Chapter 511: Which Is More Beautiful?

The sunlight turned orange, and the lotus leaves swayed.

Otter Kai stood on a pond stone, his blue nose raised, one claw extended, spinning once around to display his heroic deeds to the Water Beast General.

One breath, just one breath away.

The bronze medal is in hand.

Little River Otter clasped his paws together, eyes filled with admiration, regarding Otter Kai's blue nose as a symbol of strength.

The Great River Beaver had no interest in what medal Otter Kai held—gold, silver, or bronze—he'd often found them in the Great Marshes, collected piles of them. He flicked his tail, hugged the square wooden block, and pondered where to start gnawing.

Fat Catfish's eyes gleamed, deeply tempted, eager to claim the title of strongest.

He stole a glance at the "Cannot Move" creature crawling out from the wall's shadow, chasing the sunlight.

This fiend pretends loyalty but is truly treacherous, spouting flattery worse than the eunuch Bai Awei!

He has once again surpassed me, receiving the Heavenly God's enlightenment!

If I claim the title of strongest, I will lead them and earn the Heavenly God's special attention!

Alas, I have no hands or feet, unable to climb ashore and touch the pillar.

I missed a great opportunity!

Fat Catfish sighed heavily, curled his whiskers around a dandelion growing in the crevice of the pond stone, and blew it into a bare stalk.

A faint sorrow lingered.

It drifted away with the wind.

"Touch the pillar, take the jade medal?"

The old toad sat on a round stone, his bulging belly pressed down, lost in thought.

"What is the value of a jade medal?"

Otter Kai froze, clutching his whiskers tightly, straining to recall.

During the queue, he remembered the villagers discussing it.

It seemed.

Tens of thousands of taels?

"Tens of thousands of taels!"

The old toad gasped in shock, frantically moving his webbed claws.

"Liang Qing said a precious fish is worth a thousand taels, a jade medal tens of thousands—how many precious fish is that worth?"

I caught it after days of effort!

"Where is the pillar? Lead me there at once!"

…

Along the Jianghuai River, on the Flowing Light Boat.

"Time is nearly up."

Zhang Xu gazed at the sky.

The match was scheduled for evening; now it was near the end of Shen Hour, the beginning of You Hour—time to pay an early visit.

The servants went to deliver the message.

From the cabins of the three Flowing Light Boats, people gradually emerged onto the deck—some held gold, silver, or bronze medals.

Ma Ma Shaobai, Xie Yan, Pei Pei Yunkun… gold medals.

Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong, Zhai Zhai Yunsu… silver medals.

Lin Lin Yanjiang… bronze medal.

Dozens upon dozens of people in total!

In one prefecture, a few gold medals, a handful of silver, a dozen or so bronze.

Altogether, it was a considerable number—even those present were only a fraction, merely those genuinely interested in the match.

Zhang Xu raised his arm.

"Let's go!"

Yang Fu.

Zhang Xu and Yang Yang Dongxiong met in the hall, chatting casually, exchanging insights.

Xu Xu Shila had prepared in advance, sending servants to retrieve watermelons chilled in the well, sliced them for guests, urging everyone to feel at ease.

Wander freely through the garden, the training ground, the courtyard.

The annex.

Lu Gang and Xu Xu Yue helped level the yellow earth of the training ground, sprinkled in solidifier, and pounded it hard with wooden mallets.

"Why so many people?"

Xu Xu Yue wiped sweat, leaned on the mallet handle, and looked toward the crowd coming and going—he hadn't expected his younger brother's match to draw so many.

Lu Gang replied calmly: "Sons of the Grand Master are common, but Grand Masters themselves are rare. Even if we assume one Grand Master per prefecture, along the Xu Yue King's route, there are many prefectures and states—those boarding the boats naturally far exceed our expectations."

"Gold medal holders are Grand Master candidates—then jade medal holders must be Wu Sheng candidates?"

Lu Gang said nothing.

Judging from the Xu Yue King's attitude, it's certain my junior brother aims for Grand Master, perhaps even Wu Sheng.

Not just anyone can be the Heir Apparent's Master.

"I always said Liang Ashui has the makings of a Wu Sheng," Xu Xu Yue boasted, "Someday he might even be granted the title of Jianghuai Prince?"

"Get back to work," Lu Gang said, gripping the mallet and swinging it. "Zhang the Great Wu Shi is here; Liang Ashui and Guan Guan Congjian won't be far behind."

The sunlight turned red.

Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong and the others had wandered the garden and training ground thoroughly, growing bored.

The main competitors hadn't arrived yet, but all these onlookers had shown up early.

They were eating watermelon.

