Chapter 165: Chapter 163: Dotting the Eye! Don’t Disturb My Young Master’s Amusement
Fu Juemin handed the gleaming gold "Champion" token to Yang Lie.
The latter took it with both hands, a smile on his face as he slowly said, "Thank... you, Young Master Fu."
His posture was respectful, but his handsome, slightly raised face was veiled by an indescribable, cryptic expression.
Fu Juemin seemed completely oblivious to the strange look on Yang Lie’s face. He just waved his hand casually and said, "Hurry up... Next."
The tokens were handed out one by one. When it came to the "Third Place Scholar" token, the man named Zhang Yi looked at Fu Juemin, his eyes hesitant and his lips twitching as if words were stuck in his throat.
But in the end, he just silently accepted the token and turned to leave the stage.
Fu Juemin continued to award the tokens, pausing slightly when he reached the "Second Champion" token.
Liu Songyang, who had once taken a palm strike from him, stood before him. Compared to the other five, he was not only much younger but also seemed simple and reserved.
"You won a spot. Is your master happy?"
Fu Juemin spoke to him during the brief moment of handing over the token.
Liu Songyang was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Mostly... he’s happy."
Fu Juemin glanced down at the crowd and saw the group from Five Victories Boxing Hall squeezed into the front, peering in their direction. When they saw him look over, the group of teenage boys immediately began to wave excitedly. Only Ye Zhenren had a look of unconcealed awkwardness, but he still forced a smile and nodded at him.
"Don’t learn from your master’s temperament."
Fu Juemin looked away, pressing the token into Liu Songyang’s hand. His voice was calm.
"Five Victories Martial Arts Hall is sure to have more trouble in the future, and I can’t always be there to watch over you."
"I’ve given you the token, but whether you can hold onto it... that’s up to you."
After speaking, he reached out and gently patted Liu Songyang’s shoulder. "Do you understand what I mean?"
Liu Songyang’s body trembled slightly. He stared intently at Fu Juemin, and something seemed to ignite in his once-dull eyes.
After a long moment, he took a deep breath and replied in a heavy voice, "I’ll remember... Senior Brother."
Fu Juemin nodded slightly and waved for him to leave the stage.
With the six gold tokens of honor awarded, all that remained was to distribute the prize money. From the Champion on down, the prize money was fifty thousand, thirty thousand, and ten thousand, with the remaining prizes ranging from five thousand down to one thousand.
The amounts sounded impressive, but they were only written on a few thin wooden plaques. Only heaven knew if the money would ever actually end up in the winners’ hands.
The prize money was presented by representatives from various circles. Even though it was just a display of a few worn wooden plaques, the common folk in the crowd, there for the spectacle, erupted in frenzied cheers.
Every time a prize amount was announced on stage, a thunderous roar of approval came from below.
Fu Juemin had seen plenty of such theatrics before and watched from the side, utterly bored.
Finally, after the prizes were all handed out, the lively sound of gongs and drums rose to build excitement. Fu Juemin yawned and was about to stand up from his seat.
"We’re done here, right? If there’s nothing else... I’m leaving."
"Don’t be hasty, Young Master Fu."
He had just finished speaking when Zheng Jicang walked up to him with a grin and said softly, "This competition... isn’t quite over yet. There’s still one more procedure."
"We’ll have to trouble you, our Martial Sacrificial Officer."
"Oh?"
Fu Juemin raised an eyebrow and leaned back in his chair. "What other procedure?"
Zheng Jicang’s smile deepened, but there was no warmth in his eyes. "According to the rules, after the new Martial Champion is decided, the Martial Sacrificial Officer must personally take the stage to offer him some pointers."
"This battle is called—the ’Finishing Touch Battle.’ The name... well, it comes from the auspicious saying, ’a new dragon ascends, dotting the eyes to bring it to life’..."
"How come I’ve never heard of this rule before?"
Fu Juemin couldn’t help but frown.
"In previous years, the invited Martial Sacrificial Officers were all dignitaries from various circles who knew nothing of martial arts. How could they compare to Young Master Fu, who is so accomplished in both scholarly and martial pursuits?"
"Even if they wanted to perform this procedure, it would have been impossible."
Zheng Jicang smiled meaningfully. "But this year is different. With Young Master Fu here, this Martial Arts Association will surely be the most successful and complete one in recent years!"
