Chapter 32: Rising Waves |
The night was deep and dark. The Cheng family hall was brightly lit, yet it could not conceal the oppressive atmosphere that filled the room.
Cheng Huan sat upright in the main seat, the teacup in her hands long since grown cold, with a thin layer of tea stains congealed around the rim.
Her brow was deeply furrowed, her fingers unconsciously tapping against the sandalwood armrest.
Several Cheng family disciples below either stood or sat, their faces growing uglier by the moment.
"Creak!"
The main door was suddenly pushed open, and Cheng Ming strode in quickly, breathing heavily as he asked, "Elder sister, how is the situation? What did those merchants say?"
Cheng Huan's eyes carried exhaustion. She slowly set down the cold teacup, "Li's Trading House, Ink Fragrance Studio... they have all chosen the Ning family's ships."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Ming immediately flew into a rage, "Those ungrateful wolves! Our Cheng family has treated them well over the years. Whenever their merchant ships encountered danger, when have we not provided full protection? Now they dare to betray us!"
The dock business was the Cheng family's lifeline, and the Goddess Temple Dock was a hub that the Cheng family had spent generations of effort and blood developing from a barren marsh of reeds.
Not only had they cut transport fees to half of what the Cheng family charged, they had also spread vicious rumors everywhere that "Cheng family ships are old and decrepit, prone to sinking and losing cargo," successfully prying away the small and medium merchants who had depended on the Cheng family.
"All under heaven bustle for profit's sake, all under heaven hustle for profit's gain."
Cheng Huan sighed deeply, "Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. We cannot blame them."
A young Cheng family disciple could no longer contain himself. He stood up abruptly, his face full of indignation, "Family head! Goddess Temple Dock is the heart's blood of our Cheng family for generations, it is our foundation! How can we allow the Wu family, these troublemakers, to meddle with it? We must drive them out!"
"Drive them out? How?"
Cheng Huan's gaze swept over everyone, carrying a trace of helplessness, "Official Liu from the Canal Transport Office has made it clear that this matter should be handled according to dock rules, 'contest of fists' to determine ownership."
She paused, then said in a heavy voice, "If I'm not mistaken, the Wu family has surely invited 'Mountain Breaking Fist' Tian Yaozong to be their champion this time."
As soon as this name was spoken, the hall immediately filled with suppressed exclamations and whispered discussions.
"This man has a fierce reputation, he's definitely not someone to trifle with!"
"Two years ago at the floating gambling den, he beat Liu Hao, that hidden strength expert from the Liu family, to death with his bare hands. Afterwards, the Liu family didn't even dare make a sound..."
"They say he has reached great achievement in hidden strength. His Mountain Breaking Fist's twenty-seven moves are unmatched in power and ferocity. He once faced three hidden strength experts without falling into disadvantage."
Cheng Ming's angry expression was instantly replaced by gravity, even showing a trace of bitterness.
His voice was low, "Tian Yaozong is in his prime, at the peak of his qi and blood, and his Mountain Breaking Fist has reached the level of perfect mastery. Don't mention now, even if I were ten years younger with undamaged bones and tendons, I would have no chance of victory against him."
A flash of pain crossed his eyes, "If Jiang Yang weren't injured, perhaps he could have sparred with him for a round or two."
Upon hearing Jiang Yang's name, everyone present felt regret.
Jiang Yang had once been a martial arts prodigy that the Cheng family had fully supported and placed high hopes upon. Coming from Hongyun Martial Hall, he had reached hidden strength at a young age and trained hard for five years, originally having hope of attacking even higher realms and becoming a true pillar of the Cheng family.
Unfortunately, in his previous attempt to break through to transforming strength, he had failed and suffered backlash from his own power, severely injuring himself and vomiting blood. He remained bedridden to this day, effectively a cripple.
Cheng Huan's fingers unconsciously traced over the registry of those the Cheng family had sponsored. Her gaze wandered, trying to grasp a thread of hope from between the lines, ultimately dissolving into a barely audible sigh.
The white-haired Third Master of the Cheng family, Cheng Huan's uncle, spoke in a hoarse voice, "This Tian Yaozong has great achievement in hidden strength, deep foundation, experienced and cunning. His Mountain Breaking Fist is both fierce and tricky. Among those of the same realm, very few can steadily defeat him."
His clouded old eyes swept over everyone, "If it were a transforming strength expert, they could steadily defeat him."
A transforming strength expert!
These four words were like a boulder thrown into still water, plunging the hall into dead silence.
Invite a transforming strength expert to participate in a "contest of fists"?
Just thinking about the cost made everyone's hearts tighten.
What would be needed was not only vast amounts of silver, but also enormous favors.
"Forget it..."
Cheng Huan closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, only exhaustion remained, "Send word to the Wu family. Goddess Temple Dock... we'll give up half of it, only hoping that both families can 'make money in harmony' in the future."
