Chapter 47: Three Matches, I Shall Take the First

In front of the martial arts hall, a group of people had been waiting in the open space for a long time.

The number of people who came to challenge the hall was not large, only seven or eight, not even reaching double digits.

The old man leading them was a martial arts master; his arms and thighs were thicker than an ordinary person's, and his gaze was as sharp as a knife.

The people behind him included both middle-aged men and youths, all of whom were martial artists with a foundation in fist arts.

"This bunch looks so disheveled, yet they dare to come and challenge the hall?"

The Apprentices leaned over the wall to look outside, finally seeing the faces of those challenging the hall.

At a glance, they were clearly refugees from Su Cheng; they couldn't even get enough to eat, let alone groom their faces or clothes, and they looked quite wretched.

Judging by their momentum, the Wang Jianxiong Martial Arts Hall had already gained the upper hand.

"The Hall Master is here."

After the news of the challenge arrived, the gates of the Inner Courtyard swung wide open.

Wang Jianxiong led his trusted Disciples out of the martial arts hall to confront the group of uninvited guests.

Following behind them were the Zhengshi Xuitu, every one of them at the Jinli Level, and Zhou You and Li Hao were among them.

Whoosh, dozens of people stood before the martial arts hall, strong and sturdy, their momentum like a rainbow.

By comparison, the group challenging the hall was pitifully small.

"Wang Laohu, I want to challenge you."

Although the old man was thin, his voice was full of vigor, making everyone's ears buzz.

As a powerhouse at the martial arts master level, he was a well-known figure in the Su Cheng fist arts circle.

Wang Jianxiong narrowed his eyes; this was his habit when looking at people, like a fierce tiger sizing up its prey.

"Zhuang Daqiang, you are from the Su Cheng fist arts circle; coming to my Gongliang City to snatch food is breaking the rules."

Gongliang City and Su Cheng each had their own demarcated territories and did not interfere with one another; once one crossed the boundary to fight for territory or snatch business, it was considered a major taboo.

The old man was named Zhuang Daqiang, the master of a martial arts hall in Su Cheng, famous for his 'Dazhuang Fist'.

"Su Cheng is gone; my Disciples and Apprentices can't even get enough to eat, so what rules are there to speak of?"

Zhuang Daqiang flicked his hand sharply; *snap*, the air exploded like a leather whip.

"Wang Laohu, I know you are vicious and your fists are fierce, but I have already risked this life of mine to come and challenge you."

"If I am lucky enough to defeat you by a move or two, I hope you will spare some space for me to open a martial arts hall and earn a living; if I am defeated, this life of mine is yours."

These words were spoken with tragic intensity, and an aura of iron and blood rushed toward them.

Thinking of the current state of the refugees fleeing from Su Cheng, this group of martial artists had reached a desperate situation of staking everything on one throw.

Wang Jianxiong grinned after hearing this, "Done!"

He then said, "I won't bully you for having fewer people; three matches will decide the outcome."

"The first match is for Strength Apprentices, the second for Qi and Blood Disciples, and the third..."

Wang Jianxiong stared at Zhuang Daqiang, "You and I will enter the arena ourselves to decide the outcome and determine life or death, how about that?"

"Good."

Zhuang Daqiang had set out from Su Cheng and drifted from place to place; most of his Disciples and Apprentices had already run away.

Those who remained by his side now were all loyal and devoted, and also promising talents he held in high regard.

He was still counting on using the few Disciples and Apprentices behind him to set up a framework and reopen a martial arts hall to make a comeback.

"Zhuang Tie, you go for the second match."

"This Disciple accepts the master's order."

Zhuang Tie was a middle-aged martial artist and also his trusted Disciple, with a status equivalent to Lu Qiang by Wang Jianxiong's side.

Zhuang Daqiang's Qi and Blood Disciples had all gone to seek their own ways to survive, leaving only him still loyally following by his side.

As for the first match, the Strength Apprentice...

Both sides had a tacit understanding: best of three, with the key being the last two matches.

However, Zhuang Daqiang's group had fled here, their food and lodging were poor, and they were fighting on away ground; they couldn't afford to lose any match.

"Zhang Shiyu, you go for the first match."

When Zhuang Daqiang announced this name, his gaze revealed reluctance.

