Chapter 273: Chapter 147: Seed
"Huang Shun of D Building challenges Qin Fang of C-7. In accordance with Post House custom, a controlled martial arts spar will be held today at the north training grounds at the third quarter-hour of the morning’s second watch. Witness: Li Yao. Ninth day of the third month, Year of Yi Hai."
Reading the challenge notice, he paused for a moment, then said to the servant, "Understood. Report back to the Zhi Lu. I will be there on time to accept the challenge."
The servant acknowledged the order, bowed, and withdrew.
Qin Fang set the notice down on the table and sighed.
’It wasn’t in his nature to get drawn into this kind of pointless trouble.’
But he had no choice. Now that he was in the Post House, he had to play by their rules.
Besides, he had taken a stroll after dinner yesterday and had seen what it was like over at D Building. Even after dark, people were still lining up for food and hot water.
’They say happiness is all relative.’
Compared to that, things here in C Courtyard were far more comfortable.
’Oh, well. Sometimes you have to show your strength.
I just hope this means less trouble down the line.’
「Early morning, at the Post House’s northern training grounds.」
The area was a square clearing paved with bluestone, roughly sixty yards to a side. Its perimeter was marked by waist-high stone posts linked by thick hemp ropes.
A simple wooden platform stood on one side of the grounds, holding two empty wooden chairs.
Dozens of people were already gathered at the edge of the grounds, some standing and some sitting, all conversing in low tones.
The crowd was split into several groups.
The ones closest to the grounds were mostly Martial Artists from D Building.
Wang Qi, Brother Shen, and their companions were naturally among them, having secured a spot with a good view.
Huang Shun stood in a corner near the grounds with two companions. His eyes were closed, his breathing calm and steady as he composed himself.
Most of the crowd gathered in twos and threes, their gazes flickering between Huang Shun and the entrance to the training grounds, their eyes filled with a mix of curiosity and scrutiny.
The news that a newcomer had moved into C Courtyard yesterday, and that Huang Shun had immediately issued a challenge, had already spread throughout D Building. Now, they were all here for the show.
Farther back, a few individuals with a markedly different air stood scattered about.
Most were alone or with only one or two companions, and their attire was far more refined.
They stood with arms crossed or leaned casually against a wall, their expressions impassive. Their gazes would occasionally sweep over the grounds, betraying no emotion.
"So, you have time to spare today, Brother Lin? Is a challenge from D Building really worth your making a special trip to observe?"
Leaning against the eastern stone wall stood a young man in his early twenties. He wore a long robe of lake-blue brocade, a lustrous white jade pendant hanging from his waist, and his fingers were long and slender.
He had a naturally aloof air about him. As he gazed at the grounds, a soft chuckle from behind made him turn his head instinctively.
When he saw who it was, the young man’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I was unoccupied, so I thought I’d have a look," he said flatly. "And isn’t Brother Qian here as well?"
The person who had come up behind him was a slightly plump young man in an indigo silk shirt. It was hard to guess his exact age. His face was full of cheer, and his chubby features made him seem perfectly harmless.
He chuckled. "Oh, I’m not just here for a casual look. I just got word that someone from an Outer Mansion arrived at the docks yesterday. Not even twenty years old, but already at the Huajin realm. Tributor Yun personally approved his entry into the Post House’s C Courtyard. I imagine that’s who we’re waiting for, so of course I had to come see for myself."
If Qin Fang had been there to hear this, he would have been utterly dumbfounded.
He had only arrived in the city yesterday, yet it seemed details about him were already known to certain people.
The young man, Lin, felt his pupils contract. He narrowed his eyes. "Not even twenty?"
"That’s what the report said."
The young man, Qian, nodded with a gentle smile. "It seems... the competition for a ’True Inheritance seed’ spot... has gained another strong contender."
The young man, Lin, subconsciously glanced at the empty platform. After a moment of silence, he said, "The Wan Tong Commerce Association truly has an unparalleled information network. Thank you for telling me."
"The man made no effort to hide his tracks. Plenty of people saw him on his way here, and then he was personally approved by Tributor Yun. The news will be common knowledge soon enough, so it’s nothing special."
The young man, Qian, waved his hand dismissively. Seeing the contemplative look on the other’s face, he chuckled. "Still, the competition for these ’True Inheritance seed’ positions is growing more intense. Are you feeling the pressure, Brother Lin?"
Hearing this, Lin’s brow furrowed. "The Martial Arts Examination has always been a race where a thousand ships vie for the lead, each displaying their own Divine Techniques," he said coolly. "One person more or less makes no difference to me. What pressure is there to speak of?"
"Such spirit!"
Brother Qian gave a thumbs-up in praise. "As expected of the Qilin Child of the Lanyang Lin Family’s younger generation. A perspective like that puts the rest of us to shame. However..."
He paused, then gestured with his chin toward a spot in the distance. "Perhaps some other people are already feeling the pressure," he said with a low chuckle.
Lin followed his gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly.
He recognized a few familiar figures among the crowd—all of them Huajin Powerhouses. It seemed they had also received the news and hurried over.
A flicker of understanding crossed his eyes.
’The prospect of a True Inheritance seed spot really is a powerful lure.’
As he was lost in thought, two Black Armored Soldiers approached from the direction of the Zhi Lu and stepped onto the wooden platform. One of them was Chief Li, the very man who had admitted Qin Fang the previous day.
His gaze swept over the crowd below. He said nothing, simply waiting in silence.
The other Soldier placed an hourglass on the edge of the platform. Nearly half the sand in the top bulb had already fallen.
As the appointed time drew near, Huang Shun opened his eyes. His gaze was sharp as lightning as he stared at the entrance to the training grounds.
Right on time, Qin Fang appeared.
He was still dressed in the same faded, blue martial arts attire. His stride was steady as he passed through the crowd, which parted for him, and walked directly to the edge of the grounds.
Seeing Qin Fang, Chief Li nodded and finally spoke.
"By Article Seven of the Post House regulations, Huang Shun of D Building challenges Qin Fang of C-7 to a martial arts spar on these grounds. There are three rules. One: the use of poison, Hidden Weapons, and forbidden substances is prohibited. Two: a contestant loses if they are down for a count of ten breaths, verbally concede, or step outside the rope boundary. Three: this is a controlled spar. Intentionally maiming or killing an opponent is strictly forbidden. Violators will be punished severely under Post House law. Do you both understand?"
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