Acting

Before the fist even arrived, the domineering gale of force had already crushed Lin Sheng's breathing to a halt and made his cheeks sting.

"Young Master Mo..."

Lin Sheng was scared out of his wits. He had only managed half a plea for mercy before the gale swallowed his words.

How could he dare hesitate in the slightest? He hurriedly launched a move to meet the attack.

"Hah!"

With a strange cry, Lin Sheng threw his body sharply backward. At the same time, he crossed his arms before himself as though sealing shut a gate, trying to deflect the force and retreat.

But it was already too late. Mo Ziyu's fist had come crashing in.

Bang—!!!

A muffled boom so heavy it seemed to stop hearts exploded across the arena.

Lin Sheng's seemingly sturdy crossed-arm guard was as fragile as rotten wood before Mo Ziyu's fist force.

The instant they made contact, an indescribable monstrous force slammed viciously into both his arms.

Crack! Crack!

Two crisp, grating sounds of breaking bone rang out almost at once!

"Aagh—!"

Lin Sheng let out a shrill scream of agony.

The bones in both his arms snapped on impact, twisting at grotesque angles. Then his feet left the ground, and he flew backward like a kite with its string cut.

Pfft!

In midair, Lin Sheng could not stop himself from spraying out a mouthful of blood.

Honglong!

His body smashed heavily into the edge of the arena, then rolled twice before coming to a stop.

His arms hung limp at his sides. The agony made his entire body convulse, his face was the color of gold paper, and cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes.

"Young Master Mo, this truly is a misunderstanding—"

Mo Ziyu ignored him and strode forward.

This time, he was even faster, rushing before Lin Sheng in an instant.

Lin Sheng's pupils contracted sharply. Ignoring the agony in his arms, he used only the strength of his waist to roll fiercely to the side.

At the same time, he poured his remaining Internal Force into his intact right leg and viciously kicked at Mo Ziyu's groin Vital Point like a scorpion's upturned tail!

Scorpion Tail Needle!

This was his final desperate counterattack.

"Hmph! A petty trick!"

A flicker of disdain passed through Mo Ziyu's eyes. He shifted his feet slightly, evading the vicious groin kick. His five right fingers came together, their knuckles protruding like iron.

Whoosh!

A soft sound of something tearing through the air, enough to make one's scalp tingle!

Mo Ziyu's hand flashed like lightning, stabbing with flawless precision at the exposed Vital Point on Lin Sheng's waist as he rolled.

Pfft!

His fingertips were like red-hot branding irons, effortlessly piercing flesh and plunging viciously into Lin Sheng's waist.

At the same time, a sinister strand of Hidden Strength seeped into his body in an instant like Maggots on the Bone.

"Urgh...!"

Lin Sheng's body suddenly stiffened. Like a snake whose spine had been pulled out, all strength instantly drained from him.

After convulsing violently a few times, he went utterly limp, leaving only weak, pained groans.

A shocking bloody hole at his waist gushed blood, rapidly staining a large patch of the ground red.

Everyone around them was chilled by Mo Ziyu's viciousness, while secretly shaking their heads. Lin Sheng truly had neither knowledge nor fear—without the slightest real ability, he had still dared to be so arrogant?

"Trash! Utter trash!"

From afar, Xu Xiuhua's face immediately turned livid at the sight.

Lin Sheng getting beaten was a minor matter. The crucial thing was that he had disgraced the Huang Family and damaged their relationship with the Blood River Gang—that was the serious issue.

Only after the minor official announced the result did the Huang Family's people hurriedly carry Lin Sheng away.

Given his condition, let alone placing highly in the Martial Arts Examination, it would be a blessing if he could remain intact.

Seeing this, Chen Qing revealed a cold smile.

He had always been cautious and meticulous. Lin Sheng's repeated questioning had long since put him on guard.

Soon, it was Chen Qing's turn to take the stage.

"Han Rou of the Han Family!"

Opposite him stood a young woman. Her training clothes fit her perfectly, faintly outlining skin that was supple and elastic. Her cheeks were rosy, her brows long and elegant, carrying a touch of natural heroism, while her eyes were clear and bright.

"Chen Qing of Tongbei Fist!"

Chen Qing cupped his fists in reply.

"Please!"

With a low shout, Chen Qing's right arm snapped out as he took the initiative with Whip Mountain Style.

The fist wind burst with a crack, his sleeve snapping loudly as a fierce gale of force pressed straight toward Han Rou's face.

Han Rou used Roaming Body Shifting beneath her feet, gliding past the fist wind. Her left hand had already used Azure Dragon Grasp to latch onto Chen Qing's right wrist, hidden coiling force quietly emerging.

Chen Qing shook his right arm and drew it back. His left arm then slashed diagonally upward like a venomous dragon, fingers like blades as they chopped viciously toward Han Rou's ribs.

