Chapter 55: The Duel |
The next day, Cheng Ming hurried with quick steps, rushing non-stop to Jinghong Martial Hall to find Jiang Yang.
Jiang Yang put down what he was doing, and seeing Cheng Ming's grave expression, asked, "Brother Ming, you're in such a hurry to find me, what's the matter?"
Cheng Ming got straight to the point, his tone heavy, "It's about Goddess Temple Dock. The Wu family is forcing us into a 'duel' to determine life and death!"
"A duel?!"
Jiang Yang's eyelids jumped violently, his face instantly filling with difficulty, "Brother Ming, you know well that my injuries from the last breakthrough attempt have never fully healed."
He let out a heavy sigh, as if extremely pained, "Even if I risk my life and reluctantly enter the arena, facing that Tian Yaozong, I'm afraid... the odds would be against me."
Jiang Yang had long known about the grudge between the Wu and Cheng families, and was well aware of Tian Yaozong's strength.
He had prepared this excuse for evasion long ago.
Cheng Ming's heart instantly sank to the bottom.
The precious medicines and spirit fish the Cheng family had spared no expense to provide should have, even if not restoring him to his peak, certainly not resulted in such evasive behavior.
He never imagined that the Cheng family's devoted support would be repaid with such cold-hearted rejection.
Cheng Ming returned to the River Office dejected, his face written with dejection and anxiety.
"Chief."
Chen Qing, who had just finished his shift and come from Zhou's courtyard, immediately saw something was wrong with Cheng Ming, "What happened?"
Cheng Ming looked up and saw Chen Qing, smiled bitterly, and told him about the Wu family's ultimatum and Jiang Yang's refusal in complete detail.
He added with deep apology, "Ah Qing, I'm afraid our financial support for you will have to be reduced somewhat in the future..."
If the Cheng family's foundation were seized, maintaining support would naturally become difficult.
Upon hearing this, Chen Qing was silent for a moment.
He secretly weighed in his heart: with his current strength, plus the significant improvement brought by his advancement in Toad Fishing Force, against ordinary hidden strength masters, his chances of victory should be above ninety-eight percent.
Cheng Ming patted his shoulder and turned to leave, his retreating figure forlorn.
"Chief," Chen Qing spoke up, "Let me fight this match."
Cheng Ming turned around abruptly, his eyes full of disbelief, "You... are really willing?"
Chen Qing's lips curved slightly upward, and he nodded, "Having received the Cheng family's support for so long, I should contribute some effort. I can't just take without giving, right?"
Since reaching obvious strength, Cheng Ming had provided him unconditional support, giving meat and qi supplements monthly, and doubling it after he reached hidden strength.
"Ah Qing..."
Cheng Ming felt a warmth in his heart, his eyes even becoming slightly moist.
The Cheng family was declining after all, and the resources given to Chen Qing weren't abundant.
The initial support was more about valuing his diligent and steadfast character, never expecting he could become today's martial scholar.
Logically, given Chen Qing's meager support, most people would maintain face-saving relationships, and for matters like duels, they could reasonably stay out of it.
"Good! Good!"
Cheng Ming nodded heavily, suppressing his excitement, "That Tian Yaozong, let me tell you about him in detail, we must know ourselves and our enemy!"
Chen Qing nodded.
"Tian Yaozong's main practice is the Seventeen-Form Mountain Breaking Fist, reportedly reaching the great achievement level of hidden strength..."
Cheng Ming shared all the intelligence he knew.
According to him, Tian Yaozong had refined his hidden strength throughout his entire body, with only the most difficult Baihui and Yongquan acupoints remaining unconnected.
Once successful, he would achieve perfect hidden strength, only one step away from the transforming strength realm where "not a feather can be added, not a fly can land."
Of course, in real life-and-death combat, besides the degree of strength refinement, it also depended on comprehension of martial techniques, experience with body techniques, adaptability in facing enemies, and understanding of opponents.
After listening, Chen Qing frowned slightly, "Chief, can you get the technique manual for Mountain Breaking Fist? I don't need the fundamental diagrams, just the fighting techniques."
This was the fastest way to understand an opponent's moves and methods.
"No problem!" Cheng Ming immediately agreed, "I'll go find it right away!"
Soon, Cheng Ming handed Chen Qing a manual recording the basic moves of Mountain Breaking Fist.
Chen Qing immediately immersed himself in it, studying intently.
Through-arm Boxing emphasized fierce dominance and flexible variation, while this Mountain Breaking Fist was completely different. It pursued highly concentrating the entire body's strength into a single point, forming highly penetrating "lines" or "points," seeking to break through defenses with one strike rather than overwhelming with broad force.
