Chapter 252: Chapter 118: All Parties Gather (2)
Yang Jing hastily retracted his stance. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, but his eyes glittered with excitement.
He had learned far more from this sparring session than from all his drilling on his own.
"Keep practicing here. Carefully mull over the sensation you just felt," Sun Yong said. "If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me at any time. You don’t need to return to the front courtyard."
"Yes, Master." Yang Jing nodded, immediately centered himself, and once again began practicing the Mountain-Shattering Fist.
This time, he deliberately slowed his pace, carefully tracing the path of the Huajin energy as it circulated through his meridians and feeling its resonance with the air as it emanated from his body.
Sun Yong walked over to the covered veranda, picked up the teapot on the table, and took a long drink directly from the spout.
His gaze fell upon Yang Jing, and he marveled to himself. ’This disciple cultivates two different martial arts, and he’s even trained those Surging Tide Kicks to the Dark Energy level. Now that he’s just broken through to Huajin, his combat prowess is already this impressive. He’s far stronger than any ordinary Martial Artist who has just reached the Huajin realm.’
’What’s even more remarkable is that his physical durability seems a cut above that of a typical Huajin Martial Artist. He took several of my fist strikes head-on just now and actually managed to hold his ground.’
’Could it be that when he broke through to the Huajin realm, the Inner Strength’s Body Tempering also forged his physique to be this sturdy? But the effects of his Body Tempering seem a little *too* potent.’ Sun Yong mused.
Sun Yong put down the teapot and looked at his daughter, who was still in a daze. "Ning Xiang, prepare some food for lunch. Make sure to cook a few extra pounds of Rare Exotic Beast Meat and have your Junior Brother Yang stay and eat with us."
"Ah? Oh, okay." Sun Ningxiang snapped out of it and nodded quickly, but her gaze still couldn’t help drifting toward Yang Jing as he practiced in the yard. The shock she felt still hadn’t faded.
Just then, Yang Jing finished his set. He had been about to ask Sun Yong how to avoid losing power while circulating Huajin energy, but upon hearing his master’s words, he said, "Thank you, Master. I’ll just need to ask Jiang Haoyang to take a message to my family when he leaves, letting them know I won’t be back today."
Sun Yong waved his hand dismissively. "It’s no trouble. We’ll have him go later. And don’t just stay for lunch; stay for dinner as well. I’ll give you some more pointers so that you can unleash your full strength tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you, Master!" Yang Jing was overjoyed.
...
「The next morning.」
In the Inner City, the rear residence of the County Government was already bustling with activity.
The County Magistrate, Zhou Wenbin, was dressed in navy blue daily robes with a plain brocade jacket layered over them. He stood before a bronze mirror, adjusting his collar.
He had a lean face and sharp, spirited eyes that held the steady composure of a man long accustomed to a high station.
His wife, Lady Liu, dressed in a pale lavender gown, was helping their daughter, Zhou Ling’Er, with her hair. The little girl wore her hair in a double-loop bun today, adorned with two round pearls that made her small face seem all the more delicate and lovely.
"Father, are we really going to watch the duel?" Zhou Ling’Er tilted her face up, her eyes full of anticipation. "Last time you said you’d take me, but something came up and we couldn’t go. Nothing will stop us this time, right?"
She usually spent her days within the estate and rarely had the chance to go out for such a lively event, so she was naturally thrilled.
Zhou Wenbin turned and smiled. "Of course. The last time, it was because your mother was giving you a little brother. She can’t possibly be having another one this time."
Standing nearby, Lady Liu rolled her eyes at her husband and scoffed, "If you want more children, you can take a few more concubines. I’m done having them."
Zhou Wenbin laughed heartily. "The stakes for this duel between the Li Family and Sun’s Martial Arts Hall are quite high. Many of the county’s prominent figures will be in attendance, so it’s bound to be a lively affair. It’s the perfect opportunity to take the two of you out for some air."
Lady Liu smiled as well. "Ling’Er, you have to be well-behaved. No running around when we get there. Just watch carefully, alright?"
"I know, Mother!" Zhou Ling’Er replied dutifully, but she couldn’t hide the excitement in her eyes.
A moment later, the family of three emerged from the rear residence.
The steward, Zhou Zhong, already had a carriage waiting. It was a stately ebony carriage, not lavishly decorated but solid and reliable, drawn by two magnificent black horses.
Dozens of elite guards in black armor stood in formation on either side of the carriage. Each man stood ramrod straight with a composed, formidable presence, looking every bit the seasoned expert.
"My lord, my lady, young miss, please board the carriage," Zhou Zhong said with a deep bow.
Zhou Wenbin boarded the carriage with his wife and daughter. The guards immediately formed two columns to clear a path, and the carriage slowly pulled away from the County Government, heading toward Celestial Blessing Square in the Outer City.
The carriage’s interior was lined with thick brocade cushions, and in a corner, a small censer of Calming Incense burned softly.
Zhou Ling’Er pressed her face to the window, watching as the streets outside grew more and more lively, chattering away with an endless stream of questions.
"Father, who do you think will win the duel? The Li Family or Sun’s Martial Arts Hall?" she asked curiously.
Lady Liu chimed in, her voice gentle. "The way I see it, Sun’s Martial Arts Hall likely has the better chance of winning. That young man, Yang Jing, has already killed Li Qianxiong, the leader of the Flying Horse Thieves. He’s said to be practically unbeatable among Dark Energy Martial Artists. While the Li Family’s Li Mengchao is strong, he is ultimately only at the Peak of Dark Energy. He might not be a match for Yang Jing. In a duel between two major powers like this, it always comes down to the strength of their core experts."
Zhou Ling’Er nodded, her large eyes sparkling. "Mother’s right! I think that Yang Jing is amazing, too. Last time Father hosted a banquet for him here, I snuck a peek. Even though he just kept his head down eating the whole time, he still stood out. He has a very heroic air about him!"
She recalled the figure she had seen from afar that day. He wore black martial arts attire and was completely focused on his food, yet he possessed an air of steady composure, completely different from the foppish, preening young masters she was used to seeing.
"So, does that mean Sun’s Martial Arts Hall is going to win the match?" Zhou Ling’Er asked, tilting her head.
Lady Liu smiled and nodded, but then her brow furrowed slightly. She looked at Zhou Wenbin, a hint of confusion in her eyes. "Speaking of which, the stakes offered by each side are quite strange this time. The Li Family has put up a Purple Jade Pill, a Hundred Herbs Spirit Pill, Exotic Beast Meat, and ten thousand taels of silver—a total value approaching eighty thousand taels. On the other hand, Sun’s Martial Arts Hall is only offering a piece of Meat Lingzhi and two Precious Fish. The disparity is simply enormous."