Han Rou bent her supple waist and barely dodged. Both palms traced a circle before she thrust out with Pushing Window to Gaze at Moon, gentle force rolling forth like a tide and forcing Chen Qing back.

Chen Qing deliberately let a flash of "impatience" pass through his eyes, then roared as both arms swung out.

This move was Twin Whips Shake Mountain. His two arms howled toward Han Rou like steel whips, their momentum fierce and imposing.

This kid is still too young!

Han Rou's heart stirred. The opportunity is here!

Her lotus steps quickened as she pushed the Nine Palaces Step to its limit. Like a swimming fish darting through violent shadows of whips, she continually deflected and guided the force, deliberately closing in on Chen Qing's centerline.

Just as Han Rou spun, trying to cut in once more, she spread her arms wide, leaving the openings beneath her armpits fully exposed.

Chen Qing was just about to change moves when an intensely concentrated odor, carrying sour sweat and some indescribable fishy stench, rushed at his face as though it had substance, charging directly into his nostrils.

"Urk!"

Chen Qing's fluid motion suddenly stalled.

Han Rou did not notice anything strange about Chen Qing. She only assumed her footwork had been exquisite enough to find an opening.

Seizing this "flaw," she lowered her slender body and slipped in like a nimble cat. Her right fingers came together like a sword, and Swimming Dragon Finger carried a sharp, yielding finger wind straight toward Chen Qing's chest.

She had still used only seventy percent of her strength in this finger strike, intending merely to force him back.

Now!

Chen Qing slightly drew in his chest, avoiding the Vital Point. His right arm seemed to rise in a rushed block to meet Han Rou's incoming fingers, but his movements were stiff and his Internal Force flimsy beyond measure.

Seeing Chen Qing block, Han Rou instinctively changed her fingers into a brush, sweeping a strand of gentle force toward Chen Qing's wrist.

She had used only thirty percent of her strength in this brush, as light as willow catkins.

Yet just as their arms were about to touch—

"Slap!"

A collision so faint it could almost have been scattered by the wind sounded.

Chen Qing looked as though he had been struck viciously by an invisible, irresistible monstrous force.

An extremely pained groan escaped him. "Urgh—!"

His face instantly turned white as paper. Like someone struck by a battering ram, he staggered wildly backward.

After steadying himself, he clutched his "uninjured" right arm tightly. His body shook violently, and sweat the size of beans instantly covered his forehead.

"This...?"

Han Rou was completely dumbfounded.

That brush of hers could not even blow away a leaf! Chen Qing's reaction... was far too fake.

It was so exaggerated that even she found it absurd. Then she suddenly thought of something. Her gaze inadvertently swept beneath her own arm, and her nostrils instinctively flared slightly.

Han Rou was struck as though by lightning. A scorching wave of shame surged from the soles of her feet straight to the crown of her head.

She understood!

She understood completely!

He had not been driven back by her Internal Force at all!

He had been... he had been unable to bear the smell beneath her arms.

Chen Qing "strenuously" steadied himself, his voice trembling as if he were still shaken. "Miss Han possesses fine skills. Chen has learned his lesson and willingly admits defeat!"

Clutching his "injured arm," he "staggered" quickly off the arena.

Mainly because he needed to flee that "lethal range" as soon as possible.

Victory and defeat had been decided!

The minor official announced the result, and Chen Qing ultimately received a Grade B+.

The audience instantly erupted in an uproar, followed by fervent discussion!

"The gentle force of that Bagua Palm is incredible! That light little brush looked so airy, yet it had such power?!"

"Exactly! Look at Chen Qing's reaction! His face went deathly pale, sweat poured like rain, and his arm shook like that... That is definitely Hidden Strength entering the body and injuring the meridians!"

"Yielding force that pierced to the bone! That is the essence of Bagua Palm! Han Rou has truly hidden her abilities!"

"Chen Qing was far too careless! Han Rou got close, and that yielding palm force was tailor-made to counter a fierce style like Tongbei Fist. It was impossible to guard against!"

"The Han Family's Bagua Palm truly lives up to its reputation!"

The discussions surged in like a tidal wave.

Everyone believed that Han Rou had relied on exquisite movement and the yielding yet domineering Bagua Palm to severely injure Chen Qing in an instant at close range with thunderous force.

Only Han Rou herself felt as though she had been roasted over a fire.

Her cheeks burned so fiercely they were about to catch fire.

Han Rou stood where she was, biting her lower lip so hard she nearly drew blood.

Listening to the praise filling the arena and watching Chen Qing's "panicked escape"—while his acting was utterly explosive—an indescribable fury and grievance churned in her chest.

She had won, but it was not an honorable victory.