Chapter 42: Second Round

"So you are Chen Qing. I have often heard Xiao Fang mention you."

Xu Xiuhua's voice was gentle, her face beaming with a smile. "As expected, you possess a commanding presence and are quite a fine talent."

Chen Qing cupped his fists. "Madam overpraises me. My meager skills might only invite ridicule."

Xu Fang certainly wouldn't mention him frequently; this was merely polite conversation.

"It is not easy for Yazi Bay to produce a decent figure. I shall speak plainly."

Xu Xiuhua withdrew her smile and got straight to the point. "You have great potential, and my courtyard is currently lacking a head of security. Although the Huang family is not a martial arts clan, we have deep roots and extensive connections in this region. Meat, tonic medicines, and even future social connections and career advancement in the martial path... as long as you nod, the Huang family can prepare it all for you."

She paused briefly, emphasizing her tone, "You need only focus on your martial arts and serve me. With me backing you, your path in martial arts will undoubtedly be a hundred times smoother than struggling and stumbling on your own."

A head of security!?

If it were anyone else, they might have been heartened.

Upon hearing this, however, a nearly imperceptible smile flickered at the corner of Chen Qing's mouth.

The Zhu family and the Iron Hand Gang had invited him to be a retainer, which was a sign of respect.

But this Madam of the Huang family actually wanted him to settle for being a head of security?

No matter how good the title sounded, it was ultimately the status of a servant.

No matter how many resources the Huang family had, would they truly pour them into him?

And did Xu Xiuhua truly hold that much weight within the Huang family?

"Brother Qing, this is a rare and wonderful opportunity. You should..."

Standing nearby, Xu Fang's eyes lit up, feeling that her aunt's arrangement was thoughtful and comprehensive.

The Huang family was one of the five great clans of Gaolin County, far beyond the reach of ordinary wealthy households.

"I thank the Madam for her kindness, and Miss Xu for her good intentions."

Chen Qing cupped his fists again, his tone calm. "At present, I only wish to focus on my boxing training without any distractions."

Xu Fang was stunned; she never expected him to refuse.

Xu Xiuhua's smile remained unchanged, but her voice grew a few degrees colder. "In this world, I fear it is difficult to move even an inch with nothing but a head full of ambition."

"I have disappointed you, Madam." Chen Qing said no more and bowed. "I shall take my leave."

"Brother Qing!"

Xu Fang instinctively wanted to chase after him, but catching sight of Xu Xiuhua's darkening expression, she forced herself to stop.

She knew well that everything she had today depended on this aunt.

Once Chen Qing had walked far away, the smile on Xu Xiuhua's face vanished completely, replaced by a trace of coldness. "Ungrateful! A loach in a wild river is just a wild loach after all; he will never amount to anything. There will come a day when he regrets this."

***

Chen Qing walked out of the venue, preparing to head home, when he happened to catch sight of Qin Lie.

Qin Lie was chatting merrily with four or five others, all of whom were wearing the training uniforms of the Martial Arts Academy. Their vital energy was abundant, marking them as skilled practitioners of Hidden Strength.

Their eyes met briefly in the air before they both looked away and went their separate ways.

Someone recognized Chen Qing and whispered, "Brother Qin, wasn't that Chen Qing from your academy just now?"

After all, Chen Qing's feat of pulling a ten-dan bow today had left a deep impression.

"Yes, it was him."

Qin Lie's expression was somewhat unnatural. He paused before adding, "However, in the academy... he keeps his head down in hard training, and his personality is somewhat reclusive."

A bystander asked curiously, "Oh? Reclusive? Since you are in the same academy, Brother Qin, you must know him better?"

Qin Lie said indifferently, "I wouldn't say I know him well. He has always been a loner. The training room, the dining hall, and his quarters—he moves in a straight line between those three points. He truly has little interaction with people like us."

"His fundamentals are very solid. Today's first round was a test of strength, which is his strong suit. Tomorrow's second round is combat testing..."

At this point, Qin Lie stopped speaking at just the right moment.

The eyes of those around him shifted slightly; they understood the implication and offered a few words of agreement, asking no further questions.

***

The next day, the second stage of the martial examinations—combat duels—began with the sounding of a gong.

The atmosphere at the training grounds was exceptionally intense.

Many who had failed the first round were rubbing their hands in anticipation, intending to change their fates in this round.

