Actively Leaving the Arena

The Dragon Cavalry are the army that guards the many county towns of the Great Qin Dynasty. While they don't compare to the Xuanwu Army, they are by no means easy opponents. The name "Dragon Cavalry" was hard-won by the previous Dragon General forty years ago, who, with the immense merit of "one hundred and twenty-two counties in two lesser states, two kings, three marquises, and six generals," as evaluated by the Historians, forcefully took it from the former Emperor.

Xu Ziyang, the Dragon General of Wangxian County, is by no means inferior to the so-called first-rate experts within this county. Even if he sealed his internal force, it's possible he was caught off guard and underestimated his opponent. However, no matter how many excuses the young man below found for the unrestrained and unconventional general, the scene before them was undeniably real, more real than the ground beneath their feet.

A mere youth had forced a renowned expert of equal cultivation to defend himself, even to the point of resorting to desperate measures.

If this were thirty years ago, could this Shaolin Wang Anfeng truly defeat the Dragon General, who was also a youth at the time? Or perhaps...

Kill him!

Then, thirty years later, is the blue-clothed youth before them another renowned master and chivalrous hero who will make a name for himself in the martial arts world?

Upon realizing their thoughts were uncontrollably spiraling into an abyss, every young master from the noble families looked at Wang Anfeng with a newfound seriousness and a subtle glint in their eyes.

"Hahahaha, good skill! Good skill! This is exhilarating!"

Xu Ziyang looked at the Ink Dragon Strength coiled around him and burst into laughter, a look of discovering something incredibly joyous on his face. He patted Wang Anfeng's shoulder and roared with laughter, "Your fist techniques are good, but what martial art is this that attacks my hands?"

Wang Anfeng's body ached, and he stumbled slightly, but his expression remained unchanged. He said, "It's merely the art of controlling needles to strike acupoints, a medical technique..."

Xu Ziyang was slightly taken aback and chuckled, "Controlling needles? Where did you get needles, you brat?"

Wang Anfeng shook his head. "There were no needles, but just as one can use an axe or a fist to chop wood, as long as the wood is cut, it doesn't matter how. Controlling needles is just to guide internal force into acupoints. So, what's the difference between needles and fists?"

The Dragon General mulled over his words, his eyes brightening slightly. He then clapped his hands and laughed heartily, as if overcome with joy.

"Good, good, good!"

"If you don't perish in the martial world's conflicts, in thirty years, I will not be your match!"

"Nephew, come quickly and have a drink... Otherwise, I'll take your concubine, old man. Tonight, an eighty-year-old groom will ravish a pear blossom tree!"

Just then, a voice, ancient and resonant, suddenly echoed from afar. It seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at once. Xu Ziyang's smile faltered slightly. He rubbed his forehead with a pained expression and said with a wry smile, "Little brother, the old man is calling again. His seniority is too great, so Old Xu must take his leave... If fate allows, we'll share a drink another day!"

With that, he casually stepped into the void. A dragon seemed to writhe around him, causing the surrounding air to thicken as if he were a divine dragon treading the waves. In an instant, he broke through the air, leaving only a bold, unrestrained laugh behind:

"Hahaha, Old Man, wait up! We agreed, you're not allowed to touch Old Xu's beauty!"

As his laughter faded into the distance, the middle-aged man acting as the arbiter looked forlornly into the sky, cursing under his breath. He then strode onto the stage with a bare, pale arm, his face grim as he looked down at the crowd.

"Who else wants to fight?"

Silence fell upon the entire venue.

The swift and dramatic exchange just moments ago had been incredibly spectacular. Nine consecutive matches, nine consecutive victories. Even if Wang Anfeng was now exhausted, the ones below were still youths.

Young disciples, young disciples. The hearts of young men are always filled with pride. To challenge someone while they were weakened would be like a monkey in a crown, a smug clown, becoming a laughingstock and an object of disdain.

Seeing this, Wang Anfeng felt a slight sense of relief. He was indeed extremely fatigued and could probably only defeat a few more people. Relaxing slightly, he turned his gaze towards Xue Thirteen and the others below, but only saw the dashing Xiahou Xuan and the drunken Huangfu Xiong. The familiar face was nowhere to be seen, and his expression faltered slightly.

"Anfeng, stop looking. That brat is gone."

Huangfu Xiong noticed his gaze, swallowed a mouthful of wine, and said with great amusement, "This brat's own family saw through his original plan and dragged him away. They're going to lock him up for three years until he turns seventeen. Hahahaha, exhilarating! Exhilarating!"

