"Yi Seventy-Three, Chen Mo, Weapon Dance, Yi Middle!" the yamen runner in charge of announcing the results shouted loudly.
After putting away their weapons and leaving the training ground, the competitive examination officially began in the afternoon.
Though it was called a competition, it was really a sparring match to the death. Before taking this test, they had to sign a life-and-death contract, taking full responsibility for any deaths, injuries, or disabilities incurred during the match.
Of course, most examinees held back somewhat and would not deliberately beat someone to death.
Though they had signed the life-and-death contract and bore responsibility for any deaths, injuries, or disabilities, if an examinee deliberately killed someone, it was hardly true that there would be no consequences.
The poor studied literature, the rich practiced martial arts. Ordinary people could not afford to train in martial arts. Those who came to take the examination generally had some family wealth, and most had a sect standing behind them.
If an examinee killed someone by accident, then by the rules, no one would pursue the matter.
But if it was intentional murder, then even if the court did not investigate, the forces behind the slain examinee would still pursue the matter.
Thus, in competitions like these, injuries and disabilities were common, but deaths were exceedingly rare.
When afternoon arrived, the competition officially began.
The competition consisted of seven rounds. The victor of each match received two points, a draw gave each side one point, and the loser received zero.
After all seven rounds, whoever had the highest total score could receive an Upper A rating.
Moreover, the competition carried considerable weight in the martial examination.
Whoever could claim first place in this test, so long as their performance in the other categories was not too poor, could