Shouts, the sound of stretching muscles, and the low murmurs of sparring intertwined into a single roar.

On a nearby viewing stand.

Xu Xiuhua sat composed, her slender finger pointing toward Chen Qing in the arena. "Do you see that boy?"

"I see him."

Beside her, Lin Sheng, a retainer of the Huang family, replied with a bowed head. "The one who pulled the ten-dan bow yesterday. At such a young age, his potential is not small."

Lin Sheng tested the waters. "Does Madam feel a sense of appreciation for his talent?"

A trace of coldness curled the corners of Xu Xiuhua's lips. "Appreciation? If there is an opportunity later, knock him off the stage for me!"

In martial examinations, most duels were meant to be controlled. Being knocked off the stage in front of everyone would not only cause a loss of face but would also affect the evaluators' scores.

Hearing this, Lin Sheng narrowed his eyes. "Rest assured, Madam. Although this boy's vital energy is vigorous, he is ultimately green; his experience in life-and-death combat is far from sufficient. If he runs into me, I will certainly let him taste the Huang family's methods and understand the true scale of the world."

Relying on his seasoned experience and having survived several life-and-death situations, he did not take much notice of the brilliance Chen Qing had shown yesterday.

***

On the other side, Chen Qing's number was near the front of the list, and he was the first to ascend the stage.

His opponent was a burly, muscular man. Seeing it was Chen Qing, a bitter smile involuntarily appeared on his face. "Yuan Tong, from the Forging Shop! Please, instruct me!"

Chen Qing's performance yesterday had been stunning, and he had witnessed it with his own eyes.

Facing such a formidable enemy in his first battle, he couldn't help but feel a flicker of trepidation, but with his Hidden Strength cultivation, he took a deep breath and steadied his mind. Yuan Tong had not expected to encounter such a powerful opponent in the first round, but as a Hidden Strength expert himself, he quickly composed himself.

"Chen Qing, Tongbei Boxing."

Chen Qing cupped his fists in greeting.

With a sharp shout, Yuan Tong stomped his foot hard against the blue brick, his body charging forward like an arrow released from a bow.

The Forging Shop was the premier weapon workshop in Gaolin County, and its secret "Thunderclap Palm" was exceptionally fierce.

Yuan Tong's palms flew in rapid succession, the wind from his strikes tearing through the air with a heavy roar—this was the signature technique, "Eight Consecutive Strikes."

The momentum of this move was like crashing waves against a shore, continuous and relentless. Once caught in it, one could easily be drained of all strength.

Chen Qing's expression remained unchanged. One hand rose as if supporting a mountain, while the other reached out as if searching for a pearl in the sea—this was a brilliant variation of the "Spirit Ape Climbing a Branch" technique from the Tongbei style.

This move not only gracefully evaded the ferocious palm winds but also turned defense into offense in a flash, striking directly at the center!

Yuan Tong's heart jolted. In his haste, he could only raise his palms to meet the blow head-on.

*Bang!*

As the fist and palm collided, a crisp sound like clashing metal erupted!

"What domineering force!" Yuan Tong felt a massive surge of power rush up his arm. Half of his body went numb instantly, and he stumbled back several steps.

Chen Qing did not relent. With a light tap of his toes, his figure glided forward like a spirit ape leaping across a ravine.

Yuan Tong's renowned "Eight Consecutive Strikes" had been broken in the very first exchange, leaving him struggling to find his footing and forced into a defensive stance.

The two figures blurred past each other, fists and palms cutting through the air.

After more than thirty exchanges, Chen Qing spotted a gap in Yuan Tong's breathing. His punch seemed slow but was actually lightning-fast, striking true into the hollow of the man's shoulder.

The force of the punch was retracted immediately after impact. Yuan Tong felt his vital energy surge wildly and let out a muffled groan as he retreated several more steps.

"You let me win!"

"Thank you for showing mercy!" Yuan Tong steadied himself, his expression complex. He knew full well that Chen Qing had held back; otherwise, he might not have lasted twenty moves.

After winning, Chen Qing did not leave the stage. Instead, he stood not far away, carefully observing the matches on other stages, secretly calculating how he should control his own strength.

Just then, from the direction of a distant stage, a sudden burst of startled cries erupted!

"Hmm?"

Chen Qing frowned slightly and looked toward the source of the sound.