Chapter 255: Chapter 119: Cat and Mouse
Celestial Blessing Square, Central Plaza.
Sun Yong walked at the very front, his steps steady. His dark blue martial arts attire gleamed softly in the sunlight.
Behind him followed Yang Jing, Xu Hong, Qi Yun, and Zhao Wenzheng. Further back were Zhang Han, Luo Yun, Song Kang, and other Mingjin Disciples. The group’s imposing presence turned heads in the surrounding crowd.
The other disciples from the Martial Arts Hall who had come along dispersed at the edge of the plaza. Some found high stone steps to stand on, while others pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Every one of them looked both nervous and excited, their eyes fixed on the backs of their master and senior brothers.
"Hall Master Sun, I’ve heard much about you!"
"Master Sun, you look to be in high spirits today!"
Along the way, people continuously cupped their fists to greet Sun Yong. There were wealthy merchants, hall masters from mid-tier martial arts halls, and various high-ranking officials and dignitaries from the city.
Sun Yong wore a placid smile, returning each fist-cupped greeting. His tone was polite but dignified.
Others turned their gazes to Yang Jing and his companions, greeting them with smiles.
"Brother Xu, it’s been a few days. Your aura feels even more profound!"
"Miss Qi, you grow more remarkable by the day. I imagine your strength has improved again?"
"Young Hero Yang, long time no see."
Xu Hong, Qi Yun, and Zhao Wenzheng were all Hidden Strength experts. They either came from prominent families or had spent many years making a name for themselves in Yuhe County, so they were well-connected and smilingly returned the greetings.
Only Yang Jing, despite having the greatest reputation, had little contact with the outside world. When encountering unfamiliar people who greeted him, he would simply give a slight nod, his expression calm.
He had a naturally steady temperament, and after his breakthrough to the Huajin realm, his state of mind was even stronger than before. He showed no trace of ostentation in the face of the surrounding attention.
The group soon arrived before the viewing stands directly facing the dueling ring.
Wang Kui, who was in the front row, had already risen to his feet. With a smile on his face, he cupped his fist toward Sun Yong. "Hall Master Sun, I trust you’ve been well."
"You’re too kind, Hall Master Wang." Sun Yong returned the fist-cupped salute, then turned to the disciples behind him and made an introduction. "This is Hall Master Wang of Po Mountain Martial Arts Hall. Greet him."
"Greetings, Elder Wang," Yang Jing, Xu Hong, and the others said in unison, their attitude respectful.
Wang Kui’s gaze swept over the group, finally settling on Yang Jing.
His gaze held an undisguised scrutiny, as if trying to see right through him.
After a moment, he finally spoke slowly, his tone unreadable. "So this must be the Young Hero Yang? I’ve long heard of your great name. To be able to slay a vicious bandit like Li Qianxiong... truly a young man of great promise and extraordinary bearing."
The words sounded like praise, but the final tone lilted upward, carrying a hint of probing.
Yang Jing understood perfectly.
’The other man must suspect I’m involved in Shen Lie’s death.’
Previously, faced with such scrutiny from a long-famous Huajin Powerhouse, he would have inevitably been extremely nervous.
But now, the Huajin in his body flowed freely. The body tempered by the *Indestructible True Skill* was constantly improving his physical constitution, giving him a natural sense of confidence.
He met Wang Kui’s gaze openly and cupped his fist. "Elder, you praise me too highly. This junior was merely lucky."
It was a simple sentence, neither servile nor overbearing, showing neither a deliberate attempt to curry favor nor any sign of hostility.
A trace of surprise flashed in Wang Kui’s eyes. He hadn’t expected that this young man could be so composed in the presence of a Huajin Powerhouse like himself.
Yang Jing secretly circulated his Inner Strength, clearly feeling the power surging through his limbs and bones.
His *Mountain-Shattering Fist* had reached the Huajin realm, and his *Raging Wave Kick* had also reached the Hidden Strength realm. With the *Indestructible True Skill* as his foundation, his physical strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Huajin Martial Artist who had just broken through.
Even his master, Sun Yong, had said that his newly attained Huajin level was a cut above that of a typical Martial Artist who had just entered the realm.
’Although Wang Kui is a veteran Huajin Powerhouse, taking me down won’t be so simple.’
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Wang Kui, Sun Yong led his group to their seats in the front row of the viewing stands, to the right of the center.
According to the rules of dueling in Yuhe County, the centermost seat in the front row was reserved for the person of highest prestige or status. This person served not only as a spectator but also as a witness and peacekeeper, and both sides were required to abide by their judgment.
Today, that seat was naturally reserved for the County Magistrate, Zhou Wenbin, but it was currently empty.
Yang Jing and the other seven competing disciples stood in order to the side, their postures straight and tall, their gazes calmly fixed on the dueling ring ahead.
Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, spilling onto the black stone dueling ring and reflecting a cold glint, as if the stage were already stained with an invisible tension.
As time passed, more and more people filled the plaza, and the seats gradually filled up.
The upper crust of Yuhe County—wealthy magnates, various martial arts hall masters, and family patriarchs—arrived one after another. They inevitably exchanged pleasantries upon meeting, and a low murmur of conversation rose and fell across the viewing stands, occasionally punctuated by speculation about the upcoming duel.
For the most part, however, the majority favored Sun’s Martial Arts Hall. After all, Yang Jing had just recently killed Li Qianxiong and was currently at the height of his fame. Although Li Mengchao of the Li Family had taken first place in the recent martial arts examination, in the eyes of the crowd, he was not necessarily a match for Yang Jing.
Yang Jing’s gaze swept over the surrounding plaza. The sea of people was packed shoulder-to-shoulder, but he didn’t see his cousin, Yang An. ’Maybe Brother An is still on his way, or maybe he’s stuck in the back of the crowd, out of sight.’
As his gaze shifted, he did spot quite a few familiar faces.
Hall Master Liu Zhiyi of the Liu Family Medical Hall was seated in the third row on the left, conversing with an old man beside him. Not far away stood the medical hall’s steward and Guard Captain.
Jiang Haoyang was squeezed onto the stone steps at the edge of the viewing stands, waving at him energetically on his tiptoes, his young face flushed red.
Even a few of his neighbors from Tongyi Square were in the crowd, excitedly pointing in his direction and talking amongst themselves.
As his gaze swept idly over a back-row corner, Yang Jing paused. Zhao Yuman was actually sitting there.