Chen Qing repeatedly pondered the secrets of concentration and explosion within it.
Time passed in focused study, and in the blink of an eye, it was morning two days later.
A simple horse carriage stopped at the Chen family's small courtyard entrance.
Seeing Chen Qing emerge, the Cheng family steward respectfully bowed, "Master Chen, please board the carriage."
"Thank you for the trouble."
Chen Qing nodded slightly and got on the carriage, closing his eyes to concentrate.
The carriage galloped all the way without obstruction. About half an incense stick's time later, it stopped steadily at Goddess Temple Dock.
"Master Chen, we've arrived," the steward said quietly.
Chen Qing lifted the curtain and got off.
He saw that an open space had been cleared in the center of the dock, with a temporary arena built.
Awning shelters were erected on both sides, filled with merchant shopkeepers dressed in silk.
The outcome of the dock dispute between the Wu and Cheng families directly related to their future livelihoods, so no one dared take it lightly.
"Ah Qing!"
Cheng Ming hurried over with a grave expression, lowering his voice and pointing toward the opposite shelter, "Those are the Wu family people over there. The woman is Miss Wu Manqing of the Wu family, and the person beside her is Tian Yaozong! Be extremely careful in today's duel!"
Chen Qing's gaze was sharp as lightning as he looked in that direction.
Under the opposite shelter, the young woman Wu Manqing, dressed in a goose-yellow dress, had delicate features but carried a hint of coldness.
Beside her, Tian Yaozong stood like an iron tower, his muscles clearly defined under his short jacket. At this moment, he was also looking back coldly, his gaze sharp as a blade.
At this time, their gazes were also directed toward Chen Qing's side.
Wu Manqing picked up her teacup and took a light sip, her voice not loud but carrying unquestionable pressure, "Master Tian, today's matter is of great importance. Don't disappoint me."
Tian Yaozong's mouth curved into a cold arc, his gaze always locked on Chen Qing, "Madam Wu, rest assured. Just a third-list martial scholar... I know what to do and will definitely satisfy you."
His words made no effort to hide his contempt.
Cheng Ming whispered a few more instructions before returning to the Cheng family shelter with worry.
The life-and-death contract for the duel had been signed before Chen Qing's arrival. Today's winner would monopolize the dock, the loser would never interfere again.
"Dong!" A gong sounded.
Tian Yaozong was first to rise, stepping onto the center of the arena with dragon-like stride and tiger-like pace, his presence imposing.
Chen Qing's expression remained calm as he slowly stepped forward, standing opposite Tian Yaozong.
"I heard the Wu family sent out a disciple of Zhou Liang who practices through-arm boxing."
"Does the Cheng family have no one left? Why send him up? Tian Yaozong is an expert who's been famous for many years!"
"I think they're desperately trying anything..."
"Not necessarily. This young man is at least this year's martial scholar, he should have some ability, right?"
Under the shelters, a buzz of lowered but barely concealed excited discussion immediately arose.
Cheng Huan sat in the main position, her palms already soaked with sweat, completely unaware that her nails were digging deep into her palms.
The Cheng family's life and death depended entirely on that young man on the platform.
Several young Cheng family members looked at Chen Qing's youthful face, their hearts filled with uncertainty.
Was he a match for Tian Yaozong?!
Tian Yaozong looked at Chen Qing a few steps away, suddenly grinned broadly, his voice booming, "Brother Chen, you and I are strangers with no grievances, yet today we must face each other with fists and feet on this arena. Truly fate plays tricks, and worldly affairs are unpredictable."
Though his words seemed like sighs, his eyes carried some gravity, without any contempt.
Everyone knew that fists and feet have no eyes. When martial artists compete, especially in "duels" involving huge interests, beating someone to death or injury is common.
Martial arts are fundamentally killing techniques. In life-and-death moments, who can hold back?
Chen Qing said indifferently, "The martial world is narrow, one's body is not one's own."
Upon hearing these words, Tian Yaozong's eyes flickered, and that underlying gravity seemed to deepen.
He unconsciously nodded slowly, the arc at the corner of his mouth that had carried some sighing completely disappeared, leaving only focus.
These eight words, he understood, understood all too well.
This wasn't sentiment at all, but clearly a mutual understanding, a declaration that once on this arena, only fists and feet could speak.
"Duel, begin!"
With a clear, sharp shout, the entire noisy dock instantly fell into deathly silence.
Only the river wind moaned as it swept across the empty water surface, rolling up a few withered leaves, adding to the murderous atmosphere.
On the arena, the two men's gazes were like lightning, colliding in the air, invisible energy suddenly tightening.