Wang Anfeng was stunned. Although he was still on the stage, he couldn't help but exclaim, "What?! Why didn't you tell me?!"

Young Master Xiahou fanned himself lightly, his face also showing a hint of schadenfreude. He said, "He was afraid it would affect your match. After all, the punishment is not light."

Wang Anfeng opened his mouth, feeling a surge of annoyance but unsure what to say. Just then, a young man suddenly leaped onto the stage from below. He had a handsome face and a confident demeanor. It was Wang Bai, whom he had seen before. The young masters from the noble families below were taken aback. The first young man who had challenged Wang Anfeng suddenly became enraged and shouted, "Wang Bai, you scoundrel, get down here!"

"What kind of thing are you, taking advantage of someone's weakness!"

The curses were even more furious than those directed at Wang Anfeng moments ago, but now the target was Wang Bai, another young master from a noble family. The latter pursed his lips, suddenly drew a long sword from his waist, and with a light push, embedded the sword, still in its sheath, into the bluestone floor, leaving only the hilt. Cracks spread across the bluestone, clearly indicating that the Sharp Metal Qi was so potent that even the scabbard couldn't fully contain it. Such a sharp weapon caused the shouting below to momentarily cease.

Wang Bai's lips curled slightly as he looked at Wang Anfeng and cupped his fists.

"I know I'm not your match, but my family's inherited Lightness Skill is enough for me to spar with Brother Wang."

"If I lose, this Dragon Roaming Moon Gazing Sword will be yours."

"If I'm lucky enough to win even a move or two, consider it a friendship."

Wang Anfeng's eyes narrowed slightly. "You heard just now..."

A hint of delight flickered in Wang Bai's eyes. He thought that even if he couldn't defeat you, he would still add some stakes. His lips curved slightly as he pretended ignorance. "What is Brother Wang referring to?"

"My friend is leaving, and I want to see him off."

Wang Bai smiled and struck a pose with his hands. From his previous observations of Wang Anfeng, he seemed like a gentleman. A gentleman can be easily swayed, so his words, actions, and even his expression were quite polite. He said with a smile, "So I've come to make friends with Brother Wang as well. It's all the same."

"Please guide me!"

Wang Anfeng glanced at him, his expression returning to its previous calm, but the corners of his mouth pursed slightly as he softly said:

"What kind of thing are you, to even be worthy of being my friend?"

Swish!

With a wave of his sleeve, the calm and composed youth, showing no attachment to victory or defeat, walked straight off the stage, past a stiff-faced Wang Bai. Xiahou Xuan's expression changed slightly, and he said to Wang Anfeng:

"Are you trying to accept the punishment by acting like this? Besides, Thirteen was abducted during your second match. That old man's lightness skill is terrifyingly strong; you can't possibly catch up."

"His speed is his business, but whether I chase is my business."

Wang Anfeng let out a soft breath and cupped his fists, saying, "May I ask which direction they went?"

Xiahou Xuan looked hesitant, but Huangfu Xiong interjected, "Go north to the county town. There's a ferry crossing there; you should be able to find them."

"Thank you, Brother Huangfu."

Wang Anfeng bowed with clasped fists and strode away. The crowd, awed by his presence, made way for him. Xiahou Xuan said with a complex expression:

"Why did you tell him?"

"Because I admire him. He's worth befriending."

"But with that old man there, he might not be able to catch up. Even if he does... it probably won't be a good thing."

Huangfu Xiong's expression flickered, then he shrugged indifferently and said, "That's not something we need to worry about." With a wave of his right hand, his empty wine gourd shot out, striking Wang Bai's hand as he reached for his sword, forcing him to raise it. Huangfu Xiong then leaped forward, stepping on air several times before landing on the stage, his boots firmly planted on the hilt of the longsword.

Wang Bai's expression changed slightly. "What are you doing?! I'm not fighting anymore..."

Huangfu Xiong laughed, "Who says you're not fighting? You just said you wanted to be friends with Wang Anfeng. He's my friend, and I've always believed that a friend's friend is my friend. For someone like you to want to be my friend is an insult to me and my friend. If I don't stand up for my friend and my friend's friend, I won't be comfortable."

Wang Bai felt dizzy from his string of words and shouted:

"You're clearly twisting logic!"

Huangfu Xiong's expression stiffened slightly, and he sighed with a hint of defeat:

"I'm really not suited for debates..."

Wang Bai felt a slight relief in his heart, only to see the youth before him raise his fist and sigh:

"That's why I've always believed that if you can use your fists, don't use your mouth."

The sounds of dragon roars and tiger growls suddenly erupted.

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.