Among the Strength Apprentices, he thought most highly of this Disciple; with careful cultivation, he would surely become a martial arts master and be the person to hold up the facade in the future.

On the road of fleeing, both he and Zhuang Tie would go hungry just to let Zhang Shiyu eat first, for fear of starving him.

If he had a choice, the old man would never let him enter the arena.

In a fist arts competition, one could be injured at best or lose their life at worst; the slightest mistake would ruin one's foundation.

"I obey the master's order."

Hearing how Zhang Shiyu addressed Zhuang Daqiang, the Wang Jianxiong Martial Arts Hall side immediately knew his status was extraordinary.

For a Strength Apprentice to be able to address him as 'Master' showed that he was highly valued by Zhuang Daqiang and was no ordinary Apprentice.

"Master, this youth is definitely extraordinary."

Lu Qiang said softly to Wang Jianxiong.

He was not worried at all about his second match against Zhuang Tie.

The Wang Jianxiong Martial Arts Hall had not been challenged for ten years, and it was not for nothing; it was the resounding reputation carved out by the Hall Master, the old man Wang.

Zhuang Daqiang, far away in Su Cheng, had called him 'Wang Laohu' to his face.

The advantage of fighting on home turf was a fact acknowledged by both sides.

The people of the Wang Jianxiong Martial Arts Hall had three meals a day, were free from worries about food and clothing, lacked nothing in lodging, and had Secret Medicine to supplement their progress at regular intervals.

Conversely, Zhuang Daqiang's group had abandoned their foundation in Su Cheng to come to Gongliang City; they were strangers in a strange land, and sleeping in the open was their daily routine, so even if they had strength, they could not unleash it.

Therefore, the first battle must be won to gain the upper hand and intimidate the opponent.

"A down-and-out family, no matter how many geniuses they have, can hardly resist the general trend."

"The weakest apprentice under my martial arts hall can suppress him, do you believe it?"

Wang Jianxiong opened his eyes, his gaze overflowing with sharp light, landing on the crowd of Zhengshi Xuitu in the second row.

Among this batch of apprentices who had cultivated force, whose seniority was the shallowest?

Zhou You and his sparring partner Li Hao were currently gathered around Xu Ying with other apprentices from the city.

Clearly separated from them were the apprentices who came from the farms of the manor outside the city, who belonged to Zhong Shaoying.

"Senior Brother Xu, for the first match, who will the Hall Master choose?"

A Zhengshi Xuitu was full of curiosity; this was an opportunity to show one's face.

Xu Ying kept a straight face, "Don't even think about it, the first match is thankless work."

If one loses while fighting on home turf, causing the Hall Master to lose face and smearing the reputation of the martial arts hall, the result would likely be nothing but death to atone for the sin.

Zhong Shaoying's little brothers nearby heard this and laughed loudly, "Xu Ying, are you afraid?"

"What nonsense are you spouting? If the Hall Master calls my name, I will definitely go out and beat that kid to a pulp."

Xu Ying patted his chest with a thumping sound.

With so many Disciple apprentices present, he was a veteran of the Outer Courtyard of the martial arts hall and absolutely could not admit defeat.

Unexpectedly, as soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Jianxiong spoke up, "Apprentice Zhou You, you will fight the first match."

It wasn't just others; Zhou You himself was stunned. What, it's me?

He racked his brains but could not understand why the Hall Master would send him to represent the martial arts hall in the fight.

There were so many Zhengshi Xuitu, including many with ten or even twenty years of profound cultivation; why pick him of all people?

"Ahem, that's right."

Wang Jianxiong said to Zhuang Daqiang, "See that? This child joined the latest and has the shallowest cultivation."

"Don't say I'm taking advantage of you; I'm giving you a guaranteed win for the first match."

Lu Qiang stood to the side with a straight face, thinking that his master was as black-bellied as ever.

Outsiders didn't know, but those in the martial arts hall understood: although Zhou You joined the latest, he could face a Void Phantom alone without retreating and exchange blows without dying.

This peculiarity alone was something no ordinary apprentice could compare to.

"Good, a deal is a deal. Wang Laohu, I thank you."

Zhuang Daqiang gave a wink to Shi Yu, telling him to fight with all his might and win the first match.