In the blink of an eye.
The Xu Family's bride-welcoming procession had entered Qingyun Street.
Yang Manor could already be seen in the distance.
Xu Mingshu's brows curved like crescent moons. The corners of her lips lifted, revealing two small dimples.
"Little White, give a roar and let the Yang Family know we're here."
The White Tiger immediately let out a fierce roar. Waves of sound rolled outward, temporarily drowning even the suona horns.
Fortunately, only Xu Mingyuan and a few others were riding horses. With the strength of Martial Artists, they managed to hold the horses back and keep them from panicking.
"Xue Ji, you could at least have warned us beforehand," Xu Mingyuan said with a bitter smile.
"Indeed. We were the ones who nearly made fools of ourselves," Xu Mingxuan said helplessly as well.
"I forgot." Xu Mingshu stuck out her tongue.
"Keep moving!" Xu Mingwei shouted.
Not far away.
Aside from Yang Shichang, everyone else was startled by that unusual tiger roar.
The sheer force contained in it was far beyond that of an ordinary fierce tiger's roar.
"What's going on? Why is there a tiger roaring? Since when could Fierce Tigers enter the city?"
They looked at one another in bewilderment.
Yang Shichang, however, laughed inwardly. That'll teach you to be so arrogant.
It serves you right to suffer a little.
Immediately afterward.
The bride-welcoming procession entered their sight.
Among them was a Crimson Gold-Eyed White Tiger, more than half a man tall, strolling forward.
Everyone's gaze turned toward her, their eyes filled with astonishment.
The man who had previously called Yang Shichang his cousin smiled faintly and looked at him. "The Xu Family has someone capable of taming beasts?"
"Cousin Shihui, I don't know about that," Yang Shichang replied casually.
At the main gate.
Xu Mingwei flipped down from the White Tiger's back, stepped forward with clasped fists, and said, "Xu Family, Xu Mingwei, here to welcome the bride."
Xu Mingyuan and the others also dismounted and stood behind him.
Yang Shihui and the others sized Xu Mingwei up.
"He is a fine-looking man, worthy of cousin Ronghua. But looks alone are not enough."
"Exactly." A young man in embroidered robes, around seventeen or eighteen, said, "In this Shidao, without martial strength, you ultimately cannot protect anyone."
"If you want to take my cousin, you must first get past me."
"My name is Qi Wenzhi. Which of you will step forward?"
In terms of age, Xu Mingyuan was the closest, but he was not skilled in martial arts.
Tantou's strength was about the same as Xu Mingyuan's, but he suffered from being too young.
Given another two or three years, he would certainly become a formidable Second-rate Martial Artist, perhaps even approach the level of a First-class Martial Artist.
"Fourth Sister, you should go," Xu Mingxian whispered.
"Me?"
"I can tell he isn't weak. Other than Big Brother, no one can handle him. But we can't have Big Brother deal with every random person who steps out, can we? Then what did the rest of us come along for?"
"That makes sense."
Xu Mingshu stepped forward a few paces and looked at Qi Wenzhi without fear. "I'll take this fight."
"Hahaha, does the Xu Family have no one left? You sent a little girl like you?"
Qi Wenzhi burst into laughter and waved his hand. "Go on, go on. Play house somewhere else."
Anger flashed in Xu Mingshu's eyes. She immediately said, "Little White, whip him!"
The White Tiger, who had been quietly standing at the back, sprang into action at the sound of her voice. In an instant, she landed before Xu Mingshu. Her black-and-white tail, like an iron whip, swept up a fierce gale and lashed directly toward his abdomen.
Qi Wenzhi was greatly shocked and hurriedly retreated, but he was still a step too slow.
His body was lightly grazed, and he was sent flying, crashing to the ground face-first.
"What the hell!"
Roar—
The White Tiger's eyes gleamed fiercely as she roared without restraint at the crowd before Yang Manor.
Several people were forced back a few steps by the tiger's roar.
Only Yang Shihui remained unmoving.
"What skill is there in relying on a fierce tiger? If we were allowed to draw weapons, we would surely slaughter this beast."
Xu Mingshu showed no fear whatsoever. "Being able to command a fierce beast is my skill. If you refuse to accept it, come out and compete with my Little White yourself."
"No, no, no. It's such an auspicious day. Drawing blood would be inauspicious."
Yang Shichang hurriedly stopped them.
