Chapter 118: Match

"You child." Ningguang laughed hehe, her whole person carried a light and breezy air.

"Since you've come back, I'll leave those few to you." Then she pointed at Kang Zhi Xia and gave a quiet chuckle twice.

Smart, truly smart, but just not used in the right place.

Kang Zhi Xia's cleverness differs from Kang Wu's; Kang Zhi Xia uses his cleverness to slack off, while Kang Wu uses his cleverness in military strategy and schemes.

There are too many areas that need cultivation.

Others, she can see the future, but Kang Zhi Xia hasn't yet settled his nature.

"Alright, I'll take it." Jiang Yun Chu nodded.

She looked at the people standing in a row; each forehead had already beaded with sweat, yet everyone was persisting with effort.

"Ning Hanmo."

"Here!" Ning Hanmo had just heard his mother's voice, but he hadn't moved; now he straightened his body and lifted his head to look toward his mother.

Has Mother lost weight? Being out there, she surely isn't eating or sleeping well; I should have the small kitchen stew some soup for Mother.

"Kang Zhi Xia."

"Here!"

Kang Zhi Xia rubbed his leg, carefully stood up; this Spring Flower Academy must have some serious problem—other academies are just for studying, but this one?

It's morning training again, plus we have to farm, wash our own dishes, and sometimes even cook our own meals?

The key is what they're studying—military strategy, music class, chess class, calligraphy…

Is this what humans study?

He found it strange—how could his mother see that Jiang Yun Chu is a natural-born general?

Has his mother been away from the battlefield too long, her vision dulled? This time when he returns home on leave, he will surely tell Mother just how dark Jiang Yun Chu really is.

While he was lost in thought, Jiang Yun Chu glanced at a certain distracted person, but said nothing.

"For sparring, any way of fighting is fine, any technique allowed." She said with a hehe laugh.

"Will there be a penalty for fighting?" Ning Hanmo, having learned from last time, still asked in advance.

Jiang Yun Chu shook his head, seeing his cautious gaze, gave a light smile, and said, "Ordered to fight, there is no punishment."

Kang Zhi Xia looked at Ning Hanmo, who was half a head shorter than him, then pointed at himself: "Me? And him?"

"I don't bully children."

Upon hearing "children," Ning Hanmo, who had just been ready to go easy, immediately furrowed his brow.

"Don't court death, and you won't die!" That's referring to Kang Zhi Xia.

Kang Wen quietly asked Kang Wu, "What do you say, where does Elder Brother Zhi Xia get his confidence?"

Kang Wu didn't move his head, staring straight ahead, "Ignorance is confidence."

"If one learns even a bit of knowledge, one wouldn't be so ignorant."

It's not that they, as younger brothers, look down on him; it's just that Elder Brother Zhi Xia's meager skills aren't worth their notice.

But…

"Begin!" Jiang Yun Chu didn't give them a chance to speak, but issued a command.

Then she said to the few little ones over there, "You guys spectate."

"Yes!"

The few little ones stood up, stretched their legs, then walked to the edge of the sparring platform.

"Can't blame me." Kang Zhi Xia was still speaking when he spotted a figure swiftly approaching, then performed a sliding tackle.

Kang Zhi Xia's eyes narrowed; this Ning Hanmo actually has some skill.

His expression also turned serious; he then lightly tapped the tip of his foot on the ground, jumped to a position, and extended his hand.

One move, turning passive into active.

Jiang Yun Chu's lips remained curled, lightly gazing at everything before her.

"How could that be?" Kang Wen widened his eyes, "Did you see? Elder Brother Zhi Xia's reaction is really fast."

Everyone was watching; now no one echoed him.

Ning Qiancheng was a bit worried, but seeing Ning Hanmo's calm face, his fist clenched then relaxed.

"What do you mean?" Jiang Yun Chu glanced at the Purple Perilla beside her.

Zi Su smiled; she doesn't know martial arts, but having followed the Princess Consort these days, she's gained some understanding of these tactics.

"Well hidden enough."

Jiang Yun Chu lightly laughed, "Zhi Chun and Zhiqiu each have their own unique points; how could the second aunt let Kang Zhi Xia off?"

Especially…

She saw the sharpness, the pretense in Kang Zhi Xia's eyes—how could that not be a kind of military cultivation?

Just then, Ning Hanmo, who struck first, ended up at a disadvantage.

However, when Kang Zhi Xia threw another punch, Ning Hanmo met it with the tip of his foot, then used his fist as a fulcrum, flipped his whole body, and ended up directly behind Kang Zhi Xia.

Kang Zhi Xia narrowed his eyes, his body slid swiftly, but he was still a step slow; a sweat‑slicked hand had already smeared across his neck.

"Over."

Kang Zhi Xia's clenched fist slowly loosened.

Ning Hanmo panted heavily, feeling a sense of suffocation, his limbs seeming not his own; the recent fight, he had already exerted all his strength.

And Kang Zhi Xia's ability exceeded his own imagination.

"As for this match, to be honest, I'm disappointed." Jiang Yun Chu looked at the two people present, then at the crowd below the platform, her fingers sweeping over each one, "Including you."

"For the time after, I see no need to keep having classes; tomorrow's morning lesson, we won't train early, we'll read reflections."

"And…"

She glanced at Kang Wen, Kang Wu, Kang Zhi Xia, and Ning Hanmo; the four of them immediately had a bad feeling.

"Did you forget the review I wanted?"

"Do you think I have a bad memory? Or that I'm just saying it casually?"

She gave a light smile, then scanned the room; everyone's eyes darted away, sensing that the Dean was angry.

At that moment, no one dared to meet her gaze.

"Tomorrow morning, first read the reflections, then the reviews."

"If it's not deep enough, then… you'll spend this month's vacation here, rewriting it!"

A powerful pressure, an imposing presence, brooking no refusal.

Even Yue Yue took a few steps back; Mommy is so scary!

When the two words "class dismissed" fell, no one spoke.

Only after Jiang Yun Chu left the courtyard did those few suddenly feel their breathing ease a little.

The person they fear most is not Ningguang everyone, not Kang Meng the instructor, but the Dean.

When the Dean gets angry, they can't bear it!

The punishment is real punishment, the beating is real beating!

"What should we do?" Ning Hanmo glanced at everyone.

To be honest, he really forgot about that self-criticism; now there's an additional martial arts reflection, and though he dares and wants to do it, what is this reflection?

"What can we do?" Kang Wu looked at everyone's eyes and spread his hands.

"Just write it; you don't think your little tricks can fool the Dean, do you?"

"If you don't want a harsh punishment, then write honestly—write exactly what you think; otherwise you won't even know how you'll die."

"Take your time thinking; I'll go back and write first."

Kang Wu frankly said something, then turned and left; today afternoon is agriculture class, but this morning he told them agriculture class is off.

In half a day's time, he needs to hurry.