Before Fu Juemin could react, Zheng Jicang turned, raised the Copper Trumpet in his hand, and his voice suddenly boomed across the entire venue: "Prepare for—the Finishing Touch!"
As he finished, it was as if a signal had been given—the gongs and drums suddenly grew frantic, and the lion dancers tumbled about with ever more wild and joyful energy.
People quickly ran onto the high platform, clearing the stage where the Heaven-Supporting Drum had just been beaten and began setting up a martial arts arena instead.
The several Martial Champions who had received their Gold Tokens and "prize money" were led off the stage, leaving only the Martial Champion, Yang Lie, standing alone in the center.
Zhao Tianpeng had appeared on the stage at some point and was now standing beside Yang Lie, whispering in his ear.
Yang Lie stood tall and straight, listening and nodding, an impeccable faint smile fixed on his handsome face. His eyes, however, were locked on Fu Juemin in the center of the main platform, and a cold, sharp glint would flash in their depths from time to time...
Everything unfolded swiftly and methodically, as if it had been rehearsed countless times.
Leaving no room for objection, no room for refusal.
News of the "Finishing Touch" also spread like wildfire through the crowd.
The people, who had thought the grand event was ending, instantly erupted!
....
"What? The new Martial Champion is challenging the Martial Sacrificial Officer? The Finishing Touch Battle?!"
"Those two are going to fight another match?"
"Excellent, excellent! Standing here all morning wasn’t a waste after all!"
The world is never short of people who love a good spectacle. Hearing that there was another duel between experts, the crowd immediately burst into heated discussion, the atmosphere growing fever-hot.
Amidst the crowd of onlookers, the group of teenage boys from the Five Victories Boxing Hall looked at each other in blank dismay.
"Senior Brother Fu has to go on stage?"
"It seemed like... he had no idea just now?"
"That Martial Champion looks so fierce. Will Senior Brother Fu be at a disadvantage?"
"Master!..."
Ye Zhenren’s face was grim. His eyes scanned the surroundings, as if looking for a handy weapon.
Finding nothing, he remained silent and slowly began to roll up his sleeves, layer by layer.
Seeing this, Xing Ergou, who was standing nearby, couldn’t help but ask, "Master, you’re not thinking of going on stage in Senior Brother Fu’s place, are you? That... That would be against the rules, wouldn’t it?"
"How can the position of Sacrificial Officer be substituted?"
Ye Zhenren shook his head, his hands never ceasing their motion. "That Martial Champion, Yang Lie, is strong, but with Lingjun’s power, I’m not worried about him being bullied on stage."
"I’m just afraid... this whole thing seems to be aimed specifically at him, and with Lingjun’s temperament..."
Ye Zhenren raised his head, his gaze passing over the noisy crowd to land on a gray-haired, gray-robed old man on the main platform. He muttered to himself.
’If Lingjun goes on that stage, this matter will definitely not end well.’
’Unrivaled Fist and Palm Zhou Feibai... there were rumors years ago that he had already reached the Half-step Gratitude realm... I wonder if I can even block him?’
.....
Beside the now-prepared arena, among the group of new Martial Artists who had received tokens, everyone except for a bewildered Liu Songyang, who still hadn’t grasped the situation, was either standing with their arms crossed or wearing a cold sneer. They all looked as if they had anticipated this and were just waiting for the show to begin.
Zhang Yi stood at the edge of the crowd, watching the figure on stage being held captive by countless gazes—a figure being half-cajoled, half-deceived, half-forced, and half-invited. A fierce light flickered in his eyes.
After a moment of internal struggle, his expression turned grim. As if he had finally made up his mind, he lifted his foot to storm the stage.
But he had just taken a single step when a huge, heavy hand, like an iron pincer, gently pressed down on his shoulder.
Zhang Yi spun around abruptly.
A giant of a man, built like an iron tower, was standing behind him. Zhang Yi recognized him at a glance—it was the Tongxuan Realm expert he had crossed hands with on Training Ground Street.
Now, the more-than-two-meter-tall giant was looking down at him, his face expressionless. In a deep, steady, and slow voice, he said, "Just stand there quietly. You wouldn’t want to disturb... my Young Master’s entertainment."
"Uh..."
Zhang Yi froze. For a moment, he couldn’t quite comprehend what the man meant.
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