s make it best two out of three."
Zhao Lin secretly shook his head. ’Hand Pushing isn’t like a fistfight. It’s a contest of pure force. If you lose once, you won’t win by trying again.’
Zhong Yewu naturally understood this as well. He sighed deliberately. "Fine. I’ll keep going until you’re convinced."
The two took their stances again and had another match.
The result was the same: Zhong Yewu won again, and this time even more decisively. He sent Little Moustache staggering back, nearly making him fall.
The onlooking Lotus Sect disciples felt they had lost face. Their expressions turned sour, but not a single one dared to step forward.
Although some among them were also at the First Layer of the Blood Realm, their Hand Pushing skill wasn’t even as good as Little Moustache’s. They knew they were no match for Zhong Yewu.
Xiang Bao felt vindicated and couldn’t resist jeering, "Want to go again? How about we make it best three out of five?"
At his words, someone in the crowd couldn’t help but chuckle.
Little Moustache was livid, his face turning pale and then red with fury.
Zhong Yewu laughed heartily and once again said to the clerk, "Bring me the swords!"
The clerk didn’t dare move, mumbling to himself, unsure what to do.
"Hold on!"
A young man with the long arms of an ape and the narrow waist of a wasp stepped out from the crowd. He had sharp eyes, a straight nose, and thin lips. Embroidered beneath the collar on his left shoulder were three stalks of green bamboo.
"Senior Brother Taiqing!"
The spirits of the Lotus Sect disciples lifted, and they called out in excitement.
The young man named Taiqing walked slowly up to Zhong Yewu, cupped his fists in greeting, and said, "I am Li Taiqing. A pleasure to meet you."
His every movement revealed abundant Qi and Blood, exposing his cultivation at the Second Layer of the Blood Realm.
Zhao Lin’s heart stirred. ’There are two major sects in Xiuzhao: one is the Lotus Sect, and the other is the Cyan Bamboo Sect.’
’This young man, Li Taiqing, has three green bamboos embroidered on his chest. He must be from the Cyan Bamboo Sect. Since they are both sects from Xiuzhao, it’s no wonder he’s stepping up for the Lotus Sect.’
Zhong Yewu saw his opponent’s cultivation level, and his heart gave a lurch.
’A one-layer difference in realm is one thing, but a two-layer difference is much harder to overcome. Besides, his calm expression shows he came prepared.’
"Isn’t it a bit much to gang up on me one after another? Besides, what does this have to do with you?"
Li Taiqing smiled faintly. "Our friends from Great Yue have come from afar. It’s just a friendly martial arts exchange, no harm done, right? How about this: regardless of whether you win or lose, the mother-and-son swords are yours!"
Zhao Lin frowned slightly. ’This man’s words sound noble,’ he thought, ’but he’s actually a cunning schemer.’
’If Zhong Yewu refuses the challenge, he’ll look like a coward. But if he fights and loses, could he really take the mother-and-son swords without shame?’
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