A tiny black puppy, still covered in down, peeked half its head from behind a wall corner, eyes fixed on the watermelon rind beneath its paws.

Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong's playful spirit surged; he waved his right hand.

"Chomp-chomp-chomp~"

The moment he called, a whole litter of puppy pups wagged their tails and rushed into the hall, crowding around his feet.

All eyes turned toward him; Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong flushed with embarrassment, stammering: "This black dog is really black!"

Yang Yang Dongxiong laughed heartily: "If you like it, take it."

"Take it?"

At these words, not just Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong, but Ma Ma Shaobai and Xie Yan all grew interested.

Moving to Ningjiang Prefecture, keeping a sturdy guard dog would be quite nice.

They'd seen Heichi in the garden—like a little spirit, its bloodline was well-bred, so the pups wouldn't be inferior.

"Wouldn't that be too abrupt?" Zhang Xu said.

"No problem," Yang Yang Dongxiong waved his hand. "Every year we have several litters; after keeping a few for breeding, the rest are given away—it's just a matter of who gets them. My disciples each have one."

"I want this one!"

Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong moved swiftly, snatching up the first bold puppy; others reacted and grabbed theirs—within moments, the dozen or so pups were all claimed.

At that moment, the old gatekeeper led people in.

"Brother Zhang, Brother Yang, I've long heard your names; honored to make my first visit, I apologize for the intrusion."

Master Helian Nianci strode in with regal bearing, raising his hand in greeting.

Master Helian Nianci's name was elegant, almost feminine, yet he was a towering giant, over five feet four inches tall, with a leopard's head, round eyes, and a line of short black whiskers beneath his cheeks.

Behind his burly frame followed a man and a woman.

Guan Guan Congjian and Zong Zong Lichan!

They arrived together, like a divine couple.

"They really are together."

Xu Xu Yue rubbed his chin; he'd seen Guan Guan Congjian and Zong Zong Lichan before during the strange phenomenon, so he wasn't unfamiliar—he'd heard rumors of their romance, but hadn't expected it true.

After greeting the elders, Guan Guan Congjian immediately went to inspect the training ground, familiarizing himself with the environment.

"Here, eat watermelon," Lu Gang offered.

Guan Guan Congjian sat on a bench, hugging half a watermelon, looking around: "Where's Liang Qu?"

"He went home after the auction; he should be here soon," Lu Gang replied. "How will you fight, weapons or barehanded?"

"Barehanded," Guan Guan Congjian said. "Before eighteen, I once fought with weapons and accidentally crippled my opponent. My master has since forced me to fight barehanded, so I won't lose control."

"What determines victory or defeat?"

"One side lies motionless or yields verbally."

Xu Xu Yue grinned: "What if you lose?"

"Win or lose—it's the same," Guan Guan Congjian said, surprising them. "I just want to fight. If I win, he's weaker than me, my heart is clear. If I lose, I'm weaker than him, my heart is still clear. Otherwise, I'd be stuck—neither up nor down, miserable!"

"What a pure martial heart your disciple has!"

Zhang Xu, listening from the hall, praised aloud.

Master Helian Nianci wore a look of pride.

"For Master Helian's disciple to regard Yang's son as an opponent, Yang's son must indeed have talent," Zhang Xu added, spreading praise evenly.

Yang Yang Dongxiong nodded silently.

In the past two days, Liang Qu had obtained the jade medal, and many had boasted about their disciples—he no longer felt any emotional stir.

Pei Pei Yunkun, Xie Yan, and others felt a touch of admiration, secretly sizing up Guan Guan Congjian and Zong Zong Lichan.

Warriors who cultivate, once they pass the Nine Holes of the Galloping Horse, gain momentum, strength, and an aura that stands out—none are particularly ugly; they are indeed handsome men and beautiful women.

"Two with innate martial bones—will their child also have them?"

"It's not impossible."

"Damn it, this kid is so young and already has a wife—I bet Liang Qu will win!" Ma Ma Shaobai grumbled.

"Why's that?" Inspector Bian Inspector Bian Yuanchong asked, puzzled.

"A man should devote himself to cultivation; wasting his prime years chasing beauty—how can he press forward with single-minded resolve?"

"What a waste of innate martial bones—such talent born to the wrong person!"

The words had barely left his mouth.

The gatekeeper announced again.

"Master, the Ninth Young Master has arrived."

Beneath the hanging flower gate.

Liang Qu crossed the threshold, bringing Long Long Eying, Long Yao, and Long Li with him—his presence stirred awe.

"???"

"I bet Guan Guan Congjian will win!"

Ma Ma Shaobai gritted his teeth.