These last four words, she spoke with exceptional difficulty.
Cheng Ming sighed, "This is all we can do."
Giving up half the dock, the Cheng family's future business would certainly suffer a major blow and be greatly damaged.
But if they fought desperately against the Wu family, these mad dogs, to the bitter end, the result would likely be mutual destruction, to be completely devoured by other forces lying in wait.
The next day, at South River Dock, inside the River Office roll call room.
Chen Qing had finished the routine roll call as usual and was about to hurry to Zhou's courtyard to practice boxing when he encountered Cheng Ming at the entrance, his brow furrowed and mind heavy with worry.
Chen Qing asked, "Chief, is there something wrong?"
"Ah? Oh... nothing."
Cheng Ming looked up to see Chen Qing and forced a smile, "Nothing major, just some trivial family troubles. Are you heading back to Zhou's courtyard?"
Chen Qing nodded, "Yes, the martial examination is approaching. I'm going back to practice more boxing and footwork. Last-minute preparation, though hasty, still has its benefits."
"Right, right! The martial examination is important!"
Cheng Ming seemed to just remember this matter and nodded repeatedly, his tone carrying the comfort of someone experienced, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Participation is what matters, gaining experience is also good."
He paused, a trace of apology appearing on his face, "By the way, Ah Qing, this month's sponsorship... might be delayed by a few days before I can send it over."
Chen Qing smiled cheerfully, "Chief, you speak too seriously. It's no problem."
He could see that Cheng Ming was mentally and physically exhausted at the moment, so it wasn't convenient to ask too many questions. He cupped his hands in salute, turned around, and strode away from the River Office.
Before long, Chen Qing arrived at Zhou's courtyard.
Everything at Zhou's courtyard was as usual. Some people practiced stance work, others practiced palm techniques.
By midday, inevitably some would slack off, gathering in threes and twos under the shade of trees to chat idly. Laziness was a difficult nature for people to overcome.
"This year's martial examination is said to be even harder than previous years..."
"Which year isn't hard? Thousands of troops and ten thousand horses competing for those fifty spots, most are just there to make up the numbers."
"I wonder if anyone from our Zhou courtyard will pass this year."
"Senior Brother Qin Lie has exceptional talent and has reached hidden strength. He has the best chance! If he can make further progress in these final days, his chances will be even greater."
"In a few more days, it will be the River God Festival. Would the senior brothers like to go and see the excitement together? There's only this one lively event each year..."
Chen Qing had just finished practicing a set of through-arm boxing and was using a cloth towel to wipe the hot sweat from his forehead, walking to the side of the training ground to rest briefly.
Sun Shun ambled over and casually asked, "Junior Brother Chen, you're participating in this year's martial examination, right?"
Chen Qing nodded, "Yes, gaining some experience is good too."
"Exactly, knowledge is capital."
Sun Shun deeply agreed, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward Qin Lie in the distance, his tone carrying emotion, "Junior Brother Qin has exceptional natural talent. Now that he has achieved hidden strength, what he lacks is real life-and-death combat experience."
Chen Qing followed his gaze and looked over, asking, "How exactly does this martial examination test candidates? With Junior Brother Qin's current cultivation, what are his chances of passing as a martial scholar?"
Sun Shun withdrew his gaze, his face showing a complex expression of "hard to say," "The martial examination selects scholars primarily based on courage and strength, with strategy secondary. The process isn't too complicated, mainly testing two areas: first called 'physical strength,' second called 'martial courage.'"
"Testing 'physical strength' mainly looks at archery among bow, blade, and horsemanship. The examination ground will have ten hard bows of different stone weights, ranging from one to five stones. Only by drawing the bow like a full moon can one display true strength. This tests the foundation of one's tendons, bones, qi, and blood."
"As for 'martial courage,' it tests real combat skills. The specific format changes each year, entirely depending on the chief examiner's whim. It might be arena matches, it might be breaking through formations, it might even be hunting beasts in the mountains... In any case, it's unpredictably dangerous."
"Finally, these two assessments are combined for a comprehensive score, taking the top fifty to earn the title of martial scholar." Sun Shun sighed, his tone grave, "But this ranking doesn't just depend on one's own abilities, it also depends on how many people are competing in the same examination. According to the rumors I've gathered, the number of martial students registering for this year's examination is no less than last year's."
Chen Qing asked, "How many people were there last year?"
Sun Shun smiled bitterly, "Seven hundred thirteen at obvious strength, one hundred fifty-two at hidden strength. Many people take the exam year after year without passing, so the numbers fluctuate each year. For those who don't pass, that year becomes the hardest year to pass."
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing's brow furrowed slightly.
During this time leading up to the martial examination, he should try his best to improve his strength.
After all, reaching hidden strength didn't guarantee a worry-free future.
Just then, a commotion arose from the other side of the courtyard.
"Hmm!? What's happening over there?"
Seeing this, Sun Shun quickly walked over.