"Cousin, it seems the Xu Family is not entirely worthless after all."
Yang Shihui suddenly spoke. He looked at Xu Mingwei. "I heard from my uncle that you are quite strong and possess the Potential of a Grandmaster. Let us have a match. If you win, I will no longer block your way. How about it?"
"Please." Xu Mingwei wasted no words.
The two immediately exchanged blows.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several consecutive moves, neither had gained the upper hand.
Xu Mingshu asked curiously, "Brother Shichang, this man is so formidable. He can actually exchange blows with my Big Brother."
Yang Shichang rubbed her head. "Don't underestimate the people of the world."
"My cousin is twenty-one this year and is likewise at the Houtian Peak. After a few more months of tempering himself, he will take a Qi Gathering Pill and attempt to break through to the Innate Martial Artist realm. He is one of the rare geniuses of our generation."
"He still isn't as good as my Big Brother. My Big Brother is only nineteen," Xu Mingshu snorted.
"Perhaps. But the Yang Family main branch's foundation is not something the Xu Family can compare with. It is hard to say what the future holds."
Then Yang Shichang added, "My brother-in-law may indeed be considered a prodigy in Yuehu Prefecture, but the truly formidable ones are those who become Innate Martial Artists before the age of twenty."
"Hmph, my Big Brother won't lose," Xu Mingshu said firmly again.
"Xu, you truly are remarkable. It is no easy thing for a mere county town to produce someone like you. But if you cannot defeat me, do not expect me to let you enter Yang Manor."
Xu Mingwei stood with the bearing of a mountain, his gaze blazing like torches as he silently watched Yang Shihui.
"Yang, you are deliberately making things difficult for me. Then I won't hold back either."
"Attack as you please." Yang Shihui was brimming with confidence.
In the Prefecture City, he did not dare claim invincibility.
But in a county town, he was confident he could sweep all before him without equal.
After all, the Yang Family's foundation in martial arts and techniques was not something any small county family could rival.
"Yang, your martial techniques are indeed exquisite, but I can also use one force to subdue ten."
Xu Mingwei no longer held anything back.
Internal Force surged within his body, circulating through the acupoints of his heavenly cycle.
A plain, unadorned punch struck out, yet it was like a pillar supporting the heavens, plunging straight for the yellow dragon.
At first glance, Yang Shihui had looked down on it somewhat. But when the fist wind rushed at his face, he instantly understood the profundity hidden within that ordinary punch.
One force to subdue ten!
Mysterious Turtle Hand!
Yang Shihui tried to use this martial technique to divert the force, but Xu Mingwei's strength far surpassed his. Even after part of it was deflected, the punch still broke free of the arms coiling around it.
Riiip—
The sleeve on his arm exploded apart.
His chest took the blow, sending him back more than ten steps. Once he stopped, he let out a muffled grunt.
A trace of sweetness surged up his throat, but he forcefully swallowed it back down.
"Cousin!"
The Yang Family disciples all cried out, their faces revealing concern.
Yang Shihui waved his hand and laughed at Xu Mingwei. "What a splendid one force to subdue ten!"
"You are worthy of my cousin."
Since Yang Shihui had made his stance clear, the other Yang Family disciples naturally did not dare block them any longer.
"Thank you."
Xu Mingwei clasped his fists and smiled faintly. He was about to lead everyone inside.
"Wait." Yang Shichang stopped him. "You passed my cousin's test, but you still have mine."
"Brother Shichang, it's not that I look down on you, but you'd better not ask for trouble," Xu Mingshu said with a sweet smile.
"Xiao Xueji, I never said I wanted to compete in martial arts." Yang Shichang curled his lips into a smile. "My good brother-in-law, if you want to enter, first compose a bride-awakening poem!"
"Good thing I came prepared." Xu Mingwei breathed a sigh of relief. "Then listen carefully."
"The brocade carriage, fragrant beneath the willow ford, Silver candles in the painted hall illumine this fair hour.
Within the water-chestnut mirror, new dark brows are traced, Before the tortoiseshell curtain, old dust is brushed away."
"Excellent!"
At once, the hall erupted in praise, applause rolling like thunder.
Then Xu Mingwei paced several steps with his hands behind his back before continuing:
"Do not say the fairy maiden's adornment takes too long, For Xiao Shi has waited at the gate time and again.
The east wind has readied reins of golden silk, Waiting only for you to smooth your cloudlike hair."
Before you continue